Chapter 1052

Unknowingly, fine snowflakes fluttered down from the sky onto the earth.

Looking up at the gray sky, Xiao Ming was filled with a sense of emotion. To him, another year had passed, and this was his fifteenth year in this world. According to the modern calendar, it should be the end of 1714, and unknowingly, more than ten years of the eighteenth century had passed.

“Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your concern. This son will keep it in mind,” Xiao Ming said, comforting Concubine Zhen’s worried expression.

In any era, reform required great courage, because it would inevitably harm the interests of a certain group of people, but if their interests were not harmed, the Empire’s interests would suffer serious losses.

How could Xiao Ming not know that this government decree he had introduced would make the conflict between him and the powerful even more intense? But if he did not take decisive action, everything he had done for the Empire over the years would ultimately be for nothing.

Coming from the modern era, he had experienced the rise and fall of contemporary great powers. The Soviet Union, which was once one of the two world poles, disintegrated in a flash and became a thing of the past. This was enough to show that powerful military force and advanced technology were not a panacea for all diseases.

The most important thing was the stability of the Empire’s system and ensuring that there was no internal chaos.

But what Wang Chengye was doing now was a ticking time bomb. As the people of the Empire became more and more enlightened, this distinction between the noble and the common would inevitably cause great chaos. It was seeing this point that he took decisive action.

This was because if he allowed the situation to continue, a war between the powerful and the poor would be unavoidable. Rather than that, it was better to slowly weaken the various privileges of the nobles and ultimately resolve this conflict peacefully.

However, just as Concubine Zhen had said, if he did this, he would have to endure the dissatisfaction and resentment of the nobles.

Looking steadily at Xiao Ming, Concubine Zhen sighed softly, because she could tell that Xiao Ming was only humoring her. He would still push this matter forward in the end.

Gently shaking her head, she pulled Fei Yuer and turned to leave.

Watching the two of them leave, Xiao Ming’s brows relaxed a little. At this moment, Qian Dafu said, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager’s words are not without reason. From now on, Your Majesty must be careful, after all, this time Your Majesty is not dealing with one person, but a large group of people.”

Clenching his fist, Xiao Ming walked out the door, letting himself be bathed in the cold wind. He said loudly, “I rose up from the destitute land of the six prefectures. I fought countless wars in the north and south and killed countless people. This throne was forged in a mountain of swords and a sea of blood. I could destroy the Golden Tent Khanate, I could destroy Goryeo, and I could also destroy Japan. Why would I be afraid of destroying those petty individuals? They had better not anger me, or I will let them know what a living hell is.”

Qian Dafu was awestruck by Xiao Ming’s words. Looking at the increasingly mature emperor in front of him, he felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

“Your Majesty is right. In the past ten years, Your Majesty has never been afraid of anyone!”

With a cold sneer, Xiao Ming said to Qian Dafu, “Immediately have Lu Fei and Cui Shang’an come to see me.”

Qian Dafu’s heart sank. He understood that Xiao Ming was preparing to make arrangements in advance this time. If a commotion were to break out, the guns of the imperial army would probably be aimed at these troublemaking nobles.

With a response, Qian Dafu immediately entered the telegraph room and sent telegrams to Lu Fei and Cui Shang’an separately.

…

Wang Family’s Courtyard.

Not long after Ge Yiren left, a heart-wrenching wail suddenly erupted here. For a time, the people around were all attracted by the commotion.

Zhu Wuliu’s new home was right across from the Wang Family’s Courtyard. After hearing the wailing, he went to the Wang family’s.

Because they were neighbors, and the Zhu family was a prominent household in Qingzhou, Wang Chengye and Zhu Wuliu often interacted with each other. The two could be considered acquaintances.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Zhu Wuliu walked to where the Wang family was. When he looked inside the house, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

On the beam of the house was a person. It was none other than Wang Chengye, the Minister of Rites. Zhu Wuliu immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

“Wang Ze, what… what happened?” Zhu Wuliu stammered, clearly frightened. A Minister of Rites committing suicide in his own home was a big deal.

The skinny young man kneeling and wailing in front of the door was Wang Ze, Wang Chengye’s eldest son. He said tearfully, “After he came home, my father was in a daze. He only said that the Ministry of Rites was gone and that he was a sinner for all eternity, and that the Emperor had left the Wang family with no way to live. We only found out later that he was dismissed from his official position by the Emperor, and his official seal was also taken away. After that, he told me to get a pot of wine to have a few drinks with him. But after I came back with the wine, he, he hanged himself…”

Understanding the cause and effect, Zhu Wuliu sighed. He said, “Alas, it shouldn’t have come to this. Yu Ming was dismissed by the Emperor a few years ago, and he’s still doing well now. Why bother? Maybe if the Emperor was in a better mood, he would have been recalled.”

Wang Ze wept bitterly. “My father has always been very concerned with his reputation, and his temper is extreme. Being so humiliated by the Emperor, he must have been extremely indignant. It’s all my fault. I should have seen it coming…”

Zhu Wuliu wanted to say more, but he opened his mouth and found that he could not say anything. He could not blame the Emperor for dismissing Wang Chengye, after all, this was a matter of court politics, and there was no need for him, a merchant, to meddle in it, otherwise, even with his great wealth, he would not be able to withstand the Emperor’s little finger.

After comforting him for a few more words, Zhu Wuliu turned and left. At this time, the officials who were alarmed by the commotion also arrived at the Wang family’s one after another. Seeing Wang Chengye’s suicide, they were all filled with emotion.

Zhu Wuliu, who understood the cause and effect, sympathized with Wang Chengye’s death, but he was extremely supportive of the current Emperor’s decision.

Although he was now a prominent household in Qingzhou, his children were still bullied by these powerful families in school.

After all, although the law had made the four social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants equal, the distinction was still clearly felt in their daily interactions.

Moreover, this Wang Chengye was well-versed in literature and could be considered a talented person, but his son, Wang Ze, was an out-and-out wastrel. If such a person were to become an official, the local common people would surely be harmed.

Returning home, Zhu Wuliu’s wife, Song, came over and asked, “What’s wrong across the street? Why are they wailing like a ghost? Did their father die?”

Zhu Wuliu, who was sitting and pondering the matter over a cup of tea, spat out the tea and said with a laugh, “You guessed it right. Wang Ze’s father is dead.”

With that, he told her the whole story.

Song sighed. “It is said that living with a ruler is like living with a tiger. What happened today really proves it. Alas, no wonder our elder brother says it’s not easy to serve the Emperor.”

“Of course. The Emperor holds the power of life and death in the world. He can kill anyone he wants and let anyone he wants live. This Wang Chengye also brought it upon himself. He made the Emperor unhappy, so how could the Emperor make him happy?”