Sheng Fu

Upon hearing this, Li and the other four felt their scalps tingle and their limbs go weak.

Is this move really doomed to failure?

"I beg Your Highness the Prince of the South to grant me a way out!" Li He kowtowed repeatedly, crying out.

Upon hearing the words "way out of trouble," Xie Yiming couldn't help but laugh and said, "Just how many heinous things have you done that you are so afraid of the new policies?"

Li He wept bitterly and said, "There has been no immoral or immoral act, but the new policies have many impacts, and we are afraid that we will not be able to adapt to them for a while."

Xie Yiming said solemnly, "You'll understand once you experience the new policies for a while."

"I cannot make an exception for you here."

"The era of mutual protection among officials is over. I hope the four of you can see the situation clearly."

"However, I can point you in the right direction."

A clear path?
Upon hearing this, Li He, Tian Jun, He Jin, and Su He felt as if they had grasped a lifeline.

"Your Highness, please enlighten us!" the four said in unison.

Xie Yiming smiled demurely and said, "One of the new policies is to abolish the status of lowly people. After you return home, you should voluntarily return the indenture to the servants in your household and grant them land and houses."

"The new policy is intended to benefit the poor from the root. You should be clear about how to do it and how to express your views."

"As long as your four major families are willing to cooperate with the new policies and do what they can, it can be considered a contribution to the rise of the new dynasty. As for the cases of some of your family members engaging in favoritism, corruption, or disregard for human life, it will be determined according to the circumstances. Those with serious circumstances will still not escape death."

"That's all I can say. The choice is yours."

"Of course, if you can find an even more powerful backer, I will pretend I never said anything."

Upon hearing this, Li He, Tian Jun, Su He, and He Jin were initially confused, but then their minds cleared up.

Actively cooperating with the new policy is undoubtedly a meritorious act of following the leader's lead.

The family is large and its branches are numerous; where it needs pruning, it needs to be pruned properly.

Whether they can achieve a situation that balances out depends on their luck.

After all, Xie Yiming doesn't have the final say on everything, big or small, regarding the new policy.

"Thank you, Your Highness. We will take our leave now. We will certainly cooperate fully with the new policies." Li He bowed with his hands clasped and sighed repeatedly.

Xie Yiming pretended not to see it, but said vaguely, "If you make some outstanding achievements in a short period of time, perhaps you can have a place at the foot of Shuanglong Mountain."

"That's all I can say. You should hurry back to your hometown and make preparations. You have three days, which is enough time for you to get things done."

"I'm sorry, I won't see you off."

Li and the others immediately stood up, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

Afterwards, the four of them left the simple tent together, and their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, were able to relax a little.

"Only four second-tier aristocratic families are willing to express their opinions. It seems that the remaining families are either planning to fight to the end or are still observing. I wonder if this time, the new policy can be implemented in one fell swoop," Xie Yiming said with some concern.

……

The next day, morning.

At Hengchangzong, a light rain was falling and a thick fog was billowing.

Inside Hengchang Palace, Yuwen Jun was still enjoying the peaceful and prosperous time alone, listening to the melodious tunes and watching the dancers gracefully perform, finding it quite delightful.

Sometimes I think that living alone is actually quite nice.

That's how men are; they dream of settling down, starting a family, getting married, and having children, while at the same time yearning to roam the world, living a carefree and unrestrained life. But you can't have your cake and eat it too.

However, this situation also gave Yuwen Jun a strange thought: perhaps she really could achieve the ideal that most men could not...

As his thoughts drifted and the void surged, Li Hongshan arrived beneath the main hall.

The female musicians playing the zither and the graceful dancers were all slightly taken aback upon the arrival of the Grand Preceptor, as if time had stood still. Li Hongshan looked around and a smile inexplicably crept onto his lips.

Young Master of the Dragon Clan, you're really in high spirits.

Seeing this, Yuwen Jun smiled freely at the crowd below the hall and said, "It's alright, let the music continue and the dance continue."

The music remains, the singing and dancing continue, and the good times remain.

Yuwen Jun then reached out and pulled an exquisite chair from a short distance away to the side of the throne.

"You've worked hard, Grand Preceptor," Yuwen Jun said with a gentle smile to Li Hongshan.

Afterwards, he poured wine for the Grand Preceptor. Li Hongshan's eyes were slightly strange. In his memory, Yuwen Jun had always been a proper person. He did not expect that Yuwen Jun's life in Hengchang Sect was so comfortable.

At Yuwen Jun's invitation, Li Hongshan slowly walked to the chair next to the throne and sat down.

"Does Your Highness prefer to enjoy things alone?" Li Hongshan asked jokingly.

At Li Hongshan's age, he may have sentiments, but he is more concerned with power struggles and the beauty of the land. As for beauties, songs and dances, or the romantic and unrestrained style of literati, the Grand Preceptor has long lost all interest in them.

What young people like, older people may not necessarily appreciate.

However, this scenery finally allowed Li Hongshan to see some of the proper demeanor of a normal young man in Yuwen Jun.

Yuwen Jun raised his wine cup and clinked it with Li Hongshan's, then chuckled softly, "When you're enjoying yourself alone, you can soothe the wounds in your heart and make yourself calmer and more at ease."

"Does the Imperial Preceptor not have such insights?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongshan's expression turned slightly serious, and he said solemnly, "No, I have had moments of joy and carefree living in my life, but not like Your Highness's."

Yuwen Jun chuckled and said, "I once heard a scholar say that if one has no interest in wine and women, what is the meaning of life?"

Li Hongshan took a slight breath and bowed his head to advise, "With the new policies in place, Your Highness should maintain your usual demeanor. Such behavior is far too extravagant and dissolute."

Yuwen Jun scoffed and said, "Some young masters from second-tier aristocratic families live much more comfortable lives than I do."

"What I'm doing here is just a small-scale operation."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. While I'm enjoying the song and dance, I'm actually thinking about how to face the war after autumn."

"The Chaohua Trial is nearing its end. Regardless of whether the Divine Realm produces a Qilin talent this time, it will greatly restore the national fortune of the Divine Realm. As for the matter of the God-Demon Alliance, it seems that there is little suspense at present."

"Even if the gods and demons are wary of each other, they may very well join forces to fight a brilliant battle, which will put immense pressure on us."

"We had to face this thunderous blow sooner or later."

"We have used up most of the strategic breathing space that Gu Yong and Empress Fuyao bought for us, and now only a small portion remains."

Upon hearing this, Li Hongshan's mood gradually brightened, and the singing and dancing were merely a subtle accompaniment.

The Grand Preceptor gazed at Yuwen Jun and said humbly, "I have compiled a list of six hundred people. Only five of them are prefects. The rest are either county magistrates or their advisors."

"Most people come from humble backgrounds, while a few come from prominent families."

"The specific place of origin, political achievements, character, and connections of each individual have been clearly compiled. Please review them, Your Highness." (End of Chapter)