Late at night.
The Great Qian Imperial Palace.
Empress Wu Zhao stood by the window, the cold moonlight casting a serene glow on her exquisite face, exuding a sense of aloofness and detachment.
Her eyes were filled with endless nobility.
"Could it be that I was wrong?"
Wu Zhao clasped her hands behind her back, gazing into the distance towards Linjiang City, her brows furrowed.
Cui Xinghe had arrived in Clearwater City, and in just three days, not only had the grain prices been curbed, but they had also plummeted.
The grain price stabilized at eighty-two wen per dou and even dropped by another two wen, reaching eighty wen per dou.
In a year of great disaster, not only curbing the soaring grain prices but also causing them to fall repeatedly requires considerable skill!
Cui Xinghe did not betray her trust.
Yet Wu Zhao was not pleased.
"You have disappointed me!"
Her mind was filled with the image of Gao Yang standing in the hall, speaking eloquently. If dealing with the enemy's son had merely made her regard him highly, then the subsequent Monkey-Show Scheme had moved her, even sending a chill down her spine.
This was the person she had been searching for all along!
Thus, she orchestrated this competition, using the tens of thousands of citizens in the two cities as the stage for them to showcase their talents and determine victory or defeat.
In her heart, she favored Gao Yang more, which is why she assigned the more disaster-stricken and complex Linjiang City to him.
But the grain prices in Linjiang City soared, and Gao Yang even planned to renovate the county office and hold large-scale events during the disaster year, granting tax exemptions to greedy merchants.
The more dazzling Cui Xinghe became, the more disappointed she was in Gao Yang.
"Forget it!"
"Talking on paper can never bear great responsibilities."
The Empress shook her head, preparing to rest.
But just then, a young eunuch burst in anxiously from outside.
"Report!"
"Lord Shangguan sent a letter by fast horse, insisting that Her Majesty open it personally!"
"Moreover, Lord Du also sent a memorial by fast horse, specifically instructing that it must be opened by Her Majesty and then copied for the Censorate!"
The young eunuch knelt on the ground.
Wu Zhao turned abruptly, an aura of terrifying nobility and majesty enveloping her.
"Bring it here!"
Wu Zhao's eyes flickered.
Shangguan Wan'er had sent a letter.
Du Jiang also sent a memorial, both requiring her personal attention.
Could it be that the public anger in Linjiang City had erupted into chaos?
Wu Zhao thought of many things in an instant, her gaze heavy.
She had just ascended the throne not long ago; if war broke out now, it would not be good news for her.
Thinking of this, Wu Zhao's eyes turned icy.
In Fengluan Palace, some keen-sensed eunuchs and palace maids dared not even breathe as they caught sight of Wu Zhao's expression.
As the contents of the letter came into view, Wu Zhao's expression became extremely intriguing.
She immediately picked up the memorial written by Du Jiang, quickly scanning through it.
Clap!
The memorial fell to the ground.
Wu Zhao's expression was one of shock.
The surrounding young eunuchs and palace maids trembled, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.
What happened to Her Majesty?
"My judgment was indeed correct."
Suddenly, Wu Zhao smiled, a sight that stunned the eunuchs.
Her Majesty smiled?
They had served here for so long, yet it was the first time they saw Wu Zhao smile so breathtakingly.
Though they lacked certain parts below, they couldn't help but be mesmerized.
"The Censorate's remonstrators have been vexing me quite a bit lately. Tomorrow, I must vent my anger; there's no need to copy this memorial."
"Dismiss."
Wu Zhao waved her hand, and the eunuchs and palace maids all withdrew.
Once the entire sleeping quarters fell into absolute silence.
Wu Zhao looked at the full moon outside the window, murmuring to herself, "In one day, the price dropped by a hundred and fifty wen, even reaching fifty wen per dou!"
"What a grandson of Duke Dingguo, I have indeed underestimated you."
...
The next day.
A ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, bringing vitality to the entire Chang'an City, not far from the city gates.
Gao Yang couldn't help but stretch his old waist; the hurried journey had nearly shaken his old bones apart.
Seeing the majestic Chang'an City standing on the earth, Gao Yang couldn't help but feel excited.
"After all this trouble, I'm finally back!"
"This time, I must enjoy myself thoroughly."
