Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 157 Wei Sanlang's Wedding, Qi Heng Names Him
But what could she do? The older girl excelled in everything, and she was even better at charming people than she was.

Not to mention Old Madam Wang, even Grand Tutor Wang, who is known for his fairness and impartiality, had to pay more attention to Wang Ruoyu.

Looking at herself, she used to favor Hualan more than her two daughters, Hualan and Rulan.

"They're ultimately doing this for your own good," Wang Ruofu said reluctantly.

Hua Lan sighed softly, "If you really care about me, you should stop stirring up trouble in front of you, Mother."

On the other side, in Ninghui Palace, Minglan was curled up in bed taking a nap, her breathing light and even.

When Xiaotao and Danju saw the old lady arrive, their faces lit up with joy. They wanted to go up and wake Minglan, but the old lady quickly waved her hand, signaling them to be quiet.

Then, with the help of her mother, she tiptoed closer to Minglan.

Just as he bent down to look at Minglan's sleeping face, the person in the quilt seemed to sense it, her eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Upon seeing the figure in front of the bed, the drowsiness in Minglan's eyes instantly vanished.

She sat up with a start, her voice still soft and sleepy, "Grandmother!"

"I originally thought you were going to stay with your older sister for a while longer!"

The old lady had a kind and indulgent smile on her face. "It's this late and you're still sleeping. When will you ever get rid of this habit of oversleeping?"

"You two girls didn't even try to advise her, just letting her be so lazy in bed."

Upon hearing this, Danju and Xiaotao exchanged a glance and gave two dry laughs.

Danju said softly, "Doesn't the old lady know Her Highness's temperament? I could talk myself hoarse and still not wake her up."

Minglan nestled into the old lady's arms. "I didn't mean to be lazy. Yesterday I spent most of the day strolling in the Imperial Garden with Sister Yanran and Consort Wei."

"After returning, I went to Sister Shulan's place to play with the little princess for a while. As soon as my head hit the pillow at night, I was so sleepy that I couldn't keep my eyes open."

"Grandmother, how have you been at home these days?"

The old lady gently put her arm around her shoulder, "Everything is fine, as are your mother and Brother Liu."

“A few days ago, your Aunt Wei came to the capital and made a special visit to us. She was preparing to help your uncle buy a house in the capital.”

In her view, with Wei Ling's skills and strategies, the Wei family would be able to gain a foothold in the capital within ten years at most.

I am already nearly seventy years old. I have taken off my shoes and socks today, but I don't know if I will be able to put them back on tomorrow. I have no idea how much longer I can protect Minglan.

She knew Sheng Hong's personality very well.

If Minglan encounters trouble in the future, even if Wei Shuyi still has a protective heart for his son, without power to rely on, he will not wholeheartedly care for her.

Wang Ruofu could only be said to have never harbored any ill intentions towards her illegitimate children.

Of all the children I've raised over the years, besides Hualan, only Minglan truly suits my taste.

Therefore, seeing that Minglan had someone to rely on, she was naturally happy as well.

"That's wonderful, Grandmother!"
"Speaking of which, my uncle is already of marriageable age. I wonder what kind of aunt he will find in the future."

As Minglan was being helped by Xiaotao to put on her outer robe, she began to speak.

The old lady sat on the soft couch by the window, smiling as she said, "Marriage is preordained by heaven. When Wei Sanlang returns to the capital, we'll ask him if he has a girl he likes."

“If he doesn’t have a clear idea in his mind, your grandmother knows several good young ladies in the capital who are still unmarried.”

Upon hearing this, Minglan, without even putting on her shoes and socks, staggered over and sat down beside the old lady.

"Grandmother, why don't you tell me first!"

The old lady was amused by her anxious appearance and raised her hand to tap her forehead.

According to etiquette, Minglan should not interfere in Wei Ling's marriage.

However, the Wei family had lived in Yangzhou for a long time and had just gained power, so they naturally knew nothing about the backgrounds of the noble and official families in the capital.

Unlike Lin Qinshuang, Wei Shuyi did not like to send people around to inquire about other people's affairs.

Therefore, if we really want to find a good marriage for Wei Ling, we have to ask her and Minglan to check first.

"The girl under your sister Yanran's fourth uncle's nose, I think she's quite good."

