Chapter 235 Don’t care about your deeds
Although cheongsam is somewhat revealing, it can better show the charm of women.
After Yu Yanran finished it, she was too embarrassed to wear it to Zhao Xing, but she showed it to Minglan and Rulan instead.
Rulan fell in love with it at first sight and begged Yu Yanran to make one for her.
Yu Yanran simply made one for each of them and told them that Zhao Xing really liked this kind of clothes and if they didn't mind, they could try them on for Zhao Xing to see.
The clothes were made after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Rulan is more daring, and this kind of clothes is destined not to be worn outside, she can only wear it privately to admire her own beauty.
She suggested wearing it for Zhao Xing to see. It was not to win favor, but more to show people how to appreciate it.
Given Minglan's personality, it is almost impossible for her to agree to go crazy with Rulan.
But when she returned to the Sheng family during the Mid-Autumn Festival, what Mrs. Sheng said changed Minglan's attitude.
She felt a little guilty for how good Zhao Xing was to her, so she agreed.
But after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhao Xing never went to Shuanglan Pavilion, so they didn't want to send anyone to invite him.
This time, Zhao Xing sent someone to inform them to accompany him to Jinming Lake and stay for a few days. Ruolan told Minglan to take her clothes with her.
Just now when they were eating barbecue, Zhao Xing said he wanted to come to their room to rest. After they came back, they took a shower and changed their clothes.
Minglan hesitated a little, but finally changed her clothes at Rulan's urging.
When Rulan heard Zhao Xing's question, she thought he was unhappy about it, but when she saw Minglan wanted to take the blame for her, she quickly admitted that it was her idea.
"Okay, I don't mean to blame you." Zhao Xing felt a little amused when he saw the two of them arguing about whose idea it was.
After stopping the two, Zhao Xing's hands around their waists began to move, and he leaned over to kiss them on the face, smiling and saying, "I love you so much, how can I blame you."
The two felt Zhao Xing's mischievous big hand, their eyes filled with spring water, and they lowered their heads shyly.
Zhao Xing resisted the urge and said in a dry voice, "Go bathe with me."
It's still a bit hot during the day and my body feels a bit sticky, so I have to take a shower.
It’s a long night, so there’s no need to rush.
…………
"Okay, don't be angry. I'll ask the East Palace embroiderer to make a few more pieces for you later." Zhao Xing said while drinking porridge and looking at Rulan who looked aggrieved.
I was a little excited last night and he tore both of their cheongsams.
Minglan was fine. Ruolan really liked cheongsam and didn't care about it when she was in love last night.
As a result, when I woke up this morning and saw the torn cheongsam, my eyes were red.
"It will be easier for Your Highness to tear it if you make more." Rulan said coquettishly.
Zhao Xing touched his nose, feeling a little embarrassed.
But I still like Rulan's attitude.
Now Rulan is becoming more and more casual in front of him.
As long as they are not being unreasonable, Zhao Xing still hopes that they will be more casual in front of him.
…………
After staying in Jinming Lake for a few days, Zhao Xing felt very relaxed and even began to think, "From now on, the king won't hold court early in the morning."
But he had to leave Jinming Lake and return to Bianjing, because the autumn harvest was over and Wang Anshi was ready to implement the Qingmiao Law.
Zhao Xing knew very well that if he wanted to enjoy his status, he had to manage the Song Dynasty well first.
If he had not managed the Song Dynasty well and lived longer, he might have been among those captured by the Jin soldiers who marched south.
Even if he doesn't live to see that day, his descendants will be captured and brought back.
Zhao Xing knew how miserable the royal family members who were captured by the Jin soldiers were in history.
If he had not been born into a royal family, or even if he was just a member of an idle royal family, he might have chosen to go to the south of the Yangtze River and find a place to become a wealthy man.
As soon as Zhao Xing returned to Bian Jing, Wang Anshi came to ask for a meeting.
When Wang Anshi met Zhao Xing, he greeted him and then took out a stick.
"Your Highness, this is the Qingmiao Law that I have perfected during this period of time. Please review it."
Sanshui stepped forward to take it and handed it to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing gave Wang Anshi a seat and then unfolded the scroll and began to read it.
Zhao Xing had previously pointed out some flaws in the Qingmiao Law, and Wang Anshi had improved them.
Zhao Xing took a look and didn't find any problems.
However, there are policies from above and countermeasures from below.
Policy improvement is one aspect, but the most important thing is to look at the problems that will arise during implementation.
"It's a good improvement, but Kaifeng Prefecture has a good harvest, so there shouldn't be many people borrowing money, right?" Zhao Xing said.
The death of Zhou Yi Zhong had just been resolved and the aftermath had not yet dissipated. If this matter had not been promised to Wang Anshi a long time ago, he would have canceled it.
Wang Anshi was a stubborn person and was determined to reform the country.
If Zhao Xing told him to postpone the implementation of the Qingmiao Law, he might not say anything, but it would make him alienated.
There is not much use in reasoning, after all, there will always be resistance whenever the Qingmiao Law is implemented.
Zhao Xing is willing to postpone it for some reasons now, and may cancel it for other reasons in the future.
Historically, Wang Anshi submitted several petitions to his father for reform, but his father ignored him. Wang Anshi was greatly disappointed and simply resigned and returned home.
If Zhao Xing had suspended the Qingmiao Law, Wang Anshi might have done the same.
Although Wang Anshi was not opposed to reform, he wanted to reform without any selfish motives.
