You Are Selfish
Princess Jade Hayes declared firmly, "My mind is made up. There’s no need for further discussion."
Mia Qian, nearly frantic, gritted her teeth and said, "If I enter the palace, officials from all regions will immediately deliver their tax revenues, and the Qian family will wholeheartedly support His Majesty. You—what you’re doing is neglecting the court and being selfish!"
Princess Jade Hayes looked calmly at Mia Qian and said, "Miss Mia, please mind your words and manners. Don’t forget you’re speaking to the Queen of Qin!"
Quentin Qian tugged at Mia Qian’s sleeve from the side, and only then did Mia Qian realize she’d lost her composure in her desperation after being rejected.
Snapping back to her senses under Princess Jade Hayes’s gaze, Mia Qian had no choice but to assume a subordinate’s posture, lowering her head. "I—I’ve overstepped. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"You may leave." Princess Jade Hayes regarded the pair coolly, her expression indifferent.
"You—you really don’t want the silver? Don’t want to build the academies?" Quentin Qian was unnerved by Princess Jade Hayes’s firm stance.
Princess Jade Hayes smiled faintly at the Qian family members and said, "As for the silver, I’ve already said Chancellor Evans has her own way. There’s no need for Lord Qian to worry."
The Qian clan elders reluctantly left Chancellor Evans’s study.
All the way back, Mia Qian stomped her feet and twisted her handkerchief, fuming, "Hmph! With our Qian family’s officials backing us, as long as Grandpa doesn’t give the word, the regional taxes will never be collected! The Qin treasury will always be strapped for cash, and nothing will get done! Sooner or later, His Majesty will get anxious and blame Princess Jade Hayes. One day, she’ll come begging me to enter the palace!"
Quentin Qian said, "That’s right, Mia—be patient. Grandpa will talk to His Majesty in the next few days. The King’s been fretting over how local officials aren’t cooperating with the central government. Next month is the Grand Court Assembly, where all the officials will be summoned. It’s the first time since His Majesty became King of Qin that he’ll gather everyone. If the officials refuse to show up, His Majesty will be humiliated and will surely blame Queen Lily of Qin."
Mia Qian clung to Quentin Qian’s arm, urging, "Grandpa, you must convince those officials not to attend the Grand Court Assembly. Our Qian family needs to make sure the King sees that only by allying with us can he rule Qin smoothly. As for that useless village girl, all she does is squander money on pointless academies! She’s good for nothing!"
"Yes, yes, she’s just a village girl—what use could she possibly have? Our Miss Mia is far more capable!" Quentin Qian laughed.
===
Public Works Department
Nathan Ye, Minister of Public Works, sat at his desk, calculating the latest project estimates. As he worked, he scratched his head so vigorously that several hairs fell out, making him look even balder.
Just as Nathan Ye was absorbed in his calculations, a stack of files slammed onto his desk, startling him.
"Hey, can’t you see I’m busy? Who’s making trouble?" Nathan Ye complained as he looked up—only to see Princess Jade Hayes standing before him. He jumped up, "Chancellor Evans! Is this about the academy budget I submitted? Please, have a seat!"
Princess Jade Hayes plopped down and stared at Nathan Ye’s shiny head. "Minister Ye, I need you to redo the academy budget."
"Huh? Redo it? Didn’t Chancellor Evans and His Majesty already approve this budget?" Nathan Ye asked in surprise.
Princess Jade Hayes sighed, looking at Nathan Ye. "The budget was approved, yes, but... the state treasury is far more depleted than expected. Let’s not beat around the bush—Qin has no money. The academy budget needs to be cut and redone."