Troublemaker Prince C43
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 43
You Fengyun's words successfully created a world where only the Crown Prince and the assembled ministers suffered, especially those old ministers who were advanced in years and frequently fell ill—they were already beginning to feel despair.
Meanwhile, You Yusui, sitting to the side, couldn't help but sigh. No matter how many lifetimes he was reborn, he could never match his father emperor's ruthless cunning when it came to exploiting his ministers.
Now, You Yusui had begun to suspect that You Fengyun said such things wanting to work those old ministers who occupied positions but wouldn't budge to death, then legitimately promote new people. This way, the people of the realm wouldn't call him callous and ungrateful, and would instead praise him for appreciating talent.
Brilliant! You Fengyun had completely mastered the affairs of court.
Just as some ministers wanted to persuade You Fengyun to still show preferential treatment to ministers who fell ill, Prime Minister Su suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud and said, "If everyone had the Crown Prince's devotion to country and people, the Great Jing would have no worries for a hundred generations."
Hearing this, You Fengyun curved his lips into a satisfied smile. Among so many ministers, those who satisfied him besides Liu Ye were Prime Minister Su.
You Yusui looked at Prime Minister Su, whose head was full of white hair and who was more than twenty years older than his maternal grandfather, and couldn't help but sigh. What dedication—truly worthy of being Prime Minister Su, who could go seven days and nights without sleep for government affairs, willing to voluntarily let the emperor exploit him.
The ministers at the side, seeing Prime Minister Su behaving this way, could only say reluctantly in their hearts, "We ministers will certainly learn from the Crown Prince."
Xie Tan, who bowed his head and saluted along with the hundred officials, remained expressionless. He felt that he would need Cui Yan to increase the dosage of ginseng tea for him.
You Yusui, who was forced to become everyone's role model: ......
This prince doesn't want to sit here at all right now. This prince only wants to indulge in beauty in the palace.
Seeing this, You Fengyun became even more satisfied and sighed. "It is good that all you ministers have this mindset."
After You Fengyun's maneuver, no officials bothered You Yusui anymore or chattered about things not conforming to propriety. At the same time, major matters to be discussed at court were successively raised by officials holding their tablets.
Sitting in his chair, You Yusui's thoughts weren't on court affairs at all. He only felt that this chair was too hard, not at all as comfortable as sitting on Huo Xiling's body. He found the things the ministers argued about too boring—he had heard them for over a dozen lifetimes and was nearly sick of it. He didn't know why You Fengyun could listen for over twenty years without getting tired of it.
You Yusui swept his gaze upward and saw that the emperor sitting on the dragon throne had a relaxed expression, his eyes full of interest. He seemed to be watching a puppet show, and he was the director of this performance.
You Yusui withdrew his gaze and thought, no wonder his father emperor didn't find it tiresome—he was enjoying himself.
Finally, You Yusui felt that attending court was really too boring. He no longer had the passion to verbally spar with the masses, nor did he have the energy to display his talents.
So listening to the First Prince's impassioned voice and the Third Prince's voice arguing forcefully with reason, he finally couldn't help but close his heavy eyelids.
The ministers who saw the Crown Prince fall asleep during the argument couldn't help but gasp inwardly, then quietly raised their heads to look at the Son of Heaven sitting on the dragon throne.
They saw You Fengyun's gaze fixed on the endlessly arguing First Prince and Third Prince, seemingly completely unaware that the Crown Prince had fallen asleep.
It wasn't until the First Prince and Third Prince truly couldn't reach an agreement in their debate that You Fengyun spoke up.
"Crown Prince, what is your opinion on this matter?" You Fengyun asked, his voice carrying a barely perceptible trace of amusement.
You Yusui calmly and composedly opened his eyes. This damned feeling of sleeping in class but being called on by the teacher to answer a question.
In Xuanzheng Hall, the called-upon You Yusui was stared at by countless pairs of eyes—You Yuyi and You Yufan's schadenfreude, the court ministers' furrowed brows and disappointment.
You Yusui sighed deeply in his heart. Why were they looking at him? Didn't they know he was sleeping just now? He knew nothing.
