"On the day of the Shangsi Festival, I overheard someone talking about something over the wall behind Huguo Temple. Although eavesdropping is a rather petty thing to do, it concerns the Grand Secretary, so I thought it would be safer to tell him."

Xie Zhaozhao had been deliberating all night and believed that this was the most appropriate way to put it.

She had just returned from Huguo Temple the day before yesterday, discussed marriage yesterday, and told him today that there was no problem with the timing.

"Miss Xie, please speak." The young woman was well-behaved and had thought of telling him what she wanted to say, so he did not take it lightly.

"They said that the salt permits for Jiangnan have been pre-sold for two years, and each permit will be charged an extra three taels of silver."

"Because the two years' worth of salt permits had been sold out in advance, some salt merchants were dissatisfied. In order to balance the situation, the salt administration officials asked the bandits of Langming Mountain to sink all the official salt transport ships passing through Yangpo Port, and then the bandits would retrieve the salt bags from the water and smuggle them to the salt merchants."

"The government reported that the sinking of these official ships was caused by a hurricane."

"They said that the imperial court might send you to investigate the case, and if you can't get away with it, the bandits of Wolf Howling Mountain will... frame the refugees again."

At this point, her eyes reddened.

In his previous life, he served his country and its people, but died young.

Gu Chengyan personally went to Jiangnan to investigate the cause of his uncle's death. He eventually discovered that it was caused by the increasing number of refugees and rioters in Jiangnan who robbed and murdered Gu.

His Majesty was furious, and corpses littered the land for miles.

Tens of thousands of refugees all met their end.

She only learned the truth from Gu Chengyan when she died: those refugees were all wronged victims.

This scheme was orchestrated by the Crown Prince and Gu Chengyan, since Grand Secretary Gu is only loyal to the current Emperor!

Taking advantage of the situation, they eliminated Gu Shaoyu and then framed the displaced people who were difficult to resettle.

Gu Shaoyu sensed her sadness. He had thought she would tell him some private matters, but he never expected that this matter would be so serious that it would cause a huge uproar.

Hearing these things, how anxious and bewildered she must have felt, being such a pampered young woman.

She even disregarded the rules and etiquette she valued most, just to see him and save him.

His usually cold and hard heart softened instantly.

"You did the right thing. Leave it to me." After thinking for a moment, he still asked, "Did you see what the other person looked like?"

"No, but one person's voice was a little high-pitched, like that of a young eunuch."

On the day of the Shangsi Festival, among those who went to Huguo Temple was indeed a eunuch, Shi Xiu, who served the Crown Prince.

Xie Zhaozhao naturally didn't know what he did at Huguo Temple or what he said to whom, but that day she saw Shi Xiu and Gu Chengyan appear together on the back mountain of Huguo Temple.

Gu Shaoyu was deeply shaken. This matter was too significant. She hadn't told her father and brothers, but she was determined to come and tell them, even at the risk of damaging her reputation.

He did a great job for the country, for the people, and for himself.

She is truly a wise and thoughtful woman.

He comforted me, saying, “This information is extremely important, and I will handle it with care. Don’t worry, and don’t tell anyone. Just pretend it never happened and take care of yourself.”

“Yes,” Xie Zhaozhao’s voice choked with emotion, “I just feel that those refugees are so innocent.”

"You don't need to worry about it, I won't let those petty people get their way."

Xie Zhaozhao felt relieved. He had entered the cabinet at such a young age, so there was no doubt about his abilities. Now that he had been informed of the matter, she felt relieved of her heavy burden.

I suppose he won't rashly go to Jiangnan again.

After finishing his business, he didn't know what else to say.

Gu Shaoyu was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "I am very happy to be engaged to you, and I am looking forward to it very much."

Xie Zhaozhao's face flushed red. This person, why does he say everything?

"If you need anything, you can send me a message through Xiuyong, or you can have your maid deliver the letter to the island in the middle of Moon Lake. That is a place of leisure that His Majesty has bestowed upon me. There are people guarding it. If there is any emergency, they will let me know."

