Chapter 296: Estates Pay Taxes

Watching Old Prince Fu and the Duke of Cheng, who were swaying and slowly collapsing drunk onto the ground, Zhu Youxiao stood up and stretched his limbs, then turned to Chen Hong and said, "I need to relieve myself."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong hurriedly led the way.

Although what Zhu Youxiao drank wasn't wine but the warm, cool herbal tea carefully prepared by the Imperial Kitchen, he still had a bellyful from trying to get Old Prince Fu and the Duke of Cheng drunk, and he felt a bit of urgency. Fortunately, he'd only drunk a dozen or so cups, and those two weren't much of drinkers anyway.

If he'd drunk too much with them, he'd probably have a swollen belly and have to bother getting rid of it (a meme that came up in the afternoon operations team, hahaha).

By the time Zhu Youxiao returned from urinating, Zhu Changxun and the Duke of Cheng had already been cleaned up and taken away.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong beside him and said with a smile, "Alright, get things arranged. I'm going to Noble Consort Yuan's place to rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong promptly acknowledged.

As for Noble Consort Yuan's alluring long legs, Zhu Youxiao had been longing for them ever since he'd had his way with them. It was just right to go spend more time with her and ease the tension between them.

After all, there was plenty of time ahead — how could things stay like this forever?

Zhu Youxiao went to Noble Consort Yuan's place to sleep, and that night was naturally full of joy and affection, passing very harmoniously.

But the next morning, Zhu Youxiao still rose early — he had things to do.

"Your concubine will help Your Majesty dress." Noble Consort Yuan clutched the quilt and looked around for her clothes, only to see her undergarment lying on the floor not far from the bed.

Reaching out to press down on Noble Consort Yuan, who was about to get up and attend to him, his fingertips felt a soft, springy touch, slightly bouncy. Zhu Youxiao said in a hoarse voice, "Sleep a while longer."

Seeing Zhu Youxiao's gentle gaze, soft smile, and slightly lecherous tone, Noble Consort Yuan shyly nodded.

Only,

"I'll come see you again in a couple of days."

With that said, Zhu Youxiao kissed Noble Consort Yuan on the forehead, reached out to stroke her silky hair, then stood up, put on his robes, and walked out.

Stepping out of Noble Consort Yuan's bedchamber, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong and asked, "Are those two awake yet?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, not yet." Chen Hong said hurriedly.

"Then prepare my morning meal. I'll eat while I wait for them." After saying this, Zhu Youxiao strode forward.

Come to think of it, Zhu Youxiao really was hungry. Last night he'd drunk a bellyful of hot soup and hadn't eaten much dinner. Then he'd been busy at Noble Consort Yuan's place all night — though he'd fallen asleep before midnight, the exertion had still been considerable, and now his stomach was long since empty.

Zhu Youxiao sat at the table, and the morning meal was laid out before him.

Meanwhile, in the room next to Zhu Youxiao's, Zhu Changxun and Zhu Chunchen had also woken up.

The first to wake was Zhu Chunchen — compared to Zhu Changxun, he was younger after all. But after the night of heavy drinking, Zhu Chunchen's head still ached somewhat.

Just as he was groggily shaking his head, a young eunuch carrying warm water walked up to his side and said with a smile on his face, "This servant congratulates His Grace the Duke."

Hearing this, Zhu Chunchen was startled and asked hesitantly, "What happiness is there to congratulate?"

Of course, he only asked out of reflex. His head still hurt, and he was also vexed about how he'd drunk so much last night — and how had he ended up sleeping in the imperial palace?

When had his self-control become so poor?

"Has His Grace forgotten? His Majesty last night appointed Your Grace as Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Central Military Commission." The young eunuch said with a brilliant smile: "His Majesty was truly delighted yesterday, and Your Grace also received no small amount of rewards. Indeed, Eunuch Chen has already arranged for people to deliver the rewards to Your Grace's residence."

Hearing this, Zhu Chunchen was stunned for a moment, then a look of wild joy spread across his face.

Had he finally received rewards?

Had he finally earned His Majesty's favor?

Had he finally gained His Majesty's promotion?

He knew that his family had declined terribly over the years, holding no real power in the Capital Camps or the military. The old veterans in his household had also degenerated considerably — the Duke of Ying was the true number-one man of military power in the Great Ming.

Now he finally had a chance to turn things around. Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Central Military Commission — this was no ordinary post.

With this position, his family's revival was within reach.

After the initial surprise, Zhu Chunchen said to the young eunuch, "Quick, tell me what happened last night."

"It seems Your Grace truly has forgotten." The young eunuch said with a fawning smile, quickly continuing: "Yesterday you and Old Prince Fu accompanied His Majesty in drinking and were very merry. Later, the conversation turned to the imperial estate His Majesty had bestowed upon Old Prince Fu."

"Old Prince Fu said that since it was His Majesty's imperial estate, he couldn't accept it, but His Majesty insisted on giving it. In the end, Old Prince Fu said that since His Majesty insisted, then he requested permission to pay taxes on it."

"As Your Grace knows, the estates of our Great Ming don't pay taxes. With Old Prince Fu saying that, how could His Majesty possibly agree?"

"But Old Prince Fu knelt on the ground and wouldn't get up, insisting that the Great Ming was in difficulty, that His Majesty couldn't even afford to repair the palaces, and yet was still bestowing an imperial estate upon him — as a subject, his conscience couldn't bear it. If His Majesty wouldn't permit him to pay taxes on the estate, then he would refuse the estate altogether."

"So His Majesty had no choice but to approve Old Prince Fu's petition."

Hearing the young eunuch's words, Zhu Chunchen had a bad premonition. He hadn't done something stupid, had he?

