Accidentally dressed as an empress

"I have lived within this palace for a long time. Although I have read thousands of memorials, I still feel that what I learned from books is shallow. I know that I must do it myself." Yun Se stared at the silent ministers in the hall for a long time, and finally spoke slowly.

After Yun Se finished speaking, the hall fell into dead silence.

After a moment, Yun Se seemed to have made up his mind. He waved his long sleeves and said loudly, "Pass on my order. I will go on an incognito tour. Only Yi Yuan, Gu Zezhi, and Wu Han will accompany me. You must not disturb the people."

Yi Yuan was delighted and quickly responded, "Your Majesty is wise. This trip will surely allow Your Majesty to see the true state of the country and find a good way to govern the country in the future."

Yun Se looked at Yi Yuan, her eyes seemed to be examining, exploring, and there seemed to be a subtle touch.

As the morning light broke, the corner gate of the palace quietly opened. Yun Se and Yi Yuan and several others, all dressed in ordinary cloth, stepped into the streets and alleys of the capital.

The hustle and bustle of the market hit me in the face, with hawking sounds, laughter and quarrels intertwined together.

Yun Se held Yi Yuan's hand and said, "I haven't been shopping for a long time."

Yi Yuan bowed slightly and responded softly: "Let me lead the way for you today. I will make sure that Your Majesty will enjoy it." After that, the two of them walked slowly side by side on the bustling street.

They walked between the stalls filled with a wide variety of goods. Yun Se stopped from time to time to look at the small objects he had never seen before, while Yi Yuan patiently explained their uses and origins.

They walked to a food stall, where steaming buns gave off an enticing aroma. Yun Se looked at the people around him feasting on the food and asked Yi Yuan, "Are they really that delicious?"

"do you want to eat?"

Yi Yuan nodded shyly, and Yun Se asked Wu Han to go forward and buy a few and hand them to Yi Yuan.

Following the crowd, they came to a circus venue and saw performers twisting and turning on the flying wire in the air, causing everyone to exclaim in surprise.

After the performance, the people around applauded and cheered, and Yi Yuan also applauded, blending into the joyful atmosphere.

They continued walking forward and turned a corner, where they saw a group of children playing in an open space. They used branches as swords and stones as a formation, imitating the appearance of martial arts heroes and chanting to themselves.

Yun Se stopped to watch, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face.

As the sun rose higher, Yun Se and Yi Yuan and their group walked into a teahouse.

The teahouse was full of people, drinking tea and talking about family matters and national affairs.

Yun Se and Yi Yuan found a corner to sit down and listened quietly to everyone's discussion.

In a corner of the teahouse, Yunse heard an old craftsman at the next table sighing, "Taxes keep rising year after year. We craftspeople work hard to save up some money, but now we pay it all out. There's no money left to buy new tools. I'm afraid our craft is going to get harder and harder."

A young scholar nearby chimed in, "I see the farmers in the fields are suffering terribly. They rely on the weather for their livelihoods. When the harvest is good, taxes are heavy, and when the harvest is bad, the whole family starves. Yet, the local government only serves to collect taxes, and offers no relief."

An old hunter nearby also echoed: "We live off the mountains, but in recent years, the mountains and forests have been occupied by some dignitaries, who say they want to build some gardens. Our hunting range is getting smaller and smaller, the prey is getting less and less, and our life is getting more and more difficult. These lands and forests are gifts from God to everyone, how can they be monopolized by a few people?" Yun Se knew very well that the allocation of land resources was related to the foundation of people's livelihood, and such wanton encroachment would definitely cause public resentment.

At another table, several merchants were whispering to each other, "Business is becoming increasingly difficult. There are so many checkpoints, and we have to pay exorbitant tolls at every one we pass. The cost of goods has increased several times. Ordinary people can't afford them, and we can't make any money. If this continues, our country's commerce will decline."

Yun Se was deeply shocked when he heard these words. He had originally thought that the tax policy was to fill the treasury to keep the country running, and that the checkpoints were to regulate the flow of goods. However, he had not expected that in the eyes of the people and merchants, it would be such a heavy burden, seriously hindering people's livelihood and economic development.

At this time, another old man slowly spoke up, "The water conservancy projects Your Majesty promoted a few years ago were originally good things, but corrupt officials embezzled the money at every level, leaving us, the actual workers, with very little left, and the quality of the work has been greatly compromised. During the rainy season, floods still wreak havoc, bringing hardship to those of us living by the river."

