Chapter 62 062 Your subject respectfully obeys.

The court officials naturally had no objections to the revision of the legal code. Even if they felt that this matter might cause a huge upheaval, that would be a matter of debate over the legal provisions later on. As for the revision of the law itself, who would dare to make a comment?

Hearing the unified chants of "Your Majesty is wise," Zhao Jialing felt relatively pleased. Being an emperor, the most annoying thing is that everything is impossible; if everything is hindered, how can one be carefree? One has to bear immense pressure for the sake of Heaven's will and one's posthumous reputation. But now, the gods are on her side.

Having come this far, Zhao Jialing naturally accepted the task and ordered Xie Lanzhao, the Grand Secretary, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, the Grand Censor, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Minister of Justice, and the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat to draft the laws and regulations. Any old systems that were inconvenient for the present situation were to be deleted or modified. Once the laws and regulations were completed, they would be promulgated throughout the country.

The task was important, but Zhao Jialing hadn't forgotten about Wang Liulang's fate. She frowned and asked, "Since the old laws are impractical, how should Wang Liulang be punished?"

Xie Lanzhao said solemnly, "Since the new law has not yet been implemented, the old law must be followed. Perhaps Your Majesty will issue another edict, but once this matter is spread, I fear that some people will use it as a basis to disregard the law and petition against it everywhere."

When other court officials suggested that Wang Liulang should still be sentenced according to the old law, Zheng Qiongyu always argued her case. At this moment, Xie Lanzhao spoke up and sided with the old law. Many people breathed a sigh of relief, but also harbored a desire to watch the show, hoping that Zheng Qiongyu and Xie Lanzhao would argue.

However, Zheng Qiongyu did not utter a single word, her face was stern, and she did not reveal any of her true feelings.

A slight ripple stirred in the hearts of the court officials, but after a few breaths, they were horrified—Zheng Qiongyu was well-versed in the law, and this move was likely not intended to kill Wang Liulang at all, but rather to open the door to "amending the legal code," continuing what Prime Minister Zheng had failed to accomplish! And Xie Lanzhao was her accomplice. As for His Majesty, he probably abandoned all objections after hearing the pillow talk!

Zhao Jialing was somewhat dissatisfied with the outcome. Emotionally, she leaned towards Zheng Qiongyu—that despicable Wang Liu should be sentenced to death—but Xie Lanzao's words also had some merit. Doing so would indeed easily cause unrest, stirring up a wave of petitions against the law. Her face didn't show her displeasure, but her inner turmoil betrayed her disgust for Wang Liu.

Xie Lanzhao listened to this, and after the ministers' meeting ended, she stayed behind to have a private audience with the emperor.

"That scumbag Wang Liu deserves to be torn apart by five horses," Zhao Jialing said, sitting on the couch and venting his grievances without restraint.

Xie Lanzhao said, "It wouldn't have come to this unless there was a plot of treason."

Zhao Jialing gave a soft hum, his expression softening slightly.

Xie Lanzhao continued, "Amending the law to change the killing of one's son to the death penalty only requires a simple stroke of the pen. But has Your Majesty considered who else besides Wang Liu would commit such atrocities?"

"Hmm?" Zhao Jialing raised her eyes, her gaze now filled with caution and seriousness. Her "lack of learning" was only in comparison to her past as the Crown Prince and Princess Zhongshan; she had memorized everything her master taught her. She didn't usually recall it, but Xie Lanzhao's question immediately brought to mind a shocking scene from historical records.

Who would commit the most heinous crime of child killing? It's not someone like Wang Liulang, but rather the poor who are incapable of raising their children. Abandoning a child outside a temple or monastery is considered relatively lenient; many more drown their offspring. Doesn't the government know about such inhumane acts? If relatives don't report it, the government won't investigate, and won't even sentence them to imprisonment.

Hateful, pitiful, but do they deserve to die? Are they the ones who deserve to die?

Zhao Jialing's mood sombered. She said with a heavy heart, "Since the reigns of my ancestors quelled the rebellion, there has been no more turmoil in the world. Auspicious omens have been brought to the capital from all over the country, all praising the peace. I thought that the country was at peace and the world was at peace. But in my corner of the world, there are still people living in poverty, having children but not being able to raise them."

