The Empress Governs the Country IV (1)

Others would all think about how to raise the spirit and better govern the country, yet only Li Hong Yuan thought about how to be more carefree. It can be seen that from the roots, he just wasn’t a good emperor.

However, whether an emperor was good or not, it wasn’t just judged based on his personal conduct. It mainly still depended on the common people of the world, whether or not they lived in peace and worked happily.

As long as one was able to let the people prosper, then everything else all can be overlooked and ignored.

Last year, Jing Wan was still curious about the court exam, even once thinking that after becoming the empress, she will have the opportunity to witness. Who knew that this year, she was just able to sit on site, similarly sharing the dragon throne with Li Hong Yuan. Actually, they can just arrange a chair next to the dragon throne, but Li Hong Yuan seemingly never once considered this.

The waiting process was actually quite boring. For the sake of passing the boredom, Jing Wan inquired about the previous metropolitan exam.

Once they became accustomed to the empress’s involvement in politics, towards Jing Wan’s questions, they for the most part just told her everything they knew, explaining to Jing Wan in detail the top ten candidates’ basic situation.

Jing Wan nodded. She figured that among these ten people, about four to five have actual abilities. However, this kind of thing, one can’t rashly come to a conclusion. People that only knew theories on paper weren’t in the minority, but there were also people that don’t know how to speak, and don’t know how to write, only knowing how to do.

“Your Majesty, the sixth princess and seventh princess have already reached marriageable age, so how about selecting someone among this batch of successful candidates as their husband?”

At present, becoming an imperial son-in-law won’t hinder one’s future prospects, so believe that many people will all be willing to marry a princess, not just those successful imperial exam candidates from humble families. The outstanding descendants of large influential clans will also be willing. Having connections with the imperial family, one more or less can all obtain some benefits, no? As long as one wasn’t stupid, believe that all won’t decline.

Although the princesses all got ‘disdained’, getting ‘driven out’ of the imperial palace, but their future husbands won’t be the same as their older sisters and paternal aunts’, majority being individuals of mediocre aptitude. To put it unpleasantly, it was just worthless mud incapable of holding up the wall. That’s why, as long as their husbands worked hard, it wasn’t necessary impossible for them to become high ranking titled madams.

“This matter the empress can just decide.” Li Hong Yuan indifferently said.

He won’t even be bothered over his own children’s marriages, so naturally won’t care about other people’s matters.

In other words, if Jing Wan didn’t think of, those princesses that were originally of golden branches and jade leaves probably will all become old maids, and afterwards, as they grow older, don’t know what it will develop into. Will it be smashing the already broken jar, counting the days as it passes? Or become temperamental, causing trouble in all kinds of ways? It was all very hard to say.

Jing Wan nodded. Right now, all the unmarried princesses were all gathered together in one place and raised together. Just think about their days in the past, because of their respective consort mothers having different statuses, their statuses were also different. Now that they were all the same, some people felt the disparity inside, while some wanted to take the opportunity to take revenge, so there certainly will be trouble. Thus, it was better to watch over a bit more strictly, assigning some more people over, and also increase their classes. If they don’t have the free time, then they won’t be able to cause trouble. Once they’re properly educated, she can also select for them a better husband. After all, she can’t go and screw over those outstanding young men, no? Especially those that have the ability and also big aspirations, getting dragged down by their wife, it truly would be unfortunate.

Jing Wan had the matters all sorted through in her mind. Once the court exam ends, she can go make arrangements.

“Speaking of which, how many imperial clansmen went to the Ministry of Appointments to participate in the evaluation?” Jing Wan asked.

She was mainly asking about Li Hong Yuan’s brothers. As for the other imperial clansmen, even though when carrying out the new policy, their salary also got cut, it wasn’t completely cutting down in one go. In the first year, it was just reducing by ten percent, and afterwards, this amount will increase by ten percent every year, all the way until there’s just ten percent of the original amount left. After all, the majority of them all have a family to feed, so ultimately need to give them a buffering process. That’s why, if they want to continue living good days, then they must look for a job on their own. However, fortunately, the imperial clansmen’s power was already pitifully weak to begin with, so there weren’t purely just people that just sat around eating away the family wealth, not lacking some talented individuals, because the more distant the bloodline was from the emperor’s branch, the less they would be suppressed. By working hard and advancing, there will ultimately be a place for them. And based on Li Hong Yuan’s current policy, it wasn’t necessarily impossible for them to climb onto high positions. That’s why, those people right now probably were all glad that they didn’t abandon themselves, letting themselves waste away.

TN: All

Luo Pei Shan somewhat hesitated, “Replying to your Highness, for the side branches of the imperial clan, it’s still fine, considered to be within the normal range, just his Majesty’s brothers, right now, there’s only fifth wangye, seventh wangye, and eleventh wangye, these three.”

