Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

The postponement of the Third Princess’s wedding, with the Second Prince’s marriage taking precedence, made little difference to most people.

In fact, because of the two joyous occasions, the entire Qin Kingdom would receive several more years of tax reductions, which was seen as a very good thing.

The Second Prince, however, felt rather guilty that his marriage had delayed his younger sister’s. He often visited Prince Shuang’s Mansion or the Princess’s Mansion to offer his apologies.

Xiao Mo naturally received him with all due courtesy, but Qin Siyao was still harboring some resentment.

Every time her brother visited, Qin Siyao would pout.

If not for Xiao Mo’s insistence on hosting the Second Prince, the prince wouldn’t even have been offered tea.

Even when the Second Prince finally sat down in the courtyard to drink tea, Qin Siyao was right beside him, constantly chanting, ”Stupid brother!” and ”Bad brother!”

It made the Second Prince, Qin Jingyuan, terribly awkward.

”Siyao, I think my mother was looking for you. Why don’t you head over to the Xiao Mansion and see what she needs?”

Xiao Mo said to Qin Siyao with a smile.

”Aunt Zhou?” Qin Siyao blinked, then shot the Second Prince another glance. ”You rotten brother. I’ll let you off the hook for today.”

The princess huffed before turning and leaving the courtyard.

”Please don’t mind her, Your Highness. That’s just Siyao’s temperament. She’ll get over it in a few days.”

After Qin Siyao left, Xiao Mo poured the Second Prince a cup of tea and said with a smile.

”Hahahaha...”

The Second Prince, Qin Jingyuan, laughed and shook his head.

”I know that, of course, brother-in-law. We watched Siyao grow up, after all. And it’s true that I, as her older brother, haven’t handled this properly. I feel genuinely guilty, so I must apologize to you as well. I hope you can forgive me.”

”You’re too kind, Your Highness.” Xiao Mo inclined his head. ”A marriage between our two kingdoms is far more important than my own with Siyao. How could I dare object?”

”However...” Xiao Mo hesitated for a moment. ”I wonder... Second Brother, how do you feel about this marriage with the Jin Kingdom?”

”How else is there to see it?”

Qin Jingyuan sighed.

”For those of us in the Royal Family, marriage is never our own choice to make. That’s true for my eldest brother, and it’s true for me.

The Qin and Jin Kingdoms are both great powers now. If this marriage can forge the Alliance of Qin and Jin, it would naturally be a tremendous boon. Furthermore, we just annexed the Wei Kingdom. Our soldiers are weary and need to rest, and we need time to assimilate Wei’s lands.”

”By comparison,” Qin Jingyuan said, his gaze drifting toward the doorway, ”Siyao is fortunate to have met you, brother-in-law. Being able to marry the one you love is truly the rarest thing in this world.”

Xiao Mo simply smiled without a word.

”Enough of that.” Qin Jingyuan waved his hand dismissively. ”Let’s not talk about these things. I just came from the palace, and the reason I came to you is that my father sent me to summon you. You should hurry, brother-in-law, and not be late.”

”His Majesty summoned me?” Xiao Mo asked, momentarily stunned.

”Yes.” Qin Jingyuan nodded. ”There seems to be a desire for reform in the Imperial Court lately, though they are still exploring the idea. I suspect Father is summoning you precisely for this matter.”

”...”

After a moment of thought, Xiao Mo stood and bowed.

”Thank you for delivering the message, Your Highness. I will head to the palace at once.”

...

「About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Mo arrived at the Imperial Study.」

”This subject pays his respects to Your Majesty.”

Xiao Mo bowed.

”Ah, Xiao Mo, you’ve arrived. No need for such ceremony, just sit. We’re all family, so why be so formal?” the Sovereign of Qin said with a welcoming smile.

”Thank you for the seat, Your Majesty.” Xiao Mo sat to one side and asked, ”May I ask for what reason Your Majesty has summoned me?”

The Sovereign of Qin’s smile gradually faded, his expression turning serious.

