The staff that Zhao Qingyan brought immediately unfolded the folding tables and chairs they had brought and quickly set out the food.

When watermelons, which weren't yet in season, were served, the adults' eyes practically popped out of their sockets.

Indeed, there is no problem that good food cannot solve; if one meal doesn't work, try two.

Over the course of the meal and drinks, the initial awkwardness disappeared, and Zhao Minggeng roughly understood why he had been ostracized.

It seems someone was trying to find a job for their nephew or niece, and happened to have their eye on this doctor's position, but Zhao Minggeng beat them to it.

How could people not be upset?

Zhao Minggeng stopped hiding it at this point.

"Hehehe, I served as magistrate in Dawar in the North and Red Ridge County in the Southwest. Everyone knows those two counties; one is extremely dangerous, and the other is incredibly poor."

However, I was able to govern the county town very well during my term of office, which must be because my talent was recognized, hence my transfer back to the capital.

As a newcomer, I don't know much about many things.

I hope my colleagues will continue to support me in the future.

After Zhao Qingyan set up the ladder for Zhao Minggeng, she left; she couldn't possibly stay in the government office for too long.

However, the staff of Huicui Pavilion stayed behind to serve the gentlemen until they finished eating so they could pack up and leave.

Some of the more curious ones, seeing the staff of Huicui Pavilion serving them tea and water, started to have a conversation.

When asked about his relationship with Huicui Pavilion, Zhao Minggeng was incredibly proud and arrogant.

“My daughter is the owner of Huicui Pavilion. Xu Dongsheng, the lecturer who was just transferred back to the Hanlin Academy, is my son-in-law…”

Those with good memories remembered that Han Xiaojunwang's long-lost younger brother was named Xu Dongsheng.

Now, even the most envious people aren't so envious anymore.

It's because none of them have a daughter who is richer than a country, nor do they have a good marriage prospect.

Speculating in private is one thing, and having it brought up in public is another.

When someone is so lucky that others can only envy them, it is no longer envy or jealousy, but admiration.

I hope to get closer to lucky people, maybe I can even share in their good fortune.

It wasn't a proper meal, but Zhao Minggeng's relationship with him was effectively severed.

The Minister and his two Vice Ministers, who were working in their own rooms, were also served tea and snacks, so no one reprimanded their subordinates.

Don't be fooled by the seemingly glamorous work in the Ministry of Revenue; the daily tasks of checking and calculating were exhausting.

The adults, who considered themselves considerate of their subordinates, naturally turned a blind eye to Zhao Minggeng's shady dealings.

In particular, she even laid out her identity, regardless of good or bad, she is now considered a member of the royal family, her own niece, the legitimate Princess Consort of Prince Rui.

Even if they still disliked Zhao Minggeng, they were too embarrassed to cause any more trouble.

Sure enough, in the afternoon, Zhao Minggeng was assigned to a task and also gained access to review national tax records from previous years.

Of course, this was also because the Minister of Revenue received guidance from that person in the palace.

No longer daring to harbor any resentment towards Zhao Minggeng, and anticipating that such a grand scheme would be orchestrated by this lucky individual, the Minister of Revenue unconsciously lit a candle for Zhao Minggeng.

And we hope Zhao Minggeng has a strong enough head to do this.

But you absolutely mustn't die before you even get started, or there'll be no fun left.

Zhao Minggeng naturally accepted the task given to him by the Emperor, and naturally had to find a way to solve it.

Zhao Minggeng was very good at compiling information. He spent nearly ten days compiling statistics on the changes in the amount of tax revenue and the amount of taxable land over the past fifty years.

The land area remains the same size, excluding the additional state of Montgomery. However, the amount of taxable land has decreased by nearly half, which is quite outrageous.