The princess' little concubine wants to reconcile [Rebirth]

"In the memorial presented by the Ministry of Households this winter, the taxes and silver taels of various places are actually less than 50 taels. The tax revenue has been so high year after year, and the national treasury has been unable to pay. What is the reason?" Jiang Changdai looked away calmly, and threw the memorial in her hand aside. Desk questions.

Among the six ministers, Liu Zhi, Minister of the Household Department, naturally felt the pressure and had to kneel aside and said: "In the past two years, the remnants of King Miqin, the wars and the chaos, the refugees fleeing and unintentional farming, that's why we can't collect taxes."

But the rest of the ministers were silent, Jiang Changdai took a sip of tea and saw the complete indifference of the four big families, she somewhat understood their attitude in her heart.

Although King Qin had been in control of the government in those years, other businesses such as salt and iron had been firmly controlled by the four major families since Jiang Tongjian's dynasty, and corruption was prevalent in the court. At stake.

Until the ministers left the side hall, the emperor also left, Liu Meier and Li Xueshi slowly set off to pack the documents.

The palace is not very warm. I heard that many areas suffered from snowstorms this winter, so the Eldest Princess ordered to save the palace's food, clothing, housing and transportation expenses. Even charcoal candles and other items in each palace have strict restrictions.

Heavy snow was pouring down non-stop, and Liu Meier's hands were freezing cold, these paper memorials piled up really weighed a lot.

"Li Xueshi thinks how to deal with the difficulty of tax collection?" Jiang Changdai held up the tea cup and looked at Li Ping.

Li Ping has served in the Imperial Academy for more than [-] years. He is calm and unassuming. He can be described as a wily fox.

In the past hundred years of the ancient Jiang Kingdom, the royal family has been fighting continuously. Li Ping has personally witnessed several Jiang Kingdom emperors resigning from power several times.

"Back to the eldest princess, my humble servant is stupid." Li Ping knew that the four major families are now in the midst of prosperity, so if the eldest princess tried himself, it would be wronged.

"There are only monarchs and ministers here, and those who have no dissent, are they afraid to speak?" Jiang Changdai took a sip of tea, thinking about how to break the gap between the four major families.

Liu Meier, who was quietly arranging the documents, didn't dare to vent her anger, thinking that what she was going to talk about was an important matter in the court, should she avoid it?

Li Ping thought about it a few times and said: "In my humble opinion, if the salt and iron tax in the hands of the aristocratic family can be changed to the court's exclusive sales, it may make the treasury more abundant."

Jiang Changdai looked at Li Ping admiringly. She had a unique vision and hit the nail on the head.

This detailed discussion took place in the evening, when Liu Meier followed Li Xueshi out of the hall holding the documents.

"Today, Princess Dai and Eldest Princess seem to be very satisfied with Master Li's suggestion." Liu Meier said enviously.

However, Li Ping sighed, turned his head to look at the Liu family who didn't know the danger, and said: "Master Xiaoliu thinks that the eldest princess doesn't know the reason why the treasury is empty?"

Liu Meier was slightly stunned and said, "Then why did the eldest princess ask Mrs. Li?"

"As a courtier, you are often treated as a knife by the king. Whatever piece of meat you want, the courtier has to take the lead and fight hard." Ever since King Qin hunted and killed Confucian scholars, Li Ping thought that his official career would be over as a scholar of the Imperial Academy. So I just want to get some salary and spend my days lazy.

But now seeing the eldest princess's thoughts, I guess I have to make trouble by myself.

"Lord Xiaoliu, you need to think more about the court affairs." When Li Ping received the order from the Eldest Princess to take care of the Young Master Liu, he realized that the Young Master Liu probably had a lot to do with the Eldest Princess.

Liu Meier nodded again and again: "Yes, what Master Li said is true."

It was almost a few days before New Year's Eve, and the court officials would have a holiday, but some officials in the palace had to be kept on duty.

How could the sons of the four major families be willing to suffer alone in the palace without charcoal fire, and disappeared early.

