In front of the emperor, Gu Yanxi annotated the memorial one by one and handed it to Lai Fu. Lai Fu heard it clearly and naturally knew who to assign the task to.
"Your Majesty, Yuan Shifang can't stand it anymore."
The emperor snorted coldly, "The fact that he has survived until now shows that he has inherited the good physique of the Chaoli clan. Has the interrogation revealed anything else?"
"The torture court has used every possible means, and I'm afraid he really won't confess anything." Gu Yanxi picked up the top book on the desk and turned to the latest page. At his request, the Imperial Hospital would write down the pulse every day after taking it, so that he could know the emperor's physical condition at all times.
The emperor's brows softened when he saw his actions.
"The Chaoli tribe has learned to be smart. Although they tried their best to train Yuan Shifang, they were also on guard against him. They let him know what he should know, but they didn't let him have much contact with people of the same status as him. Yuan Shifang learned some things through some clues. Following these clues, the Qisusi arrested two people, and they are now on their way back."
Thinking of what Yan Xi had encountered when escorting Yuan Shifang back, the emperor frowned, "Are the people you sent enough?"
"Yes, I have made all the necessary preparations."
"I trust you to do your job well. Please interrogate me carefully. I just want to know how much of my kingdom has been infiltrated by them!"
"Yes." Gu Yanxi put the book down and sat down next to the emperor again, "Uncle Emperor, I recently participated in a business deal."
The emperor smiled when he heard his address. Once this guy addressed him like that, it meant that he was talking about private matters. "Tell me, what business would you like?"
“Mushrooms.”
"Mushrooms?"
“They are not wild mushrooms, but cultivated artificially. They can be eaten all year round.”
Can this thing be grown? The emperor stroked his chin. If it could really be eaten all year round, it would indeed be a good deal. No wonder Yan Xi was interested in it. However, if it was just a deal, this kid wouldn't have come to him to talk about it. The emperor suddenly found a sense of accomplishment for the younger generation and said with a smile, "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
"You don't have to do anything, but I, the person who cultivated the mushroom, felt that I needed to tell you."
"Oh? Who is it?"
Gu Yanxi's heartbeat quickened slightly, "It's the daughter of the Hua family."
The Hua family... daughter? The emperor's smile faded slightly, "The granddaughter of Hua Yizheng?"
"Yes, her name is Hua Zhi, the eldest granddaughter of Hua Yizheng and the daughter of Hua Pingyu."
The emperor fell silent. He had not paid attention to the Hua family for some time. When he suddenly heard this surname, he suddenly remembered that Hua Yi had been exiled for nearly a year. The women of the Hua family were saved by the empress dowager, but even the old lady of the Hua family passed away a few years ago.
"What are they doing now?"
"It's still good. After Madam Hua passed away, Hua Zhi has been in charge. The Hua family has not shown any signs of falling apart under her leadership, and she has quite a talent in business." Gu Yanxi's expression was no different from when she was talking about other things at other times, but her heart was tense. She chose every word carefully, making sure that the emperor knew about Hua Zhi, but was not thinking about her.
The emperor laughed, "It's really interesting that the daughter of the Hua family is good at business. I wonder what old man Hua Yizheng would think if he knew about it."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with this. At least she helped the Hua family regain their footing after the great changes without having to beg for mercy."
"Oh? Yan Xi thinks very highly of her."
Gu Yanxi motioned the maid to come over and change the tea. "Uncle Emperor, don't you think that the Hua family is a better move than the He family? The Hua family's business is a disgrace to the family, but on the other hand, it also preserves their self-esteem."
That is true. With the comparison, the emperor felt that it was understandable that Yan Xi favored the Hua family. After all, the Hua family had established themselves on their own, and this alone made them look up to him.
"She came to you?"
