Chapter 118.2
The change in her expression, caught by the Second Prince, seemed off again.
No way, she thinks 200 taels of silver is too much?
This Fairys demands are too strict!
It really cant be any less, any lower and even he wouldnt believe it!
So, the Second Prince once again attempted to make amends for his oversight.
He began to regret: Actually, having spent so much silver, I now feel remorseful as well, daring not to indulge in such luxuries! Therefore, I have decided to be even stricter with myself from now on. Delicacies like these fine wines and dishes I will not partake in anymore!
Song Yufei was stunned and asked, Your Highness, are you truly going to abstain from these fine wines and dishes from now on?
The Second Prince affirmed resolutely, I will not partake in them anymore!
Song Yufei inquired, But these delicacies are so delicious, can you really bear to give them up?
Even if they are delicious, I will not eat them. I must be strict with myself! the Second Prince declared with moral integrity.
The others all clapped and praised, openly proclaiming the princes sagacity!
However, Song Yufei felt even more disappointed.
Delicacies like these fine wines and dishes could only be provided to the imperial family and nobility, as only they could afford such luxuries.
If the Second Prince were to stop consuming them, countless people behind the scenes would lose their jobs!
As a prince of the current dynasty, how could he act so capriciously and recklessly?
So foolishly?
At this moment, Song Yufei compared the Second Prince before him with Lin Beifan.
Although Lin Beifan had committed many foolish and absurd acts, in the end, he enriched the common people, allowing everyone to benefit alongside him!
Engaging in the actions of a foolish emperor, yet reaping the rewards of a wise sovereign!
Yet the Second Prince before her, although his actions seem those of a wise ruler, ultimately harm the interests of the common people!
Engaging in the actions of a wise sovereign, yet reaping the rewards of a foolish emperor!
Which is superior, which is inferior, which is better, which is worse, it is clear at a glance!
The Second Prince, looking at Song Yufeis expression, felt another bad premonition rising in his heart.
Could it be wrong to say so?
This is already the standard model answer. What more do you want?
It had been over a year since they last met, and this Fairy seemed even more difficult to serve.
The Second Prince inwardly groaned in distress!
The others also quieted down, unsure of how to begin the conversation.
It was Song Yufei who spoke first: Your Highness, if you were to take over a country but found it in complete disrepair, with everything awaiting restoration, what would you do to quickly rejuvenate it and ensure the people lead better lives?
The Second Princes spirits lifted; finally, a sensible question had been asked!
He was well-prepared for such a question!
So, the Second Prince spoke eloquently: If this prince were to take over such a kingdom, naturally, I would lighten the labor and taxes, encourage recuperation and vitality, and stimulate production! First and foremost, we must reduce the tax burden, ideally eliminating taxes for everyone, allowing them to work with unrestrained enthusiasm, to farm, and to produce food!
The military must also lay down their arms and return to the fields to grow crops! At this time, we should avoid war if possible, strive to maintain good relations with other nations, and then focus all our efforts on developing agriculture and the economy to make everyone prosper as quickly as possible!
Furthermore, we should encourage childbirth; the more children one has, the greater the rewards
This was yet another very standard answer!
Having heard this answer no less than five times, Song Yufei was familiar with it!
To be honest, if she had heard this answer in the past, she would have nodded in satisfaction, showing her approval.
After all, the other partys ability to remain vigilant in times of peace is commendable.
But now, she couldnt help but think of Lin Beifan and the Great Xia he belonged to.
Great Xia had once faced such circumstances, but Lin Beifan did not lighten the peoples burdens or focus on recuperation. Instead, he organized the entire population to clear new lands for farming, to mine and to dig rivers, to build houses and roads, and even to construct an imperial palace
In short, he did all the things that exhausted the peoples resources and finances!
Yet, in less than a year, many citizens were lifted out of poverty and became wealthy, and the national power increased several-fold!
During this process, he did not forget to expand the territory, winning several major battles!
With that, the superiority was clearly established!
Theyve truly earned their stripes through hard work, while you just go by the book. No matter how much you boast, youll never be as good as him!
Compared to Lin Beifan, this Second Prince seems utterly mediocre!
In that case, if things go quickly, three to five years; if slowly, seven to eight years, and then this nation should be able to recover! Fairy, are you satisfied with my answer? The Second Prince asked expectantly.
Its passable, Song Yufei nodded slightly, her expression inscrutable, giving nothing away.
Passable? The Second Prince was somewhat dissatisfied.
He had hoped for a word of praise from the Fairy to encourage him.
Never mind, perhaps the Fairy is too reserved, one shouldnt ask for too much!
By the way, before coming to Great Zhou, I passed through the Great Xia Kingdom and stayed there for a day! Your Highness, what do you think of Great Xia, and what is your opinion of Emperor Lin Beifan of Great Xia?
The Second Prince spoke without hesitation: Regarding the Emperor of Great Xia, I have only two words to describe him, and that is foolish emperor! A great big foolish emperor! Ever since he ascended the throne, he has done countless foolish things!
For the sake of a beauty, he gave away his realm, constantly waged wars with neighboring kingdoms, embarked on grandiose construction projects that exhausted the people and drained the treasury, and also made enemies with the noble families, offending scholars all over the country! His reputation is so foul, as everyone knows theres no need for me to say more!
Now that theres no trouble, its true that good people dont live long, but a scoundrel lasts for a thousand years!
Therefore, I am ashamed to be associated with him!
As for Great Xia
The Second Prince sighed, All I can say is that the common people of Great Xia are too pitiable, living all this time under the rule of a foolish emperor, enduring lives of extreme hardship! I only hate my own powerlessness, unable to rescue them from their plight. How regrettable!
Song Yufei couldnt help but frown.
This Second Prince was such a disappointment!
He made casual judgments about others without proper investigation, echoing others words without having his own thoughts and insights!
How can a wise ruler rely on public opinion to sway his own judgments?
You call someone a foolish emperor, yet your own deeds are no better than his!
You claim that the common people of Great Xia are pitiable, living in dire straits, but they actually live better than the citizens of Great Zhou. They dont need you to save them at all!
At this moment, Song Yufei had already made up her mind.
This Second Prince lacked the appearance of a wise ruler; his abilities were mediocre, and he lacked self-awareness, easily swayed by public opinion. It was inevitable that he would be susceptible to slander in the future, making him a poor investment!
Having seen someones true colors, she didnt want to waste any more words.
Alright, I have finished my meal. Please continue at your leisure. I must take my leave now!
Song Yufei stood up and gracefully left.
Fairy! Fairy, please dont go. Did this prince fail to host you properly? Please tell me, dont leave so hastily
The Second Prince chased after her, attempting to persuade her to stay, but in the end, he could only watch regretfully as she left.
He felt that this parting might be the last, that they might never meet again.
Meanwhile, Song Yufei continued to track the enchantress while also visiting the heirs of various nations, hoping to identify a wise and worthy ruler to invest in.
However, with Lin Beifan as a point of reference, the standards were set incredibly high.
Many candidates paled in comparison.
It wasnt just a matter of lacking ability or virtue; some couldnt even match up in appearance!
Many of the candidates for the reserve prince that once seemed quite acceptable in her eyes had now become utterly mediocre and trash, crossed off from her heart.
If we cant find anyone else, well have to choose Lin Beifan! Its just that he is clearly
Song Yufei thought of Lin Beifans ridiculous antics and still felt he was very unreliable.
***
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