Oh right, that ten million taels.
That ancestor of his had made the request publicly in court—she had never once chased him down to his own residence.
But today… just how much did she intend to ask for?
The more Minister Yan thought about it, the more his heart clenched with unease. If it were possible, he would have gladly come up with any excuse to avoid meeting her.
He could get away with evading his usual colleagues, but not the Crown Princess.
No matter the excuse, even if he were truly bedridden with illness, if Her Highness arrived and demanded to see him by name, he would still have to be carried out to receive her.
He drew in a long breath.
"Do not panic. Perhaps the Crown Princess had merely come to discuss the expansion of the new accounting method across all of Tian Sheng.
Or perhaps she had devised another invention just as useful as that accounting method.
No one could say for certain that she was here to ask for silver."
Trying his best to keep himself composed, Minister Yan entered the front hall—where the familiar figure of Yun Shu was already seated.
"This humble official greets…"
"No need for such formalities, both of you," Yun Shu rose and offered a graceful gesture of support. Her gaze then shifted curiously toward the other man in the room. "Did This Princess arrive at an inopportune time? Am I interrupting a discussion of official matters?"
"Not at all!" Minister Yan answered without hesitation. "Minister Li was just about to take his leave."
Minister Li: "…"
"This old scoundrel.
Why was it always such a torment trying to get funds from him?"
Minister Li silently grumbled in his heart. If the Crown Princess was here to request money too, then even if she failed, at least Minister Yan would have a taste of his own bitter medicine.
Suppressing the urge to hurl every insult he knew, Minister Li forced a stiff smile onto his face.
"Yes, indeed. Then this humble official shall not intrude further. I take my leave, Your Highness."
Once Minister Li's figure had disappeared from view, Minister Yan finally gestured toward the main hall, inviting Yun Shu to walk with him.
As they made their way over, he spoke carefully, hoping to establish his stance before the real discussion began.
"This humble official must beg Your Highness' pardon. My residence is often in such a state—colleagues coming and going all day, mostly to speak of silver and funds.
But as Your Highness surely knows, this humble official has always been grateful for His Majesty's trust. To be appointed Minister of Revenue, responsible for the lifeblood of the empire, is no small honor.
Thus, this humble official has vowed to safeguard every coin in the treasury. I shall eliminate all unnecessary and unreasonable expenditures, striving to make Da Sheng a prosperous realm…"
All along the corridor, he laid out his principles and his loyalty with meticulous care.
Only after seating Yun Shu in the main hall and having tea served did Minister Yan, now believing he had set the tone well enough to dissuade her, finally ask the question he should have asked at the start.
"This humble official nearly forgot to inquire. What brings Your Highness here today?"
"Oh," Yun Shu set down her teacup calmly. "This Princess came to ask Minister Yan for silver."
Minister Yan: "???"
So… everything he had just said was wasted?
Why did the Crown Princess never follow the expected script?
The smile he had begun to lift on his face froze before it could fully form.
He tried to pull at the corners of his mouth once or twice, but finally gave up. A forced smile might look worse than no smile at all.
"This humble official recalls that the silver for the navy's founding has already been allocated," he said with as much composure as he could muster.
"This Princess is not here to ask for the navy's funds."
As if oblivious to the three bold characters scrawled across Minister Yan's expression—"Not Happy At All"—Yun Shu patiently explained, voice steady.
"This Princess seeks to establish an academy, one unlike those of the past."
"Unlike the past?" Minister Yan's brows furrowed even tighter. "In what way?"
"In the curriculum," she replied.
She proceeded to repeat the first half of what she had shared earlier in the royal study with Emperor Xuanwu. Step by step, she drew Minister Yan in, guiding him toward her conclusion.
"Inventions such as the curved plough, low-cost paper, cement, and the modern spinning machine—not to mention the new accounting method This Princess handed to you—all hold great value. Surely, Minister Yan understands this.
If, in the future, students from this academy could gradually develop similar innovations, their worth would far surpass the silver we invest now.
From a long-term perspective, this is a matter of immense benefit to Tian Sheng, with no harm at all."
"Even so, there is no guarantee those students will actually create such things."
Minister Yan gave a measured rebuttal, though after pondering a moment, his expression softened slightly.
Opening one academy should not cost that much. Besides, such institutions would still collect tuition.
Even if the students failed to produce anything, the tuition alone might be enough to recoup the expenses over time.
And if it were a loss, it would not be a great one.
After a moment's hesitation, and considering the one billion eight hundred million taels brought in by this year's commercial tax, Minister Yan decided to show Her Highness some courtesy for once.
"I wonder how much silver Your Highness believes this academy will require?"
"This much," Yun Shu replied with a small smile, raising three fingers.
"Three hundred thousand taels?" Minister Yan felt the number was already pushing the limit, but he gritted his teeth, ready to agree—
Only to see Yun Shu shake her head with a helpless expression.
"Thirty million taels."
Thirty… million?
She said that was little?
Forget her title. Even if His Majesty came in person today, Yan Chaorong would never agree to such an outrageous request.
The very next instant, all thoughts of giving face vanished as Minister Yan leapt to his feet.
"What sort of academy needs thirty million taels of silver? Your Highness must be jesting with this humble official!"
"This Princess does not jest without reason."
Yun Shu then calmly relayed the rest of her proposal—the part she had discussed with Emperor Xuanwu after the earlier explanation.
She had not even finished speaking when Minister Yan cut her off with a barrage of refusals.
"No. Absolutely not. This is absurd! No tuition, and they are to be fed and housed for free? In all my years, I have never heard of something so preposterous!"
"Well, now you have."
Yun Shu took a sip of tea, her tone unbothered.
"Of course, This Princess understands that with your nature, Minister Yan, it would be near impossible to agree to thirty million taels.
Which is why This Princess came today with a second matter to discuss.
Should this be accomplished, then not just thirty million—even three hundred million—might easily be earned."
"Th-three hundred million?"
Minister Yan's furious expression froze instantly. A loud gulp escaped his throat.