Chapter 192 192 Crown Prince Selection
It is impossible to spell it out.
If they dare to do so, Emperor Qingyuan will be the first to chop them into 208 pieces that cannot be put back together.
Then Princess Zhaoyang would grind their bones into ashes, so that they would be truly dead without leaving any trace.
Therefore, throughout the entire New Year's Eve, they could only look at each other in bewilderment at the sumptuous food and wine, feeling helpless and furious amid the deafening sound of gongs and drums.
On the 16th day of the first lunar month, all officials returned to the court.
When talking about New Year's Eve, some officials had ferocious expressions and gnashed their teeth.
"So the Imperial Guards also went to your house?"
"Yes, I went."
Not only did he go, he also made a fuss for most of the night and didn't leave until the hour of Yin on the first day of the first lunar month.
That's all.
Just after an hour of silence, at the hour of Mao, they ended their vigil and were about to go back to sleep when four more imperial guards arrived and continued to beat drums and gongs to demand the repayment of the money.
Everyone: “…”
This is not enough!
For the next half month, the imperial guards came to harass them every day, rain or shine, even more punctually than their attendance at report.
——Of course it was on time. Princess Zhaoyang promised them that if they collected the debt for one day, they would get ten taels of silver.
For the sake of the sweet-smelling silver, even if they shout at the top of their lungs or even if knives rain from the sky, it cannot stop their determination to come to the door to collect the debt!
Looking at his colleague's pale face and huge dark circles under his eyes, the official in debt's lips trembled.
"When will this day end?"
"I suspect His Majesty's claim on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month that he was too old to endure the night and that he didn't want to hold the New Year's Eve palace banquet, allowing you and me to reunite with our families, was a deliberate act. He was simply aiding and abetting the evil, making it easier for Princess Zhaoyang to torture you and me."
"It's not doubt, it's certainty."
Say it again——
Damn Princess Zhaoyang!
Damn Emperor Qingyuan!
I'm going to fight you!
"Are they really going to force us to pay back the money before they'll let us go? But that's not just a few dozen taels, not a few hundred taels, but hundreds of thousands of taels!"
As happy as they were when they borrowed money and spent it, as painful they are now.
I can’t bear to pay back the money.
If you don't pay me back, I'll die.
Either way, the consequences are not what they want to see.
silence.
There was a long silence.
After a long while, someone spoke in a difficult tone, "Why don't we ask someone to plead with Princess Zhaoyang and ask her to negotiate with them and make some concessions?"
The only solution now is to procrastinate.
Tomorrow and tomorrow, still no money.
I promised to pay back the money, but exactly when and how much I will pay back remains a question.
"So, who can I ask for help?"
Everyone's eyes met, and an answer was about to come out.
"Apart from that person, no one else in the court has ever had any contact with Princess Zhaoyang."
Princess Zhaoyang was overbearing and domineering. Everyone would run away when they saw her. How could they have a close relationship with her and frequent contacts like that man?
"...Are there no other options?"
If that person knew that they needed her help, she would definitely act as if she was worth two million and five hundred thousand. She would first make sarcastic remarks, and then ask for an exorbitant price, trying to drain their private money.
——Given how shameless that person is, she will definitely do that!
"It's already this late and you're still fussing about your reputation. My head is filled with the clanging of gongs and drums. I even dreamt they transformed into humans, chasing me with their bloody mouths open, yelling they want to eat my brain."
Everyone: “…”
Although, who isn't?
They were badly tortured by the Imperial Guards - or rather, Princess Zhaoyang who was behind the Imperial Guards. They were almost going insane and could no longer recognize people.
Finally, the oldest elder made the final decision: "It's settled. Everyone go back and prepare your gifts. Come over after your shift tomorrow."
"Alas, this is the only way."
"Let's go and do what we need to do."
......
The next day, in the evening.
When Du Qingtang returned to Duke Wen's Mansion, he found several tricycles parked at the door, blocking most of the street. He frowned slightly.
"Master Du! Master Du!"
The moment Du Qingtang got off the car, several men in official robes of various colors rushed out from the tricycle, followed by servants holding valuable gifts, and rushed towards her like a lost army.
