"Wu Daoqi has been brought into the Grand Secretariat. The fiscal and military powers must be taken back!"
Gu Jinzhi's face looked somewhat weary, but his expression was extremely solemn as he gave the eager Li Wei his final instructions.
"Also, try using your deterrent power to bring up the idea of merging the labor service and taxes, and levying taxes by acreage. I want to see how they react."
Li Wei casually dug at her ear. "Do they even dare have a reaction?"
She curled her lips, completely unconcerned.
"You want to implement the Single Whip Law? In my opinion, you might as well go straight for the Gentry and Officials Pay Taxes Together..."
Hearing Li Wei toss out "Single Whip Law" and "Gentry and Officials Pay Taxes Together" so lightly, a sudden gleam flashed through Gu Jinzhi's eyes, tinged with surprise.
"You understand this too?"
Li Wei smugly lifted her chin. "What's so surprising about that?"
Looking at the faint dark circles beneath Gu Jinzhi's eyes, she suddenly changed tack.
"I'm saying, you don't really intend to complete the Sky-Gazing Mirror's trial, do you?"
"If you ask me, you might as well lie flat for three years and treat it as taking a long vacation."
As she spoke, she rolled up her loose sleeve, revealing an entire arm as white and tender as a lotus root. She flexed it hard, trying to show off a biceps muscle that did not exist.
"I'm here, aren't I? Could there really be an enemy capable of fighting their way into the capital?"
Gu Jinzhi did not answer her directly. Instead, he said calmly, "Do you remember what I said ten days ago?"
"Try not to reveal your sixth-stage strength, especially now that Min Zimo and Su Mo have arrived as well."