The Marquis' Wife
Court exams

As the palace exams began, Lu Xiang and Wang Jiayou left early in the morning so as not to be late to the gates of the forbidden city. The two were very nervous because the exam this time had an enormous pressure due to the presence of the Emperor who would observe the exam directly taking place.

The other participants had already arrived earlier than Lu Xiang and Wang Jiayou, it showed that they were just as nervous and anxious, afraid of coming late.

Although they are nervous and worried, but no one dared to express their feelings for fear of being mispronounced and becoming a disaster. They waited for up to an hour before the security guards allowed them into the forbidden city to reach the pre-prepared site.

The palace tests were held at the Harmony Welfare Hall not far from the assembly hall. 

"Honor the Emperor!!!" The eunuch shouted loudly, even though there was no Emperor in front of them, but the palace participants continued to carry out the rituals held by every palace exam.

"Long live the Emperor, may you live for tens of thousands of years".

Lu Xiang and the others were sitting only 1 meter away from the others, the test this time there was no room that separated from each other because no one would dare to cheat.

Shortly thereafter, the exam officer distributed draft papers and answers and brought a long wooden plank containing a written exam about the proposed tax that must be for the government that can be applied.

Lu Xiang kept silent for a moment, he had read a glimpse of the modern tax from the book given by Adelia then started writing the types of taxes such as income tax and value added tax, for other taxes as a building tax or stamp duty tax cannot be applied at this time.

Lu Xiang then explained about income tax and anyone affected by the tax then explained about the value added tax applied to goods so that business people are subject to double taxation, although in the original is not so but at this time there is no value added tax so that if applied will be impressed that the businessman must issue the tax twice.

Lu Xiang also proposed to apply customs duties applied to goods arriving at the port from outside the kingdom, he saw that business people who do business with other kingdoms are not burdened by any taxes so that the businessman became very rich even more than the royal treasury and it is potentially dangerous because business people will definitely be looking for the umbrella of the government by investing so that they are safer with the umbrella and there is nepotism and the possibility for people who ponder business people to rebel.

Lu Xiang explained pseudoly how many items the businessman bought and how much would be sold over large profit distances would definitely open the Emperor's eyes, he also explained that running a customs tax could also minimize the opportunity for traitors to send or receive weapons into the kingdom.

Lu Xiang who was busy writing stopped when he saw the black boots, he could not see the owner of the shoes but knew who was wearing them. Lu Xiang took a deep breath to calm his nervous heart then returned to writing.

Emperor Murong was surprised when he saw Lu Xiang's reply that he couldn't wait to pull up the man's answer sheet and read it carefully, he then stepped away to check on the other participants because he did not want to look flashy and pay attention to Lu Xiang.

"The test is over!!" Kasim gave an announcement and the examinees immediately finished their writing then stood up and saluted before stepping away under the watchful eyes of the palace soldiers.

"The exam is so difficult, can you write the answer?"

"I'm just writing an existing tax system".

"Me too".

"I propose to levy double taxation for business people, they smell of money and become arrogant".

"Lu Xiang, can you make a proposal?".

Lu Xiang nodded then lowered his voice. "I am giving a proposal on customs duties applied to goods entering at each port".

Wang Jiayou was stunned and became amazed, he did not know how the system of goods entering the port so he did not think about giving the proposal.

"If you're a senior?".

"I propose to give business people double taxation, one tax on their income and the other on the tax on the goods they sell".

Lu Xiang's eyebrows shot up, the proposal was the same as his. "That's a very good suggestion senior".

Wang Jiayou simply smiled as he waved his hand. "Your proposal is much more qualified".

Lu Xiang shook his head. "No. Our proposal is just as qualified because it has a different field".

"Yes you're right".

Lu Xiang and Wang Jiayou walked home but when they got home, both of them were startled by the arrival of Marquis Shan, as Lu Xiang frowned and returned to normal expression. Previously idana did not come to visit the Marquis' residence for a moment with the Marquis Shan's order and only sent a message rejecting and apologizing, he said, he thought that the matter was over but he did not expect that this old man would still come to his rental house. 

"You've returned Lu Xiang, sit down". Marquis Shan ignored Wang Jiayou for having no business with the man, although the prince's men had warned him to appreciate the scholars who passed the selection exam because they had the potential to hold answers in the government work but he did not think so, he did not think so, he only thought that only Lu Xiang had that potential because he had been recognized by the Emperor and given the title.

The Marquis family in the public eye is indeed a noble family, but the people in the government know that the title is not he achieved alone but from his grandfather who became one of the people who built the kingdom of Murong so that when the title came down to him who was the first boy then he only got the title instead of the usual power held by nobles who have the same title as him, the Marquis.

It made him panic when he only got a 5th class position and had several years of his position did not experience any improvement. Although he was also part of the prince's maternal family, Murong Xianxian did not want to help his career because he did not want his father to know that he had the same ambitions as his brothers.

Murong Xianxian is famous as the prince of literacy who only dabbled in the world of literature rather than politics so he did not want to lose his image and was considered a hypocrite, his disguise as a nerd in a bit made his third brother not think of him as an opponent and just focus on fighting the crown prince, Murong Xianming so that he could gather strength little by little with the help of his grandfather, Murong Xianming, he hoped that he would be the victor without fighting for the throne and hoped that his brother would die while attacking each other.

Therefore, to realize this dream, Murong Xianxian could not help Marquis Shan who only held the 5th class position having no value in his eyes so he was eager to establish a relationship with Lu Xiang who notheben had great potential after giving the idea of a waterwheel, he knew that the Emperor would use the man and Lu Xiang's career would be fast-moving and it would help his career.

The closest relationship is, of course, the family relationship, being a besan would provide a reason for him to utilize the young man not only for his career but also for the fourth prince and it would also add its value in the eyes of Murong Xianxian as well as his grandfather who replied as prime minister left, once the oar of two three islands exceeded.

"I'll go in first Lu Xiang". Wang Jiayou said goodbye after greeting Marquis Shan as manners.