nucmednet Chapter 360 Shen Yanchu's Obstruction
Chapter 360 Shen Yanchu's Obstruction
"Miscellaneous tasks?" Shen Yanchu scoffed and stepped inside.
His boots were covered with crabapple petals from the corridor as he walked to the front hall. His slender fingers traced the numbers on the ledger: "The Ministry of Revenue is short 300,000 taels, and the canal transport in Jiangnan is blocked. These 'miscellaneous matters' are much harder to calculate than the chicken-and-rabbit problem."
"Your Majesty!"
Ye Wenshu suddenly spoke up, her face turning pale as she reached out to stop her.
Shen Yanchu stood with his hands at his sides in the hall. His python robe and jade belt accentuated his tall and straight figure, and his face was as handsome as a stone carving. Only his tightly pursed lips revealed a hint of melancholy that was different from his usual demeanor.
He had just come out of the palace, and there seemed to be lingering resentment in his sleeves from the meeting he had just attended.
Although His Majesty did not say it explicitly, his hesitant expression and the fleeting admiration in his eyes when mentioning "Miss Shi" were like a fine thorn, causing Shen Yanchu a sharp pain in his heart.
It was late summer.
This name has recently become like a blazing fire over the capital, impossible to avoid.
First, he surprised the emperor with a policy essay criticizing current affairs in the imperial court. Then, for some reason, he caught the emperor's eye and was specially promoted to Minister of Works.
The methods for refining crude salt and improving papermaking techniques were indeed unprecedented "novelties," and they did bring tangible benefits to the national treasury.
But Shen Yanchu's dissatisfaction was like ink dripping into an inkstone, spreading and becoming increasingly intense.
He stood in the front hall, the late spring breeze carrying the faint fragrance of fallen flowers, yet it could not dispel the melancholy between his brows.
Throughout history, women's involvement in politics has been a major taboo.
A hen crowing at dawn is a national taboo! Even if Shi Wanxia has read some books and learned some unorthodox skills, does that mean she can forget her duty?
"A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent"—this saying, though common, remains a timeless truth.
She is a woman, why doesn't she stay at home learning needlework and cultivating virtues, but insists on showing her face in public and arguing with men in the court? What kind of behavior is that!
A few days ago, Minister Wang of the Ministry of Personnel patted his hand and sighed at a private banquet: "Your Highness, it's not that I'm being old-fashioned, but look at those young women back then. One minute they're talking about measuring all the fields in the country, and the next they're talking about setting up some kind of 'Commercial Tax Bureau.' Their ideas are novel, but how can a young lady from a secluded family understand the laws of the country and the foundation of people's livelihood? Salt refining is just a craftsman's skill. How can it be compared to governing the country and bringing peace to the nation?"
Several senior scholars from the Hanlin Academy were deeply distressed: "They've become foolish from reading too much! No matter how much a woman reads, she can't escape the views of a woman."
"Shortsighted, only concerned with immediate gains, yet unaware of the fundamental principles of long-term stability. Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince, alas..."
Shen Yanchu wholeheartedly agreed.
Born into a distinguished family, he was well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age, and was familiar with classics, history, philosophy, and literature. He has been careful and meticulous since entering officialdom, and now he is a prince, all thanks to his genuine talent and accurate judgment of the political situation.
He had seen too many examples of how women's interference in politics had disrupted the government. Weren't the previous dynasties destroyed because of women? Every one of them was a lesson that resulted in rivers of blood.
Shi Wanxia merely relied on His Majesty's temporary favor and those so-called "petty tricks" to try and stir up trouble in the turbulent court.
Did she know that every step she took in the imperial court was fraught with danger, and that every word she uttered could affect the fate of the nation and the lives of countless people?
"Your Highness." Ye Wenshu's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Shen Yanchu came to his senses, lifted his robe, and respectfully bowed to His Highness the Crown Prince.
He recalled the eager look in the Crown Prince's eyes when the Crown Prince mentioned the reorganization of the Ministry of Revenue two days ago at the Eastern Palace: "Minister Shen, although Miss Shi is a woman, her proposed policy of 'trading refined salt' is indeed commendable."
"The national treasury is now empty, and the old system has deep-rooted problems. Perhaps... we need some new methods."
"A new method?"
Shen Yanchu couldn't help but speak up, his tone respectful but undeniably forceful.
"Your Highness, I believe that while Miss Shi is a woman with some cleverness, as everyone knows, she is not yet capable of handling matters of state, people's livelihood, and governance."
He paused, then continued, "I believe that since Your Majesty intends to reorganize the Ministry of Revenue, you should select capable individuals from among the noble families and those from humble backgrounds."
"Our dynasty is full of talented people. The sons of noble families are well-versed in classical texts, and scholars from humble backgrounds also have a heart for serving the country and the people. Why should we place our hopes on... a mere woman?"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince simply smiled faintly and said nothing more, only that he would report his opinion to His Majesty.
But the meaning behind that smile made Shen Yanchu increasingly uneasy.
Shen Yanzhou smiled and gestured for him to be quiet, then turned his gaze to the paper in his hand.
A maid served him hot tea, but he didn't even glance at it, and went straight to his desk.
Ignoring the impoliteness, he pressed down on the paper in Shen Yanzhou's hand.
Shen Yanzhou looked up at him with displeasure, his tone extremely cold: "What's wrong? What is the meaning behind Prince Xiang's actions?"
Shen Yanchu snapped out of her daze, abruptly withdrew her hand, and knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.
But in his heart he was thinking about Shi Wanxia... what exactly did she want to do?
What use is power to a woman? Does she really think that with those novel skills she can carve out a place for herself in this patriarchal world?
The Shi Wanxia he remembered was different from the shy and graceful young ladies of ordinary times. She wore a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and stood tall among a group of noblewomen. Her brows and eyes carried a kind of heroic spirit and composure that did not belong to women.
When she spoke about people's livelihood, her voice was clear and her logic was sound, leaving many ministers present speechless.
At that moment, a strange feeling arose in his heart—not admiration, but vigilance.
An uncontrollable woman, especially an intelligent and ambitious one, is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples he can't predict.
Shen Yanchu, in this imperial court, is meticulous in his planning and strategy, never missing a beat. When did a woman have the chance to disrupt his plans? How can matters of state be treated so "childishly" by a woman?
"Someone come here," he suddenly said, his voice cold and hard.
"Your Highness." The servant rushed in.
"Go and invite Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites to come. I think the talents under his command are more suitable!"
He needs to find like-minded people to give His Highness the Crown Prince some serious advice.
We must not let Shi Wanxia continue to act so recklessly. We must make His Majesty and the Crown Prince realize that the harm of women interfering in politics is no exaggeration.
It's late summer, and the murky waters of the court are not something a woman like you should wade into.
You'd better be sensible and go back to your secluded chambers to be the "young lady" you're supposed to be.
Otherwise, Shen Yanchu, and the entire court's "rules," will never grant you your wish.
Shi Wanxia felt a vague unease in her heart. What was Shen Yanchu going to do?
Those he recommended were all scions of prominent families, and many of them were truly talented. However, the current emperor was already quite wary of these powerful clans.
He would never allow the court to become a place where powerful families held absolute power; if the court was not impartial, he himself would be the one who got wet.
Crown Prince Shen Yanzhou frowned deeply. How could he not know what his cousin was up to?