1150: Diamond Rings, Biographies of Famous Ministers and Scholars (Part One) [Please Vote for the Monthly Ticket]

The aura Xun Zhen unleashed at that moment startled even Shen Tang. As one side rose, the other fell; with Xun Zhen's momentum surging, Shen Tang's own confidence wavered a little. "Hanzhang, Hanzhang, don't rush! I'm not saying I really don't want the money. It's just... I just can't bring myself to take it... Of course, if it's for all of you, I can suffer a little embarrassment. It's... not a big problem."

Shen Tang gave ground to gain the advantage, and Xun Zhen's temper cooled rapidly.

His face was full of difficulty, and his heart ached.

As a subject, he naturally didn't want to force his Sovereign to do something she didn't want to do. She had already sacrificed plenty in other ways. Shen Tang's words made Xun Zhen's conscience ache so badly, he could have woken in the middle of the night to repent. "If the Sovereign really doesn't want to..."

Xun Zhen forced himself to steel his heart.

"...The deworming medicine and diamond projects both sound promising. If we invest our effort and manage them carefully, perhaps we'll see returns in two or three years. At worst, we can tighten our belts for the next couple of years..." In this world, as long as you didn't starve to death, there was hope. They didn't necessarily have to live prosperous, comfortable lives. The Kang Country Royal Court and its people were tightly united; they could get by even if they tightened their belts.

Seeing miserly Xun Zhen like this, Shen Tang's Schrödinger's conscience ached too. She wondered why she cared so much about her reputation. After fighting two wars, one against the Northern Desert and one against Gao Country, everyone in the Ministry of Revenue was having a hard time. Xun Zhen had to fight alongside the army