Lin Ruhai was a decent person, and everything he did was fair and aboveboard. Ning Jun had always respected such a person but kept a respectful distance from him. There was no other reason. Birds of a feather flock together.
Ning Jun did not want to reveal his plan, so he only let him continue to investigate the salt class on the surface.
Lin Ruhai said a few words. Ning Jun only talked about romance with him. Lin Ruhai was helpless and took his leave.
Ning Jun saw him leave and leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. After drinking for half a day, the smell of alcohol surged in, making him feel a little dizzy.
"Your Highness?" A gentle voice sounded beside her ear, and a pair of small hands were soft on her shoulders.
"I have a headache," said Ning Jun. He pressed his two small hands on his temples.
His small hands had improved greatly.
"Did I hurt you just now?"
"No." Qingwen's face was red and she didn't want to speak. Ning Jun had a rare moment of peace and gradually fell asleep.
After an unknown period of time, Ning Jun finally woke up.
When did Qingwen become so honest? He was actually massaging her? He grabbed her hand and pulled her over.
With a soft moan, she accidentally fell into Ning Jun's arms.
Ning Jun's heart was filled with a delicate fragrance. He opened his eyes and realized that the person he was hugging was not Qingwen." Hong 'er?”
Hong Er snuggled up to him for a while before she blushed.
Qingwen was massaging Ning Jun's legs at the side!
Ning Jun yawned and asked with a smile,"How long have you been sleeping?"
Zi 'er quickly served him tea." Your Highness, you've only rested for less than fifteen minutes. He wanted to wake his highness up later!”
Ning Jun drank the tea in Zi 'er's hands." But Qing is still there?"”
Hong Er smiled." This servant came from there just now. The Empress and Lady Lin and Miss Lin were having a good chat."”
"Oh?" "What can they talk about?" Ning Jun asked curiously.”
"This servant doesn't dare to say."
Ning Jun reached out and pulled her over. He said fiercely,"If you don't tell me, I'll punish you with a dress!”
Hong Er turned her head away.
Qingwen laughed." Your Highness, have you forgotten? You've already punished Sister Hong 'er once! If you punish me again, I can only owe you."
Hong 'er was so embarrassed that she broke free from Ning Jun and was about to take Qingwen.
Qingwen smiled and ran a few rounds. Hong-er caught up and spat,"Little hoof with a rotten mouth, who told you to spout nonsense?”
Qingwen begged for mercy." Good sister, I know I was wrong. At most, I'll lend you one."”
"Bah!" "Who's like you? It's such a hot day, and you think two dresses are too little?" Hong 'er said angrily.”
Ning Jun got up and stretched. He listened to them chattering like two yellow orioles.
"Your Highness, look at Qingwen, this girl is getting more and more unruly."”
Ning Jun hugged her." Qingwen has never learned the rules. If she becomes obedient one day, she won't be her."”
On this side, Hong-er and Qingwen stopped playing and wanted to slip away from the wall.
Ning Jun shouted," Who told you to leave?”
The two of them blushed and came over obediently with bashful expressions.
"You haven't told me what Keqing and the others are talking about?"”
"We're talking about the matter of wangye snatching the bride!" Hong 'er said softly.”
Ning Jun pulled a long face." The three of you, follow me into the room!”
Qingwen quickly said," This servant will go and invite the Empress!”He immediately turned around and left.
On the second day, Ning Jun woke up late. Lin Ruhai came over to pay his respects and waited in the outer hall. By the time Ning Jun washed up and ate breakfast, two hours had passed.
When Ning Jun slowly walked out of the inner room, Wang De came over to report," Your Highness, there's someone standing under the eaves of the corridor outside for quite a while.”
"Who is it?" Ning Jun asked as he walked. Sneakily tie him up first!”
"This person is the teacher hired by Censor Lin's family. He said that he wanted to come and admire Your Highness." He stood outside, so the guards didn't chase him away.”
Teacher? Could it be Daiyu's teacher, Jia Yucun?
Ning Jun almost forgot about this person. Although his character seemed to be a little bad, his ability was unquestionable. To be able to rise from a prefect to a commander, assisting in military affairs and assisting in court politics, he was no ordinary person.
After exiting the door, Ning Jun glanced down the corridor.
That Jia Yucun had an extraordinary bearing as he bowed deeply to Ning Jun.
"Interesting!"
Ning Jun lifted his legs and walked without stopping.
After Lin Ruhai paid his respects in the hall, he took out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Ning Jun.
