Duke Wei, on the other hand, felt extremely uneasy and didn't feel relieved at all. He was in a terrible state.

"Your Majesty, these people did not mention anything about salt." Chen Hong glanced at Duke Wei and said.

"They didn't mention the salt issue?" Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong strangely and asked, "Aren't they salt merchants? Why haven't they mentioned the salt issue yet? Do they have other things to do?"

"Your Majesty, they are talking about people." Chen Hong said again: "Some of these people are the behind-the-scenes managers of the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River, and one of them is the manager of the Duke of Wei's Mansion."

"Oh, I see!" Zhu Youxiao looked as if he had suddenly realized something. He then turned to look at the Duke of Wei and asked, "Could it be that the Duke's Mansion still has business on the Qinhuai River?"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!" Duke Wei said hurriedly.

Zhu Youxiao wasn't angry. Instead, he sighed with a look of guilt and said, "It's not you who's guilty, it's me. I didn't do my job well. A family like the Duke of Wei, who has been loyal to the Ming Dynasty for generations, has fallen to such poverty that they have to rely on running a brothel to make a living. This is the fault of the royal family."

"It's my fault. I didn't expect the people below to have such a hard time! It's truly heartbreaking! Duke Wei, the state has been short of funds these past few years, and I really haven't been able to take care of them."

"His Majesty!"

After hearing this, the Duke of Wei fell to the ground, kowtowed with his body trembling, and kept kowtow- ing with his head touching the ground.

You can't really listen to what the emperor says, you can't even listen to it the other way around.

Is this a good thing to say?

This is simply murderous and heartbreaking words!

Duke Wei knew very well what kind of life these people lived, and he also knew how much they took advantage of the country every year.

In order to appease these people, the royal family would give them rewards during festivals and holidays, and there was always a variety of things in the palace.

Even if the emperor's life was difficult, he would still give out rewards every year and festival, which shows that he valued them very much. Those who were favored by the court had salaries and their children had good backgrounds. If they lived in misery, what would the people live like?

Glancing at the Duke of Wei lying on the ground, Zhu Youxiao lost his smile and said directly, "Duke of Wei, please stand up first and listen to me."

"I didn't say you were wrong. As for whether you're right or wrong, let's wait until Chen Hong finishes speaking."

Seeing the Duke of Wei still lying on the ground, Zhu Youxiao frowned and said, "What? My words are of no use?"

After hearing this, Duke Wei quickly got up from the ground, stood aside obediently, and waited quietly.

He knew that His Majesty was really angry this time, and he was doomed! He didn't know how His Majesty would deal with his family.

Glancing at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao ordered, "Go on."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong quickly agreed and continued, "They are actually here to discuss a group of people. They also said that because of Your Majesty's visit, this is the last batch. When Your Majesty leaves, then the next batch will begin."

"Who is it?" Zhu Youxiao asked slowly with his eyes narrowed.

"They bought the girls from the kitchen." Chen Hong glanced at Zhu Youxiao secretly and said slowly, "After buying these girls, they divided them into two groups. One group was selected and sent to Yangzhou, and the other group was sent here. From what they said, there are girls every year, and the number is quite large."

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao did not speak for a long time.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became solemn.

The so-called "Stove Households" were actually a type of people at the bottom of the Ming Dynasty. They were actually ordinary people who boiled salt, doing the same job for generations. Compared with the military households, the life of the stove households was even more miserable.

Military household, military household, there is another military in front.

As for the kitchen keepers, they are at the lower level.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at the Duke of Wei and asked, "The one sent to Yangzhou is the famous Yangzhou skinny horse, right?"

After hearing this, the Duke of Wei shuddered and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, that's right."

"Not bad, not bad." Zhu Youxiao nodded, his eyes instantly turned cold, but with a bright smile on his face he said, "Well done!"

Working together with the salt merchants to exploit the stove owners, not only did they take their salt and embezzle the court's money, but they also took their people away?"

"Do we go there every year to choose? We see which family has beautiful girls, and take them all away if we like them?"