Chapter 42 Encountering a Beauty in the Suburbs: Whose Young Master is So Bright and Adorable...?
[Congratulations, host! You have gained a new subordinate, Tian Guangliang, with a loyalty level of 78 and an increased level of authority. Your authority level has now exceeded 15% for the first time, currently standing at 15.17%.]
[Reward: 500 achievement points and one card draw. Would you like to draw a card immediately?]
The system's few sentences were packed with information, and Yuan Yan's drowsiness vanished instantly.
"Tian Guangliang was brought into my camp. What criteria did your system use to determine this... loyalty?"
She went through the system's words in her mind and asked a question.
【No, host, it's about whether the character is willing to serve you... If someone joins you, even if their loyalty isn't high, that still counts.】
Yuan Yan was surprised that he hadn't guessed correctly. The system's tone even became much more cheerful, and it then turned to ask her.
[So, host, would you like to use this bonus gacha pull now?]
“Draw, the same old rule, use it in the Famous Ministers card pool,” Yuan Yan said.
After the system performed some operations, Yuan Yan obtained a new card.
[Civilian Card]
Name:? ? ?
Wisdom: 81
Strength: 32
Ambition: 65
Loyalty: ? ? ?
Politics: 66 (Potential for improvement)
As soon as the card appeared, Yuan Yan noticed the prominent 81 points of wisdom on it.
[Clang clang clang! Congratulations, host, you have obtained a purple civil official card!] The system automatically played a loud firework sound.
Having learned from his previous experience, Yuan Yan quickly began to analyze the situation.
“Intelligence 81, smart enough. Politics 66, marked as having room for growth, indicating that this person is not too old and still has room for growth, and has a certain political strategy... Who could this person be? Most likely, they are serving in the court..." Her gaze turned towards the imperial court.
[Stop, stop, stop, host, don't guess anymore.] The system was so frightened by her words that it hurriedly called for a halt.
【Host, I'm scared of you. Just ask me whatever you want!】The system surrenders.
"Okay, then I'll ask you one question: how long until I encounter a purple card character?" Yuan Yan actually asked the question.
"Not long... if the time is right, you might meet soon," the system mumbled.
Seeing that the system had revealed some information, Yuan Yan reluctantly let it go.
After Yuan Yan had become familiar with the laws and regulations of the dynasty, he went to the Hongwen Pavilion to prepare for the revision of the laws.
Inside Hongwen Pavilion.
A group of officials are discussing the law.
"The case of embezzlement of grain transport has just come out. In His Majesty's opinion, this is an opportunity to strictly rectify official corruption."
"Corrupt officials have existed in every dynasty, and they can never be eradicated. They gnaw at the foundation of the court like ants. Only by implementing severe punishments can we deter them," suggested Zuo Jingming, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice.
An official asked, "In your opinion, Lord Zuo, how should the law be amended to punish such crimes?"
"We should punish the guilty with the guilty, and those who embezzle more than one hundred taels of silver should be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public," Zuo Jingming said in a deep voice.
The conservative officials immediately showed their disapproval. "Lord Zuo, is beheading for a mere hundred taels of silver too harsh a punishment?"
This Zuo Jingming is an official from a commoner background who rose to this position after many years as a council member of the Ministry of Justice. Now it seems he's still a bit green, lacking tact in his actions!
“Is a hundred taels of silver too little? Our combined annual salaries don’t even reach a hundred taels. Using a hundred taels as the threshold is to ensure severe punishments so as to deter villains,” Zuo Jingming insisted.
“Lord Zuo, you should know best that an ordinary official’s salary is not enough to support a family in the capital. Officials in the court will receive some tributes.” Shangguan Fu, a Hanlin Academy scholar, said.
“If a hundred taels of silver is enough to sentence someone to death, I’m afraid most of the officials present would not be spared, and the entire imperial court would be empty.” She shook her head and said.
Zuo Jingming countered, "Does Lord Shangguan have any insightful suggestions?"
Shangguan Fuwei scoffed, "Whether it's brilliant or not, I don't know, but at least it won't cause panic among the officials and lead to turmoil in the court."
"Lord Shangguan, are you implying that my severe punishment of corrupt officials makes me a criminal against the court?" Zuo Jingming sneered.
...
As the argument between the two sides intensified and they gradually lost their tempers, bystanders quickly intervened to persuade them to calm down.
