Chapter 126: Absolutely Not

Yan Ning found it strange: "Do you truly feel this is inappropriate, or are you deliberately being difficult with me?"

The Minister of War was so angry he blew his beard and glared, "Of course it is inappropriate. If we pull soldiers away from the border and the Northern Rong continue to attack, what are we supposed to do?"

Yan Ning said, "I am working overtime to make explosives, and I guarantee there will be enough. With Explosive Packages, why do we need so many people?"

The Minister of War pondered, seemingly truly not knowing.

The Minister of War couldn't help but ask, "Since explosives are so effective, why not open a workshop to supply the whole country to deal with mountain bandits?"

Yan Ning wore an expression of looking at a fool: "Of course it's because I'm afraid the explosive formula will leak. If the enemy nations find out, we will lose our advantage."

The Minister of War frowned, then sighed.

The method for these Explosive Packages cannot be made public. Currently, the only ones who can make explosives are the three members of Yan Ning's family. Yet, these two are busier than the other, and the Empress, that is, Ji Lan, doesn't know how to make Explosive Packages either, because she wants to play mahjong.

Recently, the female relatives of many ministers have been coming to the palace to play mahjong together.

The Minister of War said, "Then let's recall half the people and have them take Explosive Packages to wipe out the mountain bandits."

After Yan Ning finished speaking, Yan Ze spoke up: "Everyone, I have a small suggestion. I don't have the time to read so many memorials. From now on, if you have something to say, say it directly; if not, don't write memorials. Every day it's this kind of flattery, and you aren't sick of it yet?"

Yan Ning also recalled her painful experience of being dragged in to help review memorials, "It's unnecessary, really, it's very tiring to look at."

The ministers:...

Yan Ze asked again: "Is there anything else? If not, the morning court is dismissed."

Several officials exchanged winks.

Suddenly, one official was pushed out.

Yan Ze asked: "Is there something you wish to say?"

The Vice Minister of Rites who had been pushed out:...

But since he had already been pushed out, he had no choice but to continue: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has recently been preparing many shops. This is competing with the people for profit; it is truly inappropriate."

Yan Ning didn't indulge him and asked directly: "Did it steal your family's business?"

The Vice Minister of Rites hurriedly said: "No one in my family is in business."

Yan Ning sighed, "You complain every day that the national treasury is empty, and I can't do anything I want to do. How is opening a few state-run workshops competing with the people for profit?"

"And 'competing with the people for profit'—that's just because their goods aren't as good as mine."

The businesses Yan Ning runs are all things only wealthy families can afford; she truly doesn't know what profit she is competing for.

The Vice Minister of Rites was retorted into stepping back two paces, returning to his original position, and stopped talking.

Next, another person stood out.

It was someone from the Censorate.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess took the Heir of the Prince of Nanyang to the Drunken Immortal Tower to listen to music, and even threw Gold Melon Seeds at people!"

"The Crown Princess shouldn't go to such places. How can a child go to such a place?"

Yan Ning asked: "You've been there too, why is it that I can't go?"

The other party choked.

He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a reason he could say in the Court. He couldn't exactly say that such places are for men to seek pleasure and women shouldn't go.

The Minister of Works stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is truly extravagant. The national treasury is empty, yet the Crown Princess wears fine clothes every day to show off in public, setting a bad trend."

Yan Ning:??

Ah no, there are so many fabrics piled up in the warehouse, what is wrong with her wearing a few pretty dresses?

Yan Ze frowned and said: "It doesn't matter for a girl to dress a bit more prettily. Besides, I only have one Empress and one daughter; I don't keep other concubines or consorts, so consider it saving money to let my daughter dress better."

The ministers:...

They didn't know what to say.

Seeing them impeach her at every turn, and with another person preparing to stand out and speak, Yan Ning saw them.

Yan Ning took the lead, "I think..."

Yan Ning, who hadn't thought of a justification yet, paused.

Her eyes rolled, and she thought of a line: "I think we can build a shipyard, construct large Ocean-going Ships, and send people out to sea to see if there are any other countries overseas that we can trade with."

"Absolutely not—"

Here it comes again, here it comes again.

Every time Yan Ning makes a suggestion, it's always "absolutely not."

Yan Ning said: "Minister of Works, draw up a planning proposal for shipbuilding. If you disagree, please write down one hundred reasons for your disagreement."

"Minister of Revenue, the national treasury is not empty. You can calculate how much silver can be allocated to the shipyard. If you disagree, please also list one hundred reasons for your disagreement."

Minister of Works & Minister of Revenue:...

Yan Ning: "Is there a problem? If there is, write it all down, and I will prepare to answer you one by one."

Several ministers were about to go bald from stress.

Yan Ning's lips curled up; she still had to find them something to do, lest they spend every day staring at her and looking for trouble.

The two Ministers wanted to say something more, but Yan Ze interrupted directly: "Alright, that's it. Get the planning proposal done early and report it to me at tomorrow's morning court."

Ah no, the Crown Princess has a whim and acts on it, how can the Emperor follow along too?

Yan Ze was also annoyed. These people keep catching his daughter to impeach her; he certainly couldn't stand to watch it, so he should find them something to do.

After the court was dismissed, Yan Ze sighed to Yan Ning: "Sigh, being an Emperor is truly hard. I haven't been to the Drunken Immortal Tower with you in a long time."

Yan Ning also sighed: "Being a Crown Princess is also hard. I can't even visit the Drunken Immortal Tower anymore."

Yan Ze asked: "Do you really want to build ships so soon?"

Yan Ning smiled slyly: "Of course I'm not prepared. The national treasury is indeed not enough. I'll wait until I save up more money. I'm just finding them something to do so they don't stare at me all day long."

Yan Ze patted her head, "My daughter's brain turns really fast. Haha, I want to see how they write that proposal."

Yan Ning smiled: "It might also be one hundred reasons for opposition."

The father and daughter looked at each other, and both of them beamed with joy.

Yan Ning took a nap, and in the afternoon, she rode her horse, preparing to go take a look at the imperial road.

The people from the Cement Workshop delivered bags of cement over; the originally narrow imperial road had already widened quite a bit, and a section of cement had completely dried, becoming rock-hard.

But she saw some people gathered to one side, saying in a dejected manner, "It's over, it's over, what are we to do now..."

"It shouldn't be a major issue, right... Sigh, if I had known, I would have had people guard it day and night during this time."

Yan Ning rode her horse over and asked, "What happened?"

At this moment, a craftsman said, "His Highness, this, there is a small cat paw print here..."

Yan Ning walked over to take a look; it was just a paw print near the edge, rather cute.

Yan Ning said, "It is not a big deal, no need to worry about it; it is actually quite cute this way, but if such paw prints appear too densely, they must be filled in."

The craftsmen all breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing the Cement Road project proceeding in an orderly manner, Yan Ning returned to the palace with peace of mind.

Yan Ze was looking for her everywhere.

Yan Ning found it strange, "Father, are you not reviewing memorials this afternoon? How do you have time to look for me?"

Yan Ze said mysteriously, "My trading partner has refreshed, from the Modern Plane, and I exchanged for two Tablets, as well as this."

He took out a book.