Chapter 75: The first female bookkeeper's words contrast...
For a moment the yard was quiet and no one spoke.
It is naturally impossible to fight alone. Since Zhao Changning has become an official, he must integrate into it and it is impossible for him to do everything by himself.
Song Huan and Zhou Miao certainly understood this logic. As they looked at each other, their expressions gradually became ugly.
I can only say that it’s a good idea, but the reality is that people always have to follow the crowd.
The two girls couldn't help but look at Zhao Changning.
Zhao Changning took a sip of tea and still said nothing.
Mingxuan saw that although her face looked bad, the anger in her eyes had dissipated a lot.
He continued, "No matter what, warships are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works. Every time a Dayong government ship goes out to sea, it's accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Rites, including you this time. Some of them are fluent in the languages of smaller nations, some are responsible for spreading Dayong culture, and some are responsible for maintaining diplomatic etiquette. Besides officials from the Ministry of Rites, there are also soldiers from the Ministry of War sent for escort, and the Ministry of Revenue directly contributes to the funding. But in the end, all the money goes into the national treasury, and they can't touch a single bit. How could they be willing to accept that? You don't want compensation, but that's because you want it, but there's no guarantee that everyone will."
Zhao Changning sighed, "Some people become officials solely for the money. If they find out they've earned money and put in so much effort, but don't get a penny, they'll make a scene. It's human nature, and it's something we didn't consider at the beginning."
She felt a little regretful. If the female official could grow faster and integrate more, and if the emperor's will could be bolder, why would he bother talking nonsense with those people?
Song Huan was still unwilling to give in. "So, are we just going to divide it up like this? That's the result of over a year of hard work, are we just going to give it away like this?"
Zhou Miao was even more worried. "What about the future? Aunt, there will be more money in the future. Do we have to divide it every time? This is only over two million. What if it reaches tens of millions in the future?"
Zhao Changning couldn't help but purse her lips when she heard this. She was really looking forward to the number of tens of millions.
"Don't worry, I've already made up my mind, but I just need to wait and see..."
"How did the discussion go?" At this time, Grandma Xu came back holding Yunqiu in one hand and holding a basket in the other.
She smiled happily, "It's rare for a girl to have friends over, so I'm going to prepare some food. Please stay for a quick meal. Here are some sesame cakes I bought at the corner of the street. They're fresh out of the oven and smell delicious. Mingxuan, share some."
Mingxuan was the first to stand up and take the things. He took two pancakes and gave one to his sister.
Without hesitation, he cut the remaining pancake in half and gave half to Zhao Changning, then warned him knowingly, "You have a strong internal heat, so you can't eat too much."
Zhao Changning was somewhat used to it, so he took it without saying anything.
Song Huan and Zhou Miao were stunned. Were these two people so familiar? It seemed that Master Ming was not here as a guest.
However, both of them came from wealthy families and had experienced manners. After looking at each other, they stood up and thanked him with a calm expression.
Seeing Mingxuan and Yunqiu eating with relish, the two of them took the pancakes without hesitation and started to eat them.
"Auntie," Song Huan couldn't help but asked while chewing, "Do we really have to separate in the future?"
Zhao Changning nodded and sneered, "Divide it, but how to divide it is up to me."
Zhou Miao quickly responded, "Aunt, how do you plan to divide it?"
Zhao Changning took a bite of the pancake and called out to Grandma Xu who was still in the kitchen, "Grandma, make me some pumpkin buns tonight. I want them sweet."
"Oh, I know." Grandma Xu responded from the kitchen.
"Not only will I share it with them..." Zhao Changning chewed and swallowed, then said, "I'll also share it with the officials in Jiangxi, the Maritime Customs, you, and the Provincial Governor. As long as they're involved, I'll give it to them. They want money, right? I'll give it to them. How much they can take depends on their ability. I want to see how much they can grab..."
Zhou Miao clapped his hands and laughed, "This is a good trick. Not only can I gain fame, hahahaha, but I can also let them fight each other. Ouch..."
Song Huan reminded her, "Even if we didn't hear it, we can still split up. We are not dogs."
Yunsheng was playing with Yunqiu nearby, and he couldn't help laughing when he heard this. "Yunqiu, we're not dogs either. We're good people, right?"
