Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 540: No One Can Do It!

Chapter 540: Chapter 540: No One Can Do It!

Zhan Lan is not an ordinary empress. She just heard from the Imperial Army that Her Majesty the Empress can manage officials and the people without the emperor’s approval.

It can be said that the current Dayu Kingdom is a shared realm of the emperor and Empress.

She realized that women, too, can be as influential as men.

Mrs. Xu was filled with regret, nearly to the point of illness, her past actions a result of confused impulsiveness for her son’s sake.

What if Her Majesty the Empress, in a fit of rage, decides to kill her son?

In despair, Mrs. Xu and others were taken away by the Imperial Army one by one.

The common people watched as Empress departed in her phoenix carriage, kneeling to kowtow to Zhan Lan.

Until the phoenix carriage completely vanished from their sight, the common people gathered around the Li Family talking, honored to be their neighbors!

...

Early the next morning, as dawn broke, Zhan Xinzhang was buried with the rank of Duke Zhen.

After all the ceremonies concluded and everyone left, Zhan Lan, dressed in plain white, quietly caressed her grandparents’ cold tombstones.

She murmured, "Grandfather, you and grandmother are buried together now, never to be parted."

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Zhan Lan turned her head and did not expect Mu Yan to come.

In the distance, behind Mu Yan, a carriage could be seen, and beside it stood Hidden Guards including Vermilion Bird and Yun He.

Mu Yan, dressed in plain clothes with his ink-black hair flowing as he walked, had a cloak draped across his arm. He walked to Zhan Lan, bypassing her slightly, to drape it over her shoulders.

"Why is Your Majesty here?" Zhan Lan asked in confusion, "Isn’t it inappropriate for the new emperor to attend funerals?"

As Mu Yan tied the cloak’s straps, he replied, "Lan’er, when it’s just us, call me by my name. You know I’m rebellious by nature, I never believe in ghosts or destiny; it’s all man-made to me."

"Mm." Zhan Lan nodded.

Mu Yan paid his respects to Zhan Xinzhang’s tombstone, silently saying: Grandfather, Grandmother, I will take good care of Lan’er.

The cold wind lifted the strands of Zhan Lan’s hair, and Mu Yan gently held her cold cheeks, "Let’s go, we’ll come visit grandfather another day."

"Alright."

Grandfather was buried, laid to rest, and Zhan Lan didn’t cry from beginning to end, for her grandparents’ wish to be buried together was fulfilled.

Mu Yan looked at the tombstones and murmured, "Together in life, together in death..."

A look of relief spread across Zhan Lan’s face, "Grandfather fell in battle for the people; his only regret in this life was not being able to accompany Grandmother properly. Now his wish is fulfilled."

Mu Yan nodded slightly, reaching out his hand to Zhan Lan. Finger linked with finger, they left the graveyard step by step.

...

Today, sunlight bathed the whole of Ding’an City, and a notice was posted at the city gate.

As the notice was freshly posted, few gathered around, a burly man with a scrubby beard blocked it with his strong build, staring intently at it. He then exclaimed in a rough voice, "My goodness, the emperor is going to exempt us from taxes for three years!"

A slim fellow chuckled, "Really, Zhang Laosan, can you even read? Even if the emperor pardons, there’s no way they’d exempt taxes for three years!"

"Indeed! Such a thing has never happened in history." A schoolteacher passed by with his hands behind his back.

It’s not that he mistrusted the current emperor, but he understood well the enormous cost to the emperor and the court of waiving taxes for three years.

Not to mention waiving three years of taxes, even lessening some taxes is a difficult task!

Looking back at historical records, no emperor in Nanjin, Eastern Wei, or Beiyue ever accomplished this!

After hearing Mr. Xu’s words, Zhang Laosan also doubted the notice he had seen, rubbing his eyes, he softly read it again, and confirmed that what he had seen was true. He excitedly shouted, "Mr. Xu, come have a look!"

Mr. Xu shuffled his short steps, only to be dragged over forcibly by Zhang Laosan.

"You rough lout, ouch, you nearly pulled my arm off!" Mr. Xu grumbled, his mustache puffing and eyes glaring as he looked at the notice.

His eyes tracked the writing on the notice downward, and gradually all of a sudden, sparks of excitement flashed in his cloudy eyes.

His shaking hands, trembling close, read it once more, then slapped his thigh suddenly, raised three extremely thin fingers toward the passing people, and shouted, "Everyone, the emperor decreed to exempt us from taxes for three years! Three-year tax exemption!"

His voice raspy, throat quivering with emotion, Mr. Xu opened his mouth wide, baring three chipped teeth, and repeated it once more.

"The emperor truly intends to exempt us from taxes for three years, unprecedented in history!"

All the people in haste on their way were drawn in by Mr. Xu’s voice, quickly gathering around.

Some could read, some couldn’t, and once they were sure of the notice’s contents, they burst into excited antics!

A peddler carrying goods, upon learning that no taxes would be levied for three years, excitedly turned back.

His wife, standing at the house door, asked, "Liu Lang, why are you back?"

"Lady Liu, my goodness, the emperor is canceling people’s taxes for three years, encouraging trade, and even opening maritime routes. With such an emperor, our future days will only get better!"

The woman’s eyes shone with this news. She asked right away, "Then why are you back? Go and sell your goods!"

The man happily carried his merchandise back into the house, raising his voice with irrepressible joy, "Today is joyous, no taxes for three years, we’ll have plenty of chances to earn silver, come, let’s take the kids out to eat at a restaurant!"

The man cheerfully kissed the woman’s cheek.

The woman shyly patted his shoulder, and the man laughed heartily, calling to the children inside, "Yu’er, Fei’er, no eating at home today, we’re going to the restaurant!"

Out rushed a boy and a girl from inside the house, both saying in unison, "Daddy, really?"

Liu Lang lovingly nodded at his kids.

"Daddy, I want braised lion head!" the boy jumped excitedly.

The girl smiled, revealing a mouth of white teeth, "Daddy, Yu’er wants big carp!"

"Alright, alright, plenty today!" The peddler beamed broadly.

The two children were lifted one on each side in the peddler’s arms, and the house was quickly filled with their happy laughter.

...

Within three days, the new policies of Dayu Kingdom swiftly spread nationwide, and the populace was elated and encouraged.

The news of Mu Yan’s enthronement as emperor quickly reached Beiyue as well.

Fifteen-year-old little emperor Xiao Luobai sat in the Imperial Study Room wearing a dragon robe, listening to Great General Ye Xiuhan report on the matter.