Du Qingtang: “…”
At a glance, I saw a few old acquaintances.
Whenever she brought up something at the morning court, these people would always jump the most excitedly, looking as if she had killed their parents and they wanted to eat her alive.
Looking at the gift box held in the servant's hands and arms, Du Qingtang's mind flashed with eleven big words:
The weasel pays a New Year's visit to the chicken with no good intentions.
"Master Du, you've really kept me waiting! But what new research projects does the institute have? I wonder if Master Du could reveal a few? That way, I can be mentally prepared."
"I heard that Lord Du enjoys playing chess. A few days ago, I got a torreya chessboard. I happened to be free today, so I specially brought it to you."
"Master Du, you have worked hard all day. Please come in."
Du Qingtang: “…”
Listen to what she is saying, it seems like she is a guest.
Du Qingtang didn't even bother to glance at them, and walked straight past them and strode into the house.
Meng Fang coughed lightly, suppressed his smile and quickly followed.
The master and servant walked in the blink of an eye. Everyone's expressions were stunned for a moment. Realizing that they were ignored by Du Qingtang, they almost bit their teeth and chased after him with a shameless face.
"Master Du, please wait for me!" Lu Sicheng called out in a mournful voice.
Du Qingtang paused, looked back, and said coldly: "I don't accept gifts, stay away."
Lu Sicheng choked, his face turning blue. He cursed inwardly, but smiled flatteringly on the surface, bowing and saying, "Master Du, I have offended you many times in the past. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against an old fellow like me."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone echoed them.
"I used to have a bad brain and a foul mouth. You should just treat me as a piece of shit... Anyway, it was all my fault in the past. I hope Lord Du will forgive me."
"I came here today precisely to apologize to you. Why don't we go in first?"
In public, with so many people blocking the entrance to Duke Wen's mansion, many people had already noticed them and stopped to point and talk.
Their reputation has been ruined by Princess Zhaoyang, and they don't want to become the rats crossing the street that everyone wants to kill.
Du Qingtang adjusted his sleeves lightly and asked directly, "No one comes to visit you for no reason. Are you here to discuss the repayment of the national treasury?"
No one expected Du Qingtang to ask so bluntly, and the flattering smile froze on his face.
Du Qingtang stood with his hands behind his back: "When asking for help, you should have the attitude of asking for help."
Alarm bells rang in everyone's minds. What did this crazy woman want to do?
Lu Sicheng swallowed his saliva and answered cautiously, "What should I do so that you will agree to intercede with Princess Zhaoyang on our behalf and delay the repayment?"
Du Qingtang hummed softly, his eyes falling on several people, as if he was considering something.
Everyone didn't know what she was up to. Their hearts were in their throats. They stared at Du Qingtang intently and suddenly regretted doing so.
With Du Qingtang's utter lack of conscience, she would definitely eat all their flesh, drink all their blood, burn their bones, and scatter the ashes.
Just when they were thinking of retreating and thinking of finding a random excuse to slip away, Du Qingtang spoke.
"My request is not high. I only need a few words from you gentlemen. I will consider granting your request and go to the Princess's Mansion to intercede on your behalf."
Everyone felt that there was something fishy going on, and they all kept silent, their faces full of vigilance and precaution.
Du Qingtang remained unperturbed by being treated like a scourge, and spoke calmly, "...as long as everyone follows my instructions, I might even be able to persuade His Highness to postpone repayment and even waive a portion of the outstanding debt."
Everyone who learned of Du Qingtang's request: "......"
The hanging heart finally died, and it fell to the ground with a "bang", smashing into pieces.
But even though they knew there was something fishy going on, they still couldn't help but be tempted.
Although Du Qingtang is insidious, cunning and unscrupulous... (eight hundred derogatory words omitted here), she said she would help them avoid the debt owed to the national treasury!
Several people turned around and whispered.
"Do you really want to tell me?"
"What if it's a trick?"
"But this is our only chance. If we miss it, those damned Imperial Guards will haunt us day and night like ghosts."