”Xiao Mo, though you are young, merely in your twenties, in Our opinion, you are far more level-headed than most ministers. And it is precisely because of your youth that you possess a sharper edge.

Therefore, there are some matters on which We wish to hear your views.”

”Please ask, Your Majesty. This subject will speak his mind without reservation,” Xiao Mo said, rising to bow.

”Alright, alright, We already said there’s no need for such courtesy.” The Sovereign of Qin gestured downward with his hand, having Xiao Mo sit again. ”That’s one thing about you that isn’t so good. You should learn from that fiancée of yours. She’s been chattering in Our ear all day long lately.”

Xiao Mo let out a soft chuckle to lighten the mood.

’Siyao is his daughter, so of course she can act as she pleases. But no matter what, I am his subject. I cannot be so reckless.’

”Have a look. After you’re finished, tell Us your thoughts.” The Sovereign of Qin handed the memorials from his desk to Xiao Mo.

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Mo accepted the memorials and began to read them intently.

The more he read, the more serious his expression became.

These memorials all spoke of one thing: reform!

They touched upon all sorts of aspects, including the military, agriculture, and commerce.

However, all of these proposed reforms were a bit too conservative.

He could tell that these officials wanted to make the Qin Kingdom stronger, but as nobles, they were more interested in protecting their own interests!

”What do you think of these reforms, Xiao Mo?” the Sovereign of Qin asked as Xiao Mo set down the final memorial.

”This is...”

Xiao Mo looked at the Sovereign of Qin, his expression hesitant.

”Speak your mind freely, Xiao Mo. Whether you are right or wrong, We will not blame you,” the Sovereign of Qin said, sensing his hesitation.

”Since Your Majesty has put it that way, this subject shall be bold.”

Xiao Mo organized his thoughts before speaking slowly.

”In this subject’s opinion, these reforms seem to have very little impact on the nobility.”

”Hahaha, and you still put it so diplomatically, you rascal.”

The Sovereign of Qin stood, clasped his hands behind his back, and began to pace around the Imperial Study.

”We know what you mean. It is just as you say. The reforms these fellows have submitted are, both overtly and covertly, designed to secure benefits for their own families.

The Hereditary Title system, passing their ranks down through the generations without fail, is the one thing that gives these nobles the most security.

But after so many years, these nobles who rely on the achievements of their ancestors have grown bloated and complacent.

It’s next to impossible for a commoner to climb the ranks.

A commoner remains a commoner their entire life, as if their station at birth decides everything, with no future to look forward to.

How can a Qin Kingdom like this possibly annex the other powerful states?

Only by giving people hope, only by giving every person the chance to defy their destiny, can the entire Qin Kingdom avoid becoming a pool of stagnant water!

So...”

The Sovereign of Qin turned and looked directly into Xiao Mo’s eyes.

”We! Will have reform!”

”This subject is filled with admiration for Your Majesty’s ambition,” Xiao Mo said with a bow.

”Alright, alright, no need for pretty words. Continue and tell Us your thoughts, won’t you?”

”This subject does have a few unrefined ideas.”

Xiao Mo caressed the memorials, ultimately deciding to voice his thoughts and see what would happen.

”This subject believes we should abolish the Hereditary Title system for the nobility and replace it with a ’Merit System’.

Any of the Qin People, regardless of birth, who takes the head of a single enemy in battle shall be granted the rank of ’Gongshi,’ receiving one qing of land and a nine-mu residence.

Accumulated military merits will allow for promotion through the ranks, all the way to receiving a marquisate.

However, the title may only be passed down for two generations. If no new merits are achieved within that time, the rank will be diminished.

This will prevent the descendants of nobles from resting on their ancestors’ laurels, while giving valiant commoners a chance to elevate their family’s standing.

Furthermore, the Qin Kingdom is currently divided into provinces. Below the provinces are all fiefdoms and walled cities, making the administrative span far too great.

This subject believes we should implement the County System. Provinces should be divided into prefectures, and prefectures into counties.

