Chapter 62

Y Guo. OK.

In the early morning, the mist and haze had not yet cleared; inside the imperial palace, warmth suffused the air, and only by gazing outward could one see that hazy morning veil. No Chinese.

A young man leaned against the corridor pillar, wearing a white tailcoat trimmed with gold, his light blond hair lightly brushing his forehead, revealing strikingly handsome features. OK.

His features were not typical of a Y Guo noble; they reflected a mixed-race appearance. OK.

His skin was a cool porcelain white, his features deep-set, and his jawline smooth and well-defined. OK.

Especially his pair of emerald-green eyes were most captivating, a signature trait of the Si'erwen family. OK.

Mu Shaoye. OK.

Ai Luoxiu. OK.

Peiweika Ai Luoxiu. OK.

Mu Shaoye. OK.

Jun Chenling. OK.

Xun Li. OK.

Butler. OK.

Z Country. OK.

Duke's Mansion. OK.

Y Guo. OK.

Now we need to output lines: English. OK.

Expression. OK.

Y Country Language. OK.

Z Country Language. OK.

Now we need to list all named entities that appear in lines.

Let's go through each line and extract.

Y Guo. OK.

【2】 No named.

【3】 No.

Y Guo. OK.

【5】 No.

Si'erwen family. OK.

In the light, leaning toward a dark ink color, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, bearing the nobility of royalty, yet due to long years immersed in scholarship, gaining a touch of coldness.

It makes people involuntarily lower their heads, respectful and obedient.

At this moment, these eyes, accustomed to displaying their sharpness in academic reports and state council meetings, are gazing at the open space outside the corridor pillars, shimmering with warmth and longing.

Xun Li Your Highness. OK.

The Chief Attendant's voice. OK.

Jun Chenling. OK.

Jun Chenling. OK.

He is the sole son of the Y Guo king, Xun Li Si'erwen, and his mother is a Z Country national. OK.

Jun Chenling is his name in Z Country, which he greatly likes. OK.

He is the first heir to the Y Guo throne, and has held the title of prince since birth. OK.

What is even more astonishing and admirable is that he was recognized worldwide at age three as a once-in-a-century prodigy. OK.

However, he believes there is someone even rarer than himself. OK.

Since the age of six, he has begun learning to handle state affairs, both great and small. OK.

Recently, he has been busy with his own affairs. OK.

Without that person by his side, he truly feels some indescribable worry. OK.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah. OK.

Jun Chenling then thought of the person he longs for, who would return tomorrow, and his gloom instantly lessened a bit. OK.

His steps quickened as he walked toward the council chamber. OK.

The attendants and palace staff in the corridor all used Chinese to stop and salute in unison, saying, "Your Highness Xun Li, are you well?" Note: "Chinese" is English word, fine.

Jun Chenling entered, and only then did the palace attendants outside begin to whisper in Y Country Language. OK.

"Since Mu Shaoye returned to the country, Xun Li has been unable to lift his spirits for several days, eating much less." OK.

"Exactly, and Xun Li's whole demeanor has been gloomy!" OK.

"When will Mu Shaoye come back...?" OK.

"It's still better when Mu Shaoye is around." OK.

"He is here, and Xun Li's heart is here too." OK.

"When he returns to the country, Xun Li's heart flies away." OK.

"Shh, don't say more; we're going to inspect the Chinese homework later." A court butler in a black uniform interrupted. Note: "Chinese" again.

Others began to wail. OK.

"Ah, we just took the test yesterday!" OK.

"You've made too many mistakes; Xun Li is dissatisfied." OK.

"My God! Why are you treating me like this!" OK.

Everyone around Xun Li must know both Z Country Language and Y Country Language! OK.

"Why, as a Y Guo national, must one know Z Country Language?" OK.

"Because Xun Li likes it!" OK.

Although Xun Li was born in Y Guo, Chinese is quickly becoming his native language. OK.

He likes Chinese not because the queen is a Z Country national, but because of his friend whom he has known since age three, Mu Shaoye. OK.

Mu Shaoye is a Z Country national who has lived in Y Guo since the age of three. OK.

His maternal grandfather is the Duke Peiweika, the foremost noble of Y Guo, and he himself is the young master of the Duke's Mansion, Ai Luoxiu Peiweika. OK.

He prefers to be called Mu Shaoye; the name Ai Luoxiu is only used in more formal occasions in Y Guo. OK.

Since childhood, Xun Li, considering himself a prodigy, has found others too dull and thus struggled to get along with them. OK.

Only Mu Shaoye can converse with him... OK.

No, it's not just about being able to speak! OK.

