Seeing that the situation had temporarily tilted in their favor, Li Ming decided to cut through the confusion quickly. With a serious expression, he said,
"Minister Xie is absolutely right. The people want fairness and justice! Since all the ministers agree that taxes should be collected on the people's wasteland, then starting today, all land throughout the country will be taxed equally. That way, the treasury won't be empty anymore, and we'll have money and grain to provide disaster relief and dredge the rivers!"
Xie Wenqing had been waiting for the emperor's decision. He calmly bowed to Li Ming and said respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise!"
The other ministers exchanged glances and remained silent. Still, no one objected. If they tried to stop this now and word got out, they would be branded as men who had brought disaster upon the country and its people. Their families would be disgraced!
Li Ming impatiently wrote an imperial decree and had the Chancellery approve it at once, finalizing the decision to tax aristocratic families and commoners alike. After court was dismissed, he excitedly went to Consort Rou's residence, hoping to relax a little.
After court ended, Shangguan Xu suddenly felt his mind go blank. He knew nothing at all, and his body moved of its own accord toward the Shangguan Family home.
The ministers in court, led by Right Chancellor Minister Su, had wanted to speak with Shangguan Xu. But when they saw him leave right away, they couldn't even catch up with him. All they could do was sigh in frustration.
Unable to get an answer from Shangguan Xu, they turned their attention to Xie Wenqing, all wanting to ask him why he'd gone mad.
But Xie Wenqing was just as dismissive toward them. No matter what they said, he didn't