Chapter 248 If you don't meet expectations, you can stop being an official.
After finishing the handover with Xie Ning'an, Jiang Yu escorted him to the courtyard gate and said, "You've worked hard today."
"It's all as it should be." Xie Ning'an looked at her somewhat thin face and said, "The Duke of Chu should also take care of his health."
Jiang Yu cupped her hands in thanks to him, "Thank you, I won't see you off any further."
Xie Ning'an nodded, and Jiang Yu instructed Li Zhong to escort her away. Once outside the gates of the Duke of Chu's mansion, Xie Ning'an looked up at the moon hanging in the sky and smiled slightly.
Intelligent, resourceful, and with strong support, most importantly, she works harder than anyone else. If someone like Jiang Yu doesn't succeed, who can?
"Young Master," one of the Xie family stewards asked Xie Ning'an in a low voice, "if the reforms of the Duke of Chu are implemented, will we still be able to stay in the trading companies and money shops?"
This is their biggest concern.
"Probably, but you'll need to remain loyal to the court to stay," Xie Ning'an said.
Although Jiang Yu made significant changes to Jufeng Money Shop and Trading Company, the original veterans needed to be retained for the court to operate smoothly after taking over. This was also the reason why the emperor spared his life.
"It's late, everyone should go back and rest." Xie Ning'an got into the carriage, and the stewards watched as his carriage started moving, and they all got into the carriage as well.
“Alas, only today do I realize how hard-won the Duke of Chu’s achievements were,” said one of the stewards.
The other stewards nodded in agreement. They had somewhat believed the earlier rumors that the Duke of Chu had climbed into the Emperor's bed, but now they didn't believe it at all. If the Duke of Chu had actually climbed into the Emperor's bed, would he need to go to such lengths?
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In the study, Jiang Yu continued to bury herself in her work. Tomorrow was the morning court session, and she wanted the emperor to receive her reform proposals during the session.
Time passed slowly, and the study light remained on until three-quarters past dusk. Jiang Yu handed the completed document to Li Zhong, saying, "Quickly deliver it to the Marquis of Anyuan's residence."
Li Zhong immediately took the thick stack of memorials and left. Jiang Yu stood up and moved her stiff body. Xia He and Dong Xue both looked at her with heartache.
"Go back and rest." Jiang Yu said as she walked out. As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw a sedan chair parked at the entrance.
“This was prepared at Madam’s request,” Xia He said.
Jiang Yu hummed in agreement, walked over, and got into the sedan chair, her mind preoccupied with how the emperor would decide at the morning court session. She felt that the emperor probably wouldn't make her observe the mourning period, but those who didn't want her to be well would definitely launch a series of objections.
Jiang Yu closed her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips. She wanted to see who dared to oppose her. Would the Prime Minister be standing before her now, ready to fight her openly?
Yes, she believed the person who spread rumors about her sleeping with the emperor was the prime minister. The Earl of Qingshan was merely a pawn in his game.
........
After getting up and eating a quick bite, Marquis Anyuan was about to go to court. Just as he stepped out the door, his attendant came running over, "My lord, the steward from the Duke of Chu's mansion has arrived."
Marquis Anyuan was taken aback and had someone bring Li Zhong in. After bowing to him, Li Zhong presented the thick memorial with both hands, saying, "This is a memorial that the Duke has been writing all night."
Marquis Anyuan opened the memorial and saw the clearly organized contents. He felt both proud and heartbroken. He asked Li Zhong about Jiang Yu's situation and then said, "Go back and tell her not to worry."
He walked out with the memorial in his hand, brimming with energy. Having such a talented and capable junior made him, as the elder, feel confident that the family could continue to thrive for many more years to come.
Arriving at the palace gate in a sedan chair, they met the Duke of Wei, the Marquis of Jinyang, and their faction. Without exchanging many words, their eyes met for a moment, and they understood each other's meaning.
The palace gates opened, and officials entered the Taiji Hall one after another. Half an hour later, the emperor entered, and all the officials knelt in obeisance. Then it was time for the deliberation of state affairs.
Several officials submitted a memorial stating that the Earl of Qingshan had neglected his duties, leading to his granddaughter's corrupting influence, and that he should be severely punished. Marquis Anyuan glanced at one of the officials; he was the Vice Minister of Rites.
After he submitted his memorial, many people seconded it, mostly officials of the fourth and fifth ranks. The emperor remained silent, and then someone else submitted a memorial saying that the Eighth Prince, with such a family background, was unsuitable to be the Crown Prince.
Marquis Anyuan stood at the front, listening intently as the officials explained why the Eighth Prince was unsuitable to be Crown Prince. He thought to himself that perhaps the rumors about Jiang Yu sleeping with the Emperor were actually intended to prevent the Eighth Prince from becoming Crown Prince. He just wondered if Earl Qingshan and Consort Su had willingly become pawns.
"The matter of establishing a crown prince will be discussed again." The emperor's voice rang out, and the officials who were arguing about whether the eighth prince was suitable to be the crown prince immediately fell silent.
At this moment, the Vice Minister of Rites stepped forward and submitted a memorial, saying, "In my opinion, since the late Duke of Chu has passed away, although the current Duke of Chu is the granddaughter of the late Duke of Chu, she has inherited the title and should observe the mourning period for the late Duke of Chu."
As soon as he finished speaking, several officials stood up to second his point. Then an official argued that Jiang Yu was the granddaughter of the old Duke of Chu, not his son, and therefore should not be in mourning. The two sides then began a debate, citing classical texts and historical examples.
Just as their debate was nearing its end, Marquis Anyuan stepped forward and presented Jiang Yu's memorial, adding, "The matter of bringing Jufeng Money Shop and Merchant Guild under the control of the court is urgent. After the late Duke of Chu's funeral, he drafted the reform plan overnight. This memorial was given to me by the Duke of Chu before I went to court. The Duke of Chu did not sleep a wink last night."
The Taiji Hall was quiet. The emperor opened the memorial and saw that although it contained a lot of information, it was easy to understand at a glance. Even if he didn't have time to study it carefully, he could still get the general idea.
This reform charter will not only allow the imperial court to firmly grasp Jufeng Trading Company and money shops in a short period of time, but also strengthen the imperial court's control over merchants.
The emperor gripped the memorial tightly. Based on this reform plan, he estimated that annual tax revenue could increase by at least 30%. That was real money! The emperor was thrilled.
He put down the memorial and looked at the ministers who had suggested that Jiang Yu should observe a period of mourning, his expression turning somewhat grim. With Jiang Yu in mourning, who would follow up on the restructuring of Jufeng Money Shop and the trading company? He believed that no one other than Jiang Yu could handle this matter properly.
"Ge Xingwen." The emperor called out the name of the Vice Minister of Rites, the one who first suggested that Jiang Yuding observe mourning for him.
Upon hearing the emperor call his name, Ge Xingwen immediately stepped forward and knelt. The emperor handed the memorial written by Jiang Yu to Zhao Fuquan, watched as Zhao Fuquan passed the memorial to Ge Xingwen, and then said:
"This is the restructuring plan for Jufeng Trading Company and Money Shop drafted by the Duke of Chu. It includes her projected results after the restructuring. This matter is entrusted to you. If it does not meet expectations, you will be out of a position."
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