Thus, You Yusui looked at his father emperor with a pitiful, helpless expression, then said, "This son believes that Father Emperor's idea is very good."
Anyway, no matter what was being discussed, supporting You Fengyun's idea was fine. As long as it was something You Fengyun wanted to do, no one could stop him.
Standing below, Xie Tan also silently gave You Yusui a hint, quietly pointing at the two Ministers of Revenue and War.
You Yusui understood immediately—most likely the Ministry of War was asking the Ministry of Revenue for money again, the Ministry of Revenue didn't want to give it, and everyone started arguing.
Sitting on the dragon throne, You Fengyun looked at You Yusui and said, "What is Zhen's idea?"
Previously, You Fengyun had been watching people argue at court. The First Prince and Third Prince's two factions were clearly divided, but he had never revealed his own attitude.
You Yusui took a breath. Based on his dozen lifetimes of understanding You Fengyun, when it came to matters of the Ministry of War asking for money, he generally stood with the Ministry of War. Even if the Ministry of Revenue was pained, they still had to give the money.
Now the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War were arguing forcefully with reason—it must be because Hedong County had suffered a major flood earlier, washing away many crops, and the court had to provide disaster relief and exempt Hedong County and several nearby affected counties from next year's corvée labor and taxes.
For a time, the national treasury was indeed stretched thin. If they were to satisfy the military expenses the Ministry of War wanted, they would inevitably have to increase taxes, which would undoubtedly increase the burden on the common people.
Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War were arguing furiously—one crying that the national treasury truly had no money, one angrily scolding that if frontier soldiers couldn't eat their fill or dress warmly, how could they defend the country! Meanwhile, the First Prince and Third Prince's two factions were each taking sides for their own interests.
If this matter had been in a previous life, You Yusui would only think of ways to resolve it, both unable to make the common people suffer and unable to dishearten the frontier soldiers. But now, he only wanted to eat melon seeds and watch the show.
"Crown Prince, why don't you tell us what Zhen's idea is?" You Fengyun urged.
You Yusui sighed. He wanted to eat melon seeds and watch the show, but his good father emperor wouldn't let him.
"Father Emperor is benevolent and certainly won't bear to let the common people suffer," You Yusui said with a cough, his pale complexion making everyone feel the Crown Prince would faint at any moment.
Hearing You Yusui's words, the Minister of Revenue instantly became smug.
The next moment, the Minister of War said, "Does the Crown Prince wish to make the frontier soldiers go hungry?"
You Yusui looked at the indignant Minister of War and said, "Making the frontier soldiers go hungry is something neither Father Emperor nor this prince wish to see."
"Therefore, this prince has decided to donate all the expenses for this prince's grand wedding to the frontier soldiers."
Everyone froze on the spot upon hearing this. The Crown Prince's wedding expenses?
You Fengyun narrowed his eyes. What fine wedding expenses. The grand weddings of all the princes were organized by the Ministry of Rites with funds from the Ministry of Revenue. As Crown Prince, You Yusui's wedding was second only to the emperor's in scale. This expense would be at least a million coins.
However, You Yusui didn't directly donate a million coins, but said he would donate his wedding expenses, which meant the money still came from the Ministry of Revenue.
Then You Yusui looked at the First Prince, Third Prince, and the assembled ministers and said, "Could it be that Eldest Imperial Brother and Third Imperial Brother, as well as all you ministers, are unwilling to share Father Emperor's worries?"
The First Prince You Yuyi and Third Prince You Yufan nearly choked to death upon hearing this. They were already married—where were wedding expenses they could donate?
But facing You Fengyun's gaze, they couldn't say they wouldn't donate. The First Prince You Yuyi could only grit his teeth and say, "This son is willing to donate one year's tax revenue from his fief."
"This son as well," You Yufan quickly followed.
The Crown Prince and two princes had donated—how could the aristocratic families and ministers not donate?
Xie Tan stepped out of the ranks, holding his tablet and bowing to You Fengyun, saying, "The Xie family is willing to donate five hundred gold."
Everyone present couldn't help but gasp collectively, and You Fengyun, sitting on the dragon throne, said, "The Xie family has shown great heart."
