Chapter 58: He who knows the current situation is a hero.

Guizhier was neither anxious nor impatient, and just sighed with a hint of regret.

"In that case, there's no need to bother." She made a move to leave. "Before leaving, Magistrate Liu told me to consult with the officials at the Imperial Clan Court or the Supreme Court."

These words came out like thunder from out of nowhere.

Minister Ma was startled for a moment. He wanted to stop the person but couldn't find a suitable excuse. He just watched silently, but he was afraid that Gui Zhier would really leave.

He felt like there was a nest of ants crawling on his back, making it messy and itchy, but he couldn't catch them, and his eyes rolled around in anxiety.

"Oh, so the young lady is following the orders of Magistrate Liu. Is he doing well in the northern border?" he asked tentatively.

Guizhier smiled mysteriously without saying anything.

It seems to be saying, if your Ministry of Revenue didn't happen to be in charge of land and taxes, I would look down on you, a mere fourth-rank official.

"Come here, bring a pot of good tea." Minister Ma sincerely wanted to keep the guest and sent the servant away.

He smacked his thick lips, still wanting to put on airs, waiting for Guizhi'er to lose her patience and reveal the truth.

Gui Zhier slowly savored the snacks on the tea table and casually mentioned, "I heard the good news of the great victory in Zhenbei has spread. I have to thank you for the financial support..."

"Cough cough cough." Minister Ma was so scared that he choked on the tea and interrupted Gui Zhier's unfinished words with a series of coughs.

Now he finally understood that the visitor had ill intentions.

Using part of the confiscated corrupt money to repair the city defenses and forge weapons was something that should have been kept secret by the new and old prefects.

Now that it is laid out openly on the table for discussion, it is no different from a threat.

Minister Ma has been an official for many years and is not made of clay. He is somewhat irritable after being threatened repeatedly by a little girl.

He suppressed his anger and simply said it clearly: "I just want to ask, does your master have that thing in hand?"

He had dark circles under his eyes, and his right hand was clenched into a fist with the knuckles facing upwards, pressing down on the coffee table.

It seems to be a stamping action.

"Which one?" Guizhier raised her eyebrows, neither admitting nor denying.

Minister Ma thought she was pretending not to understand, which made him even more angry. He looked around to confirm that no one was around, then he leaned in closer, lowered his voice, and said through gritted teeth, "Seal of the Emperor!"

The seal is a great treasure of the country.

One of them is the imperial seal engraved with the Heshi Bi, on which is written "Received the mandate from Heaven, may you live long and prosper forever". Obtaining it symbolizes that one is destined by Heaven.

The second one is the emperor’s seal!

The seal, together with the imperial seal, was used to stamp the emperor's edicts. All the subjects in the world dared not disobey the emperor's orders.

Guizhier held her breath and nodded calmly, without showing any panic.

"System, system," she called anxiously in her mind, "retrieve the information I bought before entering this world."

There are huge waves in my heart.

The original intention was to use the banner to take advantage of the situation, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be a big deal.

I originally thought that this "Liu Zhifu" was at most the descendant of a loyal minister who was beheaded by the dog emperor, an orphan of the previous dynasty...

Minister Ma heaved a sigh of relief, rubbed his hands, and said, "Prince Yue is indeed still alive."

King Yue, Liang Yue.

The system files slowly unfolded.

In the fifteenth year of the Tianyou reign, Crown Prince Liang Yue, on a southern tour, encountered Ryukyu pirates. The Crown Prince bravely led the troops in repelling the enemy, but they were outnumbered and he ultimately died a heroic death. The Emperor, deeply saddened, died three days later. Three days later, a new Emperor ascended the throne.

Guizhier didn't expect that there was a hidden story behind the background information that she only glanced at quickly.

No wonder the fake "Zhifu Liu" could easily mobilize manpower and material resources.

No wonder he is so adept at governing the country and helping the people.

