Chapter 16 Start Attacking the Copy Copy

She was still too young after all, thinking she had come up with a plan that would kill two birds with one stone, not realizing the deep ties of interest between these noble families.

Fortunately, Gu Zheng did not suspect her.

After paying respects to Gu Zheng, led by Lin Zhongyue, she entered the government office. The work Gu Zheng gave her was just some daily trivial memorials, it seemed Gu Zheng had not truly accepted her yet.

But she was not in a hurry, being too eager for quick results would only make people resentful, it was better to proceed slowly.

The next day at court, all the officials gathered to report on today’s affairs of state.

In the Hall of Golden Chimes, Yue Shen sat high on the dragon throne, wearing a bright red robe embroidered with gold, her long hair coiled up in a high phoenix crown, her eyes lowered and cold.

Beside her hung a pearl curtain, behind which one could vaguely see a handsome and refined gentleman seated, his fan gently waving, causing the pearl curtain to sway slightly, inadvertently revealing Qin Qing’s gentle and calm eyes.

Yue Shen was long accustomed to such scenes of ruling from behind a curtain.

After the Deputy Minister of Revenue finished speaking about this year’s empty national treasury, the great hall fell silent, with all civil and military officials keeping quiet.

Yue Shen’s cold eyes swept over them, and she asked in a deep voice, “What countermeasures do my beloved officials have?”

It was just the beginning of spring, yet the national treasury was already insufficient. Moreover, there was a lack of rain in the south this year, a large portion of the early rice planted in March had fallen, and areas around the capital were also suffering from water shortages. No one dared to pick up where the Deputy Minister of Revenue had left off at this juncture.

Only Gu Zheng, supporting her unsteady legs, knelt down: “In response to Your Majesty, this official believes we can temporarily get through by raising taxes on the common people.”

“Inappropriate,” Yue Shen frowned slightly.

Agriculture was the foundation of the country. This year had already shown signs of a great drought. If taxes on the common people were raised at this time, she would lose even more of the people’s hearts in Da Qi.

Gu Zheng seemed to have anticipated her answer and continued, “Your Majesty, this year the Eastern and Northern Departments of Shuntian Prefecture have both experienced river flow interruptions, with the situation in Jing County being even worse. Many farming households have had to go to the outskirts of the capital to borrow water due to shortages. This year’s autumn harvest is likely to be poor. If we don’t make plans early, I’m afraid…”

Gu Zheng spoke euphemistically, but Yue Shen understood. After the autumn harvest, if the farmers had nothing to eat, they would leave their homes and become refugees. At that time, the court might not even be able to come up with money for disaster relief.

However, they also couldn’t sharpen their knives against the common people now.

The two sides were at an impasse, and the officials all remained silent.

In the quiet great hall, only a low laugh was heard from behind the pearl curtain. The ink-colored fan slightly lifted the curtain, and Qin Qing slowly walked out: “Lord Gu’s heart is with the court, which is commendable, but you’ve forgotten one thing.”

Gu Zheng respectfully knelt and said, “Please enlighten me, Imperial Consort.”

“The Dian army greatly defeated Baiyue, and to show their sincerity in submitting to our Da Qi, Baiyue has sent many gold, silver, and jade items, as well as beautiful men as tribute with all the nation’s strength. If we could use these where they’re needed, it would solve our urgent problem. However, these tribute items seem to be in the Dian Prince’s mansion.”

As the black fan gently waved, it stirred up a cold, gloomy wind, blowing sideways towards Jiang Si.

Jiang Si immediately knelt down, her kneecaps hitting the floor tiles with a painful, muffled thud. But she couldn’t care about that now, she had to extinguish the fire sparked by the Imperial Consort.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, while the Baiyue tribute envoys are indeed in the Dian Prince’s mansion, it’s because there are often bandits on the borders. To ensure their safety, we invited them into the mansion.”

Yue Shen said, “Since it’s to protect them from bandits, when can they return?”

Jiang Si’s hands unconsciously tightened. Her mother had indeed occupied the land as her own and had the intention of keeping this money for herself. But now the Imperial Consort Qin Qing’s faction clearly wanted the money, and she wasn’t sure if the Dian Prince would be willing to spit out the meat that was already in her mouth.

Qin Qing covered his mouth with his fan and smiled faintly, “Could it be that the Dian Prince doesn’t want to give it up once she’s eaten it?”

“We wouldn’t dare!” Jiang Si said loudly, “Since the time of Emperor □□, the Jiang family has been loyal to Your Majesty for generations. We would never dare to do such a thing. The tribute items will return to the capital with the main army.”

Qin Qing closed his fan with satisfaction, standing tall with a smile in his eyes, “The Jiang clan is indeed loyal and devoted.”

Gu Zheng also timely prostrated herself at Qin Qing’s feet: “The Imperial Consort is wise!”

Other officials also knelt down in a sea of prostration, shouting ‘The Imperial Consort is wise’, treating Yue Shen on the dragon throne as if she were invisible.

Anger spread in Yue Shen’s heart, her fingers tightly gripping the gold embroidery on her sleeve.

She silently closed her eyes, hiding the rising storm within them, repeatedly reciting that person’s cold words in her heart.

A gentleman conceals his talents, waiting for the right moment to act.

When she opened her eyes again, her clear eyes were already calm and serene.

After the morning court session, Gu Zheng met with the Imperial Consort as usual to report on matters.

“Imperial Consort, the Qin family has reported that Qin Shu has entered Dian territory, and there’s no movement from the Dian Prince’s side.”

“Mm.” Qin Qing lazily responded, reclining on the imperial consort’s chair. Yu Ye was serving tea and fanning him on the side.

