If Xia Qing could have thought of a solution, he would have proposed it long ago. Why wait until today?
However, he suddenly had a bright idea. Isn’t this the perfect ti to dig a pit?
"Emperor! I, your humble servant, don’t have any good thods, but court officials surely have those who can think of solutions."
He prepared to pass the buck again, as he was a civil servant whose only task was to offer ideas, leaving implentation to others.
The Emperor was annoyed by Xia Qing’s evasion, pondering that if court officials could co up with solutions, he wouldn’t be so troubled.
Xia Qing might lack competence, but he was certainly adept at diverting bla.
"I asked you to co up with a thod, yet you want to shift this matter onto others?" The Emperor said angrily toward Xia Qing.
Hmph! With Min Feng still kneeling outside and Xia Qing trying to evade responsibility, how could he not be angry?
Now, the issue of border provisions had him in a frenzy; the Cabinet didn’t want to solve it and only confronted him on petty matters.
He didn’t realize he had nourished so many idle staff, all drawn salaries without dealing with any matters.
"Every day, it seems to that you are all quite idle; I do not know what the Cabinet officials are doing. Am I raising you to eat idle als?"
Shaking upon hearing this, Xia Qing suddenly rembered his current predicant, having habitually pushed troubleso matters away.
He prostrated even lower, not daring to raise his head and face the Emperor’s wrathful expression.
"Please, Emperor, calm your anger! I, your humble servant, too, am trying to find a solution. As the saying goes, ’three heads are better than one,’ with more people, naturally there will be more ideas. Please allow to think carefully, and give the reply after tomorrow’s court."
Xia Qing planned to return and ponder thoroughly as there were still so advisers in his residence to consult with. Two heads are better than one, surely more effective than being forced to give a reply now!
The Emperor tried hard to suppress his rising fury, acknowledging the reality that if neither the court nor the public could solve this issue, how could he expect any one person to resolve it?
He nodded slightly and said, "Then I give you a day. Co to after tomorrow’s court with your answer."
Hearing the Emperor’s concession, Xia Qing could not help but sigh in relief.
The Emperor didn’t ntion how much silver would be needed, leaving it to Xia Qing’s abilities.
The National Treasury was not impossible to touch. As long as a solution was found, would there be any worry about the money coming back?
"Emperor, regarding Min Feng’s matter?" Xia Qing cautiously asked, glancing at the Emperor.
The Emperor sneered coldly, "What? You are quite protective of this pupil, yet he has deceived ! I must punish him, otherwise how will I silence the gossip in the court? Let him keep kneeling! From tomorrow, let him rest at ho for a few days; as for his duties in the Hanlin Academy, have soone else take over."
The Emperor finished speaking and called out to the outside. Hearing the call, De’an imdiately entered the Imperial Study Room.
"Emperor! Do you have orders for your servant?" De’an glanced at Xia Qing kneeling before the Imperial Desk, thinking, the teacher and the student seem to share a tough ti!
Both were kneeling still! As ti passed since the Grand Secretary entered, it seed as though they had been kneeling the entire ti?
The Emperor inford De’an of Min Feng’s disposition and instructed him to notify Zhang Hai.
Though Xia Qing felt a sense of unwillingness, he was also at a loss. When Min Feng would return to duty in the Hanlin Academy depended on when the issue of border provisions would be resolved.
If not for Xia Qing, the Emperor would undoubtedly give Min Feng a good lesson, reducing his rank being quite possible. Yet, since the Emperor wanted Xia Qing to work for him, he naturally let Min Feng off the hook.
"Who is the person you ntioned?" After a pause, the Emperor’s voice suddenly sounded.
Xia Qing was startled, thinking the Emperor wouldn’t ask.
He hesitated, realizing that his previous words had caused much displeasure, and if he ntioned that person, would the Emperor take it as revenge? Would it deepen the Emperor’s mistrust? What then?.
Claiming he had no ulterior motives was impossible. However, he also heard rumors that Gu Chengyu was quite adept at acquiring wealth.
The Gu Family was originally just a farming household, yet under Gu Chengyu’s leadership, they prospered, demonstrating so capabilities.
"I am asking you! Who is that person? Who in the court can think of a good solution?"
The Emperor had a faint suspicion that Xia Qing might really ntion that person. Knowing each other for decades, he understood their personalities and traits.
Xia Qing bore grudges, and he might just want to retaliate against Gu Chengyu. He prepared to harshly scold Xia Qing once he ntioned Gu Chengyu.
However, he recalled his second son previously ntioning Gu Chengyu’s ability to make money.
The Emperor pondered further, considering that Gu Chengyu might indeed have thods to solve the issue of border provisions, or even address the National Treasury’s emptiness.
Upon thinking this, the Emperor found it quite feasible.
"Emperor! The person I wish to recomnd is Gu Chengyu. You are aware of his capabilities, perhaps he has good thods? Furthermore, I hear his family has a soap formula that profits well each year."
Xia Qing had long heard of the substantial profits from Gu Chengyu’s soap formula, naturally coveting it.
It’s just that Gu Chengyu had backing behind him, which was Yin Kun, his senior brother.
Yin Kun was under the Inspectorate; although his official rank was Standard Third, the unique powers of the Inspectorate made all officials in the court wary of them, fearing the Dali Temple most among all.
The Inspectorate’s duties focused on inspection and impeachnt of officials, serving as the Emperor’s eyes and ears.
The Imperial Censors were always hunting for faults among officials, pursuing them relentlessly.
Court officials generally avoided offending them, or else they would dig up every trivial matter in one’s residence to file against them.
Thus, Xia Qing had long inquired thoroughly, although covetous, he dared not act.
If Gu Chengyu knew of this matter, he would certainly be grateful for coming to the Capital and sharing a portion of the soap’s profits with his senior brother, or else the officials would have targeted the soap formula already.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor sneered. Even at this mont, Xia Qing couldn’t resist stepping on Gu Chengyu, yet he, as the Emperor, couldn’t seize a minister’s livelihood; wouldn’t that invite the ridicule of the world?
Furthermore, soap was not a necessity of life; only families with financial surplus would purchase it.
Even buying one bar could last a long ti, making its profit rely a drop in the bucket for the National Treasury. Looking at Xia Qing’s face, the Emperor suspected he must have personal motives.
Of course, the Emperor knew about the soap, as the Ministry of Internal Affairs had procured it before, finding it indeed useful.
The Gu Family, being a scholarly farming household, could never beco an Imperial rchant, thus not warranting his focus.
"Could it be that the profits from Gu’s Soap caught your eye? As the sovereign of a nation, if I were to seize a minister’s livelihood, wouldn’t that bring disgrace upon myself?"
The Emperor had long known Xia Qing’s love for silver coin, a major weakness of his. As long as it wasn’t excessive, the Emperor would turn a blind eye.
He dared not employ ministers without weaknesses, for those people typically harbored greater ambitions.
User Comments
0 comments from readers