Three days later, Hao Jian delivered a detailed report on the situation in Da Xing. Yin Zhuli spent most of the night reviewing it. As a merchant, she naturally weighed the investment and risk against the potential returns.
From the current outlook, the regime in Da Xing was stable. If Shen Tingjiao’s promise was genuine, the plan was indeed feasible. A woman serving as Chancellor was a rarity not just in Da Xing, but throughout history. If she controlled the Ministry of Revenue, she would effectively hold the keys to Da Xing’s national treasury. The Yin family, merchants for generations, would never have to live at the mercy of others again.
Aside from Shen Tingjiao, no other sovereign could possibly offer such terms. She flicked the beads of her abacus back and forth, calculating. *Hmm, the annual cost of bribing officials is staggering. If that could be saved...* She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
Shen Tingjiao was in no hurry. While Yin Zhuli calculated in the study, he was in the courtyard learning to play the *jiagu* and *dancigu* drums. He had a keen interest in musical instruments; a few days prior, he had even tried his hand at charming snakes with a flute. The old proverb "traveling ten thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand books" was truly profound. When Yin Zhuli stepped outside and saw him enjoying himself, a faint smile touched her lips. "When are you going back?"
Shen Tingjiao turned to look at her. "When are you coming back with me?"
Yin Zhuli knit her brows. "And if I don't go back?"
Shen Tingjiao stretched lazily. Yin Zhuli felt that if he were a cat, he would surely be rolling around in the courtyard and licking his fur right about now. His tone was equally relaxed. "Then I won't go back either."
"...What?!" Yin Zhuli doubted her own hearing.
Shen Tingjiao nestled into his lounge chair, warming wine over a small stove. "It’s quite nice here. No tedious memorials, no nagging ministers. Instead, there are lutes, grasslands, sunshine, lakes... and you. I’ve decided not to leave."
He spoke so casually that Yin Zhuli walked over to him. "If you don't leave, what will you... live on here?"
Shen Tingjiao sipped grape wine from a luminous jade cup, his face flushed like the dawn. "That Nalu fellow said I was your kept man. Naturally, I’ll have to rely on you."
...
Yin Zhuli was a frugal person. The vast territory of Da Xing was too great a prize to simply throw away; she felt it would be a waste. Thus, she entertained the thought of returning. However, she delayed her final decision. Shen Tingjiao knew her well; he understood she was trying to raise the stakes. She was a merchant—a cunning one at that—who always pushed her opponent to their absolute limit in every negotiation.
He felt quite helpless having such an Empress, yet he made one final concession. He produced an imperial decree from his person. It was a decree to appoint an heir to the throne, but the space for the name was left blank.
Yin Zhuli took the decree and looked at it in silence for a long moment. Finally, she spoke her mind. "Wait until I have settled matters here."
That evening, she invited several old friends in Persia for roasted lamb to bid them farewell. Nalu was despondent. Before leaving, he asked her repeatedly, "Zhuli, have you really thought this through? Do you truly want to follow a man like that? He can’t carry a load or lift a finger; aside from that beautiful skin, he’s nothing but a parasite. How is he worthy of you?"
Yin Zhuli rubbed her nose sheepishly. "Sir, I am a shallow woman."
Nalu stared at her, suddenly grasping her hand. "Zhuli, actually, I..."
Yin Zhuli raised a hand to stop him, her smile as bright as the moon. "Sir, a long time ago, there was a woman. Many men loved her. One of them captivated me for over a decade, yet never spared me a glance. I used to wonder why that woman didn't choose any of those good men, but instead chose the most dangerous and unreliable one. But now, I understand." She patted Nalu’s shoulder, saying goodbye as an old friend. "Because whether it is poison or nectar, it is what she wants. She doesn't care if others call her mad or foolish. She protects what she wishes to protect and gives what she is able to give, simply because she is willing. It has nothing to do with worthiness or value."
In late March, Yin Zhuli followed Shen Tingjiao back to Da Xing. She had been away from Chang'an for three years and three months, but Chang'an had not forgotten her. She did not wish to return to the palace, and Shen Tingjiao did not force her. In those three years, he had become more composed, and his feelings for her had matured.
Shen Tingjiao’s appointment of her as Chancellor naturally caused an uproar in the court. Facing the resistance of his ministers, Shen Tingjiao acted like an autocratic tyrant. He overrode all objections and pushed his Empress into the position of the empire's Chief Minister.
Since it was an agreement, there had to be terms. Shen Tingjiao spoke with gravity: "You have half a year. For these six months, you are a First-Rank Chancellor of Da Xing, and all matters of the Ministry of Revenue are under your full authority. If you succeed after half a year, you shall be my most trusted statesman. If you fail... you return to the inner palace as the Empress who enjoys my sole and absolute favor."
Yin Zhuli had no objections. Shen Tingjiao had further instructions: "Since you have accepted this office, you must strictly observe the etiquette between sovereign and subject in court. Though I do not look down on commoner habits, the dignity of the royal family must be maintained before the civil and military officials. If you make a mistake, I will not only reprimand you, but I must do so severely to dispel any suspicion of cronyism."
