"Grand Tutor, you asked for me?"
Inside the Zichen Hall, Song Shihuan looked somewhat puzzled at Shen Qingping, while Song Yu beside her stole a glance before quickly lowering his head again.
Anyway, whatever Shen San said next had nothing to do with him.
"Your Highness, there are numerous affairs of state at present. If you are willing, I would like to seek your instruction on matters I cannot decide. What do you think?"
Song Shihuan was a bit slow to react. "Grand Tutor can seek instruction from His Majesty the Emperor."
"His Majesty is not often in the capital." Shen Qingping uttered these words almost through gritted teeth.
"That's fine."
Years later, Song Shihuan would regret these three words countless times.
Hearing Song Shihuan's reply, Shen Qingping felt completely at ease. He even felt that if the Emperor left the capital again now, his heart wouldn't ripple at all—as long as the Princess was left here for him.
Shen Qingping returned to the Shen residence in high spirits.
Even the memorials in his hand seemed adorable.
A princess participating in governance was not without precedent, but it required a reasonable opportunity. Whenever Shen Qingping had a free moment, he began thinking about how to create such an opportunity.
Until a month later, Shen Qingping came to the Zichen Hall again.
"I request Your Majesty to leave the capital once more for an incognito inspection tour."
Song Yu's head shot up with a whoosh, his face full of question marks.
What did Shen San just say? He didn't quite catch it.
"While Your Majesty is on the inspection tour, I will release several long-pending major issues. At that time, with no one in the court able to make a decision, the ministers will naturally beg the Princess for help. Then the Princess can rightfully handle the affairs of state."
"Does the Chancellor think I am useless?" Song Yu pointed at himself incredulously.
Shen Qingping gave a slight nod.
Song Yu cursed.
"If Your Majesty could be as diligent as the Retired Emperor, I wouldn't have to resort to such a plan."
Shen Qingping looked at Song Yu. Even Cheng Guang couldn't impeach Song Yu effectively now—if he tried, the man simply wouldn't attend court the next day.
It could be said to be the most devastating chapter in Cheng Guang's career as a censor.
"Fine! So I just have to leave, right? I'll pack up and go immediately!"
Song Yu packed his luggage overnight and began his days of traveling abroad.
......
"This matter is of great importance, not something we officials can resolve."
In the court, the hundred officials were as anxious as a pot of boiling porridge.
"But we can't reach His Majesty now. Perhaps we should invite the Retired Emperor to preside over this."
The officials then sought out Emperor Yuanyou. On the way, they suddenly felt a deep nostalgia for the days when Emperor Yuanyou was on the throne—those were truly happy times.
But they did not get their wish to see Emperor Yuanyou.
"Your Excellencies, the Retired Emperor has been feeling unwell recently and has already retired to rest."
'Feeling unwell' again.
The ministers' faces twisted, already having a conditioned response to the phrase 'feeling unwell.'
Just as everyone was at a loss, Shen Qingping suddenly spoke up. "Why not ask the Princess to decide?"
"The Princess?" The courtiers hesitated.
"Now the Retired Emperor is ill, and His Majesty is who-knows-where. The only one who can decide this is the Princess." Shen Qingping pretended to sigh. "Gentlemen, don't forget, the Princess is capable of both literary governance and martial prowess. She will certainly have no problem handling such matters."
"It's just that we fear..."
"Fear what?" a courtier couldn't help but ask.
"We fear the Princess might be unwilling to step forward."
Thus, the officials' line of thinking shifted from 'how can we let the Princess preside' to 'how can we get the Princess to preside.'
When Song Shihuan saw the hundred officials begging before her, the corner of her mouth twitched.
She had a strong feeling she was being set up.
"Your Highness, the common people cannot wait!"
Facing the earnest gazes of the officials, Song Shihuan sighed and offered a perfectly sound solution. Shen Qingping seized the moment to bring up several other thorny issues. Song Shihuan handled them one by one, resolving everything swiftly.
The way the officials looked at Song Shihuan had completely changed.
Who said a princess couldn't participate in governance?
......
Song Yu was away from the capital for a full two months this time.
When he returned, there were no ministers squatting at the palace gate waiting for him, no censors with runny noses and tears demanding he uphold justice.
Everything was eerily quiet.
"Liuxi, where is everyone?" Song Yu felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
"Your Majesty, they are all with the Princess."
A quarter of an hour later, Shen Qingping slowly arrived at the Zichen Hall. Over the two months, the weariness around Shen Qingping had completely vanished, replaced by a leisurely calm.
"Shen San, quickly tell me what has happened in the last two months!"
Song Yu couldn't wait.
Shen Qingping felt he was a genius.
He had discovered the Princess's talent for statecraft.
Speaking of how Song Shihuan handled court affairs, Shen Qingping talked nonstop for a full two hours.
"I mentioned to the Princess that the burden I carried was too heavy while other court officials were too idle, so the Princess made some adjustments. Now I also have one or two hours of leisure time each day."
Indeed, sometimes inaction is the greatest action.
Compared to Your Majesty, the Princess is bolder in employing people, more decisive in handling matters, and effortlessly skilled in tackling difficult state affairs.
It's as if... she is a natural-born... decision-maker.
That night.
The ruler and his minister lay in their respective recliners, enjoying the cool in the courtyard of the Zichen Hall.
"Shen San, it's better to take it easy."
Song Yu felt even the air carried the scent of flowers. Compared to toiling away in the hall approving memorials, this kind of life suited him better.
Shen Qingping also took a deep breath. "Yes, this kind of life is the good life."
"Shen San, won't this tire Ah Huan out?" Song Yu secretly resolved that if Ah Huan felt too tired, he could reluctantly reduce the frequency of his trips out of the capital.
But Shen Qingping shook his head.
"During Your Majesty's absence from the capital, the Princess only spent one hour each day handling the most pressing government affairs."
"For those less urgent matters, the Princess arranged for court officials to handle them crosswise, then spent another quarter-hour spot-checking to ensure the officials' handling was reasonable."
"Even the Retired Emperor has praised the Princess's method highly."
Shen Qingping glanced at Song Yu. Not only that, the Princess also had time to accompany the Retired Emperor and the Qing Shan Sect Leader, and could even go shopping with Little Mingzhu.
Song Yu was truly convinced.
"Indeed, even an Emperor must have the courage to be himself."
"Why does Your Majesty say that?"
"If not for this, how could we have discovered Ah Huan's ability so quickly?"
Song Yu swung his feet. He would probably be the most leisurely and carefree emperor in the history of Great Qi, right?
Shen Qingping glanced at Song Yu, not wanting to puncture his statement.
Not only the most leisurely emperor.
But also the first emperor who managed to get his court officials completely in line!