"Sister Yanrong?" Minglan blinked.

The old lady smiled and nodded. Although Uncle Yu the Fourth had never taken the imperial examinations to become an official, he was fond of music, calligraphy, and painting, and was a well-known scholar in the capital.

He only had one daughter, Yu Yanrong, so he naturally taught her personally from a young age. She was not proficient in poetry, songs, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she was well-educated, reasonable, and gentle.

The Great Zhou Dynasty valued literature over military affairs. As a military general, Wei Ling's marriage alliance with the Yu family would greatly benefit his reputation and image.

"Exactly."

"There is also the eldest daughter of the Bo Fu family of Changxing. I have heard people mention her eldest son before. He is a very good person, but he is a bit old-fashioned and rigid in his actions at a young age."

“When your fifth sister got married, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Changxing specially brought her to Shouan Hall to pay her respects. I thought she was very proper and her appearance was also first-rate.”

Minglan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said softly, "There were many people at Shou'an Hall that day. I caught a glimpse of her from afar and I do have some impression of the third young lady of the Fu family."

"Thank you, Grandmother. With you overseeing things in the future, Uncle will be very reassured."

The old lady smiled slightly, then stared intently at Minglan, looking her up and down.

Minglan rested her chin on her hands, bringing her face even closer, her voice soft and sweet.

"Grandmother, I haven't lost weight, I've actually gained some."

Danju smiled and said, "Grandma, please rest assured. The Emperor treats the Empress very well. He not only cares for her well-being but also often comes to dine with her."

"This servant thinks that even ordinary husbands outside treat their wives no better than this."

"Grandmother, please rest assured. From now on, you can focus all your attention on Quan-ge'er," Minglan echoed.

The old lady took her hand and gently stroked it before nodding in relief.

-

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Han Zhang stepped forward respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, your subject has consulted with the other officials and reviewed in detail the list of officials who have been granted hereditary privileges over the past ten years."

"We believe that the threshold for civil officials to be granted hereditary positions should be raised, changing the original seventh rank to the third rank or above."

"The sons of military officers in the court must pass an examination in riding and archery; those who pass can be granted official positions."

"As for how much the number of hereditary appointments will be reduced, I would like to ask Your Majesty to decide that personally."

Zhao Han's gaze darkened slightly, and he frowned as he said, "From this day forward, the hereditary privileges granted during the Tiansheng Festival will be abolished. Only civil officials of the third rank or above with outstanding performance records will be eligible to grant hereditary privileges to one son."

"Furthermore, the sons of those who are granted official positions through hereditary privilege must first study at the Imperial Academy for three years. After graduation, they must pass the selection and examination conducted by the Ministry of Personnel. Only those who pass the examination can be granted official positions."

"The sons of military officers must take exams in horsemanship, archery, and military strategy. Those who fail the first exam can take it again after three years. Those who fail the second exam will have their eligibility for hereditary appointment revoked and will have to find their own way out."

"From now on, no one shall be allowed to take charge of important affairs of the court except those who have been selected through the imperial examinations and have made real contributions!"

Upon hearing this, several court officials pondered it carefully.

Shen Shiqi cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, many sons of noble families in the court now rely on hereditary privilege to enter officialdom. Is it too harsh to tighten the restrictions now?"

Wang Anshi, who was to his left, gave a light hum and stepped forward, saying, "I think it's excellent!"

“In the past, the system of granting official positions through patronage was too lenient, leaving poor students with no way to serve the country.”

"The Emperor's strict rules are precisely a move to correct past mistakes and revitalize the country. How can they be considered harsh?"

“You…” Shen Shiqi choked up.

Zhao Han said gently, "Minister Shen, please don't be anxious. I know what I'm doing."

"The hereditary system was originally established to show consideration for meritorious officials. My move is not only beneficial to the court, but it will also encourage the sons of noble families to study diligently."

"Only by establishing oneself in the imperial court with genuine talent and learning can one continue the family's glory."

"Anyone who harbors resentment and makes baseless criticisms reveals their true intentions, and I will not let them off lightly!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Shiqi understood that Zhao Han had made up his mind. He cupped his hands and said, "Your subject understands."

A moment later, Zhao Han turned her gaze to Wang Anshi.

