Chapter 18 Kill her

Although Zi Shu proved her identity, and even the information the secret guards gathered from the neighbors did not seem to match the former Yun Xi, Xiao Shenjing was a very suspicious person.

Furthermore, since the people sent to investigate her background have not yet returned, they will not completely let her go in case she secretly escapes.

Not long after Yunxi left, Xiao Shenjing changed into a low-key blue robe and arrived at the Slender West Lake with several personal guards.

The endless expanse of mulberry fields made him frown.

Gu Wenqian, standing to the side, slowly said, "When mulberry fields encroach on ponds, they become flooded when it rains. The reclamation of land around Taihu Lake to plant mulberry trees has led to a decrease in flood discharge capacity and an increase in floods in the Taihu Lake basin. Although the Grand Canal basin has not yet reached the same level as the Taihu Lake basin, if the mulberry fields continue to expand in this way, it will inevitably lead to the same result."

Xiao Shenjing remained silent.

He crouched down, twirling a withered mulberry leaf between his fingertips. His clothes were covered in mud. A group of guards were on alert at the teahouse a hundred paces away. The sound of horses' hooves startled the gray sparrows that were nibbling on the tender buds of the mulberry tree.

The boundary stone from the eighth year of Jingquan's reign is leaning against the edge of the field, and the inscription "Yongye Field" on it is being gradually cracked by the roots of the mulberry tree.

Under the blazing sun, an old man knelt in the mulberry field. His coarse hemp clothes, soaked with dew, clung to his back. He pinched a white moldy spot on the back of a leaf with three fingers—the third silkworm disease outbreak this spring. His six-year-old daughter squatted on the edge of the field, scooping green foamy ditch water into a wooden bucket. Floating in the water was half a hemp rope that the widow Wang next door had used to hang herself the night before.

He plucked a leaf and asked, "Old man, why does this leaf have a rusty color?"

The old farmer's cloudy eyes darted around, and suddenly he began to sing a Yangzhou folk song at the top of his lungs: "Selling new silk in February, selling new grain in May..."

In the village, government notices with ink still wet on the earthen walls fluttered in the autumn wind, revealing vermilion annotations that read, "Each household must pay 20 catties of raw silk."

Xiao Shenjing frowned sharply. He recalled the grain transport boats he had seen at Guazhou Ferry, their decks piled high with Suzhou and Hangzhou embroidery, which suddenly seemed to transform into a massive boulder pressing down on those hunched backs.

When the old man carried the silkworm leaves back, Xiao Shenjing followed him.

As they chatted along the way, his expression grew increasingly inscrutable.

It is said that the Jiangnan region is prosperous, but when the old farmer shakily lifted the rice jar in the corner of the thatched house, the half-jar of moldy old rice crawling with rice weevils reminded Xiao Shenjing of the report by the Minister of Revenue during the morning court session in Fengtian Hall, that "Jiangnan and Zhejiang have an annual income of one million dan of raw silk."

The old man looked at the earthenware jar at the bottom of his rice bin, saying, "My eldest daughter's index finger, severed by a silk-making machine, is buried inside."

Before he could finish speaking, the village head outside the door was urging people to pay the summer tax again.

The old man grabbed his rusty sickle. "I really want to cut down these menacing mulberry trees," he thought, but as he rushed towards the door, his head slumped. "If we don't pay the silk tax this autumn, the tax collectors with official deeds will be the ones cutting down the mulberry trees. But this acre of mulberry field produces about five pounds of silk, which can only be sold for one tael and six mace. And the tax per acre is nine mace. How can a family survive?"

It was already dark when Xiao Shenjing returned to the inn.

He picked up the secret memorial and read it by candlelight. Fan Zishi's memorial once again stung the young emperor's eyes.