He knew that anything involving estates and taxation was a matter of life and death.

Zhu Chunchen hurriedly asked, "What did I have to do with any of this?"

"Your Grace, however could you have forgotten?" The young eunuch said with a smile: "At the time, Old Prince Fu and His Majesty were at a standoff, and it was Your Grace who mediated."

"This servant remembers clearly — at the time, Your Grace knelt on the ground together with Old Prince Fu. Your Grace said that Old Prince Fu was an imperial relative and His Majesty's imperial uncle, and since the court wasn't well-off and His Majesty couldn't even afford to repair the palaces, then those who should contribute money were us subjects. If estates were truly to pay taxes, it should start with the nobles and imperial in-laws."

"Your Grace also said that you were willing to be the first." The young eunuch looked at Zhu Chunchen with an expression of adoration, a brilliant smile on his face, and his tone filled with admiration.

The young eunuch continued: "At the time, His Majesty disagreed. His Majesty said that estates not paying taxes was a rule established by the Founding Emperor, and the ancestral rules couldn't be broken."

"But then Your Grace knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying these words: the nobles and imperial in-laws have received the state's grace for generations, sharing the nation's fortunes. Now that the court is in difficulty, there is no rule that cannot be changed. Even offering up one's own life and property, ruining one's family to relieve the nation's crisis — that is what one should do. How much less is merely having estates pay taxes?"

"If His Majesty wouldn't agree, Your Grace would dash your head against the great hall. You were very agitated at the time, kowtowing and striking your head against the ground again and again."

"Look at Your Grace's forehead — there are still red marks. Does Your Grace feel dizzy? Shall this servant summon the imperial physician?" The young eunuch said with concern in his voice.

Zhu Chunchen felt his head buzzing.

It was over. What had he done?

Had all of that really been his doing?

He looked up at the young eunuch — this young eunuch probably wasn't lying.

Besides, many people had been present, including His Majesty. If he claimed it never happened, wouldn't that be going back on his word?

That would be tantamount to deceiving the emperor!

Moreover, His Majesty had given him rewards and promoted him to a new post — how could he refuse that?

But thinking of the waves this matter would stir up afterward, Zhu Chunchen wished he could have drunk himself to death.

Drinking ruins everything!

Zhu Chunchen had no time to summon an imperial physician to look at his head; he directly grabbed the young eunuch and asked, "And then what happened?"

"Then His Majesty, seeing that you and the old Prince of Fu both insisted, agreed to it. Moreover, he personally descended from the imperial dais and toasted you both, praising you as pillars of the state. He said you were a model among the meritorious nobles, gave you rewards, and additionally conferred official positions upon you."

"His Majesty said right then that the Duke of Cheng is the exemplar of the Ming dynasty's meritorious nobles, a model for all of them. He also said he would issue an edict to the court so that everyone would know!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen's body swayed, and he sat down directly on the bed.

In his mind, there were only three words, and those were:

It's over!

At the same time, in the room next door, Zhu Changxun was also sitting on the bed with a dumbfounded expression.

Looking at the beaming young eunuch before him, the old Prince of Fu wished he could punch the fellow right in the face.

Damn it!

He knew drinking never led to anything good—and sure enough, something had gone wrong!

Last time he drank, he'd sunk two million taels into it; this time he drank, he'd probably sink his own life into it. Even if he didn't lose his life, his reputation was gone.

Taxes—taxes on manor lands! This was a matter that could cost him his head!

Manor lands were estates granted by the court to subordinates or princes, taking two forms: meritorious noble manors and princely household manors.

Manors granted upon the conferral of noble titles were called meritorious noble manors. "Meritorious nobles" referred to meritorious ministers (military officers of merit) and noble relatives (imperial in-laws and kin).

After so many years of inheritance and expansion, these meritorious noble lands were long since no longer just what had originally been granted. Besides what the Emperor had bestowed, there were also manors petitioned for extra, civilian fields seized by force, and official lands forcibly tenanted.

This also involved concealed populations and hidden lands. If this matter were dug up, there would be nothing small about it.

The old Prince of Fu was deeply vexed. How could his head have twitched and made him say such a thing?

In fact, Zhu Changxun suspected he had never said those words at all. But the question now was—did it still matter whether he'd said them or not? Would you dare go out and say you hadn't said them?

That would be tantamount to not admitting it. That would be deceiving the Emperor. That was a crime he couldn't bear.

Thinking of this, Zhu Changxun slumped down where he sat in dejection. He truly had no idea what to do. The young eunuch beside him, however, hadn't stopped and continued relating the course of events.

Hearing what the Duke of Ying, Zhu Chunchen, had said, Zhu Changxun's eyes lit up.

He suddenly stood up, a smile spreading across his face. It seemed he could still be saved this time. The fatal words hadn't been spoken by him. He had only said the imperial manors should pay taxes. It was Zhu Chunchen who had blown the matter up.

Thinking of this, Zhu Changxun suddenly had an idea.

On this matter, he would insist to the death that it was Zhu Chunchen who had said it. He himself had only said imperial manors should pay taxes—he had never said manor lands should pay taxes. Though the distinction could be said to exist or not to exist, he represented the imperial house.

Offending the other princes wasn't frightening, since they were all scattered across the realm while he remained in the capital. There was nothing much they could do to him. As long as the meritorious nobles and noble relatives didn't lay the blame at his door, things would be much easier to handle.

One had to know that most meritorious nobles and noble relatives were in the capital. The entire capital was filled with their people, and he was in the capital too now—there was no telling if they might frame him. This matter was best left for that fool Zhu Chunchen to take the fall.