"Your Majesty, no!"
Xia Yuanji resolutely stepped out and played loudly.
"The chief secretaries of the thirteen provinces of the country, the annual grain tax is only fifteen million dan!"
"The Chief Secretary of Sichuan, known as the Land of Abundance and the Holy Land of Bashu, has a yearly food tax of only about one million dan!"
"Now His Majesty actually wants to reward the vassals with the grain tax of one province and a million stones of grain. The country cannot agree!"
As soon as he said these words, the hall became quiet again.
All the feudal lords turned their hatred gazes and stared viciously at Xia Yuanji.
His Majesty the Emperor is kind enough to provide benefits to the clan of the vassal kings like us. What does it have to do with you, a foreign minister?
This is really unreasonable!
Xia Yuanji naturally felt these malicious glances, but he stood as tall as a pine tree and had no intention of giving in.
Because he was the Minister of Household Affairs in the Ming Dynasty, he had to shoulder the responsibility of being in charge of the Household Affairs Bureau.
Are you kidding? One million stones of grain and grass are allocated to the feudal prince a year. What should the common people do?
Even Emperor Taizu Gao, who valued "family friendship", did not go so far back then!
Xia Yuanji knew that tonight was His Majesty's plan, and his purpose was nothing more than to regain the military power in the hands of the kings, and it had been achieved.
If he speaks at this time, not only will he be resented by the kings, but he will also most likely offend Long Yan by ruining something important.
However, Xia Yuanji had no choice. He could not watch helplessly as the emperor used the taxes and grain paid by the people to support the members of the clan, while ignoring the people!
Taxes and grains are taken from the people and should be used for the people. This is the right way!
Xia Yuanji was already prepared to remonstrate to the death and face His Majesty the Emperor's wrath. No matter what, he could not let the matter be finalized today!
But unexpectedly, instead of being angry, Emperor Yongle showed a happy smile.
It is indeed a blessing for the Ming Dynasty to have such a virtuous minister!
"I love you, I am loyal to the country, and you are truly a loyal and virtuous minister. I will give you a unicorn uniform!"
Zhu Di's opening immediately confused everyone.
What's happening here?
Not only did Xia Yuanji have no fault, but he also made meritorious deeds?
All the civil servants and gentry were very excited when they saw it, and they immediately followed up to ask for the performance regardless of their shame.
That's the Qilin suit. Your Majesty gave it to you, and it's full of holy love!
So Xie Jin, Huang Huai and other civil servants also followed suit, and most of the reasons they used were the same as what Xia Yuanji said: the country's finances were tight and we couldn't do this!
Then there is the so-called ancestral law. Emperor Yongle is changing the ancestral law and the rules set by Emperor Taizu Gao. Therefore, it is reasonable for civil servants to object.
Zhu Di did not get angry, but chuckled and said: "Okay, I understand what you all mean."
"But as I said just now, the ancestral law is the old Hongwu system. It applies to the Hongwu Dynasty, but it does not necessarily apply to the Yongle Dynasty and all subsequent dynasties."
"As for the reason, I have asked people to prepare a small game. All my dear friends will understand after watching it."
In fact, Xia Yuanji stood up to object, which Zhu Di expected.
He had already learned from Li Hongbi the dangers of the population expansion of clan members, so he had to change it!
But these important officials in the court don't know yet, and the feudal princes themselves don't know yet, so let's just take advantage of tonight's opportunity to tell them directly, which can be regarded as a warning to these feudal princes to pay attention to the issue of fertility.
After hearing Zhu Di's words, the ministers had no objection. Playing games at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was also a tradition of the previous dynasty.
But they didn't expect that the game His Majesty the Emperor spoke of would be so shocking!
At the same time, at the entrance of the palace.
Li Hongbi hurried out and found the carriage of the Duke's Mansion.
"Brother Meng, go to the princess mansion quickly!"
Li Meng chuckled and did not move, but looked not far away.
