Chapter 347 The King's Tyranny
"Hahahahaha, Boss, his cleverness backfired and he got dragged into a hole where he can't get out. He used to point out my flaws, but look at how he's doing now.
Since there is no hope of cooking the ready-made vegetables into delicious dishes, don’t we have to try our best to put all our hopes on the small vegetable seedlings?
But I’m afraid that the cat will sleep on the roof, and pass it down from generation to generation…”
"Li Yuxiu, shut up!"
Prince An, who was in poor health but had good hearing, glared fiercely at his wicked second brother, who was always looking for trouble. Thick-skinned Li Lao Er shrugged indifferently, but this frightened timid Li Lao Wu so much that he quickly sat up straight.
After Uncle Xihan had been pampered enough, the eldest prince, who had already started trying to twist his fat buttocks, change his face and howl, was carefully returned to his biological father's arms.
Only after Boss Li returned to his post as a slave did he find the wise Prince An again.
"Your Majesty, you just said that the Empress is not in the palace?"
"Yeah. This Bu Lao Wu's wife has come up with some new gadget and sent a message to her sister to go to Qianji Pavilion to take a look. My wife left the palace early in the morning."
"Ah, yes, yes, it's something my wife came up with. It's the Qianji Pavilion, you all know about it, hehehe..."
Maybe other words couldn't make Li Laowu speak out in support immediately, but when his fourth brother mentioned the words "Laowu's wife", our Prince Shun would immediately stand up straight!
"I haven't asked you yet, so don't interrupt."
Boss Li was too lazy to look at the increasingly stupid Old Five. He frowned slightly and stared at Old Four, with an unconcealable worry in his tone.
"Two months ago, because you took the lead in establishing the Boguang Bookstore, you were assassinated by unknown forces outside the palace.
That really undermined the foundations of the aristocratic families. What did I tell you at that time?
I told you to slow down, but you just wouldn't listen!
Isn't the emperor more courageous and resourceful than us? He didn't have the ability to eliminate such a behemoth in the first place. How dare you be so bold?
If it weren't for the incredible movable type printing technology that won the Empress the support of scholars across the country, would those aristocratic families have gritted their teeth and let go of the Boguang Bookstore, which offered free access to the works of various philosophers? In other words, would they have let go of the royal family?
Now that the rumors about the bookstore have died down, how dare she let the Queen leave the palace again? Why didn't you stop her?"
"You're talking as if I can be the boss. If I don't let her leave the palace, will she listen to me?"
Li Chengxiu, who was very confident that he was right, sat back on the chair with his son in his arms and tried to reason with his elder brother.
"What the hell are you worrying about, big brother? When did I ever say I wanted to wipe out the aristocratic family? I know my own limitations very well. How could I possibly have the ability to do that? My wife isn't that bold either."
Right now, our Dayu court is too poor, with all the wealth in the hands of the aristocratic families, big and small. My wife told me that she's focused on making money, trying to earn as much as possible, and then benefiting the common people of Dayu.
Isn't this a good thing? Why should I stop it? Big brother, don't interrupt me, just listen to me!"
Li Chengxiu raised his eyes and looked towards the west of the city. His voice was not loud, but he spoke clearly.
"I know what you're worried about. Big brother, you actually think the same as Li Lao Er. You're also afraid that the queen will usurp power, right?
But why don't you face up to one thing? Jiang Wan is clearly taking responsibility for Li Chengxiu!
If I can earn money myself and take care of the people's livelihood, then I will definitely not let my wife go out and suffer.
Of course, I can put it another way. If any of you three, the eldest, the second, and the fifth, have the ability to make a lot of money and let the people of Dayu have enough food and drink to live a life that won't freeze to death, then feel free to step forward and take charge.
I immediately took my wife home to give birth to a baby.
Who of you can go up?"
The entire palace was silent; even the little baby dozed off in the arms of his father, who was being blown by his wife. All that could be heard was the increasingly reasonable emperor, babbleing on.
"The Ministry of Revenue is currently sorting out its accounts, and you've all probably heard about it. The tax revenue from Dongling Prefecture alone accounts for 10% of the nation's total.
It's only been a few months. How could such a poor place where no one lives or lays eggs be listed in the Ministry of Households? Don't you know it?
Even Old Man Chu, the Minister of Revenue, has turned a blind eye. "Brother, why are you still following Li Laoer in making trouble?"
"Your Majesty, if you're talking about Prince An, just talk about Prince An. Why do you keep bringing me along?"
Li Laoer muttered something and then was quickly slapped back by the expert in making fun of others.
"Why did I bring you along? Wasn't this the one you picked a while ago? And you're still being used as a tool by those bastard families, barking and saying the queen is trying to usurp power?
Ugh, all you think about is power struggles. Why don't you see how hard my life is? Everyone knows that being poor is hard, but being a poor emperor is even harder. Don't you have any idea of this?
There's a drought in the east and you have to pay for it. There's a poor harvest in the west and you have to pay for it. There's a flood in the south and you have to pay for it. There's even a wall in the north to prevent thieves and you have to pay for it!
Am I a fucking golden toad? Can I vomit or poop? I'm just an ordinary toad. What's the point of everyone insisting on pulling me over to burn incense and make wishes?
If he hadn't considered his fat son was already asleep, Li Chengxiu really wanted to yell at the top of his lungs. The Li brothers knew that what he said was not without reason, so Li Yuanxiu was silent for a long time before he sighed softly.
"We've known Jiang Wan's abilities since she was little. But now she's not just the Jiang family's eldest daughter, she's also the Li family's queen.
In the eyes of the world, her every word and action represents the royal family and the will of you, the emperor. How will those noble families view her if she makes a move to compete for profit once or twice?"
"Look at it all you want. If you're really mad, I'll make them lie in their coffins and watch!"
A hint of arrogance that only a king could possess crept into Li Chengxiu's eyes, making him look inexplicably like his biological father, the founding emperor of the Dayu Dynasty.
"What good are those aristocratic families? They all claim to be noble and despise money, but then they turn around and wish they could just bury themselves in the dung heap.
I am different, I am a vulgar person, I have no shame. I am proud that I can eat a soft meal that satisfies my heart!
I was the one who gave Jiang Wan her rights. Since I have enjoyed the happiness she earned with all her hard work, I have the responsibility to bear the blame for the Queen.
Whoever dares to touch the Queen will be the target of a fight to the death!"
As he said this, he stared at Prince Jing with cold eyes, which made him feel a little scared.
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