Chapter 146: She Knows What He Wants

The imperial court was temporarily stable, the military was strong enough, and the National Treasury still had some Silver.

So what to do now? Stir up some trouble, of course.

Xiao Yang took out the two booklets she had prepared.

She handed one to Grand Tutor Xu. "Prime Minister Song has proposed establishing a News Department. In the future, it will publicize Our great achievements and unparalleled beauty. Grand Tutor, please take a look."

She handed the other to Prime Minister Song. "This is Grand Tutor Xu’s proposal for a new system of selecting officials. It’s meant to give scholars from poor families a fair chance to display their talents."

Grand Tutor Xu didn’t know the Emperor liked to find scapegoats, but Prime Minister Song certainly did.

He suspected this was the Emperor’s idea, just using Grand Tutor Xu’s name. After all, wasn’t the Grand Tutor holding a document written under his own name? What was this News Department? He had never even heard of it.

However, when he opened it, he found the content was rigorous and substantive. It detailed the drawbacks of the bureaucratic system dominated by established families, the stabilizing effect of a civil examination system on the court’s structure, and its potential to combat cultural and bureaucratic corruption.

It was all explained in meticulous, well-reasoned detail.

It certainly read like the work of a great figure like Grand Tutor Xu. But the Xu Family were one of the great Civil Servant Families. For him to write this was tantamount to digging up his own roots. It just didn’t seem reasonable.

Meanwhile, Grand Tutor Xu was quite interested in this "News Department."

Publicizing current events, posting articles, promoting ideologies, announcing government decrees, and even sharing interesting anecdotes.

"Your idea is quite novel. It’s worth a try."

As for the Emperor’s talk of great achievements and unparalleled beauty, Grand Tutor Xu completely ignored it.

He had already become quite adept at filtering out the Little Emperor’s nonsense.

Prime Minister Song had no idea what this proposal he had supposedly "put forth" was. He wanted to speak but hesitated, then hesitated but still wanted to speak.

Xiao Yang didn’t make things difficult for them. She went out for a stroll to let them discuss it.

"Your Majesty."

Xiao Yang ran into Meng Xuechen as soon as she came out. Seeing he wasn’t carrying anything, she knew it was nothing major.

"Come, accompany me for a walk in the garden."

Meng Xuechen, of course, would not refuse.

The two walked side-by-side, slowly making their way toward the Imperial Garden.

Meng Xuechen had come about the matter of reforming the Ministry of Revenue. Although Xiao Yang had given him the authority, he still came to report on any developments.

First, the Emperor should be aware of these things. Second, it was an opportunity to speak with her.

Although Meng Xuechen had transmigrated earlier, he had more experience making money in this world. No one understood how to use money to its maximum potential better than he did. Thus, Xiao Yang was more than happy to be a hands-off boss.

However, while she was happy to delegate, it seemed no one else was happy to be delegated to. One by one, they all insisted she handle things personally, as if terrified she might have a moment of leisure.

It was a mutual effort, in a way.

After they finished discussing official business, Meng Xuechen paused for a moment. "Do you like this life you have now?"

Hearing this question, Xiao Yang glanced at Meng Xuechen before laughing. "That’s a very interesting question. Who wouldn’t like being the Emperor?"

Meng Xuechen nodded. "True. The pinnacle of power, the supreme ruler—no one would dislike it."

Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow. "What, you want it too?"

Meng Xuechen showed no hint of panic. He simply looked at her. She knew what he wanted.

However, Xiao Yang just calmly averted her gaze, not answering him directly. Because of this, she didn’t see the flicker of darkness and conflict in his eyes.

Xiao Yang was indeed close to Meng Xuechen. Their interactions went beyond the formalities between a ruler and a subject, making them seem more like friends.

But that was all.

She didn’t get angry when he approached, but she would never take the initiative to get close to him.

Even when her eyes smiled, they seemed to be behind a layer of mist, lacking a certain warmth.

They seemed close, yet an insurmountable chasm separated them.

Grand Tutor Xu and Prime Minister Song conferred for an hour before leaving the palace separately.

But at the morning court session the next day, both men stepped forward and publicly presented memorials they had rewritten themselves.

Both were *their* proposals, having nothing to do with the Emperor.

After reading them, the Emperor appeared rather displeased, looking reluctant to agree. But she couldn’t stand against the two of them as they moved her with emotion and persuaded her with reason, listing numerous benefits, until the Emperor grudgingly agreed to give it a try.

The Emperor: ’They’re forcing my hand!’

