madnovel Chapter 569 Seeking Knowledge Monthly Report
Chapter 569 Seeking Knowledge Monthly Report
Chapter 569 Seeking Knowledge Monthly Report
Anguo Royal Palace, Imperial Garden.
Under the bright sunshine, hundreds of flowers bloomed in the Imperial Garden, creating a beautiful and colorful scene.
An Taixuan was leisurely enjoying the flowers in the garden with several concubines.
It has been some time since he last lost his temper at the court assembly.
An Taixuan has not handled any government affairs or met with any court officials these days, leaving everything to An Jing to avoid being bothered by anyone.
With so much free time, An Taixuan felt refreshed and much more comfortable than before.
Ahn Tae-hyun leaned back on the bench, slowly sipping a glass of fruit-flavored soda, looking quite content.
Oh, he tasted this juice when he went to Hongzhou City last Mid-Autumn Festival. It was the little vixen by Lu Zheng's side who gave him a cup.
However, this kind of fruit juice soda is easy to make you burp, which is not very elegant, so he can only enjoy it in private.
"belch……"
An Taixuan opened his mouth slightly and let out a satisfied burp, the sound loud and full of energy.
As the emperor of a country, can't he be a little more spontaneous?
Those around were stunned by what they saw. Someone quickly said that this was the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon. Only an emperor like His Majesty could produce such an extraordinary sound, unlike ordinary people.
An Taixuan wanted to roll his eyes at the sight of these people's flattery skills; they probably hadn't even mastered the basics.
It's better not to say anything at all than to say it like that.
However, he was in a good mood and didn't care about any of this.
Just then, a palace attendant hurried over.
"His Majesty……"
An Taixuan raised his head slightly, "What is it?"
The eunuch hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Minister Yang of the Ministry of Rites requests an audience."
An Taixuan said calmly, "Didn't I say that I haven't been feeling well lately and need to take good care of myself? Is there anything they can't handle themselves? Why don't they go to An Jing?"
The eunuch looked troubled and said, "Minister Yang came from the Princess's residence and waited outside for two hours, but he still refuses to leave."
These days they have turned down many ministers, but Minister Yang is very stubborn and has been standing outside the palace gates without leaving.
The palace servants couldn't persuade them otherwise, so they came to report it.
"What is it?" An Taixuan asked.
The eunuch said, "Minister Yang refuses to speak, insisting on seeing His Majesty before he will."
"Ah……"
An Taixuan was immediately displeased, and his face darkened.
Those around them nearly stopped breathing upon seeing this.
An Taixuan said calmly, "Yang Heguang, don't think that just because you're old you can act like a big shot. Let him come over here. I want to see what he's up to!"
An Jing hasn't come to see him these past few days, which means there's no national matter that requires his personal attention.
Could this Minister of Rites be here to offer him some advice?
The Minister of Rites was a veteran official of two reigns, enjoying high prestige in the court. He was diligent and conscientious in his work, but he was too rigid in his thinking. He had argued with An Taixuan many times about the reform, and could be considered one of the representatives who resisted the new policies and reforms.
However, Minister Yang did not oppose the reforms out of any self-interest, but rather out of concern for the safety of the country. He believed that the reforms would do more harm than good and that the ancestral laws should not be easily changed.
An Taixuan didn't particularly like this person, but unfortunately, the Ministry of Rites had no one else available, and such an old minister couldn't be replaced.
The eunuch received the order and hurriedly left.
Seeing this, the concubines beside An Taixuan rose to take their leave, wanting to avoid matters of state. An Taixuan said calmly, "Why leave? Stay and enjoy the flowers with me. The sky isn't falling."
Upon hearing this, the beauties had no choice but to stay.
After a moment, an elderly man dressed in official robes came from outside.
Upon seeing An Taixuan, Yang Heguang bowed respectfully, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty..."
Yang Heguang also paid his respects to all of An Taixuan's concubines.
An Taixuan looked at Yang Heguang and asked, "Minister Yang, what important matter do you have to discuss with me?"
Yang Heguang took out a two-foot square piece of paper from his sleeve, with dense text covering both sides.
Yang Heguang asked, "Has Your Majesty read this Monthly Report on Seeking Knowledge?"
"what?"
An Taixuan then looked at what Yang Heguang was holding.
Yang Heguang's eyes gleamed as he said, "It's a publication from the Seeking Knowledge Academy, called the Monthly Report. It's said that it will be published monthly and distributed to all prefectures and counties across the country. It even discusses matters of state..."
Upon hearing this, An Taixuan suddenly remembered that An Jing had mentioned something before, saying that he wanted to start a newspaper to control public opinion. He had learned this idea from Lu Zheng.
An Taixuan said, "Let me see it."
A eunuch nearby quickly stepped forward, took the monthly report from Yang Heguang's hand, and presented it to An Taixuan for review.
An Taixuan browsed curiously, and one line of large characters stood out: "Corruption and embezzlement are punishable by the same laws and regulations as officials and commoners. Those who commit such crimes shall be beheaded in the East Market and their heads sent to Tai'an!"
An Taixuan raised an eyebrow, quickly glanced at the document, and then continued reading.
Hongzhou Kaiyang County has a bumper wheat harvest; the government is not collecting grain taxes, and the people have no worries about food...
Shocking! Students from Anguo enter Chu to slay a god and rid the people of a scourge...
In the height of summer, disaster prevention and heatstroke prevention...
For a time, An Taixuan read it with great interest. He found that the monthly report covered a wide range of topics, including important news, people's livelihoods, and agricultural affairs.
Seeing An Taixuan's expression, Yang Heguang realized that An Taixuan had not read the monthly report before, and couldn't help but frown slightly.
It took An Taixuan quite a while to finish reading the detailed monthly report, and he still seemed to want more.
He then handed the monthly report to the concubines beside him, so that they could also take a good look at it.
An Taixuan turned to Yang Heguang and said leisurely, "This monthly report is very good. Minister Yang, is this all you've come for?"
Yang Heguang's expression became somewhat unnatural upon hearing this. "Your Majesty, this is a publication that has not been authorized by the court and presumptuously discusses state affairs..."
An Taixuan waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "The Academy of Knowledge was established by the Eldest Princess and was approved by me. What's wrong with it? Aren't the contents of this a factual account? How is it considered unauthorized discussion of politics?"
An Taixuan wanted to laugh to himself. It seemed that the Academy of Knowledge had not obtained the approval of the Six Ministries and their subordinate offices before publishing the monthly report, which caught the Six Ministries off guard.
After all, this monthly report also mentions certain figures, and some people were probably worried about damaging their reputation, which is why they invited the Minister of Rites to come and discuss the monthly report.
Moreover, judging from Yang Heguang's appearance, he probably suffered a loss at the hands of the Eldest Princess before.
Seeing that An Taixuan was unaware of the monthly report and now seemed unconcerned after reading its contents, Yang Heguang said, "This involves the imperial family. If the people criticize the court because of this, it will be detrimental to the country and its people..."
“That’s interesting…” An Taixuan interrupted, “You people have always criticized me, so why can’t the common people criticize me? Whether I am a foolish or wise ruler should be judged by the people of the world. What’s wrong with that?”
(End of this chapter)