The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 332 Father, Your Piece of Rice Is Really Perfect
Xiong Cilu is a Grand Secretary of the current dynasty!
He served in the same court as Suo'etu and Mingzhu, and could be considered a prominent figure in the Jiangnan faction before Zhang Ying.

In Beijing, he was known for his integrity and incorruptibility.

But once he returned to Jiangnan, he lived a carefree and leisurely life!

Putting aside everything else, just one garden cost more than 100,000 taels of silver and was even hailed as the "Number One Garden in the World"!
This title naturally attracted the envy of many.

However, Emperor Qianxi pretended not to know about this matter.

The meaning couldn't be clearer now that this has been brought up suddenly—you Grand Secretaries are getting richer and richer as you rise in rank, while the imperial court is getting poorer and poorer!

If things have come to this, and you still oppose the court's tax increases, then don't blame me for not showing any loyalty between ruler and subject.

Zhang Ying was a smart man; how could he not understand the implied meaning behind Emperor Qianxi's words?
While inwardly criticizing the senior colleague for being sloppy and leaving such a huge handle on him, he quickly pondered how to respond.

"Your Majesty, the reason why Grand Scholar Xiong has been able to live so comfortably after returning to his hometown is ultimately due to Your Majesty's benevolence."

At this point, Zhang Ying continued, "I believe that both Grand Secretary Xiong and other officials in the court will be deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness."

"We will all do our utmost to serve the court and His Majesty!"

Emperor Qianxi laughed and said, "We were just chatting casually, why bring up these things?"

As he spoke, he pointed to a plate of mutton on the table: "This is a sheep that the Imperial Household Department specially arranged to be transported from the northern desert."

"They say they grew up eating medicinal herbs, but I don't know if they're just bragging. Scholar Zhang, why don't you try it?"

Zhang Ying inwardly complained, but outwardly he still had to respectfully thank Emperor Qianxi for such a reward.

Seeing Zhang Ying being reprimanded, Tong Guowei felt no schadenfreude whatsoever.

He knew his nephew's ways all too well. After Zhang Ying was criticized, he was the next one to be reprimanded.

While enjoying his hot pot, he pondered the mess his family was in, and the more he thought about it, the more of a headache he got.

It's not that I can't remember, it's just that there are too many!
Those sons of noble families have been getting into one trouble after another lately...

Fortunately, Emperor Qianxi didn't let him hesitate for too long and directly asked, "Uncle, I heard that Shun'an Yan spent five thousand taels of silver to buy a horse a while ago? Is that true?"
Tong Guowei's lips twitched, and he quickly stood up, saying, "That spendthrift, that unfilial dog, spends money recklessly without any sense of propriety, it's infuriating!"

At this point, he gritted his teeth and said, "When we get back, I will definitely give him a good beating."

"Let him know that money doesn't grow on trees!"

Emperor Qianxi did not defend Shun'an Yan, but simply said, "Uncle, as the saying goes, jade cannot become a vessel without being carved. Shun'an Yan is also the eldest grandson, so he must be disciplined more strictly!"

"If we don't teach them a lesson, who knows what kind of trouble they might cause in the future!"

"If he doesn't change this time, send him to the army in the north to be properly trained."

Although Tong Guowei was reluctant to let his grandson suffer in the northern frontier, he knew in his heart that Emperor Qianxi was not just bluffing.

If Shun'an Yan continues to act recklessly, Emperor Qianxi will definitely not be lenient with him.

He could only declare, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will never let him do such a foolish thing again."

Shen Ye watched as Emperor Qianxi casually reprimanded the two Grand Secretaries, and he was filled with admiration.

This old man usually has a kind and gentle appearance, but when he gets serious, he can be quite stern.

He had so much information in his hands, keeping it all to himself all the time, waiting for this crucial moment to use it as a warning to others.

Just as Shen Ye was feeling sentimental, Emperor Qianxi changed the subject: "Crown Prince, you shouldn't just focus on making money for yourself."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye immediately lost his composure.

This scare tactic has backfired on him!

Moreover, he received the same treatment as Tong Guowei and Zhang Ying.

After all, these two are big shots who represent a lot of people, and although he is the crown prince, his status is much higher than theirs.

However, in terms of personal connections and foundation, they really can't compare.

"You are the crown prince, the whole country will be yours in the future, what do you need so much money for?" Emperor Qianxi said earnestly while picking up some meat, "Won't this country be yours sooner or later?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye was completely speechless.

Although I have many complaints about Emperor Qianxi, the promise he made was incredibly convincing...

Shen Ye could only smile and reply, "Father, I'm only making money to help you out."

"So that when the court is short of money, Father Emperor, you won't have to worry."

Emperor Qianxi pointed to the pickled garlic on the table and said with a smile, "This pickled garlic is very flavorful this year. Your Highness, please try it."

At this point, Emperor Qianxi changed the subject, saying, "You've hoarded a lot of land in Xiaotangshan? I really don't see how much profit can come from that land."

Shen Ye smiled gently and said, "Father, the weather is getting colder and colder. The Xiaotangshan Palace that I prepared for you is almost finished."

"I originally wanted to choose an auspicious day and invite you to come and take a look."