Xie Zhaozhao knew about the island in the center of Moon Lake; it was a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, and quite large. The island was surrounded by towering rocks and lush greenery, with winding corridors, making it a pleasant place to visit.

She only remembered that the island in the middle of the lake was always closed, surrounded by high, solemn walls, and she always thought that no one was inside.

"Okay," she said softly. "That place is very quiet."

"Yes, it's a good place to relax and unwind."

Gu Shaoyu has decided to renovate the island in the center of Moon Lake as soon as possible, so that she can stay there for a while if she likes.

The two had been talking for a short while when Xie Yu knocked on the door.

"Grand Secretary Gu?"

Gu Shaoyu hadn't closed the door properly to begin with, and when Xie Yu called out, he stood up and opened the door.

"Is it ready?" Xie Yu asked.

Judging from Grand Secretary Gu's appearance, he seems to be in a very good mood.

"Alright." Gu Shaoyu didn't mention what Xie Zhaozhao had told him at all; he absolutely couldn't let anyone know that it was Xie Zhaozhao who had told him.

Xie Yu is no good, and neither is Xie Anfeng.

Xie Yu and Gu Shaoyu went out and downstairs together, and Yuan Yuan came in. She saw Xie Zhaozhao as always, with no change in her expression.

Manman couldn't help but whisper with her eyes shining, "Miss, Grand Secretary Gu looks like a god, his eyes are terrifying... Oh dear, anyway, he's even more handsome than the young master!"

Yuanyuan tapped her on the head: "Don't talk nonsense outside."

Xie Yu saw Gu Shaoyu off. A servant from the manor ran upstairs and said something to Xie Yu.

Xie Yu quickly came upstairs and said, "Sister, we need to go back quickly. Consort Xi has summoned you to the palace, and she is still waiting for you at the mansion."

My aunt, Xie Chunxi, is now the Imperial Noble Consort Xi in the palace. She had three pregnancies in her early years, but all of them ended in miscarriage, and her health deteriorated, so she could no longer have children.

Xie Zhaozhao raised her for several years, and the two were as close as mother and daughter.

The group returned home and met their grandmother.

Grandmother said, "It must be because Her Majesty heard about your engagement and is thinking about it. You should have a good talk with the Imperial Concubine and make her happy."

Madam Xu was very unhappy. Why was it that even though they had already arranged the marriage, the Imperial Concubine only saw Xie Zhaozhao and not Xie Xiangxiang?

Not daring to show it, she smiled and said, "The young lady is so lovable, while Xiangxiang is so clumsy. In all these years, Xiangxiang has never gone to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress."

Xie Zhaozhao said seriously, "Those who know will think that Mother is praising me for learning good manners, but those who don't might think that Mother has a problem with the Imperial Concubine. It's best not to let my younger sister hear such things, lest she resent the Imperial Concubine."

Madam Xu was so choked up that she dared not say another word, only saying, "What the eldest young lady says is true."

She felt a deep resentment: the whole family revolved around those two siblings, what was she to them? For sixteen years, she, the mistress of the house, had been treated like a servant.

It would be best if what Xiangxiang said was true. A month later, when Grand Secretary Gu dies, let's see how you cry then!

Seeing that she wanted to hate but dared not show it, Xie Zhaozhao didn't even glance at her. She changed her clothes, remembered the message her grandmother had given to her aunt, and then the carriage entered the palace.

Having received the information she provided, Gu Shaoyu, after a moment's thought, decided to go to the palace to meet the emperor.

On the quiet Pilgrimage Street, a two-wheeled carriage arrives from the Xie residence.

Two snow-white steeds stood majestically, their hooves thundering in perfect unison.

That was the exclusive carriage of the eldest daughter of the Xie family.

His carriage met her at the palace gate at just the right moment, neither a moment too early nor a moment too late.