The prince is more stable

Chapter 926 The Empress Dowager harbors resentment

After ascending the throne, Zhao Xiaoqian bestowed titles and rewards upon officials throughout the land. Although he could not officially bestow titles upon Empress Dowager Xiang, he still showed her respect by bestowing titles and rewards upon several of her relatives from her maternal family.

Putting aside her illicit relationship with her adoptive father Zhao Hao, Empress Dowager Xiang did contribute to Zhao Xiaoqian's rise to power, so Zhao Xiaoqian naturally couldn't treat her unfairly.

Throughout the Song Dynasty, emperors maintained extremely strict control over the imperial harem, fearing that concubines and relatives of the empress would interfere in state affairs and threaten imperial power.

After Zhao Xiaoqian ascended the throne, he would occasionally visit the Qingshou Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. He would often send Zheng Chunhe with some exquisite tribute gifts. Of course, Zhao Xiaoqian was also very tactful in turning a blind eye to her relationship with her adoptive father.

The two were not mother and son, but Zhao Xiaoqian still treated her with great respect.

Today, Empress Dowager Xiang came to Funing Palace in person. Zhao Xiaoqian could tell that her congratulations to Di Ying on her pregnancy was just a side effect; her main purpose was to plead for him to postpone the implementation of the Fangtian Equal Tax Law.

She says that "the harem should not interfere in politics," but what she is doing now is indeed interfering in politics.

Out of respect for his elders, Zhao Xiaoqian didn't say much, but firmly said, "No."

No means no. This is not something your harem should concern itself with. You should live a good life in the Qingshou Palace. I can send you the best tributes in the world, and I can also turn a blind eye to your relationship with your father.

But, don't touch imperial power.

"Your Majesty, the court officials have complained to you. You may simply send them to me. I am also eager to hear what they are complaining about," Zhao Xiaoqian said with a smile.

Empress Dowager Xiang's smile was a little stiff. She could tell from Zhao Xiaoqian's tone that even with her noble status as Empress Dowager, Zhao Xiaoqian was not willing to give her any face on this matter, and there was no room for negotiation.

Empress Dowager Xiang sighed, "I don't really want to get involved, but many of those court officials are veterans from the reigns of Emperor Zhezong and even Emperor Shenzong. They have served both me and the late Emperor. They knelt before me, weeping bitterly, saying that His Majesty is determined to implement the Equal Taxation Law..."

Zhao Xiaoqian readily agreed: "That's right, I do intend to implement the equal land tax system. I want to make the land area of ​​the whole country clear and identifiable, so that the court can register every acre of land and pay taxes to the court on the harvest of every acre. Does the Empress Dowager think I've made a mistake?"

Empress Dowager Xiang hurriedly said, "I had no such intention. As I have said, the inner palace should not interfere in court affairs. I really cannot refuse the requests of the old ministers. After all, the bond between us still exists, and we cannot completely disregard past favors..."

"Your Majesty, I said that if those old ministers want to complain, they should come and cry in front of me. They have lived well enough. I am really curious about what they have to complain about."

Then Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly paused, smiled and said, "How about this, Your Majesty, you don't need to refuse them in person. Just give me the list of those old ministers, and I will summon them and talk to them face to face. How about that?"

Empress Dowager Xiang's face froze, and her expression showed some displeasure.

They didn't give her the slightest bit of face, which made Empress Dowager Xiang feel very embarrassed.

It is said that the empress dowager should not interfere in court affairs, but the world is full of human relationships and customs, how can it be so strict? She, the empress dowager, is the emperor's elder. Although she is not his biological daughter, in name she is also the emperor's mother.

If even this small request of her mother's is refused, where will she put her pride?
Empress Dowager Xiang's expression turned cold. Staring into Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes, she slowly said, "Your Majesty should at least consider past favors, shouldn't you? Putting aside the feelings of those veteran officials from three reigns, I also worked hard for you when you seized the throne."