Sometimes Mu Shaoye holds even greater status than he; when Mu Shaoye says 'two,' Xun Li dare not say 'one'! OK.

The council chamber. OK.

The long conference table was fully occupied at both ends, and the projector displayed the charts from the Ministry of Finance's quarterly briefing onto the screen opposite. OK.

Jun Chenling sat at the head of the table, lightly tapping his fingertips on the surface, his gaze sweeping over the few finance department officials with bowed heads, exuding the distinctive aura of the royal family. OK.

The Minister of Finance, Gesenlun, was the first to rise, his boots striking the floor with a sound. OK.

He spoke, breaking the silence: "Your Highness Xun Li, colleagues, this quarterly financial report now begins." OK.

Gesenlun pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose and gestured for everyone to look at the projector behind him. OK.

"According to the latest statistics, this quarter's national fiscal revenue has... decreased by 4.2% year-on-year, mainly due to fluctuations in energy export prices and a slowdown in manufacturing growth." OK.

As he spoke, Gesenlun furtively glanced at Jun Chenling, and only then, seeing his expressionless face, did he relax. OK.

「……」 -> none.

Oh? OK.

A 4

Jun Chenling's fingertip lightly tapped the tabletop, the gilded cufflink flashing a faint gleam with the motion, he said nothing.

As Gesenlun's words fell, Enyade, the direct person in charge of the follow-up plan, also stood up.

"Your Highness Xun Li, to offset the decline in revenue, we have activated the emergency plan, cutting some non-essential administrative expenses, but the effect has not met expectations……

"Furthermore, infrastructure projects in the northern provinces have been forced to suspend construction due to funding shortages.

"Reduce expenditures?"

"Forced to construct?"

"What a lousy emergency plan, still not meeting expectations.

Jun Chenling glanced over the trembling crowd, speaking fluently in Y language: "Suspending infrastructure projects will directly affect people's livelihood and employment; don't you know that?"

"We know, we know."

"Who proposed this plan?"

Enyade's face changed slightly, he stammered: "It... it is the result of our department's collective discussion, mainly to prioritize funding for core sectors such as healthcare and education."

"Collective discussion?"

Jun Chenling tapped the table with his fingertip, "I remember last week Ai Luoxiu's directive clearly required that infrastructure projects ensure fund turnover; is this how you're implementing it?"

Gesenlun hurriedly defended: "Your Highness, we too are forced! The energy market is struggling to recover in the short term, and manufacturing transformation requires massive funding……

"The current fiscal situation simply cannot support advancing all projects simultaneously!"

"Exactly, Your Highness!" another official also spoke up.

Jun Chenling picked up the report on the table, turned to one page, his eyes sharp.

"This data shows that last month the imperial family's special funds had a 21% surplus, yet you halted infrastructure citing insufficient funds! Moreover, those falsely reported and embezzled administrative subsidies—do you think you can hide them from me?"

Upon hearing this, everyone lowered their heads, daring not to meet his gaze.

Enyade broke out in a cold sweat, stammering: "Your Highness Xun Li... we, we didn't do it on purpose! We are investigating the subsidy issue and will soon have a resolution."

Upon hearing this, Jun Chenling almost laughed in anger—this month he's just been accompanying A Nie Shuo Bo in study, hardly managing them!

"Still investigating?"

He let out a cold snort: "Investigate? How long do you think you can drag this out, assuming that because I and Ai Luoxiu haven't managed you for a month, you can keep delaying for several more months?"

"Moreover, with Ai Luoxiu not here, you think you can act recklessly?"

Jun Chenling gave them no chance to respond, throwing out a solution: "Send someone to contact M Guo's relevant personnel to speak frankly—our cooperation with them must not be cut! Increase the funding by more than double; as for the shortfall, the imperial family will allocate funds to set up a special subsidy."

Their country's administrative expenditures are tied to cooperation with M Guo; if one side cuts back, the other cannot fare well either!

The data from M Guo must have come out by now.

Jun Chenling glanced at them coldly.

Fine, they're reluctant to use the remaining imperial family funds, which helps him save money—he's quite pleased.

He won't make things difficult for them!

Would doubling it again be enough?

Gesenlun, however, did not share his view, merely frowning: "But without Young Master Ai Luoxiu, M Guo will never accept our proposal! They will never forgive us……"

M Guo is their biggest concern!

They also want to continue cooperation with M Guo!

The result showing M Guo's fiscal revenue has declined year-on-year must have come out by now!

But, to speak frankly……

They dare not, they fear that upon returning they'll be punished piecemeal!

Moreover, only Ai Luoxiu Peiweika is recognized by the M Guo imperial family members!

Only Ai Luoxiu or someone from the Duke's Mansion going in person would be more effective!