Outside the gate of Zongzheng Temple, there was an inconspicuous carriage parked.
"Madam, be careful!"
Xu Yousi jumped off the carriage first and helped Gu Jiu get off.
Gu Jiu stepped on a stool, got off the carriage, and walked on the cement road that had been paved only three days ago.
Very solid!
She smiled and said, "The Shaofu is really quick. The cement road has been paved here."
Xu Yousi hurriedly said, "The Shaofu is anxious to make money. He wishes that all the roads in the capital could be paved with cement within a day. That way everyone would see the benefits of cement roads and go to the Shaofu to buy cement."
Emperor Wende seemed to have listened to Gu Jiu's advice and first renovated the roads in the capital, paving them all with cement.
The money was paid partly by the Ministry of Revenue, partly by the Ministry of War, and partly by the Ministry of the Treasury.
Why does the Ministry of War have to pay for road construction?
Because the Ministry of War had hooked up with Gu Jiu and wanted to partner with him in the express delivery business, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Revenue naturally did not want to miss the opportunity to kill the Ministry of War.
The Ministry of War argued for this, but was defeated. They could only spend money to avoid disaster, considering it as supporting the people of the capital and improving their travel conditions.
Once the cement road was built, the streets became noticeably busier than before, with even more ox-carts, donkey-carts, and mule-carts appearing.
The Ministry of Revenue was very surprised.
There aren’t so many people on weekdays!
Where did these extra people come from?
Little do people know that many men and women living in Beijing are actually otakus who rarely go out on weekdays.
They dislike the dirty streets. The roads are muddy on rainy days and dusty on sunny days, so they prefer not to go out.
As a result, these people gradually became real otakus and housegirls.
The roads in the capital are now being repaired one after another.
The repaired cement road is clean and tidy. You no longer have to worry about muddy roads or too much dust.
These otakus and housegirls were so bored that they wanted to move around, so they went out of their homes and went for a walk on the streets.
As more people come, there are more vehicles and horses.
If there are a lot of cars and horses, a sanitation fee is charged because livestock don't choose where to poop, they just poop on the street, which makes it smell bad.
To keep the streets clean, people have to sweep them regularly.
This costs money!
Naturally, the government cannot be asked to bear the cost of money alone.
Come on, everyone who drives with the car door open has to pay a sanitation fee.
It’s not much, just five cents.
People in the capital who can afford to raise cattle, sheep, donkeys, mules and horses don't mind these five cents.
Five cents, take it.
Give me the bamboo stick as proof.
Similar to the traveling merchant tax.
The bamboo sticks used for sanitation fees are also different every day, making them easy to distinguish.
If you go shopping, you have to buy something.
As a result, as more people appeared on the streets, the business of shops of all sizes in the capital and the peddlers walking around the streets all improved by 10% to 20%.
The business of some shops has increased by 30% to 40%.
The weather is good, and more people are going out of town to play.
Outside the capital, only the official road outside the South City Gate was paved with cement.
Of the four city gates, the South Gate was the busiest. Every day, there was a long queue at the gate for people entering and leaving.
The young masters and young ladies in the capital go out of the city to play every day, just like they are going to the market.
I heard that there are many scenic spots and academies built on the mountain, which is quite interesting.
Let’s not talk about the mountain and the academy for now.
Xu Yousi reported his identity and the officials from the Zongzheng Temple welcomed Gu Jiu in.
"Madam, please tell me that Mrs. Liu is imprisoned in the Bingzi Courtyard."
Gu Jiu nodded and said, "You guys go and get busy. I don't need to keep anyone here."
The Zongzheng Temple official nodded repeatedly, "I'm in the signing room right now. If you need anything, Madam, just send someone to let me know."
Gu Jiu smiled.
Xu Yousi quickly handed over a purse containing a fifty-liang silver note.
Follow the stone path and you will reach Bingziyuan.
Use the key to open the door and push it open to enter.
"Madam, I will accompany you in. Be careful that Liu doesn't hurt you." Xu Yousi pleaded.
Gu Jiu nodded, "You and Wang Yi come with me. With Wang Yi here, my safety is safe."
Xu Yousi and Wang Yi, one on the left and one on the right, guarded Gu Jiu and followed her into the small courtyard.
The narrow square space imprisons the once arrogant Princess Chaoyang.
Now, she is just an old woman who has been demoted to a commoner and has no freedom.
She heard some noise and stuck her head out, thinking it was the food delivery person.
When she saw who it was, her eyes widened.
She pointed at Gu Jiu and said, "You, why are you here? Return my title, return my princess's mansion, return my wealth..."
Chaoyang rushed out of the room and pounced directly on Gu Jiu.
Xu Yousi is like facing a powerful enemy.
Wang Yi kicked her over.
