From when the Empress Dowager began ruling from behind the curtain until now, it had been merely a short period of less than a month.

During this month or so, memorials had all been sent to the Empress Dowager’s place. After she reviewed and returned them to the ministers, those ministers could sense that the Empress Dowager truly had the talent to govern the nation.

However, the common people’s resistance was severe. If incited by someone with ulterior motives, it could indeed form a force of internal rebellion.

Most of Great Jin’s military strength was in the Western Border. Now with soldiers being dispatched to the Eastern front, there weren’t many troops left garrisoned in the capital. If chaos erupted, it would be somewhat difficult to control.

“Then this Empress Dowager will ask all of you.” Yun Chu’s voice was indifferent. “A month ago, the common people didn’t have such severe resistance. Why, starting from last night, did masses of people suddenly prohibit the Empress Dowager from interfering in politics?”

Minister Qiu spoke: “That’s because the Empress Dowager advocated attacking Dongling.”

Yun Chu continued: “This Empress Dowager remembers that when attacking Dongling was first proposed, there were more pro-war voices among the people. It absolutely cannot be this reason.”

“This humble minister has heard something.” Marquis Pingjin stepped forward. “Someone spread word that the Empress Dowager plans to raise taxes to gather military funds. This touched upon the common people’s most fundamental interests, and thus large numbers of workers, farmers, and merchants gathered to resist this matter.”

The corners of Yun Chu’s lips curved up: “Then this Empress Dowager will ask one final question. Has this Empress Dowager proposed increasing taxes?”

Marquis Pingjin said loudly: “The Empress Dowager has never mentioned this matter.”

“Therefore, the voices among the people are all unfounded rumors.” Yun Chu spoke in a measured pace. “Using unfounded rumors as evidence to make this Empress Dowager end ruling from behind the curtain early—how is this different from changing government orders by morning and evening? Isn’t this somewhat too frivolous?”

Minister of Revenue Zhu looked toward the assembled officials in court.

The scheme he and the Prince Regent had carefully arranged was unexpectedly broken so easily by the Empress Dowager.

He suppressed his emotions and bowed: “This minister believes the common people’s worries are not without reason. Waging war against Dongling requires grain supplies, military funds, and compensation—all requiring large amounts of silver. The national treasury’s expenditures exceed its income… If the battle line extends, in order to win the war and ensure national stability, ultimately taxes can only be raised.”

“How ridiculous.” Nie Zhou spoke with a cold laugh. “When you, Minister of Revenue, propose raising taxes, it’s for national stability. But when the Empress Dowager proposes raising taxes, everyone says women must not interfere in politics, and the court forces the Empress Dowager to step down. A grown man making things difficult for a woman—aren’t you ashamed?”

Minister Zhu’s face turned red then green.

He was after all the Minister of Revenue, first among the Six Ministries. Yet Nie Zhou, a mere Junior Preceptor of the second rank, dared to embarrass him publicly.

At this moment, Yun Ze stepped forward: “The Empress Dowager previously promised Minister Zhu she would prepare grain supplies. To this day, a full five million shi have been prepared.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar.

“What, five million shi?”

“This is completely sufficient for grain supplies for hundreds of thousands of troops.”

“Where did the Empress Dowager get the silver to prepare so much grain?”

Yun Ze continued: “The Empress Dowager took out all of her own dowry.”

Hearing this, everyone remembered that three years ago, when the Empress Dowager married the then Prince Pingxi, that dowry—even describing it as a ten-li-long red procession wasn’t sufficient, making countless people envious.

So much dowry had all been converted into grain supplies.

“Who says women are inferior to men!” Nie Zhou’s words rang clear. “At Great Jin’s critical moment, it’s the Empress Dowager who donated all of her dowry. I boldly ask everyone in this court—whose wife among you would exhaust her dowry to donate to Great Jin’s soldiers?”

Everyone in court fell silent.

