Since ancient times, emperors have been very suspicious and worried about anyone caring about their throne. Emperor Liang was no exception. It can even be said that he was more suspicious than any other emperor.
Twelve years ago, during the Chi Yan Rebellion, for some unfounded reasons, Emperor Liang suspected that the former Prince Qi, Xiao Jingyu, was colluding with the Chi Yan Army, and without any irrefutable evidence, he killed his own son.
?The only reason is that Xiao Jingyu has the ability to threaten the throne.
Now Emperor Liang suspected that Wang Gang was concerned about his throne, and a dangerous light flashed in his eyes.
Wang Gang was not nervous at all, he just said calmly: "The tax system in Daliang is difficult to reverse, and the enclosure of the nobles is becoming increasingly serious. No one can control it, except you, the emperor."
Emperor Liang narrowed his eyes and asked, "What do you mean by this?"
Wang Gang said: "If my father wants to save Daliang, he can only carry out drastic reforms, but at the same time he must withstand great pressure."
"Reform." Emperor Liang hesitated.
Since ancient times, reformers have had bad consequences, even emperors are no exception.
"How do you want to change the law? Arrest all the nobles who are encircling the land?" Emperor Liang sneered: "It is ridiculous for an ignorant boy to discuss state affairs arbitrarily."
Wang Gang did not refute, he had already seen that Emperor Liang was not the kind of person who had the courage to reform.
The most important thing is that Liang did not insist on reform, so Emperor Liang was naturally unwilling to take risks.
"Go to the harem and pay your respects to your mother!" Emperor Liang was a little tired and waved to Wang Gang to leave.
"Thank you, Father."
Wang Gang slowly exited the palace, and as soon as he turned around, Emperor Liang stopped him again.
"Who taught you the reforms you mentioned?" Emperor Liang asked suspiciously.
Wang Gang turned around and replied: "Father, no one taught me to say this. It was because I traveled all over the country over the years and discovered the shortcomings of the beams, and I was inspired to do so."
Emperor Liang asked again: "If you were asked to carry out reforms, where would you start?"
Wang Gang said without hesitation: "I will first improve the tax law and cancel the tax exemption system for the privileged classes. No one, from the princes and nobles to the common people, can be exempted from paying taxes."
Emperor Liang asked in surprise: "Can you also pay taxes?"
"Taxation is the foundation of the country. If the tax system is not changed, reform and reform will be utopian. As the royal family is the leader of orthodoxy, it should set an example." Wang Gang said firmly.
Emperor Liang said softly: "Do you know that just by leaking this idea, you will offend the civil and military officials of the court, and even all the scholars in the world. Let alone inherit the throne in the future, I will not be able to protect you!"
Wang Gang didn't care and said: "The personal benefit is small, but the country's benefit is big. It doesn't matter if it offends the world. As long as the people benefit, personal life, death, honor and disgrace can be discarded."
"That's nonsense. You are talking about what a scholar said to harm the country. Don't say it again in the future. Go and see your mother!" Emperor Liang chuckled lightly. He was very disdainful of Wang Gang, but he was finally relieved.
Wang Gang said goodbye and left, taking Emperor Liang's oral instructions directly into the harem.
Adult princes were not allowed to enter the harem freely without the order of Emperor Liang.
When Wang Gang returned to Beijing this time, he first paid homage to Emperor Liang, and then also met his biological mother, Concubine Jing. This was in line with etiquette.
Prince Jing's biological mother, Jingbi, was a medical woman and was good at medicine. She was rescued by Lin Xie, the commander of the Red Flame Army, and they became brother and sister.
Later, Lin Xie's sister Lin Leyao married into the palace. Concubine Jing volunteered to enter the palace to take care of the frail and sick Lin Leyao, but she was unexpectedly taken by Emperor Liang.
Twelve years ago, Lin Xie was falsely accused of treason, and the entire Lin family was massacred. Even Lin Leyao was forced to commit suicide to express her ambition. Qi King Xiao Jingyu ordered her to die. Only Concubine Jing was able to stay out of the matter, not only because she gave birth to a prince for Emperor Liang, but also because
She has always kept her eyebrows low, has no fight with the world, and has learned how to survive in the harem.
