RPAGF Chapter 700 Was the mistake in extravagance or in sheer folly?
Chapter 700 Was the mistake in extravagance or in sheer folly?
The bright yellow candlelight illuminated Zhao Yunci's ashen face as he slammed a memorial onto the imperial desk.
The Third Prince Zhao Chenyu, who was kneeling below, trembled.
"A poetry gathering? Moonlit Lake? A thousand taels of silver?"
"Zhao Chenyu, my soldiers on the border are even short of winter clothes, yet you have the leisure to use the national treasury's money to hold this poetry gathering full of romance and poetry!"
Zhao Chenyu's forehead was pressed tightly against the cold gold brick, and cold sweat soaked his temples.
"Father, please calm your anger. Your son... Your son knows he was wrong."
"You admit your mistake?" Zhao Yunci laughed angrily. "Where did you go wrong? Was it your extravagance and waste, or your utter foolishness, being used as a stepping stone and still feeling smug about it?"
Standing to the side, Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an bowed and spoke at the opportune moment.
"Father, my third brother has lived in the deep palace for so long that he is unaware of the hardships of ordinary people. This is also my dereliction of duty as his elder brother, failing to remind him more often."
These words sounded like he was taking responsibility, but in reality, every sentence was like a slap in the face to Zhao Chenyu.
Zhao Chenyu knelt there, his jaw clenched, burying his head even lower, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Zhao Yunci's gaze shifted from him to the Crown Prince, and finally settled on Qian Zhenyun's face behind the Crown Prince.
"Qian Zhenyun, you were there too."
“Yes.” Qian Zhenyun stepped forward, neither humble nor arrogant.
"What do you think should be done about this?"
This is already the emperor testing them.
Zhao Chenyu's heart was in his throat. He stared intently at Qian Zhenyun's back, fearing that he would take advantage of his misfortune again.
Qian Zhenyun did not say another word about the poetry gathering. He simply bowed and said, "Your Majesty, punishing the Third Prince is only a temporary solution. To address the root cause, we must consider ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure."
"Oh?" Zhao Yunci became interested. "Tell me about it."
“To cut costs, we should start with regulating the system. Currently, the accounts of the various princes’ residences are in disarray. The Imperial Household Department only allocates silver but neglects to check it.”
"I believe that a special account should be set up, and all large expenditures should be reported with reasons and details, and verified afterward to eliminate extravagance."
He paused, then added, "As for opening up sources of income, there are several royal forests and gardens in the suburbs of Beijing, which are usually idle and used only for autumn hunting."
"Why not lease out these plots to reliable merchants to grow mulberry and hemp or medicinal herbs? The annual income would be enough to supply the military and relieve the urgent needs of the border."
His words were so logical and clear that even Zhao Yunci fell into deep thought.
Leasing the Royal Garden to merchants? This idea is unheard of, yet... damnably feasible.
Zhao Yunci sized up the young man. His father was a skilled doctor, and his father had also cured Gu Junze's leg, but he just didn't care about medicine.
As for his mother, Zhao Yunci had met her; she was rather reckless and impulsive…
Back then, when the Crown Prince favored Qian Zhenyun as his study companion, Zhao Yunci tried to stop him. Now it seems the Crown Prince has good judgment and the ability to recognize and utilize talent!
"What a brilliant idea to increase revenue and reduce expenditure." Zhao Yunci's anger subsided, and a hint of approval appeared on his face. "This matter will be handled by the Ministry of Revenue, and you will work together to draft a plan. If it is done well, I will reward you handsomely."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhao Chenyu knelt on the ground, listening to his father's praise of Qian Zhenyun, feeling a burning pain on his face.
The poetry gathering he painstakingly organized didn't bring him any fame; instead, it caused him a lot of trouble and made him a stepping stone for others to rise to prominence!
How could he possibly swallow this insult!
As they left the imperial study, the setting sun cast long shadows of the three of them along the long palace path.
Zhao Chenyu finally couldn't hold back any longer, took a few quick steps, and blocked the Crown Prince's path.
"Your Majesty, you truly have a clever way of doing things." He lowered his voice, his words laced with venom. "A well-trained dog not only guards the house but also bites people to curry favor with its master."
Zhao Chen'an didn't stop walking; he merely glanced at him indifferently.
“Third brother, be careful with your words. Zhenyun’s words are all plans for the country and the people. As for you, if you could spend more time on important matters, you wouldn’t be in such a sorry state in front of Father today.”
"You!" Zhao Chenyu's face flushed red with anger. "Stop pretending! Aren't you just using your status as the crown prince to always put me in a superior position?"
“Suppress you?” Zhao Chen’an finally stopped, turned around and looked at him directly, his eyes filled with a hint of condescending pity. “It’s your own fault for being so useless.”
"Governing a country relies on the ability to manage affairs and benefit the people, not on a few sentimental poems, a few banquets, or recruiting retainers..."
“If you are truly capable, then produce achievements that will convince the Emperor and all the officials.”
"Instead of acting like a complaining woman, only blaming others."
After saying that, he ignored Zhao Chenyu, who was trembling with anger, and left with Qian Zhenyun.
Zhao Chenyu stood there, watching their departing figures, his hands clenched into fists inside his sleeves, his nails digging deep into his flesh.
Qian Zhenyun! Zhao Chenan!
The humiliation I suffer today, I will repay a hundredfold in the future!
The turmoil at the poetry gathering was like a sharp thorn, deeply embedded in Lin Jiayou's heart.
Back in his guest room at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, he could no longer maintain his humble and refined demeanor.
Qian Zhenyun.
Back then, she was just a quiet and reserved companion who followed Gu Qingchen around. Now, she has grown up to be so shrewd and resourceful.
He not only stole the show in front of the emperor, but also made himself look like a clown who only knew how to compose poems and sing about the moon.
What he found most unbearable was Gu Qingchen's resolute departure as he pulled Qian Zhenyun away.
She didn't even look back at herself.
No, we can't wait any longer.
In the dead of night, Lin Jiayou used the excuse of taking a walk to clear his mind and slipped out through a secluded side gate, avoiding the guards patrolling the mansion.
He walked through the winding alleys and finally stopped in front of a house.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opened silently, and he slipped inside.
Inside the courtyard, the Third Prince Zhao Chenyu was standing under a locust tree. He had changed out of the brocade robe he wore during the day and was now dressed in dark casual clothes, but even that couldn't suppress the fierce aura he exuded.
"How dare you show your face in front of me?"
As soon as Zhao Chenyu saw him, he growled in a low voice.
"Didn't you say that Qian Zhenyun was nothing more than an insignificant dog by the Crown Prince's side? He almost bit my throat today!"
Lin Jiayou fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead touching the ground.
"Your Highness, please calm down. It was my incompetence that led me astray. I never expected him to be so cunning."
"Is it really just a matter of 'misjudging'?"
Zhao Chenyu kicked him in the shoulder, the force wasn't great, but the insult was extremely strong.
"I have lost all face before my father today. You, this pawn, have not only been useless, but have become someone else's stepping stone!"
Lin Jiayou took the kick head-on and lay on the ground, but his voice remained steady.
“Your Highness, things have come to this point, and punishing your subordinates will be of no use. The most urgent task is to find a way to turn this hopeless situation around and make Qian Zhenyun and the Crown Prince pay the price for their actions.”
Zhao Chenyu snorted coldly and remained silent, waiting for him to continue.