Chapter 15 The Current Situation of the Court
The emperor also heard what Li Yueyao said, silently picked up the list again and looked at it carefully, and it was exactly as Li Yueyao said.
None of these positions are idle, and they are really a place where people embezzle what they have.
The emperor looked at it for a while and asked in confusion, "This Ministry of Revenue...isn't there anyone from Zhaoqing?"
Gan Qing replied: "It's not that Princess Zhaoqing doesn't want to, but the Ministry of Revenue is in the hands of the Left Prime Minister, and Princess Zhaoqing's people can't get involved."
Li Yueyao was so angry after hearing this that she gasped for breath and finally patted her chest and said:
"The court is in such a state now... Your Majesty, you... Sigh..."
Li Yueyao felt sorry for his misfortune and was angry at his lack of fighting spirit. She sighed deeply, then picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea to calm herself down.
I was really afraid that I would suffocate and die of anger.
Li Yueyao gradually calmed down and handed the detailed account of the Zuozang Office to the emperor:
"Yesterday I discovered that there were problems with the mineral tax reported by the Left Tibetan Administration. Today I looked at the data submitted by the Left Tibetan Administration over the years.
Since this Wan Shuling took office, the mineral tax reported by the Zuozang Office has been decreasing year by year.
Didn't Your Majesty ask me why Zhaoqing was able to come up with so much money to support the disaster relief in Jiangnan?"
"Well, the money all comes from the Zuozang Office."
When the emperor heard this, he thought of his forgiveness and indulgence towards his own sister over the years, and suddenly felt dizzy.
He quickly waved his hand and said, "I won't look at the accounts anymore. Aunt Zhaoqing, please take care of it."
Seeing the emperor covering his head again, Li Yueyao asked, "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell again? Why don't you go back to your bedroom and rest first?"
The emperor waved his hand and said, "No problem, aunt, please continue."
Li Yueyao looked at Gan Qing and said, "Gan Qing, where does Lord Zhaoqing's money come from?"
Gan Qing saw that the emperor looked very unhappy, and after a moment's deliberation he said, "Part of it comes from private commerce, and part comes from the court."
"The court? Where else besides the Zuozang Office?" Li Yueyao asked in a cold voice.
Gan Qinghai's voice was as soft as a mosquito's: "Changping Warehouse..."
"What did you say? Changping Warehouse? Zhaoqing is so bold... She... cough cough cough..."
The emperor suddenly started coughing violently.
Li Yueyao saw this and quickly stepped forward to calm the emperor down, and gave him another small pill:
"Your Majesty, please be patient. It will be detrimental to your recovery."
After taking the pill, the emperor was still panting and his face was flushed.
At this moment, someone came in and reported, "The imperial concubine wants to see you."
The emperor was furious and said angrily, "No."
The imperial concubine heard this roar even outside the door.
Then she shouted at the top of her lungs, crying, "Your Majesty, what have I done wrong? Why won't Your Majesty see me?"
Li Yueyao was dissatisfied after hearing this, but she said gently:
"Sun Fu, go out and tell the Imperial Concubine that His Majesty is unwell and cannot see anyone. Tell her not to think too much.
She is still weak and hasn't fully recovered yet, so she needs to rest more and go back to rest first.
When the situation here improves in a few days, Your Majesty will summon the Imperial Concubine to serve you."
The emperor nodded and said, "As my aunt said, let's persuade the imperial concubine to go back first. Ahem..."
Li Yueyao called Gan Qing and said, "Come, help His Majesty to rest first. We can talk about other things later."
Gan Qing came over and together with Li Yueyao, they supported the emperor on both sides to go to the bedroom to rest.
Li Yueyao gave the emperor acupuncture and tried to persuade him, and after a lot of effort, the emperor gradually calmed down.
Li Yueyao felt inexplicably balanced when she saw the emperor lying on the couch with a depressed look on his face.
I can't be the only one who is angry. Now you also experience the feeling of being mad to death.
Outside Tai Chi Palace.
After Sun Fu relayed Li Yueyao's words to the Imperial Concubine, she repeatedly confirmed, "Did Your Majesty really say that?"
Sun Fu looked at the delicate and beautiful Concubine with tears in her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, this is indeed what His Majesty meant."
The imperial concubine was half-believing and half-doubting, and left the door of Taiji Hall, looking back every few steps.
