Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2853 Master Qingsong 71.0
Upon hearing Song Yaojia's words, Shen Cha couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"The downfall of the previous dynasty's royal family was not without reason. They preferred to trust aristocratic families with no ties to them rather than their own family members, for fear that infighting among them would cause them to seize their throne?" She snorted. "Anyone who has sat on that throne knows how difficult it is to sit on it, especially those from the previous dynasty. Not only were they subject to others, but they also had to pretend to be deaf and dumb. A normal person would have given up long ago, right?"

“Because they’re not normal people!” Shen Haolin sighed. “As you know, the previous dynasty’s royal family and aristocratic families intermarried, and it was always the same few families. Only towards the end did new aristocratic families join in, to the point that everyone in the court was a relative, not an outsider at all, all family.” He sighed again, “Because their bloodlines are too close, their descendants…” He pointed to his head, “have long had problems. They’re either extremely weak, or paranoid and suspicious. In short, there are no normal people among them. When Princess Jinyang was alive, things were relatively good. The further back in time, the more abnormal people there were, and the more madmen there were.”

“That’s true.” Shen Cha nodded. “I almost forgot, those aristocratic families in the previous dynasty were quite fond of intermarrying with their relatives.” As she spoke, she rolled her eyes. “They were jealous of talent and ability, afraid that others would be better than them and steal their limelight.”

“Especially since this one is a princess, in their eyes, the role of a princess is…” Song Yaojia sneered and said, “It’s just for marriage alliances. Unfortunately, Princess Jinyang is naturally uncontrollable and unruly at a young age, so they gave up on that idea. If such a princess were to go on a marriage alliance, it would probably not be to form a marriage, but to make enemies.”

"With Princess Jinyang's temper, if she were to be married off, she could wreak havoc on the foreign tribes."

Jin Miaomiao listened for a long time but still didn't understand. She looked at this person and then at that person, and then made a gesture towards them.

"Stop, stop, stop! Weren't we just talking about Princess Jinyang's flirtatious nature? How did we suddenly switch to talking about being born at the wrong time? And what's with that marriage alliance thing?" She couldn't help but frown. "Is this a huge leap?"

"Let's not talk about that now, you'll understand in a bit." Shen Cha waved her hand. "Are those three questions enough? Are there any other questions?"

“Oh, yes.” Jin Miaomiao nodded, counting on her fingers. “The first problem is that these poor scholars know what they’re doing in the princess’s residence; they’re not unaware, nor have they been deceived. The second problem is that if these poor scholars are unwilling, Princess Jinyang won’t force or coerce them; she might even compensate them with some money. The third problem is that the Princess Jinyang’s residence changes very quickly; those scholars who are no longer considered promising are either recommended by the princess to become officials, kept in the princess’s residence, or sent back to their hometowns with money, right?”

"Hmm!" Song Yaojia smiled. "Is there a fourth question?"

“Yes.” Jin Miaomiao held up her fourth finger. “What happened to the families of the talented men who were selected back then?”

"The families of these talented men will be treated the same way the previous dynasty arranged for their selection of imperial concubines," Song Yaojia said, shaking her head helplessly. "Actually, I wanted to say this before: if you treat Princess Jinyang's actions as a selection of imperial concubines, you'll understand. Although the families of these talented men won't receive titles like the families of imperial concubines or princesses, they will certainly be well-off. Local officials and aristocratic families will even provide them with some support. After all, no one knows whether the selected talented men will stay in the princess's residence or be recommended by the princess to become officials. Even if they return to their hometowns, their overall status will experience a qualitative leap."

"Brother Yaojia didn't finish speaking. The reason why there were guards escorting them back to their hometown is because some people received land from the princess."

"What is this?" Jin Miaomiao was stunned. "Land granted by the princess? You got land and property after only one year in the princess's residence?" She couldn't help but open her mouth wide. "Did the wealthy and powerful nobles of the previous dynasty live such a carefree life?" "What are you thinking!" Song Yaojia said, both amused and exasperated. "Usually, people like this have lived in the princess's residence for at least three to five years. No, most of them have lived there for more than five years before they could receive such treatment."

"Obtaining land and farmland in five years is a qualitative leap for those from humble backgrounds," Jin Miaomiao exclaimed with admiration. "In the previous dynasty, most people from poor families, even if they were lucky enough to get a recommendation for an official position, couldn't possibly improve their family's situation in three to five years, right?" Seeing Song Yaojia nod, she couldn't help but slam her hand on the table. "If that's the case, what are those so-called talented men still dissatisfied with? They're insatiable, wanting to gain benefits while feeling that what they're doing is dishonorable. Where were they before?"

After Jin Miaomiao finished being angry, she suddenly remembered what Shen Haolin, Shen Cha and Song Yaojia had been talking about earlier, and looked at them.

"What exactly did you mean by what you were saying just now?"

"Sister Miaomiao, I understand everything, but you still don't understand!" Merlin nudged her from the side, "The two Princesses of Jinyang who lived in Jinyang Ward should have died from the same cause."

"The same one?" Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment. "That can't be right. Wasn't the second Princess Jinyang involved in a rebellion?" She paused after saying that. "You mean... the first one was the same?"

"Then what do you think she did with all those talented men from poor families? Was she really after them because they were good-looking?" Song Yaojia smiled. "If you really wanted good looks, you might as well have found a theatrical troupe. They're proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose. They can even dance and sing for the princess. Isn't that more interesting than those scholars?"

"But why has she developed such a reputation?"

“It’s not exactly a rumor. She does like good-looking people, and she is indeed a bit fickle.” Shen Cha coughed lightly, touched her chin apologetically, and said, “However, I heard that there are two or three people living in the princess’s residence for a very long time. They must be the princess’s absolute confidants, very loyal to her, and they accompanied her when she left.”

“Yes, those who took action were all newcomers who had been in the princess’s residence for less than half a year. Those who had been there for a long time were almost all sincerely convinced of the princess’s authority.” Song Yaojia nodded. “I once heard a rumor, not from my uncle, but from Wen Banban in the palace. The first Princess Jinyang did not intend to rebel. She only wanted to consolidate imperial power and take back control of the court from the aristocratic families.”

"This is precisely what crossed the bottom line of the aristocratic families," Shen Cha sighed. "No wonder they used newcomers. Those old-timers are all the princess's confidants. The newcomers haven't yet gotten through that most difficult and awkward period. Besides, these people probably think that the princess having such thoughts is rebellious and a further slander against them, the scholars, so that's why they did it."

“Yes!” Song Yaojia nodded. “Let alone the previous dynasty, even in the early years of Emperor Taizu, there were scholars clamoring to share the world with the emperor! And these scholars were not from aristocratic families; they were all from humble backgrounds who passed the imperial examinations.” At this point, he couldn’t help but sneer. “Unfortunately, Great Xia is not the previous dynasty; it will not tolerate these people taking advantage of our kindness!”