The thought flashed through her mind and was gone in an instant.
The Queen smiled. "Matters of marriage depend on fate. There's no use rushing."
After leaving the Yuankun Palace, the two of them took a carriage back to the Eastern Palace.
All the way, Jiang Qianyu seemed absent - minded.
It was only after Cheng Simian called her twice that she came back to her senses.
"What were you thinking about? You looked so distracted."
"Your servant is being impolite. Please forgive me, Crown Princess."
Cheng Simian caught the subtle change of emotion in her eyes.
"I think the painting I drew during the autumn outing the other day would be most suitable for Ruier. What do you think?"
Jiang Qianyu was flattered.
The Crown Princess was in charge of the Eastern Palace and could make decisions on her own. There was no need to ask for her opinion on such a matter.
She was the model for the woman in the painting, and yet the Crown Princess respected her so much.
For some reason, a sense of guilt welled up in her heart.
"The Crown Princess is so considerate and kind - hearted. Ruier will surely be very happy to receive it."
"Then you can take it to Lord Liang Wentao's mansion on my behalf."
"Isn't it inappropriate for me to do so?"
Jiang Qianyu instinctively wanted to decline.
Cheng Simian patiently explained to her, "Liang Wentao is a close official to the Emperor. It's not convenient for him to have direct contact with the Eastern Palace. If we ask him to come to the Eastern Palace to pick it up, it will attract people's attention. I'm afraid he'll be impeached the next day. If we just send two female officials, it will seem insincere. After much thought, I still think you're the most suitable person."
She was associated with the Eastern Palace, but not completely part of it.
Her father was a third - rank official about to enter the capital. With her current status, she was more than qualified to show respect to the Liang family.
The gift was not a valuable one, just a painting casually drawn by the Crown Princess to amuse a child.
It wouldn't cause any controversy in the court either.
Jiang Qianyu pinched the corner of her skirt, raised her eyes, and smiled. "I'm willing to serve the Crown Princess."
After the morning court session, the Emperor summoned the Crown Prince, Qin Feng, Liang Wentao, and other officials to discuss matters.
All signs indicated that this winter would be extremely cold.
The harvest this year was just average. The Emperor was worried that the common people wouldn't have enough food for the winter, and he was also afraid that unscrupulous merchants would hoard grain and raise prices, which might lead to civil unrest.
The Emperor first asked for Qin Feng's opinion.
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the best way is to open the state granaries and release grain. Before the merchants start hoarding, we can lower the grain price. Once the common people can buy reserve grain at a low price, they won't have to worry about not having enough food for the winter."
The Crown Prince was sitting beside the Emperor. The Emperor briefly shifted his gaze from Qin Feng's face and landed on the Crown Prince's.
Apparently, the Emperor didn't quite agree with this proposal.
But he didn't want to say so himself.
The Crown Prince spoke on his behalf, "Lord Qin's proposal is the most convenient and quickest one. However, due to the frequent battles in the northern border this year, most of the grain in the state granaries has been sent to the front - line in the north. The remaining grain is all old and moldy, damp from being stored for four or five years. How can the common people eat such grain?"
Qin Feng didn't seem to care at all and still insisted on his proposal.
"The common people are of low status. During a famine, they can even eat wild grass and tree roots. What does it matter if the grain is moldy or damp? As long as the Emperor bestows the grain on them and gives them something to eat, they'll be extremely grateful."
The Emperor's eyes flickered imperceptibly.
"Lord Liang, what's your proposal?"
Liang Wentao seemed to have thought it through long ago and calmly replied, "Your Majesty, I've checked the harvest reports from each prefecture and county this year. The harvest in the northern prefectures is generally average. If we transport grain from the neighboring prefectures to the capital, the people in those local prefectures may go hungry.
However, the weather in the south of the Yangtze River has been favorable, and the harvest there is 30% more than in previous years. We can purchase grain from the southern provinces before the cold winter arrives. With such a large amount of grain entering the capital, the grain price will naturally drop. Then the court can strictly regulate the price at which merchants sell grain and control the market situation. I believe we can get through this winter smoothly."