The news of the prince's death was known to the whole world, but no one could have expected that he would change his identity and hide in such a remote place in the north.

"So the rumors are true." Minister Ma, having glimpsed the shocking secret, broke out in a cold sweat, soaking his clothes in an instant. "Only the Emperor's Seal can mobilize the secret guards and open the secret vault."

His face flushed and his heart beat like a drum.

"I am willing to sacrifice my life to repay His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's great kindness!"

He was extremely nervous, his body trembling slightly, his breathing rapid and disordered, revealing an irrepressible excitement and anticipation.

He who knows the times is a hero.

Minister Ma understood that the current Daliang officialdom was all about connecting points, lines, and surfaces. He had bribed his backers point by point, always staying on the same page, to reach his current position as a fourth-rank official.

"I hope you can introduce me to the officials from the Ministry of Clan Relations and the Ministry of Justice." He was both afraid and happy, and his dark blue lower eyelids began to glow.

From opening up routes to connecting networks, success is just around the corner.

Guizhi'er doesn't have such connections, she was just making it up.

She marveled at Minister Ma's ability to adapt to the situation, took a sip of tea to calm herself down, and thought about how to deceive him.

"It's not impossible, as long as the store can open as scheduled."

She raised her chin, with a cold look in her eyes and eyebrows, revealing a hint of arrogance.

With a half-smile and a charming expression, he completely fooled Minister Ma.

"Don't worry, young lady, I'll arrange it right away!"

In Ma Lu's mind, "Gui Ji Braised Food Shop" has become the stronghold of the remnants of the previous dynasty headed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in Hangzhou.

Such an official who is both a snake and a rat is obsessed with money and opportunistic.

In the 13th year of Tianyou, Ma Lu went to the capital under the pretext of delivering festival gifts.

With his official position, he couldn't even touch the door knocker of the Prince's Mansion, let alone the Emperor.

But it happened that at the festive banquet, the chief eunuch of the palace was ordered to come and read the imperial edict.

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor decrees."

The eunuch had a white face and no beard, with narrow eyes. His posture was not entirely like that of a eunuch, but rather he had his own demeanor.

Ma Lu learned from everyone's conversation that the person who came was Eunuch Fu'an, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department and a favorite of the Emperor.

In the winter of the third year of Chengshuo, the late emperor had already passed away.

But back then, the eunuch Fu'an took off his palace clothes and walked up to him in the wind and snow in the north.

"I am the steward of Lord Liu Shanyuan." Eunuch Fu'an said to him with a smile.

Minister Ma interrupted his reminiscence and politely sent Gui Zhi'er away. Thanks to his active efforts, within ten days, there would be results.

Changxingfang has numerous streets and alleys, and houses are scattered around.

Among the shops lining the streets, a simple banner flutters in the wind - Guiji Braised Food Shop.

To the left of the shop is a silk and satin cloth shop, and to the right is a winery, brimming with the aroma of wine. The shop's white walls and black tiles, with wisteria entwined in front of the door and a cascade of purple and pink blossoms, evoke the leisurely atmosphere of everyday life in the south of the Yangtze River.

It's a nice day today, and the spring breeze blows with just the right amount of gentleness.

The broker had already made an appointment with Guizhier that he would bring a few smart and hardworking apprentices to his house for her to choose from.

If you find one that suits your taste, sign the contract immediately.

Guizhier was wearing a light and elegant silk dress and sitting quietly on the carved stone bench in the courtyard.

Her eyes were bright and clear. She picked up a melon seed in her hand. The "crunch" sound was crisp and pleasant, and the melon seed kernel was crispy and fragrant.

The ability to rent a shop in a good location was due, firstly, to Minister Ma's flexible maneuvering, and secondly, to the Huitong Money House account given to him by the young general.

"I wonder if the young general has received my letter." Guizhier smiled.

From Mr. Muxi to a young lady, she wants to go to a restaurant in the capital.