Chapter 460 So where is the treasure?
"A new year has begun. Last year, I almost broke my bankrupt before I managed to plug the financial hole. But what should I do this year?
The people under Wan Jie'er have indeed come up with a lot of new and interesting things, but after all, the scale is small and the money earned is limited, and there is no way they can stop people from all over the country from asking for money.
Whether it's the civil service or the military, everything is a huge expense. As for the common people, don't even count on a tax increase; they're even poorer than I am.
Besides, my father never collected heavy taxes when he was alive, so it doesn't make sense for me to exploit the common people, right?
If I really dare to do this, regardless of whether others will scold me or not, my father might crawl out of his ancestral grave one night and take me away!
Well, so my husband and I have thought about it carefully. If we want to completely revitalize the people's livelihood in Dayu, we still have to find a way to open a trade market and earn money from other countries.
But why don’t you put in the initial investment first? And it will take some time, and I can’t wait any longer.
As you know, the Ministry of Works has yet to secure the funds for river repairs, and the Ministry of War is pressing for military pay. The Ministry of Rites is considering opening private schools, supposedly to help Dayu train more talented individuals.
As soon as I heard Lao Liu say that boys and girls should go to school together, I knew that this must be another idea suggested by my wife. Do you think I dare not agree?
Alas, Sister Wan is keeping track of every single account. There is a clear story behind where the money comes from and where it is spent. It is very difficult to get a single cent from any of them.
So sir, I’m really anxious!!!”
The emperor was a very honest man, and all he said was from the bottom of his heart. The other three remained silent, because they knew that what he said was the truth and there was no way to refute it.
The empire was already in tatters, patched up for years under the late emperor. The entire court had barely recovered from the shock, so how could the people support the emperor?
Qin Xiang stroked his beard worriedly, trying hard to recall his old memories and figure out the key.
Besides him, who came from a top family, the other three couldn't help at all. And they couldn't just tell the whole court about this secret. If they did, would it still be a secret?
Not everyone is like Chu Hong and Liu Maosheng, born into aristocratic families who seek neither wealth nor money, but rather to assist a wise ruler in the hope of earning eternal renown. However, there are countless others who seek wealth! Alas.
The queen also started to ponder over it.
"Sir, do you think there is a place called Weiyang?"
Qin Xiang pondered and slowly shook his head.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
He has had an excellent memory since he was a child. He may not be able to memorize everything he read, but as a member of a noble family who has survived all the way from Daqi, he will definitely remember the name of the capital city.
"What could possibly be going on? Oh, God, I've never been able to solve riddles. If only my sister were still alive, she'd have a good brain. Oh!"
Weiwu Hou scratched his head anxiously, and then muttered to himself.
"If you ask me, these descendants of the old Gu family are really unfilial. Changle Mansion is so nice, why change it to Dongling?
What if there's another small town or village called Weiyang, and they change it? What if you, Old Qin, don't know about it? "
The emperor was also pinching his fingers uncomfortably.
"If all else fails, I'll take people to dig through Dongling Mansion piece by piece. I don't believe that! No matter how big Dongling Mansion is, can it be bigger than this hole I've dug? As long as the treasure is indeed in Dongling Mansion, I'm sure I can dig it out..."
"Dongling Mansion!"
Qin Zhenning's eyes suddenly lit up.
"I remember now. The reason Changle Prefecture was renamed Dongling Prefecture was because of Imperial Noble Consort Yimin! I heard that the Imperial Noble Consort's name seemed to have the word 'Dong' in it, and Changle Prefecture was her hometown.
The Imperial Noble Consort died young, and in her last will, she wanted to be buried in Changle Mansion. However, Emperor Qing only ordered a cenotaph to be built there, and enfeoffed the Imperial Noble Consort's own son to be buried there.
This explains why Emperor Qing transported his wealth to Dongling Mansion. He had prepared it for the son born to him by Imperial Noble Consort Yimin. It was a pity that the Prince of Dongling died too early, so it was never put to use!
Although the Prime Minister's words made sense, except for the Queen who had flipped through the history books of the previous dynasty and could understand a little, the other two just stood there with their eyes open, completely confused as if they were listening to a foreign language.
"So? Where is the treasure?"
"That's right, Old Qin, don't keep me in suspense. Who did you learn this from? You've been keeping me on the hook. Just tell me straight, where should we start digging?"
The uncle and nephew were both impatient, unwilling to burden their already limited brains with anything. Only the clever and thoughtful Queen exchanged a thoughtful glance with the Prime Minister.
"Sir, do you mean that the treasure should be in the cenotaph of Imperial Noble Consort Yimin?"
"I'm not sure, but I can give it a try."
Qin Zhenning sighed.
"Alas, after all, that Imperial Noble Consort was a favorite of Emperor Qing, as is acknowledged in history books. If the original Empress's family hadn't been so powerful, the one who ascended the throne would definitely have been a son of the He family."
"He's daughter?"
The queen narrowed her eyes and subconsciously looked at the jade pendant.
"That's not right. Aren't they called the Kuaiji He Clan? And how could the Imperial Noble Consort's hometown be in Changle Prefecture?"
"You're mistaking it. There are so many people with the same surname in the world. It's normal for people with the same surname to have different clans."
Qin Zhenning helps his children with their homework anytime and anywhere.
"For example, my branch is the Longxi Qin family. Is there no one with the surname Qin in other places?
For example, the Minister of Personnel belonged to a branch of the Zhao family in Tianshui, and the original Cheng'en Mansion belonged to a branch of the Zhao family in Zhuo County.
In the case of different lines from the same branch, as long as they were not connected, even the nine clans could not be punished. And once the ancestral tree was continued, it would be impossible to write down two surnames of the same clan member, as in the case of Liu Maosheng and Liu Chunting.
That's why every time the Minister of Rites got in trouble, he would get so anxious that he would have to stand up and vouch for him even if he was so angry that he wanted to curse. That's the kind of relationship where everyone prospers and everyone suffers.
Do you understand?
"I see."
The queen nodded.
"So that Imperial Noble Consort actually has no relationship with Prince Shun's maternal family, the Kuaiji He clan, correct?"
"No."
The Prime Minister of Qin stroked his beard and smiled.
"Your Majesty, what you said is exactly the opposite. That Imperial Noble Consort Yimin is indeed from the He clan of Kuaiji!
It's just that she had been wandering around since she was young, and by coincidence was picked up by a small family of the He clan, so she grew up in Changle Prefecture.
We outsiders don't know the specific circumstances of the situation. However, the He family of Kuaiji has publicly announced that they are the maternal family of Imperial Noble Consort Yimin.
If you want to know more details, you might as well ask Prince Shun. "
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