Grand Tutor Xu and Prime Minister Song: ’Your Majesty is correct.’

Prince Jing: ’Heh, taking the fall? I’m an expert at that.’

The assembled courtiers: "..."

They had struggled for half their lives to finally make it to Jinluan Palace, only to be treated like fools.

What else could they do? The leading officials had all agreed. It was useless for the rest of them to object. All they could do was watch the Emperor’s performance.

The matter of the civil examinations was handed to Grand Tutor Xu and the Ministry of Personnel, while the News Department was given to Prime Minister Song, successfully keeping both men busy.

As for Xiao Yang? She was studying, of course.

The work was delegated to those below her. As the Emperor, she could only endure the hardship of reading.

She had proposed the ideas. How they would develop depended on the right time, the right place, and the right people.

One had to believe in human creativity. The concept was there; now it was up to the people of this era to perfect it themselves.

If she had to do everything herself, she’d be worked to death.

She never spoon-fed anyone. On the contrary, she expected these people to hand in a satisfactory answer sheet.

Li Wei didn’t participate much in civil and political affairs, but he wasn’t idle either. He was involved in major military matters, trained the Black Dragon Cavalry, and also had to supervise the Emperor’s martial arts practice.

Day after day, his life was busy and fulfilling.

When he got busy, he could go days without returning home. However, when he finally did go home, he was shocked to find Fang Ran eating a meal with his mother.

"What are you doing here?"

Li Wei hadn’t seen Fang Ran since the celebratory banquet.

The Emperor’s decree naming her Princess Anning had been issued, and she had even been granted her own residence. There was no reason for her to be in his home, let alone eating with his mother.

Fang Ran lowered her head and said nothing. Mother Li feigned anger and scolded Li Wei, "Why are you speaking so loudly? I was the one who asked Ran’ran to come keep me company. Don’t you go scaring her."

Three days after the banquet, Fang Ran had visited the Li family with gifts, saying she wanted to thank Li Wei for saving her life.

Although she hadn’t managed to see Li Wei over the past few days, she had successfully charmed Mother Li. Fang Ran was the daughter of a general, and her family had suffered a great tragedy. Her own husband had died on the battlefield, so Mother Li felt a deep sympathy for Fang Ran’s suffering and pitied her immensely.

Then, when Fang Ran subtly expressed her admiration for Li Wei, Mother Li, who had long been worried about her son’s marriage prospects, was overjoyed.

Now, she was already protecting Fang Ran as if she were her own daughter-in-law.

The moment Li Wei heard his mother’s tone, he knew there was trouble. Especially after Fang Ran’s stunt in the palace, he was certain she hadn’t given up on that absurd notion. His expression darkened. "Someone, see our guest out!"

"Li Wei!"

Mother Li slammed the table in anger. "She is my guest! Do you have any manners?"

Fang Ran, her eyes downcast, tugged on Mother Li’s sleeve, looking pitiful and wronged. "Auntie, please don’t scold him. I’ll just leave."

When a servant from the Li family came forward to escort Fang Ran out, Mother Li pulled her behind her. "I’d like to see who dares!"

Li Wei said, "Acting like this will cause misunderstandings. If rumors spread, it will ruin her reputation."

Mother Li retorted, "She is all alone. What’s wrong with me looking after her a little? Besides, won’t everything be fine once you two get married?"

Li Wei knew it would come to this. "I will never marry her. Please don’t add to the chaos."

"What do you mean, I’m adding to the chaos?"

Mother Li glared at Li Wei furiously. "You’re not a child anymore! Other men your age already have several children. Tell me, how many times have I tried to arrange a marriage for you?"

"You either scared those young ladies away or drove them off! Do you want the Li family line to end with you?"

After her tirade, she took a deep breath and tried a more earnest approach.

"Ran’ran is the orphaned daughter of a general. Her situation is pitiful. Your grandfather was friends with General Fang when he was alive. If they knew, they would approve of this marriage."

"For the continuation of the Li family bloodline, and to let your father and grandfather rest in peace in the afterlife, won’t you just listen to your mother?"

If Li Wei were the type to be persuaded by this, he wouldn’t be Li Wei.

He was filial to his mother, but not blindly so.

When he was fifteen, he had insisted on going to the battlefield to avenge his father. Mother Li had tried desperately to hold him back but failed. He wasn’t about to be swayed by her absurd reasoning now, either.

"Fang Ran, I will state this one last time: I am not interested in you, and I will never marry you. After today, you are not to set foot in this house again. I am giving you one last chance to leave with your dignity intact."