The problem of redundant officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty was deeply rooted. Tightening the regulations on hereditary appointments was only the first step. Reforms to the existing idle officials still needed to wait for the right opportunity.

But there is something that can be prepared right now.

"My dear Wang, I have an important matter that I intend to entrust to you."

Wang Anshi's heart stirred, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Your subject will certainly do his utmost, even at the cost of ten thousand lives, and will never fail Your Majesty's trust!"

"Investigate hidden plots in Gyeonggi Province!"

“However, this matter is somewhat tricky, as it will affect the interests of many powerful families. I wonder if you are capable of handling it?” Han Zhang and the others turned to look at Wang Anshi. The forces involved in Yintian were deeply intertwined, and a slight misstep could lead to trouble. It was not an easy task.

Wang Anshi straightened his back and said loudly, "I have already mentioned this matter in my memorials, and I only hope to have the opportunity to investigate it thoroughly."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Zhao Han stood up and said, "Very well! I entrust this matter to you!"

"Gu Qianfan, the commander of the Imperial City Detective Division, will protect your safety closely."

Since joining the Investigation Department, Gu Qianfan has been known for his impartiality and ruthless methods, leading some to privately call him the "Living Yama."

"I will do everything in my power to get this done!" Wang Anshi said excitedly, bowing respectfully.
Han Zhang and Shen Shiqi exchanged a glance, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's actions seem to be more than just investigating hidden land and replenishing the national treasury."

"Could it be that the Emperor intends to reform the land tax?"

Zhao Han nodded solemnly, "Not bad."

The Great Zhou Dynasty did not establish a land system and did not suppress land annexation.

Initially, it was to appease the meritorious officials and scholar-officials who followed Emperor Taizu, tacitly allowing them to possess land in order to stabilize the court.

However, over the years, this gradually led to a large number of wealthy gentry and officials owning vast amounts of land, and the number of displaced people gradually increased.

According to the tax system of the Great Zhou Dynasty, tenant farmers without land were not required to pay land taxes directly.

In order to evade taxes, wealthy gentry and officials who owned large tracts of land colluded with the government to secretly transfer their land to tenants, a practice known as "secretly transferring land under false names."

Some people falsely report dozens or even hundreds of fake names to distribute their family property under these names; this is called using false names to register households.

Although the imperial court had long been aware of this, it was unable to conduct a thorough investigation due to the wide-ranging implications.

Then, Zhao Han took out a document and handed it to Han Zhang.

Han Zhang looked puzzled, quickly stepped forward, and took it with both hands.

About an hour later, he gasped and looked up at Zhao Han in disbelief.

Upon seeing this, Shen Shiqi, Wang Anshi, and others couldn't help but gather around and examine the document closely.

"The poll tax will be incorporated into the land tax, and taxes will be levied according to the amount of land owned; those with more land will pay more, and those with less land will pay less!"

"If this move can be successfully implemented, it will not only enrich the national treasury, but also solve the existing problems of our dynasty's land tax."

"It will give displaced people a chance to regain their land and live a stable life," Han Zhang said excitedly, his heart pounding slightly.

After reading it, Shen Shiqi looked worried, saying, "Although it is a good policy that benefits the country and the people, it involves too many interests."

“The noble families in the capital, the local magnates, and even most of the officials in the court all own a considerable amount of land.”

“Once implemented, it will inevitably face opposition from many court officials, and may even unite to obstruct it.”

"Has Your Majesty thought this through?"

Zhao Han understood what he was worried about and said calmly, "If you want to innovate, there will inevitably be opponents."

"But for the long-term stability of the court, we have no choice but to do this."

"Let's start by investigating the hidden farmland in Gyeonggi Province. If that's effective, we can gradually expand the program."

"At that time, I will have another method to take advantage of the situation and solve the long-standing problem of redundant officials."

After several court officials left the Wenhua Hall.

Wang Anshi, without even saying goodbye to Shen Shiqi and the others, went straight home.

Inside the study, Wang Anshi frantically rummaged through the books and papers, leaving them scattered all over the floor.

Looking at his appearance, his wife, Madam Wu, frowned and asked, "What are you doing, sir?"