Yun Se's face became solemn. She knew very well the importance of water conservancy to agriculture, but she did not expect such serious problems to arise during the implementation process.

Gu Zezhi, noticing Yun Se's expression, said softly, "Your Majesty, matters among the people are complex and intricate, and cannot be fully understood from the court. Now that I've heard it with my own ears, I can see the need for reform."

Yunse nodded slightly. She realized that she must ensure that the implementation of the policy would not deviate from the original intention and truly benefit the people.

After leaving the teahouse, Yunse and Yi Yuan walked to a dock. Porters were busy loading and unloading goods, sweating profusely. Yunse noticed a lot of exquisite pottery among the cargo and struck up a conversation with an old porter.

The old porter wiped his sweat and said, "These pottery are all fired here. The craftsmanship is impeccable. But the road to other places is too difficult. The road is bumpy and the freight is high. Many buyers are scared away by the high price."

Walking along the pier, they met a boatman.

The boatman said worriedly, "There used to be a lot of fish in this river, but now there are fewer and fewer. Some big merchants, in order to make money, use their nets to catch all the fish, big and small. If this continues, there will be no fish in the river. And the water is not as clear as it used to be."

I met another flower seller, who timidly said, "You may not know, but it's extremely difficult for men in our city to make a living. Anyone with even the slightest bit of beauty is coveted by wealthy families, and our wives and sisters at home have no choice but to keep us hidden away for our own safety. If a man could acquire a skill, he could become independent, but such opportunities are rare these days."

Yun Se looked at Yi Yuan and Gu Zezhi beside him, as if thinking about something.

………………

Yun Se sat upright in the magnificent hall, with ministers standing on both sides. The atmosphere was solemn and depressing.

Yun Se swept the room with a dignified gaze and spoke slowly, "I have been on this incognito tour, and what I have seen and heard has deeply touched me with the suffering and many ills of the people. I am determined to implement reforms, and you, my dear ministers, may speak freely."

An old minister stepped forward first, speaking respectfully yet with a hint of doubt, "Your Majesty, reform is a matter of great importance. It concerns our ancestral laws and the interests of all parties. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider. For example, regarding taxes, while the people may complain, if they are reduced, the treasury revenue will plummet, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to support the state's many expenses."

Yun Se frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "I know that taxes are related to the foundation of the country, but now the people are burdened too heavily and their lives are in dire straits. How can we talk about the prosperity of the country? We can send someone to carefully review the tax items and eliminate the unreasonable ones. At the same time, we can encourage farmers and merchants, increase revenue and reduce expenditure, so as to fill the treasury gap."

Grand Minister of Agriculture Xu Ling said, "I obey your orders."

Gu Zezhi glanced at Yun Se and stepped out, saying, "I believe that developing water conservancy projects to ensure worry-free irrigation and building roads to connect the four directions are also important matters that benefit both the country and the people."

At this time, the Grand Marshal Gu Yao, who was in charge of water conservancy, said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, building water conservancy projects is extremely expensive and the project is complicated. If we force it, I am afraid we will not see any results."

Yun Se snorted coldly, "Water conservancy is the foundation of people's livelihood. It affects the harvest of crops and the lives of ordinary people. From now on, we must strictly select supervisory officials, increase penalties for corruption, and establish a system of earmarking funds for designated purposes to ensure that all money is used for the project without any deductions."

Xu Ling said, "Your Majesty, building roads and bridges will require a lot of manpower and resources, and the geographical environment is complex, making implementation difficult."

Yun Se pondered for a moment and said, "We can recruit civilians and offer them work in lieu of relief. This will not only solve the workers' livelihoods but also advance the project. As for the geographical difficulties, I will have the Ministry of Works consult with local skilled craftsmen and ensure a feasible route is planned."

When discussing the education and rights of men, the Minister of Rites expressed embarrassment: "Your Majesty, it is against etiquette for men to appear in public. This is unprecedented and I am afraid it will be criticized by the world."

Yun Se smiled and said, "Etiquette and morality should also keep pace with the times. A talented man will benefit both his family and the country. We can first pilot a boys' school in the capital, and then allow local governments to gradually implement it based on actual conditions. I have made up my mind, and there is no need to discuss it further."

Seeing that Yun Se was determined, the ministers, although still worried, all expressed their willingness to obey his orders.

Yun Se looked at His Highness and the others, knowing that the road to reform was long. However, for the prosperity of Yun State and for the foundation of her ancestors, she must continue to push forward unswervingly.