dognovel Chapter 250 The Court Officials' Worries
Chapter 250 The Court Officials' Worries
The Minister of Revenue's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes, and he nodded unconsciously: "The regulatory methods you mentioned are quite innovative. If they can truly stabilize the market and increase tax revenue, they are worth a try."
"However, the subsequent implementation still needs careful consideration, and we must not act hastily." Although there was still caution in his words, he was no longer as resistant as before and began to take her suggestion seriously.
The Minister of War's towering frame relaxed slightly, and a hint of approval appeared in his eyes: "Hmm, if we can coordinate agriculture, commerce, and military affairs as you say, that would be a good thing."
"However, the situation on the frontier is constantly changing. You must discuss the details of the deployment with us carefully. We must not be careless." The voice was still loud, but the hostility had lessened, indicating a willingness to further explore the feasibility.
The Imperial Censor scrutinized Shi Wanxia for a long time, his expression softening slightly: "Since you dare to guarantee it with your life and speak so sincerely, I will trust you this time. But if anything goes wrong in the future, I will not let you off lightly." Beneath his stern tone lay a hint of barely perceptible trust, no longer questioning her unconditionally.
The young officials whispered amongst themselves. Some looked ashamed, feeling a little embarrassed for their earlier jeering.
Some looked thoughtful, seemingly beginning to re-evaluate the woman. The one who had been shouting the loudest earlier lowered his head slightly and muttered softly, "Looks like we need to observe her further..."
In an instant, the atmosphere in the court eased considerably, and everyone fell into deep thought, considering their next move.
After a brief silence, the ministers raised a new round of questions.
The Minister of Rites coughed lightly and launched another attack: "Even if you are familiar with foreign customs, if you encounter difficulties from other countries, do you, as a woman, have the courage and strategy to protect the face of our dynasty? Don't let our dynasty become a laughing stock."
He still harbored doubts about the woman's ability to handle difficult foreign affairs and tried to find flaws in her emergency response.
The Minister of Revenue stroked his chin and then asked, "The commercial implementation you plan will take time and consume a lot of manpower. How will you solve the problem of an empty treasury during this period? We can't expect the court to keep tightening its belt and waiting for results. What about the immediate crisis?"
With a view to the fiscal difficulties of the transition period, there are concerns that existing economic pressures will intensify before policies take effect.
The Minister of War crossed his arms and said loudly, "You say that manpower should be prioritized to protect the border areas, but recruiting and training new soldiers takes a long time. With the prosperity of agriculture and commerce, young people are greedy for short-term gains and are unwilling to join the army. Who will be responsible for the empty army?"
They are concerned that economic development will impact conscription and jeopardize the foundation of national defense, and they want to find a solution.
The Imperial Censor, with his sharp eyes, scrutinized her and asked, "You have traveled this far and encountered many people. How can you ensure that you have not picked up any bad habits and brought them into our court? What if you affect the atmosphere of the court and corrupt the government?"
From the perspective of moral character and conduct, we must thoroughly investigate potential hidden dangers and safeguard the integrity of the court.
Another minister added with concern: "Your plan involves many changes, and those who have vested interests will surely oppose it. If internal strife breaks out, what ingenious method do you have to quell it and ensure the stability of Cangling?"
Given that reforms could affect vested interests and cause unrest, a stability maintenance plan is being sought to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Shi Wanxia smiled slightly, without saying a word. Her bright eyes seemed to hold endless meaning as she gazed leisurely at the emperor on the dragon throne—Shen Yuxi.
She knew perfectly well that her foreign identity could not be hidden in the court. Although she wanted to intimidate everyone with her unknown homeland, she also knew that these shrewd ministers and royal family members could not be easily fooled.
To think that you can make them cower with just a few words is wishful thinking.
She held back half of what she was about to say, secretly thinking that thanks to watching the "News Broadcast" and taking history and politics courses, she was well aware of the ways of power and maneuvering.
The court situation is treacherous, and people's hearts are complex. How can one reveal all their cards at once? If Emperor Shen Yuxi has lofty ambitions and wants to become a legendary ruler who will be remembered in history, then he should think carefully about whether killing her now is a blessing or a curse.
After all, all the knowledge is in her head. Even if they spare her life for now, as long as her core skills are not taken away, how dare they easily abandon her?
At this moment, below the court, the Crown Prince, princes, and ministers huddled together in several groups, whispering and discussing amongst themselves, all weighing whether or not to advise His Majesty to spare this suddenly appearing but not to be underestimated girl.
Their eyes held hesitation and consideration; no one wanted to take the wrong side at this sensitive moment, after all, a single move could affect the whole situation and the fate of the nation, and a single misstep could lead to utter ruin.
Shen Yuxi sat on the dragon throne, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm. How could he not hear the blatant threat in Shi Wanxia's words? Yet, he too dared not make a move.
On the surface, Cangling appears calm, but years of war have ravaged the nation. The people are impoverished, the treasury is empty, and although there is no fighting on the borders, undercurrents are swirling.
This woman is bold and meticulous, and speaks eloquently. Her words and actions do not seem fake. If we rashly kill her, and miss a great opportunity to revitalize the nation, can he bear the infamy for all eternity?
The emperor's gaze shifted back and forth between Shi Wanxia and his ministers, as if weighing the pros and cons, or perhaps assessing the hearts of the people. How will this political turmoil ultimately end?
Was it suspicion and anger that consumed the woman, or reason and hope that made her the dawn of a turning point for Cangling? No one could say for sure; only a heavy silence slowly spread throughout the hall…
Inside the Golden Palace, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed almost palpable. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, but it did nothing to dispel the gloom that hung over everyone's hearts. Shen Yuxi sat upright on the dragon throne, his brows furrowed, his deep eyes revealing contemplation and weighing of options. His gaze would sometimes fall on Shi Wanxia, and sometimes sweep over Cui Zhihao beside him, his mind a jumble of thoughts.
The woman's appearance was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples everywhere. The novel ideas she brought, her mysterious and unpredictable foreign background, and the subtle threats in her words all made the court situation extremely complicated.
Shen Yuxi knew that this matter was not something that could be decided easily. If a wrong step was taken, the consequences for the already weakened Cangling Kingdom would be unimaginable.
He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly, his voice low yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Guards, temporarily detain the two men in the Imperial Clan Court, guarded by the Imperial Guards. Do not harm them."
As soon as the words were spoken, a slight commotion arose in the court. The ministers looked at each other, some nodding slightly, thinking that His Majesty's move was cautious and prudent; others frowned, seemingly still pondering whether it was appropriate to do so.
The Imperial Guards quickly filed in, their orderly footsteps echoing clearly in the silent hall. Shi Wanxia, however, remained calm. She glanced at Shen Yuxi, her eyes showing no fear, as if she had already anticipated this outcome.
Cui Zhihao also appeared calm. He bowed slightly to the emperor and followed the Imperial Guards, walking out with Shi Wanxia.