How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

Xie Jinyu looked at Xie Chengze in shock.

Let him answer?

Didn't he send an insider to the East Palace last night to eavesdrop on the response he and his retainers discussed at night? And he sent someone to eavesdrop, wasn't it just to perform well in the court and win the praise of his father and the ministers?

Why are you suddenly giving up this opportunity to perform?

This is not like Xie Chengze's style.

So suspicious.

Today's Xie Chengze is suspicious in every way, and it is hard to tell what he is trying to do.

Xie Jinyu frowned slightly. The method he and his retainers had discussed that night, although not a perfect answer, was still around 70 or 80 points, enough to deal with his father's question.

Could it be that Xie Chengze saw through some key point and was waiting for him to finish speaking before impatiently filling in the gaps and correcting the mistakes?

This must be the case. Otherwise, Xie Chengze would not have given up the opportunity to perform in the court.

After calming down a little, Xie Jinyu stepped forward and answered clearly, "Yizhou has suffered from floods for a long time. As a result, the Jiangdu Plain, which could have been a fertile land, has an unsatisfactory annual grain output. Flood control is indeed urgent. However, as the Minister of Works said, every dynasty has tried every means to build dams, but they were all washed away within three years. It is indeed difficult to cure the problem completely."

Xie Chengze nodded secretly.

In "The Powerful Officials", Yizhou is located in the Jiangdu Plain, a vast fertile plain that is very suitable for farming. However, it is located in the lower reaches of the Minjiang River. Every summer, the melting snow in the mountains and the continuous heavy rain will cause the Minjiang River torrents to burst out, washing away all the crops that the Jiangdu Plain has worked hard to grow for a year, and the people will complain bitterly.

Many farmers can only leave their hometowns sadly, resulting in more and more soil being abandoned, which is a cause for regret.

Throughout the dynasties, people have gone to Yizhou to control floods. River embankments and dams have been built, but to no avail. Whenever a mountain torrent broke out, the river would be completely destroyed. The imperial court could only provide relief and repair the river again and again.

The book does not describe any so-called radical cure, but instead tells the story of Shen Yuan's path to power, centering on the issue of corruption in disaster relief.

On the side, Xie Jinyu continued, "I think that the main thing now should be to repair the dam and provide disaster relief to the people. Then, in the next spring exam, maybe we can include this as a question in the exam paper."

"Ridiculous! That's the spring examination that's held every three years to select outstanding talents. How can the questions be leaked?" An elderly official immediately stepped out and objected loudly.

Xie Chengze immediately became interested, hey, let me see who this is~

Anyone who can come out and sing against the prince at this time is most likely the second prince's cronies. Xie Chengze must recognize them carefully, so as not to mistakenly recognize one of his own people in the future.

Xie Chengze poked his head out and looked at the ministers. When the elderly official saw Xie Chengze, he immediately gave him a secret look, as if to say: Don't worry, Second Prince, we will definitely make sure the Crown Prince lose face!

Xie Chengze was immediately moved.

Uncle! You are a good man! But thanks, I just want to live in seclusion now!

Xie Chengze shrank back like a kitten and stood back in his place obediently.

"Since it is for the people's livelihood, why not?" Xie Jinyu took a step forward, leaned slightly towards Emperor Jian, and said earnestly, "Perhaps we can add a question to the test paper as an additional question, and add points according to the answer. The test questions can be sent to all states and counties in advance, so that everyone can brainstorm and discuss the method of flood control in Yizhou. What do you think, father?"

"Hmm..." Emperor Jian thought for a moment after hearing this, "It's a good idea."

The Ministry of Works is short of people right now. If we can really find talents in civil engineering and water conservancy, we can make exceptions and admit them.

The Minister of Rites also quickly agreed, "Using this as an exam question is equivalent to the court testing the students' knowledge of river geography, rather than asking the people for methods to control floods. This will not only gather the world's thoughts, but also not damage the reputation of the court officials. It is indeed the best policy! Your Highness is wise!"

Other ministers echoed this, and for a while, all kinds of flattery came pouring in.

Xie Jinyu glanced at Xie Chengze. Last night, he and his retainers knew that Xie Chengze's insider was just outside the door, so they only told him 70% of the information. Now he has told him everything. Xie Chengze has nothing to add, so he must be angry and jumping up and down, right?

But unexpectedly, when I turned my head, I saw that person who was always competitive and aggressive was looking down and playing with his white fingertips, with unfocused eyes, which showed that he was distracted.

Xie Jinyu:?

On the dragon throne, Emperor Jian cast a sharp and majestic gaze at Xie Chengze, and his expression softened a little, "What do you think, Chengze?"

Xie Chengze, who was called again, came to his senses: Huh?

Why are you asking me again?

Looking up at Emperor Jian's eyes that seemed both encouraging and doting, Xie Chengze reluctantly stepped out of the line and sighed, "You're an adult already, don't you have your own ideas? Why do you ask me about this?"

Although he was complaining in his heart, Xie Chengze still said honestly, "I think what the prince said is right. Why not let the prince do this? The prince will definitely live up to your majesty's trust and select outstanding talents for your father in the next spring examination!"

Xie Jinyu's eyes darkened, and the look she gave Xie Chengze became increasingly deep.

In the past, Xie Chengze would have rushed forward to take the order. Why would he give up the opportunity so easily today?

Could it be that they felt that it was impossible for him to find a way to control the flood, so they decided to sit back and watch him make a fool of himself?

Or did he intend to create trouble during the Spring Examination so that His Majesty would accuse him of mismanagement and incompetence?