“This is not Your Majesty’s fault,” Xie Lanzhao said. “The previous dynasty was in chaos, the country was devastated, many people were starving, and countless people were displaced. Thanks to our ancestors for pacifying the country, the desolate scene of the past was reversed. Your Majesty has inherited the throne, and thanks to the protection of the gods and ancestors, the people are free from the sorrow of separation and loss, and the people are at peace, grateful for Your Majesty’s merits. As for the Great Harmony—even in the time of the wise kings of ancient times, there were still some people who were left behind, and we can only do our best to achieve it.”

With Xie Lanzhao's comforting words, Zhao Jialing's dejected mood improved slightly. He exhaled a breath of stale air and muttered to himself, "Money, I need a lot of money."

"There may be a solution to the problem of people killing their children because they cannot raise them," Xie Lanzhao said slowly. "Let's not talk about governance for now. I remember that there was a 'prevention of childbirth' in the medical books bestowed by Your Majesty. Now the medical books are in the hands of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and the booklets they have compiled focus on more serious epidemics, without mentioning anything related to 'prevention of childbirth' or 'childbearing.' I request Your Majesty to order the Imperial Medical Bureau to compile another booklet and establish a Shizhou County."

Xie Lanzhao only remembered the medical books she had hastily skimmed earlier after hearing about the "child killing." Some people sought children everywhere, but many more did not wish to give birth. Given this, remedies for women should be put on the agenda. Some itinerant doctors possessed "contraceptive decoctions" and "abortion formulas," which were extremely harmful to the body and could easily lead to death. The prescriptions provided by the system were gentle, and there were even miraculous formulas for men. These medical prescriptions were not only intended to alleviate the suffering of those who "killed their children," but also to be prepared for women ambitious in their careers.

Zhao Jialing's eyes lit up; her emotional inclination naturally led her to agree. However, as an emperor, she had many more things to consider. Her brows immediately furrowed, and she said, "If this continues, won't the number of households decrease?" The nation's tax revenue depends on its population; surely the population can't end up being less than it was during times of chaos and turmoil?

Xie Lanzhao gazed intently at Zhao Jialing, a hint of admiration flickering in her eyes. She calmly said, "In times of chaos and famine, the population decline wouldn't be too great." After a few breaths, she added, "I'm afraid it's less than the number of people hidden away by wealthy households."

"Host, her intention is to boost the economy and rectify official corruption," the Wise Ruler System said. While previous dynasties frequently encouraged childbirth and even increased taxes on women who didn't marry by a certain age, Xie Lanzhao's ideas did seem radical. However, they wouldn't cause a devastating blow to the population of the Great Yong Dynasty, as ideologies differed from the future. Moreover, as long as the host diligently completes high-yield food missions and obtains the corresponding rewards, a "population explosion" is highly likely.

“Revising the ‘Women’s Prescriptions’ is not something that can be done overnight. Even if it is completed, it does not mean that it will be promulgated immediately. Instead, we will wait for a good opportunity,” Xie Lanzhao said gently.

"I understand." Zhao Jialing nodded and gave Yin'e a few instructions, telling her to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to deliver the imperial edict. The Imperial Medical Bureau was an official institution that was not valued by scholars and officials; unless one was sick or suffering from an epidemic, ordinary people would not pay attention to it. This "neglect" actually made things easier, and Zhao Jialing did not need to worry about how the scholars would use their words to argue with her.

The mere mention of "avoiding childbirth" should be discussed privately; to do so in court would likely cause a huge uproar. It's obvious which men in the court wouldn't be considerate of women, and would simply consider it all perfectly natural.

"So many things to worry about after all," Zhao Jialing sighed. When you have nothing, you don't have to think, but asking her to go back is something she definitely wouldn't want to do. Once you've tasted some "sweetness," wouldn't you hold onto it tightly?

Upon hearing the sigh, Xie Lanzhao knew that His Majesty was about to bestow a reward. She softened her tone and cupped her hands, saying, "Your Majesty's unwavering judgment is a blessing to the nation." The system's miraculous power and His Majesty's cooperation were making everything develop in the direction she hoped for, even taking it a step further. The prosperous world she had envisioned might actually appear before her eyes in ways beyond her imagination.