"Since you've brought it up today, I'll invite you to come and take a look in advance."

Upon hearing Shen Ye's words, Emperor Qianxi smiled and said, "Alright, go and take a look later."

The four of them, the emperor and his ministers, ate the hot pot for half an hour.

After a satisfying meal, Shen Ye returned directly to Yuqing Palace, while Tong Guowei and Zhang Ying headed together towards the South Study.

"Prime Minister Zhang, it seems His Majesty is determined to reform the tax system," Tong Guowei said in a low voice when no one was around. Zhang Ying continued walking slowly, saying, "It's inevitable. After all, the Ministry of Revenue is short of funds this year!"

Tong Guowei hesitated for a moment before saying, "I wholeheartedly support His Majesty's decision."

"However, we must not rush into this matter or be too reckless; we must proceed cautiously!"

Zhang Ying understood Tong Guowei's meaning. He wanted to charge a little more, but not too much, otherwise they would have difficulty explaining to their subordinates.

"Prime Minister Tong is right, I completely agree."

"However, I think His Majesty may not entrust us with this tax reform."

Tong Guowei paused in his steps, then said solemnly, "You mean, His Majesty wants the Crown Prince to take the lead in this matter?"

Zhang Ying smiled but did not reply.

But the answer is self-evident from his actions.

Neither Zhang Ying nor Tong Guowei spoke, but when they returned to their respective duty rooms in the Southern Study, they exchanged a glance.

it is more than words.

Shen Ye returned to Yuqing Palace and fell asleep immediately. When he opened his eyes again, the lanterns were already lit.

He lazily opened his eyes and saw Crown Princess Shi Jingrong and Nian Xinyue sitting together talking softly, as if afraid of waking Shen Ye.

"What time is it?" Shen Ye asked casually.

Nian Xinyue smiled and said, "It's already 7 p.m.

To accommodate Shen Ye's habits, most people in Yuqing Palace use numbers to indicate the time.

Shen Ye got out of bed, and Nian Xinyue took a thick cloak and draped it over him, saying, "Your Highness, the weather is getting cooler now, you should wear something warmer."

Shen Ye picked up the tea that had been prepared beforehand, took a sip, and then asked, "Where is Cao Min?"

"The Empress Dowager was in a very good mood today, and Min'er was kept behind to play mahjong with her," Shi Jingrong said with a smile. "When we were playing mahjong today, the Empress Dowager praised you, Crown Prince."

Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager had praised him, Shen Ye's face showed a hint of doubt.

"The Empress Dowager praised the Yuqing silver dollars you produced, saying they were very useful, especially when playing cards. One silver dollar at a time, easy to calculate and use."

Standing next to Shi Jingrong, Nian Xinyue said with a grin.

Shen Ye never expected that the Yuqing silver coins he produced would be praised so highly by the Empress Dowager.

He smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager's words actually hit the nail on the head regarding the greatest advantage of the Yuqing silver dollar: it's easy to use!"

"By the way, have all those silver dollars been sent out?"

During the festival, Shen Ye had a large sum of silver dollars prepared, and the Empress Dowager even sent a thousand taels directly.

As for the other concubines, Shen Ye had them sent according to their rank.

Although not much was distributed, it was still a token of goodwill.

Shi Jingrong was in charge of this matter, and when Shen Ye asked, she smiled and replied, "They've all been sent out."

"Several princesses came to keep the Empress Dowager company today. According to the princesses, their households didn't have enough silver dollars, so they sent people to Yuqing Bank to exchange silver for more."

"However, Yuqing Bank doesn't seem to have many silver dollars, so they don't exchange too many at each bank."

"It seems that the Yuqing silver dollar has been accepted and gained a foothold in the capital."

Shen Ye took out two silver dollars, glanced at them, and sighed softly.

The silver dollar was acceptable to him, which was within his expectations.

Only when the banknotes issued by Yuqing Bank become acceptable to the public will he, as the crown prince, truly be able to stand tall.

Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go.

This requires not only technological breakthroughs, but also a lot of other efforts.

"The processing speed of silver coins is limited, but it will get better gradually." Shen Ye composed himself and said, "I have already had people prepare for the mint, and the speed of silver coin production will be increased soon."

"The Xiaotangshan Imperial Palace is almost finished. Set a date as soon as possible and invite the Empress Dowager to take a look."

"If the Empress Dowager likes it, we can stay in the palace when it gets cold, instead of suffering in the cold here."

"I have already informed His Majesty about this matter, but the timing has not yet been determined."

Shi Jingrong had never been to the Xiaotangshan Palace, but Nian Xinyue had been there twice with Shen Ye. Although the palace was only half-built when they went, Nian Xinyue's face showed a hint of longing when she thought of the hot springs there.

"Sister Jingrong, we must mention this matter to the Empress Dowager as soon as possible."

"The hot springs in Xiaotangshan are so comfortable."

"It would be wonderful to soak in a hot spring on such a cold day."

Shi Jingrong nodded. She knew more than Nian Xinyue. Currently, a large amount of land around Xiaotangshan was under the Crown Prince's name.

If we can't attract the high-ranking officials and nobles of the capital during winter, we might lose money.

She really had to take this matter to heart!
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(End of this chapter)