Yin Zhuli stared at him intently. She stared until he became suspicious and uncertain, then finally said, "Fine then, I’m not doing it. I’m going back to Persia!"
Shen Tingjiao flared up in a rage. "Hey!"
Yin Zhuli pulled him into her arms, laughing until she doubled over.
As the saying goes, a new official brings three fires of reform, but Yin Zhuli’s assumption of office was silent. The officials watched her for half a month as if facing a great enemy, but seeing her do nothing, they finally felt a secret sense of relief. *She’s just a merchant and a woman at that. Even if she understands the ways of officialdom, what can she actually do?*
Every day at the Ministry of Revenue, Yin Zhuli did nothing but flip through the records of silver expenditures from previous years for various departments. Upon close inspection, they all seemed like routine expenses: river works and irrigation for the Ministry of Works; retirement and pensions for the Ministry of Personnel; grain and salaries for the Ministry of War; sacrifices and rituals for the Ministry of Rites. These things seemed normal on the surface, but they hid many tricks. For instance, the river works projects always requested funds for top-tier materials, yet the dikes were repaired every year and failed every year. The Ministry of Personnel was paying "ghost salaries" to deceased officials. The Ministry of War was even worse, falsifying casualty numbers—everyone was huddled in the capital; who really knew how many were killed or lost on the distant battlefield?
However, the connections within the court were extremely complex, mostly involving factions and cliques. A seemingly simple matter often involved a whole crowd of people behind the scenes. Yin Zhuli knew the weight of these things.
Shen Tingjiao publicly assigned Yin Zhuli a task in court: "Since you serve as the chief financial officer of my Da Xing, you ought to show some political achievements. I shall give my beloved minister half a year. Routine matters shall proceed as usual, but you must save two million taels of silver compared to previous years."
At that time, the total annual revenue of Da Xing was only about sixteen million taels, and the expenditures for half a year were roughly four to six million taels. His demand to save two million was made with the consideration that Yin Zhuli had a massive personal fortune; she could afford to cover the difference herself. Yin Zhuli maintained her half-smiling expression. She had managed the Yin family for nearly a decade; she knew where Shen Tingjiao’s money was being spent better than he did.
Many ministers were dissatisfied. There had been female generals, but a female Chancellor... Yuan Dongcheng, the Minister of Personnel, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I believe that with Chancellor Yin’s methods, two million is far too trivial."
The ministers, eager to see Yin Zhuli make a fool of herself, voiced their agreement. Yin Zhuli watched with a beaming smile. Though Shen Tingjiao was impatient, he asked in a low voice, "Then what amount does Minister Yuan deem appropriate?"
Before Yuan Dongcheng could answer, Qin Shi spoke up: "I believe only three million can demonstrate Chancellor Yin’s divine prowess."
Shen Tingjiao looked at Yin Zhuli. She appeared indifferent. "To be honest with Your Majesty, two or three million is indeed not worth mentioning." Her eyes scanned the room, taking the measure of everyone in the hall. "I recall the Yin family has a set of account books. Perhaps one of these days I could..."
Before she could finish, the court fell into a chaotic clamor. The officials turned on Yuan Dongcheng, berating him. Yuan Dongcheng suddenly looked very solemn. "Your Majesty, in recent years, Da Xing has been rebuilding, and money is needed everywhere. The Ministry of Revenue is in a difficult position. I feel that all expenses cannot be saved solely from the Ministry of Revenue. It is better to deliberate on this matter further."
Yin Zhuli flicked her fingernails, her voice soft and sweet. "Minister Yuan, don't force yourself."
Yuan Dongcheng put on an air of righteous integrity. "I am not forcing myself at all. I pray Your Majesty will deliberate further."
Shen Tingjiao sat upon his dragon throne, feeling utterly helpless. *Could someone please tell me exactly how much silver these people have embezzled from the Yin family...*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
贾淡瓷鼓 | Jiagu and Dancigu | Traditional percussion instruments (Dancigu is a small porcelain drum).
忽雷 | Hulei | A type of ancient lute (pipa-like instrument).
夜光杯 | Luminous Jade Cup | A famous type of wine cup made of jade that glows in the moonlight.
米虫 | Parasite / Rice worm | Slang for someone who lives off others without working.
宰辅 | Chief Minister / Chancellor | A high-ranking government official, often synonymous with Prime Minister.
户部 | Ministry of Revenue | One of the Six Ministries, in charge of census, taxes, and national finance.
工部 | Ministry of Works | In charge of construction, dikes, and public works.
吏部 | Ministry of Personnel | In charge of appointments, promotions, and civil service.
兵部 | Ministry of War | In charge of military affairs and defense.
礼部 | Ministry of Rites | In charge of ceremonies, rituals, and foreign relations.
两 | Tael | A unit of weight for silver currency.
肱股重臣 | Trusted Statesman | Literally "limbs and backbone," referring to a monarch's most vital officials.
袁东城 | Yuan Dongcheng | Minister of Personnel.
秦师 | Qin Shi | An official in the court.
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Becoming the Queen by Serving as Prime Minister | Chapter 71 | The Merchant Chancellor | Novela.app | Novela.app
