Chapter 200: Each With Their Own Schemes
Around dusk, Gu Yan received a second letter from Fourth Mistress Wei.
After reading the letter, the Crown Prince looked at Gu Yan and chuckled, “No wonder your mother ran to my mother and cried after you broke off your engagement.
“Look at this ability to adapt. She knows nothing about the case, yet she directly accused the Chen family of knowing their crimes were unforgivable but deceiving a child and using death to gain sympathy. Look at her words; she can be so despicable and vicious towards her own flesh and blood. The implication here is quite profound.”
The Crown Prince tutted.
“It’s a real shame, are you sure you won’t reconsider?”
Gu Yan shook his head without any room for negotiation.
“In the future, no matter who you marry, I think they’ll at most be no worse than her. To be stronger than her…” The Crown Prince drew out his words and chuckled, “It’s unlikely. You should think carefully.”
“She has already come to terms with it; this matter is in the past.
“The memorial submitted should have already reached the Capital City. At most, the case of the Chen family father and son will be made public the day after tomorrow. Miss Shi’s visit to offer condolences and this elegy text are very beneficial to public sentiment. Are you…”
“She’s doing it for your sake. If you want to thank her, go thank her yourself,” the Crown Prince interrupted Gu Yan impolitely.
Gu Yan was so blocked by the Crown Prince that he choked.
Fine, he would note this favor and thank her later.
………………………………
Gu Yan’s urgent memorial regarding the case of the Chen family father and son at the Maritime Tax Bureau, which was a public report, was delivered to the Emperor and simultaneously sent to several Prime Ministers.
On the day the urgent memorial was brought in by the eunuch, Gu Yan’s report was placed at the very top. The Emperor’s eyes fell on Gu Yan’s name, and he beckoned Prince Rui, who was already leaving, saying, “Wait.”
Prince Rui stopped and, following the Emperor’s gesture, sat back down on the brocade stool.
“It’s your Yan Ge’er’s memorial.” After reading the public report, the Emperor handed it to Prince Rui. Looking at the six or seven identical brass cylinders, which were the secret memorials that had just arrived, the Emperor picked up the cylinders and opened them one by one. Upon opening the third one, he found Gu Yan’s secret memorial.
The Emperor read it carefully and handed the secret memorial to Prince Rui. Watching him read it at a glance, he smiled and said, “These two children finally know the meaning of being prudent. We don’t need to worry too much about these cases; let them handle it.
“The silk tax rate and how to tax the scattered looms in the civilian sector are two major matters. You personally oversee them.”
“Yes.” Prince Rui, with a smile, bowed and agreed.
“This morning, I received a letter from the Crown Prince saying that Yan Ge’er has made up his mind about this marriage with the Shi family. How is Shi Mingzhao doing?” the Emperor asked gently.
“He’s still holding onto hope,” Prince Rui replied with a wry smile.
The Emperor sighed slowly and, after a moment of silence, said, “The matter of taxing civilian looms will still be led by Shi Mingzhao. As for adjusting the silk tax rate of the Maritime Tax Bureau, don’t let him know about it.
“Also, his eldest daughter is preparing to return. News should arrive in the next few days. You pick a suitable person to keep an eye on him, and don’t let any trouble arise.”
“Yes. Alas, it’s all Yan Ge’er’s willfulness,” Prince Rui said with a look of guilt.
“Compared to him being able to settle down and understand the difficulties of doing things, this is a minor matter. Think more optimistically,” the Emperor said with a smile.
“Yes.” Seeing the Emperor’s tired expression, Prince Rui quickly stood up and took his leave.
………………………………
Outside the palace walls, in the three small houses of Prime Minister Pang.
Prime Minister Pang carefully read Gu Yan’s public report, frowned, and looked at Mr. Gong, who was sitting opposite him, “What do you think?”
“With the Young Lord’s starting point, I fear he will proceed slowly,” Mr. Gong said with a furrowed brow.
