Joking aside, Xie Qi composed himself and began to get down to business.
"Your Majesty, this concerns taxes in some areas. Please take a look."
Pei Zhi took it, glanced at it casually, and then frowned.
The national treasury mainly relies on local tax revenue, but if the harvest is poor in some areas, tax revenue will be reduced.
We can't expect people to go hungry just to pay their taxes, can we?
"I remember these places have enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests, so why are their tax revenues so low?"
Yuan Chengyu snorted coldly: "When tax revenue increases, local officials will skim off layer by layer, and layer by layer, so not much will actually reach the national treasury."
To put it bluntly, whoever has this silver in their hands leaves something behind?
Xie Qi explained, "These officials all ended up in the pockets of the Left Prime Minister as tribute."
Yuan Chengyu scoffed, "No wonder you were in such a hurry, arranging for your youngest son to bump into His Majesty."
So, she's thinking of using her husband's influence to get his attention? How shameless!
Pei Zhi waved her hand, signaling Yuan Chengyu to stop talking about it: "Alright."
"Don't say I didn't mean it that way. Even if I did have something going on with him, and his family committed a crime, I wouldn't show favoritism."
The "handsome man" tactic won't work on Pei Zhi.
Money is many times more important than handsome men, and Pei Zhi understands this principle.
Xie Qi asked, "Left Prime Minister, should we investigate this matter?"
"Let's investigate secretly first. Since the Left Chancellor has set a trap for me, I also want to see how much wealth the Chancellor's family has."
Pei Zhi was worried because the national treasury was empty.
Pei Zhi wants to renovate the palace, and he also wants to train new weapons.
Pei Zhi also wanted to open schools in various places.
Whether it's teaching textbook knowledge or something else, it's fine.
But all of these require money.
Xie Qi raised an eyebrow: "What does Your Majesty mean?"
Pei Zhi smiled mysteriously: "The trap has been set for me, so naturally I'm going to crawl in and take a look."
Yuan Chengyu looked at Xie Qi and Pei Zhi with a puzzled expression, not understanding what kind of riddle the two were playing.
After the morning court session, the Left Chancellor was invited by His Majesty to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Pei Zhi first asked a couple of perfunctory questions before getting straight to the point.
"Is the youngest son in the Prime Minister's household any better from his injuries?"
The Left Chancellor hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "I'm much better. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
Pei Zhi said politely, "He was hit by my carriage, so it's only right that I show him some concern."
"I have had some tonics prepared; the Prime Minister will take them back later."
The Left Chancellor hurriedly knelt on the ground to express his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty."
The Left Chancellor pondered, could it be that his wife's trick actually worked?
When the Left Chancellor heard the rumors, he returned home and gave his wife a severe scolding.
They believed that the lady's methods were too radical and would anger His Majesty.
His Majesty showed concern for us today and even bestowed gifts upon us. Could it be that this was intentional?
"I wonder what your son's hobbies are?"
"My youngest son is usually unreliable. He is not good at studying, but he is quite proficient in archery, horseback riding, and other unorthodox things."
Pei Zhi chuckled, "The Prime Minister's words are biased."
"Not everyone in the world is suited for studying. I myself have never liked studying since I was a child. Does that mean I am also unreliable?"
The Left Chancellor hurriedly apologized, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I had no such intention."
"Alright, alright, I didn't mean to blame you. You may leave now."
The Left Chancellor left the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a belly full of doubts.
On the way back to his residence, the Left Chancellor pondered the matter, but still couldn't understand the Emperor's intentions for doing this today.
A woman's thoughts are hard to fathom, especially when the other party is His Majesty.
Upon returning to his residence, the Left Chancellor immediately invited his wife over.
"Isn't it obvious? His Majesty values the third prince."
The Left Chancellor was skeptical. "How did you figure that out?"
The Left Chancellor's wife gave a haughty snort, "Otherwise, would His Majesty be so idle as to ask these questions? And bestow gifts upon us?"
"His Majesty has bestowed gifts; it won't be long before all the ministers in the capital know."
"Isn't His Majesty's action implying that she has feelings for the third prince?"
The Left Chancellor was even more puzzled. "If that's the case, why doesn't Your Majesty speak frankly?"
To put it bluntly, once the Left Chancellor returned to his residence, he ordered his men to pack up and send his young son to the palace.
Why make him guess when His Majesty can simply keep him by his side?
The Left Chancellor's wife sighed, "Your Majesty is different from the late Emperor. Although Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, in the end, you are still a woman."
"In this kind of thing, one is definitely a little shy and doesn't want to be too obvious."
The Left Chancellor scratched his head. "Then what should we do?"
The Left Chancellor's wife stood up, took a few steps, and then said, "I've got it."
“My distant relative’s niece married the eldest son of the Zhong family. Isn’t the Empress Dowager a daughter of the Zhong family?”
“I will use the Zhong family’s connections to try and get the Empress Dowager to speak up. Once the Empress Dowager makes the decision, His Majesty will surely not refuse.”
The Left Chancellor asked with some concern, "Will this work?"
"It can be done, it can be done." The Left Chancellor's wife insisted, "None of the men in the Zhong family hold positions in the court. I can use this to my advantage and control them."
"At worst, Xu Nuo and his men can secure official positions for the Zhong family after the matter is settled. It won't be difficult."
The Left Chancellor nodded. "That makes sense."
The Left Chancellor's wife was also overjoyed, "I always thought the third son was not very promising, but who knows, he might become the most promising person in our family."
If she entered the palace, and was lucky enough, she might be able to give birth to His Majesty's third son's child.
If the Left Chancellor were to enter the Grand Secretariat in the future, wouldn't that be another step forward?
Empress Dowager Zhong's sister-in-law from her maternal family brought the Left Chancellor's wife into the palace and told Empress Dowager Zhong about the matter.
Empress Dowager Zhong did not understand the implications and only listened to the rumors.
The rumors are spreading like wildfire, and His Majesty has even bestowed a reward upon him. He must be interested in the youngest son of the Left Chancellor.
Since His Majesty is willing, there is no need for her, as the Empress Dowager, to stop him.
Empress Dowager Zhong agreed and told her sister-in-law from her maternal family to take the Prime Minister's wife back to await news.
After everyone left, Empress Dowager Zhong summoned the servants around her and questioned them carefully.
"If Your Majesty were truly interested in someone, why would you need to go through such a roundabout way?"
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Zhong not only disrupted the carriage procession and summoned the imperial physician, but also personally inquired about the emperor's health and bestowed upon him tonics.
This action was so grand that Empress Dowager Zhong couldn't quite understand what His Majesty meant.
The personal maid said, "Your Majesty, why think so much? You only need to help others achieve their goals."
"Since the Left Chancellor's wife has come to our door to make this request, if His Majesty is hesitant to speak up, wouldn't it be perfect if you helped arrange it?"
Although Empress Dowager Zhong had doubts, she did not dwell on them.
Empress Dowager Zhong instructed the palace servants to prepare a tonic, which she would personally deliver to His Majesty shortly, and to hear his opinion.
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