"It's not enough that you've harmed my wife once, and you're trying to harm her a second time. Are you looking for death?" Wang Yi pinched his waist and cursed angrily.
Chaoyang lay on the ground, his eyes full of hatred, "You bitch, it's all your fault, you have to pay for my life."
"What is this palace?"
Xu Yousi brought a chair and placed it in the yard. "Please sit down, Madam. The room is dark, not as bright as this yard."
Gu Jiu followed suit, and she was not willing to go into the room to talk.
She sat down on the chair and said, "Should I call you Liu or Chaoyang? Forget it, I'll just call you Chaoyang."
Chaoyang clenched his fists. "You came here to laugh at me? I won't let you succeed. Now you are so proud, but you have destroyed my family. I curse you to die a miserable death."
Wang Yi was furious and wanted to cover Chaoyang's mouth.
Gu Jiu waved his hand, signaling Wang Yi not to dirty his hands.
She said to Chaoyang, "In the past, I never did anything like kicking a fallen dog. It was a waste of time and meaningless. But this time, I really want to kick a fallen dog. And you, Chaoyang, are that fallen dog!"
“Ahhh…”
Chaoyang screamed wildly.
She had never suffered such an insult in her entire life. Even when the Princess's Mansion was sealed and taken back, and she was imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple, no one had ever insulted her with such vicious words.
Chaoyang got up from the ground and rushed towards Gu Jiu.
As soon as Wang Yi raised his foot, Chaoyang showed agility that was not in line with his age. He stopped in time and barely avoided Wang Yi's leg.
She took two steps back and pointed at Gu Jiu, "You will not die well, you will not die well! You humiliated me today, but someone will avenge me someday. My fate today will be your fate in the future. No, you will be ten times more miserable than me. You will definitely not die well! Hahaha..."
As if he had defeated Gu Jiu verbally, Chaoyang laughed out loud towards the sky.
Wang Yi was itching to give Chaoyang a beating.
Gu Jiu told her not to waste her energy.
Gu Jiu said, "Your son, Zhao Chuanming, is dead! He died on the road to exile."
Chaoyang was obviously stunned, his eyes changing, and he shook his head repeatedly, "No, it's impossible. You are talking nonsense, you must be lying to me. My son is alive and well, don't try to fool me. I won't be fooled."
Gu Jiu continued calmly, "While Zhao Chuanming was in the imperial prison, he was tortured and injured, but received no medical treatment before being hastily driven out of the capital and sent to exile. On the way, his wounds became inflamed and he developed a high fever. Yesterday, I received accurate news that Zhao Chuanming had passed away in a dilapidated temple two hundred miles from the capital."
"Ah...I don't believe it. I don't believe it. You are lying to me, right? You bitch, you must be lying to me."
Chaoyang pointed at Gu Jiu and cursed.
Gu Jiu frowned slightly, "Do you still think you are the high and mighty Princess? You are penniless now. What value do you have in me that is worth deceiving you?"
Chaoyang shook his head repeatedly, "No, it's impossible. I don't believe it. He can't die. My son won't die."
Gu Jiu sneered, "At the Huyang County Princess's Mansion that day, I once said that cutting off someone's financial resources is like killing their parents. You cut off my financial resources and then sent someone to assassinate me, so don't blame me for wanting you dead."
"You want to kill me? Haha, can you kill me? His Majesty promised to spare my life. If you dare to kill me, you are disobeying his order. You are dead!"
Chaoyang laughed out loud, as if he was making fun of Gu Jiu's true intentions.
Gu Jiu smiled contemptuously, "Who said that this lady wants to kill you with her own hands?"
Chaoyang's laughter stopped abruptly as if someone was blocking his throat.
Her eyes widened, her face wrinkled and trembling slightly, "What do you want to do?"
Gu Jiu said casually, "As long as you live, your children and grandchildren will die one after another. Yesterday it was your eldest son, next it will be your second son, and the next time it will be your eldest grandson..."
"Shut up! What do you want to do? Are you threatening me? Are you going to kill me? You've already won, you've won! What gives you the right to kill me?"
Gu Jiu laughed sarcastically, "Because you never gave me a chance to live! When you sent someone to assassinate me, did you ever think that I was pregnant? If you are unkind, don't blame me for being cruel. Those who kill must be killed. When you sent someone to assassinate me, you should have thought about this day."
Chaoyang retreated repeatedly, his face pale.
Gu Jiu said softly, "In the past, I never did things to the extreme. I always left a way out so that we could meet again in the future. If you had given up and admitted defeat that day, I would naturally not have killed you.
However, from the moment you sent someone to assassinate me, your fate was sealed. I only show mercy to those who deserve it. You don't deserve mercy, let alone forgiveness.
People like you deserve to die! If you don't die, your children and grandchildren will be buried with you. They will die one after another on the road of exile. In the end, all it takes is a plague to kill them all.
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