A smile crept across Zhao Jialing's face as he stared intently at Xie Lanzhao: "Isn't this your good fortune?"

[If I were filled with wicked and unorthodox ideas, Xie Lanzhao's advancement would not be as easy as it is now.]

Xie Lanzhao: "..." She was speechless for a moment, only thinking to herself, "So His Majesty knew this too."

Their eyes met, and Xie Lanzhao felt a chord in her heart being plucked again, and a strange, indescribable emotion suddenly welled up inside her.

Having finished discussing official business, it's time to take my leave. Otherwise, if His Majesty gets carried away with his desire for pleasure, it will be too late to leave.

What she thought in her heart was one thing, and what she did was another. One was lost in thought, the other hesitated, and His Majesty was already walking towards her with a smile, but the words "take your leave" were stuck in his throat.

It would be inappropriate to say it again.

Zhao Jialing wasn't thinking about anything. She didn't really know what else to say to Xie Lanzhao, but she walked straight up to her, her actions preceding her thoughts. She naturally took Xie Lanzhao's hand.

"Your Majesty?" Xie Lanzhao asked softly, her eyes lowered.

Zhao Jialing coughed, a blush creeping onto his face. But Xie Lanzhao didn't struggle, nor did she loosen her grip. She said, "The flowers by Taiye Pond are all in bloom. It's said that courtesy should be reciprocated; you invited me before, so I should return the favor." She tried her best to appear nonchalant, adding, "When I tour the Forbidden Garden, I don't lack for scholars to accompany me. However, you are my beloved prime minister, so this honor naturally falls to you first."

Xie Lanzhao frowned and sighed.

The slight tightening force on his hand clearly revealed His Majesty's nervous state of mind.

Xie Lanzhao asked, "Does Your Majesty wish me to compose a poem?"

Zhao Jialing: "..." She had no interest in hearing about poetry! She leaned closer to Xie Lanzhao, "Can we only talk about literature? Can't we talk about personal matters? For example—"

Xie Lanzhao smiled as she looked at the emperor who was stuck, and then asked, "What kind of private matter does Your Majesty wish to discuss?"

Zhao Jialing turned her face away and muttered, "Anyway, I don't want to hear anything else." She knew she was being unreasonable; she didn't say what she wanted to hear, only vaguely summarizing it with "I don't want anything else." If she were Xie Lanzhao, she would want to hit her, but what could she do? She was the emperor! And Xie Lanzhao had indulged her.

After a good self-reassurance, Zhao Jialing was full of energy again. She raised her eyebrows and smiled, her eyes shining.

Xie Lanzhao sighed inwardly; smiles were probably contagious. Looking at His Majesty's radiant smile, Xie Lanzhao felt a sudden surge of light in her heart. She caught a glimpse of their clasped hands out of the corner of her eye, then quickly looked away. She said, "Your subject obeys."

That was such a stiff answer. Zhao Jialing hated that "business-like" tone, but a sudden glimpse of Xie Lanzao's smile, and with just a light glance, all her dissatisfaction vanished. Wasn't Xie Lanzao always like this? Sigh, the magnanimous Xie Lanzao had to tolerate everything.

The Zheng residence in the neighborhood.

The case of Wang Liulang's "son-killing" caused a great uproar. Wang Liulang was taken away by the officials for his crime, but Wang Shiqiu was still at home. He was unaware of his own origins and was struck dumb, bewildered and at a loss. Most of those who came to Zheng Qiongyu's house were relatives of the Zheng and Wang families. Among them were many who had dealings with the government and knew a little about Zheng Qiongyu's request for a death sentence in court, harboring some resentment in their hearts.

Zheng Qiongyu's expression was as cold as ice. She most wanted to see Ruan Sijing, but she only intended to make a trip to Mingde Academy. Before returning home to peace and tranquility, she didn't want to drag her child into the turmoil. She didn't insist on a death sentence; everything would proceed according to the laws of the Dayong Dynasty. Wang Liulang was ultimately sentenced to approximately two years in prison and stripped of his academic titles. According to the Dayong law's "commutation of sentence," he could exchange his two years in prison for 160 strokes of the cane.