Naturally, Liu Meier was the only one who worked in the Imperial Academy, sorting out ancient books and classics during the day, and occasionally delivered some memorials to Chaoyang Hall.

Since there was no need for the early court, the emperor only dealt with government affairs in the Chaoyang Palace. Liu Meier was not very afraid of this seemingly mild-tempered emperor.

It's just that Liu Mei'er found that the emperor was in awe of sister Dai just like herself.

One day the emperor was about to take a nap, when he heard that the eldest princess was coming, he sat upright and read the memorial and waited.

And Liu Meier also met Empress Yuan a few times, this Empress Yuan suffered from illnesses caused by the assassins that year, so her health has not been very good, and she seldom shows up in winter.

And Liu Meier, who is not in good health, often coughs in winter and occasionally has a low-grade fever.

In the afternoon, Liu Meier went to the palace library with an umbrella to borrow books. The snow on the palace road was so thick that it was very inconvenient to walk.

The library in the palace has a lot of ancient books that are not available in the Taiyuan Academy. Liu Meier would borrow books to read when she has nothing to do.

The errand officer of the library was lying on the desk drowsily, Liu Meier put down the umbrella softly, and touched the snow on her robe before entering.

The library is very big and very cold, Liu Meier covered her cold hands together and walked slowly among the bookshelves.

Probably because she was so engrossed in watching, Liu Meier didn't hear the sound of the library door being locked at all.

When Liu Meier came out with the book in her hands, she realized that the little official had left early.

There were not many people in the huge palace, and since New Year's Eve was approaching, there were even fewer officials and palace people on duty.

When the sky was getting darker, Liu Mei'er could only look for the light coming in from the high window to read a book. Although her belly kept screaming because of hunger, she had to endure it.

It's just that it's really cold in the library at night, how dare Liu Meier sleep on the floor.

When the door of the confused room was opened, Liu Meier looked at the palace lights and came in, cold and hungry, and called, "Master Xiaoliu, are you there?"

Liu Meier's eyes lit up and she replied tremblingly: "Yes."

Jiang Changdai from Shangyue Palace looked at Liu Meier and said: "I have someone tell your mother that you will stay in the palace tonight as an servant, so that she can feel at ease."

Liu Meier drank the ginger soup and still couldn't help shaking her hands, and replied, "Thank you, Eldest Princess."

Jiang Changdai stared blankly at Liu Meier who had changed her address, and was still a little uncomfortable for a while.

But after thinking about it again, now that Liu Meier is clearly a man and an official of the court, she may call her like this to avoid suspicion.

"There's some food here, you're probably hungry too."

"En." Liu Meier ate the stewed lotus root ribs, and looked at the meatballs and fried eggs beside her, only to realize that the dishes on the table were all her favorites.

There was no heating in the palace last month, and the only charcoal basin was still on Liu Meier's side.

After eating and drinking enough, Liu Meier felt much warmer.

And Sister Dai sat quietly with the documents in her hand and reviewed them. Liu Meier only knew that Sister Dai was busy with many things every day since she entered the palace as an servant.

"Meier, are you full?" Jiang Changdai closed the Chinese book in her hand and turned her head to look over.

Liu Mei'er nodded in response: "Yes, thank you Eldest Princess for your hospitality."

The last time she scolded sister Dai for no reason, Liu Meier still feels very sorry.

"It's getting late, Master Xiaoliu, let's take a bath with the palace people and rest in the Moon Palace tonight."

Jiang Changdai also changed her tune.Looking at the extremely clean dishes in front of Liu Meier, he guessed that she must be starving.

Liu Meier was slightly stunned and said, "Huh?"

Jiang Changdai raised her eyebrows to meet her blank eyes and said helplessly: "It's too late now, the gate of the palace has been closed, and now the wind and snow are blowing hard outside. Do you want to brave the cold wind and heavy snow to sleep on the floor of the Imperial Academy?"

