Chapter 474 - 252: She Is Still Not Black-Hearted Enough

Chapter 474: Chapter 252: She Is Still Not Black-Hearted Enough

Upon hearing the Emperor, Song Yunzhao replied casually, "That’s simple enough. The officials in the Prefectures and Counties aren’t submitting the tax silver and grain, and the Ministry of Revenue officials aren’t pushing them hard enough. This has left the National Treasury empty, with no money or food. If the court has no money, it naturally can’t pay their salaries or give them holiday bonuses. Just wait them out. The high-ranking courtiers have deep pockets and can afford to wait, but the minor local officials can’t. They become officials to make a living. If they can’t even afford to eat, what do you suppose they’ll do, Your Majesty?"

Feng Yi was at a loss for words.

Seeing the Emperor’s slightly embarrassed expression, Song Yunzhao asked with righteous conviction, "Does Your Majesty think it’s a bad idea? The courtiers are playing dirty with you, so of course you can give them a taste of their own medicine. We all have mouths. If they can plead poverty, why can’t the Emperor?"

Feng Yi fell silent.

’Yun Zhao wants me to see who can be more shameless, me or the courtiers. But, you know, now that I think about it, the idea is actually quite satisfying.’

’It might just work.’

Without their salaries, the local officials couldn’t support their families. To get paid, they would surely be forced to act.

’The brilliance of Yun Zhao’s move lay right there—it would drive a wedge directly into the officials’ alliance. *Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.* The ones who best understood the local situation were, of course, the low-ranking officials. If they all stood united, this matter would be incredibly difficult to resolve.’

’The idea was incredibly underhanded, but Feng Yi suddenly grew excited. If he played this right, he might be able to kill several birds with one stone.’

’Yun Zhao must feel aggrieved on my behalf. Even she can’t stand to see me, the Emperor, being treated this way. The courtiers will surely understand my actions. After all, an emperor is only human and has his own troubles. I am so understanding of my subjects; shouldn’t they be a little understanding of their emperor in return?’

’And with that, the decision was happily made.’

Feng Yi walked away, his steps light.

Song Yunzhao lay down for her afternoon nap.

’The Emperor has only been on the throne for a few years; he’s still far too thin-skinned. How could he possibly compare to those old foxes, who are so shameless and ruthless they’re capable of anything?’

’A thick skin is something you have to know when to show and when to hide.’

’If I weren’t so thick-skinned, how could I have secured my position as a favored concubine?’

The idea Song Yunzhao had suggested wasn’t her own; it was an idea of Ji Yunting’s from the book. Because events had transpired earlier than they were supposed to, Ji Yunting had not yet been promoted to a position in court. Considering the two of them belonged to opposing factions, Yun Zhao felt a little guilty for using his method. But since he was the enemy, she figured she might as well be shameless about it.

’I bet when I finally die of old age and have to cross the Naihe Bridge, Meng Po will have to scrape several layers off my face just to confirm who I am.’

’How tragic.’

’I was a perfectly respectable young woman, yet life has ruthlessly ground me into this. Where’s the justice in that?’

Yun Zhao enjoyed a comfortable nap. After waking, she had a message sent to the First Madam of her family, informing her that she would visit her father the next day.

The First Madam was currently entertaining Princess Fuke and her daughter. As it was a verbal message, Princess Fuke overheard it as well.

Princess Duanjing, sitting beside her mother, glanced up at the Palace Attendant who had delivered the message. ’I’m surprised,’ she thought. ’Song Zhaoyi can leave the traveling palace at will to visit her family. It seems the Emperor truly does dote on her.’

In front of Princess Fuke, the First Madam couldn’t ask too many questions. She had Anshun rewarded with a purse and saw him off. Only then did she turn to Princess Fuke and say, "The Zhaoyi has always been very filial to her father. She must have heard that my third brother-in-law’s old injury has relapsed and is worried, which is why she wants to come for a visit."

Hearing the First Madam’s words, Princess Fuke thought to herself, ’Song Zhaoyi really isn’t like most people. Her relationship with her birth mother is practically severed, yet she shares such a deep bond with her father, Mr. Song.’

’This alone reveals a lot about Song Zhaoyi’s character. She truly doesn’t seem to care about her reputation. I’ve heard the stories about how Third Madam Song mistreated her and favored her eldest daughter. Anyone else would have covered it up and feigned filial piety for the sake of appearances, but this Song Zhaoyi ripped the facade right off.’

’Not everyone has that kind of boldness.’

’And the crucial point is that even after she did all this, the Emperor didn’t grow to dislike her. That’s what matters most.’

’Princess Fuke felt that even she might not possess such an ability.’

’Everyone says my Father Emperor adores me, but no one knows how carefully I have to act in his presence, how I must strive to be the perfect, pleasing daughter he wants.’

Princess Fuke followed the First Madam’s lead, offering high praise for the deep bond between Song Zhaoyi and Mr. Song. She then took her daughter’s hand to bid farewell. Before leaving, she asked the First Madam, "Mrs. Wang is hosting a banquet. Have you received an invitation?"

The First Madam shook her head. "I have not."

Princess Fuke gave the First Madam a meaningful smile. "I suspect the invitation will arrive very soon. You should think carefully about it."

The First Madam’s eyelid twitched. "Thank you for the reminder, Princess," she said at once.

Princess Fuke waved a dismissive hand. "I felt an instant connection with Song Zhaoyi, and I find we are kindred spirits as well, First Madam. It’s merely a small reminder, nothing more."

The First Madam personally saw Princess Fuke and her daughter out. On her way back, the more she thought about it, the more she felt the Princess’s attitude toward her had been strange—far too amiable.

Moreover, she had brought Princess Duanjing with her for the visit. The First Madam couldn’t help but read more into it.

But the First Madam never would have imagined that Princess Fuke had her eye on her son. She simply assumed the princess was trying to show goodwill toward Yun Zhao and was therefore being especially friendly to the Song Family.

The next day, the Emperor summoned his courtiers for a discussion. Before Yun Zhao had even left to visit her father, he announced the halting of salaries, which, as expected, stunned everyone on the spot.

By the time Yun Zhao saw her father, she was surprised to find the news had traveled so fast that he already knew.

Song Nanzhen’s complexion looked fine, and Yun Zhao asked about his injury with concern.

"It’s actually healed. You don’t need to worry." Seeing his daughter’s worried expression, Song Nanzhen lowered his voice. "I just don’t want to get involved in this current affair, so it’s just a pretext to rest for a few days and lie low."

Song Yunzhao knew the saying: "An injury to the bones takes a hundred days to heal." Even if the wound had closed on the surface, it would still take a good while longer to recover fully.

’Thinking about it that way,’ she felt, ’Cao Dingwen is really shameless. He must have called my father to the traveling palace with the intention of using him as a shield.’

’That old fox.’

"Father, you should rest for a few more days, then. I suspect Minister Cao will be too busy to even think of you for a while," Song Yunzhao said. She had felt a little guilty before, but not anymore.

’If a great Chief of Staff like Cao Dingwen could do something so shameless, what I did was practically nothing in comparison.’

’I’m still not ruthless enough.’

’If I were, I’d go and slander him right in front of the Emperor!’

Song Nanzhen’s brow twitched as he heard his daughter’s words. He looked at her and asked tentatively, "You know what happened today?"

’It couldn’t have anything to do with my daughter, could it?’