"Your Highness, these are all the local products that the merchants of Yangzhou have sent over since this morning.，I have already listed it clearly, please take a look.”
Ning Jun took it and glanced at it. He smiled and said,"The local products of Yangzhou are very unique. Even the courtesan of the Grand View Tower was a local product. And twelve jade horses? Gold pearls, coral, agate, and cartloads?"
Lin Ruhai's face was indifferent. He was no longer surprised by the actions of those salt merchants." Your Highness, this is not considered a heavy gift."”
Ning Jun smiled." That's natural. They're testing me!" If I retreat, do you think they will send more gifts?”
"I don't know," Lin Ruhai replied.”
"Forget it, I won't make things difficult for you." Borrowing someone from you! Help me calculate how many things there are?”
"Your Highness, who do you want to borrow?" Lin Ruhai asked.”
"I heard that Younger Sister has a teacher in the residence?" Ning Jun said casually. He's fine!"
When Lin Ruhai heard that it was Jia Yucun, he finally smiled a little. This person was also a scholar, and his knowledge and ability were naturally first-class. If he could take the opportunity to introduce him to King Zhongshun, he might be able to return to the righteous path.
Thus, Lin Ruhai quickly called Jia Yucun over.
Jia Yucun went up to the hall and bowed." Student Jia Yucun greets Prince Zhongshun!”
"No need for formalities!" Ning Jun looked down at Jia Yucun, only to see that he had a round waist, a thick back, a wide face, a square mouth, sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, a straight nose, and right cheeks. His appearance was very dignified.
No wonder Lin Ruhai and Jia Zheng both misjudged.
Jia Yucun bowed and stood.
"I heard that you're also a scholar?" asked Ning Jun. How did you end up here?"
Jia Yucun replied,"It's only because I'm new to the official career and don't understand the ways of the world. As a result, I was framed and impeached." So he carried the wind and the moon in his sleeves and visited the world's scenic spots.”He tried his best to act like a modest gentleman. Unfortunately, it didn't work in front of Ning Jun.
"I think you've traveled for many years, have you learned anything?" Ning Jun smiled.”
Jia Yucun blurted out,"I've heard of the sufferings of the people and know how difficult it is to farm. He was about to talk about what he had learned, but when he saw that Prince Zhongshun was not interested, he began to explain the scenery in the blink of an eye.
Observing his expression, Ning Jun spoke more out of curiosity, and skipped over impatiently. When he talked about the exciting parts, Lin Ruhai listened with great interest, clapping his hands in amazement.
Ning Jun couldn't help but laugh,"You're a talent!" I'll lend it to you for the time being!"
Jia Yucun hurriedly knelt down and thanked him,"How dare I not do my best to help Your Highness?"”
Ning Jun saw that his joy was overflowing with words. It was obvious that he had been tired for a long time and had feelings for him at dawn.
Lin Ruhai was also happy for him and instructed him,"Since your brother is valued by His Highness, I believe that you will soar in the sky soon. He had to remember the hardships of the past. Only by being conscientious and conscientious as an official to benefit the people could he live up to what he had learned!”
Jia Yucun's face was respectful, but he did not feel ashamed in his heart.
Ning Jun dismissed Lin Ruhai and said to Jia Yucun,"I can restore you to your original position, or even take you one step further. But what can you give me?" Against such a heartless person, as long as there were benefits, he was more reliable than anyone else.
Jia Yucun knew that his answer would determine his future. He thought for a moment and said,""This student knows nothing. If I can get your highness 'guidance, I can only do my best to serve your highness. If it was inconvenient for wangye to do it, just let the students do it.”
"Haha!" "As expected, the knowledge of Jinshi is different!" Ning Jun laughed. He's much stronger than my chief historian! You will stay by my side for the next two months. When I am done here, I will recommend you to a good place!”
Jia Yucun could not contain his joy." This student is extremely grateful. I'm willing to do my best!”
Ning Jun waved his hand." You've been in Yangzhou for quite some time now. Have you heard anything interesting?”
Jia Yucun took two steps forward." Your Highness, may I ask what you want to know?”
Ning Jun sat down." You can say whatever you want. I'll listen to whatever you want."”
Jia Yucun thought that Prince Zhongshun was fond of money, so he started from the pleasure boats of Little Qin Huai, telling him about the various palaces and pavilions. Then, he mentioned that the local salt merchants used ginseng, white ginseng, red dates, and other powder to feed the chicken. A bowl of Egg Fried Rice cost 50 taels. Ten thousand taels of gold were made into very thin gold foil, which was brought to Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang to be thrown against the river wind.
