Xiao Zimu was affected by his sudden collapse of emotions, and his expression was sad.
He stood up and walked to Mao Xianchun, helped him up, and said to him: "Don't be sad first. Let me ask you, why is the famine so serious, why don't you report it to the court?"
"I think it's a humble position. I mentioned it several times, but Master Zheng refuted it every time. He even said..." Mao Xianchun looked frightened and carefully peeked at Zheng Zhongguang out of the corner of his eye.
Zheng Zhongguang's eyes were already wide open, staring at him with a look of disbelief.
If his eyes were really like daggers, Mao Xianchun would have been riddled with holes long ago.
"What did he say? Please tell me clearly and boldly. No one can threaten you!" After Xiao Zimu finished speaking, he looked at Zheng Zhongguang again, his eyes full of warning.
"Master Zheng said that reporting it would affect his official reputation and tarnish his political achievements." Mao Xianchun paused at the right moment.
A cold snort from His Majesty Seventh Prince came to my ears.
Mao Xianchun swallowed his saliva and continued: "Mr. Zheng also said that the current situation is a good time to make money. If the court knew about it and sent people to come down to provide food relief, wouldn't the price of rice they raised be in vain? It was a waste.”
"In that case, why don't you go to the capital alone to present the memorial?" Xiao Zimu raised his eyebrows in a displeased tone.
"Everyone who had been to Beijing was dead. Zheng Zhongguang threatened us with a sinister smile afterwards, saying that he had a deep background in Beijing and wanted to get a copy of him. It was really wishful thinking. Only then did we know that the person behind him was actually..." Mao Xianchun He looked at Xiao Zimu.
After a 'cough', he continued: "Later, naturally we didn't dare."
Xiao Zimu's face was already extremely ugly, and he looked at Zheng Zhongguang, who also had a dark face.
Seeing him holding the handles on both sides of the wooden chair tightly with his fingers, all the veins on the back of his hands popped out.
The joints were bulging, and both sides of the fingertips were pale.
"Since when did I actually become your support for cliques, selfishness, and extravagance?" Xiao Zimu pressed towards Zheng Zhongguang step by step.
When he raised his eyes again, the cold light in his eyes stared into Zheng Zhongguang's eyes, making him wake up from his anger.
"Your Highness, he was lying and I was wronged." Zheng Zhongguang looked at him calmly with that cold light.
"Your Highness, what kind of person is Master Zheng? Why do I need to repeat the slander? Everyone in the city knows that Master Zheng, the governor of ancient Anhui, is a lustful person and greedy. Your Highness, just don't ask, take a look. The concubine in this mansion also knows it in her heart, not to mention that the villain has kept the booklet that Master Zheng ordered to fix the rice grain as evidence..." Mao Xianchun cried blood, and made him cry every sentence.
"You should step back first and bring the discount tomorrow." Xiao Zimu ordered Mao Xianchun.
"I hope that Your Highness will make the decision for the people of this city. I will bear in mind Your Highness's great kindness in this humiliating position." Mao Xianchun looked at Xiao Zimu's handsome and clear face. At this time, he was trying his best to suppress his anger. He bowed gratefully and bowed out.
"Your Highness, I was really wronged. I did receive a lot of gifts and gifts. But I didn't know anything about the rest of the things. I really didn't know anything about what he just said..." Zheng Zhongguang couldn't argue, his eyebrows furrowed into characters. , the mouth also became flat.
Xiao Zimu suddenly suppressed the chill all over his body, the anger on his face disappeared, he looked at Zheng Zhongguang solemnly and said, "I know."
"Ah?" Zheng Zhongguang opened his mouth wide and was shocked.
The overwhelming insults he imagined did not come as promised, and he even said calmly and calmly that he knew, what did Xiao Zimu mean
"Does Your Highness believe me?" Zheng Zhongguang asked uncertainly.
"You probably don't know about the price of rice." Xiao Zimu walked back to his chair, holding his forehead and lost in thought.
When Zheng Zhongguang heard this, a trace of warmth emerged in his heart, and he suddenly felt the urge to cry.
"Why would Your Highness believe me?" Zheng Zhongguang's voice was choked with sobs.
Mao Xianchun was so aggressive just now, and his accusations were smooth and clear. If it were not him who was criticizing, but someone else, he would have believed it long ago.
"At first you wanted to call him to testify for you, but I really thought you wanted to find a scapegoat. Unexpectedly, he did not hesitate to put all the blame on you, and his words were so skillful that it was like reciting It happened several times. It made me start to doubt it." There was a strange light in Xiao Zimu's eyes.
Zheng Zhongguang couldn't help but take a step forward, wanting to see more clearly.
Xiao Zimu looked up at him, his eyes searching.
Zheng Zhongguang suddenly stopped. Due to the situation, he almost called him his cousin.
"Your Highness, I did see that the discount price was no more than ten cents, so I stamped the official seal on it." Zheng Zhongguang remembered the key to this matter.
Everything else was just what Mao Xianchun said was unfounded, but this was solid evidence.
"I also want to see what's so strange about this." Xiao Zimu nodded, frowning slightly, and a trace of sadness appeared on his bright and jade-like face.
"Since His Highness knew it, he was so angry just now, could it be..." Zheng Zhongguang was not a fool, and he suddenly understood.
"I have an idea in my mind, but I don't know if they will show up as I expected." Xiao Zimu looked doubtful, and he had already made some considerations in his mind.
"I wonder if there is anything that requires my cooperation." Zheng Zhongguang asked tentatively.
Xiao Zimu waved to him, and when he came over, he whispered his plan in his ear.
Zheng Zhongguang's eyes flickered, and his expression fluctuated accordingly. When Xiao Zimu finished speaking, he asked with a shocked face: "Will it develop to this point?"
Xiao Zimu's complexion returned to its usual gentle and jade-like appearance, with a windy and handsome look.
There was a slight smile on his lips, and the hot summer breeze blew by like a cool breeze, making people feel more comfortable.
"Who knows, let's take it step by step. I just made some guesses for a rainy day. It would be best if there are no unforeseen complications. Otherwise, if the rice price thing comes to your head, the consequences will be disastrous." Xiao Zimu stood up. I was about to go out and stopped when I passed the lotus picture.
"Your Highness, if I cannot clear my grievances, I hope you can take care of my parents in the future." Zheng Zhongguang used the word "Xiaoguan" in front of Xiao Zimu for the first time with sincerity.
"If you have never done this, I will keep you safe and take care of your own parents." Although Xiao Zimu's voice was soft, his words were profound.
"I thank you, Your Highness." Zheng Zhongguang knelt down to pay homage.
Xiao Zimu walked towards the door, suddenly looked back at Zheng Zhongguang who was kneeling on the ground and asked: "Do you like that lotus flower very much?"
"Yes, although I don't know much about painting, I have a special liking for this lotus flower. It's just that the painting is not signed, and I don't know who painted it." Zheng Zhongguang didn't know why he suddenly asked such a question, but he still told the truth. replied.
"After this matter is over, I will sign this lotus picture and give it to you."
(End of chapter)