My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 67

Chapter 67: The Plan

Emperor Pingjing looked at Song Changxu.

Song Changxu: “First, levy taxes on mining. The profits from the mountains and lakes belong to Your Majesty. Your Majesty has bestowed them upon the nobles and the imperial family. Now, it is appropriate to establish a clear mining law. All those who mine must first pay taxes to the government, and the taxes will be levied according to the output and the grade of the mine. In this way, the profits from the mines will not be leaked to private individuals, and the tax revenue can be used to fill the public treasury.”

Emperor Pingjing was surprised and made a mental note.

“Second, rectify the salt and iron monopoly. The profits from salt and iron are a major affair of the state. However, many officials have usurped this power, and there are many private leaks, which has led to the depletion of the national treasury. It is appropriate to strictly enforce the laws. All those who privately sell salt and iron will be severely punished. Those who are found to be corrupt will have their family property confiscated and returned to the national treasury, as a warning to others. In this way, the profits from salt and iron can be restored, and the trend of private selling can be stopped.

Third, maritime shipping and taxes. The Ningxing Dynasty has a well-developed maritime shipping industry, and merchants gather. It is appropriate to reform the old canal transport system, regulate the laws, and strictly select honest and capable officials to be in charge. All ships coming and going must be taxed, and the taxes will be levied according to the value of the goods and the tax rate. In this way, the profits from maritime shipping can be increased, and the revenue from maritime taxes can be abundant.

Fourth, rectify public property. The industries established by the court should be repaired and maintained in a timely manner to restore their profits. Moreover, the imperial family and the nobles now occupy a lot of public property. They are getting richer day by day, while the national treasury is getting more and more depleted. This is a problem of unequal distribution of wealth. It is appropriate to order the officials to investigate the public property. All those who have encroached upon or concealed it will have it returned to the government. The overly wealthy members of the imperial family and the nobles should also be restrained, so that wealth is not accumulated in private hands, and the national expenditure is not insufficient. Your Majesty should strictly enforce the laws, as a warning to others, so that the world will know the justice of the court and will not dare to act recklessly.

If these four policies are implemented in parallel, the national treasury can be filled, and the financial resources will be sufficient. I hope Your Majesty will consider and implement them.”

After Song Changxu had finished, he grew quiet. His heart was still trembling, but his face was calm.

Young and composed, with the virtue of a gentleman, an elegant demeanor, and a profound charm.

Emperor Pingjing was in a daze for a long time. He came back to his senses and personally helped Song Changxu up. His expression was stunned. He held Song Changxu’s hand.

“Do you know that no one has said these things to me, my dear minister?” Emperor Pingjing’s gaze was distant. “The ministers in the court are not fools. They may also know these things, but none of them have told me. They are concerned with their own interests, but have forgotten the interests of the world. They have replaced the public good with their own private interests. As an emperor, I look at the entire court and find that there is no one I can use.”

“I took a liking to your essay at first sight during the palace examination. It was bold and sharp. I need a person like this.”

Song Changxu knelt down. “You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

“I will think carefully about your words, my dear minister. More than these strategies, I am happier that you can trust me and tell me these things. I also promise you that I will protect you.”

Song Changxu’s life and property were tied to the emperor, but whose life and property were not?

He had already said his words. Song Changxu understood.

When it was time to leave, Song Changxu left the Panlong Hall with a calm heart.

Laifu brought a bowl of pear blossom paste. After Emperor Pingjing had had a few mouthfuls, he laughed. The gloom in his eyes dissipated a little, and he seemed very happy, as if the gloom of many years had brightened.

Emperor Pingjing put down his spoon. He sighed, “Finally, someone has shown their loyalty and sincerity to me. I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

He had ascended the throne at the age of ten. At that time, he was still a child and could only watch his mother, General Xiao, and Liu Wangsheng hold the power.

His mother had used him to seize power. He had survived in the cracks and could only study with Liu Wangsheng every day, being an ignorant puppet.

In his first imperial examination, he had chosen Bie Yu as the new top scorer. At that time, he had already tried his best to make Bie Yu a loyal minister.

He had gone against the pressure to make a poor scholar the new top scorer, but how had Bie Yu treated him? After he had reached a high position, he had turned around and defected to the Xiao family, making him, the emperor, look even more ridiculous.

This person knew that he had offended him and had asked the Xiao family to send him to Jingzhou to be a governor. Emperor Pingjing could not touch him now.