"Now that Your Majesty has secured your throne, does that mean you will disregard past favors and turn your back on us without remorse?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was taken aback upon hearing this, and then his expression turned cold.

"Your Majesty, the equal distribution of taxes across the fields is a national policy, and it concerns the well-being and happiness of all people. For the sake of this small favor, you want me to disregard the lives of all people? Is that what Your Majesty means?"

"The Empress Dowager claims she will not interfere in state affairs, but what you are doing now is clearly obstructing my implementation of national policies. For your own personal gain, you disregard the lives of the people and the rise and fall of the Song Dynasty..."

Suddenly, a fierce, tiger-like light flashed in Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes as he stared intently into Empress Dowager Xiang's eyes.

Empress Dowager Xiang suddenly felt her hands and feet turn ice-cold. She felt as if she were being stared at by a ferocious tiger, which was looking her up and down as if deciding which piece of flesh to bite.

"Your Majesty... I am your elder!" Empress Dowager Xiang said, mustering her last bit of courage.

“An elder should act like an elder. You have stayed obediently in the Qingshou Palace. I have provided you with food, clothing, and shelter. I have given you the most exquisite and luxurious things in the world. I have also never mistreated your relatives. Yet you are still not satisfied and want to touch the imperial power in my hands?”

"National policies, the livelihood of the people, the system and framework for the eternal rule of the nation—such important things, how can you possibly touch them?"

Empress Dowager Xiang was furious, but Zhao Xiaoqian's aura was too terrifying at the moment. Even someone as noble as her had no choice but to submit to his power. She dared not disobey Zhao Xiaoqian any longer.

This was the first time the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had such a falling out; it could be said that they had almost completely broken off relations.

Empress Dowager Xiang sighed in the end, softened her tone, and said, "Your Majesty, please don't be offended. I was a little too hasty just now. You are right, I really shouldn't have interfered in state affairs. This is taboo. Let's pretend I didn't say anything today, and let's both forget about this matter, shall we?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was somewhat surprised to hear that she had chosen to back down.

Thinking about how this woman fought her way out of the bloodbath in the harem to become Empress Dowager, it all makes sense now.

This woman is quite shrewd, unlike those ordinary foolish women who, once they get carried away with their emotions, disregard the consequences and insist on making a huge scene.

Empress Dowager Xiang knew how to compromise decisively when she was in a weak position and how to mend unpleasant relationships with others as soon as possible. In this respect alone, she was much better than other women.

The Empress Dowager was shrewd and calculating, and Zhao Xiaoqian certainly was too.

So Zhao Xiaoqian grinned and said gently, "I was a bit too impulsive just now, Your Majesty, please don't take offense. I will have the palace servants send you this year's tribute of Bozhou silk as my apology."

Empress Dowager Xiang immediately smiled kindly: "Your Majesty is very kind."

As he watched the Empress Dowager depart, Zhao Xiaoqian's smile gradually faded. Standing under the corridor outside the Funing Palace, lost in thought for a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly said, "Old Zheng, summon Zhen Qing to see me."

Half an hour later, Zhen Qing hurriedly entered the palace to pay his respects.

Zhao Xiaoqian, his face grim, said, "The Imperial City Guard is investigating something for me..."

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty," Zhen Qing said respectfully.

"I want you to investigate how much land and property the Empress Dowager herself and her maternal relatives own, how much of it they reported to the government and how much they concealed. Find out the facts as soon as possible and report back to me."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Qing looked up in surprise and asked incredulously, "The Empress Dowager refers to... the Empress Dowager in the palace, Empress Dowager Xiang?"

Zhao Xiaoqian revealed a dangerous smile: "Of course not. Yesterday, on a whim, I took a mistress outside and planned to make her Empress Dowager. Go and investigate her first."

Zhen Qing was even more shocked, his expression as if he had been struck by lightning: "Acknowledged...acknowledged a stranger? What happened yesterday? Is this...is it true?"