"Looking at Huzhou Prefecture, the annual tribute of raw silk is three million taels, yet the farmers and weavers are forced to sell their children. This is not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity. I risk my life to report this to Your Majesty, humbly requesting your consideration. The raw silk produced in Huzhou Prefecture is worth approximately three million taels of silver, but the national treasury only receives 470,000 taels. Local officials withhold 830,000 taels, merchants profit 1.2 million taels, and 200,000 silkworm farmers receive only 500,000 taels, less than 2.5 taels per person. Officials and merchants collude to leech off half the profits. The silk is poisonous; the canal transport is corrupt; the usurpers are greedy; the weavers are greedy. Silkworm women spin silk thousands of times under the lamp to produce a single thread; corrupt officials spend 10,000 coins on a half-cup of wine at a banquet. The annual tribute of Huzhou silk can produce 400,000 bolts of brocade. If the silkworm farmers can survive, the southeast will be at peace, and the national treasury will be full. If we allow silkworms to devour it, I fear the day the imperial robe is woven will be the day the starving people rise up in rebellion."

Reforms that prioritize agriculture and suppress commerce are imperative.

Xiao Shenjing slammed his hand on the desk.

While converting rice paddies to mulberry fields has indeed increased profits, the ever-increasing number of mulberry fields has already shaken the foundation of the nation.

Today, mulberry fields account for 60% of arable land in Yangzhou Prefecture, and grain prices have increased more than fivefold compared to the Jingde era. If natural disasters occur and food shortages occur, how will the common people survive?

Moreover, those corrupt officials who deceived their superiors and covered up their crimes must be thoroughly cleansed.

Xiao Shenjing remained lost in thought behind his desk for a long time until a maid came in to trim the candles. Only then did he stand up, walk to the window, and look at the towering clock tower in the distance. Suddenly, he said, "Have Dao Yi summon today's secret guards."

Dao Yi quickly realized who Xiao Shenjing was referring to after a moment's thought, and promptly summoned the guard in charge of watching over Zi Shu.

As soon as the guard entered the room, he knelt down and reported, "Miss Zishu did not attempt to escape today."

"What did she do?" Xiao Shenjing had already returned to his desk and picked up the wolf-hair brush, which was soaked with ink.

"We had lunch in the room with Xu Yuansi at noon. Later, the two of us enjoyed the cool air under the grapevines in the backyard. After Zishu fell asleep, Xu Yuansi carried her back to the room."

Xiao Shenjing paused in writing. "Take it back?"

The guard would never presumptuously omit details, and seeing his master's reaction, he immediately added, "At that time, Miss Zishu was asleep under the vines. Xu Yuansi kissed Miss Zishu and then carried her back to her room." The guard's expression was quite unnatural as he described such a private matter.

Xiao Shenjing lifted his eyelashes, his expression showing no sign of abnormality, and asked, "What was her reaction?"

The guard immediately replied, "Miss Zishu is asleep and should not know."

"Where does she sleep?" he asked.

"The double happiness symbol is still pasted on it, so it must be the bridal chamber," the guard replied, head bowed.

The bridal chamber, the place where the couple consummates their marriage on their wedding night.

Although the two did not have a formal wedding ceremony, they had already gone through the proper betrothal and engagement rituals, so it was perfectly normal for them to perform the rites of marriage.

When the guards withdrew, Xiao Shenjing's expression remained unchanged.

Gu Wenqian assumed that Gu Wenqian had already moved on from the matter and would continue south, so he went to rest with peace of mind.

Zi Shu slept very well and didn't feel stuffy at all; in fact, she felt a cool breeze.

She thought it was raining and the wind was blowing, but when she opened her eyes, she realized it wasn't the wind at all; Xu Yuansi was leaning against the headboard fanning her.

Upon opening her eyes, she saw the person she loved and sweetly called out, "Husband!"

"Awake?" Xu Yuansi brushed a strand of her hair away and helped her sit up. "I asked the cook to make some plum juice. Get up and have a bowl to cool off in the summer heat."

"good."

It was nearly dusk, and a sliver of the setting sun struggled on the horizon.

Xu Yuansi took Zishu to Wanfu Bridge for a walk to digest their food.

There are wineries on this street, and the aroma of wine wafts on the evening breeze, intoxicating the setting sun.

