sbdcsierra Chapter 1355 How can you compare with my beloved
Chapter 1355 How can you compare with my beloved
Having said that, Shen Zhinian paused slightly, as if he suddenly remembered something, and his voice was filled with curiosity.
"I vaguely heard someone mention that it was Hanlin Bai who set the example today by donating half a year's salary. Seeing this, the other gentlemen also followed suit."
She asked this question lightly, as if she was just chatting casually, but her eyes lingered on Nangong Xuanyu's face, catching the subtle changes in his expression.
Nangong Xuanyu raised his eyebrows and continued, "That's right."
"Although Bai Aiqing is young, he is a sensible person. He knows the big picture and when to advance and retreat."
"Half a year's salary is not a small amount for a clean official like him. It's rare that he has such a heart."
The emperor's tone was filled with undisguised admiration, and he was obviously very satisfied with Bai Mufeng's performance today.
After all, a well-placed "support" can save the emperor from many troubles that would otherwise be inconvenient for him to speak directly.
Shen Zhinian's heart moved slightly, but a gentle smile bloomed on his face, like a lotus suddenly blooming in the water.
Her fingertips gently touched Nangong Xuanyu's heart, and her tone was a little coquettish: "Your Majesty, look at you. You praise the young ministers more than you praise me."
Nangong Xuanyu was pleased by Shen Zhinian's rare little girl behavior. He laughed heartily and lowered his head to place a kiss on her smooth forehead, with a warm, moist kiss. "What's wrong? Is my Nian Nian jealous?"
"No matter how sensible and understanding Bai Aiqing is, he is only a subject. How can he compare with the apple of my eye?"
Shen Zhinian glanced at Nangong Xuanyu with a reproachful look, her eyes full of charm, and she leaned softer into his arms: "I dare not."
"I simply feel that having a minister like Bai Hanlin who understands the greater good is truly a blessing for Your Majesty and a blessing for the court!"
"Many hands make light work, and with His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin setting such a good example, I think the border war will go much more smoothly."
She skillfully brought the topic back to the matter of Prince Jin donating silver, and her tone was full of admiration for the soldiers and support for the emperor's decision.
Nangong Xuanyu really enjoyed it. He held Shen Zhinian's arms tightly, rubbed his chin lightly against the top of her head, and smelled the elegant fragrance of her hair.
The sense of satisfaction in his chest from successfully cutting a piece of flesh from Prince Jin became more and more intense.
"Yes. Twenty thousand taels is not too much, but it is not too little either."
The emperor said in a low voice, "The key is not the money itself, but once this precedent is set, who among those royal relatives and noble ministers who usually only complain about poverty will dare to be stingy?"
"I want to see who dares to cry poor to me next!"
When he said this, a sharp light flashed in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes, which showed his confidence in his firm control over power.
The money from the King of Jin forced those who were waiting and watching to express their opinions, which was much smarter than forced apportionment.
Shen Zhinian listened quietly, feeling the slight vibrations in the emperor's chest caused by his words, as docile as a cat with its claws retracted.
The hot water ironed her skin, making her mind unusually clear.
Nangong Xuanyu seemed quite interested in the conversation and continued, "Eighth Brother has been doing quite well in Bingzhou these past few years. He can easily give you 20,000 taels of silver."
This may sound like a casual remark, but it is actually very meaningful.
Shen Zhinian sneered in his heart, but did not show it on his face. He just raised his head slightly, with a bit of innocence and dependence: "Your Highness Prince Jin is your Majesty's younger brother, so naturally he shares the same heart and mind with your Majesty."
"It's just... I heard that Bingzhou isn't a wealthy place. Your Highness, if you take out so much cash all at once, will it... affect the expenses of the fiefdom?"
Her words seemed to show concern, but in fact she was quietly flattering King Jin, hinting that King Jin's fiefdom might not be as poor as it seemed.
Nangong Xuanyu's eyes flickered slightly, and he pinched the tip of Shen Zhinian's nose. His tone was somewhat doting, but he did not answer directly: "My Nian Nian is kind-hearted, and I still worry about this for him."
"Since he can afford it, he must have his reasons."
"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. How can we waste such a beautiful scenery and beautiful weather?"
As he spoke, Nangong Xuanyu scooped up a handful of warm water and gently poured it on Shen Zhinian's jade-like shoulders.
The water droplets rolled down the smooth skin, sank into the water, and created more ambiguous ripples.
The emperor's intentions were clear.
Shen Zhinian smiled sweetly, and took the initiative to stretch out her arms, wrapping them around Nangong Xuanyu's neck, pushing herself closer to him. She put her red lips close to his ear and exhaled sweetly, "Your Majesty is right, it is I who spoiled the fun..."
In the misty water vapor, figures overlap.
Whispers and whispers were drowned out by the sound of rushing water, and the spring atmosphere in the room gradually deepened...
I don’t know how long has passed...
The candlelight in the bedroom was soft, making the heavy gauze curtains look hazy.
The sweet fragrance after the bath has not yet completely dissipated, mixed with the calming scent of ambergris.
Shen Zhinian was wrapped in a plain satin nightgown, with her black hair hanging down like a waterfall. She was holding a jade comb, combing the ends of her hair from time to time.
Nangong Xuanyu was half leaning on the couch, wearing a bright yellow soft satin nightgown with a slightly open collar, his expression was lazy as if he had been satisfied.
Shen Zhinian looked at his relaxed brows in the mirror, the corners of her lips curved softly. Her voice was soft and afterthought, as if she didn't mean to say it. "...Your Majesty, Bai Hanlin has made such a great contribution today. He has not only relieved your Majesty's worries, but also set an example for all officials. How does Your Majesty intend to reward him?"
"If I don't reward you, I'm afraid it will discourage the loyal ministers."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Xuanyu withdrew his gaze from the void and fell on Shen Zhinian's graceful figure in the mirror. He murmured, "I am also thinking about this."
"But the border war is tense now. Although the national treasury has received some silver, it is still stretched to the limit."
"He just donated half his salary to demonstrate his integrity, and I reward him with gold, silver, pearls and jade right after. This seems deliberate and will give people something to criticize."
The emperor paused, then continued, "Furthermore, Lord Bai is still young, having recently passed the imperial examination and entered the government. It is time for him to calm down and accumulate experience in the Hanlin Academy. If we hastily promote him now, it would be neither a blessing nor a win-win for the people."
This consideration is indeed the emperor's mindset.
We must show favor, but we must also weigh the pros and cons, and more importantly, we must prevent our ministers from becoming too powerful to be controlled.
Shen Zhinian put down the jade comb and turned around. The candlelight cast a soft shadow on her delicate profile.
She walked lightly to the edge of the couch and sat down next to Nangong Xuanyu. Her slender hands naturally gathered his loose collar, and her tone was filled with a bit of girlish sweetness and consideration: "Your Majesty is thoughtful, and I am just being superficial."
"It's just... I happened to hear that Bai Hanlin seems to have reached adulthood, but he still hasn't married?"
"Having no one to take care of the backyard is not a long-term solution after all."
"As the saying goes, 'establish a family and build a career.' If he can find a virtuous wife to support him and secure his family, wouldn't he be able to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly?"