The younger ones were still small so not going to get tested wasn’t strange. Only a portion of them had mothers, so the expenditure wasn’t considered a lot either. As long as they don’t waste money, that bit of salary was actually more than enough for them to live out their days. Of course, as long as they don’t have wicked servants.

Alright, this matter, she also needed to look over. For better or worse, they were of the imperial family, so can’t let them get bullied by the servants, must invite a teacher for them.

Never mind when not remembering, but recalling like this, there really were quite a lot of matters to take care of.

However, the people that participated in the evaluation indeed were a bit few. “From sitting in a high position, handling assignments for the emperor, ordering around others, to now, not having the freedom to act independently, becoming another’s subordinate, it’s also normal for them to not be able to pull down their face. If they feel they can manage, then just leave them be.” Without a salary, and without all kinds of ‘respect’, the living standards certainly will take a dive. To go through hell for the sake of keeping up appearances, who can they blame?

“Fifth wangye’s body isn’t well, so can appropriately give preferential treatment.”

“Your Highness has thought too much. Fifth wangye’s learning is not bad, his temper also quite good, so more than capable of handling some noble yet not laborious matters.”

Hearing it like this, he probably was the one that has managed the best. Then again, because of his body, he didn’t get involved in anything. Regardless who ascends the throne, for someone like him, it was all belonging to the batch that will probably live the best. “Very good.”

“Regarding the other wangyes, your Highness may have a bit of a misunderstanding.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“Your Highness, have you forgotten, at the time, they’d all gotten poisoned.” When saying the last few words, Luo Pei Shan’s voice subconsciously softened.

Jing Wan blanked, finally recalling. She had indeed forgotten this matter. It goes without saying, a heir, for the people at present, was very important. Already not having hope, who would still think about working hard. Naturally it was just abandoning themselves, counting the days as it passes. In any case, they didn’t count on the incense fire anymore. And the ones that were willing to stand out instead appeared different.

“Later let Gong Jiu go have a look. Poisons that are truly aggressive and incurable are probably just a few.”

“The empress sure has the heart of a Bodhisattva.” Li Hong Yuan, who for the most part didn’t speak, somewhat mockingly said to Jing Wan.

Jing Wan was unconcerned, even smiling at Li Hong Yuan, “Mu An, go inform Gong Jiu right away. Afterwards, go with him to the various manors, and just say that you’re acting under his Majesty’s orders.”

Li Hong Yuan sneered. The most disgraceful thing, the court officials helped him cover up, not letting his bad reputation leak out. And now, his wife was further helping him gain reputation, really being ‘quite meddlesome’. However, this kind of thing, Li Hong Yuan was also too lazy to bicker over. “Beloved Minister Luo, your grandsons, should also start making use of them. However, for better or worse, they’re the empress’s brothers, so better not be too lacking, else won’t they be embarrassing the empress?”

“Your Majesty, they’ve only stayed in the Hanlin Academy for a year.” Jing Wan couldn’t help but remind him.

“Staying in the Hanlin Academy, for the most part, it’s just going for the inner cabinet. Going through the motions is enough, no one has ruled that they must stay for a full three years.”

Looking at his completely nonchalant attitude, not just Jing Wan’s hands itched, even the court officials to the side all wanted to beat him. The Hanlin Academy getting said to be this ‘poor and unsightly’ by you, how could one not want to hit you? Unfortunately, he was the esteemed emperor, no matter who they beat up, still can’t beat him up.

Forget it, they were also used to it, no need to lower oneself to his level.

From this, it can be seen, the miserable ones, the ones getting screwed over, absolutely won’t just be the court officials, as well as certain wangyes. This line will just grow longer and longer.

The exam below was also reaching its end. Some people have already stopped their brush, while others were still writing at a tremendous speed, their foreheads filled with sweat.

Among these people there were also people that Li Hong Yuan was familiar with. In the past life, there wasn’t this special imperial exam. At present, it was obviously participating in advance.

Li Hong Yuan randomly selected a few, roughly looking over. Evaluating an essay actually very much tested a person’s fundamental knowledge. Li Hong Yuan’s abilities in handling matters was very strong, but his accomplishments in this aspect, aside from Jing Wan, the others for the most part were all unaware. That’s why, when hearing Li Hong Yuan’s incisive evaluation, they were all astonished inside. Afterwards, checking the exam papers that he commented on, not just one inwardly gasped in surprise. In the past, who the hell said that his Majesty, aside from having good looks, had no other good points? With just a few simple words, although not able to determine how high his learning was, but to be able to easily comprehend, and moreover directly point out the key points, drawing blood on the first prick, without a bit of amassed knowledge, can one achieve this? Everything else aside, just based on the ministers present, even they may not necessarily be able to follow his train of thought immediately. From here, one can already make out the problem.

The court officials silently wiped their sweat. His Majesty sure enough was hard to fathom.