Chapter 1332: 冲撞

"You can do that? You scoundrel."

"Accounts, profit shares—they're just numbers. What can't you do with numbers? As long as I wish, an apparent eighteen percent profit can still be restructured to a fifty-fifty split in reality." He wore a mischievous grin. "I don't even need to intervene; those apprentices Ding Zuodong trained can pull it off perfectly, leaving no room for fault. These bumpkins from the Gilded Plains are truly too naive. They almost caused the Allied Army to collapse over a few numbers."

He left one thing unsaid: Kang Lang merely needed a few good accountants.

Jing Zi was finally speechless.

"In reality, both Beijia and Yaoguo are masters of this art. Otherwise, why would they have manipulated the Gilded Plains so easily all these years? It just goes to show the cost of being uncultured."

Yaoguo Royal Palace, Imperial Study.

"...The grain survey at the end of this spring shows this. As long as there are fewer strong winds during the flood season, we can still expect a good harvest in summer."

"During winter and spring, the Red Valley horse herd produced over eighty new foals. Seven perished, but the rest are in good condition..."

King Yao was listening, propping his chin, seemingly a little distracted. Then he suddenly said, "The Yangshan Merchant Guild, which recently entered the old Gaopu territory and supplies funds and provisions to the Situ family and the Allied Army, seems to be seeking to purchase fine horses from us?"

"That's correct," the official immediately reported. "According to Fan Shuang's report, the Yangshan Merchant Guild's initial purchase list includes one hundred Red Valley horses."

King Yao murmured, "Oh, quite an appetite, demanding a hundred in one go."

"What is His Majesty's opinion?"

Just as King Yao was about to speak, a palace attendant guarding the door announced clearly:

"The Grand Supervisor has arrived!"

Before the words had even faded, a beautiful woman in yellow robes strolled in, as if entering an empty room.

Her figure was still graceful, but her temples were lightly frosted with gray.

It was indeed Qing Yang, followed by two expressionless attendants.

She did not require announcement to see King Yao.

King Yao's expression remained unchanged; he showed no surprise. "Why has the Supervisor come? Today's small court meeting only concerns minor miscellaneous matters."

Such court meetings usually weren't attended by the full civil and military court; the monarch would simply convene a few individuals for discussion. If there was business, they spoke; otherwise, they stayed away.

Today's agenda was so dry that even he felt drowsy. Why would the Supervisor be interested?

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Qing Yang bowed to King Yao. She then turned to the assembled officials and said, "Gentlemen, please withdraw. I have urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty."

She smiled, but her tone was authoritative.

The officials exchanged glances, then looked to King Yao.

However, one minister immediately raised his head, looked directly at Qing Yang, and declared in a loud voice, "Petitions have their proper procedures! The Supervisor should submit a written proposal first, then await His Majesty's summons!"

The man was in his forties, with a square face, round eyes, and eyebrows so furrowed they almost tied in a knot.

Qing Yang's smile remained unchanged. "Minister You, what did you call me?"

She was the Grand Supervisor, Beijia's Grand Supervisor stationed in Yaoguo.

King Yao remained seated on his throne, silent.

"We may address you as Grand Supervisor out of respect, but that doesn't mean you can disregard the monarch's will, much less act as the monarch's proxy in governing!" Minister You glared, "This is Yaoguo, not one of those weak states under Beijia's thumb!"

"Minister You is still as assertive as ever. No wonder he has His Majesty's deep favor." Qing Yang's remark seemed to needle someone, though her gaze was directed at King Yao. "Your Majesty?"

King Yao then hummed in response and gently waved his hand at the officials.

Minister You bowed respectfully to King Yao and led the way out. But as he passed Qing Yang, he forcefully flicked his sleeve, as if shaking off bad luck.

The other officials filed out, not daring to glance at Qing Yang.

The study door closed behind them.

Inside, it was completely silent; nothing could be heard.

The officials understood that a soundproofing barrier had been activated inside.

Having no other choice, the officials had to wait in the corridor. They all felt rather disgruntled and put out.

This was the Yaoguo palace, and they were important ministers of Yaoguo, yet they had been expelled from the Imperial Study by an outsider!

Minister You stared intently at the study door. He uttered, out of the blue, "Showboating!"

Everyone knew he was referring to Supervisor Qing Yang.

With palace guards nearby, the other officials found it inconvenient to discuss Qing Yang further. So, they changed the subject; some spoke of state affairs, others of gossip.

"Pixia seems to have repelled the Allied Army's offensive..."

"General Xue's elderly mother will celebrate her seventieth birthday next month. I hear she doesn't want a lavish celebration, so as not to overshadow His Majesty's birthday ceremony..."

Someone else said something that elicited quiet laughter, and then someone asked Minister You, "What do you think about this matter?"

Minister You replied distractedly, "I concur."

Just then, a flock of birds suddenly took flight from the garden behind the study. A hundred or so birds soared and circled, resembling a fall of black and white snow.

King Yao was fond of long-tailed tits and kept a large flock in that very garden.

Minister You pointed towards the back garden. "The birds are startled! They've been frightened, so there must be a quarrel inside the study."

The officials exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to respond.

They could imagine the scene. They also knew full well that Qing Yang was capable of angering His Majesty in the Imperial Study; it wasn't the first time, after all.

After a few breaths, a minister cleared his throat, attempting to lighten the mood. "These small birds are easily startled and take flight anyway."

No one replied, and an awkward silence fell over the corridor.

After a while longer, the study door finally opened, and Qing Yang strolled out, her composure unruffled.

The officials still had to bow to her. "Grand Supervisor."

Qing Yang stood on the steps, looking down at the officials, and let out a soft laugh. "I've interrupted your court meeting between monarch and ministers. You may enter now."

With that, she departed with her attendants.

Though she had clearly swept her gaze over each person, the officials felt as if she saw no one at all.

The officials were about to enter the hall, but then they heard a clatter from within—something had shattered.

Even Minister You paused, not daring to go inside. He feared he might incur King Yao's wrath.

Approximately several tens of breaths later, King Yao's voice finally emerged: "Come in."

They exchanged glances, then entered with bowed heads.

King Yao was still seated behind his desk, his posture unchanged, but the cup on the table had been replaced.

The atmosphere in the study seemed to have plummeted to freezing point.

King Yao's voice was low and a little hoarse. "Supervisor Qing Yang conveyed an imperial decree: Beijia hopes we will directly dispatch troops to aid Pixia."

Upon hearing this, the officials unanimously declared, "Your Majesty, no!"

"Aiding Pixia would be without just cause."

Another minister added, "Since repelling the Nine Tribes' joint attack over a hundred years ago—a narrow escape—our nation has only dispatched troops abroad seven times! These are lessons learned from the blood and tears of our ancestors."

In the Gilded Plains, Yaoguo's instances of direct foreign military intervention were comparatively few compared to neighboring states.

Minister You, for his part, said, "Beijia is thousands of miles away. How could such a specific decree be issued?"

His words directly implied that Qing Yang had fabricated the imperial decree.

King Yao waved his hand. "She comes as a representative of the Beijia Emperor. You are also aware of her relationship with the Beijia Emperor. Her words can be taken as the Emperor's will."