Yunqiu opened her big black eyes, nibbled on a sesame cake, nodded vigorously, and pulled Yunsheng towards the sugar jar.
Mingxuan seemed to have eyes behind him, "Yunsheng, don't feed her candy."
When Yun Qiu heard what her brother said, she felt like an eggplant hit by frost, and she wilted completely.
Yunsheng said "Oh" and pulled Yunqiu into the kitchen to help. He secretly stuffed a candy into her, making the little girl so happy that she almost jumped up.
By the time we finished dinner, it was already dark. The moon hiding behind the clouds was blurry and dim, without a single star. It looked like it was going to rain.
The Song and Zhou families have already sent people to pick us up, and the carriage is at the entrance of the alley.
After sending the two girls away, Yunsheng took Yunqiu out to play. Grandma Xu was cleaning up in the kitchen, while Zhao Changning and Mingxuan were sitting leisurely in the pavilion enjoying the breeze.
The night breeze was cool and refreshing, which made Zhao Changning feel very comfortable and at ease. And with Mingxuan beside her, she didn't seem to feel uncomfortable anymore, but had gotten used to it.
Mingxuan noticed that she was touching her stomach and said with a smile, "Are you a little full?"
Zhao Changning nodded, "Grandma Xu's cooking skills are getting better and better. I couldn't help it."
Upon hearing this, Mingxuan went into the kitchen, took out some roasted wheat, and started cooking it in the pavilion.
Seeing Zhao Changning looking at him curiously, he explained, "Barley tea is more suitable for you than those teas. It's mild and won't give you heartburn or stomachache. It can also relieve bloating. But don't drink too much. No matter how good something is, if you overdo it, it will easily make you feel uncomfortable."
Seeing him add dried tangerine peel, Zhao Changning couldn't help but ask curiously, "You seem to be very knowledgeable about stomach problems?"
Mingxuan nodded and said gently, "My biological mother is in the same situation as you, but her condition is much more serious than yours."
Zhao Changning thought of his poor biological mother and silently thanked her.
The yard is full of flowers and plants that Mingxuan helped plant, as well as melon and bean seedlings. The wisteria orchid on the flower stand has a different color among its branches and leaves, like a grape vine.
The two of them drank barley tea quietly. Unknowingly, a light drizzle began to fall. The sound of raindrops hitting the banana leaves was particularly relaxing.
Mingxuan only poured Zhao Changning half a cup and refused to give any more. "Don't be greedy. You have to take care of your stomach slowly."
Zhao Changning could only put down the cup and asked, "Have you known about this for a long time?" Otherwise, how could he have guessed that he would come back and why he came back.
As for what the question was about, both of them were smart people and knew it well.
"No," Mingxuan took a sip of tea and smiled calmly, "I've said it before, some people's minds are too easy to guess. There are traces of how things develop. Didn't you guess it too?"
Zhao Changning thought to herself that when she guessed it, Mingxuan had already figured it out. He was indeed able to bring Hu Gouer down by force. His mind was really powerful.
"Was it like this before?" She frowned, feeling that this statement was somewhat ambiguous, and continued, "I mean, those people were like this before? They were so greedy and reckless, so audacious, why didn't anyone say anything?"
After she said this, she felt a little stupid. Even the emperor was enduring it. The accumulated evils in the court did not form overnight.
Mingxuan said gently: "Yes, no one says anything, everyone just goes with the flow, and sometimes we are forced to be like dust."
Hearing this word again, Zhao Changning was a little stunned. She remembered Qi Yuwei's advice, and now it seemed that she really had good intentions.
She turned to look at Mingxuan and vaguely realized that Mingxuan was a little different from those people in some fundamental way.
"You don't seem to agree with He Guang Tong Chen?"
Mingxuan shook his head. "It's not that I disagree, I just..." He paused. "If you live among the mundane for too long, it's easy to lose your original intention. Who can guarantee that your ideals won't be eroded by the various temptations of the world?"
Zhao Changning was speechless for a long time.
Listening to the sound of raindrops beside her ears, she suddenly smiled and said, "I brought gifts for everyone, and I brought one for you too."
