The daughter of the emperor was reborn and was spoiled by the sickly prince.

Liu Yu was horrified: "Your Highness...what crime have I committed? Please tell me clearly..."

"If you are not guilty, then why are you kneeling here?" Gu Mingzhao asked back.

Liu Yu was so frightened by this that he forgot all the words he had prepared in advance. He stammered for a long time and couldn't say a word.

Gu Mingzhao smiled softly, leaned back in his chair, and relaxed: "I was just joking with Master Liu, don't be nervous."

Only then did Liu Yu secretly wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"By the way, why are you kneeling?"

Liu Yu then remembered his purpose. He leaned forward in panic and kowtowed, saying, "Your Highness, please understand. I am busy with official duties, working day and night, and I dare not slack off even a little. I even neglected to discipline my family, causing my wife's sister to make a big mistake and causing the officials of Jizhou to suffer so much injustice! I really feel guilty, so I kneel here to apologize to my colleagues!"

"Then how are you going to apologize?"

After listening to his story, Gu Mingzhao rubbed his eyebrows and looked very distressed.

Liu Yu stayed where he was.

He pleaded his case with tears in his eyes!

Under normal circumstances, shouldn't you persuade him to get up and then forgive him?

Why didn't the King of Qin play by the rules?

Liu Yu asked tentatively, "Deduct one year's salary to serve as a warning to others?"

Gu Mingzhao sneered in his heart.

Liu Yu is really good at solving cases.

A one-year salary deduction does seem to be a severe punishment.

But during the years he served as prefect, I wonder how much money he made from this position.

Just the price difference of granite and gravel for building the river embankment three years ago was enough to earn him more than his salary as a prefect for his entire life.

"It's not that serious." Gu Mingzhao said.

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"Since the yamen runners have been eating steamed buns and pickled vegetables for so long, you should eat like this for a year too."

"This...how can this be done?" Liu Yu's face suddenly changed and he was so anxious that he wanted to jump up.

On weekdays, his table was filled with golden plates and jade cups, he ate delicacies from land and sea, and drank fine liquor.

The court sent an imperial envoy, so he couldn't be too extravagant. In the past few months, he had been accompanying Gu Mingzhao and Wang Tingzhi to eat home-cooked meals every day, and he already felt very wronged.

Now, Gu Mingzhao actually suggested that he eat steamed buns and pickles!

Liu Yu found it hard to accept, as if he had swallowed a fly.

"Lord Liu, do you have any objections?" Gu Mingzhao's voice was as cold as ice.

Liu Yu's face froze. Even though he was extremely unwilling, facing Gu Mingzhao's majesty, he could only bow his head and submit.

"I dare not. Your Highness is absolutely right. From tomorrow on, I will only eat steamed buns and pickles."

He forced a bitter smile, his teeth almost breaking.

When will this hard time end?

I don’t know how long Gu Mingzhao will stay. If he leaves earlier, I might be able to escape from this suffering sooner.

Recalling the last time Gu Mingzhao accidentally fell into the river, Liu Yu felt resentful.

Why didn’t you drown Gu Mingzhao last time?

Gu Mingzhao stood up and said, "Alright, you should get up earlier too. If you kneel here, none of them will dare to leave. It's just a waste of time for so many people to accompany you and suffer here."

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault for not thinking it through. Let's go back quickly!"

The people in and out of the court gradually dispersed.

Liu Yu came close to Gu Mingzhao and said mysteriously, "Some merchants brought some goods today. I have delivered them all to Your Highness's courtyard. Please come back and take a look."

Gu Mingzhao nodded slightly, thinking that they should be the clothes and jewelry he had bought for Liao Qinglan before, so he asked Liao Qinglan to go with him.

Liu Yu hurriedly said, "I will escort Your Highness back!"

The three of them walked towards Gu Mingzhao's guest room together.

As soon as Liao Qinglan stepped into the yard, she was shocked by the mountains of brocade boxes in front of her.

They are of various sizes and are dazzling, almost filling the entire courtyard.

"These... weren't bought by us, were they?" Liao Qinglan frowned.

"These are the gifts from the people of Jizhou. Your Highness and Miss Liao, please accept them." Liu Yu said with a chuckle.

Gu Mingzhao's eyes were full of meaning, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly: "Lord Liu, do you think Wang Tingzhi is too idle and want him to come to me more often?"

Liao Qinglan was also unhappy.

Liu Yu accepted these gifts without authorization, which actually laid hidden dangers.

One day, this might be used as a handle to threaten Gu Mingzhao.

Many cases of corruption start from the inner house.

Liao Qinglan took a look and found that most of the things here were used by women.

It must be because Gu Mingzhao accompanied her out shopping today, and the vendors thought they were catering to her needs.

She still had to solve this problem for Gu Mingzhao.

Liao Qinglan held a lantern in her hand and walked around among the brocade boxes, opening one from time to time to take a look at what was inside.

Not long after, she selected a few brocade boxes, put them aside, and said to Gu Mingzhao: "Your Highness, these are what we paid for today. The others were not bought by us."

Gu Mingzhao said: "In that case, send someone to return all the remaining items tomorrow."

"No, we can't retreat!" Liao Qinglan stopped them, "Master Liu just said that these are the kindness of the people of Jizhou, and we can't let them down."

Liu Yu quickly agreed, "Miss Liao is right. I will deliver these gifts to your courtyard right away."

Gu Mingzhao glanced at Liao Qinglan and said nothing.

After spending the past two days with her, he knew very well that Liao Qinglan was not someone who would only seek small profits.

He couldn't help but feel a little curious about Liao Qinglan's next plan.

"But I can't take so many things back to the capital. What should I do..."

Liao Qinglan seemed to be lost in thought. After a moment, she suddenly clapped her hands and came up with a plan: "Master Liu, you have accepted all these gifts. Tomorrow I will accompany you to settle the accounts of each household and regard them as your purchases."

"Why would I buy these?"

"You can give all these to the yamen runners! Your wife's sister-in-law has been cutting their food supplies, causing them to have to eat coarse food for so long. These gifts can be considered as a small compensation for them."

Gu Mingzhao showed approval: "This is a good idea. It can not only give back to the people, but also motivate the officials. It is much more sincere than you kneeling there to apologize to your colleagues."

"That's exactly what I mean! The end of the year is approaching, and if we reward them with this, they will definitely remember Lord Liu's kindness. Lord Liu, don't you think so?" Liao Qinglan said.

"Yes, Your Highness and Miss Liao are really thoughtful."

The two of them discussed it one after another, and the matter was finalized.

Liu Yu could only agree with tears in his eyes.

His heart is bleeding!

These gifts are very valuable; their total value far exceeds his annual salary!

I originally wanted to dig a hole for Gu Mingzhao, but I didn't expect to bury myself!

If I had known earlier, I would have insisted on paying the fine...