Wealth and glory seek stability

March to April is the spring ploughing time.

After the prince's wedding, he took a large amount of grain seeds to the northwest.

It’s just that the weather is dry, so it’s useless to plant more seeds. If it doesn’t rain, it will be all in vain.

The Ministry of Works requested an order from the Ministry of Revenue to allocate money for the construction of the reservoir. The Minister of Revenue was immediately furious. Everyone was counting on him to pay the money. There was only so much silver in the national treasury, and he couldn't just produce so much out of thin air.

Emperor Xuanyuan was troubled by the noise. At the court, his ministers discussed for a long time but could not come to a conclusion.

Xuanyuan Qiyuan knew about this and went to the palace to give advice, "Father, the treasury is empty now. It is better to increase revenue than to cut costs. It would be a pity to leave such talents unused. I have an idea."

Emperor Xuanyuan looked at his married son, who had become much more stable, and felt a little complicated. "Tell me what you can do?"

The first person Xuanyuan Qiyuan thought of was Gao Yunhuai, who was unemployed at home.

"It is Gao Yunhuai, the former Hanlin Academy scholar. His father was the richest man in Jiangnan. Last year, I went to Pingjiang Prefecture and saw him managing various businesses. Jiangnan is a rich place, so why does the annual tax paid only double that of other prefectures?

I have seen that Gao Yunhuai is very familiar with Pingjiang Prefecture. I have heard that since he took charge of the family business, the profit has doubled in just one year. With such a talent, why doesn't your father use him?"

Gao Yunhuai was demoted to his home just because he said something wrong. Emperor Xuanyuan sent spies to investigate and found that Gao Yunhuai had no complaints at home. He even worked hard to take over the family business.

Gao Yunhuai used to be talented but arrogant. Emperor Xuanyuan wanted to temper his temper, and now is the right time.

Looking at his son standing in the middle of the imperial study, he was calm and calculating.

But he couldn't let him get away with it, so Emperor Xuanyuan changed the subject, "I heard that the Gao family kid resigned peacefully like this, it turns out he got through the Prince of Jin's connections."

The suspicion in his eyes was self-evident.

The emperor's majesty was very great. Xuanyuan Qiyuan felt something was wrong and knelt down quickly.

"Father, please understand. I saw so many disaster victims displaced from their homes in the Huimin Office outside the capital. I felt so sorry for them that I wanted to help you. I know you don't like me, but those people are so innocent. I hope you won't let the pearl be covered in dust."

"I would never dare to make friends with court officials. I dare not lie. Shu Ping saved my life before he passed the imperial examination. He and I are friends for life and death."

Xuanyuan Qiyuan did not deny his relationship with Gao Yunhuai. These were all obvious to the public, and saying them out loud would not arouse Emperor Xuanyuan's suspicion.

"I know him well, and I also know his abilities. That's why I promote people regardless of their relationship with me. If I put him in the right position, he will definitely benefit the people."

Xuanyuan Qiyuan knocked his head heavily on the floor. Emperor Xuanyuan was moved and personally stepped forward to help Xuanyuan Qiyuan up.

"Get up, you are a good boy."

In recent years, Emperor Xuanyuan has rarely been close to Xuanyuan Qiyuan, and such warm care has not been received for a long time.

Xuanyuan Qiyuan recalled how Emperor Xuanyuan taught him how to write, ride and shoot when he was a child. His nose felt sore and he lowered his head, with tears flashing in his eyes.

The emperor's heart had long been as hard as iron. When he suddenly saw the vulnerable side of his son, whom he once had high hopes for, he sighed in his heart.

"You go back now. I have made my own decision on this matter."

"Yes, I will retire."

*

Shen Nanxing’s wedding, the day of returning to her parents’ home on the third day of her wedding.

He took the six-horse carriage given by Emperor Xuanyuan and arrived at the Mansion of Marquis Zhongyong with gifts for his return visit.

After Jian Xi sent the two people out, she remembered that there was another person locked up in the woodshed.

"Tell Butler Liu to bring a few maids to bring me the woman who caused trouble on my brother's wedding day."

"Yes."

When Li was brought here, she seemed more energetic than in the previous few days.

When she was fleeing from famine, she had nothing to eat. Although the General's Mansion would not provide her with good food, the simple meals she received every day were much better than those provided by the Huimin Office.

Jian Xi was holding a cup of glazed and gold-lacquered tea and drinking tea slowly, and every movement was like a painting.

Li looked at her features carefully and vaguely recognized Jian Xi.

"Who are you?" Li wanted to prove his guess.

Jian Xi gave her a look, and Mother Hong slapped her in the face.

"How dare you! Kneel down in front of the girl and answer her question."

Jian Xi remained calm, picking up the teacup in her hand and examining it carefully, as if she wanted to stare at it to death.

Li wanted to say something, but when she saw Mother Hong staring at her eagerly, she dared not speak and could only kneel down.

Jian Xi chuckled, "Li, are you being obedient now?"

As soon as the voice came out, Li instantly knew that the noble-looking young lady in front of her was the original Jian Xi.

The current situation is not like what happened a few days ago in front of the general's mansion, in public. Because she was fleeing from famine, she did not have an identity pass on her. According to the laws of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, she is not even considered a "human" now.

It was Jian Xi's territory again, and Li finally became afraid and started to tremble.

"Girl, I know I was wrong. Please, spare my life."

Seeing that Li finally understood the current situation, Jian Xi knocked the tea bowl on the table and said, "Now that you are clear-headed, let's settle this account."

"You took my father's property and remarried, and sold my brother and me to a trafficker. Only beasts could do such a thing. Now my brother and I hold power, and your life is as fragile as a willow. Tell me how I should punish you?"

The voice was cold and merciless like ice. Li knelt on the ground and felt a chill rising from the ground to the top of his head.

Li was panicked for a moment, then she thought of something and straightened up. "Your body and hair are from your parents. Although I am not your biological mother, I am your stepmother. My family was struggling to make ends meet and I sold you to give you food. Besides, isn't it my credit that you are now enjoying a good life?"

Jian Xi snorted, "What a clever talker! I didn't know you had such a plan. How did a woman like you travel thousands of miles to the capital? How did you know about the general's mansion after you came here? And you even caused trouble on the day of my brother's wedding. Who is behind this?"

Li seemed to be certain that Jian Xi would not do anything to her and refused to give in.

On the wedding day, many people saw Li and heard her words. Shen Nanxing's background had long been no secret in the Xuanyuan Dynasty.

If the Li family is defeated now, and if the people Shen Nanxing has offended in the court find out, it will cause trouble again in the future.

Jian Xi rubbed the corners of her eyes and pointed at the towel thrown on the ground. "If you don't want to tell me, then never tell me again. Glue her mouth shut. Go and find out the news. Do you find out anything?"

Mother Xing glared at Li and then said, "According to the young lady's instructions, I went to the dilapidated temple where this woman lived before and asked her. I only heard that she was left there by a caravan of merchants. The caravan often traveled between the capital and the outside world and had no fixed place to live. This woman also had a quarrel with the merchant. Because it was under the feet of the emperor, the merchant did not want to cause trouble, so he threw her a few taels of silver and left with the caravan. No one knows where he went."

Jian Xi looked at Li and made a guess, "Could it be that you eloped with my father's property and your lover? Even if you squandered some of that money, it would be enough for you to use for a lifetime. Let me guess, was the man cheated out of your money?"