Chapter 146 People always feel embarrassed
On the way back, Yue Li was a little silent, and He Yanchen knew that she was getting stuck in a rut again.
"How could I not know when Jiaojiao became so kind?"
Hearing his joking voice, Yueli raised her eyelids gloomily: "I just happened to see it. Maybe it's because I thought that they were also sold by their families at a young age like me, so I felt the same way."
"I have never done anything good in my life. Your Majesty, please consider it as a moment of kindness, a desire to do good and accumulate virtue. Perhaps, in recognition of my sincerity, God will allow me to meet you again in the next life."
He Yanchen heard the last sentence, lowered his eyes and looked at her, and after a long while he said lightly: "I know."
"You know what?" Yue Li was a little suspicious and surprised, but He Yanchen said nothing more.
When they returned to the palace, it was not too late, so Yue Li went to wash up first, while He Yanchen sat at the desk and took out a memorial next to it.
This is a memorial submitted to the Ministry of Revenue, requesting an increase in taxes on businesses in Jiangning City.
Jiangning is prosperous. With more and more businesses, some small businesses also want to squeeze in and get a piece of the pie. However, if there are too many businesses, there will be a mixed bag of good and bad ones, which is not conducive to the development of Jiangning.
Therefore, it is imperative to use taxes to set thresholds.
The court officials discussed this memorial for a long time. After listening to Yue Li's words today, He Yanchen had some new ideas.
To be honest, those in power are all men, and they may not be able to empathize with those women.
Including himself, to be honest, he didn't feel anything after seeing what happened today, but he would be affected by Yue Li.
Even if it was just a casual remark from her, He Yanchen would take it to heart.
Yueli came out of the bath, but found no one in the hall.
"Lianqiao, where is His Majesty?"
Lian Qiao helped her wipe her hair and replied, "His Majesty just summoned several ministers to the study, saying that they had important matters to discuss, so he asked Your Majesty to rest first."
"It's so late, what's the important matter?" Yue Li looked at the darkness outside and thought she would not be able to sleep, but perhaps because she was tired from playing during the day, she soon fell into a deep sleep.
He Yanchen was very busy in the following days. Five days later, when she just got up, she saw Lian Qiao running in happily.
"Your Majesty, everyone outside is praising you now!"
Yueli was confused: "Praise me?"
She hasn't even left the palace these days, let alone done anything good.
Lian Qiao said with a smile, "I just heard this morning that Jiangning City re-enacted its tax laws a few days ago, but His Majesty also issued a new decree yesterday. The general meaning is to increase the number of positions that women are qualified for in each merchant. If each merchant has a certain number of female relatives, they can enjoy tax reductions. This is a good thing."
"I don't know who spread the rumor, but it's said that the Empress has advised His Majesty to improve the status of women. This morning, I heard from the eunuchs who were out shopping that many people outside are praising the Empress and are even going to erect a longevity tablet in her honor."
The Jiangnan area is the most prosperous place for entertainment, so the transaction of buying and selling girls cannot be stopped despite repeated bans. Sometimes, the transaction is a mutual consent between the parents and the buyer, and the government cannot intervene.
The reason for this is that women have no means of making a living, merchants are unwilling to accept women, and the same is true for farm work that requires physical labor.
This decree improved the status of some women to a certain extent. At least merchants would openly create a few more positions for women in order to collect some taxes.
Everything should be done step by step.
When Yue Li heard this, she immediately thought that it must be He Yanchen's idea.
He issued an order to take the credit for himself.
Yueli didn't bother to put on makeup, and hurriedly ran to the study with her skirt in hand.
Lian Qiao was afraid that she would get sunburned, so she held up an oil-paper umbrella and tried to catch up with her, but she only saw Yue Li's hurried figure disappearing around the corner.
In the study.
He Yanchen was listening to Chu Yi's report.
"The old woman I met that day was the Empress's biological mother."
"She lives in Niujia Village outside the city. Her husband squandered all the family money two years ago because of his opium addiction. He died of illness not long after. Now she is the only one left at home with her two sons. The eldest son is fourteen and the youngest is seven. They both do nothing at home."
He Yanchen's eyes were cold. After a long while, Chu Yi heard him sneer, "You're lucky."
He used the money from selling Yueli's body to smoke opium. If the person hadn't died, He Yanchen would have wanted to throw him to the prison and treat him well.
Chu Yi looked at his expression and asked, "Do you want to arrest those three people?"
"No need, ignore it."
She is an orphan and a widow. Judging from the woman's appearance, her life must be difficult.
She sold her daughter for money and her son. Now her husband is dead and her son is useless. Evil will be punished by evil, and there is no need for others to intervene. Their lives will not be easy.
Sometimes, death is a relief.
After reporting the matter clearly, Chu Yi was about to leave, but when he turned around, he almost bumped into Yue Li who broke in.
Chu Yi quickly turned around and dodged, not even touching the hem of her skirt.
"His Majesty!"
He Yanchen immediately stood up, frowned, walked around the desk, walked over and shook the woman's hand: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Chu Yi tactfully closed the palace door.
Yue Li raised her little face, looked at him and said, "Your Majesty, did you have this plan long ago, or did you issue this decree because of what I said that day? Have I embarrassed Your Majesty?"
He Yanchen knew she knew it as soon as he heard it. He wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and said, "I have planned it for a long time, and it's all because of you."
Yueli bit her lip, her fingers gripping the man's sleeve trembling slightly: "I was just saying it casually, I don't mean to interfere in political affairs."
"I know, but I've long had the idea of improving taxes. Jiaojiao just reminded me."
"Then...then why do people still say that it was me who gave the advice?"
"It's just a matter of going with the flow. This is beneficial to everyone. Look, before, people said you seduced the king, but now everyone praises your virtue. Isn't this wonderful?"
He doesn't care about his own reputation, but he likes others praising Yueli.
And that day she said that if she did good deeds and accumulated virtue in this life, maybe she would be able to continue her fate in the next life.
He Yanchen showed disdain on his face, but as he tossed and turned at night, he couldn't help but think, those old monks talk about doing good deeds and accumulating virtue all day long, what if it really works?
"Then...why didn't you tell me directly earlier...If Lian Qiao hadn't found out, I wouldn't have known that His Majesty had done all this..."
He Yanchen smiled helplessly, bent down and looked at her:
"How can I always ask you for credit? Madam, please understand me."
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