"I'd rather take a gamble than repay the loan. It's two hundred and forty thousand taels. Even if I sold my entire family, along with all the shops and farmland under my name, I still couldn't come up with that much money."
Whether to say it or not, whether to pay back the money or not, this is a question of probability.
Du Qingtang watched their furtive conversation with a cold eye, and waved away Gu Yajun, Zhou Cheng and the other two who were watching the fun. "How did the discussion go? My time is very valuable, and I won't wait any longer."
Lu Sicheng gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.
To pay off the debt, I'm willing to risk it all!
"Women's education can help them govern a country or manage a household. I, Lü Shao, sincerely support women taking the imperial examinations and serving as officials in the imperial court!"
The others closed their eyes and made up their minds: "Women's education can help them govern the country and manage the family. I, xx, sincerely support women taking the imperial examinations and serving as officials in the court!"
The voice was like a loud bell, sonorous and powerful, full of passion, and filled with the determination to support women in studying, taking the imperial examinations, and even becoming officials. It echoed between heaven and earth and lasted for a long time.
The voices of the onlookers suddenly rose in volume, becoming a buzzing sound that was inaudible.
But they knew that it would definitely not be good.
But they don't care.
The imperial court had already opened schools for girls, allowed women to take the imperial examinations, and allowed women to serve as officials. As officials appointed by the imperial court, there seemed to be nothing wrong with them expressing their support.
Lu Sicheng took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress the discomfort in his heart, and asked with a sluggish face: "Master Du, are you satisfied?"
Du Qingtang smiled slightly: "Everyone, please go back."
Everyone: “?”
Lu Sicheng frowned and said, "Master Du, please do as you say and go to Zhaoyang as soon as possible..."
Du Qingtang: "When did I promise you that I would go and plead with His Highness?"
Everyone: “???”
"Master Du, what do you mean by this?"
"Didn't you say that if we just said what we said, you would plead with Princess Zhaoyang on our behalf to postpone our repayments and waive part of the debt?"
"We have already done what you asked. You can't go back on your word!"
Du Qingtang raised his chin slightly, as if he had heard something funny: "I only said I'd consider it. When did I ever agree to it?"
Everyone: “???”
"Meng Fang, see you off."
The young and promising Duke Wen waved his sleeves, leaving no cloud behind.
The corners of Meng Fang's mouth twitched as he looked at the officials whose faces were livid and eyes were filled with anger because of the cruel toy they had suffered. A submissive smile appeared on his gaunt face as he raised his hand and gestured, "My Lords, please come in."
Lu Sicheng stared at Du Qingtang's back as she walked away, his eyeballs bulging, almost popping out of his sockets, and it looked like he wanted to bite her to death.
The expressions of the other officials were no less disgruntled, and they looked as if they hated Du Qingtang to death.
Meng Fang was horrified by what he saw, and he admired his master's ability to drive a normal person crazy even more. He didn't show any emotion on his face. "I have other important matters to attend to, so I'm sorry I can't see you off."
Lu Sicheng glared at him, cursed him as a bully, and walked away.
Several other officials followed suit, cursing the man as a dog slave, and walked away in anger.
Meng Fang's smile remained unchanged: "I respectfully bid you farewell, gentlemen."
So what if I'm a dog slave?
Aren’t you all still being turned away by a dog slave like me?
......
After Lu Sicheng returned, he sat in the flower hall and sulked.
The servant placed the gift box on the table and tiptoed away.
The more Lu Sicheng thought about it, the angrier he became, and he was about to explode with anger. He raised his hand and threw the valuable gift he had bought at great expense to the ground.
"Asshole!"
Lu Sicheng still felt unsatisfied, so he sat down and stomped on the gift box a few times, flattening it, then stood up and stomped on it again.
Then his foot slipped and he fell on his back.
He fell flat on his back, flailing his limbs around for a long time without being able to turn over.
Lu Sicheng: "Ahhhhh, I'm so angry! Du Qingtang, you dare to play tricks on me, I'm going to kill you!"
The servant called a doctor, and the doctor said that Lu Sicheng had sprained his waist.