“My lords, please do not be angry. There are many categories of embezzlement, so it is impossible to generalize them all. Perhaps we can differentiate them according to the specific crime,” said Du Heng, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy.
Zuo Jingming asked, "Then tell me, how exactly is it divided?"
Just as Du Heng was about to answer, a voice came in.
Yuan Yan stepped into the pavilion and casually answered their questions.
"I believe that embezzlement can be roughly divided into six categories, and the punishment can be determined according to the amount of silver stolen."
Everyone present, regardless of their official rank, immediately stood up and bowed when Yuan Yan appeared.
"His Royal Highness King Qin."
This was the first time Yuan Yan had met these officials who were involved in the revision of laws at the Hongwen Pavilion.
Other officials might be hesitant to speak out due to the distinction between superiors and inferiors.
However, Du Heng's curiosity was piqued by Yuan Yan's words, and he wanted to know what Yuan Yan meant. He had no time to think about such things and immediately asked.
"May I ask Your Highness, what do you mean by saying that embezzlement can be divided into six categories?"
Yuan Yan said: "One is embezzlement by those in charge. Officials who embezzle public funds and property by taking advantage of their positions will be beheaded if they embezzle more than 80 strings of cash, and their property will be confiscated. If they steal important items such as grain and fodder from the border, they will be executed by slow slicing."
"The second is accepting bribes and bending the law. Officials who accept bribes from others and bend the law for personal gain, if the amount reaches 100 strings of cash, shall be hanged and their descendants shall be barred from taking the imperial examinations."
"The third is accepting bribes without breaking the law. Although it is not as evil as the former, it undermines the strictness of official discipline and can be punished with eighty strokes of the cane, tattooing on the face, and exile for thousands of miles."
"The fourth is to be convicted of embezzlement; if the amount of embezzled funds reaches 500 strings of cash, the offender will be exiled."
...
Yuan Yan calmly and methodically explained the six points one by one, with clear logic and well-defined distinctions.
The officials present carefully considered her words and found that the six categories were clearly defined, the sentences were appropriate, and they were more practical and feasible than what Zuo Jingming had said.
"Furthermore, I wish to petition the Empress Dowager to establish additional allowances for officials to support their families and reduce corruption."
As Yuan Yan spoke, he went straight to the head seat and sat down.
Zuo Jingming listened attentively, his eyes suddenly brightening. Upon hearing the new term "integrity-maintaining allowance," he couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what is an integrity-maintaining allowance?"
Yuan Yan: "The 'Integrity Allowance' was created by me. It involves taking back the 'fire loss allowance' that was originally collected privately by local officials and bringing it under the control of the imperial court, and then allocating a portion of it as an extra allowance for officials, with someone in charge of supervising it."
"With this stipend, officials can support their families more than enough, and those who are truly in need will not turn their attention to the court and the common people."
Upon hearing this, Cui Mingwei and the others began to discuss it amongst themselves.
"This law might allow for the determination of guilt based on the act of embezzlement, ensuring that punishments are based on evidence, sentencing is precise, and penalties are determined according to the severity of the offense, rather than solely based on the amount involved..."
“The punishments, such as confiscating property, tattooing heads, and banning descendants from taking the imperial examinations, also deterred other officials and prevented them from violating the rules.”
Another official praised: "The name 'anti-corruption allowance' is very apt. It turns the fire tax that local officials used to collect into the imperial court for distribution, which solves the problem of low official salaries without increasing the burden on the national treasury... It is truly a great innovation of Your Highness."
Du Heng remained silent, pondering Yuan Yan's words, and a slight sense of admiration arose within him.
She was the granddaughter of the Minister of Personnel and had read extensively since childhood. She was always proud of her talent and felt that no one of her peers could compare to her.
Yuan Yan's suggestion to punish those who steal from their posts perfectly aligned with her own thoughts. However, Yuan Yan's thinking ran deeper and was more comprehensive. For the first time, this made Du Heng realize that there are always people more capable than oneself, and that there are always higher levels to reach.
Yu Changde and other officials from the Ministry of Justice couldn't help but show some surprise.
I originally thought that His Highness Prince Qin was just doing his bidding for the task of revising the law at His Majesty's behest. I never expected that His Highness would actually put in real effort, offer his insights, and demonstrate extraordinary legal expertise.
