Xie Zhaozhao had already informed Zhou Shaoyu before she decided to take down the Crown Prince of Chu.

Zhou Shaoyu completely agreed.

Thanks to Xie Zhaozhao's ocean-going fleet, which brought high-yield seeds and facilitated the flow of goods, the Yulong Kingdom had no shortage of grain and silver in its treasury. Taxes on the people were reduced again and again, and life was many times more prosperous than during the Great Expedition.

However, while the imperial court reduced taxes, officials continued to exploit the people in various ways.

For example, if the imperial court only takes 20% this year, local officials will take 30% or 40%, and the people will still be happy because they can keep 60%.

The local officials took 20%, and no one complained.

When officials embezzled money, Zhou Shaoyu sometimes turned a blind eye.

Water that is too clear has no fish; a country cannot be governed by clear streams, or rather, it is impossible to accomplish anything by relying on clear streams.

However, those who are extremely corrupt, or who run into trouble, will be executed without hesitation.

The Crown Prince of Chu was in this situation.

As one of the two princes (Prince Jing and Prince Chu) left behind by Emperor Hui's father, he not only retained all his original honors, but the court also generously gave him the position of supervisor of grain transport in the Jiangnan granary.

After he became the grain transport commissioner, he never restrained himself from the very beginning.

Leng Luo reported to Zhou Shaoyu several times, but Zhou Shaoyu only reminded the King of Chu and did not take any action.

Xie Zhaozhao now points out that in the past six months, the soldiers' fine rations and the horses' fodder have not only been severely infested with insects but have also become moldy. More importantly, the regulations stipulate that no more than 10% of the fine rations should be coarse grains, but now 70% of them are coarse grains.

It's not just coarse grains, but also moldy and spoiled grains.

Xie Zhaozhao instructed the Embroidered Uniform Guard to find a way to obtain all the account books. The Imperial City Guard and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had some overlapping functions in intelligence gathering. Both departments used their true abilities to protect their departmental honor, and the evidence they obtained was astonishing.

Both departments received their account books, letters, and contracts in less than a month.

Upon seeing the evidence, Zhou Shaoyu was so angry that he remained speechless for a long time.

Summon the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to come here, give him the evidence, and investigate thoroughly!

The Dali Temple dared not delay and acted extremely quickly; the evidence of embezzlement was only a part of the case.

The case of the Crown Prince of Chu's embezzlement was to be published in the "Jade Dragon Newspaper," and Xie Yu sent people to keep watch over the Dali Temple.

As soon as the first draft was completed, Xie Yu immediately went to find Zhang Yanyan.

“Princess Ning, the Liu family is doomed. If you divorce Liu Mingxuan, this is a good opportunity.”

After reading the manuscript, Zhang Yanyan said gratefully, "Thank you, Prince Qi. I will go back immediately and settle things with the Liu family."

Chenxiang excitedly asked Zhang Yanyan, "Your Highness, should we go and inform the Zhang family?"

Since Minister Zhang retired, the Zhang family has not risen again.

Xie Zhaozhao took care of Zhang Yanyan and made her a princess; there's no reason for her to drag the entire Zhang family down with her.

This is why the Liu family has always been so domineering.

Zhang Yanyan shook her head: "Let's not trouble our father, mother and brother. We'll handle it ourselves."

When the master and servant returned to the Liu family home, they found it decorated with lanterns and streamers.

When they saw Zhang Yanyan and Chenxiang return, the servants all hid and avoided them.

Zhang Yanyan frowned and asked, "What happy event is there in the manor?"

The servant stammered, and Chenxiang slapped him across the face: "Didn't you hear the Princess ask? Are you deaf?"

The girl was furious after being slapped and retorted, "All you do is bully us servants! If you're so capable, go find Madam Yuan!"

"What Madam Yuan?" Zhang Yanyan said to the guard driving the carriage. "Zhang Hu, this disrespectful servant girl, give her a good beating!"

Chenxiang has been with Zhang Yanyan at the Liu residence for four years, and she's had enough of watching them manipulate their young mistress.

She scolded fiercely, "No matter what happens between the masters, you, a mere servant, dare to disobey the Princess! Even if you were beaten to death, no one would dare to say a word against you!"

The guard Zhang Hu had come with the Zhang family and was already highly skilled in martial arts. He didn't even need to use his hands to beat up a maid; he kicked her so hard that she screamed in pain.

Hearing the commotion, Madam Liu was told that "Princess Ning has returned." Madam Liu spat and said, "Princess? What kind of princess is she? A shameless woman. Now that the Zhang family has fallen on hard times, she still thinks she's a high and mighty young lady?"

He sent his old nanny over.

The woman who frequently caused trouble at the newspaper office was actually a wet nurse who came from Madam Liu's family.

She came over and saw the maid who had been kicked and couldn't get up. Her face darkened, and she said, "Young Madam, did you suffer some mistreatment outside? Why are you taking it out on a little maid? The manor is celebrating a happy occasion, what are you doing here?"

Zhang Yanyan didn't ask what the happy occasion was, and said to Zhang Hu, "Give this old scoundrel a good beating!"

Zhang Hu showed no mercy. The wet nurse was punched so hard that her cheekbone was broken and blood flowed from her nose and eyes.

Then he kicked her hard, and the wet nurse crashed into the wall. She didn't even let out a cry before fainting.

The little girl who had been beaten earlier crawled desperately.

Zhang Yanyan led Zhang Hu step by step into the hall.

Red silk was also hanging in the hall, and the newlyweds were serving tea to Madam Liu.

It turns out that Liu Mingxuan had taken a concubine named Yuan.

Zhang Yanyan walked over, and Madam Yuan, feeling timid, curtsied and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Zhang Yanyan ignored her and asked Liu Mingxuan, "Why didn't you tell me you were taking a concubine?"

Liu Mingxuan said with disgust, "Where am I supposed to find you? You rely on Emperor An's backing, how dare you put the Liu family in your eyes?"

Madam Liu said with an unfriendly expression, "Since Princess Ning doesn't respect the Liu family, then she doesn't need to concern herself with their affairs."

"Liu Mingxuan, this woman almost killed our Fu'er, and you still want to take her as your concubine?" Zhang Yanyan was so angry that her hands trembled.

When Xie Zhaozhao was forcibly divorced by Emperor Hui, she went to visit Xie Zhaozhao while pregnant with her second child. Upon her return, this Yuan family sowed discord, saying that Zhang Yanyan's help to the Xie family would implicate the Liu family. As a result, Zhang Yanyan was locked in the inner quarters by Liu Mingxuan, starved for several days, and almost miscarried.

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