Prefects and County Magistrates shall all be directly appointed and dismissed by the Imperial Court. Their performance will be evaluated every three years based on four criteria: ’land reclamation, population growth, criminal cases, and grain tax revenue.’ Those who excel will be promoted; those who fail will be dismissed.

Nobles who receive stipends may not interfere with governance; they may only collect grain and silk emoluments commensurate with their rank.

In terms of land, we should implement the ’Land Grant System’ and the ’Abolishing the Field System’ policy.

Excess land hoarded by the nobility should be reclaimed by the state and redistributed to individual households.

Every adult male may apply for one hundred mu of land. Of this, twenty mu shall be permanent property that can be passed to descendants, while fifty mu shall be personal allotment land to be returned to the government in old age.

Those who reclaim wasteland shall be exempt from taxes for three years, and those who produce surplus grain shall be rewarded with a one-rank promotion in title.

At the same time, the sale of land must be strictly regulated to prevent its consolidation by powerful clans.

Finally, this subject has recently been idle and has spent time reviewing the laws of the Qin Kingdom.

I feel that in terms of the Qin Law, the articles are too vague, and supervision is lax.

This subject suggests a new compilation of the ’Qin Law,’ with its articles on punishments and rewards to be carved on the city towers and village pavilions, so that even women and children may know them.

We should create the post of ’Imperial Censor’ to tour the various regions and inspect law enforcement.

A special ’Military Merits Review Department’ should be established to exclusively verify battlefield captures and eradicate false claims of merit.

Any official who engages in fraudulent practices will have their crime punished three degrees more severely.

Finally, our Qin Kingdom should recruit talented individuals from the Allied States, appointing them as Guest Ministers.

My idea is to provisionally divide the Guest Ministers into three tiers.

Upper Guest Minister: For those who present a strategy capable of destroying a kingdom, they will be gifted a mansion, permitted to attend sessions of the Imperial Court, and receive an annual stipend of ten thousand stone.

Middle Guest Minister: Those proficient in law, farming, or irrigation will be appointed to deputy positions in the prefectures and counties for a Trial. If successful after three years, they will be given a permanent post.

Lower Guest Minister: Those with exceptional martial prowess or who are skilled in ingenious crafts shall enter the ’Director of the Imperial Works’ or the ’Sharp Warrior Camp,’ where they can be promoted by achieving merits.”

When Xiao Mo’s words finally fell, the King of Qin’s brow furrowed. He sat upon his soft couch, silent and unmoving.

After a long while, the King of Qin looked up at Xiao Mo. ”Xiao Mo, do you realize how those ministers and nobles will view you if word of these reforms of yours gets out?”

”I know.”

”Then do you realize that such reforms are tantamount to taking half the life from every one of those nobles?”

”I know.”

”You are already the Frost King, enfeoffed with the lands of the Wei Kingdom. Do you realize that acting this way is the same as having no consideration for your own descendants?”

”I know that as well.”

Xiao Mo raised his head.

”But I know one thing even more clearly: right now, the Allied States are all eyeing our Qin Kingdom like hungry tigers. We have what we have today only because Your Majesty has striven to rule well. But what if, several generations from now, our descendants are like the Sovereign of Wei? What then?

If the Qin Kingdom is annexed, what will become of talk of ’Hereditary Titles’ and ’a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations’?”

”...”

Listening to Xiao Mo’s words, the Sovereign of Qin stroked his beard, contemplating for a long time.

Finally, the Sovereign of Qin shook his head and sighed.

”This talk of reform today is between you and Us alone. Do not speak of it to anyone else. For now, just rest easy in the Capital City. Go spend more time with Siyao.”

The Sovereign of Qin turned and waved his hand. ”Our dear minister, you may go.”

Xiao Mo opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but in the end, he simply bowed. ”Yes. This subject takes his leave.”

Long after Xiao Mo had left the Imperial Study, his words continued to echo in the Sovereign of Qin’s mind, lingering for a long, long time.