Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 1226: Chapter 1136: Lady Prime Minister 74

Xu Zhongqing, the Emperor’s confidant, initially aided the Emperor along with Chancellor Wei in reform efforts, which ultimately failed, leading to Xu Zhongqing’s death and Chancellor Wei becoming a wandering Mr. Nameless.

Wei Yingnan asked Yin Shuangshuang with some curiosity, ”Why did you say this piece of bamboo is an Everlasting Lamp lit for Lord Xu Zhongqing?”

”It’s quite simple. When lighting an Everlasting Lamp for someone, there’s no reason not to include their name. Even if they were a sinner in life, after death, their family would light an Everlasting Lamp and surely won’t omit their name.

After all, in death, grievances should cease, unless the person offended too many people during their lifetime, to the extent that they would still not be forgiven even after death.

For one to have offended people to such a degree while alive, aside from Lord Xu Zhongqing who advocated reforms and disrupted everyone’s interests, ultimately leading to failure, there’s no one else.

Moreover, Lord Xu loved bamboo deeply in life. Using bamboo to represent his name after death is easily evocative of him.”

In reality, lighting an Everlasting Lamp for the dead holds no significance since Everlasting Lamps are meant for blessing the living. Lighting one for the dead serves mainly as remembrance and hope that the deceased may fare well in the underworld, see their path, and perhaps reincarnate well.

Speaking of Xu Zhongqing, Wei Yingnan couldn’t help recalling his grandfather, and his mood took a downturn.

”My grandfather once said that Lord Xu had too rigid a temperament, failing to adapt, ultimately leading to a great loss.

Though both were confidants assisting the Emperor with reforms, my grandfather and Lord Xu did not entirely agree on their perspectives.

I’ve asked my grandfather why, even when both were serving the Emperor, their relationship was poor. But my grandfather wouldn’t tell me; he’d just sigh whenever I brought it up.”

Yin Shuangshuang somewhat understood why Mr. Nameless sighed without speaking.

”This mainly arises from their belonging to different factions: one radical, the other cautious.

Lord Xu was young and full of vigor, advocating rapid reforms akin to cutting through tangled ropes, wishing to eradicate the aristocratic families with one stroke.

Mr. Nameless, being in office for years, understood the deep-rooted influence of these families, spanning generations across regimes, embodying the families’ saying, ’Ironclad families, flowing dynasties.’

Trying to disrupt them is challenging, especially since many serve in court. Movement against them would mean reducing numerous officials.

If so many officials are reduced, there must be sufficient replacements available; else, chaos might ensue.

Thus, Mr. Nameless held that reforms shouldn’t be rushed; they should be subtle and gradual, initially leaving officials’ land tax matters untouched, while first cultivating enough talent to replace the aristocracy, slowly diminishing their power.

In doing so, when these families finally sense something amiss, the Emperor could swiftly replace their court connections with his own loyalists, and once the families are weakened, tackling land tax reforms would be easier.

Mr. Nameless’ method, stable and pragmatic, was the most likely to succeed in reforms. Yet, it demanded substantial time, a decade at least to start bearing fruit.

Unfortunately, the young and impetuous Emperor lacked such patience at the time, favoring Lord Xu’s approach.

Consequently, the families sensed danger and united with officials whose interests were threatened, pressuring the Emperor, naturally compromising Lord Xu.

Mr. Nameless wasn’t mandated to be executed like Lord Xu owing to his less radical stance.

Now, having failed at reform once, the Emperor has awakened the families’ vigilance. Even using Mr. Nameless’ subtle method in the future might prove futile.

The families will not permit any threats to their interests, resorting to all means to thwart and sabotage the Emperor’s plans.”

Discussing these reforms, Yin Shuangshuang also felt heavy-hearted; the menace of aristocratic families persisted through dynasties, but its severity in this reign is rare.

Wei Yingnan reminisced on his grandfather’s experiences, feeling sentiments about Xu Zhongqing’s affairs.

”Though Lord Xu’s reforms failed, he worked for the common people; at least some remember him and lit this Everlasting Lamp for him.”

Afterwards, Yin Shuangshuang and Wei Yingnan chatted about other topics and then left the Thousand Eyes Bodhi Temple.

After they departed, a shadow emerged from hiding, glanced at Yin Shuangshuang’s silhouette, and hurried away.

In the best meditation chamber of the Thousand Eyes Bodhi Temple, the man who encountered Yin Shuangshuang once atop the mountain sat drinking tea inside.

At this moment, the shadow that appeared after Yin Shuangshuang left entered, kneeling on one knee before the man: ”An Qi reporting to my lord.”

The man furrowed his brow, ”Wasn’t I instructing you to follow the girl closely involved with General An? Why return so soon?”

”My lord, I have something to report.” An Qi relayed the conversation he overheard between Yin Shuangshuang and Wei Yingnan to the man.

Listening to An Qi’s report, the man displayed a half-smile, ambiguity of joy or anger as he stroked his chin.

After a long pause, the man whispered, ”The little girl General An favors is quite extraordinary; no wonder she’s noteworthy.”

...

Back at General An’s hot spring estate, Yin Shuangshuang barely stayed two days before feeling stifled. Given the bitter cold recently, returning home is difficult, and Yin Shuangshuang’s frail constitution surely wouldn’t endure the journey, necessitating waiting for spring’s warmth before heading back.

This means Yin Shuangshuang will spend the winter at General An’s hot spring estate.

Unable to stay put, within days, Yin Shuangshuang desired another outing, coinciding with a recent clear sky and absence of snow, not too cold.

Yin Shuangshuang requested to be carried to another mountain summit; she could only venture there since the journey to the Capital City was too lengthy, the carriage’s jostling unbearable for her.

Unexpectedly, upon reaching the summit, Yin Shuangshuang again encountered the two men accompanied by guards from last time.

This time, the man appearing as the master sat in the lone pavilion brewing tea, while the other attended him.

Wishing to avoid the two, Yin Shuangshuang’s plan faltered as the man uttered something to a guard, who promptly approached Yin Shuangshuang: ”Miss, my master invites you.”

Yin Shuangshuang glanced at the guard’s boots, paused at his waist, slightly squinting her eyes, then followed him into the pavilion.

Seeing the man, Yin Shuangshuang greeted directly, ”Commoner Yin Shuangshuang greets the Emperor, may His Majesty enjoy everlasting security and prosperity.”