The newly formed cabinet had seven members. Wang Dian, as the superior, led by example and stayed in the side hall of the discussion hall for meals and lodging. The others, including Yan Ze, couldn’t really object. After discovering that it took half a morning to travel from their palace residences to the discussion hall, they weren’t willing to endure the cold either, so they simply found a palace near the discussion hall and moved there.
The long-vacant palaces in Liang Ye’s harem finally became filled with people as Wen Zong had wished, adding some life to them, though these people might not have been quite what Wen Zong had imagined.
While the frontline war situation was urgent, Wang Dian’s tasks weren’t limited to war matters. He wanted to use this opportunity—after all, it wasn’t often that one got the chance to openly put a knife to the noble families’ throats—to thoroughly reform Northern Liang’s bureaucratic bloat and nearly corrupt official system.
“Cutting to the bone to cure poison is fine, but Your Highness, reforming the official system affects everything. With His Majesty away at war, making such dramatic changes in court could lead to total failure if we’re not careful,” Yan Ze said cautiously, disapproving of Wang Dian’s approach.
Although Bian Cang rarely spoke, he still advised. “Your Highness, reforms have always been implemented gradually. Eastern Chen took thirty years to reform their tax system, and Southern Zhao spent nearly ten years reforming their imperial examination. Now that Great Liang is already in imminent danger, if we make such drastic cuts, it might damage our foundation.”
Cui Yun frowned without speaking, clearly also disagreeing.
“Darens, this official thinks we can risk trying,” Baili Cheng’an spoke up. “Without reform, Great Liang might not survive anyway. With reform, we at least have a chance of survival.”
“Wenbin, deep-rooted problems don’t form overnight. Reform sounds easy, but how do we reform? To what extent?” Qi Ming said. “If we really reform, we’re opposing century-old noble families that have stood firm since the Da’an dynasty. Your Highness has already offended them by confining them to the palace. If we further touch their fundamental interests, they might not be as agreeable as they are now.”
“Not changing means we all die together, it’s just a matter of dying today or tomorrow,” Baili Cheng’an said. “The outcome of His Majesty’s battle is still uncertain. If we lose this war, those noble families will be the first to seek peace and abandon Liang!”
“How do you know they will abandon Liang? The noble families aren’t necessarily a plague. If we can convince them to donate money and grain, it would be a great help to His Majesty!” Qi Ming retorted.
“Foolish!” Baili Cheng’an said. “This is walking toward a dead end.”
“Junior brother—”
“Qi Daren.” Cui Qi, who had been silent all along, glanced at Wang Dian who showed no intention of intervening, lowered his eyes slightly, and slowly spoke. “Baili Daren, please, both of you stay calm. His Highness has only made a proposal, and the specific implementation still depends on Northern Liang’s actual situation.”
This one statement smoothed things over and provided room for compromise, finally easing the tense atmosphere between Baili Cheng’an and Qi Ming.
Zeng Jie, who couldn’t get a word in, sat quietly on the side and smiled at Liang Huan who was eavesdropping from the corner.
Liang Huan got scared and hid.
“Ah Huan, come here.” Wang Dian caught sight of the little white robe and beckoned to him.
Liang Huan hesitated for a moment, then walked unsteadily toward him holding the little cloth tiger his uncle had newly made for him, and softly called out. “Uncle.”
He struggled for a moment, seeing Cui Qi and wanting to call him “Father,” but remembering his uncle’s instructions, he had to keep his mouth shut.
He could only call him “Father” when no one else was around.
Wang Dian was very casual about childcare. While everyone was still arguing, he had Yun Fu bring a small table to put behind him and gave Liang Huan some wooden blocks and colored picture books to play with.
Liang Huan was obedient and quiet. Though initially timid, he grew bolder as time passed. After all, both his father and uncle were present. Even though everyone sometimes argued fiercely, when his uncle smiled at him, he wasn’t scared anymore.
Although today’s argument was intense, he still contentedly played with his blocks, occasionally tilting his little head to listen to their conversation, sometimes understanding, sometimes not.
“In this official’s view, Great Liang’s most fundamental problem lies with the noble families,” Baili Cheng’an said. “Currently, noble families occupy six or seven tenths of the nation’s land. In remote counties like Guangyuan alone, the powerful landowners recklessly annex land. Countless commoners have no land to farm—they either become serfs or wandering refugees. Add to that the officials’ excessive taxation, how can the common people not abandon farming and flee from corvée labor?”
“The noble families don’t just occupy land, they also grant positions to their clients and relatives. Among all the officials in Great Liang drawing salaries, more than half are parasites raised by noble families! How many actually do real work?! When the Cui family held power, they allowed noble families to abuse their authority. In decades, they’ve gnawed Great Liang down to its bones! Noble sons in the capital can spend hundreds of thousands on coral over petty romantic disputes, while refugees suffering from floods are forced to trade their children for food!”
Baili Cheng’an said with reddened eyes, “Darens, I know you have many concerns, but I beg you to look beyond the capital. We live among luxury and splendor, but outside is a human hell!”
The entire room fell into silence.
Everyone knew reform was necessary, but the path was too difficult. Once started, there would be no turning back—one small mistake would mean complete destruction.
After everyone left, Qi Ming stayed behind.
Wang Dian and he were close friends. As they drank and chatted, they inevitably discussed today’s events.
