"Why do you say that, Auntie?"

Zheng Xiu carefully guessed the meaning of Xue Zhi's letter. It was a matter of discretion, which meant that such a hasty arrangement was not his original intention. Moreover, if he had to go out on business for a while, he could have written a letter in advance to explain the situation and come to pick him up after he was done... Now he asked Xue Qin to come, it is very likely that he did not know when he could come back, and even the danger he faced might affect his wife and children, so he was worried about her and Xue Shao, so he asked Xue Qin to pick them up.

She carefully observed Xue Qin's expression.

Although Xue Qin hid it well, he was only a 14-year-old boy after all, and his expression was still a little uncomfortable.

Zheng Xiu turned around and chased away Zheng Yu and Xue Shao who were leaning against the doorway to listen to their conversation, and continued: "If you don't tell me the truth, I won't go with you."

Xue Qin couldn't help but sigh. He didn't expect that this second aunt who had never thought of anything would be so difficult to deal with. His second uncle really gave him a difficult task. He pondered for a moment before saying: "The emperor uncle asked my second uncle to follow the prince to the coastal area of ​​Jiangnan to thoroughly investigate the salt tax. The imperial edict came suddenly, and my second uncle only had time to learn a little about the place, and then he followed the prince..."

It was the salt tax again. Zheng Xiu didn't understand the connection, so she could only ask again: "Is it very dangerous?"

Xue Qin nodded, "The coastal area has been selling smuggled salt repeatedly and has been banned repeatedly. The local aristocratic families are deeply involved, and many officials are also involved." Otherwise, the emperor would not have allowed the prince to go in person, and also sent Xue Zhi to escort him.

Although Zheng Xiu still didn't understand it very well, she also understood that what Xue Zhi had to face was a whole complex network of interests in the local area.

Xue Qin had already let the cat out of the bag, so he simply continued, "No one in the capital wants to get involved in this matter. But my second uncle was on time difference when he was in the Five Military Commandery. He resigned at that time, which was a serious crime. When he returned to the capital this time, the empress dowager used that incident as an excuse, and my mother mediated for a long time before he had such an opportunity to 'make meritorious service while serving a crime.'"

Zheng Xiu couldn't help but turn her head and look at Xue Shao, who was talking with Zheng Yu in the yard and occasionally peeking into the hall.

During the years when Xue Zhi was away from the capital, the situation in the capital was unfamiliar to him. Now he was far away in Jiangnan, and how could Xue Shao, a child, face such a turbulent situation? Moreover, from Princess Guihe's reaction last time, she was indifferent to Xue Shao. If she just sent him back, would he be able to grow up safely under the protection of the Duke of Qing's Mansion?

Zheng Xiu was naturally worried about letting Xue Shao go alone, but she was undecided about leaving her family and going far away to the capital.

"Second aunt?" Xue Qin called her when he saw that she was lost in thought.

Zheng Xiu came back to her senses and said, "I need to think about it. You... you are not in a hurry, right?"

Xue Qin wanted to take them over as soon as possible, but when he thought about how his second uncle had told him to treat Zheng Xiu as his own elder before he left, he said, "I will settle down in the inn in the town first. If the second aunt has made up her mind, please send someone to inform me. I will leave a guard at the door."

Zheng Xiu nodded, but because her thoughts were flying, she did not keep Xue Qin for long.

After Xue Qin finished speaking, he took his people away. After their group disappeared at the door of the Zheng family, the two children ran back to the main hall.

Zheng Yu pulled his sister aside and asked, "Where is your brother-in-law? Why doesn't he come back on his own? Didn't the elder brother say that your brother-in-law was out on business? Why does your sister say that your brother-in-law is a dangerous man?"

Zheng Yu asked a series of questions like a machine gun, which made Zheng Xiu's head ache. However, she also knew that what her brother was asking was also the doubts in Xue Shao's mind, so she patiently said: "Your brother-in-law is indeed busy on business, so he asked the big brother to pick him up. Sister is worried that he is going away, so she asked that. But the big brother said that there are many people going with him, and your brother-in-law will be fine."

Zheng Yu let out a breath and bumped Xue Shao with his shoulder, "Did you hear that? Your father will be fine."

Xue Shao nodded, and asked Zheng Xiu again: "Then the big brother is going to take me back to the capital?"

Zheng Xiu nodded, and he asked again: "Then...then will you go with me?"

Zheng Xiu hadn't thought about it yet and didn't know how to answer.

Zheng Yu rubbed against his sister like a candy and said coquettishly: "Sister, sister, are you going?"

"Huh?" Zheng Xiu couldn't help wondering why her brother was looking forward to her leaving.

Zheng Yu chuckled twice again, "I have never been to the capital city since I was a child. I heard from Feng Yuan that there are many delicious and fun things in the capital city that are not available in our town. Sister, take me to see it..." It seems

that he never thought about being separated from Zheng Xiu, and thought that if Zheng Xiu went to the capital city, she would definitely take him with her.

Zheng Xiu couldn't help but smile bitterly and rubbed his head, "Silly child."

Seeing that she still refused to agree, Zheng Yu began to beg her again and again: "Sister, good sister, please go..."

Zheng Xiu had a headache and said: "Let's wait until Dad comes back, I need to discuss it with him."

Zheng Yu had to give up.

In the evening, Zheng Ren came back from the academy. As soon as he arrived at the door of his house, he saw two guards guarding the door.

"Are there guests at home today?" He asked Zheng Xiu directly when he came back.

Zheng Xiu nodded, "Dad, have dinner first, we'll talk after dinner." She was afraid that if she said it now, her father would not even be in the mood to eat dinner.

Zheng Ren had already sensed that something bad was going to happen, so he didn't say anything more and had dinner as usual.

After dinner, Zheng Xiu just put the dishes on the stove and followed his father back to the house.

After reading Xue Zhi's letter and listening to Zheng Xiu repeating Xue Qin's words, Zheng Ren frowned and looked solemn.

Zheng Xiu didn't dare to keep questioning Xue Qin during the day, but now seeing his father's expression, he realized that things might be much worse than he thought. Zheng Ren

was silent for a while, then he sighed: "The Jiangnan area should be rich. Since the emperor wants to tighten taxation, there must be a big loophole. Azhi's trip is so dangerous, it's like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth..."

Zheng Xiu panicked and said: "No way, isn't the prince going with him?" The emperor would never joke about the life of a country's heir.

Zheng Ren smiled bitterly and said, "Even the emperor has sent the

crown prince, which shows how difficult this matter is." Although he has been back home for many years, he still knows a thing or two about the political situation. The current crown prince is the son of the late queen, the eldest son, and is kind and modest, but he is a little weak. The emperor was always afraid that he would not grow up in his early years, so he made him the crown prince only when he was more than ten years old. The current second prince is only one year younger than the crown prince, but he is the niece of the queen mother, Concubine Xiao Shu. The late queen has been gone for seven or eight years, and the emperor has not appointed a queen. Concubine Xiao Shu has great power in the harem. In addition, the Xiao family in the court is also a century-old family, with a high position and power. It is obvious that they want to promote the second prince to the throne. If the prince does not make some achievements during these few years when the emperor can still suppress him, I am afraid he will not be able to sit securely on the position of crown prince.

The prince's trip to Jiangnan this time was a chance to secure his position as the heir apparent. Xue Zhi's was a chance to "make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence". If he wasn't dangerous enough, how could he stop the public from talking?

Zheng Xiu was also panicking, "Dad, what should we do? Is this a trust of Azhi?"