Lu Qingwan herself didn't pay much attention, retreating to the imperial study to draw up the new dynasty's transportation network, preparing for future infrastructure construction.
Moreover, she not only busied herself with great enthusiasm but also refused to let those around her be idle.
When Li Su merely brought her some tea and snacks, she immediately roped the latter into labor, shoving a stack of memorials beside her. "Help me filter these.
Organize all the memorials according to their urgency.
Directly throw into the brazier any that are flattering, probing the Prince's attitude towards his family, or demanding official positions and salaries."
Li Su, terrified, repeatedly shook her head and retreated, waving her hands. "Your Highness, absolutely not.
The memorials on the imperial desk are all state secrets. It's already an exception for you to review them, how could I dare to touch such important documents?
Although there are quite a few memorials, please trouble yourself to read them.
If you have any other tasks you can delegate to me, I will certainly handle them well, but I truly cannot touch the memorials."
Li Su's expression was one of sheer terror, her tone earnest, as if Lu Qingwan were handing her a bomb rather than memorials.
Lu Qingwan found her demeanor both amusing and exasperating. "With you like this, do you still want to enter the imperial court like Lu Qianhuang and Chi Yaoyao?"
Li Su's face stiffened, and she immediately realized Lu Qingwan was intending to train her.
She was Si Fengwu's personal guard, Lu Qingwan's right-hand woman. If she were to enter the court, she naturally couldn't start from the bottom.
Therefore, what she was now being asked to participate in were all crucial matters of court decision-making. Only by succeeding in these could she later enter the court with the confidence to rebut any objections based on her identity or gender.
Understanding Lu Qingwan's earnest intentions, Li Su became less resistant, though still uneasy.
"I am very grateful for Your Highness's diligent mentorship, but is it too soon to be dealing with memorials right away?"
Lu Qingwan answered a question with a question. "What do you think of the current court situation?"
Her topic shift was so abrupt that Li Su was momentarily stunned before organizing her thoughts and slowly replied, "The new dynasty has just been established, and the court situation is not yet stable. It is precisely when problems are most likely to arise.
The Prince and Princess have appointed the Prince of Nan as Chancellor, which can both deter the many military officials who rose through merit and gain the respect of the civil officials from aristocratic families.
Chancellor Nan is also loyal to the Prince and Princess. With him to restrain the officials, and with the support of Elder Wen, Elder Chi, and other veteran officials, the court situation, at least during the Prince's reign, is overwhelmingly positive."
Lu Qingwan rested her chin on the desk, looking at the half-finished transportation network she was drawing. Hearing Li Su's words, she lazily lifted an eyelid.
"Usually, when things are said so nicely, there's a twist.
What is your turning point?"
Li Su knew that her current words would affect her future position in court, so she spoke again, her phrasing becoming cautious.
"Chancellor Nan, Elder Wen, and Elder Chi are indeed loyal to the Prince and all have the welfare of the realm at heart.
Therefore, even if the Prince and Princess were absent from court for half a year, there would be no need to worry about chaos.
However, Your Highness, Elder Wen and Elder Chi are both advanced in years. If they were no longer around, no matter who took the position of Grand Scholar of the Hall of Literary Brilliance, I do not believe they would possess the ability, boldness, or loyalty of the two elders.
Chancellor Nan is in his prime, but relying on him alone, he cannot possibly accomplish the work of three people.
Thus, although the court appears harmonious now, in reality, there is a shortage of talent and a lack of long-term momentum."
While Li Su spoke, Lu Qingwan maintained her previous posture, staring fixedly at her, which made Li Su increasingly nervous.
"Your Highness, I am merely speaking carelessly. If anything I say is incorrect, please scold me, but do not look at me like that, it unnerves your subordinate."
As she spoke, she theatrically hugged herself.
Lu Qingwan tutted. "Isn't that quite insightful?
You understand the overall court situation better than I do, so why is it so difficult for you to do a little work?
Or perhaps, while you are lamenting the court's prospects, you are unwilling to take responsibility yourself, waiting for others to turn the tide?"
Hearing this, Li Su felt as if any further words would be detrimental to the nation.
Silently, she bowed ninety degrees to Lu Qingwan. "Your Highness, I was wrong. I will go and review the memorials now..."
She dared to swear that Lu Qingwan was indeed intending to groom her, but shoving memorials directly into her hands at the start was absolutely because she had grown impatient with the flattering, the demands for official positions, and the requests for money.
After all, sifting through a dozen greetings, over thirty requests for money, and dozens of complaints of poverty to find a mere four, five, six, or seven memorials concerning national economy and people's livelihood was quite a challenge.
After offloading the preliminary screening of memorials onto Li Su, Lu Qingwan stopped looking at the transportation network map and turned her attention to account reconciliation.
Since returning to the new capital, she had set aside time each day to reconcile accounts.
She would audit the accounts of Buye Zhou, the National Treasury, the Imperial Household Department's storehouse, and even Si Fengwu's personal coffers.
After all, only by knowing exactly how much usable money she had could she determine what she could accomplish.
In recent days, she had gained a good understanding of the National Treasury's accounts. Now, her own businesses were what remained to be sorted out.
However, this time she was unable to complete the audit of Buye Zhou's accounts. Just as she received the ledgers, Tang Xiao arrived, accompanied by Li Qing, who had been busy and unseen for the past few days.
The two approached with hurried steps, yet their pace was exceptionally light. Even the sound of their greeting to Lu Qingwan carried a note of joy.
Lu Qingwan eyed them suspiciously. "You seem to be in such good spirits, have the tasks I assigned you been completed?"
Tang Xiao's face broke into a joyful smile. "Thanks to Your Highness's blessings, most of the missing persons have been found and have successively arrived at the new capital.
As per Your Highness's instructions, they have been secretly settled in the Heavenly Guard Battalion of the Xuanjia Army.
For those who have already met their demise, the truth of their deaths has been ascertained. Eyewitnesses and physical evidence are both present, proving that it was the former Northern Wei royalty and the Turks who colluded in this affair.
The Tongzheng Envoy's wife spreading the theory of the new dynasty's "sinicization" was indeed due to threats from the Turks, and we have also found the leverage they used against her."
Since the case of mass disappearances, Tang Xiao had been swamped. He hadn't had time to smile, and during his rare moments of leisure, he was too exhausted to even speak, often falling asleep immediately.
Now, seeing his cheerful mood, Lu Qingwan couldn't help but feel happy. "Are the eyewitnesses and physical evidence all complete?
If it were a public trial, could it withstand scrutiny?"
The Shence Camp investigated solely based on facts, but a joint trial by the three judicial departments required evidence.
This mass disappearance case was targeted at the enthronement ceremony, and Tang Xiao's word alone would not be enough to convince everyone.
Therefore, Tang Xiao's mission this time was even more complex than before.
Fortunately, Tang Xiao was reliable. Upon hearing Lu Qingwan's question, he immediately replied with a smile, "Your Highness, please rest assured, all kinds of evidence are complete."