“I didn’t want to argue with Wenbin either, but he’s just too radical,” Qi Ming drained his cup and smiled bitterly. “Master previously asked me to counsel him more, but now it seems he won’t listen to anyone… He’s too impulsive.”
Wang Dian’s wine-pouring motion paused slightly as he followed along. “Baili Daren is indeed a passionate person.”
Qi Ming laughed ambiguously, then after a while, grabbed Wang Dian’s wrist. Slightly drunk, he said, “Zhongqing, some things shouldn’t be said by me, but I consider you a close friend. Whether you’re Minister of Revenue or Assistant Chancellor, whether you’re a prince or a commoner, I must warn you.”
“Speak freely, Lehong,” Wang Dian gripped his hand back and said, “How could I not consider you a close friend! In this vast Liang nation, only you can truly converse with me.”
Qi Ming stared deeply into his eyes, gripping his hand tighter, and said drunkenly, “Zhongqing, Zhongqing! The noble families cannot be touched!”
Wang Dian gazed back at him with misty eyes for a while, then suddenly a smile bloomed on his expressionless face. “Well then, Lehong! I am a prince now, how can I not touch them!”
“The noble families’ roots are deeply intertwined. Moving one means moving a whole chain! Northern Liang now faces external threats; we cannot shake its foundation!” Qi Ming stood up, holding Wang Dian’s shoulders. “If you kill them all, the court will be more than half empty! Northern Liang will have no one to employ! Moreover—”
He leaned down to Wang Dian’s ear and whispered, “With such actions, you make the enemies, while His Majesty reaps the benefits. Whether it succeeds or fails, when he returns, you’ll be the first one he cuts down… Why bother, Zhongqing, why bother!”
Wang Dian’s shoulders shook with laughter, spilling most of the wine from his cup.
Qi Ming pressed hard on his shoulders, staring at the tightly closed palace doors in his half-drunken state, mumbling. “Zhongqing, true friends are hard to find in life, I want you to be well…”
Wang Dian finished laughing, stood up and sighed deeply. “Ah, Lehong.”
Qi Ming looked at him, only to receive a hard pat on the shoulder, “I too consider you a true friend.”
They stared at each other in the candlelight for a long while, both breaking into laughter.
At the height of intoxication, Wang Dian collapsed on the table and fell asleep. Qi Ming stumbled as he bid farewell, supported by Yun Fu as he left the side hall.
The cold wind swept away the room’s wine fragrance.
Chong Heng silently dropped to the ground. Just as he was about to reach out to push Wang Dian, he saw Wang Dian slowly raise his head, his gaze clear and expression cold, showing no signs of drunkenness at all.
Chong Heng awkwardly withdrew his hand and turned to return to the roof beam.
“Hey,” Wang Dian called out to him, “The braised pork hock from the kitchen should be ready.”
Chong Heng turned his head and glared at him irritably, “I won’t eat it.”
Wang Dian smiled and said, “Your master told me to braise a pork hock for you every day, to keep you plump and well-fed. He’d make trouble with me if you got even slightly thin.”
“You’re the plump one!” Chong Heng exploded in embarrassed anger, jumping back onto the roof beam, “You’re both plump! Go tell stories to that little white mouse every day!”
Wang Dian stood below looking up, smiling with his sleeves gathered. “It’s a new recipe, supposedly very fragrant.”
Chong Heng snorted coldly, but swallowed while hugging his sword.
“If you don’t eat it, I’ll have them throw it away,” Wang Dian said ruthlessly.
Chong Heng jumped down from the roof beam without hesitation.
Watching him wolf down the food, Wang Dian pushed a cup of milk towards him, “Eat slowly.”
Chong Heng stared at the fragrant-smelling milk for a long while before reluctantly picking it up and finishing it in a few gulps.
When he had Liang Huan drink it, Chong Heng always watched with a sour face. It wasn’t until Yun Fu mentioned it that he realized whether it was food or daily necessities, he prepared roughly the same things for both children.
Chong Heng had been with Liang Ye since childhood. Though technically a subordinate, he was raised almost like a half-son. Although Liang Ye’s parenting was rough, judging from Chong Heng’s personality, he probably hadn’t suffered any grievances. He wore his heart on his sleeve—a rare quality in this palace full of intrigue and deception.
Chong Heng had never been separated from Liang Ye for so long. After accidentally witnessing their passionate kiss in the snow, his young mind was truly traumatized. Add to that the considerable attention Wang Dian spent on Liang Huan, he had been feeling awkward around Wang Dian lately.
Then, rather weakly, he was won over by Wang Dian with just a large pork hock and a cup of hot milk.
“Was it good?” Wang Dian asked.
Chong Heng nodded with slight hesitation.
“Then help me with something?” Wang Dian smiled kindly and gently.
Chong Heng hadn’t even wiped the milk foam around his mouth when he grabbed his sword and sprang onto the roof beam, fiercely refusing, “Master only told me to watch you!”
“If you go, I’ll take you to play at Kangning Palace,” Wang Dian continued to sweeten the deal.
Chong Heng’s eyes immediately lit up, but he looked down at him suspiciously, “Really?”
“Of course it’s true,” Wang Dian smiled. “Will you go or not?”
The person on the roof beam jumped down decisively, “Let’s go now!”
Wang Dian couldn’t help but laugh.
How did Liang Ye, with all his deep schemes, end up raising such a little fool.
