Chapter 12: Female Zhuge Liang Offers Advice
"Your Highness!" Yun Zhao's heart tightened, and he blurted out, "Doesn't that mean you have to pay two hundred thousand taels?"
She looked at Xiao Heng's handsome face, and the memories of her two lifetimes surged - Xiao Heng was considered honest among the princes, and his fiefdom was not rich, so where did he get so much cash?
"Your Highness, you are too busy to take care of yourself... My Yun family has already donated the jade mine to Your Majesty."
Xiao Heng's eyes were filled with surprise. "A Zhao, the Yun family's century-old mineral map is so precious. How could you bear to give it to your brother?"
Yun Zhao lowered his eyelashes, hiding his complicated emotions. "The war has just ended, and the national treasury is as empty as a leaky boat. If the mineral deposits can alleviate Your Majesty's urgent needs, the Yun family will certainly do their best. The same applies to donating silver, but..."
She paused, her voice lowering. "The amount Your Majesty is asking for is monstrous. Half the court officials probably couldn't come up with it even if they sold their entire fortunes. And even if they could, based on their official salaries, how could they explain the source of the money?"
Xiao Heng's face changed slightly. This was his biggest worry, and it was also the deadlock that kept all the civil and military officials in the court from doing anything at the moment!
Donating silver is a must, but asking for too much will become a death warrant, forcing people to expose their dirty finances.
"Your Highness, why don't you advise His Majesty again?" Yun Zhao raised his eyes, his gaze earnest. "Relieve some of the burdens and do what you can. Thunder and rain are all grace from the emperor, but if you push too hard, you might breed resentment."
Xiao Heng pondered for a moment and nodded heavily: "A Zhao is absolutely right. I will go and ask to see my brother again!"
It was time to serve tea. Yun Zhao stood by with a teacup in his hand and could clearly hear Xiao Heng's low words.
However, Xiao Jin, who was sitting on the throne, was just slowly wiping the blade of the Qingyun Sword with a piece of brocade handkerchief, and the cold light reflected on his cold and hard profile.
"Royal brother..."
"No need to say more." Xiao Jin interrupted, his voice not loud but full of unquestionable pressure, "The order has been issued, and it will not be changed. As for whether it can be produced by then..."
He raised his eyes, his sharp gaze like a hawk sweeping across the several palace servants standing in the hall, and finally paused quickly on Yun Zhao, "I have my own plans. However, this proposal must not be leaked to anyone!"
Yun Zhao's hand, holding the tea tray, trembled violently, nearly spilling the scalding tea! [No leaks? There are seven or eight people standing in this hall. Who is the King of Qin's man? Who is the Queen Mother's spy? Stupid ruler! You're putting us all on the fire! Leaking the secret means death, and keeping it doesn't guarantee survival!]
Cold sweat instantly soaked her back. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into and avoid this invisible murderous intent.
Xiao Jin's gaze fell on Yun Zhao again, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes: "Yun Zhao, since your Yun family has contributed the mineral map and made a great contribution to the country, you will be exempted from the silver donation this time."
He changed the subject, probingly asking, "Your brother Yun Ting is defending the border against foreign aggression. Is his military pay... sufficient?"
[Of course there's a shortage! It's a severe shortage! You, my dog emperor, know this all too well! The last few times I petitioned for funds, you just brushed them off with the empty treasury. And it was the Yun family who sold their property and paid for it out of their own pockets!]
Yun Zhao cursed inwardly, but could only kneel respectfully. "Your Majesty, the border is bitterly cold, and the consumption of food and supplies is enormous... Military pay is truly stretched to the limit."
Xiao Jin's fingertips tapped lightly on the imperial desk, making a dull sound as if he were weighing his options. After a moment, he said calmly, "Once the silver donation is completed, I will allocate 200,000 taels from the treasury specifically for Yun Ting's military supplies."
"Two...two hundred thousand?!" Yun Zhao looked up suddenly, incredulous. "He refused to give me anything even though I cried poor a few times before, but why is he suddenly so generous now? What's this unpredictable tyrant planning?"
Xiao Heng was also surprised, but he was more worried about the current deadlock. "Brother Your Majesty, I've already taken the lead in donating 100,000 taels, but the officials are still waiting and watching, with no action. At this rate, the three-day deadline will be up in a flash. How about... I take some people and go door to door to 'invite' them?"
[Force? A cornered dog will only cause more trouble!] Yun Zhao frowned. [How about... finding a typical example? Target those with the Empress's support and a wealthy family... Kill them to scare the monkeys!]
As soon as this thought flashed through her mind, Xiao Jin's eyes, which were as perceptive as those of a man, locked onto her with an irresistible inquiry: "Yun Zhao, do you have any 'good' ideas for this deadlock?"
[Even if there is one, I won't tell you! My father repeatedly warned me to behave like a quail when entering the palace!] Yun Zhao lowered her head even lower, her voice as soft as a mosquito's: "I am stupid and dare not make irresponsible comments about the court..."
"I forgive you!" Xiao Jin's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable command, "Speak!"
Zhang Fuan also gave an encouraging look: "Miss Yun, since His Majesty has spoken, you can speak freely."
The pressure was overwhelming! Yun Zhao took a deep breath and quickly scanned the several palace servants standing with their heads bowed in the hall—among them, there had to be spies!
She gritted her teeth and spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "I dare you. Your Majesty, it's better to open up than to block. How about... spread some 'rumors'?"
"Oh? Why?" Xiao Heng asked.
"For example..." Yun Zhao made up his mind, "If His Majesty turns over a certain Empress's name card tonight, someone with ulterior motives could inadvertently leak the news, saying that it's because the Empress's mother's family donated a huge sum of silver, which has won His Majesty's favor. Then, the others would hear the news, and for the sake of their family's future and the Empress in the palace, they would definitely... rush to get in!"
"Brilliant!" Xiao Heng's eyes lit up instantly, and he couldn't help but clap his hands in praise. "A Zhao! This is a brilliant plan! Attacking the heart is the best way, without sacrificing a single soldier! No wonder you always came out on top during the strategy discussions at the academy!"
Xiao Jin's eyes suddenly darkened, like a bottomless cold pond.
He stared at Yun Zhao, his gaze seemingly seeing through her completely. After a moment, a faint, yet heart-wrenching smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Zhang Fuan."
"The old slave is here!"
"Order! Tonight, turn over Concubine Liu's nameplate." Xiao Jin's voice was firm. "Also, have our people tell Censor Liu that his donation of 50,000 taels was a timely help, and I have made note of it."
Concubine Liu! Censor Liu's eldest daughter!
She entered the palace when Xiao Jin ascended the throne three years ago, but has been unknown and unfavored ever since.
It's most appropriate to start with her and her father who is famous for his integrity!
The order was like dropping a huge rock into still water. The news spread quickly throughout the harem and the court as if it had wings.
The threshold of Yanying Hall was practically broken down! Concubines and concubines, maids, and trusted eunuchs came in an endless stream, holding silver bills and boxes to "donate silver," each with an eager and expectant look on their faces.
The news that Concubine Liu was promoted to Imperial Concubine overnight was like adding fuel to a raging fire, completely igniting the "enthusiasm" of the concubines in the harem and their families!
The emperor took Zhang Fuan with him to the palace of the newly appointed Consort Liu. The noisy palace finally quieted down.
Before Xiao Heng left, he walked up to the exhausted Yun Zhao, his eyes complex, filled with concern and a hint of subtle emotion: "Ah Zhao, what about you? This deep palace is treacherous. When do you plan to... withdraw?"
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