The use of charcoal fires is strictly prohibited in the Winter Palace. Jiang Changdai naturally knew that the Imperial Academy might be very cold, and Liu Mei'er was not in good health, so she might fall ill after sleeping all night.

When Liu Meier heard the same, she got up slowly, but before she could take a step, she stopped suddenly, her cheeks were flushed, and she faltered and said: "But will my staying in Shangyue Palace be bad for the eldest princess?" Speech?"

Now Liu Meier thought that sister Dai didn't know that she was a woman disguised as a man.

"What bad remarks?" Jiang Changdai couldn't help looking at Liu Meier, who was blushing, and couldn't help teasing her, so she had to cooperate with her and said, "Don't worry, you will leave quietly tomorrow, no one will know."

Liu Meier nodded, and then followed the palace servants to the side hall to wash and rest. In the middle of the night, Jiang Changdai finished reviewing all the documents and memorials.

"What time is it?" Jiang Changdai raised her hand and rubbed her eyebrows and asked quite tiredly.

The palace people waited for the bath and washed, and said, "Princess Hui is past her son's time."

Jiang Changdai just got into the bed after washing and grooming, the bedroom in Shangyue Palace is not spacious, because of frugality, only one lamp is left.

When the palace people retreated, the wind and snow outside the window sounded like whimpering, Jiang Changdai tossed and turned sleeplessly, the bell-like laughter sounded crisply, distant and yet so familiar.

When the eyes suddenly brightened, Jiang Changdai saw Liu Meier, who was wearing a small hair ball, hugging her leg and calling coquettishly: "Sister Dai, why don't you play with Meier."

Jiang Changdai in her previous life was in a far more difficult situation than this one. Because of her ignorance, she was always worried about becoming a subjugated princess. In those dark days, the only lively person beside her was Liu Meier.

Liu Meier has a cute and soft temperament, she is very afraid of being born on weekdays, and she is extremely trusting in her own words.

So after Jiang Changdai knew that she was a woman disguised as a man, she coaxed Liu Meier to be her son-in-law. Firstly, it was convenient for her to act in the court, and she came here to help her conceal her true identity.

Who would have thought that this would actually hurt her.

In the extremely dark night, Jiang Changdai seemed to be looking at the blood-covered Liu Meier crying alone in the valley.

Because this dream was so real, Jiang Changdai even forgot that she was in a dream, and when she was anxious to find her, several bright lights suddenly pierced the darkness.

The screen suddenly changed, and the dense rockets shot out like sparks, and the incomparably clear pain made Jiang Changdai wake up suddenly.

There was already a little light in the cold palace, Jiang Changdai Ruyu's face was sweating, and the skin was too pale against the backdrop of the black hair pasted on the cheeks and neck.

The palace people went in as usual to wait on the eldest princess to wash and dress up, and often saw the eldest princess with a pale complexion, thin lips and bloodless lips. Such a scene was always very disturbing.

"Meier, is she awake?" Jiang Changdai looked at the face in the bronze mirror, there were no hideous scars and no arrows walking wildly, it was real but somewhat unrealistic.

"Back to the eldest princess, Master Xiaoliu quietly left Shangyue Palace before dawn."

Jiang Changdai couldn't help sighing, it seems that she still listened to her words as usual.

Now I have tried my best to avoid what happened in my previous life, but Jiang Changdai is always a little uneasy.

Liu's family dinner on New Year's Eve, Liu's father is nearly sixty, his cheeks have already grown gray hair, because of the court's several changes in taxation and decrees, Liu's father, who is the secretary of the household department, can hardly sleep or eat.

Father Liu naturally also knew that the emperor and the eldest princess wanted to seize the power from the four major families, but he was angry at both sides, so he took a temporary leave under the pretense of a serious illness.

In the sixteenth spring of Tai'an, the court issued a decree on the taxation of salt and iron official camps, and appointed Li Pingping as an official to inspect the local salt and iron tax accounts.

Father Liu heaved a sigh of relief as soon as this order came out, but the four major families refused to implement the edict, and they still secretly obeyed and violated it.

