Chapter 264 We're not cut out for this.

Not only was Song Zhimian dumbfounded, but Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang were also dumbfounded.

The only happy one was Xiao Jingjue, who hurriedly and obsequiously handed the plate of snacks to Ye Yunshu.

"Auntie, are you hungry? Have some snacks to fill your stomach."

Actually, I can go too. I'm just a kid, so no one will notice what I do. I think it would be better if I went with them.

"Really... when I was in the Southwest, my seventh uncle said I was very clever..." Xiao Jingjue spared no effort in promoting herself.

This is a great opportunity! If we could go to Jiangnan with Aunt Mu Xiao, Aunt Lan Qian, and Lady Song, wouldn't that be the same as going on a trip?

Unfortunately, Ye Yunshu didn't give him that chance.

"You better stay in the palace and behave yourself. Can you read memorials yet? Wait until you can read memorials and write policy essays that will earn praise from Prime Minister Lin before you start thinking about leaving the palace." Ye Yunshun shattered Xiao Jingjue's plans without hesitation.

Xiao Jingjue...

Frustrated, Xiao Jingjue put the plate of snacks away and continued reading the folded document in her hand, which she couldn't quite understand.

Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang still looked shocked.

Song Zhimian reacted quickly and soon understood what Ye Yunshu meant.

"Does Your Majesty mean that we can no longer find any information about the taxes in Jiangnan from the accounting books, and we need to look for information from other sources?" Song Zhimian asked.

Ye Yunshu gave Song Zhimian an approving look.

Indeed, she was the first to think of these things.

“You’re right. All the accounts in the ledgers match up perfectly. Whether it’s the ledgers from the government office or the ledgers from the Jiangnan Supervisory Bureau, there are no problems at all.”

But the more this is the case, the bigger the problem may become.

The Control Yuan will not cause any problems, and local government offices will not dare to provide the Control Yuan with false accounts.

But the problem with taxes in Jiangnan is still there, so the problem must have occurred somewhere outside the accounting books.

Lan Qian, didn't I tell you before that I would send you to inspect the charitable institutions throughout the Great Yu region?

This is a good opportunity to take advantage of the fact that you are going to inspect the charitable institutions in the Jiangnan area to investigate the tax situation in Jiangnan.

Mu Xiao also took Chun Buwan's keepsake to visit the Chun Buwan area in Jiangnan.

As for Song Zhimian... she'll go along under the pretext of buying things for me.

Go and investigate; you might find something different!

Song Zhimian quickly stood up, bowed, and accepted the imperial decree.

Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang had no choice but to get up and accept the imperial decree.

They both had a feeling that it was as if they were just beginning their education, and then Ye Yunshu, as the matriarch, suddenly called them over and casually told them, "You two can already read. Go and help your older sister pass the imperial examination and bring back some scholars..."

Song Zhimian also had a feeling, as if someone from a later era had given her a formula and then asked her to build a rocket based on that formula.

...

The imperial decree has been accepted, and everyone knows that Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin have received the decree to inspect charitable institutions in Jiangnan.

Both Consort Wu and the Duke of Han's mansion were in good spirits.

Indeed, the new emperor is quite friendly to them; he assigned them tasks as soon as he took office.

Or perhaps it's the easier job of inspecting charity halls.

Song Zhimian also accepted the task of purchasing goods in Jiangnan and went to Jiangnan with them.

The officials, however, felt uneasy.

As expected, the Empress's ascension to the throne brought about significant changes. In the past, these tasks were all the domain of men, and women would never have had a chance to do them!

...

The old lady of the Korean Duke's Mansion was very happy and held Princess Yongxin's hand, saying many things to her.

"His Majesty values ​​you, so you must do your job well."

Although he was on official business with Princess Shou Kang this time, His Majesty treats Bi as a trusted confidant.

The affairs of the charity are of utmost importance; His Majesty has entrusted them to you, which shows how much he values ​​you.

Do a good job, your grandmother believes in you, and she'll definitely get the job done.

"Once you return from Jiangnan, there will surely be even more important tasks for you," the old lady of the Han State Duke's Mansion said earnestly, holding Princess Yongxin's hand.

Princess Yongxin smiled awkwardly. The matter of the charity hall is not difficult, nor is the matter of Chun Buwan. What is difficult is the matter of taxes in Jiangnan!

Even the Censorate couldn't find out where the problem was with the taxes in Jiangnan, yet she, a mere princess, was able to find it out?

...

"Song Zhimian, what do you think we should do about this job?" Princess Yongxin pulled Princess Shou Kang to find Song Zhimian.

Song Zhimian is already packing her clothes for her trip to Jiangnan.

Seeing that Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang both looked worried, she quickly put down what she was doing.

"Why are the princess and the county princess so worried about the child?" Song Zhimian asked with a smile.

Princess Shou Kang sighed.

"How can I not be worried? I can't even understand the account books, yet my elder sister asked me to investigate the tax situation in Jiangnan?"

Eldest sister, you really think highly of your younger sister!

"You can't make bricks out of mud, but you insist on helping me. I'm not cut out for this!" Princess Shou Kang calmed down as well.

The calmer I try to stay, the more worried I become.

Princess Yongxin also hummed in agreement.

"Yeah! None of us are cut out for this, okay? The three of us combined would probably need three days to look through one ledger."

If even the Censorate and the Censorate couldn't find out about the tax issues in Jiangnan, then it must be a matter of a room full of account books!

"Song Zhimian, I have a feeling we're going to return empty-handed this time." Princess Yongxin also became pessimistic.

Song Zhimian, however, did not think so.

She poured tea for both of them before sitting down opposite them.

"His Majesty must have thought this through carefully before sending us out. His Majesty also said that the tax revenue in Jiangnan last year was something that the Supervisory Bureau and the Supervisory Department could not find out, or rather, could not find any problems."

That means that investigating the tax situation in Jiangnan is not simply a matter of looking at the account books.

If that's the case, then we're not being asked to look at the ledgers, but rather to investigate things outside of the ledgers.

The things outside the ledger are simply things happening in the market.

Therefore, I don't think this job will be too difficult.

His Majesty probably wants to use the eyes of the three of us to see the real problems behind the taxes in Jiangnan.

"That means we don't need to worry about the ledgers, but rather about things that are unrelated to the ledgers," Song Zhimian said with a smile.

Princess Yongxin and Princess Shoukang thought about it and agreed!

His Majesty knows their capabilities and wouldn't actually show favoritism. Knowing they have little ability, he still sent them out on errands.

If we mess it up, wouldn't that be a slap in our own face?

...

"Then... shall we go?" Princess Yongxin asked cautiously.

"Go! I must go! I knew it! My elder sister is so capable, I'm definitely not a good-for-nothing who only knows how to find male concubines!" Princess Shou Kang slammed her hand on the table.

Song Zhimin nodded and continued packing her things.