The hostility in Emperor Pingjing’s heart slowly subsided. He lowered his head and continued to review the memorials.

A young eunuch hurried in and said respectfully, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has invited you to the Shoukang Palace for dinner tonight.”

Emperor Pingjing’s gaze darkened. “I know.”

.

When Song Changxu returned home, Xu Zhizhou was embroidering a purse. He saw that the purse Song Changxu was using was old and wanted to embroider a new one for him.

“You’re back. I’m planning to embroider a lake-blue purse for you. Look, the one on your waist is already old.”

Song Changxu did not think it was old. He saw Xu Zhizhou at home and felt much more at ease. The grand ambitions and advice he had given in front of Emperor Pingjing had turned into fear.

His courage was so great. He really didn’t want his head.

Now, seeing Xu Zhizhou lowering his head to thread the needle, his hands slender and nimble, he said in a low voice, “I almost had my head chopped off by His Majesty.”

Xu Zhizhou suddenly looked up. “Huh?”

To discuss the imperial family and to have His Majesty deal with the nobles, ten heads would not be enough to be chopped off.

Xu Zhizhou put down his needle and thread, went behind Song Changxu, and lay on his back. “What you said is not true. How could you have annoyed His Majesty? You’re too bold.”

Song Changxu: “If I’m not bold, I can’t be the top scorer.”

“You’re talking nonsense again. Anyway, you have to be careful in front of His Majesty and not annoy him. Otherwise, the whole family will suffer with you. Then the money in our pockets will be gone before we can spend it, and we’ll be dead. If I die without having spent all the money I’ve saved, that would be the biggest loss in the world.”

Xu Zhizhou’s words pulled Song Changxu back into the world of daily necessities. He smiled warmly and held his hand. “I wouldn’t let you leave so early. We’ve said that we’ll have a good life in the future.”

Xu Zhizhou swung their held hands. He tilted his chin up and said, “Of course. I won’t live a life that’s not good.”

He said it so righteously that Song Changxu didn’t know what to say.

Hearing Song Changxu’s words, and seeing his expression, it seemed that there was no problem. With that, he was relieved and started to talk about his elder brother.

“My brother-in-law is really a flirt in the capital. I saw that ge’er had a noble air. He knew that my brother-in-law was already married. How could he still want to be entangled with him? It’s so shameless.”

After he had finished, he looked at Song Changxu. “You’d better not learn the bad things. I see that many officials have many concubines.”

Song Changxu smiled. “You see, I go to the imperial palace for work every day and come back as soon as I’m done. Where would I have the time to do such things? My brother-in-law is not necessarily that kind of person. You’ve misunderstood him too much.”

Xu Zhizhou became suspicious. “You and Xie Huaichuan are both men. When did your relationship become so good that you’re speaking up for him? Could it be that you two have some secret deal?”

“When I went to the capital for the exam, my brother-in-law gave me twenty taels of silver. Besides, I believe that my elder brother has good judgment. He has his reasons for taking a liking to my brother-in-law.”

Xu Zhizhou did not know about this. He still had a grudge against Xie Huaichuan. “If he can handle this matter well and not let my elder brother be wronged, I’ll have a better attitude towards him.”

After talking about his elder brother, Xu Zhizhou planned to go and look for a shop next, to open a Bobo Chicken business.

“I think we can wait a little longer for the house. We’ll do business first and earn more money, and then we’ll change houses.”

The two of them always discussed family matters.

Today, Song Changxu thought of his family and took his brush to write a letter. Xu Zhizhou sat down with his wet hair and said excitedly, “I also want to write to my family.”

Xu Zhizhou’s handwriting had a hint of Song Changxu’s, elegant and sharp. Song Changxu took a cloth and helped him to dry his hair.

The atmosphere between the two of them was warm. After Xu Zhizhou had finished writing, he obediently let him dry his hair. On the other side, in the Shoukang Palace, the atmosphere was tense. The palace attendants lowered their heads and looked at the bricks on the floor.

Emperor Pingjing had come for dinner. This time, Empress Dowager Xiao had also invited Xiao Yurong over. The three of them had a meal together.

“I have heard that Yongzhou and Youzhou have suffered disasters. You have sent officials to provide relief. This is a good thing, but you should choose your own trusted people. Ability is secondary. There are many who are insatiably greedy.”

