Ever since the civil and military officials discovered Song Shihuan's talent for governance, they suddenly became indulgent towards the occasionally slacking-off Song Yu.
Even when Song Yu deliberately skipped court for five days, the ministers had no reaction.
They also stopped scrutinizing Song Yu's harem and instead began selecting suitable consorts for Song Shihuan.
"What?" In the Zichen Hall, Song Yu jumped three feet high. "Finding a consort for Ahuan? Drive them all away! Not a single candidate on this list is acceptable."
Song Yu was so angry his liver ached. These ministers were really meddling in things that were none of their business.
Liuxi silently shrank his neck back.
See, it would have been better if these people had directed their energy towards the Emperor instead.
The Gu Residence.
"What? I'm on the list too?" Gu Mingning stumbled, nearly twisting his ankle, then turned to look at Gu Zheng with a pleading expression. "Father, save your son!"
That wasn't a list of consort candidates; it was a list from the Book of Life and Death!
There were always those who were blind and wanted to harm him!
Before Gu Zheng could speak, he first let out a sigh. "Do you have a girl you fancy? If so, I'll arrange a marriage for you immediately."
"How do those officials from the Ministry of Rites always manage to dance right on the Emperor's red line?" Even Gu Mingzhu couldn't help but speak up. "The more the Emperor dislikes something, the more determined they are to do it."
With the way the Emperor treasures the Princess, it's highly likely he'll want someone to marry into the family in the future.
Gu Mingning wore an expression of utter despair.
He spent every day immersed in the military camp, just wanting to focus on training soldiers properly.
...
To facilitate Song Shihuan's handling of government affairs, Song Yu specially prepared a separate desk for her in the Zichen Hall.
Sometimes, when he was too bored, Song Yu would leisurely watch Song Shihuan discuss matters with the officials.
One day.
"Currently, the assessment of Da Qi's officials is of utmost importance. If the Ministry of Personnel cannot conduct careful evaluations and makes further mistakes, I suggest you all retire and enjoy your old age at home. At least you can preserve your reputations."
The officials from the Ministry of Personnel knelt on the ground, not daring to rise.
The corner of Song Yu's mouth twitched. Ahuan's words were even more direct than his own.
"Da Qi's national treasury is prosperous; there is no need for harsh taxes. Instead, what is taken from the people must be used for the people. If the Ministry of Revenue cannot adapt to Da Qi's development and make changes, we should promote some new scholars to refresh the thinking there."
"..."
Those thorny tasks that had the ministers complaining incessantly were all resolved by Song Shihuan in just a few words, leaving Song Yu utterly dumbfounded.
Finally, Song Shihuan slowly raised her eyes. "I heard you have recently been selecting candidates for my consort?"
The hall instantly fell silent. No one dared to speak first.
"I do not need you to make selections for me. Do you understand?"
Song Shihuan's words carried heavy pressure as they swept towards the courtiers. Everyone hurriedly responded:
"Your subjects acknowledge our fault."
The Eldest Princess of Da Qi, the sole female direct disciple of the Qingyun Sect's leader, naturally had the final say. She did not need them to arrange consort candidates.
When only the father and daughter remained in the Zichen Hall, Song Yu swallowed hard. "The matter of the consort... is resolved just like that?"
Then what about back when he, to avoid selecting concubines, feigned illness and stayed cooped up in the palace for several days? What did that count for?
Song Shihuan nodded. "If I don't like something, I just tell them directly that I don't like it."
"If they comply with me, then the matter is dropped."
"If they don't comply, I will take direct action myself. This is what Imperial Grandfather taught me."
Song Yu nearly ground his silver teeth to dust. Why didn't the old man teach him? He only knew how to watch his jokes!
...
By the sixth year of Zhaowu, Song Yu had completely thrown the burdens of state onto Song Shihuan, spending his own days traveling outside the capital.
From large prefectures down to county magistrates.
For every place where Song Shihuan issued a government decree, Song Yu would go to see how it was being implemented. Letters from all corners of the realm streamed back to the Zichen Hall, and Song Shihuan would read each one carefully, then adjust the decrees based on the actual situation.
By then, public sentiment throughout Da Qi for both Song Yu and Song Shihuan had reached an unprecedented high.
Emperor Yuanyou had also grown old and no longer spent his days wanting to see Song Yu make a spectacle of himself.
Instead, as if realizing something, he was eager to impart all his skills to Song Shihuan.
"Ahuan, now that we have the hearts of the people, we must never betray this trust."
"No one is perfect, and the same goes for those in court. You must utilize their strengths and grasp their weaknesses. Only then can you make them serve loyally and wholeheartedly. Ahuan, do you understand?"
"Imperial Grandfather, water can carry a boat but also overturn it. I understand these principles."
Song Shihuan, now twenty years old, had completely shed her childishness. Dressed in fiery red Eldest Princess robes, the phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majestic and awe-inspiring presence.
"Yesterday, I dismissed the Minister of Rites. Before Father left, he didn't take the imperial seal, so I took it out myself and stamped the decree."
Song Shihuan's tone was light, but the smile on Emperor Yuanyou's face did not diminish in the slightest. "For what reason?"
"The Ministry of Rites is in charge of rituals, sacrifices, and imperial examinations. If its vision is limited only to the family affairs of nobles and royalty, it's better for them to return home and farm the land, so we can select new people to take charge." Song Shihuan looked into the distance. "He has a daughter who has long been waiting to be married, and a son around my age. This man's ambitions have grown too large."
Emperor Yuanyou laughed even more heartily.
Ahuan's methods were sharper and more severe than his or Yu'er's. Sometimes, she even greatly resembled that kid Shen San.
After all, calling him 'Teacher' for a time had subtly influenced Ahuan.
"Imperial Grandfather, Da Qi is now thriving. Your granddaughter wishes to issue a decree to mobilize the entire nation's strength to build schools extensively, so that all children have a place to study. Only through reading can they understand reason. When the new generation grows up, Da Qi will truly achieve the passing of the torch, generation after generation, without end."
"An excellent plan."
Emperor Yuanyou looked at his granddaughter in the prime of her youth, possessing a drive and courage that neither he nor Yu'er had anymore.
Two more years passed. Song Yu took Song Shihuan out of the palace to observe the people's conditions.
Wherever they went, the common people lined the streets to welcome them. Shouts of "Long live the Emperor" and "Long live the Princess" soared to the skies.
The people all looked towards Song Shihuan. Any commoner who could meet her gaze became so emotional that they welled up with tears.
Then, Song Shihuan walked through the crowd and finally stopped in front of a little girl.
The little girl's clothes were dirty, but her eyes were very bright.
"Good child, how old are you? Have you learned to read?"
"Replying to Your Highness the Eldest Princess, I am ten. The school reduces the fees by half for wandering children like me, and lets me copy books to cover the tuition, so I have learned to read."
"Thank you, Your Highness the Eldest Princess."
A wave of warmth came from the top of her head. Disregarding the dirt on the little girl, Song Shihuan actually reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
The little girl's eyes instantly reddened, filled with excitement and disbelief.
Song Yu, standing to the side, also smiled.
This trip out had made him realize just how fervent the people's support for Ahuan was—far more, it seemed, than for him, the Emperor.
Tsk.
Good thing he had bravely chosen to slack off.
