We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 359: Qin Kingdom's Reform

Delaying the Third Princess's wedding while holding the Second Prince's ceremony ahead barely impacted most folks.

Truth be told, these pair of celebratory events allowed the whole Qin Kingdom to slash taxes for multiple years ahead, bringing even greater joy. Still, the Second Prince carried guilt over his wedding pushing back his sister's nuptials, leading him to often drop by the Frost Prince Manor or Princess Manor with apologies.

Xiao Mo always welcomed him politely, though Qin Siyao harbored lingering anger inside.

Whenever her brother showed up, Qin Siyao would sulk with pouted lips.

Without Xiao Mo's firm insistence on hosting, the Second Prince might not even get a cup of tea.

Even as the Second Prince settled in the courtyard sipping tea at last, Qin Siyao hurled "stinky second brother" and "bad second brother" jabs from the side.

This left Second Prince Qin Jingyuan feeling deeply awkward.

"Siyao, my mother seems to be looking for you for something. Why don't you go to the Xiao Manor first to check?" Xiao Mo said to Qin Siyao with a smile.

"Auntie Zhou?" Qin Siyao blinked, then shot another look at the Second Prince, "Stinky second brother, I'll let you off today."

"Second Prince, please don't mind her. Siyao has this kind of temperament; she'll cool off in a few days."

Once Qin Siyao departed, Xiao Mo refilled the Second Prince's tea and smiled as he spoke.

"Hahahaha."

Second Prince Qin Jingyuan chuckled heartily and shook his head.

"What brother-in-law says makes perfect sense; I get it well. After all, we watched Siyao grow up, and this is truly my failing as her brother. I feel real remorse, and I'm here to apologize to brother-in-law too. Please forgive me."

"Second Prince is too courteous," Xiao Mo nodded, "A union between two kingdoms outweighs Siyao's marriage to me by far. How could I object?"

"However," Xiao Mo added hesitantly, "I'm curious what second brother truly thinks of this Jin Kingdom alliance marriage?"

"What can I think?"

Qin Jingyuan let out a sigh.

"Royals like us never control our own weddings, be it eldest brother or myself. With both Qin and Jin as mighty powers now, forging strong ties via this marriage is a huge boon. Plus, after swallowing Zhei Kingdom, our troops need recovery time, and integrating its lands takes effort."

"By contrast," Qin Jingyuan gazed toward the entrance, "lucky for Siyao that she found you, brother-in-law. Marrying for love is the rarest blessing imaginable."

Xiao Mo merely smiled in silence.

"Enough of that," Qin Jingyuan dismissed with a wave, "I've just come from the palace. Father Emperor sent me to fetch you. Brother-in-law, make haste; don't be late for the summons."

"His Majesty calls for me?" Xiao Mo paused in surprise.

"Indeed," Qin Jingyuan confirmed with a nod, "Court's buzzing lately about reforms, still in early talks. Father Emperor likely wants your take on it."

"..."

After a brief reflection, Xiao Mo rose and saluted.

"Gratitude for relaying the order, Second Prince. I'll head to the palace right away."

The span of one incense stick's burn later, Xiao Mo reached the imperial study.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Xiao Mo bowed deeply.

"Xiao Mo, good you're here. Skip the formalities; take a seat. We're family now—why stand on ceremony?" The Qin Kingdom’s ruler grinned.

"Thank you for the seat, Your Majesty," Xiao Mo took his place aside and inquired, "May I ask what brings Your Majesty's summons?"

The Qin Kingdom’s ruler's smile faded, his face turning grave.

"Xiao Mo, young as you are—just past twenty—you outshine many ministers in steadiness. And your youth brings fresh energy. Thus, I seek your views on certain issues."

"Your Majesty, ask away. Your subject will answer candidly," Xiao Mo stood and bowed once more.

"Fine, fine, I said drop the formalities," The Qin Kingdom’s ruler gestured him down to sit, "This overly polite streak of yours needs work. Learn from your soon-to-be wife—she's been chattering nonstop in my ear lately."

"Hehe..." Xiao Mo chuckled lightly, easing the mood.

Siyao, as his prospective daughter-in-law, could afford such familiarity, but he, a subject, must tread carefully.

"Have a read. Then share your thoughts," The Qin Kingdom’s ruler passed over the desk's stack of memorials to Xiao Mo.

"Yes."

Xiao Mo accepted them and scanned each one thoroughly.

His face grew increasingly solemn with every line.

All these memorials pushed for reforms!

Touching military, farming, trade, and more—yet they stayed overly mild.

