Chapter 38

If the Empress Dowager said it was suitable, Si Yunqin could hardly say it wasn’t, even though she was reluctant. Still, she obediently listened to Shen Yanxin speak.

“The closest point of conflict between Southern Yue and our kingdom is Changdu Commandery. However, Changdu Commandery is remote and barren—a poor region with insufficient reserves. Provisions will need to be transferred from other prefectures and commanderies.” Shen Yanxin slowly poured tea for her, then casually explained.

“Some ministers in the court believe we should purchase provisions from wealthy merchants; others think we should levy them from the common people; still others suggest drawing from the granaries of other prefectures and counties. What does the Empress think?” Shen Yanxin raised her eyes to look at her.

Si Yunqin rubbed the teacup between her fingers. “Does the Empress Dowager think none of these are viable?”

“None are acceptable. Purchasing from wealthy merchants would overburden the national treasury—if the price is too high, we can’t afford it; if too low, the merchants won’t sell. Forcing a sale will breed resentment. Drawing from other prefectures and counties takes too long, and with the south’s rainy season, delivery times will stretch even further. I will order transfers, but we cannot rely entirely on that. As for levying from the common people—Changdu Commandery is already a poor, barbaric region. The surplus grain in the hands of the people is likely insufficient. With barely twenty years of recovery, suddenly increasing taxes would be an unbearable burden for countless citizens.” Shen Yanxin answered her question softly.

Si Yunqin sighed lightly. “Why does the Empress Dowager believe that a petty consort in the Imperial Harem like me can solve a problem that even the court’s ministers cannot?”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Shen Yanxin’s mouth. “Is the Empress belittling herself?”

Si Yunqin pouted. “It’s not that I’m belittling myself, but this issue truly isn’t easy. With the endless rain in the south and the war already strained, and the court ministers failing to deliver, Your Subject knows that the Empress Dowager is also troubled.”

“But this problem really can’t be resolved in just a few words.” Si Yunqin sighed again.

“I believe the best course would be to extract some provisions from the wealthy merchants. However, most of the merchants in Changdu Commandery are under the influence of the Zheng Family in the Southern Region, which makes things troublesome. Does the Empress have any ideas?” Shen Yanxin was being quite straightforward, not hiding anything from Si Yunqin.

Si Yunqin knew that Shen Yanxin trusted her, but that trust was far too heavy a burden for her. She truly didn’t want Shen Yanxin’s trust.

She tapped her forehead with her fingers. “Let me think.”

Si Yunqin was so flustered that she momentarily forgot to use honorifics, but Shen Yanxin didn’t press her; she just nodded slightly.

As Shen Yanxin reviewed memorials to the throne, Si Yunqin frantically racked her brain, trying to recall if any similar scenario existed in the history she had studied. It wasn’t until noon that Shen Yanxin spoke. “No rush. Let’s eat first.”

Her gaze swept over some random notes Si Yunqin had jotted down while thinking. They seemed to record a few points, but she had never heard of or seen such things before.

Noticing her glance, Si Yunqin casually crumpled the papers into a ball and tossed them into the wastebasket. “What’s for food?”

Watching her act like she was starving, Shen Yanxin couldn’t help but smile slightly. “I don’t know. Whatever the Empress wants to eat, we can have the kitchen prepare.”

“Forget it. They’ve already prepared everything. It’s rude to add dishes on the spot.”

Si Yunqin stretched. “Your Subject still hasn’t come up with any ideas yet. Please don’t blame me, Empress Dowager.”

Suddenly, Shen Yanxin leaned forward slightly. “Does the Empress think I am such an unreasonable person?”

Si Yunqin considered the general opinion of Shen Yanxin—and indeed, that was the consensus. But based on her own interactions with Shen Yanxin, that didn’t seem to be the case. Shen Yanxin was actually quite easy to talk to, as long as one didn’t go too far.

Of course, it might also have something to do with her own identity, plus the fact that Shen Yanxin might still covet her as a “heaven-chosen part-time worker.”

“Of course not.” Si Yunqin put on a docile smile, trying to make her eyes look as sincere as possible.

Shen Yanxin rose with a light scoff. “I am, in fact, often unreasonable. Many times, if I were to reason with them, they wouldn’t reason with me.”

Si Yunqin followed her. “The Empress Dowager acts decisively and resolutely. Why should she care about others’ judgments?”

Shen Yanxin glanced at her. “When did you learn to flatter like that?”

Si Yunqin thought about it seriously. “Well, I’ve always known how. As long as everyone’s happy, it’s fine.”

“You use that to coax your sisters, don’t you?” Shen Yanxin bluntly called her out.

Si Yunqin felt rather sheepish. “Your Subject has a bit of a flaw—I can’t stand seeing girls unhappy.”

Shen Yanxin gave a light snort. “Quite the philanthropist.”

Si Yunqin couldn’t read her mind. Everything she had said today could be considered treasonous, even highly improper. But Shen Yanxin wasn’t angry; instead, she was engaging in conversation. What game was she playing?

She simply couldn’t figure it out. Was Shen Yanxin’s tolerance for talented people really that high?

Well, she was grateful that she had studied hard in her previous life and hadn’t yet returned that knowledge to her teacher.

At the meal table, Shen Yanxin was as silent as ever. Si Yunqin didn’t care whether she talked or not—as long as she was fed.

After eating her fill, Si Yunqin requested a lunch break from Shen Yanxin. Shen Yanxin didn’t make things difficult for her, but she didn’t allow her to return to Eternal Peace Palace either. It was her first time resting in Respectful Peace Palace, and Si Yunqin was a little nervous.

