There were several rows of bookshelves in the room, piled with thick documents. There was barely enough space for another table. It was cramped but not suffocating.

Perhaps it was because there were many books but they were neatly arranged and clean, and because there were blooming spring flowers on the windowsill.

Or maybe it was because the pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the only desk were all famous brands, and Ning Yunzhao, who was sitting in front of the desk, had slender hands holding the pen and copying documents, and his movements were smooth and flowing, which was pleasing to the eye.

But at this time, my colleagues still looked sad.

"This is a big deal," he said. "Payments are in arrears. This has never happened before."

Ning Yunzhao waved his hand.

"You can't say that," he said. "In the fifth year of the previous dynasty, Emperor Ai ordered the court officials to stop receiving their salaries for three months because of a lack of money and many things to do."

His colleague was startled, and hurriedly waved his hands and snorted at him, then looked outside again.

"My young master Ning, please don't talk nonsense. You can't compare this randomly." He said in a low voice hurriedly.

Comparing the current emperor with the emperor who destroyed his country in the previous dynasty, if this were to get out, Yu Shi would eat him up.

"Comparing what? I didn't." Ning Yunzhao said with a smile, "I just said that you can't talk like that. Your Majesty has not defaulted on salary."

My colleague was stunned.

"I've already said it at the meeting just now..." He pointed outside.

"That's not arrears." Ning Yunzhao said, "It's clearly about voluntary donation of one month's salary. This donation is different from withholding."

What's the difference? My colleague was stunned and then laughed. It's just a nicer way of saying it.

Who volunteered?

"I volunteered." Ning Yunzhao said seriously, "It was because of the bravery and perseverance of Duke Cheng and other generals in the north that the Jin people had to seek peace. It is only natural that the court should reward Duke Cheng and others. However, the court treasury cannot take out so much money at the moment. We eat the emperor's salary and share his worries. What's the big deal about donating one month's salary? How much is one month's salary?"

One month's salary is indeed not much money, the colleague thought about it, but then laughed again and stared at Ning Yunzhao.

"You are really different from your uncle. You have no opinion on the major events of the court?" He glared and said, "You agree with everything His Majesty says?"

"Because it's really good." Ning Yunzhao said, "I think this is a good thing. This will give the soldiers the honor they deserve and also allow us to express our respect for them. I think one month is too little. I am willing to donate two months."

My colleague pouted.

"Ning Chang, don't act crazy and stupid." He glared at me and said, "Is this a matter of money?"

"I think so." Ning Yunzhao said.

"What is that? You are not a fool." The colleague said angrily, "Who cares about this month's money? This matter cannot be handled like this! Why should we pay for his success in becoming a Duke?"

"We should share the merits and joys together." Ning Yunzhao said.

"Yes, he has made contributions. Does that mean we have no contributions?" said colleague Ju Rong, pointing to the north. "He has made contributions by guarding the border in the north. Are our diligent work here useless?"

"How could that be? We all have made contributions. He guards the border to ensure the stability of our court. Only when our court is stable can they guard the border safely." Ning Yunzhao said, "So we share the credit."

"What are you sharing? If they are sharing, they shouldn't deduct our salaries to reward them." My colleague slapped the tables and said, "If they are sharing, they should give us rewards as well!"

Ning Yunzhao stretched out his hand to hold the tall document that was shaking from being hit, with a calm expression.

"We use our money to reward them. We also have a share of the credit for the North and the military merit. Isn't this also a reward for us?" he said.

His colleagues stared at him for a moment, seemingly speechless.

"I wish everyone would think like you." He snorted and stood up.

Watching his colleague walk out, Ning Yunzhao smiled and did not try to keep him. The room returned to silence, but the noise outside was even louder, as if everyone on the entire government street had come out.

Ning Yunzhao picked up the pen in his hand.

"Although not everyone can think like me, the more people who can think like me, the better." He said, "Otherwise, Duke Cheng will be in real trouble this time."

…

"What a vicious heart he has!"

In Ning Yan's study, Ning Shiyi slammed the table and said angrily.

"You actually resorted to such means."

Ning Yan and Ning Yunzhao sat opposite each other, looking at the chessboard, and seemed not to hear what he said.

Ning Shiyi did not stop talking.

"First, they collected random money from merchants in the city, and then drove them away if they didn't pay. This caused complaints from merchants in the city, and they almost went on strike," he said.