Emperor Pingjing: “Mother, I have already taken over the government. The prime minister is teaching me about the affairs of the court. You don’t have to say any more. I also understand.”

The atmosphere in the Shoukang Palace grew quiet. Empress Dowager Xiao smiled. “The emperor has grown up. Then I won’t say any more.”

Xiao Yurong served a four-happiness meatball into the empress dowager’s bowl. “Mother, His Majesty has you in his heart. It’s just that the affairs of the court are trivial, so he may have spoken a little harshly.”

Emperor Pingjing was noncommittal. Empress Dowager Xiao took the opportunity to step down.

“Yurong is just coaxing me. I’ve seen you two children as childhood sweethearts. It seems that I’ve found a good marriage for His Majesty this time. It would be good if you two could have a child. The imperial family is declining. Yurong, you have to do your part to continue the family line.”

Emperor Pingjing sneered in his heart at the mention of children. If he were to have a child with the blood of the Xiao clan and the imperial family, his mother would surely find an opportunity to depose him and support a young emperor to the throne.

Hearing the empress dowager’s words, Xiao Yurong lowered his head shyly. He also wanted to have a child with His Majesty, so that the three of them could be together.

Empress Dowager Xiao smiled, pursing her lips. “Or we should choose some concubines to enter the palace. After all, His Majesty’s harem is still empty.”

Xiao Yurong’s heart tightened. He was the only one in His Majesty’s harem. If a newcomer really did come in, a trace of hostility flashed in his eyes.

But he could not say anything about this matter. Emperor Pingjing thought to himself, Mother is trying to stuff some spies, or some Xiao family members, into my harem again. She’s not even trying to hide it.

“No need, Mother. There have been floods and droughts in the court. I also want the palace to be frugal. If I were to take in concubines right away, it would be a waste of manpower and resources, and it would not be appropriate. Also, you are getting old, Mother. You should be enjoying your old age. This time, to save on the palace’s expenses, Yurong will help you.”

The emperor was trying to seize her power.

Empress Dowager Xiao smiled and nodded. “Then we’ll do as the emperor says. This old bone of mine should be enjoying my old age. The one I’m most worried about is the Xiao family. For my sake, the emperor should also give the Xiao family some face.”

Emperor Pingjing’s heart stirred. “If the Xiao family is law-abiding, I will naturally be mindful of our relationship. If not, then I will not be able to answer to the world.”

Empress Dowager Xiao sighed.

Emperor Pingjing and Xiao Yurong left. The two of them went to the Fengyang Palace. As soon as they entered, Xiao Yurong wrapped his arms around Emperor Pingjing’s neck, with a coquettish and charming appearance, his beautiful face like a datura flower, his breath like an orchid.

Some of the palace attendants blushed and did not dare to look at the emperor and empress. Xiping bowed, led the palace attendants out of the palace, and closed the door, not disturbing the emperor and empress.

Emperor Pingjing’s eyes darkened. Xiao Yurong had already kissed him.

He held Xiao Yurong’s waist and said, “Yurong, I want to levy taxes on the mines. I’ll need your help.”

Xiao Yurong: “Whatever Your Majesty says, I will do.”

He knew at once that Emperor Pingjing was worried about the national treasury. He also knew about the matter of the national treasury. This time, His Majesty had made the old lady lose face in front of the empress dowager and had given him the power of the harem.

This time, he would do a good job. As for the mines, he would find an excuse to let those imperial and noble ladies know their place.

Xiao Yurong kissed Emperor Pingjing’s Adam’s apple. “Then Your Majesty must also promise me one thing.”

“Go on.”

“For my father’s birthday, Your Majesty will go with me. I’m a little scared to go alone. Without Your Majesty by my side, others will still speculate whether I have fallen out of favor.”

Emperor Pingjing smiled and agreed. “I promise you.”

He had originally wanted to give the Xiao family a warning, but now he thought that it was not yet time. He should be rectifying the court now. If the Xiao family were sensible, it would not be impossible to let them go. If they still wanted to overstep their authority, then he would have to be ruthless.

Emperor Pingjing was in a good mood today and accompanied Xiao Yurong, touching his cheek and carrying him in his arms.

One Xiao Yurong was already giving him a headache. If his mother were to put more people in the harem, he would be annoyed to death.

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: My wife. [Dog with a rose in its mouth]

Little Xu: Money begets money. [Pats head]