Even if Sheng Changbai and Qi Heng grow up and are appointed to carry out reforms, they may not necessarily be able to do it without any selfish motives. "It's hard to say for other people, but those who rented government land last year will definitely do it," Wang Anshi said with certainty.
"Why is Jiefu so sure? The government collects less rent. Although the people have no savings, they have a good harvest this year, so their lives should not be that difficult." Zhao Xing asked puzzledly.
"Your Highness, you don't know that these people were once tenants of landlords and gentry. They were exploited so badly that they have almost no savings. The cattle and tools used for farming are all borrowed from the government, but this will not work in the long run. The people also want to have their own cattle and tools. Although there is a good harvest this year, the price of grain has also plummeted. The people also need to exchange for other daily necessities, and there is not much left. How can they have money to buy farm tools and cattle?" Wang Anshi said.
These are the situations he investigated during his time in the countryside.
So he said it with great confidence.
"Of course I do have some ideals." Zhao Xing shook his head slightly.
Indeed, a good harvest is both a good thing and a bad thing for the people.
Low grain prices hurt farmers!
Those so-called prosperous times like to measure things with food prices.
Zhao Xing remembered that he had read a post saying that during the Kaiyuan Period, the cheapest food was five cents for a dou of rice.
One dou of rice is more than twelve jin. Although the measurement of jin varies in each dynasty, it is generally the same.
A dou of rice costs five cents, how cheap is that?
However, it is certain that prices will rise in prosperous times. Food is cheap, but the prices of other things are rising.
In this so-called prosperous age, are the people really living happily?
Ordinary people rely almost exclusively on farming, and all their income comes from the output of the land. They have to sell grain to get their daily necessities.
Of course, Zhao Xing was not belittling the prosperous era.
Apart from anything else, the people in a prosperous era will at least not starve to death.
"In that case, let's implement it." Zhao Xing said.
"Yes!" Wang Anshi responded, smiling, "I recently went to the countryside to learn about people's livelihood, and found that the people who rented farmland from the government seemed to have worshipped the longevity tablet of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Now His Royal Highness can be said to be the Buddha of thousands of families!"
Longevity tablets are mainly set up for the living, with the purpose of expressing gratitude, praying for blessings, longevity, health, increased blessings, additional fortune, and elimination of disasters.
When some people receive a favor, they will set up a longevity tablet for the benefactor, write the benefactor's name on it, clean the tablet every day, and burn incense and make offerings.
"This..." Zhao Xing didn't know what to say after hearing that.
Being worshipped by people with incense and offerings every day, or as a tablet, it always feels like worshiping a dead person.
"There are still many people who want to come to Bian Jing to thank Your Highness in person, but they are a little worried, so they dare not come." Wang Anshi said.
Zhao Xing felt very complicated when he heard this. He wanted to reform, but was it for the people?
Maybe, but not many.
Reform is more about maintaining rule.
The king is like a boat and the people are the water. Water can carry the boat but can also capsize it.
Many people think that this sentence was said by Li Shimin, but in fact Li Shimin was just quoting it.
It actually comes from "Xunzi·Wangzhi".
The stability of rule does indeed depend on the people.
Corrupt officials are rampant and treacherous ministers are in power, and ultimately what is harming is the people's hearts.
If the people live a prosperous life, no matter how much someone tries to deceive them, not many people will be willing to rebel, and the world will naturally be stable.
Zhao Xing was not a good person, but he knew the importance of the people, so he wanted to treat them well.
He felt that the people's gratitude was undeserved.
However, Zhao Xing soon let it go. Judging by deeds, not the heart, there is no saint.
Among the emperors who treated the people well since ancient times, how many of them truly cared for the people?
In the final analysis, it is all about maintaining rule.
If maintaining their rule requires killing unarmed civilians, those emperors will not show mercy.
So what if it’s not your starting point?
As long as he succeeds in his reforms in the future, destroys Western Xia and regains the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, future generations will compare him with the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor Wu.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. Since Jiefu is ready, let's start implementing it. Be sure to supervise it well. A policy that benefits the people cannot become a law that harms the people. Do you understand?" Zhao Xing said.
"Yes, I will live up to your highness's expectations!" Wang Anshi said respectfully.
After Wang Anshi left, Zhao Xing fell into deep thought.
Although I dealt with Zhou Yi Zhong before with the intention of venting my father's anger.
In fact, it also means to pave the way for the Qingmiao Law.
However, due to Zhou Yi Zhong's death, the effect was greatly reduced. I wonder if there will be much resistance to the implementation of the Qingmiao Law.
"Your Highness!"
A shout interrupted Zhao Xing's thoughts.
Zhao Xing came back to his senses and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Concubine Sheng Zheng and Concubine Sheng Ce were playing in the garden and had a conflict with Concubine Li Liang. Miss Sheng Liu was beaten with a stick." said the eunuch who reported the news.
Zhao Xing's face darkened when he heard this: "Tell me what happened again."
"I don't know the exact details, but it was said that Sixth Miss Sheng contradicted Li Liang Di and was spanked on the hand by Li Liang Di. I came to report this to His Highness as soon as I heard the news," said the eunuch.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing stood up and walked out.
Although he didn't know what had happened, given Minglan's cautious nature, how could she dare to contradict Li Liangdi.
It seems that someone is jealous and is deliberately causing trouble.
Three chapters are here, and I still owe one more chapter. I still owe one more chapter.
I should be able to pay it off tomorrow. I'll try my best.
(End of this chapter)