The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Unexpectedly, Wang Shijiu, whom he thought to be his ”savior,” actually brought up this matter again.

Dammit, why is she bringing up exactly what’s the most unwelcome?

Emperor Yongcheng’s mood, which had just been mildly pleased, instantly turned sour.

Unfortunately, Wang Shijiu was summoned by him, and she had a ”petition.” As the Emperor, he couldn’t not listen.

Otherwise, it would be foolish!

Emperor Yongcheng: ...

”What is the petition about? You, just go ahead and speak!”

Closing his eyes for a moment, Emperor Yongcheng felt a bit hopeless.

It seemed this calamity was unavoidable today!

He couldn’t even be bothered to look at the petition in advance and directly allowed Wang Shijiu to read it herself.

Whether it’s life or death, good or bad, leave it to fate!

”As you command!”

Wang Shijiu respectfully acknowledged and then began to read her petition aloud.

Wang Shijiu’s proposal was somewhat similar to Emperor Yongcheng’s reforms.

Re-register salt fields, establish brine standards, collect and recover the taxes owed by ”salt merchants.”

”Pfft!”

Before Wang Shijiu could finish her petition, someone among the ministers sneered.

”Scholar Wang, could it be that you people from Bowen Academy only know how to study behind closed doors? You know nothing about what’s happening outside?”

That person said sarcastically, almost directly pointing at Wang Shijiu’s nose, accusing her of being ”closed-minded.”

”Exactly, conflicts in the Capital City due to salt have erupted repeatedly, almost leading to civil unrest and military revolts. Instead of helping His Majesty solve these issues, Scholar Wang is talking big about reforms!”

”Indeed, tsk tsk, truly a woman, long hair but short knowledge!”

”Yes, Grand Scholar Wang! Since you are the Emperor’s minister, you should be sharing the Emperor’s burdens, not just spouting off here!”

”Haha, Scholar? Fifth-rank? Bah!”

The crowd continued to heckle, with some even outright mocking.

They deliberately emphasized the words ”Grand” and ”Scholar,” making the mockery quite evident.

Wang Shijiu’s father, Wang Zheng, was also present in the Imperial court.

Seeing his daughter being mocked and attacked by so many men, he felt deeply hurt.

He straightened his back, wanting to stand up to defend his daughter.

Wang Yuan, kneeling in the front row, seemed to notice his son’s small movements.

He slightly turned his head and, with a sidelong glance, sent his son a look that said, ”Stay calm.”

Wang Zheng: ... Okay, I’ll listen to my father!

He believed in his Daddy, the elder would never let Nineteenth Lady be wronged.

The air was filled with mockery and laughter, and Wang Shijiu’s delicate face blushed for a moment.

But soon, she regained control over herself.

Ignoring the disruptions from the crowd, she continued to read her petition—

”... Establish the Salt Administration Bureau, overseeing all salt policies. The Salt Administration Bureau has introduced a new method of making salt, with 100,000 piculs of refined sea salt ready to be transported to the Capital City any day now!”

What?

The crowd was originally mocking Wang Shijiu.

But amidst the chaos, when they seemed to hear words like ”new method of making salt,” ”100,000 piculs of refined sea salt ready to be transported to the Capital City,” they all froze.

What?

When did Empress Dowager He create a Salt Administration Bureau and develop a new method for making salt?

Now, they even directly brought in 100,000 piculs of finished product.

100,000 piculs sounds a lot, but distributed to the Capital City and the surrounding dozen or so commanderies, it’s really nothing.

But the issue isn’t the 100,000 piculs; it’s that Empress Dowager He, oh no, the court actually has mastered the new method of making salt.

Today they can bring in 100,000 piculs, and in the future, they can continuously bring in more salt.

The officials from noble families suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

What worried them more was yet to come as they listened to Wang Shijiu continue to read: ”The official salt price of the Salt Administration Bureau cannot exceed 100 copper coins per bucket.”

Boom!

copper coins per bucket?

The Imperial court was in an uproar.

To know the current market price of salt is basically three to four hundred copper coins per bucket.

Empress Dowager He is quite formidable, with just one Salt Administration Bureau, a new method of making salt, directly compressing the salt price by three to four times.

Even Emperor Yongcheng was shocked, his mouth wide open.

Zheng Nianer once told him that if salt was made by the sun-drying method, the price could be controlled below 100 copper coins per bucket.

Could it be that the new method of making salt by Empress Dowager He is also sun-drying?

Is that why the cost is so low?

Emperor Yongcheng was filled with doubt and suspicion, while those officials from noble families, including Wang Yuan, already felt a storm surging in their hearts.

A reform comparable to an earthquake is coming.

Salt administration is really going to be reformed; with such low-priced salt, Empress Dowager He, oh what a loving mother to her son, holds the trump card and can reform salt administration as she pleases!

And the noble families will have to cooperate.

What an Empress Dowager He, what a good mother who loves her son...