Ning Jun smiled." It's easy for these people to earn money. They have so much money that they have nowhere to put it. If they don't cause some trouble, how will others know that they have money?"”
Jia Yucun heard the ridicule in Ning Jun's tone and his heart moved. He quickly continued," In my opinion, the imperial court is too lax in their supervision.”She looked at Ning Jun carefully.
Seeing that Ning Jun didn't seem displeased, he said,""Every time I hear Censor Lin lamenting about the loss of salt tax, these salt merchants are doing such a ridiculous thing.”
"You seem to have some experience?" asked Ning Jun.”
Jia Yucun racked his brains and was able to see through the details. He drew inferences from one instance and made guesses at the same time, explaining the drawbacks of the Lianghuai Salt Law. It was nothing more than the monopoly of official salt and the rampant illegal salt. Many salt merchants themselves were illegal salt dealers.
"There's nothing good or bad about the salt method. It's only suitable for the present." Moreover, I'm not here to rectify the salt business.”Indeed, Ning Jun was not a living Lei Feng who would offend everyone in order to increase the income of the imperial court.
"However, if a salt merchant joins us, I'm afraid we'll get twice the result with half the effort." Jia Yucun smiled.”
Ning Jun nodded slightly. This Jia Yucun's ability to see the wind and change the helm was indeed superb. He had deliberately leaked a little information, and he could catch it. Today, the salt merchants have all sent gifts. Take a look at the list, sort it out, and tell me the important ones.”
Jia Yucun took the list with both hands. The gifts on it were dazzling, and he was extremely shocked.
Ning Jun took out an invitation card from Wang De's hand." Let's go to this place to take a look? I heard that it's near Hongqiao. Right, remember to urge Minister Wang and the others. They have been here for almost a month. If there is still no news, I can only use Zhou Liang's gang of hoodlums.”A hooligan was the kind of person from all walks of life who could not be distinguished on the street.
Wang De had a way to communicate with them.
In a teahouse by the street in Yangzhou City, Chief Wang was dressed in a long green robe, wearing a soft scarf on his head, and had a goatee. He had returned to his job as a private advisor. There was a person sitting opposite him. It was Zhou Liang, who appeared and disappeared like a ghost in the Imperial Residence. He was dressed like a bodyguard.
"Lord Chief Historian, His Highness asked you if there's any progress on the accounts?”
Chief Secretary Wang took a sip of tea and swallowed it after a long time."It's so disgusting! There were countless salt merchants in Yangzhou City, but most of them were Hui merchants. The workers they hired next year were also their own people. I'm from Zhejiang, how can I get in? At least there are still a few of them here that are of a higher scale and not from the same group. I'll use a little trick…"
"Is there or is there not?" Zhou Liang interrupted him.”
Guardian Wang had a belly full of words stuck in his mouth. He said hatefully,"I am the chief historian of the Imperial Residence, yet I have to bow and scrape in front of a fellow scholar every day. Is it easy? Can't I show off a little?"
Zhou Liang didn't say anything and just stared at him.
Wang Changshi immediately cowered. He looked around and whispered,"I heard that someone from the capital will come to settle the accounts in a while. When the time comes, they will burn the old accounts in person and settle the new ones. From his tone, he should be a prominent figure in the Divine Capital, someone that even the Pacification Envoy was afraid of offending.”
"You only need to find out where the account book is, you don't have to worry about the rest."”
Wang Changshi quietly handed over a note." I think we can use this Jiang Chaozong. It's a pity to throw him out.”
Zhou Liang sneered." This should be Master's decision. You and I just have to do our part."”
"Of course," replied Wang Changshi with a smile.”
Zhou Liang asked again," Did You Bi collude with the salt merchants?”
"What are you asking? Apart from Censor Lin, which official in Yangzhou City hasn't accepted benefits from the salt merchants?"”
Zhou Liang glared at him again.
Chief Wang sat up straight." I'm really scared of you." I heard that You Bi has a concubine and is Dong Xianhan's granddaughter? If they wanted to make a move, they had to be careful. Alright, that's all for today. I'll accompany that Jiang guy to Hongqiao later. Perhaps he could even find a chance to toast his highness?”
Zhou Liang laughed." You're the only Grand Master?”
Wang Changshi flicked his sleeves and left.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]