The old emperor has recently been focusing his main efforts on agricultural taxes.
Even in years of poor agricultural tax revenue, there were still more than 20 million taels.
This autumn's harvest is good. If he increases it by a few percent, it will amount to several million taels of silver, which can instantly alleviate his great famine.
As for his request for Jiang Shuwan to prepare for the commercial tax, he was just taking a chance, even if it seemed unlikely.
The matter of commercial taxes is known only to a few of his confidants, and there has been no word of it outside.
Ultimately, let alone his trusted ministers, even he himself didn't have high hopes for commercial taxes.
Jiang Shuwan was determined not to increase agricultural taxes.
However, she hadn't figured out a solution for the commercial tax data yet, and she also had to prepare for the banquet.
The results of the autumn examinations have been released, and just like in the previous life, Pei Yanzhi came in first place, so naturally there was a celebration.
However, this banquet was really difficult to organize because Pei Yunzhou had failed the imperial examination just like in his previous life.
Wen was cursing and crying loudly inside the house.
“Miss, listen to Madam’s still crying. The results have been posted for several days now, and there hasn’t been a moment of peace in Madam’s courtyard.”
Qingxing came in from outside carrying fresh fruits and vegetables.
Taking advantage of the sunny weather these past few days, Jiang Shuwan led her maid to slice the melons and fruits and dry them in the sun. They would be good to eat or sell in the winter.
Hearing Qingxing's words, Jiang Shuwan chuckled, "She has a kind heart, but she doesn't use it in the right place. She can force people to eat, but can she also force them to study? My uncle prefers martial arts to books, but she insists on him going to school, and then scolds him when he fails the exam."
"That's right, Miss. You don't know, but I also heard that the Second Young Master has already reported to the Old Madam that he wants to go to the Martial Arts Academy. When he becomes successful in the future, he will serve the country loyally with Miss Sun's husband, General Lu."
"Lu Shaogan is indeed the most outstanding among the younger generation of military officers."
Mentioning the Sun family made Jiang Shuwan's expression much more cheerful.
The Sun family is thriving, Lu Shaogan has a bright future, and Sun Wanwan and Lu Shaogan have a good relationship. She has finally changed Sun Wanwan's tragic life in her previous life.
In this life, she finally didn't live in vain.
"What did the old lady say when my uncle went to the martial arts school?"
"The old lady hasn't made a decision yet, but the lady is strongly opposed and is currently threatening to kill herself in the house."
"?"
If someone is threatening suicide, should she try to persuade them to stop?
As Jiang Shuwan was thinking, a stewardess came to invite her.
"Young mistress, you must go and see! Madam is threatening to hang herself."
Hanging?
Is this for real?
Jiang Shuwan put down her knife and went there. Before she even stepped into the house, she heard Wen Shi crying and cursing.
"Are you even human? What did I suffer to give birth to you? Instead of studying the classics, you want to learn martial arts. Don't you know how difficult it is to get promoted as a military officer? Even with your father's support, getting promoted to a minor official position is like dying. It's bitter, tiring, and undignified. Are you trying to drive me crazy?!"
"If you won't let me live, then I'll die!"
"I'm going to die right now, so I won't get in your way!"
As Wen spoke, he threw a rope onto the roof beam.
She had hung the rope, tied the knot, moved a chair over and stepped on it, and stuck her head into the rope loop.
And so, even as his mother was about to hang herself, Pei Yunzhou remained kneeling on the ground without any reaction.
The maids and servants nearby were crying loudly and rushed over to stop them.
"Stop crying!"
"You're all wailing and mourning before I'm even dead!"
Madam Wen grew increasingly furious, and the maids and servants quickly stood aside like quails, remaining silent.
Madam Wen glared angrily at her youngest son, "Are you blind? You didn't even react when your mother tried to kill herself?"
"Mother, I know you're faking it. You're perfectly fine, why would you want to die!"
Even though Wen Shi wasn't dead, she was almost driven to death by him. She rushed over and started punching Pei Yunzhou.
"Fine! So you're going to oppose me, huh? What a misfortune! How could I have given birth to such a misfortune!"
"Mother, all I wanted to do was learn martial arts, and you're overreacting. The six arts of a gentleman are rites, music, archery, horsemanship, calligraphy, and mathematics. My elder brother also learns archery and horseback riding, why don't you say anything to him?"
"He's a better student, why don't you compete with him in studying?"
Wen slammed his fist on the table, baring his teeth in a grimacing manner.
For the first time in so many years, she admitted that Pei Yunzhou was inferior to Pei Yanzhi.
Pei Yanzhi was also standing to the side, watching the mess in the room, he stood there without saying a word.
Seeing his blank expression, Madam Wen was furious. She grabbed something from the table and threw it at him, saying, "Your brother wants to learn martial arts, and you just watch? Don't you know how to persuade him? Do you still consider him your own brother?!"
As soon as Jiang Shuwan entered, she saw Pei Yanzhi covered in smears, his forehead red from the smears.
They didn't even know to hide?
Oh, these days, parents can't hide when they beat their sons.
Pulling Pei Yanzhi behind her, ignoring his surprised look, she wiped away her tears and went inside, crying and wailing, her voice even louder than Wen Shi's.
"What kind of nonsense is this? Other families are overjoyed when their children pass the imperial examination, let alone the young master who came in first place. Why is it that you're acting like you're going to die when it comes to Madam?"
"..."
Madam Wen looked at her with a troubled expression. "What do you mean? Do you think I'm unhappy that he passed the imperial examination?"
"If it's not for the heir apparent, then what is it?"
Hearing Jiang Shuwan's puzzled expression, Madam Wen snorted coldly. Compared to Jiang Shuwan, what was most important to her now was to dissuade her youngest son from going to the martial arts school.
Although the Martial Arts Academy, like the Imperial Academy, is the most prestigious official school in the Great Jing Dynasty, the civil service examination is definitely a better option.
Pei Yunzhou also stared at Jiang Shuwan, having set his sights on her. Jiang Shuwan only heard Pei Yunzhou ramble on about abandoning literature for martial arts, and then he looked at her with an innocent expression.
"Sister-in-law, what do you think? You'll definitely support me, right?"
"..."
I support you; your mother could kill me.
Just as she was hesitating about how to answer, a tall, slender figure appeared beside her, standing shoulder to shoulder.
"You're still young, so it's normal to fail sometimes. Trying a few more times is perfectly fine. However, if you insist on going to the martial arts academy, that's not impossible, but you need to think it through so you don't regret it later."
"What! What did you say! You're sending him to the martial arts academy? Are you even his own brother?!"
Before Pei Yanzhi could finish speaking, Madam Wen roared and screamed. In a fit of rage, she grabbed a vase and was about to smash it.
"You beast! You're trying to harm him!"
With that, she hurled a vase as long as her arm at her, but she had no aim and the vase's trajectory was clearly aimed at Jiang Shuwan.
"!"
Completely unprepared for this turn of events, Jiang Shuwan was caught off guard and the vase was about to smash into her face when suddenly everything went dark. The petite girl's body was completely obscured by a tall, thin shadow.
The vases were all smashed on him.
Crash! The vase shattered on the floor.
The room was silent until someone suddenly screamed.
"Something terrible has happened!"
"The prince is injured!"
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