"Your subject greets Your Highness."
"Get up, don't stand on ceremony."
The man opposite him was Pei Xuan.
Pei Xuan has now entered the Phoenix Pavilion and is now a high-ranking official in the Censorate. The current Pei Xuan is different from before, especially in terms of temperament, which is completely different from before. He still speaks in that slow and leisurely tone and with long, drawn-out words.
The two looked at each other in bewilderment.
"The corruption case that Your Highness asked me to investigate has made some progress, but it involves many officials of the third rank and above," Pei Xuan said, looking at Qi Guze. "For many years, no one has dared to deal with this matter, so they have become more and more rampant than before."
This corrupt official was the Minister of Works.
Every year, the Minister of Works would devise various pretexts to get the Emperor to open the national treasury. This year it was to help the poor farmers on both sides of the Huai River who were suffering from floods, and next year it would be drought.
In short, every year there are all sorts of strange and unusual projects.
There are too many things to do in the court, so the current emperor naturally couldn't possibly notice this. As for the others, although some people in the Censorate had already noticed something amiss.
However, they were facing the Minister of Works, who held absolute power, so the seriousness of the matter was self-evident.
Should the investigation continue?
Seeing that Qi Guze didn't speak, Pei Xuan asked in a trembling voice.
His intention was clearly to continue the investigation.
But no one dared to touch the Minister of Works. Just when Pei Xuan thought he would not get a response, Qi Guze turned around and said, "Even the emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people. I will recommend you to the Phoenix Pavilion and let you become an Inspector General. That is, to investigate these guys. Continue to investigate."
"But he is a third-rank official."
"Even a first-rank official, a prime minister, will lose his head if something goes wrong. Go, go all out, I will always be behind you."
Pei Xuan immediately knelt down, nodded solemnly, and then left.
Only then did Tie Xiong approach, saying, "This Pei Xuan is an upright and incorruptible person."
“That gives you an idea,” Qi Guze nodded. “That’s the main reason why I wanted to send him to the Censorate. Our court is just missing someone like that.”
"Your subordinate understands what you mean."
Knowing that Qi Guze wanted to ask about Xu Yuehuai's situation.
Tie Xiong said, "Miss Xu and her group have arrived in the capital. They arrived the day before yesterday at dusk and are currently resting at the inn. They should be coming to find us here soon."
"I understand. Be careful and lend a helping hand if you encounter any difficulties."
Qi Guze has been very busy lately and hasn't had time to see Xu Yuehuai at all.
Strangely enough, this girl seemed to have occupied the most important place in his mind. He tried to stop himself from having wild thoughts, but Xu Yuehuai's image was still vivid in his mind.
The more I force myself not to think about her, the more I miss her.
As the saying goes, the onlooker sees most of the game, and Tie Xiong naturally saw through Qi Gu Ze's meaning. Goodness, everyone says that His Highness is not interested in women, but now it seems that His Highness does like girls.
"What are you daydreaming about?" At this moment, Qi Guze had already walked to the side of the carriage and gestured for Tie Xiong to be the coachman.
"Yes, yes."
The other side quickly mounted their horses.
"Where are you going, Your Highness?"
"The Prince of Anping's Residence".
With a swift whip, the carriage arrived at the gate of Prince Anping's residence in about fifteen minutes. Upon seeing that Qi Guze had arrived, the servants hurriedly went to report.
Inside the room, Prince Anping rose and sighed, "Never mind, I'll go see him."
Hearing that the young princess was ill, Qi Guze didn't want the prince to come out, so he went to the inner room.
Inside her boudoir, Princess Anning was on her deathbed and in very poor condition, but the moment she saw Qi Guze arrive, she perked up and seemed to have improved considerably.
Years ago, Qi Guze was ordered to go to western Sichuan to convey the emperor's orders. He stayed in western Sichuan for three months, and his residence was the Prince's Mansion. At that time, the young princess secretly fell in love with him.
Although she still called him "Uncle Wang" outwardly, she actually developed extraordinary feelings for him.
"Uncle Wang."
"Is it not ready yet?"
"Almost there, cough cough cough," An Ning suddenly coughed, her face turning as red as a peach blossom with each cough, her cheeks completely flushed. Seeing An Ning's asthma, Qi Guze immediately turned around and glanced at the few people huddled not far away, "What exactly is wrong with the little princess?"
The man who had just been reprimanded by the Prince of Anping hurriedly stepped forward.
"It's due to both the change in environment and malnutrition."
"Understood." Qi Guze nodded, almost scolding, "You all must serve her well. When you're serving her here, she's your mistress. Remember that."
The imperial physicians nodded hastily.
He thought to himself, "This person isn't my master at all; they're clearly my ancestors for eighteen generations."
This Prince Anping is the most unreasonable person, and he has many ways to torment people. Most importantly, this doting father who loves his daughter so much completely ignores all other factors and only wants to torment people.
Seeing An Ning preparing to get up, Qi Guze leaned closer and asked, "What's wrong?"
I want to eat something.
"That's good."
Prince Anping was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered people to prepare. The delicacies were ready, and every dish was truly a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. However, the little princess could not eat a single bite.
At this moment, the Prince of Anping became anxious.
"You should at least eat a bite."
"It's not as good as the food from my hometown; my daughter has no appetite at all."
In fact, Prince Anping had already urgently sent people to western Sichuan to find a cook, but the journey was too long, and it would take a while to bring someone over. It seemed that the little princess's illness could not be delayed any longer.
Seeing that the young princess hadn't eaten and wasn't in good condition, Prince Anping felt extremely conflicted.
In the silence, the two emerged from inside.
"Your daughter has a rare and difficult-to-treat illness."
"Before you came, she couldn't even get up. But knowing you were here, she seemed to improve quite a bit." Prince Anping sighed deeply. "She was my only child, the apple of my eye. Now that she's like this, my heart aches..."
This iron-willed man, who risked his life on the battlefield, never admitted defeat.
But now? This commotion has arisen because of their daughter. To be honest, Qi Guze is also a little upset. Before the two of them even left the Prince's mansion, several guards from the Imperial Kitchen had already brought them food.
The one leading the group was Fu Sheng, the imperial eunuch.
"His Majesty's intention," Fu Sheng said hurriedly, barely having time to bow to the two princes, "is for this old servant to take Wei Yixiao, the head of the Imperial Kitchen, to search for a chef in the city. Now there is someone who makes excellent Sichuan cuisine. The dishes have already been delivered, and this old servant will send them to the young princess right away."
Seeing the old eunuch's confidence, Prince Anping nodded with delight.
“He’s been talking about you ever since we arrived in the capital.” In fact, Prince Anping was well aware of his daughter’s feelings. Seeing Qi Guze’s silence, he added, “With you here, perhaps her appetite will be much better. It’s like a lifesaver.”
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