Some of them stood up, and some were still kneeling. Luo Qingyan looked at the excited faces and complicated expressions in their eyes. After a while, he said, "I've just ascended the throne, but now the state is suffering from internal strife and external strife. It's my fault. I promise that everyone will be fine this year."
Luo Qingyan paused for a while and continued, "The Empress has recently appealed to me for the people, hoping that I can reduce all the tax by half. I thought about it carefully. As the Empress said, since ancient times, heavy tax has always been like a mountain on the people. If this mountain is not removed, the people will never be relaxed. But if there is no tax and no money in the national treasury, we can't offer food to the soldiers who protect us. After weighing the pros and cons, I have made a promise today that I will cut the people's tax by half this year, without affecting the soldiers in the border at all. Within three years, all the people of the State of Xia will have enough food to eat and clothes to wear."
Yun Shang turned her head in surprise. She didn't remember that she had mentioned it to him. Why...
While she was thinking, all the people knelt down again. "Thank you! Long live Your Majesties!"
Yun Shang fell silent. She understood that Luo Qingyan was trying to help her build a good reputation among the people of the State of Xia.
Although she was the Empress, she was just a princess from a foreign country. If she had a good reputation in the hearts of the people, it would be good for her. Yun Shang's heart softened. Even though Luo Qingyan knew that she couldn't give birth to a baby for him anymore and that her only child had mental illness, he was still so good to her.
Luo Qingyan, who was standing next to her, continued, "The Empress also ordered thousands of doctors to go to every town all over the state and treat the poor people. All the poor people don't need to spend a penny on medical treatment. I will also summon more doctors to join them, and ask the local officials to cooperate them to make sure that all the people will not die because they have no money to see a doctor."
Looking at the people below, Yun Shang was deeply touched. This man always stood in front of her to protect her and also considered a lot for her.
"I think the so-called prosperity of a country is not because the National Treasury has money, but because the people have money in their hands. I'm willing to build a prosperous world for you and share the good life with you."
Luo Qingyan's voice was still calm and a little cold, but it made everyone's excited.
"Hail Your Majesty..." The shouts were deafening, but Yun Shang saw a silver light shining in the crowd below.
Luo Qingyan should also have seen it. He held Yun Shang's hand and said softly, "It's time to go."
Yun Shang nodded and went away with Luo Qingyan.
"Assassins?" Yun Shang asked softly after they entered the building.
Luo Qingyan nodded slightly and sneered, "Even if there is an assassin, he probably knows that it's not a good time to assassinate. The people are boiling with excitement by my words. If he takes action, he will provoke the thousands of people below. At that time, he won't be able to escape." Yun Shang and Luo Qingyan went down the tower and went back to the Palace. It was a peaceful journey.
After returning to Weiyang Palace, Luo Qingyan and Yun Shang changed their court clothes into casual clothes. Luo Qingyan said to Yun Shang, "I sent someone to invite Liu Yinfeng to the Palace. Now he is waiting in the Imperial Garden. You go and talk to him for a while. There is an emergency report from the border. I have to go to the Taiji Palace first. I will come to you after I finish dealing with it."
Yun Shang nodded slightly. Luo Qingyan put on his cloak and walked to the door. He suddenly stopped, as if he was hesitating. Finally, he turned around and said to Yun Shang, "By the way, last time, Liu Yinfeng complained to me that he didn't see... He didn't see Chengye for a long time. He is Chengye's sworn father after all. Take Chengye to see him later."
Yun Shang was surprised. She lowered her head and bit her lips. Then she agreed.
Luo Qingyan stared at Yun Shang for a long time before he left the inner hall.
Yun Shang stood in the room for a long time, and finally sighed slightly. She turned around and said to Qian Zhuo, "Ask the wet nurse to bring Chengye here."
Qian Zhuo answered in a hurry. After a short while, she came in with the wet nurse who was holding Bao'er in her arms. Bao'er was yawning. Then he turned around and saw Yun Shang.
Bao'er stared at Yun Shang for a long time, with doubts in his eyes, as if he could not recognize Yun Shang after more than 10 days' separation. After a while, he suddenly became excited and waved his hand, trying to struggle towards Yun Shang.
Tears welled up in Yun Shang's eyes. Bao'er looked so smart. How could he be mentally disabled?
Yun Shang smiled and gave Bao'er to the wet nurse. She winked at the wet nurse who then took Bao'er to Liu Yinfeng. "As his sworn father, if you don't come to see him again, he really doesn't recognize you."
Hearing this, Liu Yinfeng smiled, "It's my fault. I will come to see him often in the future."
Liu Yinfeng reached out his hand and held Bao'er's. Bao'er chuckled and looked at Liu Yinfeng curiously. Liu Yinfeng smiled, "You don't know your sworn father, do you? Bao'er, call me sworn father..."
Yun Shang couldn't help laughing, "Bao'er is only five months old. How can he speak?" After a pause, the smile on her face faded a little. Moreover, it was still unknown whether or not he would be able to speak.
Seeing Yun Shang's expression, Liu Yinfeng hurriedly said, "Well, it doesn't matter if Bao'er can't call me now. He will call me one day. I just hope Bao'er could be safe and healthy."
Yun Shang could tell from his pitiful eyes that he must have known what had happened to her and Bao'er. And hearing his words, she was even surer. Yun Shang smiled, "Yes, health and safety are the greatest blessing."
"It's good that you think so, your majesty. In fact, the Prince has the greatest happiness in the world." Liu Yinfeng raised his eyes and said in a soft voice, "I have been called a prodigy since I was a child, but I had to be separated from my parents and relatives when I was a child. At that time, I felt that if I could choose, I would rather stay by my parents' side forever than be a prodigy. Bao'er is so lucky to have you and his majesty around him, healthy and happy."
Hearing what Liu Yinfeng said, Yun Shang's eyes suddenly froze. She kept silent for a long time and asked tentatively, "Mister Liu, you should've had an incomparably noble identity, but you were exiled and forced to separate from your parents. Have you ever blamed his former majesty?"
Hearing this, Liu Yinfeng paused and looked at Yun Shang in astonishment.
Yun Shang sat still with a calm face. After a while, she said, "Mr. Liu, don't panic. I'm just asking. I believe that no matter what your identity is, you won't hurt me. I also regard you as my friend, so I asked you without any disguise."
Liu Yinfeng lowered his head with a bitter smile. After a long silence, he asked, "How could I blame his former majesty? He didn't do anything wrong. My father didn't like those disputes in the court and didn't want that position, so he begged his former majesty to do that. The one who was really wronged was his former majesty. Although people slandered him like that, he had never argued. Besides, he promised my father not to tell anyone, so he kept it a secret all the time. How could I hate him?"
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