Just as he was thinking, he heard Xie Chengze's cat-like soft voice again, "Father, I feel unwell. Can I ask for a few days' leave?"

Xie Jinyu's heart sank, and a trace of anxiety rose in his mind. The feeling of being out of control and unable to control the other person began to make him upset and restless.

He is not feeling well... Is he sick?

Is it because you are sick that you are so listless today and too lazy to fight with yourself?

No, Xie Chengze had been sick before, but even with his illness, he would go to court to fight him to the death in order to gain fame and praise from the emperor. How could he suddenly ask for leave, and for several days at a time?

Could it be... that he has some incurable disease?

Thinking of the water marks at the corners of Xie Chengze's eyes, Xie Jinyu pinched the remaining touch on her fingertips, her thoughts a little confused.

Because the terminal illness cannot be cured, so he just gave up and decided not to fight with him?

Thinking of this, Xie Jinyu's eyes became more and more agitated. Just as he was about to touch Xie Zimiao with his elbow, Xie Zimiao beside him asked directly, looking at Xie Chengze worriedly, "Second brother, what's wrong with you?"

Thinking about Xie Chengze feeling his pulse just now, Xie Zimiao couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed. His second brother was obviously still unwell, but he was more concerned about whether he was sick or not, and he didn't even notice that his second brother was sick!

"I just caught a cold and am not easily exposed to the wind. I wanted to see my father more before I take my leave." Xie Chengze made up a story.

Emperor Jian was obviously pleased by this, he raised his hand and laughed, "Okay, okay, I agree."

Seeing that Emperor Jian had agreed, Xie Chengze hurriedly bowed to express his gratitude and stood back in his original position in an orderly manner.

Emperor Jian retracted his gaze and said calmly, "As for the matter of the Spring Examination, the Ministry of Rites will continue to be in charge for the time being. Disaster relief in Yizhou is urgent. Three hundred thousand taels of silver will be used to build river embankments and provide relief to the people. Liang Wanda, the governor of Yizhou, will personally supervise it."

"Your Majesty! Isn't three hundred thousand taels of silver a bit too much? The autumn hunting is approaching, and it will cost a lot of silver, especially last year's harvest was not good. The Astronomical Bureau also said that there will be many disasters this year. I don't know how much bad news is on the way. The Ministry of Revenue can't support it with its silver!" The Minister of Revenue's voice trembled.

Xie Chengze nodded secretly again. In ancient times, there were few people and technology was not well developed, so natural disasters were not easy to solve. In addition, due to the plot in the novel, disasters among the people were more frequent and easy to occur. There were indeed many counties and cities that needed financial relief.

It was precisely because the national treasury was empty that Shen Yuan was ordered to purge corrupt officials and reorganize the court.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Emperor Jian frowned slightly, "Over the years, this amount has always been allocated for disaster relief."

"Your Majesty!" The Minister of Finance knelt down and cried, "There have been many disasters this year. We are really poor!"

Emperor Jian's gaze drifted towards Xie Chengze again.

Xie Chengze immediately felt like he was facing a formidable enemy, and immediately decided to speak wildly, cutting off his thoughts on asking further questions, "Father, since there is not enough money, why not confiscate the house! Just confiscate and you will have money!"

As soon as the words fell, all the officials were shocked.

Xie Jinyu looked at Xie Chengze with even more horror.

How dare he say anything!

Seeing Xie Chengze's innocent face and Emperor Jian as if he was really considering this possibility, Xie Jinyu hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Father, when the people are in trouble, officials should take the lead and set a good example. I believe that the civil and military officials are also willing to donate money to help the suffering people overcome the difficulties."

The ministers quickly responded, fearing that their property would be confiscated, and knelt down one after another, "We are willing to donate silver for the people of Yizhou!"

I have to donate! Judging from how much the Emperor dotes on the Second Prince, I'm afraid he will really consider confiscating his property. It would be a happy event if it was the other side's property, but what if it was my property that was confiscated -

That's not a matter of crying to death, but a matter of losing your head!

Seeing that all the civil and military officials were willing to donate silver, Emperor Jian nodded with satisfaction, "In that case, my dear ministers, go to the Ministry of Revenue to settle this matter after the court session. Chengze, you will be in charge of this matter. See who donates the least, come back and tell me in person, and I will deduct his salary for the next six months, both as a punishment and as relief silver for the victims!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers who had originally wanted to donate less suddenly complained in their hearts.

"Yes, father." Xie Chengze accepted the order reluctantly.

This damn emperor father asked him to supervise this matter. Wouldn't this make him offend all the officials?

Why did the prince come up with the idea and let him take the blame? Originally, he only needed to offend one official, but now he offended everyone!

Alas, life is not easy, the polished stone sighs.

After the court session, Xie Chengze acted as if his butt was on fire. He pretended not to see the pleas and inquiries in Xie Zimiao and Xie Jinyu's eyes, and slipped away.

Xie Zimiao looked at Xie Chengze's receding back with regret, "Second brother was really amazing today. With just a few words, he made these stingy civil and military officials take the initiative to pay for emergency assistance."

"But, what kind of illness did second brother have? Why did he have to take so many days off?" Xie Zimiao said worriedly.

Xie Jinyu stared at Xie Chengze's back, stroking the fingertips stained with tears. After a while, she said in a light tone, "Who knows? Maybe he's dying soon."

When Xie Zimiao heard this, he was almost frightened to tears.

He also felt that Xie Chengze, who had stopped fighting with his brother the Crown Prince, might be nearing his end.