In Great Jin, women’s dowries were no small amounts. They not only supported the woman’s lifetime but were also used to raise children. And these officials’ salaries weren’t high—many times, they had to rely on their wives’ dowries to maintain their households.

If they asked their wives to donate all their dowries, never mind the wives themselves—they would be the first to refuse.

With this comparison, the gap between them and the Empress Dowager became apparent.

“Throughout the civil and military court, Great Jin’s most outstanding men are all here, yet no one dares say they could do the same as the Empress Dowager.” Nie Zhou spoke word by word. “The Empress Dowager’s action is worthy of being Great Jin’s exemplar. Only a woman like the Empress Dowager can teach a benevolent ruler. Therefore, the Empress Dowager should continue ruling from behind the curtain until the young emperor has the ability to rule personally. Do you all agree?”

Chief Minister Li stepped forward: “The Empress Dowager worries for the nation and its people. She should rule from behind the curtain.”

During this time, he had rarely spoken, because the two forces in court went back and forth, and he didn’t want to be entangled in it.

But the Empress Dowager had done something greatly beneficial to the nation and its people. If at this time he still remained silent, he truly wouldn’t deserve to be the current Chief Minister.

Once he spoke, several other civil officials also spoke up one after another, believing the Empress Dowager should continue ruling from behind the curtain.

Standing at the very front, Chu Rui’s eyes darkened.

He had truly underestimated Yun Chu. He really hadn’t expected that she would take out all of her own dowry to purchase grain supplies. She was going all out to fight against him.

Moreover, in such a short time, she could actually buy five million shi of grain, and he hadn’t heard the slightest wind of it. This showed her power far exceeded his imagination.

Now that the neutral faction all supported the Empress Dowager, this was greatly disadvantageous to him.

He slightly turned his eyes and gave a look to someone beside him.

That look was passed down, and before long, an official from the Censorate stepped forward: “This minister has matters to memorialize.”

Chu Hongyu waved his little hand: “Permission granted!”

“This humble minister has heard that since the Empress Dowager began ruling from behind the curtain, His Majesty has become increasingly willful and unruly.” The Censorate official had the power of impeachment—below impeaching commoners, above impeaching the Son of Heaven, therefore he spoke without restraint. “This minister admits the Empress Dowager is an exemplar among Great Jin women, but women as mother empresses often have a common problem, which is spoiling their children. Under the Empress Dowager’s spoiling, His Majesty has truly made no progress!”

Other ministers caught the Prince Regent’s meaning and immediately followed one after another.

“Even though we invited the venerable Master Ouyang out of retirement to personally teach His Majesty, it seems to have no effect.”

“According to palace maids in the Imperial Study, His Majesty sneaks out of the palace every afternoon for at least an hour or two. It’s simply outrageous.”

“His Majesty has so many tasks to do in a day—how can he still have time to sneak out of the palace to play? He’s truly been spoiled by the Empress Dowager.”

“A leopard cannot change its spots. His Majesty is truly too unruly…”

“This minister believes it’s not that His Majesty is unruly!” Nie Zhou stepped forward again. “Rather, those reading companions the Prince Regent selected for His Majesty are each more unruly than the last. One could say they’re all the least accomplished children of their families, yet they were selected to His Majesty’s side. As the saying goes, those near vermillion turn red, those near ink turn black. With His Majesty spending every day with these people, wouldn’t he pick up those people’s bad habits? This can’t be blamed on His Majesty. If we must blame someone, blame the Prince Regent for selecting the wrong reading companions for His Majesty!”

Chu Rui looked coldly at Nie Zhou.

This Nie Zhou was a Junior Preceptor personally promoted by Chu Yi at the very beginning of his time as Crown Prince. He still served in the Six Ministries—a second-rank minister holding real power.

This person was wholeheartedly loyal to Yun Chu, truly a fine blade in Yun Chu’s hands.

Nie Zhou charged forward, while Yun Ze, the elder brother, planned in the shadows, keeping Yun Chu secure in the Empress Dowager’s position.

What if… this blade were broken?