"Gu Shizi never leaves his house all year round, where can she find me?" Gu Yanxi brought the teacup and placed it in the hands of the emperor's uncle. "She opened a vegetarian restaurant, which is now quite famous in the capital. The restaurant has no menu, only specified ingredients. No matter what ingredients are specified, the restaurant must make twelve dishes. The cousins of the Lu family invited me to a meal once. It was a mushroom feast. I had never heard of some of the methods, but the taste was very good. I heard from my cousin that the eldest daughter of the Hua family cultivated it herself, and many people have been eyeing it. She is a smart person and knows that the Hua family can no longer protect this profitable business."
The emperor joked, "So you delivered yourself to the door?"
Gu Yanxi lowered her head and stared at the teacup in her hand. "The Lu family spent a lot of effort to marry off their daughter back then, and the dowry is still in my prince's mansion. My uncle must have heard about the Lu family's current situation. It's not an exaggeration to say that they are frequent customers of the pawnshop. I don't lack that little bit of silver, but the Lu family does. However, they never take advantage of others, so this deal is between me and the Lu family, and we will each take one."
Gu Yanxi suddenly curled her lips as she spoke, "The Lu family has always been very righteous, so they also protected the vegetarian diet. In this way, the Hua family has gained a great advantage."
The emperor also laughed when the Lu family was mentioned. If one counted the famous scoundrels in the Daqing Dynasty, three out of ten were from the Lu family. This family was also strange, as if they specialized in producing this kind of people. However, among all the civil and military officials in the court, this was also the family he trusted the most. Their scoundrelliness and loyalty were connected, and this had been the case for generations.
He had heard that the Lu family was struggling financially, and many people made fun of them. Ultimately, his younger brother was in the wrong, but the Lu family was still very stubborn. Even if Yan Xi wanted to do something, they would not accept it. It was a good thing that he could find a chance to help this time. He couldn't bear to see such a family living by pawning the treasures in the warehouse.
"I understand. Although the Hua family was punished by me, there is no reason for them not to find a way to survive. Just as you said, it is better for them to do this than to do something like the He family who married off their daughters to make trouble."
"Yes, I think so too."
"You think too much. Is this the only thing that's worth you coming to report to me?" The emperor pointed at him, his tone sounded like reproach, but his expression was indescribably satisfied. "Laifu."
"The old slave is here."
"Go and bring the pair of night-shining pearls that were delivered yesterday to our prince."
Lai Fu smiled and agreed. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he heard the emperor say, "Wait, Yan Xi, go to the warehouse by yourself and think about what suitable items to send to the Lu family. Since so many items have been pawned, I will add a few more to their warehouse."
Gu Yanxi immediately refuted it, "No matter how much you reward them, it's useless. Do they dare to pawn your reward?"
The emperor threw the file at him and said, "Can't you just say it's from your own storehouse?"
"Even if I send them a piece of paper, they will keep it as a treasure." Gu Yanxi bent down to pick up the file and accidentally saw a line of words, 'On the tenth day of April, I will send you a thousand acres of good farmland, and in May, I will send you another thousand acres'.
As if he hadn't seen anything, Gu Yanxi put the file back, took two steps back and said, "I'll come back to get the Night Pearl another day. The Seven Stars Division still has things to deal with, so I'll take my leave."
The emperor couldn't help laughing when he saw Renqi leaving so easily. He complained to Lai Fu, "Come on, come on, you still have to look at his face before giving him things."
Lai Fu continued, "The prince is not being polite to you, and he knows you won't bother with him about this."
"You little brat." The emperor cursed with a smile, and his smile gradually faded as he looked at the file. "Go check whether the mushrooms were really cultivated by the Hua family girl. I can't let Yan Xi suffer a loss."
"yes."
"Send this to the Ministry of Justice." The emperor threw the file in front of Lai Fu. "If he dares to stretch his hand so far, I will chop him off. The Xu family will be confiscated and exterminated. Tell that old man Xu Shisong whether the country belongs to the Gu family or the Xu family!"
Lai Fu's forehead was covered with sweat, and he bent his waist even lower, "I obey your command."
PS: Three updates.