She asked Yunsheng to bring something over. It was a blue and white porcelain vase with a narrow mouth and a thick belly. "After the rain, the sky is blue and the clouds are broken. This color will be the future. Although this vase is not the best, it is the product of my hard work."
Mingxuan took it with great care and smiled brightly at Zhao Changning, "Thank you, I like it very much."
The next day was the grand court meeting.
Zhao Changning got up early and got on a carriage with Mingxuan before dawn to prepare to go to court.
This was her first official court appearance. She did not start from the palace, but like those officials, she started from home. For some reason, this little thing always made her heart surge with excitement.
Like everyone else who came to court, she straightened her back because of the sense of pride that arose in her heart as she passed through Taihe Gate. Although those stinky men were unwilling to pay attention to her and huddled together to whisper, she didn't care at all.
She was used to hearing what was discussed at court meetings, but no one seemed to want to discuss her affairs.
Zhao Changning quietly raised her head, wanting to see the emperor's expression, but unexpectedly saw Zhou Hai staring at her. Looking at those dead fish eyes, she glared back at him in some confusion.
Is this person sick?
Zhou Hai was furious. This stinky woman not only threatened him, but also took so many good things and money from him, and he even spoke up for her.
As a result, she didn't want to share the money she made. If the cabinet elders hadn't instructed not to discuss this matter at today's court meeting, he would have stood up and scolded her severely.
Isn't the Ministry of Revenue's money really money? If the Ministry of Revenue pays the money, who will subsidize it?
This stinky woman said that all the money would go into the national treasury, but who knows how much she herself embezzled?
The more Zhou Hai thought about it, the angrier he became, and he glared at Zhao Changning a few more times.
The emperor, who was sitting on top, had been distracted for a long time and noticed something strange at a glance.
It was the first time he saw Zhao Changning attending a court meeting like everyone else. A beautiful and gentle woman appeared among a group of men. Just looking at her made him want to laugh and feel a little pity.
After all, it's not easy to get along with men.
When Anyi saw the emperor's index finger tapping unconsciously on the armrest of the dragon throne, he knew that the emperor was a little impatient.
He looked at the officials below him. No one seemed to have anything to say. Just as he was about to stand up and say to adjourn the court, he was interrupted by a voice.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report." Zhao Changning imitated what he saw every day, moved out of the team, and bowed to the emperor.
For a moment, everyone looked at her with different eyes.
Everyone understood each other tacitly, as if they knew what Zhao Changning was going to say.
Several people in the cabinet looked at each other, and everyone was on high alert. They made up their minds and decided to curb the arrogance of this female scribe. She couldn't do whatever she wanted without the emperor's protection.
The emperor was also a little surprised, but he had been with Zhao Changning for a long time and knew that she was not the kind of person who would act recklessly. Seeing those old men looking at her with unfriendly eyes, as if they were hungry wolves surrounding her, he felt a little unhappy.
Can he bully the people he promoted like this?
"Oh? What does the Nvshu Ling want to report?"
Zhao Changning bowed again, then stood up straight, his eyes gleaming as he spoke in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, thanks to the concerted efforts of all your ministers, local officials, and court ladies, we were able to achieve this great victory at sea. We were able to bring back 2.7 million taels of silver this time, and this wasn't the result of my efforts alone. It's the result of everyone working diligently and working together for the country..."
Everyone was stunned, looking at Zhao Changning quietly for a moment, speechless.
Zhao Changning ignored everyone's gaze and took out a booklet from his sleeve respectfully.
"...This is truly a blessing for Dayong, Your Majesty. The outcome of this sea voyage is clear. With the full support of all your ministers, the future benefits will be immeasurable, and it will surely enrich the national treasury. This matter is related to the lifeblood of the country and the people's livelihood. The most important thing is sea transportation. I believe that if sea transportation is smooth, the country will prosper, and if the national fortune is good, the world will be at peace. All of this..."
She raised her head and looked around the hall with a slightly sarcastic look in her eyes. Seeing the complicated looks of those men, and many of them avoiding her out of guilt, she couldn't help but sneer in her heart.
"...Everything is inseparable from you gentlemen. Without you, how could this be accomplished? Therefore, I would like to beg Your Majesty to reward those who have contributed this time. I have even drawn up a list overnight for your review."
