Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 43: My Most Failed Work (Please Read On and Vote!)

What is the motto of the Nameless Academy? It's to do things as outrageously as possible. This is because Wang Xi and his group started this academy so that students wouldn't have to study. If they claimed to be providing proper education, it would be exhausting to pretend and would be easy to be exposed.

Wang Xi's goal was to first break the bottom line, and once the elders got used to it, they wouldn't interfere with what he did in the future.

Cui Gu'er and his friends were extremely excited. This was the academy of their dreams! If every academy were like Wuming Academy, I would have become the top scholar long ago.

Those colleges are really misleading students.

They were also extremely engaged in things that interested them, and listened very attentively to Wang Xi's arrangements.

Wang Xi did not return home until the second watch of the night.

"Young Master is back."

Wang Facai waited respectfully at the door.

Wang Xi nodded slightly.

Wang Facai added, "The young master and his wife are still not resting; they are currently in the back hall."

Wang Xi was taken aback and asked in a low voice, "You're not waiting for me, are you?"

Wang Facai said, "It shouldn't be."

Wang Xi felt a little relieved. Since his parents were still awake, he naturally had to go and greet them.

Upon arriving at the backyard, Wang Xi saw candlelight indeed illuminating the back room. As he walked over, he vaguely saw a pair of long, slender legs clad in red fishnet stockings, swaying back and forth.

Wang Xi's eyes lit up immediately. Huh? Mother's legs don't seem to be this long. Could it be that Father has taken another concubine?

He leaned over again and peered intently inside.

"vomit!"

I gagged and almost threw up everything I had just eaten.

"who is it?"

A deep voice came from inside the room.

“Father, it’s your son.”

Wang Xi struggled to raise one hand.

A burly figure walked to the door; it was Wang Shouyi.

Wang Xi closed his eyes, bowed his head and said, "Father, your son has returned."

Wang Shouyi asked, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

"It's okay."

"Then why are your eyes closed?"

Damn it? You have the nerve to ask?

Wang Xi opened her eyes with difficulty, glanced at the red fishnet stockings under Wang Shouyi's body, and felt her stomach churning.

"Why doesn't the sparrow come in?"

Before he could finish speaking, Princess Xue arrived at the door.

"Mother, you're here too!"

Wang Xi glanced down instinctively and saw that Princess Xue was wearing a ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), looking elegant and proper. What was going on? Had the world turned upside down?

"Didn't you hear what your mother said? Come in and talk."

"Yes."

Upon entering the hall, Princess Xue asked, "Que'er, why are you so late?"

Wang Xi hurriedly replied, "Mother, the academy was busy with the entrance exams, so I came back late."

When he spoke, he tried his best to avoid looking at those dazzling red stockings; they were truly unbearable to look at!
I'm so disgusted!

Princess Xue did not suspect anything and said, "Sir is getting old, you must help him more."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "I understand."

Wang Shouyi suddenly lifted his leg and twisted it. "Que'er, what do you think of the socks your father is wearing?"

"what?"

Wang Xi stared at Wang Shouyi in shock. "Brother, you're a monster!"

Wang Shouyi frowned and said, "Why are you looking at your father like that?"

Wang Xi said, "Father, these socks aren't..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Shouyi said, "This was designed by His Majesty and your Empress Aunt."

"What?" Wang Xi asked, bewildered.

Wang Shouyi frowned and asked, "Do you have a problem with that?"

The murderous glint in his eyes was undisguised.

Wang Xi suddenly understood why Old Wang was so excited: "Was this designed by His Majesty and Aunt Empress?"

"Ah."

"Wow, this design is truly ingenious and wonderful."

Wang Xi couldn't help but say, "But... shouldn't this be for Mother to wear?"

Although these stockings aren't as sexy as his designs—no, not as thrifty—they're made with more material and are thicker, somewhat resembling pantyhose, but they still retain some of his previous fishnet stocking designs, with rings of embroidered patterns on the outside, which are quite eye-catching.

It doesn't look like something a man should wear.

"Sparrow, you're being ridiculous."

The one who spoke was actually Princess Xue.

Wang Xi stared at Princess Xue in shock.

Wang Shouyi also said, "How can a woman dress like this in public? It's indecent."

"???" Wang Xi felt her worldview shattered and said, "So this is for men to wear?"

"This is definitely for men."

Wang Shouyi chuckled and said, "Wearing these stockings, walking and riding are quite convenient."

Princess Xue said, "These red socks cannot be worn on ordinary days; they can only be worn on grand ceremonies."

Wang Xi imagined a group of ministers with long beards wearing dazzling fishnet stockings, standing before the altar to offer sacrifices.

Wow. That scene was so beautiful, I couldn't bear to look at it!
Wang Shouyi asked, "What? Do you think your father's clothes don't look good?"

As he spoke, he struck a pose.

It really proves the saying, "When a man gets cocky..."

Wang Xi nodded with difficulty and said, "It's beautiful! Of course it's beautiful! This was designed by His Majesty and his aunt, the Empress. How could it not be beautiful?"

Wang Shouyi chuckled and said, "You've got some good taste, kid. I've also prepared a set for you."

"what?"

Wang Xi almost bit her tongue. "Father, why don't you...why don't you prepare something for Mother first? I think Mother can still wear it inside!"

Wang Shouyi said, "You don't need to worry about your mother. She was specially prepared for you."

Wang Xi immediately realized that he must have been prepared, but the one he designed was the men's version, while this one was for men.

OMG!

Wang Shouyi added, "Try wearing it first. If you feel any discomfort, tell your father, and he will have it improved."

