For a long time afterward, Zhu Dan spent his time in the Imperial Study.
The government will exempt Mucheng from taxes for three years, reduce taxes in all cities nationwide by 30%, encourage agriculture, vigorously develop industry and commerce, and, taking Shengjing as an example, select ten more cities to establish girls' schools, exempting them from tuition fees.
Criminals in major prisons across the country are no longer confined to prisons all day long, but are instead put on labor reform programs. Those who perform well can apply for a reduction in their sentence.
Troops stationed in various locations conduct drills every morning and farm in the afternoon, using the military to support the military.
The imperial edicts were issued one after another, causing a great uproar throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty.
However, Zhu Dan's reforms were not without their challenges. Many nobles and ministers opposed his actions, believing them to be a violation of ancestral rules.
The court was noisy every day. Zhu Dan sat calmly on the dragon throne, listening to the voices of each minister, and then left without saying a word.
The civil and military officials were left alone, looking at each other in bewilderment, wondering what the current emperor was thinking about this former fifth prince, who was known for his refined and gentle demeanor.
Although Bu Feizhang and Lu Yucheng were both supporters of Zhu Dan, they also advised Zhu Dan to act cautiously to avoid causing unnecessary turmoil. The Great Zhou Dynasty was beset by internal and external troubles and could not withstand another upheaval.
Zhu Dan knew that to truly realize his ambitions, he needed a firm resolve and strong support.
Of course, we shouldn't rush things.
He was waiting, waiting for Yun'er and Fourth Brother to return.
Like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, they gradually stripped away the privileges of aristocratic families.
Although the late emperor left a will instructing Zhu Yu to go to his fiefdom after he ascended the throne and not to return to the capital without the will, he is now the emperor and needs Yun'er and his fourth brother in Shengjing.
Firstly, to join hands with him to strengthen the Great Zhou Dynasty; secondly, to wait for the two of them to switch back to their original bodies.
Zhu Dan was already twenty-one years old. Almost every morning court session, ministers would urge him to establish an empress as soon as possible, expand the harem, and ensure the continuation of the royal family.
Zhu Dan refused all of them, citing the late emperor's decree that no member of the Zhu imperial family could marry within three years, and the fact that the late emperor had just passed away and was still in mourning.
The newly appointed Left Chancellor, Gu Weizhi, is a member of the Hanlin Academy and was the top scholar in the imperial examination 25 years ago. Both he and this year's top scholar, Guo Shaoning, came from humble backgrounds.
The two submitted a memorial at the morning court session, proposing to abolish the hereditary official system and select all officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty through the imperial examination. This was met with strong opposition from powerful families, who believed that their move was a betrayal of their ancestors.
Zhu Dan stood up, walked among the ministers, and said, "I also think this move is inappropriate."
Upon hearing this, the powerful families breathed a sigh of relief and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times, praising the Emperor's wisdom.
Zhu Dan changed the subject: "However, what Prime Minister Gu and Minister Guo said also makes sense. I will consider this matter for a few days." After saying this, he left the court.
The court officials were left alone, looking at each other in bewilderment, wondering what the emperor was thinking.
Gu Weizhi and Guo Shaoning went to the Imperial Study, where Zhu Dan was waiting for them.
The two bowed to each other, and Zhu Dan smiled and asked Zuo Xiu to bring them chairs.
"Your Majesty, your humble servants have already brought this up today, and I expect that many powerful families will be coming to bother Your Majesty in the next few days."
Zhu Dan smiled and said, "It's alright, I was just afraid they wouldn't come."
The group then discussed the matter further.
Sure enough, not long after Gu Weizhi and Guo Shaoning left, ministers began to come to the Imperial Study to see him, trying to reason with him and appeal to his emotions.
Zhu Dan was multitasking, reviewing memorials while listening to their incessant chatter. In the end, he simply said, "I am aware of your words, my dear minister. Allow me a few more days to consider them," and then dismissed them.
The powerful families were even more uncertain about the new emperor's intentions, so they gathered together to discuss countermeasures.
For a time, teahouses, restaurants, and streets were all talking about this matter, so much so that the new emperor introduced many other new policies, which faced less resistance because they did not significantly harm their interests.
Prime Ministers Bu Feizhang and Gu Weizhi seized the opportunity to vigorously promote new policies.
...
Lu Xiaoyun, Zhu Yu, Lu Yuyan, and others rode at full speed, covering a distance of over two thousand li, traveling two hundred li each day, and would arrive in the southern border region in ten days.
They traveled hastily with minimal equipment, bringing only Feng Yan, Jiang Chuan, Wu Chuan, Xi Yi, Qi Yu, and ten bodyguards, totaling only eighteen people.
It was already noon, and everyone was quite tired. Lu Xiaoyun suggested that they stop and rest for a while.
Since Li Feng had no martial arts skills and it would be inconvenient to take her with him, he left her at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Jiang Chuan watched Feng Yan walk beside Qi Yu, sighed helplessly, and gritted his teeth inwardly, determined to teach her martial arts once they returned to Shengjing.
Although Zhu Yu is now much better off, she is, after all, a woman, and she is indeed exhausted after such a long journey.
He came out without telling his father and brother.
Although his father had already agreed to let him marry Lu Xiaoyun, he still had to wait three years. If they found out, they would definitely disagree.
So he made up an excuse to go to Jiangnan to visit his maternal grandfather.
Lu Xiaoyun dismounted first and reached out to help Zhu Yu down from beside her.
Zhu Yu's face darkened. He, the dignified Prince An, now needed a man—or rather, a woman—to dismount.
How shameful!
Lu Xiaoyun, do you want to re-evaluate your gender?
"How are you? Are you tired?" Lu Xiaoyun asked.
Zhu Yu's face flushed: "It's okay."
Lu Xiaoyun handed him the water pouch: "Have some water and some dry rations."
"Okay." Zhu Yu picked up the water pouch and gulped down a few mouthfuls, then Lu Xiaoyun tore off a piece of beef jerky and stuffed it into his mouth.
Jiang Chuan nudged Wu Chuan's shoulder and said, "Look, the prince and princess have such a good relationship."
Wu Chuan nodded: "Yes, so the little princess will be here soon."
Jiang Chuan's face hardened: "Young Master! I pray to Buddha every day that the Princess Consort will give birth to a young master as soon as possible, preferably two at once."
Wu Chuan thought of the two bull demons in his house, who were truly unruly and would climb onto the roof if not disciplined for three days. He had a headache: "Don't be like that, you don't know, boys are too naughty, I can't stand them, I still prefer the little princess."
Feng Yan took out a map, walked up to Lu Xiaoyun, and pointed to the fork in the road, saying, "Master, there are two roads here. We need to cross the mountain to take this route, but it will save us more than a hundred miles, though the road is difficult. This is the official road, which is much easier to travel. But the problem is that we may not be able to reach the next post station before sunset."
He glanced at Zhu Yu: "Unless we stay two hours later, I'm worried that the princess's health won't be able to handle it."
The princess had been frail since childhood, and it took Ah Yan six months to gradually improve her health.
Unlike Qi Yu, who had practiced martial arts since childhood and had a strong physique, she did not.
The princess's martial arts skills came about strangely, but since her master said nothing, her subordinates kept their doubts to themselves.
Just as Zhu Yu was about to say it was alright, Lu Yuyan walked over and said, "Let's take the mountain path."
Lu Xiaoyun looked at him.
“I’m worried about Ruoling. Every day I stay increases the uncertainty. They’re still in Liangzhou City, and I want to get there as soon as possible.”
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