The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 164: Chapter 164 Prime Minister Song: I Enjoy Poverty

At the same time, in the Imperial Study.

Song Zhiyuan looked at Emperor Chu in astonishment and blurted out, ”Your Majesty, as I previously suggested...”

”I remember, wasn’t this Mother’s intention? She wholeheartedly wants the Marquis Cheng’en and the Prime Minister’s Mansion to be close, which is why such a decision was made. Moreover, who can blame Aunt for her abilities, having raised you, the champion Prime Minister?”

Song Zhiyuan: ”...”

I hear you seem to be mocking me, but I dare not say it outright!

”The Marquis Cheng’en will also study at the Imperial Academy, and he will come to stay at the Prime Minister’s Mansion every now and then to seek your guidance on his studies. With your qualifications and talents, you can’t possibly not mentor a young child? Besides, you have a few boys, so they can keep him company.” Emperor Chu said.

Song Zhiyuan said, ”Your Majesty, the boys in my family are all in their teens, whereas the fifth, sixth, and eighth princes are closer in age to the Marquis Cheng’en.”

”Older boys are better, they can take care of their younger brother.” Emperor Chu gave no room for refusal.

Seeing this, Song Zhiyuan realized the matter was settled. He only had to accept it and thought of asking Lady Gu to prepare a courtyard specifically for the young Marquis Cheng’en.

However, he couldn’t let the Emperor easily succeed just like that.

”Your Majesty, the Marquis Cheng’en has a noble status, so I shall not take on the responsibility of his guards. Please allow Your Majesty to make the decisions.” Song Zhiyuan was very candid: ”Just so Your Majesty knows, over these years, I have made many enemies. The route from the Imperial Palace to the Prime Minister’s Mansion is not short. For the sake of safety, I request that Your Majesty dispatch well-skilled guards to avoid harm to the innocent.”

Emperor Chu’s eyes flickered slightly.

He wasn’t worried about someone taking an opportunity to place people inside the Prime Minister’s Mansion, but indeed, in this group of ministers, which family didn’t have his people?

”Very well, I will arrange it. Don’t cry grievances before me anymore; I permit you to recruit three hundred more house guards.”

Song Zhiyuan looked at Emperor Chu with some surprise, jokingly? Three hundred house guards?

In the Great Qing Country, ministers of the third rank and above could establish house guards, with a set number, while those below the third rank were not allowed, and any private setup would be considered treasonous.

Song Minister’s Mansion only had six hundred guards, now recruiting another three hundred would make nine hundred?

The house attendants and guards at the Prime Minister’s Mansion already numbered in the hundreds, which, with the new recruits, would total over a thousand.

Not calculating was fine, but once calculated, one realized how poor they were.

To maintain these people required silver, a lot of silver, especially the house guards. Salaries were to be paid like military pay, and during the holidays, bonuses and provisions had to be given, plus weapons, equipment, and housing, all requiring money.

Emperor Chu was waiting for Song Zhiyuan to kneel and kowtow, but seeing him standing and lost in thought, he knocked on the table, ”Why haven’t you thanked me yet? Is it too little?”

”Ah!” Song Zhiyuan snapped back and blurted out, ”Not at all, I was calculating how much silver it would take to maintain these people, not knowing before I calculated, I found out that I am quite poor.”

Emperor Chu: ”...”

What sort of unique calculation is this? Others would be overjoyed to sell pots and pans to raise funds.

”Should I take back my words just now?”

Song Zhiyuan immediately put on a serious expression and said, ”When the Emperor speaks, it is hard to take back, how can you retract? I thank Your Majesty for the grace!”

See, the dog is still Song’s dog, especially pretentious.

Emperor Chu inwardly mocked, then pointed out, ”If you facilitate mutual trade and future maritime trade, wouldn’t it solve the problem of maintenance?”

Song Zhiyuan: ”Your Majesty is right, I will certainly strive to facilitate it.”

Emperor Chu stood up: ”That’s settled then, let’s go together to the Cining Palace, you can escort your aunt out of the palace, it’s been some days since I’ve seen her.”

”I abjectly thank Your Majesty for his grace.”