Wang Xi finally understood; the girl was asking him for advice.

After all, he was the real inventor.

Back inside, there was indeed a set of green stockings on the bedside table—damn, a matching set! The only difference was that the top had changed from a woman's sexy lingerie set to a vest.

Wang Xi was on the verge of tears, wondering where things had gone wrong and how things had turned out this way.

Even if it meant death, Wang Xi would never wear it.

He initially planned to cut it with scissors, then thought about burning it, but ultimately stuffed it at the very bottom of the wardrobe, unable to bear looking at it any longer.

However, the culprit behind all this is currently discussing political affairs with Prime Minister Zhang Shuo and Yuwen Rong, an official in the Ministry of War.

Is Your Majesty tired?

Seeing Li Longji sitting on the dragon throne, occasionally swinging his legs, Zhang said with concern, "It's getting late, why don't we discuss this again tomorrow?"

"Can't you all see my masterpiece?" Li Longji waved his hand listlessly and said, "I am not tired yet, let's continue."

But he didn't even consider that no one would tilt their head and look down at his crotch for no reason; that would be perverted.

Zhang said he didn't have that kind of hobby, and continued, "Although His Majesty has given great leniency to those who have gone into hiding, stipulating that as long as they surrender themselves within a hundred days, they will not only be exempt from punishment, but also from six years of rent, labor service and tax, and will only be charged 1,500 cash in poll tax."

However, this decree was too hasty and contradicted many existing practices, making it difficult for various prefectures and counties to implement. Furthermore, if it took more than one hundred days, severe penalties would be imposed, causing the people to suffer even more.

The most pressing task for the Tang Dynasty at present is finance, as both civil administration and military achievements require money.

The biggest problem with the treasury is land consolidation and the surge in unregistered households. Yuwen Rong offered a solution: to address the root cause by strictly investigating land and household registration.

Li Longji had already given the order last year.

"Fleeing households in prefectures and counties shall surrender themselves within one hundred days. They may either register in the local government or be granted permission to return to their hometowns, as they wish. Those who fail to surrender within the time limit shall be subject to investigation and exile to border prefectures. Anyone who dares to harbor or protect them shall be punished."

However, the results were not good. A hundred days had passed, and if they were found out at this point, they would be severely punished, so the people were even more afraid to go out.

Zhang said that the order was too hasty and difficult to implement.

Yuwen Rong replied, "This is not due to the urgency of the order, but rather to the lack of accountability among many officials, who outwardly comply but inwardly defy it, which has led to ineffective implementation."

Zhang said somewhat annoyed, "It's already beneath my dignity to discuss matters with you, little Karami, and now you're opposing my opinion." He continued, "It's not something that happened overnight. It's understandable that officials have some concerns. The key point is that it's the common people who will ultimately be punished."

Then he said to the emperor, "Your Majesty's original intention was to implement benevolent governance, but if it is not implemented properly, it will turn into tyranny. Throughout history, there have been countless examples of this. I believe that the court should continue to persuade the people and officials to have more time."

Yuwen Rong was also displeased and said to Li Longji, "Your Majesty, this matter involves many interests. If we do not severely punish those involved, no one will be able to carry it out."

Li Longji was also very conflicted.

Whoever annexes the land, and whose name the unregistered households are all under, is the ruling class. If they are not punished, who will enforce the law? But if they are ruthlessly eliminated, it is the common people who will ultimately suffer.

After careful consideration, Li Longji said, "I can issue another edict to explain the reasons, but at the same time I will also send more people to various prefectures and counties to urge them on. This matter cannot be delayed indefinitely."

This was a compromise, and both Zhang Shuo and Yuwen Rong agreed with it.

Li Longji suddenly seemed to remember something, "Do you two still remember that day at the banquet, when Wang Shouyi proposed an education reform that would allow people to own property?"

Zhang nodded and said, "Of course I remember."

Li Longji said, "Recently, the Prince of Sipu submitted another memorial, further elaborating on this point. He stated that land annexation can only be limited, not completely eradicated. Furthermore, even if the hidden households return to their registered places, the population will increase, but the land will remain unchanged, which will also be unsustainable."

Therefore, he believed that the court should take precautions and formulate laws to protect the rights and interests of artisans, tenant farmers, and even retainers, so that these people could also pay taxes for the court.

Of course, he was referring to educational reform, suggesting that these issues should be incorporated into the imperial examination system to select suitable talent and lay the foundation for future reforms.

Zhang Shuo and Yuwen Rong both expressed their agreement.

If we were to implement it immediately, they would definitely oppose it; there are too many vested interests involved, and there's no basis for its implementation. But if we're talking about education reform, which has a long time horizon, then of course it's feasible.

The key issue is that they don't have many solutions to the persistent problem of land consolidation.

Seeing that both of them agreed, Li Longji said, "I also agree. The position of Minister of Rites is currently vacant, so I will..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang said immediately, "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, there has been no precedent of a member of the imperial clan or a relative of the emperor being appointed as a minister."

This was proposed by Yao Chong, and Li Longji has continued to follow it to this day; it is an unwritten rule.

Li Longji asked cautiously, "Then let him be the Vice Minister of Rites, in charge of education reform, while Han Xiu will be in charge of all other matters of the Ministry of Rites."

In fact, Zhang Yue was somewhat unwilling to become the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but if he was only in charge of education, his power would be very limited.

Zhang then stopped objecting.

Yuwen Rong, meanwhile, was deep in thought, his brows lowered.

(End of this chapter)