harleyscars Chapter 459
Chapter 459
A flash of panic crossed Emperor Yunning's face. Just as he was about to defend himself, the Prince Regent suddenly waved his hand, directly releasing Yun Zihao's mute acupoint.
"Royal Uncle! You clearly promised me that you would take back the throne, so why are you so determined to seek death?"
Emperor Yunning fell silent. After a long while, he sighed. "Your Royal Uncle lied to you..."
Yun Zihao's eyes widened. He only heard him laugh bitterly, "Back then, the Yun family's empire was given away because of my own selfish desires. What face do I have now to take it back..."
Saying this, he turned his head to look at Yan and Chu. The expression on his face was hard to tell whether it was joy or sorrow. "Miaomiao, you husband and wife are truly too astute. You can see the whole picture from just one tiny flaw. Yes, I indeed did not tell the truth, but since things have come to this, what is the point of saying it or not?"
Chu Ruoyan and Yan Zheng exchanged a glance, neither of them responding to his words.
They handed the choice over to the Prince Regent, whose gaze was cold and tranquil. He merely spat out a single word: "Speak."
Emperor Yunning's expression was incredibly complex, a mix of lament and remorse. "Yes, Royal Brother. Do you still remember the assignment you left for me before you departed the capital all those years ago?"
The Prince Regent was slightly taken aback. "You mean the Two-Tax System?"
The so-called Two-Tax System meant, firstly, collecting taxes during the summer and autumn seasons, and secondly, taxing based on the amount of land and property owned. In layman's terms, it meant the wealthy gentry and powerful landlords would pay more, while the poor commoners would pay less. This was proposed by a scholar surnamed Yang at the time. He had even made an exception to promote this man to Vice Minister of Revenue, precisely so he could spearhead this initiative.
Bitterness appeared in Emperor Yunning's eyes. "Yes, the Two-Tax System didn't collect taxes per capita. It not only blocked the path of tax evasion but also looked after the impoverished commoners. It could be said to have the best of both worlds. But Royal Brother, did you ever consider that this law harmed the interests of the great aristocratic families? They would never agree to it!"
The Prince Regent chuckled mockingly. "What do they count for? How could it be up to them to decide! Yunning, I told you long ago that a ruler must have the methods of a ruler. For those troublemaking noble families, chop off the heads of the ringleaders, and offer some appeasement to the obedient ones. If that really doesn't work, you can divide and conquer, or win them over. There are so many methods. Could it be that just because they say no, your decrees won't be implemented?"
Yan Zheng deeply agreed.
However, he wouldn't handle it personally like the Prince Regent. He would most likely let a troublemaker like Mei Hexuan take the lead, have Cao Yang play the good cop, and then personally step forward when things got out of hand. That way, he would not only change the tax laws but also win over the hearts of the people.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but whisper into his wife's ear, "A-Yan, your father's Two-Tax System is truly not bad. I'll have to try it out when we get back!"
Chu Ruoyan chuckled softly. Her father's method was good, but it still required a wise ruler to implement it.
Her Yan Zheng was exactly such a wise ruler!
Emperor Yunning was stunned for a long time before he slowly lowered his head. "Yes, there are so many methods, but I couldn't bring myself to use a single one. Royal Brother, do you know? Vice Minister Yang, the minister who proposed the Two-Tax System, also told me to use an iron fist. But as soon as they came in, they knelt in front of me and cried. There was also the Grand Tutor who taught me; he was over eighty years old and came to beg me. I... I just couldn't harden my heart..."
The Prince Regent's face gradually darkened.
He had chosen him back then precisely because of his kind and benevolent heart, but he never expected this to become a fatal weakness.
"So, that's why you lied about a plague in the capital, wanting to trick me into coming back to handle this matter for you?"
Emperor Yunning nodded bitterly. The Prince Regent asked again, "Then what about Murong Feng? Why did you send him a letter, telling him to make a move against Qing'er and her son?!"
Emperor Yunning gritted his teeth and remained silent, but the Princess Consort seemed to understand something, a hint of obscurity rising in her eyes. "It's because you hate me, isn't it?"
Emperor Yunning's whole body trembled. He only heard the Princess Consort's gentle voice dissect him cleanly like a sharp blade. "Because His Highness was willing to give up the throne for me, you hate me. You wanted to use Murong Feng's hands to get rid of me and the children so that His Highness would go back, right?"
A dead silence fell all around.
Only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard.
Emperor Yunning's fingertips dug into his palms. After a long time, he gave a miserable smile. "Yes, I hate you!"
Amidst a chorus of gasps, the last emperor of the Sheng Dynasty openly admitted, "Royal Brother is stunningly brilliant and should have been a wise ruler for the ages. But just for you, a woman from the Western Frontier, he actually gave up the throne and was willing to just be a Prince Regent! Do you know how many people were waiting for him to ascend the throne? Do you know how many commoners were eagerly looking forward to him creating a prosperous era of peace? But all of this was ruined by you! Ruined by you!!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, his ferocious face looking as if it wanted to devour someone.
A flash of pain crossed the Princess Consort's brow. The next moment, with a loud slap, the Prince Regent gave him a backhanded slap across the face.
"Bastard! Whether or not I become the emperor was my decision; it has nothing to do with your sister-in-law!"
Emperor Yunning covered his face and laughed uproariously. "Look, Royal Brother, you are like this again. No matter what happens, you will always stand by this woman's side! Just like when you wanted to leave back then, I knelt on the ground and begged you bitterly, but you accompanied this woman away without looking back. What do I count for in your heart? What does the Yun family count for? And what does the Great Sheng count for!"
The Prince Regent's brows knitted fiercely, veins popping out on his forehead.
He clenched his fists, trying his best to control his anger. "Yunning! I told you long ago that if you stay under my wings, you will never be able to grow!"
Tears streaked across Emperor Yunning's face. On that no longer young face, one could still glimpse a bit of his former naive appearance. "But Royal Brother, I can't do it! I simply don't have your boldness and methods, let alone handling court affairs alone or facing the noble families alone. I simply cannot do it, I cannot do it!!"
He broke down, hugging his head and crying loudly, crying completely without image just like that child back then.
The Prince Regent's fists cracked as he clenched them, but facing this scene, he actually felt a sense of powerlessness, like a fist hitting cotton.
After all, this was the emperor he had blindly chosen back then!
Yan Zheng raised an eyebrow, very much wanting to ask if he only just realized now that he couldn't do it.
But considering that it was ultimately someone else's family matter, it was not good to speak up.
Yun Lang had no such reservations, mocking coldly, "Tsk, when you were established as emperor back then, you didn't say you couldn't do it. When Uncle Prince Jin was banished to the imperial mausoleum for your sake, you didn't say you couldn't do it either. How come now that you've taken office, you suddenly have self-awareness?"
Emperor Yunning's crying paused for a moment, but then he wept even more bitterly. "Yes, I admit it. At that time, I thought being the emperor was novel, and I didn't want to disappoint Royal Brother. But later I realized it wasn't what I thought at all! Royal Brother, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have agreed to succeed the throne in the first place, and later I shouldn't have let Murong Feng kill her. I didn't expect the Murong family to rebel, much less expect that you would become so utterly disheartened for her sake, trapping yourself in Mount Mei for over ten years... A thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes, they are all my fault. Please, just kill me!!!"