After the founding of Daliang, it was stipulated that concubines could not raise their own children. Xiao Jingyan was sent to the palaces of other concubines to be raised at a very young age. However, he had a deep affection for his biological mother, Concubine Jing, and would go to the palace to pay her respects when given the opportunity.
As soon as Wang arrived outside Jingbin Zhiluo Palace, a palace maid came out to greet him before the news was passed. It must have been a long wait.
"Your Highness Prince Jing, the empress has been waiting for you all day." The palace maid greeted Wang Gang with a smile.
Wang Gang hurriedly walked into Zhiluo Palace, and then saw Jing Bin wearing simple palace clothes, looking expectantly at the door.
"Jingyan." When Concubine Jing saw Wang Gang, she immediately ran over, held his hands, and looked up and down.
"I heard that you fought against Beiyan this time and went into battle to kill the enemy in person. Were you injured anywhere?" Jing Bin said nervously.
Wang Gang's heart felt warm, and he finally felt family affection.
When he first met Emperor Liang, Wang Gang didn't feel a trace of father-son affection, only the emperor's suspicion of his ministers.
"Mom, I'm fine, am I fine?" Wang Gang pressed Jingbin's hand and said.
"You called me mother?!" Jing Bin looked at Wang Gang in surprise. She had never heard her son call her that.
"You are my mother, why should I call you mother?" Wang Gang helped Jingbin sit down and said with a smile: "From now on, when I am in your palace and there are no outsiders, I will call you mother."
Jing Bin's eyes turned red, she nodded happily and said, "Okay, it's all up to you."
"Mom, I've been working hard for a few days and finally returned to Jinling. I've been hungry all day." Wang Gang touched his belly and asked, "Do you have anything to eat in the palace?"
The palace maid on the side smiled and said: "The empress has already prepared your favorite hazelnut cakes and poria chicken soup for your highness."
"Then what are you waiting for? Come get it quickly." Wang Gang said happily.
Concubine Jing asked the palace maid to get hazelnut cakes and chicken soup, and sent everyone away.
"Jingyan, I heard from the palace maid that you made my father angry again?" Concubine Jing sat next to Wang Gang and poured him a cup of tea first.
Wang Gang said indifferently: "My father wanted to send troops to the southern border to farm the fields, but I spoke out against it, which angered him."
Concubine Jing shook her hand and a drop of tea spilled out.
"You haven't asked about the court affairs for a long time. Why did you object today? Is it because of Princess Nihuang?" Jingbin said softly.
Wang Gang shook his head and said: "The farming thing is indeed inappropriate. My father only wants to reduce the power of Prince Mu's palace, but does not care about the safety of the country. As a prince, I should have the responsibility to dissuade him."
Concubine Jing sighed: "Jingyan, you are determined to seize the throne!"
Wang Gang was slightly surprised by Jingbin's keenness and intelligence. Then he thought, if she didn't have this intelligence, she would have died in the turbulent harem long ago.
Wang Gang saw no one around and admitted directly: "Yes, I want to compete for the throne."
Jing Bin's heart trembled, she looked around and said, "In the future, you must be careful with your words and deeds, and be careful of being caught. My Zhiluo Palace is not safe either."
Among the maids in Zhiluo Palace, there must be undercover agents sent by the queen and other concubines. Concubine Jing knew this, so she sent everyone away.
"Mom, do you agree with me seizing the legitimate son?" Wang Gang knew that there was no way back in seizing the legitimate son. If he failed, it would probably implicate Concubine Jing.
"My son has grown up, and I can't take care of it as a mother. It's a pity that I'm weak and can't help you." Jingbin sighed.
Wang Gang raised his eyebrows slightly. If he hadn't read Nirvana in Fire, he would have truly believed Jing Bin's lies.
In terms of the depth of scheming in the entire Nirvana in Fire, the mind has the most eyes, and only three people have ears.
The first one is naturally the protagonist Mei Changsu, after all, he has the halo of being the protagonist.
?The second person is Gao Zhan, the eunuch who was close to Emperor Liang. He was able to stay with the suspicious Emperor Liang for decades, so he was certainly not an ordinary person.
?The third person is Jing Bin in front of me.
These three people are the intellectual ceiling of the whole drama. Some netizens even jokingly said that Prince Jing, Mei Changsu, and Concubine Jing have a total of 800 minds, and Mei Changsu and Concubine Jing each have 400.