Li Hongbi was stunned when he saw this, followed his line of sight, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face.
I saw a Meifu carriage parked there quietly, with spring grass and green ants eagerly waiting for it.
"Prince Hongbi, my young lady learned that you were entering the palace for a banquet, so she came here specially to wait."
Chun Cao smiled sweetly and directly told the reason.
Before Li Hongbi could speak, a shy and annoyed voice came from inside the carriage.
"Chuntao, you damn girl, if you dare to talk too much, I will sell you to Yapo!"
"Ah! Miss, you're going to scare me!" Chuncao complained aggrievedly and pouted.
Green Ant smiled and said nothing, then looked at Li Hongbi.
"The lantern festival has already started. Prince Hongbi, let's..."
Before he finished speaking, the green ant exclaimed.
"Prince Hongbi!"
"Can't!"
Li Hongbi walked around her and got into the carriage.
Mei Wanyan was embarrassed and annoyed because of Chun Cao's words, but the next moment she saw Li Hongbi jumping in, she was stunned on the spot.
"you……"
"Oh, get down quickly!"
Mei Wanyan was anxious.
Although they are engaged, they are not married yet, so how can they ride in the carriage together?
If this spreads out, it will be a fatal blow to women's reputation.
Li Hongbi shook his head with a silly smile and sat down next to her.
"Don't go down!"
"I won't go down even if I'm beaten to death!"
Mei Wanyan was angry: "Get down quickly..."
Then he raised his pink and tender fist to hit his chest.
Li Hongbi quickly grabbed her small fist with one hand and said with a smile: "It must be fair and just. If you hit my chest, I will also hit your chest with my small fist..."
Mei Wanyan was stunned for a long time, and then she realized that this guy was actually teasing her. She was so embarrassed that even her toes turned red, she was shocked and angry.
"You're a scumbag... I'm going to report to the official..."
The beauty subconsciously raised her little fist and was about to land it on Li Hongbi's chest in a demonstrative gesture. She couldn't help but think about what the disciple had just said, and hurriedly retracted it.
"Exactly." Li Hongbi said disdainfully: "We are engaged, and we will get married soon. You and I are a legitimate and unmarried couple. I think the government will probably not care about this matter. As the saying goes, "An honest official is hard to judge." "Housework."
Mei Wanyan became more and more embarrassed and her pretty face turned red.
When she heard about the marriage arranged by her parents, her first reaction was to be extremely repulsive. Because of the reputation of the playboy Li Jinglong, she was also prejudiced against Li Hongbi.
But after being together for so long, Mei Wanyan's view of Li Hongbi has already undergone earth-shaking changes.
Now when she heard him mention the words "unmarried couple", for some reason she felt a hint of sweetness in her heart, and her original rejection was gone.
"Xiao Wan, it's getting late. If we keep inking, we won't be able to catch up with the lantern viewing."
Hearing this, Mei Wanyan said softly "Hmm".
Biting her lower lip with her white teeth, Mei Wanyan raised her eyes and glanced at Li Hongbi quickly, then quickly lowered her head.
Like a frightened rabbit, so cute.
This guy...is a bad guy!
Seeing that Mei Wanyan acquiesced, Li Hongbi was immediately overjoyed.
"Li Meng, come here and drive, let's go see the lanterns!"
Hearing this, the Spring Grass Green Ant was helpless, but also a little happy.
Li Meng ran over with a chuckle, then saluted the Spring Grass Green Ants and invited them to ride in the carriage of Duke Cao's mansion and follow Miss Shizi there.
Immediately, Li Meng replaced the groom and drove Li Hongbi himself.
Li Hongbi leaned lazily on the soft couch behind him and looked directly at Mei Wanyan.
"Xiaowan, I'm thinking, is this true? The person I fell in love with at first sight is actually my fiancée?"
Mei Wanyan was stunned for a moment, and then spat.
"Pooh!"
"You're a scumbag, you're shameless!"
Having said that, a sweet smile appeared on her lips.