Before he even finished speaking, Qin Feng objected, "Lord Liang makes it sound so easy. The battles in the northern border are intense, and the state treasury is empty. Transporting grain from the south of the Yangtze River is a long - distance journey with huge costs. Where on earth can we get this money from?"
His tone was aggressive, as if he was deliberately trying to pick a fight with Liang Wentao.
Qin Feng had long disliked Liang Wentao.
Liang Wentao's current official position was approaching his own position as the Chief Minister of the Secretariat.
The Emperor was relying more and more on Liang Wentao rather than himself.
It was foreseeable that once Princess Lingyang married Qin Ziqi, he would have to step down from his position as the Chief Minister of the Secretariat and give it to Liang Wentao.
Although he had to accept the Emperor's bestowed marriage, after holding great power for so many years, it was really hard for him to hand it over to someone he thought was inferior to him.
Liang Wentao's attitude was much more humble.
He was smart enough not to argue directly with Qin Feng.
"Your Majesty, transporting grain from the south of the Yangtze River does cost a great deal, but the cost is controllable. I've already calculated it. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
With that, he took out a memorial from his sleeve and presented it to the Emperor.
Li Luxiang took it and handed it to the Emperor.
The Emperor opened it, smiled slightly, and then passed it to the Crown Prince.
The content of the memorial precisely calculated all the expenses for transporting grain from the south of the Yangtze River, including the cost of carriages, manpower, grain purchase, and even the loss during the transfer and stop - overs. Everything was clearly presented.
The expense was not small, but it was still within the tolerance of the state treasury.
It was obvious that Liang Wentao had thought of this issue even before the Emperor expressed his concern about the winter.
He didn't just talk about it; he had carefully worked out a plan.
The Crown Prince understood that the Emperor was very satisfied with Liang Wentao's proposal.
"Lord Liang cares about the people's livelihood and takes precautions in advance, relieving Father Emperor's worries. With you in the court, it's a blessing for the Great Zhou Dynasty and its people."
Qin Feng still wasn't convinced.
"Your Majesty, if we open the state granaries and release grain, the problem will be solved. Why go for the long - winded way? Saving more silver for the state treasury will provide more support for the battles in the northern border."
Liang Wentao bowed deeply to the Emperor.
"The Great Zhou Dynasty is prosperous and the people are at peace. All the common people in the world are the Emperor's subjects. With the Emperor's boundless grace, they deserve better food, not just moldy grain!"
Wasn't it just about saying high - sounding words? He could do it too.
The Emperor smiled happily.
"Hong'er, do as Lord Liang suggests. You go and supervise the implementation. Lord Liang, please draft the imperial edict immediately. This matter can't be delayed."
Qin Feng's face turned ashen and extremely ugly.
Even if the Emperor didn't adopt his proposal, such an important task as drafting the imperial edict should have been done by him, the Chief Minister of the Secretariat.
Why could Liang Wentao, a deputy minister of the Secretariat, overstep his authority?
After leaving the Yangxin Palace, Qin Feng was in an extremely bad mood.
On the way back to the Duke of Rongxiang's mansion, the angrier he got as he thought about it. He felt that his talents were unrecognized, and the Emperor was muddle - headed and blind.
Feeling stifled, he found a teahouse and asked for a private room to drink tea and relieve his boredom.
"Lord Qin really has a refined taste. You're truly indifferent to fame and fortune, with a calm disposition."
The Second Prince stood at the door. His pale face made his eyes look even blacker.
Qin Feng was unwilling but could only laugh at himself.
"I'm incompetent. I can only barely maintain the title passed down from our ancestors."
The Second Prince slowly walked into the private room and closed the door.
His eyes were shining, looking somewhat eerie.
Qin Feng felt a chill run down his spine under his gaze.
"Then has Lord Qin ever thought that if the Crown Prince fails to ascend the throne, the power in your hands and the glory of the Qin family might be able to continue?"