Zhao Xiaoqian gritted his teeth, so angry that he immediately kicked her and shouted, "Do you even have a brain? Empress Dowager! How many Empress Dowagers are there in this world? Even if you were a monkey, you should be able to understand human speech."

After being kicked, Zhen Qing immediately understood.

Honestly, even after knowing the official for several years, Zhen Qing still can't get used to his chatting style of treating nonsense as truth.

Zhen Qing shuddered and said, "I will investigate immediately!"

As he turned to leave, Zhen Qing felt a cold sweat pour down his back.

The Emperor is actually going to investigate the Empress Dowager! What kind of fierce palace intrigue is involved here? I and the Imperial City Guard have been dragged into this storm, what will be our fate?
…………

Because of the "Equal Taxation Law for Fields," the imperial court was in complete chaos, and the atmosphere in the palace was also off.

Zhao Xiaoqian had a falling out with Empress Dowager Xiang. Less than two hours later, Zheng Chunhe secretly reported this to Zhao Xiaoqian.

According to palace servants at Qingshou Palace, after returning to her palace from Funing Palace, Empress Dowager Xiang immediately smashed all the tribute porcelain in the palace, tore up all the calligraphy and paintings, and even slapped innocent palace servants countless times without cause.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Xiaoqian gave a cold smile.

Throwing things and slapping someone are very feminine ways of venting anger.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiang was only forced to swallow her anger and compromise, rather than truly acknowledging her mistake.

Judging from her actions after returning to Qingshou Palace, she must have come to hate Zhao Xiaoqian.

This resentment was probably not just from arguing and losing face, but had a deeper reason. Zhao Xiaoqian guessed that the "Fangtian Equal Tax Law" might have also touched the interests of the Empress Dowager or her maternal relatives.

Therefore, after Empress Dowager Xiang left Funing Palace, Zhao Xiaoqian immediately summoned Zhen Qing and ordered the Imperial City Guard to investigate the land and property under the names of the Empress Dowager and her maternal relatives.

Zhao Xiaoqian was also very curious about just how much of her family's interests he had infringed upon, that she would not hesitate to turn against the emperor and argue with him face to face.

The quarrel between Zhao Xiaoqian and Empress Dowager Xiang was kept secret and no one in the court knew about it.

However, opposition to the equal land tax law in the imperial court grew stronger and stronger.

The court officials grew increasingly agitated, and the wording of their memorials became increasingly harsh. Almost the entire court of civil and military officials opposed the equal taxation of farmland, though the degree of their opposition varied.

Zhao Xiaoqian remained seated in Yanfu Palace, ignoring the dissenting voices of his court officials.

The equal taxation of all fields must be implemented; this is Zhao Xiaoqian's bottom line.

It touched upon the interests of court officials, powerful landlords, and gentry, but conversely, it also touched upon the bottom line of the Song Dynasty's fate.

The reason why dynasties fell throughout history was actually due to land annexation. The existence of the "equal taxation of land plots" could effectively delay or even curb the phenomenon of land annexation among the people. Simply put, it could prolong the life of the Song Dynasty.

From the perspective of the common people, it can also protect the interests of farmers at the bottom of society, so that farmers have land to cultivate and do not become displaced people after their land is taken over.

Therefore, the stronger the opposition from the outside, the more determined Zhao Xiaoqian became.

The Fangtian Equal Tax Law will be a fundamental national policy of the Song Dynasty and must be implemented to form a strict system.

Therefore, he didn't care how many people died or how many he killed in this generation, even if he was condemned as a tyrant and a foolish ruler in history books, he was still going to do it.

Throughout history, those who sought reform and strengthening the nation have never suffered bloodshed or sacrifice.

If so, it would be better to kill corrupt officials and powerful landlords first.

I consider them as having shed their blood and sacrificed themselves for the reform.

(End of this chapter)