dmims Chapter 93 Clever and Cunning
Chapter 93 Clever and Cunning
This conversation lasted for a long time, until someone from the inner court came to fetch them.
Li Yuanke heard that it was almost dark and Shen Shixi hadn't returned yet, so he couldn't stand it anymore and sent Li Fude to come in person.
Shen Xianzhang naturally recognized that this was the chief eunuch by the emperor's side.
He was quite frightened and quickly urged Shen Shixi to go back.
He said he shouldn't have kept his daughter asking so many questions; by the time he got to the details, it was almost dark.
As for his daughter's suggestion that he resign and open an academy to recruit and educate students from impoverished families, he would certainly do so.
This matter is of extraordinary significance. With just this one event, the Shen family has won over students from all over the country and will be able to remain powerful for generations.
Moreover, he truly dared not reside in the imperial court.
He knew his daughter's troublesome nature; if she got into trouble by accident, the whole family would be ruined. He was terrified.
Moreover, he wasn't stupid; he understood the implied meaning.
His daughter has no sons yet, so he and his brothers are doing some groundwork. He runs an academy to teach, his second brother farms, and his third brother, who is clever, stays in the Secretariat to observe the political climate.
By the time their daughter needs the Shen family's help in the future, they will have accumulated some real achievements.
Even if it's not of great use, at least it won't hold you back.
Halfway there, Shen Shixi instructed Chao Yu to do something for her. Naturally, it was about the Zhou family. She needed to find out exactly who Zhou Yongyu was, and also what flaws the Zhou family might have.
By the time she entered the palace gates, it was already dusk. She asked Li Fude, "Where is the Emperor?"
"When I left the palace, the Emperor had already gone to Zhaoyang Palace."
Shen Shixi went straight back to Zhaoyang Palace, only sending Bai Ping to Fengyi Palace to report.
Li Yuanke was watching the people in Zhaoyang Palace picking corn cobs, and then they pulled down all the stalks. That's when he saw Shen Shixi come in.
She ran towards him, "Your Majesty, I've missed you so much!"
[I haven't finished shopping yet, and you're already rushing to have someone pick me up? How annoying!]
Li Yuanke watched her act, then caught her, saying, "What were you thinking of me? If I hadn't sent someone to fetch you, were you planning to spend the night at your parents' house?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Are you a mind reader? Can't I even spend the night at my parents' house? You bastard, you're so nosy!
Li Yuanke thought to himself, "I'm being nosy. Which concubine would dare to spend the night outside?"
But he dared not say it; if that bastard knew he could hear her thoughts, things would turn upside down.
She will definitely try every means to escape; she will never stay with him.
Shen Shixi was hungry, so he went into the palace, washed up, and then his meal was served.
Li Yuanke didn't eat either; with him around, the meals were always very lavish.
Shen Shixi glanced at his own allowance, then at the emperor's allowance, and his pride was hurt.
"From now on, when the Emperor dine here, my portion won't need to be prepared by the Imperial Kitchen; I'll just eat the Emperor's."
"Master, why is this?"
"Save as much as you can."
I dare not accept Your Majesty's permission; please grant me your instructions.
Li Yuanke laughed and said, "Listen to her!"
"Anyway, what I save belongs to the Emperor, so the Emperor will naturally support me."
Li Yuanke said, "Your palace's monthly expenses are almost matching those of the Cining Palace, don't you have any idea?"
Shen Shixi said, "I ate so much? I wore so much? What did I do to incur such high expenses? I didn't ask the harem to spend an extra tael of silver for me. Didn't I cover the excess myself?"
"You've had it done? When did you have it done?"
Shen Shixi didn't concern herself with these matters, and the Empress didn't approach her either, so she knew that Li Yuanke must have covered for her.
"Oh, thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Shixi didn't mind. Anyway, she hadn't wasted a single penny. Why should she compromise herself just to save money?
She entered the palace to enjoy wealth and luxury. Given her rank, she certainly couldn't afford a life of extravagance in the palace, but wasn't she a favored concubine?
After dinner, the two of them took their usual walk to digest their food. This time, they didn't go out for a stroll, but instead walked along the covered walkway in the courtyard.
"I gave the 50,000 taels of silver that the Emperor bestowed upon me to my father," Shen Shixi said. Li Yuanke was not surprised; based on their years of tacit understanding, he knew there was more to the story.
"I have asked my father to resign, and I hope the Emperor will grant it."
"What have you done now?" I knew this scoundrel wouldn't behave himself at home. Although it's not that there's no one to use in the court, which emperor would complain about having too many capable ministers?
"My father is upright and honest, and is really not suited to be an official in the court. Besides, what practical things can the Ministry of Rites do?"
Since the establishment of the imperial examination system in the previous dynasty, although it provided a path to success for scholars from humble backgrounds, it was ultimately monopolized by powerful clans. Even those talented scholars from poor families, even if they passed the exams, would eventually be used by these powerful clans.
Li Yuanke gripped Shen Shixi's hand tightly. "You want your father to open an academy, accepting impoverished scholars from all over the country as his students, to cultivate talent for the imperial court?"
"Yes," Shen Shixi said. "Knowledge is the wisdom and insight of the ancient sages, and it should not become the power of aristocratic families. It should be the common wealth of everyone. Now it is in their hands, used to contend with the power of the monarch. If the sages were alive, they would not be able to rest in peace, would they?"
"Xi'er's magnanimity surpasses even mine!" Li Yuanke embraced her. "My original intention was also to support the Shen family. The Grand Tutor treated me well back then..."
Shen Shixi pressed his lips against his, "Your Majesty, the power in your hands is divinely granted and is the embodiment of the faith of every citizen of the Great Zhou. It should not be used to repay kindness, much less to seek revenge."
If you have such thoughts, my grandfather will be turning in his grave.
Li Yuanke's face darkened. "You're talking nonsense again. If you keep saying that, the Grand Tutor will be so angry he'll come back to life."
"The matter of becoming emperor is a matter of destiny. From ancient times to the present, it has never been the most capable, nor the most virtuous, nor can it be decided whoever wants to be emperor. Only the chosen one can ascend the throne."
Li Yuanke, you ascended the throne by your own destiny. Don't listen to those petty people who slander you, saying that the Shen family supported you. Back then, it wasn't just the Shen family who fought for you; we were all just a community of interests.
You can exploit an emperor's sense of guilt, but you can never expect an emperor to be grateful; the latter is absolutely a death sentence.
Otherwise, why would there be the saying, "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked"?
Since ancient times, it has been said that a small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment, let alone the merit of helping someone rise to power.
The reason why harmonious relations between ruler and subject are considered a celebrated story is because such cases are extremely rare.
Shen Shixi had to give him a heads-up.
[Li Yuanke wouldn't say such a thing without reason; someone must have said something to him. The person who could use this to argue is most likely the Empress. Is she absolutely determined to never tolerate me?]
Li Yuanke smiled and pinched her cheek. He really liked her cleverness and cunning.
It was still early. Shen Shixi had been out of the palace all day and was very tired. Li Yuanke didn't want to bother her. He picked up a book and started reading at an angle. Shen Shixi sat on his lap and read with him.
Li Yuanke was reading a book called "Discourses on Salt and Iron," which dates back to the Western Han Dynasty. Salt and iron had always been the exclusive domain of the imperial court and an important pillar of tax revenue, making it a key area of concern for him.
"Some officials in the court have suggested that the control over iron tools is too strict, and many people are now farming with wooden plows and hand hoes because they lack iron tools. Xi'er, do you have any good ideas regarding this issue?"
(There will be an extra chapter before 10 PM.)