A short while later, Du Zhong, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, hurried over.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Du Zhong was respectful and did not underestimate Xiao Jingzhao in the slightest.
This was the second time Xiao Jingzhao had met with Du Zhong privately.
"No need for formalities, Minister Du. Several ministers have requested to resign and return to their hometowns. Let them leave with a clean record. Are you capable of handling this matter?"
As Xiao Jingzhao spoke, he pointed to the memorial on the imperial desk. Xiang Song understood and quickly picked up the memorial and handed it to Du Zhong to read.
Du Zhong: "..."
Could he refuse this? The people from Xin'an who entered the Dali Temple were no pushovers; if he didn't do it, someone else would be vying to do it.
He quickly flipped through the document; it was filled with people he knew.
Without exception, all of these people had intricate connections with the Prime Minister.
"What? Lord Du is hesitant to act out of old friendship?" Xiao Jingzhao's serious expression and cold, imposing aura made Du Zhongxin tremble.
"Your humble servant obeys."
Du Zhong was about to kneel down again when Xiao Jingzhao raised his hand and said, "No need for formalities. Go. I'll give you three days to make sure you get rid of these people."
Du Zhong felt his head was spinning when he heard the emperor's words. He had been asked to investigate so many people in just three days. If he didn't use his best skills, he would mess up the first task assigned by the new emperor, and then he wouldn't be far from returning to his hometown to retire.
Du Zhong accepted the order and left, while Xiang Song picked up the remaining memorials and continued reading.
...
As the sun sets, colorful clouds fill the sky.
Jiang Shuyue saw off the last patient and told everyone to pack up and go home early.
Just as Qiu Ju was about to close the door, Nangong Zeyue walked in with a big smile on his face.
"What brings Young Master Nangong here at this hour?"
Qiuju withdrew her hand from closing the door.
"Is the young lady here? I have something important to discuss with her." Nangong Zeyue put away her smile, glanced around the room, and said in a serious tone.
"Miss is changing her clothes in the backyard and will be out in a moment."
A moment later, when Jiang Shuyue came out after changing her clothes, she was also very surprised to see Nangong Zeyue. "What are you doing here? Is something urgent?"
Nangong Zeyue quickly waved her hand, "It's nothing serious. Grain prices doubled today. I have some silver on hand, and I'm thinking of buying some from grain merchants and reselling them after a while to make a profit from the price difference."
Jiang Shuyue raised an eyebrow and glared at Nangong Zeyue, "Do you even know how to do business?"
"Really? I'm telling you we can make a profit from the price difference, aren't I?"
After saying that, he grinned and said, "But I don't know as much about business as you do. That's why I came to discuss it with you as soon as I heard the news!"
Qiuju curled her lip and said disdainfully, "It's not that I'm belittling Young Master Nangong, but when it comes to doing business, our young lady knows it best."
"That's right, that's right, your daughter is the best." Nangong Zeyue smiled obsequiously, with a hint of arrogance.
"With the new emperor's coronation ceremony imminent, what crime should you be charged with for price gouging on grain?"
Her clear, melodious voice carried a lazy yet playful tone.
Nangong Zeyue's face turned pale instantly. "This, I really didn't think that much about it. No, we can't go against the new emperor. We can't do this business."
Seeing that Nangong Zeyue was quite frightened, Qiuju couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
“Selling grain is not out of the question, but it must be sold at the original price. We must not take advantage of the people’s misfortune and make their situation even worse.”
"No, no, Shuyue, what do you mean? You want me to buy high and sell low? That would be a huge loss! It would be better to buy grain and give it to the disaster-stricken people outside the city!"
Nangong Zeyue had done this before, and Jiang Shuyue greatly admired his attitude of regarding money as dirt.
"No need to send any this time. Just close the gambling den and leave the grain purchase to me. You can have the gambling den manager handle the sales."