Shangguan Wan'er retorted discontentedly, "What do you mean by trouble, Young Master Gao is contributing to Great Qian."
"As an official, one should dedicate oneself to the people, to the point of death; this is the highest honor!"
Gao Yang, accustomed to Shangguan Wan'er's cold remarks, replied directly, "Lord Shangguan is right, as long as Lord Shangguan is happy."
Shangguan Wan'er glared at Gao Yang with her beautiful eyes.
Where did this Gao Yang get so many infuriating phrases?
As the carriage approached the city gate, several eunuchs hurriedly came forward to greet them.
"High Censor, Lord Shangguan, Her Majesty has decreed that you are to be summoned for the morning court today."
...
Jinluan Hall.
Civil and military officials stood on both sides, with Duke Dingguo Gao Tianlong at the forefront, and Gao Feng among them.
However, Gao Feng's expression was quite poor, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Cui Xinghe's direction.
"Wretched child, today you've brought shame to your father." Gao Feng sighed inwardly.
Not only Gao Feng, but many ministers also cast their eyes, intentionally or unintentionally, towards Cui Xinghe. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Almost everyone knew that today, Cui Xinghe was the most dazzling figure in the Great Qian court.
He was destined to bask in the envious gazes of all!
Cui Xinghe maintained a calm expression, appearing indifferent.
But inside, he was already thrilled.
After today, the Cui Clan would take pride in him, Cui Xinghe, and the family records would open a new page for him!
As for Gao Yang, a mere playboy, could he really compete with his scholarly talent?
A single competition, and the difference was clear.
"Her Majesty arrives!"
With the eunuch's sharp voice, Wu Zhao, clad in a golden dragon robe, slowly ascended the dragon throne!
The officials immediately bowed.
"Rise, everyone!"
"Today, I shall reward merits."
Wu Zhao spoke directly and openly.
With her words, all eyes turned to Cui Xinghe.
Cui Xinghe straightened his back, full of pride.
Song Li was the first to step forward, "Your Majesty, Top Scholar Cui, with thunderous means, has reduced the grain price in Clearwater City to eighty wen per dou in just seven days. He is truly a talent of kingly assistance. I earnestly request Your Majesty to employ him heavily!"
Wang Zhong followed with a loud voice, "Your Majesty seeks talents from all over the world to establish a foundation for Great Qian for all eternity, even using Clearwater and Linjiang as a competition. Now, the outcome is clear, and I ask Your Majesty to reward merits and punish faults accordingly."
With these words, many officials bowed in unison.
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
Especially the remonstrators from the Censorate, who were particularly vehement.
Yan Zheng, face ashen, stood out and coldly said, "Your Majesty, using the people of a city for a competition, with ten thousand citizens of Linjiang City living in misery, is the act of a tyrant, destined to be harshly condemned by history!"
Yan Zheng showed no regard for Wu Zhao's face, launching into a tirade, citing classics and histories.
For a moment, the entire court was filled with Yan Zheng's angry rebuke.
Some keen-sensed officials sensed something amiss; in the past, such an outburst from Yan Zheng would have left Wu Zhao with a stern face, though she wouldn't arbitrarily kill, but today, she seemed rather amused.
Gao Tianlong looked thoughtful.
After a full incense stick's time, Yan Zheng, parched, finally paused.
Wu Zhao smiled, "Are you done, Lord Yan?"
Yan Zheng looked at Wu Zhao, a bit uneasy, but still nodded with a stern face, "I have said all I wanted to say."
"If Linjiang City is not controlled, and the grain prices continue to soar, should chaos ensue, it would sweep across the land, making Your Majesty a sinner of the realm."
At this moment, Cui Xinghe also stepped forward, "Your Majesty, I have heard of the soaring grain prices in Linjiang City and am deeply pained. As a subject of Great Qian, I am willing to go to Linjiang City to relieve Your Majesty's worries!"
"Though the Four Great Grain Merchants in Linjiang City are extremely difficult, I have full confidence and experience."
As Cui Xinghe stepped forward, officials cast admiring glances.
"Top Scholar Cui is a great talent!"
"Top Scholar Cui's concern for the people is a model for us all!"
Wu Zhao listened to these discussions, her expression unchanged, then slowly said, "Everyone says the grain prices in Linjiang City are soaring, but how come I hear that the prices have dropped to seventy wen per dou?"