“I don’t think so.” Prime Minister Pang tapped his fingers on the table. “We’ve known the Young Lord’s temperament and character since he was a child. He’s not someone who proceeds slowly.”
He paused and chuckled, “When the Young Lord has been tempered until he’s forty or fifty, he’ll probably understand the principle of proceeding slowly. But right now, he doesn’t have that patience.”
Mr. Gong’s brow furrowed tightly. After a moment of silence, he hummed in agreement.
During the Spring Festival, he had met the Young Lord two or three times and felt that the Young Lord’s demeanor had changed greatly. His composure was such that he almost mistook him for Prince Rui.
However, for the past year or two, the Young Lord has been in Jiangnan. The news from Jiangnan has been almost useless, and he knows almost nothing about the Young Lord during these two years.
“You, your advantage is your meticulousness, but your disadvantage is also that. You are too cautious,” Prime Minister Pang said, smiling at Mr. Gong. “A person’s nature, unless they experience a life-and-death change, how can they suddenly become enlightened or a completely different person without reason!”
“I am indeed too cautious,” Mr. Gong said, smiling with relief after hearing Prime Minister Pang’s words.
What he said was very true. For the Young Lord to go from being frivolous, impatient, and eager for quick success to being down-to-earth and proceeding slowly, he would either have to experience a family ruin and a life-and-death upheaval, or he would have to be slowly polished until he was forty or fifty years old.
He did indeed often overthink things.
“The Young Lord starting with the porters at the wharf makes me a little uneasy,” Mr. Gong said with a smile.
“I was uneasy too, and I still can’t let my guard down. Jiangnan is full of hidden talents, and it’s also the auspicious land of their Prince Rui’s Mansion. If he finds great talents in Jiangnan who know the inside story and employs them.”
Prime Minister Pang narrowed his eyes.
“For the Maritime Tax Bureau, great talents are secondary. The most important thing is patience and the ability to weigh and compromise.
“The Young Lord is too impatient. He always thinks that with a sharp sword in hand, everything will be unstoppable, and he is too black-and-white. The malfeasance in the Maritime Tax Bureau will be extremely difficult in his hands,” Mr. Gong said with a smile.
“That’s very true,” Prime Minister Pang said, smiling.
“As Prime Minister says, we cannot relax under any circumstances. I will write a few more letters to Jiangnan, asking them to keep a close watch. We also need to be ready to respond at any time,” Mr. Gong continued.
“Mm,” Prime Minister Pang nodded.
“We need to accelerate the push for the Eldest Young Master. If the military gets the upper hand and obtains the decree to send troops first, it will be twice the effort for half the result later,” Mr. Gong continued.
“That’s very true,” Prime Minister Pang said, frowning and nodding.
We need to hurry with the Eldest Young Master. Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Rites will turn sixty next year. If all goes smoothly, the Eldest Young Master will be at the height of his fame next year, and taking over from Minister Jiang will be a simple matter of pushing him forward.
………………………………
In Prime Minister Wang’s room, across the courtyard from Prime Minister Pang’s three small houses, Prime Minister Wang had also just finished reading Gu Yan’s memorial.
“Utterly foolish!” Prime Minister Wang slapped the memorial. “How can the important matters of the Maritime Tax Bureau be overshadowed by these few minor murder cases!”
“Perhaps it’s necessary to start with the murder cases,” said Mr. Zong, the staff member opposite him.
“Is the Young Lord’s temperament and disposition capable of such deep scheming and long-term planning?” Prime Minister Wang retorted impatiently.
“The Young Lord has plenty of capable people around him,” Mr. Zong said with a smile.
Prime Minister Wang hummed noncommittally, paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, stopped, and ordered, “Find a way to make the weaving workshops in Jiangnan cause trouble. If he doesn’t see the crux of the matter, this trouble will be a reminder to him. If he does see it, hmph!”
Prime Minister Wang snorted coldly.
“He’s been in Jiangnan for nearly two years, and the progress is too slow. Let the weaving workshops cause trouble and urge him on!”
“Alright,” Mr. Zong quickly agreed.
