Chapter 93
Shen Yanzhi waved his hand to let the palace servants leave, and personally poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to her. "He is trying to comfort you, and also to tell others that he is very satisfied with you as the Crown Princess."
"Are you satisfied with the speed and sharpness of my knife?" Song Qingyuan took the teacup, the warmth from her fingertips dispelling some of the chill she'd brought back from the throne room. She blew gently, watching the mist rising. "The King of Wei lost today, but what about my father? I'm afraid he's watching with gusto from his throne."
Shen Yanzhi sat down beside her and took her other, slightly cold hand. "He's happy to see us fight the King of Wei, or even any of our brothers. If we win, he punishes the loser and rewards the winner, making us feel like we have everything under control. But in reality, he always holds the strings."
This is "Gu breeding." Put all the poisonous insects in a jar and let them fight each other. The one that survives is the most poisonous and the strongest. And Shen Chong is the one who breeds Gu with such interest.
Song Qingyuan sighed and leaned back against the pillow. The arrogance he had forced himself to maintain in front of others finally faded, revealing a hint of fatigue. "I just think that making a fuss about the people's food is a bit too low a line."
"That's why we have to win." Shen Yanzhi's tone was calm, but revealed an unquestionable determination, "Only if we stand to the end can we prevent this kind of thing from happening again."
Song Qingyuan tilted his head to look at him. The sunlight from outside poured in through the carved wooden window, falling on his handsome face, casting a soft halo on it. This man, at the center of the vortex, always had a clear-headed, almost compassionate persistence.
She suddenly smiled, casting aside her melancholy. "You're right. If you don't want to be used as a pawn, you have to overturn the chessboard." She sat up straight, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the boxes of gold. "Your Highness, we can't keep this money."
Shen Yanzhi raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What do you think, my beloved concubine?"
"After this incident, 'Yupinxian' has gained a good reputation, but it has also been labeled 'for the imperial court.' Ordinary people will probably be deterred from buying it, thinking it's something only the rich can afford."
Song Qingyuan's mind raced. "It sounds like a good thing that my father asked the Ministry of Revenue to cooperate with him, but those old men in the Ministry of Revenue are all masters of calculating with abacus beads. Dealing with them is probably more tiring than confronting Wang Chengen in the Golden Palace."
Li Deyu, the Minister of Revenue, was a well-known "old fox" in the officialdom, and was best at playing Tai Chi and smoothing things over.
He would carry out the emperor's orders to the letter, but the efficiency and manner of his execution depended entirely on his mood and the interests behind it. It was extremely difficult for him to sincerely promote a new thing.
"So?" Shen Yanzhi looked at her with interest. He liked to see her so high-spirited, as if any problem could be easily solved in front of her.
"So we have to do it ourselves!" Song Qingyuan clapped his hands. "We have to let all the people in the capital know that 'Yupinxian' is not only a royal product, but also a common product! It's inexpensive and delicious, and it can add a fresh flavor to every household's dinner table."
She stood up and paced around the room, her thoughts becoming clearer and clearer: "We can use this bounty to hold several 'fresh food tastings' in the most prosperous places in the capital.
We'll use 'Yupinxian' to cook and offer free tastings to the public. No need for elaborate dishes, just the most familiar braised pork, stewed pork ribs, and stir-fried vegetables. Let the flavor speak for itself!
"Not only that," she became more and more excited as she spoke, "we can also invite famous chefs from the capital to compete and see who can make the most delicious dish using 'Yupinxian'.
"A prize has been set. The top three will not only receive a generous reward, but also the unofficial title of 'Eastern Palace Imperial Chef.' Your Highness, do you think that if this title gets out, all those restaurants will want to open 'Imperial Fresh'?"
As Shen Yanzhi listened to her plan, the smile in his eyes grew deeper. His Crown Princess always came up with these unexpected yet direct solutions. She might not be well versed in the twists and turns of the court, but she possessed an astonishing talent for understanding people's hearts and the market.
"This method is good," Shen Yanzhi pondered for a moment, "but it will cause too much noise. Will the censors accuse me of 'competing with the people for profit' and 'unstable crown prince'?"
Song Qingyuan smiled cunningly: "Your Highness, have you forgotten? Father's imperial decree said that 'Imperial Fresh' is 'beneficial to the country and the people' and asked us to 'vigorously promote it'.
We're not competing with the people for profit; we're responding to His Majesty's call, sharing the nation's worries and benefiting the people. As for spending money... it's the money our father has awarded us, so who dares object? Besides, we're not selling it, just inviting everyone to taste it.
This is called 'grace from above'. Your Highness is caring for the people, sharing the finest goods of the palace with them. Those censors, even if they want to find fault, should consider whether this slap will land on the emperor's face.
Shen Yanzhi burst into laughter after hearing these words. He reached out his hand, pulled her back to sit beside him, and gently scratched her nose. "You are such a little fox."
Song Qingyuan snorted complacently, then remembered something and looked more serious. "Your Highness, although the King of Wei has been demoted this time, his foundation is intact. His mother's family has extensive influence in the military, and they will never let it go after suffering such a huge loss this time. We must take precautions early."
"I understand." Shen Yanzhi's smile faded, his eyes darkening. "I'll have the Ministry of Justice dig deeper into the Liu Zhong connection. The King of Wei was exiled to his fiefdom in the south. It might seem like a punishment, but in reality, the emperor is far away, making it easier to act in secret. The south... isn't exactly peaceful."
The two exchanged glances, each understanding the other's underlying meaning. The southern border was garrisoned, saltworks inhabited, and filled with complex underworld forces. Releasing the ferocious King of Wei there would be like letting a tiger return to its natural habitat.
This is another move by the emperor.
He not only warned the King of Wei but also left him room for a comeback. At the same time, he also set a longer-term and more dangerous test for the Crown Prince Shen Yanzhi.
"It seems that our soy sauce plan needs to be done faster." Song Qingyuan said softly.
Yupinxian wasn't just a business; it was a crucial part of their salt reform strategy, the economic foundation for accumulating strength and implementing the new policies. Only by successfully pursuing this path could they secure sufficient capital to weather even more severe storms in the future.
"Tomorrow, I will accompany you to the Ministry of Revenue." Shen Yanzhi said.
"Ah?" Song Qingyuan was a little surprised.
"We have to go meet that old fox first." A cold arc appeared on the corner of Shen Yanzhi's mouth. "We have to be polite. If he cooperates, we can save some energy. If he doesn't, it won't be too late to overturn the table. It's a good opportunity to let him see that I, the crown prince, am not just good at talking in the court."
Song Qingyuan looked at him, her heart warmed. He always stood by her without hesitation when she needed him. This feeling of being firmly supported and protected made her feel extremely at ease.
"Okay." She nodded vigorously, "Then let's go meet him tomorrow!"
What she didn't know was that at this moment in the Ministry of Revenue's office, Shangshu Li Deyu was holding the news from the palace, twirling his gray beard, and his pair of seemingly dim triangular eyes were actually shining with brilliance.
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