"It's not that serious," Ning Yunzhao said as he made his move. "I asked around, and not all merchants were affected. Only some small vendors who push carts and carry baskets along the street to sell their wares were affected. The market was not affected, and the big merchants are all safe and sound."

Ning Shiyi felt a little embarrassed when his exaggerated statement was exposed.

"Brother Shi, this is not a matter of the size of the merchants. This is not right," he said.

Ning Yan's hand holding the chess piece paused.

"Does this also mean that it is used to raise funds for rewards for Duke Cheng?" He looked at Ning Yunzhao and asked.

Ning Yunzhao shook his head.

“No,” he said. “Nothing was said to the merchants.”

Ning Yan smiled coldly and made his move.

“So I only told the officials,” he said. “It was made clear that the treasury had no money and everyone had to contribute.”

Ning Yunzhao raised his hand and the piece fell.

"It's not much, just one month's salary," he said.

"Tenth brother." Ning Shiyi couldn't help but said anxiously, moving forward, "This is not a matter of how much money it is..."

Ning Yunzhao turned to look at him.

"But now we can only insist that it is a matter of money." He interrupted him and said in a calm voice, "Insist that it is a small matter, otherwise it will play into his heart."

Ning Shiyi looked at him in astonishment, while Ning Yan lowered his head to look at the chessboard with a gloomy expression.

"Your Majesty, is this what you agree to?" he said.

Ning Yunzhao continued to make moves.

"Why doesn't your majesty agree?" he said, "Your majesty is determined to reward Duke Cheng, and is grateful for his hard work. He has not rejected any of his requests or those of the officers and soldiers. When he heard that the Ministry of Personnel said it couldn't come up with the money, your majesty burst into tears and wanted to use the money for the harem."

After the emperor donated money, the Ministry of Personnel suggested that officials also donate money.

This was not forced by the emperor, it was the idea of ​​the Ministry of Personnel. The emperor was not wrong at all. If there was any fault, it was the Ministry of Personnel's fault.

So why would the emperor disagree?

Ning Shiyi was silent. The chess piece in Ning Yan's hand did not fall for a long time. The study room suddenly became quiet.

At this moment, bursts of laughter broke out in Huang Cheng's study.

There were quite a few people sitting in the study, drinking tea, drinking wine, talking and laughing, it was quite lively.

…"Your Majesty is right. Your Majesty is a benevolent monarch." A man was holding a teacup and said to several people, "If there is any mistake, it is all the fault of you, the Ministry of Personnel. What a stupid idea you came up with! Collecting taxes, it's your fault that you came up with it."

"Yeah, we work day and night, is it just for a few taels of salary every month?" another man also said loudly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the bustling study suddenly became silent.

Everyone looked at the man.

The man finally came to his senses.

"No, no, I mean we work day and night just for a few taels of silver every month." He said hastily, pointing at the man opposite him in anger, "You officials are really killing us by doing this."

Well, that's right.

The study became lively again.

"It's not about the money," someone said. "If you can do it once, there will definitely be a next time. Once bad things start, there's no way to stop them."

Everyone echoed the sentiment, pointing at the men and looking extremely angry.

The men who were looked down upon were smiling.

"We can't do anything about it," one of the men said, throwing up his hands helplessly. "We can't cook without rice. We don't have money to pay, and we can't appease the soldiers. What can we do if trouble occurs? We can only let everyone down. You can't blame us if you want to."

As if waiting for his words, everyone present raised their glasses.

"Who is to blame?" they asked in unison.

The man also raised the teacup in his hand.

"Of course, Duke Cheng," he said loudly.

The study suddenly became noisy.

"Why?" they shouted again in unison.

The man raised his glass again.

"Because he is aggressive, and because his officers and generals follow his example," he said loudly.

The study was even more lively.

"Who to blame?"

"Duke Cheng."

“Who is being aggressive?”

"Duke Cheng."

"Who is asking for a reward?"

"Duke Cheng."

The sounds of shouting, laughing and drinking were chaotic yet orderly, making the atmosphere in the study room strangely lively.

Amidst the excitement, Huang Cheng, who was sitting at the top, hunched over slightly, raised his wine glass, and slowly poured it onto the ground.

"Duke Cheng." He smiled faintly, "Please."