In the palace, the imperial guards were constantly patrolling. The first snow of the winter had covered the trees in the palace with white.
Zhao Ji was reading memorials. It was rare for him to be so diligent. These few days, not only was Ximen Qiao busy, but he was also busy.
Tong Guan's good news made him excited, and he could finally catch his breath. What was strange was that the good news reported a huge loss, and an increase of 20 million taels of silver.
Didn't they gain anything after winning the battle?
However, the winner was not to be criticized. Zhao Ji still dictated a passionate imperial edict to commend Tong Guan's great achievements.
Regarding Tong Guan's private message, Zhao Ji was caught in a dilemma. Tong Guan wanted him to release some of the officials who were captured by Ximen Qiao.
Zhao Ji knew that they were either Tong Guan's subordinates or his political allies.
The evidence of corruption was irrefutable and had already been handed over to the three judicial divisions.
The key was that these people would rather be beheaded than take out even one-tenth of the silver.
Looking at the good news and the list of officials who requested amnesty, Zhao Ji had been in a dilemma for a long time. The wine on the table in front of him was hot and cold, cold and hot, and the delicacies were not touched.
"Huang Jing, how many more days until the Duke of Chu arrives in the capital?”Zhao Ji finally asked Huang Jing who was beside him.
"Your Majesty, there are still three or four days. The roads are frozen, making it difficult to march.”
Huang Jing was also a little puzzled. Tong Guan had already sent the news of victory, so what was the Emperor still worried about?
"Oh, I know. Oh right, how much silver did Xi Men Qing get today?”This was what Zhao Ji was most concerned about these few days.
"Your Majesty, this servant went to the Ministry of Revenue today to take a look. There are already 50 million taels of silver, not including 500 thousand mu of fertile land.”
"That's good. In a few days, gather 100 million taels of silver and tell Xi Men Qing to stop arresting people. Also, did he arrest the wrong people?”Zhao Ji said.
"Emperor, this servant doesn't know. You have to ask Ximen Qing.”
"It's still early now. Send someone to pass on this one's orders. Call Ximen Qing over to drink and admire the snow.”Zhao Ji said after drinking a cup of hot wine.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Huang Jing replied.
Ximen Qing was in the manor. He hadn't been home for the past few days. When he got home, he couldn't wait to kiss Pan Jinlian, Chang Liying, and Shu Xiang. This made him energetic, like a horse that had eaten its fill.
Just as Yang Mi and Liu Xiaoyan were happily waiting for him to leave, Zhao Ji's verbal order arrived.
After listening to the Emperor's oral edict, Ximen Qing told the few eunuchs who were delivering the edict that he still had some urgent business to attend to and that he would go later.
The young eunuch who delivered the verbal order said that he needed to go to the toilet and secretly told Ximen Qiao about Tong Guan.
This little eunuch was someone that his intelligence team had placed beside Huang Jing, and he was also fed the Loyalty Pill by Ximen Qiao.
"Tong Guan defeated Empress Dowager Xiao?" Ximen Qiao didn't believe it, but he also believed it a little. Although this damn eunuch was sinister and vicious, he still had a way of fighting.
"Milord, the good news has come. His Majesty is very excited. Milord, you have to be careful. Tong Guan is not to be trifled with. His Majesty dotes on him.”the young eunuch said.
"Got it. I just caught a lot of his subordinates. I'll go over in a while. You go back first. If there's anything, contact your superior at any time. You don't have to report to me directly.”Ximen Qiao pulled the young eunuch into a secret room and gave his orders.
"Yes, sir! Sir." The young eunuch turned around and left.
Xi Menqing was very satisfied with the Loyalty Pill given by the system. Many times, he wanted to put this pill directly into Zhao Ji's wine.
However, the system told him that this loyalty pill was only effective for people from the three classes of agriculture, industry, and commerce. It was ineffective for scholars, let alone the emperor.
After the eunuch left, Ximen Qiao did go to take a shower, but Liu Xiaoyan and Yang Mi accompanied him.
As someone with a pure Yang constitution, Ximen Qiao was very troubled. He had countless impulses every day. Without the cooling effect of pure Yin, he was afraid that the overheated blood essence would make him explode.
Under Pan Jinlian's guidance, Liu Xiaoyan and Yang Mi made Ximen Qiao feel even more satisfied.
After taking a bath, a bright moon was already outside, shining on the snow-covered treetops.
PS, new book set sail!
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