Anyi was very excited. He was also a contributor, and he was the first one to go out to sea. The journey was very difficult.
He glanced at the emperor, and after receiving his gaze, he walked down the imperial steps and took the book from Zhao Changning's hand.
The ministers were shocked; no one had expected this.
Didn't they say they were going to be wary of Zhao Changning's accusations and slander? They were clearly trying to get everyone some credit.
Listening to Zhao Changning's high-sounding words, many people felt that they were being ridiculed, and some people blushed and were too embarrassed to look up.
Gao Yun exchanged glances with the others. Everyone couldn't hide their shock and worry in their eyes.
The emperor took in everything, took the booklet, opened it and saw a dense crowd of names, even the name of the porcelain maker was written on it, and it was mentioned that it was a woman, but the names of the officials from the six ministries were not on the booklet.
If it is really divided like this, it will be really lively, and each person will not get much.
He couldn't help laughing in his heart. Sure enough, he still held a grudge. Changning had never let him down. With just a few pointers, he could figure out all the key points overnight, making a great comeback and becoming stronger than many of the officials below him.
"Very good, Nv Shuling is concerned about the country's worries, my worries, and the worries of the world. You are worthy of my trust. Good, very good."
The emperor said "good" three times in a row, which showed that he was very satisfied.
Zhao Changning breathed a sigh of relief. This was exactly the result she wanted. She wanted to show her true ability, establish herself in the court, and let the emperor know that she was not only trustworthy, but also very useful, no less than a man.
After the ministers murmured about it, many people began to flatter him.
After all, who hates money?
Zhou Hai jumped the fastest. When he heard about dividing the money, he stopped glaring and speaking sharply, and started praising Zhao Changning.
When Zhao Changning heard him praise himself so highly that he could not help but shrink his toes.
Is this person sick?
She wasn't threatening him now, so why did he have to talk so much nonsense?
After the grand court meeting was over, the emperor asked several cabinet ministers to go to the Qinzheng Hall to discuss matters. He also called the vice ministers of the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of War and Ministry of Works to discuss Zhao Changning's words together.
Gao Yun and others got together again on their way to the Qinzheng Hall.
"This time, this woman has finally established herself." Gao Yun sighed, unable to control his emotion. "With the Emperor's support, her future is limitless. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing."
Sun Zhidao was impatient, "Lord, why don't you let me report her? How can a woman be so powerful?"
Gao Yun frowned and said tiredly, "If it wasn't her, there would be someone else. Even if she died, it wouldn't change the situation. It doesn't matter whether she is a woman or not. She just happened to be in this position, happened to be the person the emperor wanted, and happened to be the carrier of power..."
When he said this, he recalled that Zhao Changning seemed to have said something similar, and his body swayed and he almost collapsed to the ground.
So many people are not even as good as a woman. It shows that this world is not good and the morals are declining.
He is old now, how much can he control?
Zhou Min said patiently, "She appears to be seeking rewards for others today, but in reality, she's trying to establish a solid foundation for herself. We tried to withhold her money, but she gave it all away, not giving herself any benefit, and certainly not giving us any. She's such a calculating person! Those people will only be grateful to Zhao Changning, while we'll be the ones protecting her."
Sun Zhidao was speechless. He couldn't compete with his colleagues in the officialdom for money.
Qi Yuwei did not say anything. He now felt that Zhao Changning must have taken his words to heart. "Be one with the light and one with the dust." Whether it is a man or a woman, they are all working for Dayong and serving the people. What's the difference?
He now has a new respect for Zhao Changning.
At this moment, the emperor and Zhao Changning in the Qinzheng Hall were also discussing this matter.
"Your Majesty, since they want it, I am willing to give it to them." Zhao Changning held the new teacup and smiled. "I asked for your punishment for asking without consulting Your Majesty."
The emperor looked up at her and felt that she was very cunning and naughty today, and a knowing smile appeared on her pretty face.
"Nüshu Ling's words make me look like a tyrant."
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The author has something to say: Thank you Bingdao Rushui baby for the grenades, and thank you for the babies’ nutrient solution!
[Kiss] I, Kuku, write this, Kuku is energetic, hahaha [heart][heart]
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