Lu Sicheng held his old waist and asked, "Do you need to stay in bed?"
Just say you need it, and he won't have to go on duty.
No value = the probability of seeing Du Qingtang is zero
Lu Sicheng couldn't guarantee whether he would suddenly kill Du Qingtang the moment he saw him.
Unfortunately, the doctor didn't understand Lu Sicheng's hint and said cheerfully, "You are very lucky, sir. The fall was not serious. You will be able to report to work on time tomorrow!"
Lu Sicheng: "...Get lost!"
doctor:"???"
Lu Sicheng was so angry that he couldn't sleep all night and kept his eyes wide open until dawn.
At the hour of Mao, the sound of gongs and drums rang out on time.
Lu Sicheng stood up with a sluggish face, changed his clothes, washed, and ate like a wandering soul, then floated into the imperial city and came to the Imperial Household Department.
After drinking a cup of strong tea, Lu Sicheng's wandering soul returned to his place and he let out a comfortable sigh.
"Master Lu, I have finished processing the paperwork you assigned me yesterday."
A clear female voice suddenly sounded, and Lu Sicheng opened his eyes.
It was the chief clerk of the Imperial Household Department, Xu Qing.
A woman who is unfaithful to women, has no sense of shame, is willing to be lowly, and has sex with men, and has no chastity at all.
It just so happened that this woman took the formal imperial examination route and ranked second in the palace examination, showing her remarkable talent.
Thinking of what he had said in front of Duke Wen's mansion yesterday, Lu Sicheng exhaled through his nose and said in a contemptuous tone, "I understand. I'll deal with this pile as well."
Xu Qing glanced at the document that was half a person's height. It was obviously a document that needed to be handled by Lu Sicheng himself, but he pushed it to her.
Xu Qing took a deep breath, thinking about the rumors she had heard on her way this morning. The anger in her chest quietly dissipated, and she suddenly laughed: "Yes, I'll take my leave."
Lu Sicheng: “?”
No, what the hell is that fake smile on her face?
Lu Sicheng looked around and was about to criticize this ignorant and audacious woman with his colleagues, when he suddenly found that his colleagues were also looking at him with eyes full of contempt.
Lu Sicheng: “???”
Lü Sicheng was stunned for a moment, not understanding, and asked, "What's going on?"
Another temple official curled his lips and said sarcastically, "Master Lu, you are really two-faced. In front of us, you strongly oppose women studying for the imperial examinations, but outside, you support women taking the imperial examinations and becoming officials. Even those who avoid military service are not as fickle as you!"
Chameleon, scientific name is Chameleon.
Lu Sicheng: “???”
"It's all spread out there now. Lord Lu and Lord Fang are all very supportive of women studying and taking the imperial examinations to become officials. Because of you and your family, many people are planning to send their daughters to Xiasheng Academy."
"Back then, you urged us to join you in opposing women's participation in the imperial examinations, which made my wife look bad to me for a while. Now, you've changed your tune and sided with Duke Wen, making us feel like we're not welcome here."
"Master Lu, you are truly capable!"
As my colleagues spoke, they clapped their hands in a mocking manner.
Lu Sicheng: "......"
On the other hand, the officials who went to Duke Wen's Mansion with Lu Sicheng and tried to get Du Qingtang to be their lobbyist faced the same situation.
Their former colleagues who had stood on the same front with them had changed their usual friendly demeanor, revealing sinister faces and speaking in extremely harsh tones.
"You are such a wicked old fellow!"
"Two-faced, aren't you afraid of being stabbed to death by your own spinning blade?"
"You shameless villain, I will cut off all ties with you!"
Several officials: “…”
Say it a third time.
Damn Princess Zhaoyang!
Damn Du Qingtang!
Especially Du Qingtang, who not only fooled them but also took advantage of them. They will never let her go!
But before they could take revenge on Du Qingtang, Princess Zhaoyang brought people to collect the debt.