Li Yueyao ordered Sun Fu to take good care of the emperor, and she took Gan Qing to the west side hall to continue discussing court affairs.
Li Yueyao arranged for people to clear out the west side hall for handling daily government affairs. Cuiwei built a huge conference room according to Li Yueyao's habit.
The other room is used as a study for receiving guests, with a row of chairs and a coffee table under the desk.
The two of them came to the study and sat down. Li Yueyao asked directly, "Tell me about Zhaoqing."
"Your Highness, Jin Mantang, the richest man in the capital, is Princess Zhaoqing's money bag. He manages all the land, shops and businesses in the Princess's mansion.
The eldest princess's top aide is Ji Cheng.
It is said that Ji Cheng was born to Marquis Anyuan's concubine. When he was sixteen years old, his concubine became seriously ill. Ji Cheng went to Marquis Anyuan's mansion and was discovered by his wife.
The marquis' wife brought people to the house and beat the concubine to death, and also broke Ji Cheng's leg.
Ji Cheng was thrown on the side of the road on a snowy night and was rescued by Princess Zhaoqing who passed by and gave him a chance to survive.
Later, this person became Princess Zhaoqing's confidant. All the Princess's plans in the court over the years, including the means of making money, were all his ideas."
After hearing this, Li Yueyao silently memorized the name Ji Cheng.
Gan Qing continued, "Since her husband passed away, the princess has often brought young men back to her house.
The most favored among them was a man named Hua Qingfeng, who was a failed Jinshi. Because of his good looks, he was brought back to the palace by the princess.
This person is quite scheming, always taking advantage of the power of others and using the name of Princess Zhaoqing to plunder and rob people."
"Have you told His Majesty about Zhaoqing's affairs?" Li Yueyao asked.
Gan Qing nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. I will report everything I have investigated to you."
"Did you present it to His Majesty in person, or did you ask Sun Fu to present it?" Li Yueyao asked.
"Some of it was reported to His Majesty in person, but His Majesty has been unwell in the past few months, so much of the news was presented by Grand Eunuch Sun."
"So, Sun Fu is from Zhaoqing?" Li Yueyao asked.
"I'm not sure. I'm responsible for supervising all officials, and I'm not very clear about the affairs of the inner palace." Gan Qing replied.
"Okay, I'll find a way around this palace."
Li Yueyao drank a sip of tea without saying anything. After a while, she said, "Aunt Qin, go get the ruler that the late emperor gave me."
At that time, Li Yueyao lived with the emperor in the Eastern Palace. With the blessing of later knowledge, she was very outstanding in her studies.
Upon seeing this, the late emperor asked her to help teach the Crown Prince, Prince of Qin, Prince of Jin, Zhaoqing and other younger generations, and specially gave them a ruler.
Li Yueyao used this ruler made of black iron to hit the princes and princesses until they screamed.
This was the reason why King Qin, King Jin and others were afraid when they saw Li Yueyao.
When Nanny Qin took the ruler, she knew that Princess Zhaoqing was going to be beaten today.
Princess Zhaoqing and Ye Yuanda, a doctor from the Ministry of Works, came to Taiji Hall together.
How could Zhaoqing take this little doctor seriously? Naturally, he went to the main hall of Taiji Hall to meet the emperor first.
However, Sun Fu told him that His Majesty was not feeling well and was resting, and asked him to go to the west side hall to find Princess Jinyang.
When Zhaoqing heard that he was asked to go see his aunt, his heart skipped a beat.
He put away his condescending attitude, lowered his head and shoulders, and walked slowly towards the west side hall.
As soon as I entered the door, I saw Gan Qing coming out and standing at the door to salute me.
Zhaoqing nodded slightly and walked inside.
I saw Li Yueyao sitting at the top, reading files and drinking tea.
"Meet my aunt."
Princess Zhaoqing bowed.
Li Yueyao didn't say anything, nor did she ask for permission.
Zhaoqing stood up on his own, walked to the side and sat down.
"Did you sit down?"
Li Yueyao spoke coldly.
When Zhaoqing heard this, he was frightened and stood up quickly.
Li Yueyao threw the account book of the Zuozang Office in her hand at Zhaoqing's head.
"You've become quite capable these years, haven't you? You've even dared to form cliques and tamper with the Zuozang Office and the Changping Warehouse. Is there anything you wouldn't dare to do?"
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