“There’s been some activity in the Dian Prince’s mansion recently. It seems they’ve privately kept some of Baiyue’s things. When it comes time to present them to the court, I’m afraid…”

“No need to worry. It would be remarkable if that old thief of a Dian Prince could cough up half of it. Let’s not push too hard, lest we make that old thing jump.”

Qin Qing chuckled lightly. After all, whatever was coughed up in the end would still end up in the Qin family’s pocket. How much could actually enter the national treasury?

“I understand,” Gu Zheng continued, “The Jiangnan Textile Manufacturing Office has sent you some tokens of filial piety. They’ve been placed in your private residence outside the palace. Here’s the inventory list for your review.”

“Mm.” Qin Qing took another sip of tea. He didn’t even glance at the inventory list she presented, appearing quite indifferent.

He occupied the position of Imperial Consort, above tens of thousands of people. Even the current emperor had to rely on his grace. The few things sent by the Jiangnan Textile Manufacturing Office might shock others, but he had seen them so many times he was tired of looking.

“Is there no other news?” Qin Qing slowly raised his eyes.

A flash of panic passed through Gu Zheng’s shrewd eyes. Although Qin Qing was a man, he was so astute and experienced that she couldn’t help but admire him. Therefore, when Qin Qing questioned her, Gu Zheng’s first reaction was to wonder if he had caught onto something about her.

“In the Yanshun area of the Northern Department, there have been frequent occurrences of mine theft recently. Local villagers are colluding with bandits, running rampant for ten to eight villages.” She reported truthfully. The mine theft in Yanshun had always been a tough nut to crack, with civilians colluding with bandits, and all officials sent there had been defeated.

This was also a stain on her political achievements.

Qin Qing gave a cold glance, not taking this matter to heart at all.

“How is Shuntian Prefecture lately?” Seeing confusion in Gu Zheng’s eyes, he began to hint.

Gu Zheng caught on to something and tentatively said, “Shuntian Prefecture has been uneventful recently, everything is fine. Lord Qiu has just been transferred into the prefecture and has started to take over administrative duties.”

“How is she learning? Is she getting the hang of it?” Qin Qing suddenly became interested, sitting up a bit straighter in his chair.

Gu Zheng immediately understood the implications: “Lord Qiu is exceptionally intelligent, learning everything very quickly. The people of Shuntian Prefecture are quite impressed with this new administrator.”

A faint smile inadvertently escaped Qin Qing’s thin lips: “She is indeed young and promising, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to help Qin Shu escape unscathed.”

Gu Zheng saw through his thoughts at a glance, and remembering Qiu Shuzhi’s face and her less than glorious path to promotion, she felt some contempt in her heart.

A woman who relied on her face to get ahead would never achieve great things.

Although the romance between a poor scholar and a noble young master was often called a beautiful tale, and even Gu Zheng herself had relied on marrying into the Qin family to climb the social ladder and have the opportunity to display her talents, leading to her current position, Qin Qing was different.

He was the current Imperial Consort, this was treasonous.

He could fall in himself, but one hair could move the whole body. She absolutely could not drag the entire Qin clan down with him.

“Lord Qiu is indeed intelligent and quick-witted. I believe the mine theft issue in Yanshun could be handed over to Lord Qiu to handle. She has just entered Shuntian Prefecture, and if she can achieve some political accomplishments, her subordinates will naturally become more respectful and trusting of her.”

Gu Zheng quietly threw the mess of Yanshun, which was 100% certain to be botched, to Qiu Shuzhi. As long as she couldn’t govern Yanshun well, she could use this opportunity to demote her out of the capital, leaving her forever in that poor and remote place full of difficult civilians.

“Yanshun? No!” Qin Qing sat up straight, his expression guarded. “That place is full of fierce and unruly people. She’s just starting out and might not be able to govern it well.”

“Imperial Consort, you also said that Lord Qiu is young and promising. This would be a test for her. If she can’t even handle the small matter of mine theft, how can the Qin clan trust her? How can we entrust her with important tasks?”

Qin Qing pondered for a moment. He knew that Yanshun had a fierce local culture, but he also knew that Qiu Shuzhi’s official career had been too smooth sailing, and there were already people below who were dissatisfied.

Sending her to Yanshun would, firstly, appease those envious officials, and secondly, enhance her resume.

The mine theft issue in Yanshun was already a well-known difficult problem. Even if Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t solve much by going there, it would still count as gaining experience. Then he could find an excuse to recall her.

“What you say is not wrong. It would be good for her to gain some experience. However, the local customs there are not good. Send more guards to accompany her. Her trip to Yanshun represents the court, we must not let those unruly people shame the court’s face.”

Gu Zheng nodded with a smile, “Rest assured, Imperial Consort. This official will ensure Lord Qiu’s safety.”

After the court session, Gu Zheng quickly summoned Qiu Shuzhi to the inner hall to inform her of the transfer order.

“Yanshun?” Qiu Shuzhi had been in Jiangnan all along and was not familiar with the situation around the capital, let alone the place called Yanshun.

Gu Zheng patted her shoulder, “There has been a mine theft incident in Yanshun recently. It’s outrageous that such a thing would happen right under the Emperor’s feet. The court takes this very seriously and has specially sent you to resolve it. If you handle this matter well, the court will naturally reward you.”

“I understand.”

Gu Zheng smiled kindly, “Don’t worry, I know you’re not familiar with the areas around the capital, so I’ve specially assigned several guards to accompany you. When you arrive in Yanshun, the local magistrate will receive you. This is a test from the court for you, you must not let down the Imperial Consort’s high hopes for you.”

Imperial Consort?

Qiu Shuzhi vaguely felt something was not quite right, but the order had been issued, and she could only brace herself to face the challenge head-on.