Prime Minister

Chapter 179, Section 178: [Heartlessness is not as painful as being deeply in love]

The Emperor is in a very good mood today.

The two chief eunuchs, Zeng Min and Zhang Xian, felt it most clearly. In the past few months, due to the impact of the imperial treasury, the atmosphere in the palace was oppressive and solemn. Even they had been reprimanded and punished by the emperor many times. The ordinary eunuchs were even more worried every day, fearing that they might do something wrong and offend the emperor.

Fortunately, the storm finally passed and the Lianghuai salt case was successfully cracked. The stolen silver seized from the homes of those corrupt officials was enough to ensure a bumper harvest for the court. More importantly, thanks to Xue Huai's suggestion, the emperor could legitimately intervene in the salt administration in front of all the officials, unlike in the past when there were many obstacles that made it difficult to proceed.

The emperor's gloomy expression vanished, and the entire palace seemed to brighten up.

When Princess Yun'an, Jiang Li, entered the imperial study carrying a food box, she saw the emperor sitting behind his desk with a gentle expression.

"Greetings, Imperial Uncle."

The extent of Jiang Li's favor can be seen from this title specially granted by the emperor. After all, she is the daughter of the deceased King Qi, and the title of princess is an extraordinary reward. In private, she does not have to adhere to the distinction between emperor and subject, which shows the emperor's favor even more.

The emperor smiled slightly and joked, "I haven't seen you for some time. What brings you to the palace today?"

Jiang Li walked gracefully to the imperial desk, put down the food box that had already been inspected by the inner court, and said with a smile, "Uncle Emperor was worried about state affairs recently, and Yun An was afraid of causing trouble, so she did not dare to disturb you. Today the weather is nice, so Yun An specially made some mung bean cakes and osmanthus-flavored lotus root in the Jiangnan style. Please have a taste, Uncle Emperor."

"Oh?"

The emperor picked up a delicate piece of mung bean cake and examined it closely, saying, "Jiangnan style? Hmm, it smells fragrant. Your skills have become increasingly refined."

Jiang Li lowered her eyes slightly, focused on opening the second layer of the food box, and said obediently, "A cook who is good at Jiangnan-style pastries came to Qinglv Villa, and Yun An learned some from her."

"You are still the one with filial piety."

The emperor slowed his chewing, looking at her with a smile in his eyes: "But you, girl, never come here without a reason. This pastry is nice, but I'm afraid it's not what you came for."

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from the Emperor's uncle." Jiang Li said playfully, "Yun'an recently heard about the Lianghuai Salt Case. That Xue Tongzhi... oh no, now he should be called Imperial Envoy Xue, his methods are truly swift and decisive. Many officials have lost their heads, their homes have been confiscated and their shops sealed. It's quite a big commotion, it sounds rather frightening."

The emperor was naturally aware of the relationship between Jiang Li and Xue Huai. The two met by accident and their relationship deepened over time, but they never did anything that violated etiquette.

Although Jiang Li has always had high standards, Xue Huai is too handsome, and with his extensive knowledge and outstanding talent, it is not surprising that he can befriend Jiang Li. The Emperor had previously hinted to Shen Wang that he did not mind the two young people maintaining their friendship.

At this moment, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Only by making a big fuss can we clear away the sludge and remove the filth. Deep-rooted problems cannot be eradicated without strong medicine. Xue Huai's courage is commendable."

"He certainly has the courage to back it up."

Jiang Li nodded slightly in agreement, then changed the subject, her voice tinged with a hint of girlish unease: "I just heard that he is ruthless in his actions. Those salt merchants are all century-old businesses, and he just confiscated them without hesitation. The Lianghuai Salt Transport Office is also involved in a wide range of matters from top to bottom."

She glanced cautiously at the Emperor and added, "Yun'an has heard some rumors circulating in the streets. Some say that he is too sharp and has made too many enemies, which may not be a long-term solution."

The emperor gently set down his teacup, the porcelain making a soft, crisp sound as it touched the sandalwood imperial table.

He didn't look at Jiang Li, his gaze fixed on the open memorial, his tone as calm as still water: "An official who has the will to serve the people should naturally eliminate harm for the country. What kind of ability is it to be timid and hesitant just because he's afraid of making enemies? As for making enemies... serving the court and sharing the emperor's burdens, with me here, what is there to fear about making enemies?"

Jiang Li seemed taken aback by the weight of those words, then smiled with relief and said with emotion, "Yes, with Uncle Royal here, naturally no one dares to be presumptuous. Yun An is worried that he is young and only cares about rushing forward, not knowing how to maneuver. If he causes other unnecessary trouble in the future, wouldn't that put Uncle Royal in a difficult position?"

"trouble?"

The Emperor's lips curled into a faint smile, a half-smile playing on his lips. "I don't mind having such a huge cancer like Lianghuai exposed for me. Xue Huai was known in the capital for his headstrong and unconventional ways. It seems that his headstrong nature has been put to good use and has become an advantage. But you're right to remind me that being too sharp and lacking tact is ultimately a characteristic of youth."

“Uncle is right.”

Jiang Li quickly replied, her small face slightly solemn, "I suppose Imperial Envoy Xue is wholeheartedly devoted to the country and only seeks to eradicate long-standing abuses. He may not care much about the intricacies of officialdom and interpersonal relationships. However, the salt industry has far-reaching implications, and this time he has affected the livelihoods of countless people. Although the salt tax is substantial, the people in this prosperous Jiangnan region are complex and unpredictable. Yun'an feels that his ruthless methods may have significant future consequences."

"future trouble?"