But that nervousness lasted only until the moment she lay down on the soft couch.

She fell asleep immediately after lying down, without any hesitation.

Shen Yanxin had originally instructed Lan Xi to have the palace staff attend to her properly, but when Lan Xi returned, she reported that Si Yunqin was already asleep.

She smiled indulgently. “Let her be. She certainly knows how to eat and sleep.”

Lan Xi felt that the Empress Dowager seemed especially lenient toward the Little Empress, treating her completely differently from everyone else.

When Shen Yanxin learned that Si Yunqin was resting, she also went to take a nap herself.

When she woke up, she heard from Lan Xi that Si Yunqin had asked for paper and brush and, after waking, had been writing furiously.

Curious, Shen Yanxin went to see her.

As soon as she entered, she saw Si Yunqin sitting on a cushion with disheveled hair, completely devoid of dignity, intently writing something.

“What is the Empress writing so urgently?” Shen Yanxin asked curiously.

Si Yunqin looked up at her but didn’t get up to bow. She turned her gaze back. “I’ll tell you in a moment. Let me finish writing, or I’ll forget.”

“I had a dream. The Duke of Zhou gave me a prophecy and told me a story. If I don’t write it down while I’m awake, I won’t remember.” Si Yunqin said this with complete seriousness.

Shen Yanxin and Lan Xi were left utterly confused, but seeing how earnest she was, they didn’t disturb her. Shen Yanxin sat down across from her and, without hurrying her, had Lan Xi bring a book.

She sat facing Si Yunqin, and the two formed a stark contrast—one with a casual posture, the other sitting upright with a straight back.

When Si Yunqin finally finished writing, she put down the brush, lifted the sheets of paper, and showed them to Shen Yanxin. “Empress Dowager, would you like to read a story? The Duke of Zhou told it to me. It’s very interesting.”

Shen Yanxin took the papers. At first, she wasn’t paying much attention, but after reading one page, her eyes lit up.

The so-called story was about a small state at war with another. The official grain reserves were too small, and levying grain from the people would inevitably cause resentment. The ruler of that state thought the same as Shen Yanxin—he needed to get grain from the wealthy merchants, but he couldn’t just take it directly.

First, the ruler had his people spread a name for a certain rich squire among the populace. Then he had this squire donate provisions. Afterward, the ruler sent someone to commend him, granting him renown. In this world, people seek nothing but fame and fortune. Once profit was secured, naturally they would seek fame.

By then elevating the squire’s status, other wealthy merchants saw this and were tempted. The donations didn’t need to be too large—not enough to touch their family fortunes—but even a little from each could alleviate the urgent need. Of course, appropriate compensation still had to be given.

“Empress Dowager, isn’t this story interesting?” Si Yunqin asked with a smile. She propped her chin on her hand and absently doodled little figures on the paper.

“The world is bustling and noisy. People come into this life seeking nothing but fame and fortune. Once they have wealth, they naturally want a name that is hard to find in this world. And once they have fame, their wealth rises another level. This trap catches all ordinary people.”

Her story was told simply, but the principle was sound. For someone like Shen Yanxin, just giving her an idea was enough—she had her own ways to implement it. As for the specifics, it wasn’t Si Yunqin’s concern. Shen Yanxin had plenty of people under her, and there were countless methods.

Shen Yanxin put away the papers. “It’s a good story.”

“Your meeting with the Duke of Zhou was truly spectacular,” Shen Yanxin said with a light laugh.

“Actually, I just got a stiff neck from not sleeping well. Can I take a nap to make up for it?” Si Yunqin asked audaciously.

Shen Yanxin nodded. “The Empress is still growing. She does need proper rest.”

“Sleep well.” With that, Shen Yanxin left.

Si Yunqin clicked her tongue, lay back down, and continued sleeping.

Having gotten an idea from Si Yunqin, Shen Yanxin naturally became busy. Si Yunqin slept a second time, a “second sleep,” and only got up after she was fully rested.

When she woke, the hottest part of the afternoon had passed. She stretched, called for a palace maid to help her comb her hair, dressed neatly, and prepared to leave Respectful Peace Palace.

But before she could even set one foot out, she was informed that Shen Yanxin had summoned her again.

Si Yunqin sighed deeply. Resigned, she obediently followed the maid to the Imperial Study. This workaholic Shen Yanxin, even when busy to death herself, wouldn’t let Si Yunqin have a moment’s peace.

When she arrived at the Imperial Study, she ran into the Minister of Personnel just as he was leaving. They exchanged a brief glance, and the minister departed. Si Yunqin entered to find Shen Yanxin, who seemed to have already finished handling state affairs.

“Your Subject pays respects to the Empress Dowager.” Si Yunqin performed the formal bow.

Shen Yanxin acknowledged her indifferently. “Rise. His Majesty’s birthday is just over a month away. I want to give him some gifts. How about the Empress comes with me to pick a few?”

She was calling her for this? Was Shen Yanxin out of her mind?

Si Yunqin grumbled inwardly, her face clearly unwilling.

Seeing her expression, Shen Yanxin chuckled lightly. “Does the Empress know why the Grand Princess has returned to the palace at this time?”

Si Yunqin shook her head blankly. The look on her face had a certain silly cuteness.

She lost some of her usual sharp wit and gained a bit of foolish charm.

“Then would the Empress like to know?” Shen Yanxin asked with a smile.

Si Yunqin’s eyes lit up at her words. She nodded immediately.

“Then come with me.”

Si Yunqin: …

So annoying. But she really wanted to know.