Of course, among the conservatives like Shangguan Fu, some believed that Yuan Yan's proposed sentencing was still too harsh, but this voice was very small and was suppressed by others.
*
Upon returning to the Minister's residence that day, Du Heng told his grandmother about what had happened in the Hongwen Pavilion.
“Grandmother, I met His Highness the Prince of Qin today and discussed the laws with him. I feel that the Prince of Qin is quite different from the other princes.”
In her view, this second princess was concerned for the people, insightful about politics, intelligent, and shrewd—she was no ordinary person. If given the opportunity, she would surely rise to prominence sooner or later.
Du Heng told his grandmother his thoughts.
“Grandmother could tell from the grain inspection that the King of Qin was no ordinary man,” said Minister Du.
"If it were an ordinary person, it would be difficult enough to find out the deficit in grain transport, let alone come up with the idea of opening up sea routes."
"This grain inspection was handled swiftly and efficiently, punishing corrupt officials. Furthermore, by replacing river transport with sea transport, the root of corruption in the canal system was eradicated. If either the First Prince or the Third Prince had been in charge, it is unlikely they could have done a better job."
"Now that the King of Qin has proposed the 'integrity allowance,' if it is implemented, it can solve the difficulties of many low-ranking officials in a short period of time. In addition, with her merit in revising the law, His Majesty will surely reward her if nothing unexpected happens, and her future should not be limited to this."
"Heng'er, if you are interested in His Highness the Prince of Qin, you can get closer to him and observe his character."
“Grandmother, you mean…” Du Heng was surprised.
Does Grandmother mean for her to observe and serve His Highness the Prince of Qin?
Minister Du did not reply, but Du Heng already knew his grandmother's thoughts.
She felt certain in her heart, "My granddaughter understands."
...
Yuan Yan discussed matters at length with a group of officials, and stayed at Hongwen Pavilion until noon before leaving.
During this period, because Yuan Yan was granted the title of Prince of Qin by His Majesty for his meritorious service and was also entrusted with the task of revising the laws, many officials have keenly noticed the change in the Emperor's will.
Some people then wanted to visit the Prince's mansion, inviting him to banquets under various pretexts and sending him invitations.
However, Yuan Yan did not want to associate with officials at this time, lest he become the subject of gossip.
To avoid a period of leisure, when her servants asked if she wanted to go back, Yuan Yan had the coachwoman drive the carriage to the outskirts.
In the outskirts of Beijing, spring is in full bloom, and tourists flock to the area.
Yuan Yan admired the weeping willows swaying in the wind on the bank, breathed in the fresh air, and listened to the women chatting and composing poems. His mood gradually relaxed, and he felt that the fatigue accumulated over the past few days had been greatly relieved.
Not wanting to be followed by a group of people in such a place, Yuan Yan ordered his servants to wait elsewhere, and casually found a willow tree to sit down.
After quietly admiring the scenery for a while, she closed her eyes as the warm breeze blew.
At the same time, a young master was walking in this direction with his male attendants.
“Young master, if we sneak out like this, the master will definitely punish us if he finds out… We should go back before the people in the manor notice.”
The male attendant glanced at the tourists around him, then at his young master in disguise. He followed closely behind, speaking nervously.
"Good Jinshu, it's not easy for you to come out, please allow me to stay a little longer."
Yang Lingyi was unwilling to go back so soon, and pleaded softly with the male servant.
"Ever since we arrived in the capital, my father has always made me attend all sorts of banquets."
"The banquets here are very different from those in Yanzhou. There are too many people and too much noise. I don't like it and I really don't want to stay here any longer." He sighed softly, looking slightly dejected.
“Young Master, His Highness the Eldest Prince is only thinking of you… His Highness brought you all the way to the capital, just so that you could find a good marriage here,” Jinshu advised.
It turned out that the young master who was speaking was Yang Lingyi, the son of the current emperor's eldest son.
Back then, the eldest daughter of the emperor was married off by the late emperor to Yang Hongshu, the governor of Yanzhou.
Unexpectedly, after their marriage, the couple struggled to produce a daughter. The eldest prince was unable to conceive a daughter for many years, enduring much hardship, but only managed to have a sickly daughter who died shortly after birth.
Several years later, he finally had a daughter, Yang Lingyi. He cherished her like a precious jewel, showering her with affection. He did everything in his power to raise Yang Lingyi to be dignified, virtuous, and well-mannered, with impeccable manners and etiquette, earning her a great reputation in Yanzhou.