A woman with sharp eyebrows and an imposing heroic demeanor stood at the door of her house with her hands behind her back, followed by several officials from the Ministry of Revenue. Her tone was casual, but it revealed an indescribable sense of oppression: "Master Yuan, it's been so many days, isn't it time to pay back the money?"
Lord Yuan had not expected Princess Zhaoyang to come to collect the debt. His eyelids twitched wildly, and he stiffened his neck and said, "I'm really sorry, but I don't have that much money at home..."
Princess Zhaoyang took out a bright yellow token with the four characters "As if I were here in person" clearly written on it.
The sophistry stopped abruptly, Lord Yuan's eyes widened, his throat choked, and he almost choked to death.
Princess Zhaoyang held up the "As if I were here in person" token with her fingertips. With the imperial guards clearing the way, she walked through the gate with dignity. "No money? That's not a problem. I can pay off my debt with something in kind."
"Come here, find all the valuables in this house and calculate their value in silver."
"If it's still not enough to pay off the debt," Princess Zhaoyang smiled, but it made Lord Yuan's breath catch, as if he had seen a demonic demon. "Then I will have to inconvenience you, Lord Yuan, and send your whole family to work in the quarry."
Master Yuan's face turned from blue to red, his chest heaving violently. He closed his eyes in despair and squeezed out each word from between his teeth: "I'll still pay! I'll still pay! Isn't that enough?!"
......
Afterwards, Princess Zhaoyang took the imperial guards and officials from the Ministry of Revenue to the three families to collect debts.
The three officials were afraid of the "As if I were present in person" token, and were controlled by Princess Zhaoyang's shameless behavior that was almost like a robbery. They had no power to fight back and could only honestly return the money owed to the national treasury.
On that day, Princess Zhaoyang paraded through the city with several carts full of silver, attracting the attention of countless people.
"I heard that this person is now the Minister of Revenue. Looking at her demeanor, she is indeed no ordinary princess."
"It's said that those shameless people hadn't paid back the money for nearly thirty years, but as soon as His Highness Zhaoyang took office, they all paid back obediently. This shows that although His Highness is new to the officialdom, he is very capable and can even control those old-timers."
"Your Majesty has so many princes and princesses, but I admire Her Highness Zhaoyang the most. If she hadn't sacrificed her life for the country, there wouldn't be a Great Xia today."
"It's a pity that she is a woman, otherwise..."
"So what if she's a girl? It's just a matter of a word from His Majesty."
The cold wind blew the whispers of discussion into her ears, and Princess Zhaoyang raised the corners of her lips slightly.
......
After the four officials "voluntarily" returned the debt owed to the national treasury, in order to escape the torture of the imperial guards and to avoid being humiliated by Princess Zhaoyang who came to collect the debt, the remaining princes and officials sold their belongings and finally collected the debt. They sent someone to deliver it to the Ministry of Revenue before the end of the first month of the year.
The clerk of the Ministry of Revenue counted the money correctly, cancelled the IOUs from that year, and sent nearly 10 million taels of silver to the Zuo Cangku.
"Bang--"
The door of the left storage room slowly closed, completely blocking out the scent of gold, silver and banknotes.
-
On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Princess Zhaoyang took office.
In the following two months, all the civil and military officials in the court and the royal family were brutally tortured by Princess Zhaoyang. She treated them like vampires exposed to the sun, with their fangs bared and claws squeaked.
On the 30th day of the first lunar month, the Ministry of Revenue recovered the tens of millions of taels of silver that had been loaned out during the reign of the previous emperor.
At this point, the total amount of silver in the national treasury was 67.98 million taels.
Emperor Qingyuan was very pleased and praised Princess Zhaoyang highly at the grand court meeting on the first day of February.
Officials who were brutally persecuted by Princess Zhaoyang: "......"
Speechless, don’t want to talk.
After the morning court session, Du Qingtang turned around and looked at Princess Zhaoyang, with smiles in both of their eyes.
Du Qingtang bowed and led Fu Ci away.
On the other hand, Princess Zhaoyang returned to the Ministry of Revenue and began to rectify the officials of the Ministry of Revenue.
Ministry of Revenue official: “???”
Ministry of Revenue official: “!!!”
