The next day, Zhou Shuren entered the palace and noticed a box placed in front of the emperor's desk. He couldn't help but take a few more glances. It was these two glances that caught the emperor's attention.
The emperor smiled and said, "Shu Ren, are you curious about what's inside?"
Zhou Shuren: "... No, not curious."
He really wasn't curious, he just wanted to take a few more glances. There had always been folded paper on the table, and this was the first time he put something else on it.
Eunuch Liu came in at this time, "The King of Qi and the King of Chu request an audience."
The Emperor: "Yes."
Zhou Shuren stood aside swiftly to make room for the King of Qi and the King of Chu. The two princes entering the palace together showed that this was a big event.
The King of Qi stood up and saw the box at a glance. This box was familiar. He had asked the waiter to describe it yesterday. His pupils constricted, "Father, who gave you this box?"
Yesterday in the box, that merchant had been trying to deceive Lord Rong. They were afraid that many of the good things they sent would be harmful, so they did not attend the court today and went to the palace on purpose.
The emperor pointed at the box, "Are you curious?"
The King of Qi came back to his senses, "I heard something in my own restaurant. I am not curious, but I am afraid that someone has ulterior motives and is harming my father."
The emperor looked at his two sons. The Prince of Qi had a good grandfather who was flexible and had become the most carefree one among his sons. The Prince of Chu was unwilling to accept this, but was suppressed by the crown prince and gave up his thoughts.
The emperor thought of the fourth son who was always offending people. He was about to offend all the powerful people in the capital. The prince also liked to use a knife, but he was reluctant to use his son. The prince was willing to do so because the fourth son was more useful than any knife.
The emperor felt warm in his heart when he saw that his son really cared about him. He thought that it was worth his worrying about his sons. He opened the box in his hand and motioned Zhou Shuren to come forward. "Shuren should know this thing best. It was Shuren who first said that it was forbidden to enter the country."
Zhou Shuren had already seen what was in the box. Never mind the ointment, it was actually opium. He frowned and asked, "Are there any smugglers?"
The Emperor: "Well, smuggling continues despite repeated bans."
Especially for goods with high customs taxes, and the Maritime Affairs Department is now a lucrative job, some rats inside have been fattened, and they turn a blind eye to some inspections and cover up.
Zhou Shuren was silent. Not to mention that there was no modern technological conditions in ancient times, even in modern times, smuggling is still rampant. The means of smuggling are very eye-opening. "I think a fine is a good idea."
Since it is impossible to ban it and tough measures don't work, then we can impose fines, which will also bring more money into the national treasury. If the fine is painful, then they will restrain themselves. If they don't restrain themselves, then we can kill them.
The emperor hummed, and then said: "This thing was smuggled in and took away the business of the northwest. It can be seen that there are still people in the country who take this harmful thing. This kind of thing must not be tolerated."
Zhou Shuren was very glad that he came to this dynasty. Although the previous dynasty was incompetent in the late period, it also changed history. Now he continued to change history. His thoughts influenced the emperor and the crown prince. If he went further in the future, he would be able to change even more.
Zhou Shuren smiled, "I think we should increase publicity on its harmful effects. Now there are medical clinics with official uniforms hanging everywhere, and publicity in medical clinics is the most appropriate."
Doctors, in ancient times, doctors had a very high status in the hearts of the people. People would doubt the words of officials, but not the doctors. It was closely related to physical health, so people would have a deep memory of it.
The emperor's eyes lit up a little, "Shu Ren's suggestion is good."
Zhou Shuren continued, "I want someone to draw some pictures to promote it, but not many people can read."
In ancient times, there were the most illiterate people, so drawing was more convenient.
The King of Qi had been listening with his head tilted, his eyes flashing. It was hard to ignore Zhou Shuren's talent. How could his father and the crown prince let go of such an capable Zhou Shuren
Zhou Shuren left first and left the palace with his eyes narrowed. The emperor did not mention some officials of the Maritime Affairs Bureau. It seemed that the emperor wanted to leave it to the prince to establish his authority. As for opium, the emperor also wanted to wait for some days and wait until the Zhang family took the bait, so it had to be kept secret for now.
Inside the palace, the King of Chu had a dark face, "Father, Lord Rong has ulterior motives, please judge wisely."
The King of Qi looked at the King of Chu in silence, it was obvious that his father was aware of Lord Rong's actions. The third brother was too fake, even if he was acting he should be moderate, and not open his mouth as if he was lowering his intelligence.
The Emperor: "...You deserved to lose."
The King of Chu was embarrassed, thinking that he had shown too much concern, so he lowered his head and said nothing.
Since the emperor opened the box in front of his two sons, he had no intention of hiding it from them any longer. Compared to the King of Qi who knew more, the King of Chu still knew less.
The emperor patiently explained everything, including some things that the King of Qi didn't know. The most shocked was the King of Chu.
The King of Chu was stunned and a little dumbfounded. His father's operation to let his own son have the surname Ning was an amazing operation. Looking at his second brother's calm appearance, he felt a little inexplicably aggrieved, so he knew the least.
The King of Qi patted the King of Chu on the shoulder and said, "Think about the fourth one."
The King of Chu was in a good mood, and he still had the fourth son.
The prince smiled and looked at the King of Chu without saying a word. He felt that although his younger brothers were smart and really silly when they were being silly, and also when he thought about their love of joining in the fun and taking advantage of others' misfortunes, they were really brothers.
Two days later, the Dali Temple produced a lot of evidence and proposed to arrest Lord Yao, but the emperor suppressed the petition.
Ministry of Revenue, Qiu Yan said quietly: "The Yao family was so glorious in the past. You don't know how many people tried to please Yao Wenqi when the dynasty was first established. It's only been a few years now."
Zhou Shuren knew that Qiu Yan was not sympathizing with Yao Wenqi, he just had more feelings, "You have to finish the road you have walked even if you have to kneel down. Good deeds will bring good results. It is obvious that Yao Houfu has always been wrong, and the reality is just reaping the consequences."
Qiu Yan said faintly: "Yes."
He is not stupid. The Bai family's case has been dragged on for a long time. There must be something wrong. It is obvious that the Yao family not only betrayed the Rong family, but also violated the emperor's taboo. He dare not think about it, dare not think about it.
Zhou Shuren was thinking that the emperor had accelerated the encirclement and suppression, and now Yao Wenqi had become an important bait.
Qiu Yan continued, "Lord Rong asks for leave from time to time."
Zhou Shuren naturally knew, "Don't you care about these things?"
Qiu Yan, "I don't care, but it's not good to go too far. We don't have idle positions in the Ministry of Revenue."
Do you really think he wants to be in charge? It was just that he overheard the conversation of some officials from the Ministry of Revenue, so he reminded Zhou Shuren that Zhou Shuren and Rong Enqing are still some relatives.
In the academy, Ran Xun had been holding back for an entire class. Finally, after the teacher left, he pulled Ming Teng and said, "My grandfather received a letter from your family."
Ming Teng knew, "Yeah."
Ran Xun's eyes widened. "So it's true? What the post said is true?"