The Emperor finally shifted his gaze from the memorials to Jiang Li's face, his eyes deep and calm. "Are you worried that the remnants of powerful clans and corrupt officials whose foundations have been touched will retaliate against Xue Huai? Or are you worried that the Jiangnan business community will be thrown into turmoil, which will then affect the court's finances?"

Jiang Li nodded and said carefully, "I think so. Yun'an heard from outside that Imperial Envoy Xue had completely wiped out several powerful clans in Lianghuai, and even fined their distant relatives who were dependent on him. They were almost bankrupt and barely managed to keep their businesses afloat. There must be a lot of people who hate him. Yun'an dares not speak out about the government, for fear that he might go too far."

The emperor remained silent, his knuckles tapping lightly on the imperial desk.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, "I have read the regulations that Xue Huai reported. The punishments of dividing the family property, paying a fine for crimes, and preserving the foundation of the business are severe enough, but they also leave a way out. Although they cut off the monopoly of those wealthy merchants, they do not leave them with no way out. It would be an overcorrection to confiscate the property and exterminate the entire clan indiscriminately. I support him. As the saying goes, destruction precedes construction. Without removing those deeply rooted cancerous tumors, the trade routes of the people cannot truly be smooth."

Jiang Li frowned slightly, seemingly not quite understanding.

Seeing this, the Emperor smiled and comforted him, "You don't need to worry about that guy's safety. Since ancient times, loyal ministers have inevitably been targeted and slandered by petty people. Xue Huai has indeed offended many people in the past two years, but so what? As long as he stands upright and acts with public-spiritedness, with me in charge, no amount of hatred and attacks can stir up trouble!" Jiang Li stuck out her tongue lightly and whispered, "Uncle Emperor, how could Yun An worry about the safety of Imperial Envoy Xue? Yun An just doesn't want him to cause trouble for you."

The emperor was amused by her expression, his gaze softened, and he slowly said, "Xue Huai is a capable person. Although he is a bit rough in his actions, his sincerity and integrity are rare."

Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

She entered the palace today to probe the Emperor's thoughts for Xue Huai. If the Emperor still harbored suspicions or dissatisfaction towards Xue Huai, she could help him resolve the issue in time.

Through their previous conversation, she had confirmed that Xue Huai's performance was perfect in the Emperor's eyes. She originally wanted to find an excuse to take her leave, but the Emperor suddenly uttered such a sentence.

Based on her understanding of the emperor, this statement was definitely not unfounded.

Sure enough, the next moment the emperor asked meaningfully, "Is Yun'an seventeen this year?"

Jiang Li calmed herself and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Seventeen years old... that's not exactly a child anymore."

The Emperor pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "The Empress told me in private that you have been orphaned since childhood. Although I have cared for and protected you, it is still not as good as your biological parents. Therefore, she advised me to arrange a suitable marriage for you. In fact, I have been paying attention to the young talents in the court and the country for the past few years, but after looking at them repeatedly, there are very few men who are worthy of you."

The reality is not like that.

The Emperor's affection for Jiang Li was genuine, but he had long planned for his niece's marriage. Everyone knew his attitude towards Jiang Li, and whoever became the Prince Consort of Yun'an in the future could potentially influence the political situation in the court.

The saying that a good man is hard to find is just an excuse. When the time is right, the emperor will not care whether Jiang Li's husband is exceptionally talented or just ordinary.

For example, now.

The Emperor greatly admired Xue Huai's handling of the Lianghuai Salt Case. He had decided to expedite Shen Wang's entry into the cabinet. Considering Ning Hengzhi's continued popularity in the court, he didn't mind giving Shen Wang some confidence. Therefore, having Xue Huai and Jiang Li together would be enough to demonstrate his attitude. Moreover, such an arrangement was flexible and would not lead to the risk of a large ship being difficult to turn around.

In an instant, Jiang Li's heart was in turmoil.

She had once intentionally made Xue Huai misunderstand that she was jealous, but this was only to make the two of them more connected. She never thought that she had really developed feelings for Xue Huai.

If Xue Huai were to become the Prince Consort of Yun'an, it would be more disadvantageous than beneficial to her. After all, once they become husband and wife, their interests would align, and Xue Huai's actions would, to some extent, represent her stance. Some important matters would easily attract the attention of others, which would greatly affect her plans for the future.

This moment seemed to last an extremely long time.

Unaware of the turmoil in her heart, Jiang Li smiled sweetly and said softly, "Uncle, Yun'an doesn't want to get married yet. She wants to stay by your side and do more to show her filial piety."

"You..."

The emperor smiled and shook his head. Since Xue Huai would have to stay in Jiangnan for a while, and Shen Wang had not yet entered the cabinet, he said indulgently, "Very well, then I will keep you here for another two years."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Jiang Li respectfully offered a curtsy.

The Emperor said gently, "The refreshments have been delivered, and I am at ease now. You may go back and rest."

"Yes, Yun'an takes his leave. Your Majesty, please take care of your health."

Jiang Li bowed and withdrew, her skirt swaying gently as she gracefully walked out of the hall.

Outside, the autumn sun shone brightly. Surrounded by eunuchs, Jiang Li slowly walked away. Her face remained calm and expressionless, but her heart was filled with a myriad of emotions.

If she hadn't refused in front of the emperor just now, she might have already received an imperial decree of marriage. But she went to great lengths to remove obstacles and hidden dangers in Xue Huai's career, was it just to make him a prince consort?
Although the sons-in-law of the emperor in the Great Yan Dynasty could participate in politics, they were ultimately no match for the upright and noble heir apparent.

but……

She felt a tightness in her chest.

Those branches and vines grew quietly.

Cut constantly, the rationale is still chaotic.

(End of this chapter)