Xin Ya saw Yin Guangbo's delicate face full of worry and looked at him earnestly. He couldn't help but close his eyes and replied as if he was concentrating with his eyes closed, "I won't look."
"You man, after all we have been getting along day and night for more than a month, why should we be so aloof when exchanging opinions?" Yin Guangbo mumbled with a sad look on his face.
Xin Ya ignored him.
Like him, working in the palace.
The most taboo thing is having your own opinions.
What's more, it doesn't matter what he thinks.
What matters is what His Highness thinks...
Xiao Zimu followed Zheng Zhongguang into the study, and there were countless rare calligraphy and paintings everywhere.
In the most conspicuous place in the study, a delicate, unique and lifelike lotus picture hangs.
I think Zheng Zhongguang must have liked this painting very much, so he hung it here specially.
Xiao Zimu took a cursory glance at the arrangement of calligraphy and paintings. They were uncategorized and disorganized.
A quick look shows that Zheng Zhongguang is just arty.
He invited Xiao Zimu to sit on a high seat. After the maid served two cups of tea, Zheng Zhongguang told him not to disturb him, and their eyes met again.
Xiao Zimu waited for him to take the initiative to speak, but Zheng Zhongguang remained silent.
"Don't you have anything to explain?" After a moment of silence, Xiao Zimu sighed slightly and asked.
"As your Highness has seen, today is the full moon banquet of Wei Chen's son. We have indeed received gifts and gifts. If Your Highness wants to know the specific amount, Wei Chen will ask someone to get the gift list." Zheng Zhongguang thought that the matter was over. You’ve seen it all, and there’s nothing to deny.
"Apart from this?" Xiao Zimu looked at him and asked.
"What is your Highness referring to?" Zheng Zhongguang looked confused.
"The people of ancient Anhui under your governance are now in dire straits and famines persist, but no memorial has been received in the capital. The people eat wild vegetables and roots to satisfy their hunger every day. I even heard that in a while, they will have to eat dirt." Seeing that he was unrepentant and trying to pretend to be ignorant, Zi Mu's tone became slightly angry.
"Eating dirt?" Zheng Zhongguang's eyes were filled with surprise and his tone was surprised.
"Don't tell me you're not cool. The price of rice in the city is set by the government. Without your approval, would the people below dare?" Xiao Zimu was a little impatient.
He originally thought that Zheng Zhongguang would explain everything clearly and seek leniency.
Unexpectedly, he looked confused and pretended to be shocked, which really disappointed him.
"I did approve the pricing discount. Is there anything wrong with the discount?" Zheng Zhongguang saw Xiao Zimu's expression suddenly turned grim and realized that there was something wrong with the rice price.
When he reviewed it, he found nothing wrong.
However, look at Xiao Zimu's face.
There must be something wrong with this fold.
He thought carefully about what the problem was, and he really didn't know anything before he asked.
"What's the problem? The price of rice here is now fifteen taels per pound. How can the people of Guwan afford it? This price is only temporary and will rise in a few days. I live in an ordinary room now. At the inn, four dishes and one soup cost fifty taels of silver. The food in your ancient Anhui Province is really precious." Xiao Zimu's expression became more solemn as he said it.
"How is that possible? The harvests in the past few years have been really bad, so Mao Xianchun, the prime minister of the government, proposed to me that the grain collected from taxes should be uniformly priced by the government and grain stores to prevent unruly people from maliciously hoarding grain and driving up rice prices, which would have a bad impact and be difficult to govern. I I thought it made sense, so I gave this order. Due to the scarcity of rice, I did increase the price a little, but it was only within the range of ten cents. It is impossible to sell it for fifteen taels per catty." Zheng Zhongguang was shocked and told the whole story in detail.
"Are you trying to find a scapegoat to plead guilty?" Xiao Zimu chuckled upon hearing this, and the smile was full of sarcasm.
"If your highness doesn't believe it, call Mao Xianchun and you will know." After Zheng Zhongguang said that, he called the boy and went to find Mao Xianchun.
Seeing his serious face and anxious tone, Xiao Zimu felt disgusted with this kind of pretentiousness, so he stopped talking and waited to see how he would evade.
In less than half an hour, Mao Xianchun was brought into the study.
"Mao Fucheng, please quickly explain to His Highness what the price of rice is." Zheng Zhongguang ordered Mao Xianchun, who was kneeling.
"Ah?" Mao Xianchun was a little submissive and hesitated for a long time.
"You told the truth truthfully." Zheng Zhongguang was angered by his cover-up attitude and scolded him.
"You give the report according to the truth. Don't worry about being detained by force. This palace will make the decision for you." Xiao Zimu glanced at Zheng Zhongguang, turned to Mao Xianchun and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Yes." Mao Xianchun nodded.
He seemed to have made a lot of determination and bowed sincerely.
He then continued: "Your Highness, there has been a famine in ancient Anhui in recent years. In the past, 10% of the autumn harvest can only be harvested half every year. The people have paid the grain tax and there is not much left. By the time of midsummer, This is the most difficult time. I once advised Mr. Zheng to open a warehouse to provide disaster relief, but unexpectedly he not only refused to agree, but also increasingly hoarded grain. Government officials and businessmen colluded to drive up grain... "
"Mao Xianchun, what nonsense are you talking about?" Zheng Zhongguang couldn't bear it anymore, stood up and yelled loudly, his face turned the color of pig liver with anger.
Mao Xianchun was trembling, his eyes were filled with mist, and he looked at His Majesty the Seventh Prince pitifully.
Xiao Zimu frowned when he saw this, glared at Zheng Zhongguang and said in a deep voice: "If you randomly interrupt again with the intention of preventing Mao Fu Cheng from giving a confession, then I will not be questioning you in this study, but I’m going to the government office to be promoted to court.”
When Zheng Zhongguang heard this, his complexion changed from pig liver to livid, and he sat down with a flick of his sleeves.
"Don't worry about it. Tell me carefully and don't hide anything. This palace wants to know the truth." Xiao Zimu ordered Mao Xianchun warmly.
Mao Xianchun tugged on his sleeves and wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.
He cautiously glanced at Zheng Zhongguang and moved to the side.
After a series of actions, he took a deep breath to gain courage and began to continue explaining.
"Your Highness, when summer comes, people really don't have any extra food in their homes. Those who have money will buy the food set by Mr. Zheng at a high price. Those who have no money have to dig wild vegetables to satisfy their hunger. As the weather gets hotter and hotter, the wild vegetables will be eaten. You can eat tree roots, but after eating the tree roots you can only eat dirt. Some people watch others eat dirt and starve themselves to death. They die tragically, and finally lose their humanity and exchange their children for food." Mao Xianchun paused here.
His voice was choked, his eyes were full of tears, and his expression was full of sorrow. He suddenly raised his head, knelt down and walked two steps towards Xiao Zimu, and kowtowed heavily.
"Fortunately, Your Highness is here, and the people of Guwan have a way to survive..."
(End of chapter)