"You're planning to use all your money to support him? Well, since I'm closest to Sui Sui, I'll do my part too. When we get back, I'll use all my banknotes to buy you grain."
Nangong Zeyue overheard everyone discussing that the new emperor's coronation ceremony would be held in a few days.
There was a long-standing relationship between Jiang Shuyue and that person, and Nangong Zeyue understood her actions.
“I have a brilliant plan. You should keep the silver notes in your hand to open a shop and earn money for your wife,” Jiang Shuyue teased him.
"I have plenty of food and drink living in the Jiang residence, why would I need a wife's dowry? That's not a thing." Nangong Zeyue waved his wide sleeves, looking completely nonchalant.
Qiu Ju: "..."
This blockhead, can't he think about anything other than eating and drinking?
The three of them walked out of the shop, where Gao Mu and Cang Yun were waiting.
"Young lady, it's time to change your dressing today."
Just as Jiang Shuyue was about to step onto the dismounting bench, she heard Xiang Yang's voice from behind the carriage.
His voice carried a hint of guilt and timidity. When Qiuju looked over, Xiangyang quickly lowered his head.
"Cangyun, you and Young Master Nangong return to the manor. I will go to the palace with Gao Mu and Qiuju."
Jiang Shuyue nodded to Xiang Yang as she spoke, indicating that he should go first.
Today, Xiangyang brought a carriage and a driver. Seeing that Jiang Shuyue had boarded Gao Mu's carriage, he had no choice but to instruct the driver to lead the way.
"Shuyue, shall I go with you?" Nangong Zeyue stepped onto the carriage.
Before Jiang Shuyue could answer, Qiu Ju had a sudden idea and moved to the back of the carriage to make room for Nangong Zeyue, who then sat down.
“Miss, I think it would be better if Young Master Nangong went with you, so that others won’t gossip about you behind your back.”
After hearing what Qiu Ju said, Jiang Shuyue also felt that Qiu Ju made a good point.
"Alright, let's go together. But remember to pay your respects to the Emperor when you see him."
"I don't have to see the Emperor. Perhaps with good luck, I might even meet my martial uncle in the palace."
Nangong Zeyue went to his senior brother's place again yesterday to inquire, but there was still no news of his martial uncle. He didn't say anything, but he was getting a little anxious.
He even wondered if the fire in the palace might have been the work of his uncle, or perhaps he had already perished.
Thinking of her uncle's tragic fate, Nangong Zeyue felt so heartbroken she could hardly breathe.
The carriage entered the palace before it was even dark, and the palace maids and eunuchs were already busy lighting the palace lanterns everywhere.
The carriage stopped, and Nangong Zeyue jumped off first. He stepped forward and asked Xiangyang, "May I walk around a bit?"
"The palace roads are intricate and complicated, young master. Please don't get lost. I'll find a palace maid to guide you."
Just then, a palace maid carrying a lantern happened to pass by, and Xiangyang quickly called out to her.
"Shuyue, hurry back. I'll be back in a quarter of an hour at most."
Hearing Nangong Zeyue call the girl by her maiden name so intimately, Xiangyang found it extremely grating.
Seeing Nangong Zeyue walk away with the palace maid, he wondered to himself, could it be that Miss Jiang's relationship with this person is unusual?
These days, apart from attending the morning court, Xiao Jingzhao spends the rest of his time working in the Imperial Study.
When Jiang Shuyue arrived outside the Imperial Study, it was just as the palace maids were bringing the imperial meal.
When Ma Liang, the newly promoted chief eunuch, saw Jiang Shuyue, his eyes lit up, and he immediately bowed and stepped aside.
Her eyebrows lay horizontally like dark ink, her black hair flowed like satin, and the beauty mark between her brows was unforgettable. The woman exuded an ethereal aura, like the clouds and mist of Mount Wu.
Ma Liang had been in the palace for many years and had seen countless beauties in the harem, but this was the first time he had ever seen such an astonishingly beautiful face.
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