Sure enough, it was that tyrannical emperor who sent Sima Lie here.
wrong!
Jia Renyi glared at Sima Lie through gritted teeth and said angrily, "Prime Minister, isn't this unnecessary? What kind of imperial edict do you want to issue? That tyrant will still be at your mercy."
The implication is that this imperial edict was not issued according to Sima Lie's wishes.
And yet, they still use such a high-sounding excuse.
Absolutely shameless!
Sima Lie stared at Jia Renyi and said in a chilling tone, "Lord Jia, you can eat whatever you want, but there are some things you can't say carelessly outside. Be careful what you say!"
Jia Renyi's heart pounded, his face turned ashen, and his body was ice-cold.
"Prime Minister, is there any room for negotiation? Just for the sake of all the things I've done for you..."
He was still pleading desperately, but if he lost control of the salt tax, the Jia family would be completely ruined!
Sima Lie's expression suddenly turned cold. He interrupted Jia Renyi and said in a cold voice, "I am only acting under orders. Lord Jia, if you dare to disobey the imperial decree, then I will eliminate you, this treacherous official, for the sake of the Emperor and for the Great Xia!"
Looking into Sima Lie's eyes, which were filled with murderous intent, Jia Renyi seemed to lose all his strength. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and said fiercely and unwillingly, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty accepts the decree. Men, bring me the private accounts of the salt administration!"
Jia Renyi knew he had no other choice.
This salt tax is probably doomed!
He knew Sima Lie's ruthless methods better than anyone else!
If he doesn't hand it over today, the entire Jia family might be wiped out on charges of disobeying an imperial decree.
What good is the wealth from salt taxes, no matter how abundant?
What's the point of money if you're already dead?
Before long, a stack of accounts was brought over and placed on the table.
Jia Renyi stared at the private ledgers with a heavy heart, muttering, "These were earned by our ancestors who risked their lives on the battlefield to fight for the Jia family! How can we so easily hand them over to others?"
After saying that, he looked ten years older, standing there dejected and powerless, as if he had lost his mind in an instant.
Sima Lie smiled and said, "Lord Jia is indeed loyal. I knew you would not disobey the imperial decree. Come, take the account books away!"
"yes!"
As footsteps sounded, dozens of soldiers walked toward the pile of account books.
"Prime Minister!"
Jia Renyi suddenly woke up with a start, his face pale, and grabbed Sima Lie's collar.
Sima Lie frowned instantly, narrowed his eyes, and asked, "What is the reason for this, Lord Jia?"
"Prime Minister, please leave some for my Jia family."
Jia Renyi looked at Sima Lie with bitterness. He knew that the Jia family might really be doomed.
However, the Jia family's legacy cannot be ruined in his hands.
Jia Renyi clenched his fist unwillingly and pleaded, "As long as the Prime Minister is willing to leave some for my Jia family, I will do anything you ask."
Sima Lie laughed as soon as he said that.
"Is Lord Jia planning to drag me into defying the imperial decree?"
"Prime Minister..."
Jia Renyi quickly shook his head.
"No, Prime Minister..."
Jia Renyi was about to explain when he heard Sima Lie shout sharply:
"Guards, push Jia Renyi away!"
"yes!"
Without hesitation, the two soldiers pounced on Jia Renyi, and in the blink of an eye, Sima Lie had taken away all three large boxes of salt tax ledgers.
All that was left for Jia Renyi was a scene of utter devastation.
Jia Renyi slumped to the ground, his expression one of misery.
"Heaven is going to destroy my Jia family! Sima Lie! In vain I served you faithfully all those years ago..."
With a roar!
Suddenly, Jia Renyi felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood!
Then his head lolled to the side, and he fainted.
"Master? Master, are you alright?"
"Quickly, someone help the master up!"
"Quickly, fetch a doctor!"
In the blink of an eye, the Jia family mansion was in complete chaos.
When Jia Renyi slowly woke up, he found himself lying on the bed.
Moreover, several people were gathered around the room, all looking at him anxiously and with great concern.
Jia Renyi looked at everyone tremblingly and asked, "Private accounts, where are the private accounts?"
He thought he was having a nightmare, which is why he opened his eyes.
However, everyone else in the room lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
Jia Renyi was stunned, and his heart sank to the bottom.
He pointed a trembling finger at a spot and said hoarsely, "Where are those ledgers?"
"They were all taken away by Prime Minister Sima!"
Jia Renyi was startled, then closed his eyes in anguish.
"Sima Lie, my Jia family will never share the same sky with you!"
Jia Renyi sighed sadly, his hand gripping the bed sheet tightly into a fist!
He made a solemn vow in his heart that one day he would make Sima Lie pay the price!
...
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Xuejian came to find Qin Yu, but saw Anfu directing the palace servants to pack things up with large and small bags.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! What are you doing?"
Xuejian asked curiously.
Qin Yu turned around and said with a smile, "Of course, we're preparing to set off for the Lishan hunting expedition."
The open and covert battles in the court today have made Sima Lie's viciousness towards Zhang Tang crystal clear. For this disaster relief effort, he must send a highly capable elite force to protect Zhang Tang!
The Lishan training base must be put to use ahead of schedule!
At this moment, Anfu also quickly came over and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, we have almost finished tidying up as Your Majesty instructed."
But soon, he thought of something else, leaned closer, and whispered, "However, Your Majesty, Sima Lie's surveillance is all-pervasive. He has even sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ostensibly to protect Your Majesty, but in reality, he wants to monitor you."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu smiled faintly, as if he had expected it all along, and said with a disdainful sneer, "Given Sima Lie's treacherous nature, it would be strange if he didn't send someone to monitor me."
Qin Yu then asked, "Who did Sima Lie send this time?"
Anfu replied, "It's Zhu Fei. He has led a hundred Imperial Guards and has been waiting for a long time."
Qin Yu raised an eyebrow and chuckled inwardly, "Sending him to spy on me?"
Zhu Fei is his man, what kind of surveillance is this?
Qin Yu was now completely relieved, so he waved his hand and said, "Go and take Yuzhu with you. I'm about to set off. Since we're going to Lishan for fun, how can we do without women!"
As he spoke, he chuckled mischievously. Since he was going to be monitored by Sima Lie anyway, he would rather be monitored by a beauty, at least he could enjoy it!
Thinking this, he embraced Yuzhu, who had rushed over, and boarded the dragon carriage with great interest.
"Your Majesty is departing!"
Anfu shouted at the top of his lungs.
Immediately afterwards, Qin Yu rode in the dragon carriage and left the palace, heading towards Mount Li in a grand procession.
The journey was grand and impressive, with beautiful scenery and excellent air quality.
Qin Yu sat on the dragon carriage, stretching his body comfortably, enjoying the warm spring sun and the gentle breeze.
"This feeling is definitely more comfortable!"
Qin Yu chuckled softly.
Although he was an emperor, in that deep palace, he was like a canary that was always firmly controlled.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived."
Anfu stopped the dragon carriage and reminded him in a low voice.
Qin Yu lifted the curtain and saw that he had already arrived at the foot of Mount Li.
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