"Grandfather also once led troops. If he knew that soldiers defending the country still had to endure hunger, he would certainly support me," Xie Tan said with lowered eyes.
Since the Xie family, a top aristocratic family, had already come forward to donate, and donated so much, the other families had no choice but to donate even if unwilling.
"The Cui clan is willing to donate five hundred gold."
"The Wang clan is willing to donate five hundred gold."
"The Li clan is willing to donate four hundred gold."
After the top great aristocratic families finished donating, the medium and small aristocratic families donated hundreds or tens of gold each, and the humble-born officials didn't dare fall behind and were willing to donate a year's salary.
"This old minister is willing to donate two years' salary," Prime Minister Su said.
Then the humble-born disciples took out their meager salaries to show loyalty to the emperor above.
In a short time, the Crown Prince's few words had raised over a billion coins in military funds.
After the last minister in Xuanzheng Hall finished stating his donation amount, You Yusui, sitting in his chair, sighed quietly, then said, "Thinking of the soldiers far away still eating chaff and swallowing vegetables while this prince and all of you enjoy ourselves here, this prince's heart feels uneasy. It seems everything in the Eastern Palace must be simplified. Fortunately, this prince has no Crown Princess, otherwise this prince would definitely have her lead everyone in the Eastern Palace to economize on food and expenses."
Finished speaking, You Yusui looked at You Fengyun and said, "Father Emperor, don't you agree?"
You Fengyun: ......
If he said yes, were you planning to fleece the harem again?
Thus, You Fengyun said, "Crown Prince, the military funds are already sufficient."
"Yes, yes, yes, the military funds are already sufficient," the Minister of War quickly said, his gaze toward You Yusui also filled with warmth.
You Yusui leaned back in his chair and said, "Is that so? Then this prince's heart is at ease."
Next, You Fengyun discussed several small matters with the ministers, then proceeded to scold the First Prince You Yuyi and Third Prince You Yufan.
"You two are eager for quick success, reckless and heedless, short-sighted, only seeing immediate benefits. If this continues, you'll be unable to handle great responsibilities," You Fengyun scolded.
Listening, You Yusui felt that You Fengyun was just short of cursing that the First Prince and Third Prince didn't resemble him.
"In the future, speak less and observe more. Learn from the Crown Prince," You Fengyun said, then sighed. "Forget it, court is dismissed."
With Eunuch An Hai's announcement of dismissal, You Fengyun rose and left, and the ministers gradually dispersed.
After court was dismissed, You Fengyun walked slowly along the palace path, the corners of his eyes carrying a smile.
Looking at the full spring scenery of the garden, he said, "It seems having the Crown Prince attend court and participate in governance is indeed a good thing."
"The Crown Prince is the most intelligent person there is," Eunuch An Hai at his side echoed.
"It's time to assign him some duties," You Fengyun said. "However......"
However, why was Xie Tan the only minister who sided with the Crown Prince among all the officials? It seemed he needed to assign capable personnel to help the Crown Prince.
"Call that old fellow Gu Shen to also attend court. Isn't he best at arguing with people? Let him help the Crown Prince speak."
"Why doesn't the Crown Prince recruit menkes himself? Hasn't Huo Xiling bought over those humble-born scholars for him?"
"Sigh...... I'll handle it myself."
On the other side, after the ministers left, Huo Xiling entered Xuanzheng Hall and saw the Crown Prince sitting in his chair looking at him with grievance.
"Your Highness, have you been wronged?" Huo Xiling quickly coaxed him.
You Yusui said with reddened eyes: "Xiling, this chair is so hard, not comfortable at all."
Huo Xiling: ......
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TL/N:
门客 (mén kè) literally means “door guest”, but its historical and literary meaning is more specific:
Breakdown:
门 (mén) → door / household
客 (kè) → guest / visitor
Combined meaning:
Historically, a 门客 was a person attached to a noble, wealthy, or scholarly household as a disciple, scholar, advisor, or sometimes a retainer.
They were not just casual guests—they were formally associated with the family, often for mentorship, service, or patronage.
In many historical novels, 门客 refers to talented scholars or students who were “recruited” to serve or advise a lord.