When Yang Lingyi reached marriageable age, the eldest prince began to consider her marriage again.
Yanzhou is a remote place, so there are naturally fewer talented women there than in the capital.
The eldest prince had very high standards and was not satisfied with several options, yet he was unwilling to easily give away his precious daughter. So he turned his attention to the capital.
After bringing Yang Lingyi back to the capital and paying respects to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, he began to travel around the capital and hold banquets, hoping to find a suitable wife for Yang Lingyi.
However, Yang Lingyi herself did not want to rush into marriage; she only obeyed her father's arrangement out of respect for traditional female virtues. He was quiet by nature and disliked the noisy and extravagant scenes at banquets. After attending many banquets, he finally could not bear it any longer.
So, he, who was always obedient and well-behaved, changed into Jinshu's clothes this time and disguised himself as a young master from a humble family to sneak out to the outskirts of the capital to relax and have some fun.
Yang Lingyi looked slightly troubled: "It's not that I don't understand Father's good intentions. It's just that I've been feeling really bored lately and can't stand staying in the mansion anymore, so I came out for a walk and will go back in a little while."
Jinshu hesitated: "But..."
"If Father asks, I will explain, and I will not let you be punished." He knew what the servant was worried about and said considerately.
Jinshu felt a little more at ease.
The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the very edge of the riverbank.
Seeing that Jinshu said no more, Yang Lingyi smiled slightly and turned around. Unexpectedly, she found a woman resting with her eyes closed under the willow tree behind her.
Jinshu was also startled. "Young Master... there are people here."
Indeed. Not only did someone overhear him, but they also likely heard what he said when he secretly left the manor.
As Yang Lingyi thought this, her face flushed slightly for a moment.
Yuan Yan, who had been lazily dozing off under a tree, was awakened by a man's voice suddenly appearing beside her. Opening her eyes, she saw a master and servant standing not far from her, talking.
The young master was dressed in a light blue robe, made of very ordinary material, but it made his face look exceptionally bright and beautiful.
His almond-shaped eyes were clear, as if washed by water, with long eyelashes and a slightly upturned nose. He still had a youthful air about him, yet he exuded a refined and elegant charm.
Yuan Yan stared into his eyes, and unconsciously looked at him for two more seconds.
She was half asleep when she heard two men say that they were leaving the mansion.
She guessed that the person in front of her must be a young master who had sneaked out of the manor, but because she had overheard his conversation with the male servant, she looked slightly uneasy.
Yuan Yan found it slightly amusing.
When Yang Lingyi saw the woman open her eyes and stand up, she realized that the woman was tall and elegant, with an extraordinary bearing. Looking at her up close, her heart inexplicably quickened slightly.
Yang Lingyi should have avoided the strange woman she saw in such a secluded place.
But for some reason, seeing Yuan Yan lying alone under this secluded willow tree in the bustling suburbs, he felt a strange sensation.
Yang Lingyi hesitated for a moment, then ignored Jinshu's reminder to leave and instead took the initiative to talk to the woman.
"Our servants did not see that Your Highness was resting here and disturbed you. We are truly sorry. This is our fault, and we hope Your Highness will forgive us."
Yuan Yan didn't take it to heart and shook his head.
"This is a riverbank in the suburbs, with tourists coming and going. Anyone can come and enjoy the scenery. I just took advantage of arriving a little early to occupy a patch of spring scenery."
“Young master has done nothing rude, so there is no need to apologize.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Lingyi felt completely relieved to see how understanding Yuan Yan was.
"Since you've come here to enjoy the scenery, why don't you join the other tourists?"
Instead, he's sleeping in this secluded place...
Yang Lingyi didn't say what was on his mind, but his eyes clearly showed his curiosity.
"And what about you?" Yuan Yan chuckled.
"Young Master Guang asks me, aren't you also taking a break in this secluded and deserted place?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Lingyi knew that Yuan Yan had indeed overheard her conversation with Jinshu. After a slight blush, she couldn't help but laugh.
Author's Note: Thank you to all the lovely readers who gave me thunderbolts: Xiaobenben, Shiyuetaguang, Momiao, Zheng, AAA Professional Castrated Pig Female Lead, Chengxi Chengxi World's Number One, Qingqing Grassland, and others! A little more word today~
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