Chapter 334: More and more like an old man

Seeing that they were about to quarrel, Bei Jingchu said softly: "Be quiet."

The person who was about to speak fell silent all of a sudden; even the sound of Xu Chengzhu chewing the bait stopped.

He held the cake in his mouth and dared not move.

The prince usually has a good temper, and many people dare to joke and make fun of her in front of him.

But at some point, a sense of majesty lingered around her that she herself was not aware of.

Even her friends who grew up with her didn't dare to do anything rash when she got serious.

Soon, she seemed to notice that the atmosphere in the study had calmed down and was no longer tense, so she said, "Go on, don't quarrel."

But everyone was hesitant and didn't dare to speak first.

So the first person to speak was Xin'er.

After Xin'er came out of Hongwenguan, she also asked Bei Jingchu to come over to do some work.

No matter how much you can contribute, even if it's just helping to sort out paperwork, you can't just lie down and do nothing.

Fortunately, Xin'er was also happy to help without any complaints, even to the point of doing whatever she was told.

Although there is less flexibility, as long as it is an order from the prince, we will strictly abide by it starting from ourselves and not compromise in the slightest.

Bei Jingchu used her several more times, and her skill level was almost as good as Nian'er.

Gradually, she was assigned duties and was able to discuss matters in the study.

At this time she asked: "Didn't we conquer Yuzhou and Ningzhou? How come there is no land to divide with such a large area?"

After she finished speaking, everyone in the study, including Bei Jingchu, cast pitying glances at her.

Sister Xin'er is sincere, but sometimes she is not very smart.

It's just that it's rare to find someone who is both loyal and talented. When faced with a choice between the two, Bei Jingchu chooses loyalty first.

Bei Jingchu couldn't help laughing and said, "Sister, that's grassland, used for grazing, not for farming..."

If it wasn't too embarrassing for the little girl to say it out loud, Bei Jingchu would even want to touch her head and say: It's not your fault, go and have fun.

Xin'er quickly covered her mouth, her face flushed, and she looked like she had said something wrong, but this made the atmosphere in the study much more relaxed.

Although the discussion did not resolve the household registration issue, it did provide another way to increase finances.

Bei Jingchu pointed out a few feasible ones and asked them to write a memorial and submit detailed strategies.

For example, Beihua's state-owned salt and iron factory can be considered.

After the people left, Bei Jingchu picked up a pen and wrote and drew on a piece of white paper, with an idea in her mind.

Just as she was thinking about it, Haoyue came to report that Xu Jialing had returned and wanted to talk to her privately.

He was one of the few people who wanted to make a move on the household registration, but after Bei Huan blocked him, there was no further news.

Now that I have come back to see her, maybe I have some ideas but I am not in a position to say them.

If this is true, it might be the same method as she thought.

Xu Chengzhu came in, bowed, and took his seat. He said directly, "I think that if the household registration is searched by officials, the people will rack their brains to hide, and the result will be half the effort and twice the result."

"If we want to achieve twice the result with half the effort, the people should rush to register themselves, just like Emperor Gaozu did."

Bei Jingchu put down her ink pen. She was sure that this person thought the same as she did.

She finished what she had not yet said: "So, we just need to continue distributing land to the people."

"The court does not have enough land, so it needs to take back the land that was illegally seized."

"Xu Qing, how do you think we should proceed?"

After saying this, Bei Jingchu lowered her eyelids. The hot steam from the newly changed tea blurred her eyes, preventing anyone from seeing the scrutiny in them.

It seemed like a normal conversation, not a fight without smoke, nor an answer that would determine Xu Chengzhu's future.

After all, the answer she had in mind was to attack the wealthy families. Not only would the Xu family be the first to be hit, but they would also be affected.

Xu Chengzhu has thought of this step. Unless one is a fool, it is impossible that he cannot figure out the secret.

Thinking of this, Bei Jingchu was shocked.

It’s over, he’s becoming more and more like old man Bei Heng.

The 37-year-old Emperor Bei Heng, who was in the prime of life, sneezed twice in his study and wiped the corners of his mouth impatiently. Which bastard was scolding him again?

Here, Xu Chengzhao bowed and said, "I think that if Your Highness wants to solve this matter himself, he should start with the wealthy families."

Bei Jingchu raised her eyelids, a smile appeared on her face, and her voice became much lighter: "Tell me about it."

Xu Chengzhuan took advantage of the situation and lifted the heavy wooden chair, moving it a little closer to her. He analyzed, "Although it is their problem to embezzle the land, the world only distinguishes between interests, not right and wrong."

"Your Highness has seized the people's land, even if it does not belong to them, it will cause resentment. Everyone has been offended, not to mention the crown prince, even..."

He pointed to the sky, leaned over, and whispered in her ear, "Even the emperor can't sit firmly on the throne."

The breath sprayed on my ears, feeling hot and itchy.

Bei Jingchu turned her head to look over. The distance was too close, so she could see his dark stubble, reminding her that the boy's face was not as white and smooth as it looked.

Unlike her.

It is shaved cleanly, but it feels a little rough to the touch.

Bei Jingchu clenched her fingertips, suppressed her inexplicable associations, and watched him chattering non-stop.

Xu Chengzhan counted on his fingers and said, "We have already offended the noble families. If we were to ask who we should attack, it would definitely be them. Who made them so blind as to oppose His Highness's appointment as the crown prince in the first place?"

"Now we can only fight to the death."

Bei Jingchu asked softly, "Why didn't you tell me during the discussion just now? And why was Huanhuan blocking you?"

The boy sighed.

"After all, there are also some people from aristocratic families among us."

"If there are no Five Surnames and Seven Noble Names, aren't there still some small families? For example, my own Xu family is one of them."

"If someone is not loyal enough and leaks the information in advance, it will make them prepared and it will be disadvantageous to us."

Bei Jingchu supported his head with one hand and found his words very funny.

"You are from the Xu family, and you are the one we have to deal with this time. Who are we?"

Someone came up to him shamelessly and said loudly, "I am your Highness's man! We are the same gang. I don't know what Xu family is."

Bei Jingchu: ...Your ancestors are so lucky to have you.

But she was in a much better mood, and even started to tease people again, asking the smug man, "Who said there are no five surnames and seven families?"

Xu Chengzhe was shocked. Could it be that among the East Palace's confidants there were spies from the Five Surnames?

No, no, since His Highness knows about it, it must not be a big problem.

Maybe it was the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole was waiting behind, and His Highness used them to pass false information to...

All kinds of conspiracies and schemes were running wild in his mind, and then he saw her good lady open her red lips and say, "Isn't the Bei family the head of the Five Surnames?"

Xu Chengxuan: "......"