Chapter 164: Prime Minister Song: Your Subject Is So Poor

At the same time, in the Imperial Study.

Song Zhiyuan looked at the Emperor in astonishment and blurted out, "Your Majesty, the suggestion I made earlier..."

"I remember. Wasn't this the Empress Dowager's wish? She is wholeheartedly bent on bringing the Marquis of Chengen closer to the Prime Minister's Estate, which is why such a decision was made. Besides, who could blame my aunt for being so capable that she raised a top-scholar Prime Minister like you?"

Song Zhiyuan: "..."

*I can tell you're taking a jab at me, but I dare not say it out loud!*

"The Marquis of Chengen will also be studying at the Imperial Academy, so he can just make a short stay at the Prime Minister's Estate every few days to seek your guidance on his studies. With your qualifications and ability, surely you can tutor a mere child? Besides, you have several boys at home; they can just keep him company," said the Emperor.

Song Zhiyuan replied, "Your Majesty, the boys in my humble household are already in their teens. On the other hand, the Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Princes are much closer in age to the Marquis."

"Being older is better—they can take good care of their younger brother," the Emperor declared, leaving no room for refusal.

Seeing that the matter was already set in stone, Song Zhiyuan could only accept it. He resolved that once he returned, he would have Lady Gu tidy up a courtyard specifically for the young Marquis of Chengen to live in.

However, he couldn't let the Emperor get his way so easily.

"Your Majesty, since the Marquis of Chengen's status is of utmost importance, I won't presume to take over the responsibility of his personal guards. Please make the decision, Your Majesty," Song Zhiyuan said with complete candor. "Just so Your Majesty is aware, over the years I have made numerous enemies. There is quite a distance from the Imperial Palace to the Prime Minister's Estate, and for the sake of safety, I kindly request that Your Majesty assign guards with exceptional martial arts skills, lest malicious individuals vent their anger on innocent bystanders."

The Emperor's gaze flickered slightly. He wasn't afraid that Song Zhiyuan might take the opportunity to plant people inside the Prime Minister's Estate—after all, among all the officials, whose household didn't have his people?

"Very well, I will make the arrangements. There is no need for you to put on such a miserable act in front of me. I shall further grant you permission to recruit three hundred estate guards."

Song Zhiyuan looked at the Emperor in mild surprise. Was he not joking? Three hundred estate guards?

In the State of Daqing, only ministers of the third rank and above were permitted to maintain estate guards, and the numbers were strictly limited. Those below the third rank had none, and privately raising estate guards was regarded as treason.

The Prime Minister's Estate already had six hundred estate guards; adding another three hundred would bring the total to nine hundred.

When combined with the estate's domestic servants and watchmen numbering over a hundred, the total personnel would approach a thousand.

He hadn't thought about it before, but once he did, *Good heavens, I am so poor.*

Sustaining all these people required silver—a massive amount of silver. Estate guards in particular had to be paid military salaries, supplemented by holiday allowances and grain during festivals, not to mention weapons, armor, and housing. Money was needed everywhere!

The Emperor was waiting for Song Zhiyuan to perform the full kowtow of gratitude, but seeing him standing there lost in thought, he couldn't help tapping the desktop. "Why haven't you thanked me yet? Do you think the number is too small?"

"Ah!" Song Zhiyuan snapped back to reality and blurted out, "Not at all. It's just that your subject was calculating how much silver it would take to support all these people. I didn't realize it until I calculated it, but your subject is terribly poor."

The Emperor: "..."

What kind of bizarre calculation was this? Anyone else would be overjoyed and ready to smash their pots and sell their ironware just to maintain them.

"Shall I withdraw what I just said, then?"

Song Zhiyuan immediately put on a solemn expression. "Once Your Majesty's golden words are spoken, a team of four horses cannot recall them. How could you take it back? Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this grace!"

Look at that—the dog is still the Prime Minister's dog, utterly pretentious.

The Emperor inwardly complained, then offered a hint, "With the mutual markets established, not to mention the maritime trade in the future, are you still worried you won't be able to afford them?"

Song Zhiyuan replied, "Your Majesty is entirely right. Your subject will certainly do utmost to bring it to fruition."

The Emperor stood up. "Then it's settled. We shall go to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility together. You can pick up my aunt and leave the palace with her; it has been quite a while since I last saw the old lady."

"Your subject kowtows in gratitude for the holy grace."

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