116: A Tassel

A Tassel

Nianzu and Lei Wanxi were walking with the young woman towards her home. "Miss, what is your name?" Lei Wanxi asked. 0

"I am Chuntao." 

"A Spring Peach! You have a lovely name, Miss Chuntao." Lei Wanxi gave a compliment to the young woman who passed a tiny smile. 

"What does your family do, miss?" Lei Wanxi asked, trying to make the journey comfortable. 

"My father is a peasant," replied Chuntao. 

Nianzu was interested in knowing if the people were happy about the taxes. "Miss Chuntao, are you happy with the taxes that are imposed on the peasants? What I mean is that as a Prince, I do not know what a commoner wishes for! The thing which is right in my eyes might not be in the eyes of the people. You were going to be an entertainer for that landlord because your father could not pay the debts, so it might have some relation with the tax amount," Nianzu pronounced. 

Chuntao was reluctant to speak when Lei Wanxi said, "Miss, it is for the people. There is a Governor appointed for such matters but sometimes people cannot raise their voices. You have gotten a golden chance."

"It is strange to see the Princes this polite. His majesty has decided a fair tax amount for everyone but sometimes Tax inspectors ask for more taxes giving us the various reasons. Since many of us are illiterate, we do not know what is right and wrong for us except for accepting whatever they tell us," Chuntao truthfully told everything to both princes. 

"Miss, it seems you are pretty aware of such things. Have you ever studied?" Nianzu curiously asked. 

"No, your highness," Chuntao replied. 

"You seem knowledgeable, Miss. I think you are a keen observant," Nianzu deduced some of the traits of Chuntao. Lei Wanxi found that the fourth brother was more interested in a commoner's life. 

"So, could you please tell me how your father got buried in such an enormous debt? The tax amount is one reason. Are there any other reasons?" Nianzu queried Chuntao. 

"Your highness, the debt has been going on since the time of my grandfather and then the landlord kept increasing the interest rates on the debts which is the other reason and father ended up in such a vicious cycle of the debts," Chuntao replied to Prince Nianzu. 

"Miss, you do not need to worry. Your family is no more in debt. I will look into this matter. Thank you for telling me about how tax is being collected by you people," Nianzu stated. 

Soon they reached the locality from where the young woman belonged to. The condition of the locality was enough to tell that the people were also in a critical situation there. Because of the lantern festival, people could be seen outside the houses. As the people saw the two elite men walking with Chuntao, they were surprised and at the same time happy to see Chuntao back. 

"Your highness, my house is nearby. Thank you for today's help. I do not know how I shall repay your kindness," Chuntao politely said. 

"Miss, as I said before it is my duty. I am afraid that you people have to suffer like this," Nianzu proclaimed. 

"Why is his highness apologizing? It is not the fault of his highness," Chuntao asserted, lowering her eyes. 

Nianzu took out a tassel which he had worn on the waistband. The tassel was made of sky blue color and white color loose threads which were hanging below a white-colored round pendant. He forwarded it to Chuntao "Miss, this is for you. If you feel any kind of trouble in the future, you can ask for me at the Palace Gates using this," said Nianzu. 

Chuntao was a bit hesitant to take that, but when Lei Wanxi told her to take that, she accepted. "Thank you, your highness," Chuntao said softly. 

"You shall go," Nianzu stated. Chuntao bowed her head and left from their sight. 

"Brother, why did you take so much trouble? The landlord might harm her later," Lei Wanxi expressed the concern. They both turned and left for the palace. 

"Wanxi, just think of it as her luck that I happened to see her. That's why I told that assistant to send his master to the palace tomorrow. The Emperor and the Crown Prince cannot see such matters as they have to look at macro-level matters. Bureaucrats are appointed to look into these but they also ignore it. I think a reformation is needed in the system. I will put it forward in front of the Crown Prince," Nianzu explained to Lei Wanxi. 

"Is brother trying to say that he wants to reform the ways taxes are being collected?" Lei Wanxi asked. 

"Yes," Nianzu replied. 

"Wanxi, when is sister Jing returning?" Nianzu asked. "She is out of the palace for more than a year," Nianzu worriedly said. 

"Do you not know? Sister will be in the palace by early morning," Lei Wanxi replied. Nianzu was delighted to hear that. 

"Sister will be happy to see Sister Lili. She was always concerned about the Crown Prince thinking who would be his wife. But now she will be relaxed," Nianzu pronounced. Lei Wanxi agreed with him. 

"I sometimes wonder how Sister Jing came out to be so Kind, unlike her brother and mother," Wanxi asserted. 

"The first brother spent most of the time with her mother and uncle in childhood days while Sister Jing was not being cared for by them that much. She spent most of her time with the father and late Empress. It is said that the surrounding people form your personality in early childhood. That's why sister Jing differs completely from the first brother and her mother. Thanks to sister Jing, the Crown Prince could survive in the palace when father was not around," asserted Nianzu menacingly. 

Soon they reached outside the market in a stable where they had left their horses. After paying the stableman, the two left for the palace. 

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