The setting sun cast a drunken glow through the willow leaves drooping along the riverbank.

A peddler was carrying a load on his shoulder pole, hurrying home. The pole, worn down over the years, creaked and groaned as he walked.

Children with their hair in buns ran and played in the setting sun, when a woman collecting laundry called out, "Oh, Doctor Xu and his wife are coming out!"

Zi Shu walked gracefully beside Xu Yuansi.

Embroidered shoes stepped onto the bluestone slabs, the two holding hands, their deep affection evident.

When she got home, Zi Shu took a bath.

Looking out through the screen, a tall figure is reflected in the diamond-shaped window.

They drank the nuptial wine during the day, and the ceremony was complete.

The next step, naturally, should be the wedding night.

Thinking about what would happen tonight, Zi Shu's face showed a hint of shyness, but even more so, anticipation.

When Xu Yuansi came in, Zishu saw that he had changed his clothes and must have taken a bath and washed up.

Their eyes met, then immediately parted.

They felt as if they were being burned by each other's gaze, their hearts softening and their livers trembling, yet they couldn't help but turn back to look again.

Xu Yuansi forced himself to remain calm and said, "My wife's hair is still wet, let me help you."

"Thank you, my husband." Zi Shu smiled quietly.

She sat obediently on the soft couch, and Xu Yuansi took a dry cloth and carefully wiped her down.

After the water had completely dried, he glanced at the waning moon outside the window and said, "It's getting late, my wife, let's go to bed."

Zi Shu smiled and nodded, then let out a small gasp.

She was picked up horizontally by Xu Yuansi.

To prevent herself from falling, she hooked her arms around Xu Yuansi's neck and noticed that his breathing had become much more rapid.

This made her heart race too.

When she was placed on the bed and Xu Yuansi leaned over, Zi Shu felt as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

She stared at the handsome face before her, and said shyly, "Husband, please turn off the light."

Earlier.

After dealing with the urgent memorials, Xiao Shenjing had his dinner.

The entire courtyard was booked out, and it was unusually quiet with no outsiders around.

The candlelight flickered heavily. He walked around the courtyard and saw several maids tidying up luggage, constantly moving back and forth in the backyard, preparing for their departure early the next morning.

Xiao Shenjing, dressed in a dark blue Taoist robe, stood in the night, his hands behind his back, staring at a certain spot on the courtyard wall.

A white cat is crouching on the wall.

The cat groomed itself, its glassy eyes darting around, then it swayed its long, thin tail, jumped off the wall, and disappeared.

Light as a butterfly, it didn't even disturb the night.

Just like Yunxi, she always loved to climb over the high wall at night and appear silently in his courtyard.

Sometimes she would share something delicious or fun with him, and sometimes she would just confide in him about a bad nightmare. Whenever he scolded her, she would spout a bunch of fallacies and nonsense, and then leave arrogantly.

"Where did the guards say she was sleeping today?" Xiao Shenjing suddenly asked again in the quiet night.

Caught off guard by the question, Dao paused for a moment before replying, "Miss Zishu lives in the main house of the Xu residence."

Main house.

That was Xu Yuansi's room.

In the Xu residence, when the candles were blown out, only the thin, cold moonlight remained in the room.

Stopping just inches from the bedside, the figure on the bed became indistinct and hazy, beautiful.

Xu Yuansi was overwhelmed with emotion and called out, "Wife."

In the dim light, Zi Shu hummed in agreement.

Her delicate and timid voice inevitably stirred one's heart.

Xu Yuansi's heart pounded like a drum, and he couldn't help but lean down and kiss her lips.

Just as their lips were about to touch, a commotion suddenly broke out outside. Before Xu Yuansi could react, the door was kicked open forcefully.

After a loud 'thud,' Xiao Shenjing saw the two people pressed tightly together on the bed.

So what if it's not Yunxi? How could he tolerate someone with the same face as Yunxi being pleasured by another man?

Perhaps we should just kill her.