Shen Tang had no desire to say anything more about this messy debt.
Cui Hui's mother's experience could even be written into a rebirth story—in her previous life, she misjudged a seemingly loyal and honest child husband, but in reality, he was ambitious and secretly served a vassal king, doing things that could wipe out three generations of his family. After her husband's downfall, he caused the deaths of many elders who had watched her grow up, and caused her daughter's beloved to be pierced by a thousand arrows, ultimately leading her to wander the world.
Let's put ourselves in Shen Tang's shoes.
If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would definitely strangle Cui Xiao.
Even if you can't kill him, stay far away from this man.
Unfortunately, there's no going back in life.
This world is not a fictional story.
Shen Tang couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder Shanxiao's wife took her children away. In my opinion, she was too restrained."
If it were him, Choi Sun-hyo would definitely want to meet the King of Hell.
"You two handle these matters yourselves. I won't interfere, but that's only for you two. Don't drag other court officials into this." Shen Tang saw the murderous intent in Qi Shan's eyes and understood his intentions. Although he was the emperor, he couldn't be completely impartial in the face of such a deadly personal feud! The personal feud between the two could only be resolved by themselves. "It would be best to wait until the war is over."
Shen Tang really didn't think Qi Shan had an absolute chance of winning.
Cui Xiao had a low profile, so low that many people forgot he was originally part of the same group as Qin Li, Zhao Feng, and others, and that they had a vested interest in each other. Qi Shan was planning to take action against Cui Xiao, and Cui Xiao wouldn't sit idly by. Shen Tang's biggest worry was that both of them would simultaneously send reinforcements.
If they call in reinforcements, the Kangguo court will never be peaceful again.
Qi Shan's only advantage is that she notices things first.
Shen Tang thought about it carefully for a long time.
I still feel this arrangement is inappropriate.
"Fine, I'll treat you to a meal and see if we can mediate."
The best solution for Shen Tang was actually to personally and secretly have one of the two eliminated. With one dead, the feud would be sealed, extinguishing any potential spark that could escalate into a major case. Shen Tang also favored Qi Shan emotionally. If forced to choose, she would only protect Qi Shan. This was undoubtedly the optimal solution, but if Shen Tang did this, would she still be herself?
After weighing the pros and cons, will those who are spared truly feel at ease if they have to abandon a relatively unimportant member of their own group?
Especially prayers for good deeds.
He has an extreme lack of security and trust.
Who can guarantee that this situation will only happen once?
Choosing between two options is, in a sense, a dead end.
These messy accounts clearly had nothing to do with him, but Shen Tang was the one most affected: "Speaking of which, you were all acting on behalf of your own masters, and there was no right or wrong in this matter. But it just so happens that you are both serving in the same court years later, and you see each other all the time, which is why it's troublesome."
Anyone who isn't one of our own, we'll kill them without hesitation.
Why worry so much?
"...If we're talking about innocence, Cui Hui's wife is the most innocent one in this whole affair. No wonder you feel guilty." There's no need to elaborate on Qi Yuanliang and Cui Shanxiao. Those old and weak people in the bandit stronghold were once henchmen of Cui Xiao's father-in-law. Cui Hui's mother grew up in that environment, and her hands likely bear blood she shouldn't have shed. Otherwise, she wouldn't have kidnapped Qi Shanxiao and brought him back to be her daughter's male concubine just because he was asleep. Only Cui Hui knows nothing, only that she has a mother who has retired from the bandit life, a father who is a teacher, and a group of elders who look fierce but actually dote on her. She knows nothing and is the most innocent. "Yuanliang, I want to talk to her."
Shen Tang decided to take the initiative.
Let's try to salvage this political turmoil in the Kangguo court.
Qi Shan was not surprised by Shen Tang's choice.
He, who had never been soft-hearted in making enemies, felt regret for the first time when he saw the sorrow in his master's eyes—not for offending too many people and having enemies everywhere, but for being too soft-hearted back then! He should have made his enemies drink the soup of oblivion long ago, instead of leaving behind a mess to bother his master.
Fortunately, it's not too late to realize this now.
The next day, Qi Shan sent someone to inform Cui Hui.
Cui Hui, who was combing Imamsong's hair, paused for a moment.
She never expected that the head of state would meet her.
Cui Hui's understanding of Shen Tang largely stemmed from rumors and hearsay. Within Kang Kingdom, she was widely praised and lauded, while opinions outside the kingdom were mixed. Her visit to Kang Kingdom was, in a way, related to Shen Tang. She was genuinely curious about the nation that such an extraordinary woman had single-handedly built.
But her timing was unfortunate.
Kangguo is currently at war with other places.
When Cui Hui first heard this, she thought she had misheard. Having traveled extensively since entering the country, she was certain that Kangguo's prosperity and stability ranked among the top three of all the countries she had visited. She was astonished by Shen Tang's skill and dedication in governing, only to be told that this was due to the ongoing war. Without war, how wealthy and prosperous would the country be?