Many people are keen to "change the punishment," not because caning isn't terrifying, but because there's a lot of manipulation involved. Otherwise, with over a hundred strokes, death would be commonplace. She would plead for a change of punishment for Wang Liulang before the formal divorce; if he survived those 160 strokes, he'd be incredibly lucky.

His Majesty had already approved the punishment for Wang Liulang, so the relatives dared not say anything. However, looking at the pitiful and broken Wang Shiqiu, they couldn't help but feel a little sympathy: "That was all because of that scoundrel Wang Liu, but this child is innocent. You raised him, didn't you have even a shred of maternal love?"

Zheng Qiongyu sneered inwardly. Even if Wang Shiqiu were truly talented, let alone an unfilial son, he shouldn't have stayed in her family. Shouldn't the one who should be most understanding of her long-lost daughter's heart? Zheng Qiongyu was too lazy to waste words with those relatives and said directly, "The Lu family also has relatives in Chang'an; send him there." How could she possibly raise a son of the Lu family?

“But he is Liu Lang’s son, and by all accounts, he is your illegitimate son. What right do you have to kick him out?” The Wang family argued.

“Because this is my home.” Zheng Qiongyu raised an eyebrow, revealing a mocking smile. Don’t be fooled by the fact that these relatives seem to get along normally; once the clan is involved, they’re no different from Wang Liu. Her gaze swept over the Wang family members, and she said, “Your Wang family can take them away.”

The whole family lived off her salary. Although she was the head of the household, under the patriarchal system and its associated customs, she was always subordinate to Wang Liu. These people's arrogant pronouncements only highlighted the urgent need to revise the rites and laws. During the reign of the late emperor, although women were allowed to hold official positions, the attempts to revise the rites and laws were repeatedly thwarted and ultimately unsuccessful. The court officials knew that as long as these things existed, they could overturn the "Xuanqi government" at any time.

The past conflict between the Crown Prince and Princess Zhongshan was, in essence, a struggle between the new and the old. If even a female ruler cannot succeed, any so-called new policies will be nothing more than a flash in the pan. Both the Crown Prince and the Princess suffered heavy losses, and by a twist of fate, the throne fell into His Majesty's hands—but ultimately, it was a positive development. This was the day they had been waiting for!

Having seen off the troublesome person, Zheng Qiongyu let out a sigh of relief. She had a house in Puzhou, but had never bought a home in Chang'an. Once she entered officialdom, she would be a wandering official, moving from place to place, and her future in Chang'an might not be so secure; perhaps one day she would become a prefect. This consideration led her to temporarily abandon her plan to buy land in Chang'an, opting instead to rent a large house. However, things were different now; she had to consider Ruan Sijing and her adoptive mother, as traveling back and forth between Chang'an and Lantian was ultimately arduous.

Instructing her trusted steward to inspect the land, Zheng Qiongyu calmed herself and smoothed out the ripples. Her day off was approaching; she would then accompany her daughter to bring Madam Ruan to Chang'an.

Zheng Qiongyu was thinking about her daughter, while Zhao Jialing and Xie Lanzhao in the Imperial Garden also mentioned Ruan Sijing. They said they were talking about "private matters," but how could the topic be easily controlled? Once the conversation started, it was like a flood, flowing wherever it wanted.

After a series of assessments, those who entered Mingde Academy were all talented and skilled, but those who received special attention from the system were the cream of the crop, and their potential could be further stimulated. This time, there were two achievement rewards. Zhao Jialing would set aside the first, the appraisal device, for now. As for the "Textile Manual," it would return to where it came from—her talent, Ruan Sijing, would surely be able to utilize its strengths and make it flourish.

After all, this wasn't a discussion of court politics, so the wandering thoughts were easily pulled back. One moment he was arranging things for Ruan Sijing, and the next, Zhao Jialing was resting his chin on his hand, gazing at Xie Lanzhao: "I'm twenty this year, did you know that?"

Xie Lanzhao smiled and said, "The Autumn Festival has not been over for long."

Zhao Jialing then asked, "Is anyone in your family pressuring you?"

