"Then tell me—why can't the so-called guild master be corrupt?"
Ye Qing'an immediately seized on the weak point.
"Besides, aside from the guild master, it doesn't seem like the ordinary merchants get any benefit from this arrangement either. Most critically, the amount of tax collected appears to be entirely in their hands."
"Then we start by identifying the root of the issue."
Yun Shu raised herself as an example.
"Look at me. Even as a princess, when I first opened Tian Waitian Restaurant, I still had to bring Father Emperor into it. And why was that? Because I was worried someone might come after me. So I needed a powerful backer.
Those merchants' positions aren't even as high as me. If they wish to do good business, would they not also need protection?"
"Your Highness means..."
Ye Qing'an caught on quickly.
"The guild serves as their backer?"
"Exactly."
Yun Shu lightly clapped her hands, nodding in approval.
"Grand Preceptor Ye, imagine this: If you were a merchant, and every year you had to offer bribes to local officials and noble families, smile obsequiously, even if business went poorly one year, the tributes still couldn't stop.
And if you happened to run into a particularly greedy one, it would be like feeding a bottomless pit. You'd have no choice but to comply, because the moment you offended them, your business would be finished.
But then, the court establishes a merchant guild. All you have to do is join, pay a portion of your earnings as dues, and in return you receive the guild's protection. If any corrupt official dares to exploit you, you can even bring the matter to the guild leader, who can report directly to the throne.
On top of that, the guild leader is replaced every three years and chosen through open election by all members of the local guild.
That means, only someone supported by the majority of merchants can take that seat.
Including you—it's not out of the question.
Now tell Me, would you refuse to join?"
"Of course not!" Ye Qing'an responded without hesitation.
"Then that solves the issue of merchants being unwilling to participate."
Yun Shu nodded.
"Now the next challenge is figuring out how to make the guild hand over as much tax revenue as possible.
As I said earlier—since merchants are driven by profit, show them the profit."
She once again held herself up as an example.
"Grand Preceptor Ye, didn't you promise I wouldn't have to write any essays just to encourage Me to develop new innovations?
As long as the merchants see that paying more tax brings them tangible benefits, do you still think they'll be reluctant?"
"But what benefits could come from paying more tax..." Ye Qing'an frowned reflexively, but something clicked. His eyes lit up.
"Salt permits!"
He turned swiftly toward Emperor Xuanwu and bowed.
"Your Majesty, the court could use salt permits as incentive!
Award salt permit purchasing rights to the merchants who pay the most in taxes. Moreover, the guild that pays the highest total could receive extra quotas..."
In these times, both salt and iron were under imperial control. No one could legally trade salt without a permit issued by the state.
And because the salt trade was immensely profitable—virtually guaranteed to earn money—every merchant with means longed to obtain one.
"Ye Aiqing's proposal is indeed workable," Emperor Xuanwu nodded slightly.
"Yet even so, this would mainly appeal to powerful, well-established merchants. There are still many small traders who know they could never hope to win a salt permit."
"Then what about discounted paper?"
Yun Shu offered casually, "Even though it's cheap, the profit margins remain quite high.
If all merchants within the guild that pays the most tax gain rights to sell low-cost paper, wouldn't that tempt the smaller merchants too?"
"Her Highness speaks truly."
Prompted by her remark, Ye Qing'an's thoughts raced ahead.
"In fact, beyond these incentives, every new innovation developed by the court that can be distributed via merchants can serve as rewards for the merchant guilds.
It'll not only encourage higher tax payments, but also help disseminate new products faster across the empire—a win on both fronts."
"Excellent," Emperor Xuanwu praised.
With the right line of thought, the objections raised by the court ministers earlier that morning regarding the new commercial tax now all seemed easily resolvable.
The Emperor and Ye Qing'an were now deep in discussion, their enthusiasm only growing. Yun Shu, having gone quiet, was completely forgotten by the pair.
It wasn't until Emperor Xuanwu grew hungry and sought some pastries to tide himself over that he finally noticed the empty tray—and Yun Shu still munching the final half-piece in her hand.
Emperor Xuanwu: "?"
"Hungry?"
"I was, a moment ago. Not anymore."
Swallowing the last of the pastry, Yun Shu rubbed her now slightly overfull stomach and rose slowly.
"Father Emperor, is there anything else You require of Your daughter?
May I return now?"
"What's the rush?"
To be allowed inside the imperial study and sit in on state affairs—this was an honor even the Crown Prince would be desperate for.
Yet here she was, having sat through the whole thing doing nothing but snacking.
And now that she was full, she was just itching to leave?
What, was the imperial study burning her feet?
Emperor Xuanwu gave a sharp snort.
"Everything We discussed just now with Minister Ye—did you take it all in?"
"..."
Yun Shu paused, eyes drifting slightly.
"Would You prefer the truth or a pleasant lie?"
The Emperor's expression did not change. "A pleasant lie."
"Then Your daughter listened closely," Yun Shu said dutifully, lying as instructed.
"Not a word missed."
Which, naturally, meant she hadn't heard a single thing.
Emperor Xuanwu was practically amused to the point of exasperation.
"Who was it again, standing proudly at the New Year's Eve palace banquet, declaring that they would solve the issue of wasteland cultivation?
What's your great plan—just sit back and let others handle the work while you wait for the results?"
"Didn't I just offer ideas?" Yun Shu argued.
"But Father Emperor, You know I only have a bit of cleverness—and a relatively fresh perspective. That's why I can sometimes come up with creative ideas.
But as for court governance—I really don't understand a thing.
I did try to listen earlier, I swear, but it might as well have been written in the stars for all I could follow."
"That's because you haven't listened enough."
Emperor Xuanwu had heard enough of her excuses.
He now saw clearly that this little scamp of his wasn't just clever—she was unnaturally clever.
But she was lazy. Utterly lazy.
The sort of child who, if left alone, would remain comfortably idle forever. But give her one solid push—and she might just astonish the world.