Longing, reverence, anticipation, amazement...
I never imagined I would be able to get so close to Shen Tang.
The other party is the ruler of a country, while I am just a commoner.
But fate is unpredictable.
She never imagined she would encounter someone from her past, not even her father, whom she avoided like the plague, was a subject of the King of Shen. On her way to see Shen Tang, Cui Hui had many guesses running through her mind, which ultimately turned into a sigh. Perhaps, she had guessed the King of Shen's intentions.
"This humble subject, Cui Hui, greets Your Majesty."
Cui Hui thought that Shen Tang would summon him to the main tent.
Unexpectedly, she took him out for a walk.
In fact, Shen Tang is really busy.
Even the time he spent meeting Cui Hui was squeezed out whenever he could.
Conquering territory doesn't mean you can rest easy just by sending troops to occupy it, especially in a place like the Northern Desert, which is home to many ethnic groups and tribes. The various tribes in the Northern Desert often distinguish friend from foe by hair color, eye color, and skin color. Communication is limited, and their living environment is relatively closed, which naturally leads to the development of different customs, lifestyles, and beliefs.
Shen Tang wanted to completely take over this territory, especially after the defeat in the Northern Desert, when resistance was at its peak. The difficulty of this task was immense. So Shen Tang simply used the most basic method.
For every human being, the basic need for survival is always the most fundamental requirement.
At the same time, it is the highest demand.
As long as she could find a way to satisfy his needs, she could gradually win people's hearts. She wasn't afraid of dealing with someone like Bei Mo, who was inherently ungrateful. If he disobeyed, she'd give him a beating followed by a sweet treat. One beating wasn't enough; she'd give him two! Food is always the lifeblood of human survival!
Shen Tang led his people to gain a deeper understanding of the conditions of the nearby tribes.
Especially the demands of tribal slaves and ordinary people.
We had a home-cooked meal around noon.
It's supposed to be home-style cooking, but it's actually a culinary disaster.
After the guests left, Shen Tang couldn't help but frown and say, "Although I know this family has already offered the best hospitality, people who don't know the situation might think they want to harm me because the food is all terrible."
Literally, it's a terrible dish.
It was a pitch-black lump, emitting a strange smell, with bubbles rising to the surface every now and then, bubbling and gurgling—to put it crudely, it was diarrhea! A bowl of steaming, piping hot excrement.
The living environment is also hard to describe.
If someone with Qin Li's obsessive-compulsive disorder were here, he would faint on the spot.
To put it in perspective, this family's annual income was less than fifty coins, which was almost unimaginable. Even more astonishing was that they still had a small surplus at the end of the year. When she mentioned this, the woman of the house practically radiated pride…
Cui Hui, as an attendant, also received a small portion of the bowl.
She finished drinking it without even frowning.
During her years of wandering the world, she had even been so hungry that she ate tree bark to stave off hunger, and the food she held in her hand was far from inedible. What truly surprised Cui Hui was that the King of Shen could finish the food without batting an eye, at least in front of others.
After noon.
Cui Hui followed Shen Tang to several more places.
Most of what I learned consisted of trivial details.
Things like how many people are in the family, whether the parents are still alive, how many children there are, how many chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep there are, what they are usually fed, whether they are cleaned and cared for, how big they are usually raised for sale and slaughter, and what the purchase price is... these are not things that a ruler should know.
When Shen Tang finished her work, she stretched.
He only remembered the other person when he caught a glimpse of Cui Hui out of the corner of his eye.
He asked, "What are you thinking about so intently, Ke Wu?"
Before Cui Hui arrived, Qi Shan had given her a hint, telling her to speak her mind. Cui Hui thought it made sense; she was just an ordinary person, while the King of Shen was a prodigy skilled in both literature and martial arts. It would be incredibly easy for him to know her true thoughts.
Therefore, she did not hide anything.
"You say this isn't something a ruler should know? Then, in Khrushchev's opinion, what should a ruler know?"
Cui Hui: "Policy? Law? Governing the court officials?"
Shen Tang put her hands on her hips and did some waist-twisting exercises to relax her muscles: "Hahaha, what Ke Wu said is right, but also wrong. In my opinion, governing a country is essentially governing a large family and managing a mansion. However, other people are dealing with a few people, a dozen people, dozens of people, or even hundreds of people, while I am dealing with millions, tens of millions, or even more."
She tried her best to explain in simple language.
"A small family may have few members, but it can have many conflicts. There are conflicts between people, conflicts over basic necessities like food, drink, and shelter, conflicts between the family and relatives, conflicts over making a living... There's a lot to learn here. As the head of the household, you need to ensure everyone is well-fed and clothed, know how to care for chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep to make them grow fast and strong, and know how to tend the family's fields for a good harvest... You need to ensure the young are cared for and the elderly are supported, know how much the family spends each day, where to buy things to save money, and what the market prices are... These things don't all fall on one person's shoulders, and the head of the household doesn't need to be an expert in everything, but at least they should know these things, be aware of them, and not be deceived..."