Is it not enough that you have persecuted so many people? Are you persecuting them again?
Over the next five days, Princess Zhaoyang cleaned up the Ministry of Revenue with lightning speed.
Anyone who made a mistake would be demoted or dismissed from office at the very least, or thrown into prison at the worst, and would be severely punished.
Before Princess Zhaoyang took office, the Ministry of Revenue had more than 400 officials, including minor clerks.
Two months after Princess Zhaoyang took office, there were only more than 200 officials left in the Ministry of Revenue.
Ministry of Revenue official: “…”
For a time, the entire Ministry of Revenue was in a panic, and the officials were miserable. When they saw Princess Zhaoyang, they were like mice seeing a cat. They were trembling in fear as they did their jobs, fearing that they would be caught by this ancestor and be imprisoned.
Lu Sicheng hated Princess Zhaoyang for causing him to lose face and be deserted by his friends and relatives, so he ran to Emperor Qingyuan and flattered Princess Zhaoyang.
"No one is perfect. Nearly a hundred officials from the Ministry of Revenue have been demoted, dismissed, or even killed for making minor mistakes. In my humble opinion, Princess Zhaoyang is arrogant and overbearing, and truly unfit for this important position!"
Emperor Qingyuan stared at Lu Sicheng until his scalp tingled and he broke out in a cold sweat before he spoke: "Small mistakes left uncorrected led to great disasters. I don't think Zhaoyang did anything wrong. Instead, it's you, Lu Aiqing—"
Lu Sicheng's eyelids twitched.
"I remember that last time, Li Jin and the other women were instrumental in suppressing the rebellion. I wanted to reward them generously, but you intervened, demanding I send troops to attack the Li Family Stronghold and threatening to kill me in the Golden Throne Hall if I didn't agree to your demands."
"I punished you then, thinking you would learn your lesson. But now it seems you haven't improved at all."
"Zhaoyang recovered the debt for me, which is clearly a great achievement. Those officials in the Ministry of Revenue are even more harmful to the country and should be punished and killed. Yet you come to me and spread rumors and criticize Zhaoyang. You truly deserve to die!"
The angry voice of Emperor Qingyuan exploded above his head. Lu Sicheng's legs went limp and he collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud.
"Come here, strip him of his official robes and expel him from the Imperial Study. From now on, he is not allowed to set foot in the Imperial City!"
Lü Sicheng was horrified and said urgently, "Your Majesty, I was just trying to persuade you not to indulge Princess Zhaoyang. Why are you being so harsh?"
"Whether you are admonishing me out of kindness or out of selfish motives, you know it in your heart." Emperor Qingyuan waved his hand, "Drag him out!"
The imperial guards ignored Lu Sicheng's struggle, covered his mouth and dragged him out of the imperial study, stripped him of his official robe outside the palace, and threw him out of the imperial city.
It didn't take long before the news of Lu Sicheng's dismissal spread, and the officials who had been watching secretly and wanted to see Princess Zhaoyang make a fool of herself were very disappointed.
"After this incident, the Ministry of Revenue has completely become her one-man show."
"But you and I both have to admit that Princess Zhaoyang does have some abilities."
It was originally thought that after she took over the Ministry of Revenue, she would just be a hands-off manager and rely on the two assistant ministers to handle all affairs.
Who would have thought that in just two months, she had solved the huge problem of borrowing from the treasury.
Although the method is a bit tough and rough, we have to admit that this is the only effective way to deal with those officials who pretend to be stupid and refuse to pay back the money.
Of course, it also gave the officials a lot of fun.
After solving the treasury loan problem, Princess Zhaoyang quickly took control of the entire Ministry of Revenue with lightning speed.
Someone once asked the left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, and they were found to have no involvement in the entire process, as it was all done by Princess Zhaoyang alone.
This means that Princess Zhaoyang is not as ridiculous and incompetent as the rumors say. She can even be described as smart, capable and talented.
"What a pity, it's a woman."
"You idiot, have you forgotten that women can now serve as officials in the court?"
When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked, and an unbelievable thought came to their minds.
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