“Many people also sell themselves,” Xie said in a very ethereal tone. “When you’re at your wit’s end, no one cares about tomorrow. You just want to hold on to every bit of hope for survival, even if you end up as nothing but bones.”
It is indeed like drinking poison to quench thirst, but when a person is about to die, it doesn't matter whether they die of thirst or poison; it's good to live a little longer.
"That's why everyone says that living is hard, and living well is even harder!" Xie said with deep feeling.
There are very few people in the world as lucky as her.
“Actually,” Jin lowered her voice, looked around, and then spoke softly, “five or six years ago, there was a rumor that the Great Zhou Dynasty was coming to an end, which is why karmic obstacles were rising everywhere, and the people were having an increasingly difficult time. The government personally refuted the rumor and suppressed the matter, and many people were arrested in jail.”
“I’ve heard of that too,” Xie added. “At that time, people were panicking. Almost every household was racking their brains to hoard food and urging their younger generation to get married and have children. Many people started to secretly prepare for their future by building houses on the mountain.”
Upon hearing this, something suddenly flashed through Jiang Nuan's mind, "Have the last few years been very difficult?"
“That’s right,” Xie Shi replied after careful consideration. “Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, natural disasters and man-made calamities have been constant, especially in recent years. The natural disasters and man-made calamities have never stopped, which is why many people believe the rumors.”
Even she herself was skeptical.
Although it's not very obvious, I've heard from the older generation that life now is indeed not as peaceful as it used to be.
"I see."
Jiang Nuan's eyes flashed with deep thought.
He quickly offered a few words of comfort to his two daughters-in-law and immediately returned to his study to write a letter.
A day later, the letter reached Ji Xuan.
"Little Yuanzi, where is Qi Yong?"
"Your Majesty, the Grand Steward has already arrived in Yibei and will surely reach the capital within three days at the latest."
"Go and summon the three elders over, and do it quickly."
"Yes, ma'am."
A short while later, the three Grand Secretaries arrived, and the originally peaceful atmosphere in the Imperial Study instantly became strange.
After experiencing various upheavals, obvious rifts appeared among the Grand Secretaries who had originally formed a close-knit group. Although not obvious on the surface, they had been secretly sabotaging each other.
After bowing, Grand Secretary An spoke directly, "His Majesty summoned us here. Is there something he wishes to instruct us on?"
At this time, he was very haggard. The powerful families kept jumping out, and Liu An also added to his troubles from time to time. He was always busy dealing with them.
"Minister Liu, does the Ministry of Revenue have any documents that have been kept for nearly twenty years?"
"Keep them all safe," Elder An said, quite surprised. "Does the Emperor want these documents?"
"Have people compare the changes in the last ten years with those in the previous ten years, from taxes to population, and natural and man-made disasters... find them all."
Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary An was very puzzled. "Your Majesty, why are you suddenly looking for these people?"
"The Lady Protector of the Nation wants it, and I also want to see if the lives of the people have improved."
Although she didn't know what Jiang Nuan wanted this data for, Ji Xuan took it very seriously.
On the one hand, he felt that Jiang Nuan would not cause trouble for no reason and must have her own plans. On the other hand, he was also particularly curious about the difference between the before and after.
"Since the Lady Protector of the Nation needs it, this old minister will prepare it as soon as possible." Although Grand Secretary An felt it was inappropriate, he still agreed.
Liu An chimed in, "This old minister will also have someone compile all the documents related to the various sacrifices and send them over."
Both of them agreed, and Grand Secretary Zhong dared not refuse, saying, "This old minister agrees as well."
"I would like to trouble you three gentlemen to provide detailed and truthful information."
"clear!"
After Zhong Ping and Liu An left, Grand Secretary An quietly returned.
Ji Xuan was not surprised by this. "Does Minister An have other important matters to attend to?"
"Your Majesty, it's time to close the net. The noble families have spent most of their wealth buying grain, which is all piled up outside the city. If there is a thunderstorm, it may not be able to be preserved."
At this point, Grand Secretary An felt like cursing.
Are these aristocratic families out of their minds?
They spent so much money to buy up all the grain within a thousand miles, yet they left it there so carelessly, as if they weren't worried at all about the grain spoiling.
Has your brain gotten waterlogged?
“We’ll have to wait a little longer,” Ji Xuan cleared her throat and then explained, “Qi Yong will be back in a few days. We’ll talk about this when he gets back.”
Although Ji Xuan valued the three Grand Secretaries, he did not fully trust them.
Everything that needs to be prepared is ready, and the powerful families can be taken down at any time, but who to choose is still a matter of careful consideration.
He doesn't trust anyone.
Although the senior officials might not covet this small amount of wealth, they might still try other underhanded tactics.
These three are currently outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds, making it difficult to feel at ease.
Upon hearing Ji Xuan's words, Grand Secretary An was momentarily stunned. After a while, he came to his senses and said with a smile, "As long as His Majesty has a plan, that's fine."
He appeared calm and collected on the surface, but inside he was extremely frustrated.
After finally managing to send Qi Yong to Shandong, he returned and was treated with the same favor as before, rendering all the previous efforts futile.
A separate courtyard.
Since writing the letter, Jiang Nuan has been sitting blankly on the ground in the virtual space.
She was thinking about a question.
Why did I travel to this place?
I used to think that God had taken pity on me and given me a second chance at life, but now I feel that it's not that simple.
Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with a solution even after a whole day.
Finally, he walked out looking annoyed.
Just as he sat down on the stone bench, Guangmang San hurriedly came over, saying, "Big Brother is here."
Why did he come back?
Hearing this, he glanced at Jiang Nuan cautiously before speaking, "He wants to take the two children out for a day."
"Let him roll away smoothly!"
Jiang Nuan, who was already irritable, exploded upon hearing this.
“Mother,” Huang Xiaosan hesitated, “Big Brother is, after all, Da Niu and the others’ biological father. Isn’t doing this… a bit inappropriate?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Jiang Nuan scoffed lightly. “If he really cared, why hasn’t he come back to see the child for so long? Who knows what he’s up to?”
In the past, she would never have thought of her son this way.
But after seeing Huangshan's crazy appearance, I realized that the world is so big, there are all kinds of people, and nothing is impossible.
It is said that there are no bad parents in the world, but how many people can truly live up to the title of "parent"?
“Okay,” Huang Lin finally agreed, biting his lip. “I’ll go and get rid of him right away.”
In the lobby, Huang Chuan waited anxiously, feeling quite guilty.
I haven't been back since I moved out, and this is my first time visiting. I have no idea how they will react.
Although it had been less than a month, he felt as if half a lifetime had passed, and even in his own home, there was a sense of estrangement.
"Elder brother," Xie's expression had returned to calm, "Mother did not agree."
"You disagree?" Huang Shan was stunned. "I'm only taking him out for a day trip. I'll definitely bring him back before dark."
He thought Jiang Nuan was worried about not sending the person back.
"No, Mother won't agree."
"But are you worried about interfering with their studies?"
"Um...maybe."
Huang Xiaosan spoke vaguely, not wanting to explain too clearly.
Although he felt that the eldest brother was too cowardly, he didn't want to rub salt into his wounds.
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