As she spoke, Shen Tang told a joke.
She said, "When the Kang Kingdom was first established, the royal court hired people from the previous dynasty for internal procurement. One day, I took a peek at the account book on a whim, and guess how outrageous the prices were? Five taels of silver for a single egg, and ten taels for a single duck egg..."
Shen Tang, of course, would not tolerate the other party's behavior.
They brought the person over directly and asked what happened.
Cui Hui asked curiously, "What did that person say?"
Shen Tang: "People say it's expensive, but it's always been this price. The chicken and duck eggs supplied by the Geng and Xin kingdoms in the previous dynasty were ten times more expensive than this. These eggs are produced by carefully raised tribute chickens and ducks, and the feed they are fed every day is very expensive. Only in this way can they produce the best eggs, which is in line with the status of the royal family. How can the ruler of a country use cheap eggs like commoners?"
She was so angry that her veins were throbbing.
They take kickbacks on purchases and yet they talk about it so confidently.
Do you really think you're some kind of idiot who doesn't know the suffering of ordinary people?
Cui Hui clicked his tongue in amazement: "That makes some sense."
A person's status should be matched with a certain level of pomp and circumstance.
Shen Tang said, "How could that make sense? It's utter nonsense! The feed for the chickens and ducks is top-quality, what about the standards? That's where they can make a fuss and embezzle huge sums. The eggs and duck eggs they lay are sent to the royal court, and 99% of them are embezzled. Eggs and duck eggs are just the most common food in their daily diet, what about the other fruits, vegetables, and meats? I'm not the only one in the palace who needs to eat, don't the other female officials, eunuchs, and servants eat?"
If the latter's food expenses are not that high, then they cannot embezzle?
Obviously not.
We can squeeze even more money out of them.
Shen Tang is just one person, while there are hundreds or thousands of these people!
This is just about food; what about clothing, food, housing, and transportation can't be embezzled through loopholes? If Shen Tang is completely unaware of this, if she doesn't know the prices of goods in the countryside, or the hardships of the common people, how can she empathize with them? Kangguo will also become a host for corrupt officials.
Shen Tang sighed, “Court officials assist the ruler in governing the country. Any policies and laws implemented are for the benefit of the people. If they don’t even know the lives of the people, how can the ruler guarantee that the policies implemented will effectively help the common people, instead of becoming accomplices of corrupt officials? Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.”
Cui Hui pondered for a long time.
He sighed, "It really wasn't easy."
Shen Tang nodded: "Yes, yes, it's not easy being a thief."
Being the head of the family has really been tough for her.
She also had to worry about the conflicts among her subordinates.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Tang was about to move on to the topic.
To everyone's surprise, Cui Hui nodded first.
With a solemn expression, he said, "Your Majesty's intentions are good, and I understand. I will certainly not cause Your Majesty any trouble. I did harbor resentment towards my father in the past, but as time has passed and I am now a parent myself, I have become more forgiving. However, it is impossible for me to forgive him. The person he truly deserves forgiveness for is not me..."
Cui Hui thought that Shen Tang wanted to act as an intermediary to plead for Cui Xiao.
Shen Tang: "..."
She wasn't planning to mention Sun-hyo.
Shen Tang's expression was too obvious, and Cui Hui was also stunned for a moment: "Is the king's intention today not to help me reunite with my father and daughter? I am willing to reunite, but I will not forgive."
Qishan was not mentioned at all from beginning to end.
"You mean...you don't actually intend to see Shanxiao?"
Cui Hui: "I don't really want to, I don't know how to face it."
Too many lives are separated between them.
Unfortunately, half of her bloodline came from him.
Shen Tang mumbled, "...What about Yuan Liang?"
Cui Hui said, "How hateful."
Even after all these years, I still find this person hateful.
But that's all.
If she had known that Qi Shan and Cui Xiao were both there, she wouldn't have come.
Shen Tang: "..."
Cui Hui asked softly, "Have I misunderstood?"
Shen Tang: "..."
She was so embarrassed she could dig her toes into the ground.
"In fact, Shanxiao was unaware of Yuanliang's identity."
Cui Hui was also an exceptionally intelligent person.
It was immediately clear what Shen Tang's true intention was.
He sighed, “Is Your Majesty worried that I might reveal Qu Tan’s identity? I find that strange. Given my father’s temperament, if he knew Qu Tan’s true identity, how could he have served as a minister in the same court so peacefully? Although I come from humble origins, I know that the greater good is important. If Your Majesty trusts me, then leave my father’s situation to me. I guarantee he will stay quiet.”
My mother once said that a man's guilt depends on his feelings.
As long as he still has feelings, guilt is expensive.
Choi Sun-hyo was indebted to one side.
|ω`)
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