nycdaug Chapter 170 So what if I refuse?
Chapter 170 So what if I refuse?
The Minister of Revenue and the Director of the Orphanage were staring at Yan Wanwan in a daze, their faces filled with astonishment and confusion.
The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness and confusion, and for a moment they didn't know how to break the awkward silence.
It took a long time for the Minister of Revenue to recover. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. He took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, "County Master Yan, you're going too far! Do you think we dare to forge an imperial decree? This is a heinous crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of our clan!"
His eyes were fixed on Yan Wanwan, as if he wanted to find a trace of trust on her face.
Yan Wanwan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a subtle sneer. She nodded solemnly, her eyes filled with suspicion and disdain. "It's hard to say. In this world, people will do anything for profit. As the Minister of Revenue, it's your responsibility to resettle those refugees. It's not for a woman like me to worry about the affairs of the imperial court."
She tilted her head slightly, folded her hands across her chest, and looked as if it had nothing to do with her.
"County Lady Yan, how could you think like that!"
The Minister of Revenue's brows knitted into the shape of a "川" character, veins bulging on his forehead. His tone was filled with pleading, "This is absolutely the emperor's order. Even if we had the courage to do so, we wouldn't dare to defy the emperor! Nanping Prefecture is short of manpower right now. If you accept these refugees, you can solve the shortage problem while also alleviating the court's worries. This is a win-win situation! I hope the county lady can put the overall situation first."
He clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, his eyes full of anticipation.
After hearing this, Yan Wanwan's mockery deepened. She glared at the Minister of Revenue with disdain and snorted, "Hmph! That's easy for you to say. To me, those refugees are just a bunch of bandits. I can recruit people myself and find loyal people who suit my taste. As for them... I'm afraid that if I give them even a little bit of power, they'll massacre the city. I don't want to invite wolves into my house and bring myself unnecessary trouble."
She put her hands on her hips, her eyes revealing a firm rejection.
The Minister of Revenue was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He paced back and forth, rubbing his hands constantly, "County Lady Yan, you can't be so stubborn! This is the will of the emperor. If you disobey, it will be a crime of disrespect! By then, I'm afraid even you won't be able to bear the consequences." There was a hint of threat in his voice, but also helplessness.
Yan Wanwan remained unmoved. She narrowed her eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in them. "So what if it's disrespectful? I only act according to my own will and will not be bound by this so-called decree. If you use the decree of the emperor to pressure me again, don't blame me for being rude."
Her tone was so cold that it seemed as if the air around them had frozen. A chill surrounded the two of them, making them sweat profusely.
Seeing Yan Wanwan was so stubborn, the Minister of Revenue was at a loss. He was extremely anxious and quickly winked at the director of the orphanage, indicating that he should say a few words quickly. If he failed to complete the task, he would be in trouble when he returned.
However, before the director of the orphanage could even speak, Yan Wanwan immediately ordered them to leave. Her expression was cold and her tone was stiff. "If you two have nothing else to say, please return! This county lady is very busy and has no interest in entertaining outsiders."
The two were speechless for a moment, and they thought in their hearts: She is so unreasonable, no wonder the emperor regards her as a serious threat.
Seeing that the two men had no reaction and were still standing there unmoved, Yan Wanwan suddenly felt that it was a waste of time to waste words with them, so she simply stopped talking and ordered the servants in the mansion to "invite" the two men out of the County Lord's Mansion.
The Minister of Revenue and the Director of the Orphanage were half-pushed and half-invited out of the County Lady's Mansion by the servants. They stood outside the mansion, looking at the tightly closed vermilion gate, feeling unwilling and helpless.
The cold wind blew by, making their clothes rustle and making the sorrow in their hearts even stronger.
"What should I do?"
The Minister of Revenue sighed deeply, his face filled with worry. "If we go back and report like this, the Emperor will surely be furious, and we won't be able to save our heads."
There was a hint of despair in his voice and his eyes were full of anxiety. What was supposed to be a sure success was ultimately thwarted by a woman.
The director of the orphanage frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Sir, in my opinion, Princess Yan isn't truly unafraid of the consequences of disobeying the order. She simply has her own agenda. We must find a way to make her understand that accepting refugees will actually benefit her more than it will harm her."
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue's eyes flashed with hope, and he asked anxiously, "Does the Director have any good ideas? Tell us quickly."
The director of the orphanage pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I've heard that County Master Yan runs quite a few shops in Nanping Prefecture, and her business is thriving, with numerous properties under her name. Nanping Prefecture is currently short of manpower, and although those refugees may be of low status, with a little training, they can become cheap labor. If we can persuade County Master Yan from this perspective, perhaps she'll change her mind."
The Minister of Revenue's eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly, "This is a brilliant plan! But County Lady Yan is always stubborn. How can we convince her of our words?"
The director of the orphanage raised his lips slightly, revealing a confident smile. "Don't worry, Your Excellency, I have a plan. Tomorrow, we will bring some documents detailing the number, age, and physical condition of the refugees, along with a detailed resettlement plan, and personally deliver it to County Master Yan. At the same time, we will promise her that the court will provide her with a certain amount of subsidies and support to help her resettle the refugees. I don't believe she won't be tempted."
After hearing this, the Minister of Revenue immediately understood. He patted the director of the orphanage on the shoulder and said gratefully, "Director, you are indeed very resourceful. This matter depends entirely on you. As long as you can convince County Master Yan, we can return and report to the Emperor."
After the two men had finished their discussion, they left in a hurry.
Inside the county lady's residence, dusk quietly climbed up the carved window lattices, tinting the study room with a sense of darkness.
Yan Wanwan was wearing a plain long gown and sitting upright in front of the desk in the study, with a cool aura around her.
Her slender fingers rested lightly on the edge of the table, her expression focused as she listened attentively to the subtle "feedback" from the plants in front of her.
When she learned that the two men from the Minister of Revenue had not given up and were trying to force her to submit, a sarcastic sneer appeared on her lips and a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.
So what if it was an imperial edict? Even if it came in person, symbolizing the supreme imperial power, Yan Wanwan would never compromise easily.
Yan Wanwan raised her hand and gently stroked the emerald green leaves of the plant in front of her. Her movements were filled with a touch of pity. Her voice was clear, yet cold and imbued with unquestionable authority: "Have you found any clues about that man in black? What are his origins?"
The study was so quiet that one could hear the sound of breathing. Only the flickering candlelight on the desk cast a hazy shadow of her figure on the wall.
The plant stilled for a moment under her touch, then slowly shook its head, its leaves trembling slightly, as if conveying a message of helplessness. Clearly, there was still no clue as to the news of the man in black.
Seeing this, Yan Wanwan frowned slightly and sighed inwardly. She looked up, her gaze deep and solemn, at the gradually darkening sky outside the window. She spoke softly, her tone tinged with caution, "From now on, keep a close eye on that person's whereabouts. I have a feeling he's no good, so be careful."