In March, a lot of smugglers were caught selling illegal salt, but they were directly killed. This move only showed results.

Many people from the four major families were involved, but it was just that they were from the aristocratic families, or they were still subject to the case handling process of the Ministry of Criminal Justice.

Jiang Changdai looked at the arrested list, looked at the emperor with a slight frown, and said, "Your Majesty means you want to release them all?"

The emperor felt a little guilty, but he still had to bite the bullet and said, "It's just selling private salt. Wouldn't it be too harsh to kill him right away?"

"Strict?" Jiang Changdai pursed her thin lips a little bit, looking at the young emperor in front of her, "The treasury is empty, and the number of refugees is increasing. Does Your Majesty want to abdicate?"

"Then according to Elder Sister's opinion, how should we deal with it?" The emperor grew up in a homeless life, so he was naturally poor, so he didn't want to suffer any more.

"If you are willing to pay the fine, you can deal with it at your discretion, and the rest will be disposed of on the spot."

Empress Yuan wanted to intercede when she learned that many members of her family were in prison. Who would have thought that the emperor would be persuaded by the words of the eldest princess.

The fine was not simply hundreds or thousands of taels of silver. When the four major families learned that they wanted 200 million silver per head, their hearts were bleeding.

The more than fifty people in the prison in the capital city thought they were members of the side branch of the aristocratic family or slaves, so they clamored all day in the prison to get out of prison and kill Li Ping!

Who would have thought that in the end only the Yuan family paid to save one person, while the other three families still did not pay a tael of silver.

During the execution that day, Dongshi City was surrounded by common people, and the teahouses and restaurants were discussing that these people wanted money rather than life.

After this execution, no one in Jiang country dared to object to the taxation of salt and iron.

As a result, Li Ping was promoted to Taifu, and some of Li Ping's students and some bachelors from the Imperial Academy were also honored.

Liu Meier's promotion from a young servant to a Hanlin bachelor, although it was only a transfer from the fifth rank to the regular fifth rank.

But it took Li Ping more than ten years to be promoted to a bachelor, but it took Liu Meier less than a year.

Some people were promoted while others stayed the same, and Yuan Luo, who was also a servant, was extremely unconvinced. He was a relative of the emperor, so how could he still be a small official!

Therefore, whenever the Imperial Academy has any work, Yuan Luo will always throw it to Liu Meier and tease: "Master Xiaoliu is capable, it's hard work."

Liu Meier looked at Yuan Luo who threw the book to her with a snap and said, "I have other things, this is your responsibility, how can you neglect your duty?"

"Heh, don't you think that you can talk about seniority with me after being promoted to a sesame official!" Yuan Luo didn't like it in the first place, but now he was worried that he wouldn't have a chance to make trouble, so a few servants surrounded him, "I'm the emperor!" Relatives, do you believe that even if I kill you today, your father will not dare to let out a fart?"

Liu Zhi has always been a good flatterer in the court, and few aristocratic families think highly of him.

When the scene was very dangerous, the little eunuch hurried over with the papers in hand and said, "Today, His Majesty wants someone to accompany you to practice arrows on horseback. All of you should go over."

Yuan Luo snorted softly, skipped Liu Meier straight away, and left the Imperial Academy amidst the compliments of everyone.

The place where archery is practiced in the palace is not far from the Hanlin Academy. When Liu Meier arrived with the others, the emperor was already practicing.

The rows of horses were very tall. Liu Meier subconsciously wanted to pick the bright red horse, but Yuan Luo deliberately knocked Liu Meier away and snatched the red horse away. He whispered: "You'd better be smart, or you will be too showy." , I can't spare you!"

Liu Meier ignored him, and could only choose a big black horse and mutter:

"Although you are not as good-looking as the red horse, you still need to be more ambitious. We must not admit defeat!"

The big black horse raised its head proudly, resolutely avoiding Liu Meier's touch, probably obviously refusing it.

amount……