Lady Wu came from an official family; both her father and grandfather were Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). She and Wang Anshi had known each other since childhood and could be considered childhood sweethearts.

"I'm looking for a document I wrote before. I remember putting it here, but it's gone..."

Wang Anshi didn't lift his head, and continued searching as he spoke.

Madam Wu was very particular about cleanliness and could not tolerate even the slightest dirt in the room. She couldn't stand it anymore and instructed the maid behind her to help her search.

The documents were found shortly afterward.

Wang Anshi sat at his desk, looking at the proposal he had previously written for the court to reform land taxes, and gradually fell silent under the gaze of Madam Wu.

His original plan was to send officials to survey the land every autumn after the harvest, dividing it into sections of one thousand paces each in the east, west, south, and north.

Furthermore, considering the differences in soil fertility, the land was divided into five grades: superior, medium, inferior, barren, and saline-alkali, with each grade corresponding to a different tax standard.

The measurements were completed in March of the following year and made public.

When he wrote these words, he was quite pleased with himself, thinking they were very comprehensive and that he could present them to the emperor when the opportunity arose.

However, compared to the current government's proposal to merge land tax and poll tax, there are far too many shortcomings.

The annual land survey alone requires a huge amount of manpower and resources.

During this period, it was also extremely easy for wealthy and powerful families to collude with government officials, for officials to protect each other, and for data to be falsified.

After a long while, Wang Anshi looked up at the sky and sighed, leaving Madam Wu stunned.

"My lord, what has happened?"

He wiped his face haphazardly, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy, "It's nothing really."

"Compared to the Emperor, my strategies are truly like showing off one's limited skills before an expert!"

Madam Wu was puzzled.

After glancing at him, he turned and left with the maid, leaving Wang Anshi alone in the study.

-

At the Duke of Qi's mansion, the entire Qi family was still immersed in the joy of having a pair of twins, a boy and a girl.

In the back room, Princess Pingning looked at the baby in the cradle, her face glowing with happiness; it was rare to see her smile so broadly.

"Our family is having a son and a daughter at once, what a wonderful thing!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to the old woman beside her and asked, "Has the donation for incense oil at Yuqing Temple been made?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant has already taken care of everything."

Wearing a headband, Shen Hezhen sat gracefully on the soft couch, her face gentle and dignified.

"Mother, there's no need for such trouble. In the future, my husband will have many more children."

"It's not good for things to happen like this every time."

Upon hearing this, Princess Pingning immediately turned her gaze to Qi Heng.

"Heng-ge'er is a lucky man; he has never suffered much since childhood."

"Now that I've settled down and started a family, and have had a son and a daughter so quickly, I'm truly blessed by God."

During the time when Shen Hezhen was pregnant, she specially selected two concubines for Qi Heng who were of good birth and had a good reputation for bearing children.

Now that she has both legitimate sons and daughters, she naturally begins to hope that her two concubines can also become pregnant and carry on the Qi family line.

Qi Heng smiled gently and said softly, "Mother, have you and Father discussed the names of the two children?"

“Your father just told me yesterday that, according to the generational naming system, it should be the Ming generation.”

“Ming?” Shen Hezhen frowned.

When she first entered the manor, Qi Heng treated her quite coldly, and there was a chest hidden in the study that no one was allowed to touch.

She secretly inquired and learned that Qi Heng had always been hung up on Sheng Minglan, the sixth daughter of the Sheng family.

Although they were arranged according to generational names, she still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Qi Heng gently stroked the cloud pattern on the hem of his robe with his fingers. Now he was a court official, and the Sixth Miss Sheng had entered the palace as a concubine and was highly favored.

Even though he has now completely severed all ties with those past thoughts.

If any rumors or gossip spread because of this word in the future, it will surely bring trouble to the Qi family.

He looked up at Princess Pingning and said in a deep voice, "This word is not good."

Princess Pingning understood Qi Heng's meaning. She picked up her teacup, pondered for a moment, and said, "The character 'Ming' is followed by the character 'Zhang'."

“Let’s call him Hanzhang and Yuzhang.” After saying that, Qi Heng looked at Shen Hezhen.

Shen Hezhen smiled gently and exhaled a shallow breath. As long as the word "Ming" wasn't used, she felt fine.

(End of this chapter)