Chapter 692 - 470: Greatly Gratified

Chapter 692: Chapter 470: Greatly Gratified

Everyone says the Emperor owns the world, but they don’t know that much of this "wealth" is hollow.

"If this continues and the National Treasury remains empty, Your Majesty’s path will only grow more difficult," Song Yunzhao sighed.

Feng Yi let out a cold laugh. "That’s why this time, I must eradicate this cancer."

Song Yunzhao strongly agreed, echoing the Emperor. "Why can we never completely subdue Beiming? It’s because the National Treasury is empty, and the soldiers lack the resources to continue the northern campaign. These great aristocratic families and powerful local clans only care about their own interests, ignoring the fate of the nation. We must make them spit out what they’ve devoured from the court."

Feng Yi: ...

The words were crude, but deeply satisfying.

He found himself more and more willing to discuss matters of the court with Yun Zhao, precisely because she understood him.

’If only Yun Zhao were one of my courtiers,’ he thought. Then again, that wouldn’t do. He would lose the kindred spirit who shared his bed.

Feng Yi’s mood finally improved a little. He squeezed Yun Zhao’s hand. "In a fallen nest, how can there be any intact eggs? These people are so short-sighted, not nearly as forward-thinking as you, my love."

Song Yunzhao happily fell into Feng Yi’s embrace. "I am truly honored by Your Majesty’s praise. If there’s a next life, I’ll be your vanguard."

"No, that won’t do," Feng Yi rejected it outright. "Courtiers are a dime a dozen, but a love like you is one in a million. You must still marry me and be by my side."

Song Yunzhao grew even happier. She threw her arms around Feng Yi’s neck and refused to let go, her voice cheerful. "That makes sense. ’Priceless treasures are easy to find, but a loving man is rare.’ I couldn’t bear to part with you either. Besides, for matters of state, my cousin and father are there to share Your Majesty’s burdens. I would much rather spend my life with you."

At the mention of Song Bu Yue and Song Nanzhen, Feng Yi said, "I never expected your cousin to be such a fierce man. He draws his blade at a moment’s notice. A scholar with the courage of a military general. I wasn’t wrong about him. And your father—he’s such an honest and simple man, yet now he can trade curses with those old fools in court."

Song Yunzhao hid her face in her hands.

Feng Yi burst out laughing.

"Your cousin is struggling to hold the line alone in the south. I’m planning to send Ji Yunting down to help him. This will also drag the Left Minister into the fray. What do you think?"

"Matters of state are for Your Majesty to decide. Why ask me?" Song Yunzhao replied, though she was inwardly marveling. ’So Ji Yunting, that supporting male character, is finally embarking on the brilliant and dazzling life written for him in the book. He’s a man destined to achieve great things in the court. But my cousin is no slouch either. In the future, he’ll be able to keep Ji Yunting in check. I’m not afraid of him.’ "Has the Left Minister been making things difficult for Your Majesty in court?"

"Not ’making things difficult,’ exactly. That old fox is just skilled at deftly parrying every major issue and refusing to take a stand."

Song Yunzhao snorted. "Your Majesty’s plan is brilliant. Let’s see how the Left Minister stays out of it now."

Feng Yi’s mood instantly brightened. Whenever he was frustrated, Yun Zhao always had a way to cheer him up.

"The situation in the south is so difficult. Do you have a solution?" Song Yunzhao asked worriedly. She wasn’t a politician by trade; most of what she knew came from history books. If her ideas were put into practice, there would have to be a margin for error.

But the battles in court were fierce, allowing no room for trial and error. So she didn’t dare offer rash advice. What if her cousin got implicated because of her?

So she asked Feng Yi, thinking that she could at least offer some hints and point him in the right direction. ’The Emperor has a much higher margin for error, after all.’

"Of course, we must resolutely measure the land and conduct a population census. The tax system will also need some amendments. The specific policies still need to be discussed," Feng Yi said. This was why the Left and Right Ministers were indispensable in court; they understood taxes and corvée labor like the back of their hands. The only question was whether they were truly willing to share his burden.

’This is also a perfect opportunity to test them,’ Feng Yi thought. ’If the Left and Right Ministers dedicate themselves to the task, I’ll let them keep their positions. But if they continue to play both sides, I’ll find a chance to replace them once the situation in the south is resolved.’

It was rare for Feng Yi to have time for an afternoon nap with Yun Zhao. Before she could wake up, Meng Jiuchang hurried over to summon him. Feng Yi rose carefully, tucked the brocade quilt around Yun Zhao, lowered the bed curtains, and then tiptoed away.

***

「Left Minister’s Mansion.」

The Left Minister was stunned by the Emperor’s sudden decree.

Ji Yunting was summoned to the study by his father. For the past year or two, the father and son had held different political views and were often at odds, so their relationship was not a pleasant one.

The Left Minister wanted his son to refuse the assignment, but Ji Yunting would not. The two had a huge argument in the study and parted on bad terms.

Seeing her husband return with a face full of fury, Xie Linlang pulled him down to sit and dismissed the maids from the room. Only then did she speak. "I know you are a man of great ambition, husband. You should do as you see fit. I heard from my brother that the south has been chaotic recently. If you go south, your safety will be a major concern. I will ask my brother to hire skilled bodyguards to accompany you."

Xie Linlang was wealthy; she wasn’t short on the silver for it.

Ji Yunting looked at his wife, his thoughts a complicated tangle.

Marrying her had been mostly a matter of expedience. He had thought that it wouldn’t matter who he married in this life. But over the past few years, he had slowly come to realize that it was not the same at all.

"Alright. I don’t know when I’ll return from the south this time. You must take care of yourself here in the capital." Ji Yunting had already made up his mind to go. As a proud and honorable man, he naturally had to make a name for himself.

’To be loyal to the sovereign and love the people—only then would he not have lived in vain.’

A hint of hesitation appeared on Xie Linlang’s face. She looked as if she wanted to say something but held back.

Ji Yunting smiled. "Just say what’s on your mind. We’re husband and wife. Is there anything we can’t discuss?"

Xie Linlang let out a small laugh. "It’s not that it’s difficult to say. It’s just that Father is quite hostile toward Ming Fei. I was thinking that before you leave the capital, I’d like to request an audience with Ming Fei in the palace."

Ji Yunting was taken aback. "Why?"

Xie Linlang leaned slightly against her husband. "First, Her Ladyship and I haven’t seen each other in years, and I truly miss her. Second, you are about to work with Mr. Song. Although he and I are cousins, there’s still a degree of distance between us, and we haven’t interacted much in the past. So I was hoping to ask Her Ladyship for a letter of introduction. That way, after you go south, it would be a wonderful thing if you and my cousin could join forces."

Xie Linlang was a person of exquisite social grace. Ever since she had connected with the senior madam and grown closer, their relationship had become more intimate over the years. Back when her cousin-in-law, Princess Duanjing, returned to the capital to give birth, she had paid her many private visits.

Of course, she wouldn’t tell her husband about these connections. He was a proud man, and she was afraid he would misunderstand.

But the assignment in the south was extremely difficult. Under such circumstances, the best strategy was for the two of them to join forces against a common enemy. That was why she took the opportunity to raise the matter, adding with a look of concern, "I know you have no fear of those ghouls and demons, husband, but as a weak woman, I can’t help but worry about you. Please, just do it to put my mind at ease. No matter the political achievements, nothing is more important to me than your safety."

With her words, and his wife’s deep affection, he found it difficult to refuse.

Ji Yunting had no desire to associate with the Song Family or Ming Fei. But his wife and Ming Fei were cousins, so in the end, he said nothing.