Transmigration: Lady Chi Woos The Ice cold Professor Jun -
Chapter 567: The value of returning noble titles
Chapter 567: The value of returning noble titles
In the royal palace, the emperor looked at his daughter in disbelief, on whose side was she right now? "Take her away." the emperor told a guard who came and forcefully carried the princess away on his shoulders.
As she left, the princess continued to shout, "Sister, don’t surrender, my father should not bully you."
"Have you ever seen anyone bully mouse Chi? She is the bully here, she she never gives the empire anything for free." the emperor responded.
Licking the crumbs off her mouth, Chi Lian pouted and mumbled, "I am not a bully." If the things were hers, why should she not charge a price for them? She was not father Christmas to give out free gifts for no reason. Her skills, technology and the system had to buy her money and power otherwise she would be the most foolish transmigrator to ever live.
The emperor turned back and looked at the three, "So, you three kept me waiting because you were still eating." he said.
"Not really father, we were feeling each other out." the prime minister replied. "Food is a good way to get comfortable with each other. We can understand each other better on full stomachs."
"Like I believe you, let’s get down to business, I cannot grant you the title of a princess Chi Lian, that is not something any emperor has done in the past three hundred years. Do you know what kind of hell other aristocratic families will rise if I do such a thing? I am the emperor and my decisions should be good for all my people and not just you."
"Okay," Chi Lian leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "What else is a no?"
"An aristocratic title for your father is also reaching. You know that we stopped bestowing such titles because a few corrupt officers started selling them for money. On top of that, royal titles come with expectations of land and privileges. Titled families are always an issue because they always start to grow too big for their breeches and they challenge the authority of our royal families." the emperor explained sincerely, hoping that she would understand his difficulty. "I am only willing to give you ten percent of what you have discovered, it’s a good deal."
"But I don’t ten percent, I want none of it. Are you alone right now, your majesty?" she asked.
"I am with my guards, the grand emperor and.."
"Perhaps you should send everyone but the grand emperor out, our next conversation is going to require complete privacy. It’s something for your ears only."
"You will need to hear this father." the prime minister added.
Trusting his son, the emperor sent everyone out and only he and the grand emperor remained. "Speak now." he said to Chi Lian.
"I stumbled on to something when I was digging around for information. Not all the facts have been confirmed but so far what I am sure of is that there is a plot to kill the crown prince. I have not shared this information with anyone yet because some of the facts of the situation are unconfirmed. For one, someone close to you is involved. Two, a few other aristocratic families might be involved too. You know that the rebels are still hiding among the people, spreading false propaganda and doing their best to destabilize the empire. I think they have succeeded in convincing some of the aristocratic families to believe in their cause by making this promise. Many of them especially, the uppity ones consider themselves to have been sidelined by the royal family. They have no titles and they do not have a say in politics because mayors and members of parliament are elected by the common people. A small thing like a title can go a long way in buying back their affection. If you say noble titles come with land, the empire is large, such land does not need to be in the capital city. It can be spread out in different cities of the empire.
They need to believe that the royal family is still looking out for them and not side lining them. Those families have money your majesty and money goes a long way in funding a rebellion. You might quell it but lives, property, trust and other damages will follow. The economy could collapse, other nations might take advantage of the situation to loot our treasures in the name of aid and support."
"Or they could support the rebels and attempt to influence our empire through a new emperor after overthrowing you." Muyang added.
"All I am saying is that return the noble titles but do not give the families political power. Make them toothless tigers and gain their trust or let them continue being dissatisfied and eventually they might turn your backs on you. There are less than two hundred aristocratic families left, one hundred two signed that petition which was requesting for the reinstating of the noble titles. That is a very big number of dissatisfied aristocrats your majesty. We are not dictating what you should do but as your loyal citizen I am sharing an opinion on what I have seen. Ultimately, this decision falls on you because you are the emperor." She sighed, after having exhausted everything on her mind. Most of wha she shared had been contributed to by Muyang and T4. T4 had reminded her that an unstable nation was not good for her or her family and the anyone else. It was also not good for the peep star. Bring the aristocratic families back to the emperor and thirty three percent of the problem would be solved. T4 had specified that figure precisely.
"The commoners are the majority." The grand emperor joined the conversation finally. "Even if we are to do this, how do we handle things if they do not see meaningfulness in it. You must know that for years nobility and oppression go hand in hand."
"Do what the king of Britain does, every year pick a few outstanding commoners and give them a title of low nobility and a medal." Muyang replied.
"And some prizes too, not only will commoners love and support the idea they will also be hopeful. Young children will point as they watch the ceremony and say someday I want that to be me up there receiving the emperor’s recognition. The titles do not need to be noble ones, they can be distinguished. For example the boss of the little octopus shop is an examplary woman and she can be named ’Honorable lady de.’ It’s a suggestion, nobody should laugh." Chi Lian looked at them all to see if her suggestions made sense or simply sounded like the foolish musings of a greedy woman. "Also add new laws that prevent titled people from using their titles to oppress commoners. If they do the oppressed can sue and when found guilty the titled will lose the title, vacate the emperor’s courts and lose the land you rewarded to them. We are not living in the ancient days, these titles are simply for show. They do not come with power of any kind, that must be emphasized. They are simply a privilege that makes nobles like celebrities."
"Fine, we will think and discuss this as the family and also with my advisors. If something is to come out of it, you will be informed. In the meantime, I need all the information you have gathered on the attempt of the life of the crown prince." The emperor told her.
"Oh it’s not just him." She replied. "They want you all gone or paralysed in a way that gives them a puppet ruler. Since someone close to you is betraying you, I think you should not do anything yet until all the weeds have been plucked out. Continue acting clueless, and tell the crown prince to avoid his wife as much as possible. I know the Yan’s are involved but you can’t get rid of them just yet since others have to be caught by tailing and monitoring them. Your majesty I have been working hard too so when you give out titles do not forget me." She smiled as she did when she was getting ready to scam money out of someone wealthy.
The emperor snorted at her tsked twice before turning to Muyang and he said "You haven’t asked for anything at all, you equally have a say here tonight."
"I am simply here to support my wife." He replied with an equally cunning smile like Chi Lian’s.
"Alright then, since you have no business on the islands anymore, I your emperor will be so generous and provide a military helicopter to bring you back to the capital immediately. I will be expecting to see you at nine o’clock in the morning Muyang, you should know why. Thank you for all your help , Miss Chi, I mean it sincerely."
The hologram disappeared and the emperor was gone with much to think and do.
"I guess our vacation is over." Chi Lian stretched her arms. "It’s time to go home."
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