The topic jumped too far, and Xie Lanzhao didn't understand: "Huh?"

Zhao Jialing glanced at the confusion in her eyes and sighed softly, "Even I have people urging me, so what about you? You're a fine and promising person, and every petty scoundrel would covet you." Zhao Jialing gritted his teeth, feeling a bit disappointed in her.

Xie Lanzhao snapped out of her daze and burst into laughter.

Besides His Majesty, who else could be so arrogant?

Zhao Jialing gazed at her, then said casually, "You are my prime minister, and from now on you will only be busy for me. No matter how big or small the matter is, you must let me know, and I will make proper arrangements for you."

Xie Lanzhao: "..." This is all baseless, and in her opinion, there's no need to discuss it. But seeing His Majesty's very serious expression, she didn't interrupt, but instead asked, "How can this be handled properly?"

"Of course, they should all be exiled."

Zhao Jialing didn't speak, but his thoughts were already there.

She paused for a moment, then said, "My prime minister is unparalleled in the country; how could an ordinary person be worthy of him?"

Xie Lanzhao feigned surprise: "Does Your Majesty intend for me to live a lonely and miserable life?"

The wrongly accused Zhao Jialing's lips parted, and he blurted out, "Isn't it me keeping you company? Where does this loneliness come from?" Having gotten carried away with his verbal sparring, it became a little difficult to back down. His heart pounded, but he lacked the courage to go into battle. He thought of uttering some wild and arrogant words in one go, but with Xie Lanzao's low chuckle, everything vanished.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhao Jialing's eyes flickered as she seized on a new topic, trying to ease the unease deep within her heart.

Xie Lanzhao smiled and said calmly, "I have no interest in personal matters, Your Majesty need not worry that I will neglect my duties because of family affairs."

"That's good." Zhao Jialing raised his eyebrows at first, then frowned.

This is not good; she's even more worried now!

It's good to not accept others, but isn't she also being shut out?

“Humans have seven emotions, and suppressing one’s nature is ultimately not good. It’s alright to have private feelings.” Zhao Jialing racked his brains for a suitable reason, but the moment he met Xie Lanzhao’s gaze, his thoughts collapsed like a mountain collapsing, leaving only scattered fragments. His ears were ringing, and he said dryly, “I’m not urging you to get married. If you have any private feelings, you can talk to me. What I mean is… can’t we talk about everything like we did when we were children?”

Xie Lanzhao pointed out: "Back then, it was His Majesty who poured out his heart to everyone, wasn't it?"

Zhao Jialing fell silent, revealing a dejected and resigned expression.

She's talking nonsense, what can she do? She's just useless and incompetent.

Xie Lanzhao gazed at Zhao Jialing, her expression a mixture of arrogance and timidity, yet undeniably endearing. She slowly said, "Your Majesty has issued a decree; I shall naturally obey."

"Hmm?" Zhao Jialing perked up, his face showing surprise.

Then Xie Lanzhao said, "I meant 'if'."

Zhao Jialing's heart sank back down. She had almost touched the moon, only to find it was just a reflection in the water. She was disappointed, but the dejected feeling of fearing rejection had vanished. She pouted and said, "You startled me so much; now I'm heartbroken."

"This wasn't started by me," Xie Lanzhao said innocently.

Zhao Jialing glared at Xie Lanzhao, biting her lip to express her anger.

Unable to win an argument, and fearing the harsh consequences he didn't want to face, Zhao Jialing could only try to salvage the situation in his mind.

[Her words leave room for interpretation; a touch of ambiguity equals complete sincerity. Xie Lanzhao is definitely trying to hook me!]

She didn't quite understand, but based on His Majesty's character, she could roughly guess what he meant. Although she knew his thoughts were rather incoherent, Xie Lanzhao still choked on her words and secretly marveled at His Majesty's extraordinary speed in recovering.

Xie Lanzhao then asked, "What private matters can Your Majesty discuss with me?"

Now it was Zhao Jialing's turn to be stunned; she had never expected Xie Lanzhao to ask her such a question.

It's not that your heart is as hard as iron?

However... it's not "want to give", but "can give".

Zhao Jialing hissed, "Xie Lanzhao, you're mocking me!"