Officials clearly yearned to strengthen Qin Kingdom, but nobles prioritized safeguarding their privileges!

"Your thoughts on these reforms, Xiao Mo?"

As Xiao Mo set down the final memorial, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler questioned.

"This..."

Xiao Mo eyed the Qin Kingdom’s ruler, hesitating visibly.

"Xiao Mo, speak your mind freely. Right or wrong, no repercussions," Noting his worry, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler assured.

"With Your Majesty's permission, your subject speaks boldly."

Xiao Mo gathered his ideas and began deliberately.

"To this subject, these reforms barely touch the nobility's core."

"Hahaha, you put it so mildly still."

The Qin Kingdom’s ruler rose, hands clasped behind, pacing the study.

"I grasp your point. Yes, these proposals slyly shield their clans' gains. Endless hereditary titles, generational noble ranks—that's their comfort. But after years, these ancestor-dependent nobles have swollen uselessly. How hard for commoners to rise?"

"Plebeians stay plebeians forever, birth sealing fate without escape. How can such a Qin conquer mighty foes? Only showing hope, offering all a shot to defy heaven's decree, keeps Qin from rotting like dead pond water! Thus..."

The Qin Kingdom’s ruler spun about, locking eyes with Xiao Mo.

"I intend true reforms!"

"Your Majesty's grand vision earns this subject's deepest respect," Xiao Mo bowed low.

"Enough flattery. Keep sharing your views."

"Your subject offers some raw notions."

Xiao Mo fingered the memorials, steeling himself to propose.

"Your subject proposes scrapping hereditary nobility for a 'merit-based nobility system.' Any Qin citizen, birth irrelevant, slaying one foe in combat earns 'Public Scholar' rank, with one qing farmland plus nine mu housing. Stack merits to climb ranks to marquis. Titles pass two generations max; no fresh deeds means demotion. This curbs pampered heirs on ancestral laurels, while igniting warriors' dreams of elevating their houses."

"Moreover, Qin's provinces oversee vast enfeoffed lands and cities below, stretching control thin. Your subject urges a prefecture-county setup: prefectures under provinces, counties under prefectures. Governors and magistrates court-appointed and removable, judged on 'cultivated land, population, criminal cases, grain taxes' every three years—top ones rise, failures fall. Nobles get stipends sans governance meddling, just grain, silk, pay per rank."

"For land, adopt 'land allocation' and 'boundary abolition.' Reclaim noble hoards for state, distribute per household. Able folk claim 100 mu: 20 mu inheritable forever, 50 mu returned in old age. Wasteland reclaimers tax-free three years. High yields earn rank bumps. Curb deals to block clan land grabs."

"Finally, your subject, in recent leisure, eyed Qin laws—too fuzzy, oversight lax. Suggest overhauling 'Qin Code,' inscribing penalties and rewards on gates and pavilions for all, even women and kids, to know. Set 'Surveillance Censors' for local law checks. Crucially, form 'Military Merit Verification Department' to probe battlefield claims, quashing fakes. Fraudsters face triple penalties."

"Last, lure talents nationwide as guest ministers, tiered three ways. Upper: nation-altering strategists get homes, court access, 10,000 annual salary. Middle: law, farm, or water experts trial as prefecture/county deputies; three-year success makes permanent. Lower: strength prodigies or skill masters join 'Director of Works' or 'Elite Soldiers Camp,' rising on merits."

With Xiao Mo's speech done, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler furrowed brows, sinking silently onto the couch.

Long moments passed before he lifted his gaze to Xiao Mo: "Xiao Mo, realize how ministers and nobles would see you if these ideas leak?"

"Your subject knows."

"Grasp that this guts half their lifeline?"

"Your subject knows."

"You're Frost Prince now, holding Zhei lands. This dooms your lineage. Aware?"

"Your subject knows that too."

Xiao Mo met his eyes firmly.

"Yet clearer still: rival states covet Qin now. Your Majesty toils ceaselessly for this glory, but if heirs slack like Zhei's king generations hence, what then? Conquest means no eternal titles or millennia reign."

"..."

Xiao Mo's words lingered in the Qin Kingdom’s ruler's mind as he stroked his beard deep in thought.

At last, he shook his head with a sigh: "Our reform talk stays between us. Keep quiet. Stay in the capital, enjoy time with Siyao."

The Qin Kingdom’s ruler turned away, waving dismissal: "My dear subject, withdraw."

Xiao Mo's lips parted as if to press, but he bowed instead: "Yes, your subject departs."

Post-departure, Xiao Mo's earlier counsel reverberated endlessly in the Qin Kingdom’s ruler's ears.