Chapter 258 Let's Try Something New

Princess Yongxin knew from the sight of this gathering that they were about to discuss matters of state, so she quickly prepared to take her leave.

"Mu Xiao, stay! It's nothing serious, you can listen to it if you want." Ye Yunshu gestured for Princess Yongxin to stay.

Princess Yongxin then carefully sat down on the chair below.

She was a little nervous!

Ye Yunshu ignored her and instead picked up the tea that Song Zhimian handed her and took a sip.

"Take a look!" Ye Yunshu gestured for Song Zhimian to look at the three memorials.

Song Zhimian did not refuse and picked up the document to read it carefully.

The room immediately fell silent.

After a while, Song Zhimian finished reading all three memorials.

"How is it? How does it feel?" Ye Yunshu asked with a smile.

Song Zhimian hummed in agreement before saying, "The handwriting is quite good, and the reasons are all quite valid! It seems unreasonable not to approve it."

In time, people will say that His Majesty is not considerate of his court officials.

It's a bit of a pity; we won't be able to see such beautiful calligraphy on memorials anymore.

Princess Yongxin...

What is Song Zhimian saying?

Is this a question of whether the handwriting is good or bad? And what's with the claim that we won't see such beautiful handwriting again?

This is clearly... something those people wanted to do to intimidate the Crown Princess!

Even though Princess Yongxin was not involved in court affairs, she knew that this was a test from the court officials.

Let the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy take the lead first, using a strategic retreat to advance, so as not to damage their own strength or the Emperor's face.

They wanted to use their resignations as leverage to negotiate with His Majesty.

Everyone knows that His Majesty is so eager to hand over the reins of government to the Crown Princess because he wants to take the former Crown Prince away as soon as possible.

Since that's the case... and everyone's going to follow the new master, then we have to negotiate with His Majesty!

For example, by bestowing some rewards or making some promises, the Crown Princess could maintain the current state of the court and not think about making any drastic changes.

Everyone here is an expert; Your Majesty can't just watch the affairs of state come to a standstill, can you?

Princess Yongxin knew that such memorials were just the beginning. If His Majesty did not give a promise or appease the old ministers soon, more such memorials would be sent up.

Your Majesty, considering the bond between ruler and subject over so many years, you should at least make some verbal promise!

In this way, both the emperor and his ministers have saved face. See, it's not that they didn't want to fight for anything; they definitely did, but what they managed to achieve is unknown.

Then everyone went back to doing their own jobs, and Crown Princess Ye Yunshu would eventually find out what everyone wanted...

“Song Zhimin, why don’t you think about it again? Those old ministers are not only good at writing, they also…” Princess Yongxin kept winking at Song Zhimin.

Song Zhimian knew, of course, that Princess Yongxin was doing this for her own good, wanting her to think things through.

But Song Zhimian simply refused to follow the wishes of those veteran officials.

If someone were to submit a memorial today requesting to resign, wouldn't that be just like those junior managers in later generations who would casually say, "I quit!"

You don't have to do it! Everyone has the freedom to find another place to be a beast of burden.

But using your dislike of the new leader as a reason is going too far!

Just because the new leader isn't the one you expected, or the one you've been flattering all along, you're going to quit?

They even said they'd either promote me or give me a raise...

These people have absolutely no morals to be treated like beasts of burden!

Encountering this kind of person...

"Yes, Zhimian is right, these old ministers all have very beautiful handwriting."

It's a bit of a pity; we won't see such beautiful handwriting on memorials anymore.

Since they're all getting older, and each has their own reasons...

Since my father entrusted me with these memorials for review, he must have felt sorry for them and didn't want these old ministers to continue toiling away for the court.

I have just become the Crown Princess, and it seems inappropriate for me not to approve it here. If others say that I am not considerate of the old ministers, wouldn't that be a waste of Father Emperor's good intentions?

Song Zhimian, go and find the resumes of other officials in the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy!

These elderly people have worked so hard; it would be good for them to retire and return to their hometowns sooner.

Let others do these rough and heavy jobs!

I remember that many of the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were still waiting for their places of appointment. We were looking to see who was suitable and then placing them in these two positions.

"Also, let's look at the resumes of the veteran officials in other government departments. If there are any who want to retire and return to their hometowns, approve them all as well!" Ye Yunshu said calmly.

Song Zhimian smiled and agreed.

Exactly! Why spoil these people?

If these people cause such a fuss today, what will they do next time something goes wrong? Are we supposed to back down every time?

Do they really think they're some kind of vital artery in the imperial court that can't be cut off?

The real arteries were all in the emperor's hands!

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go immediately."

Song Zhimian smiled and went to get the information Ye Yunshu wanted.

Princess Yongxin stared blankly at Song Zhimian as she walked away, then looked at Ye Yunshu, who was already eating snacks.

"Your Highness..."

"You've come at the perfect time. If you hadn't come, I would have had to send someone to look for you!" Ye Yunshu gestured for Princess Yongxin to continue.

Upon hearing this, Princess Yongxin quickly sat up straight in the chair at the lower end of the table.

"Please do not hesitate to give your orders, Your Highness."

Ye Yunshu glanced at the somewhat nervous Princess Yongxin and put down the pastries in her hand.

"Mu Xiao, you're not young anymore!" Ye Yunshu asked with a smile.

Princess Yongxin...

What does the Crown Princess mean by asking this? Is she trying to arrange a marriage for me? Or is she trying to consolidate her power and needs to betroth me to someone to win them over...?

That's not right! Everyone in the capital is trying to cling to the Crown Princess right now, so why would they need to deliberately try to win anyone over?

Besides, if the Crown Princess wants to win over someone, she only needs to have that family send their eligible sons to the palace.

Why would I need to use myself...?

"What does Your Highness mean? I'm not even nineteen yet!" Princess Yongxin said honestly.

"Nineteen isn't young anymore! Other people's nineteen-year-old daughters already have children!" Ye Yunshu joked with a smile.

Princess Yongxin thought to herself, "Oh no, if they're going to say something like that, they're probably going to arrange a marriage for me."

I just don't know which family they're referring to. Ideally, that person wouldn't have any concubines, or at least wouldn't be too unattractive...

For the sake of the Crown Princess's grand cause, I'll sacrifice myself for now; at worst, I can always get a divorce later...

"Your Highness...which family have you taken a fancy to?" Princess Yongxin asked softly.

Now it was Ye Yunshu's turn to be a little confused.

"What? Which company do I like? I don't like any of them!"

Oh, did you misunderstand something? I didn't explain myself clearly.

What I mean is that you're not a child anymore, you're nineteen, you're an adult now, so you shouldn't go horse racing and traveling around like you used to.

It's time to get out and do something!

When Wei Yanli wasn't in the capital, didn't you help him manage the Spring Festival Gala very well?

Anyway, that guy is with Lao Qi in the southwest and won't be back for a while, so you can continue watching Spring Never Ends.

"Also, I'm not just telling you to keep an eye on the Spring Festival Gala in the capital, but also on the Spring Festival Galas in Chongqing, Jiangnan, and Lingnan, understand?" Ye Yunshu looked at Princess Yongxin.

Princess Yongxin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it's not about me getting married!