After the morning court session ended, Zhao Xiaofei was left behind. Also staying were the Prime Minister Wei Zaode, Minister of War Zhang Jinyan, Minister of Revenue Ni Yuanlu, Left Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua, and Minister of Works Wang Duo.
However, these people asked them to wait outside the Yangxin Palace, and Zhao Xiaofei and Chongzhen talked alone inside the palace. Chongzhen asked: "Why do you want to let the prince go to Nanjing?"
"I am devoted to the country! Your Majesty, please understand!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"If you hadn't made contributions in the past two years and volunteered to donate, I could have punished you and thrown you into prison! What southern tour? It's just a fig leaf for me to escape! I have no way out, you know? This thief still hopes that I can make him the King of the Northwest! What a joke!" Chongzhen looked disdainful.
Zhao Xiaofei thought to himself: Why not just run? Are you crazy? How about giving the north to Li Zicheng, letting him resist the Jianlu and take care of the refugees? Just throw all the baggage to him, and we can go live a good life in Jiangnan. Then, we can accumulate strength and slowly fight our way back, right? Didn't your ancestor, Zhu Yuanzhang, conquer from the south to the north?
"Let me ask you, how much silver do you have left?" Chongzhen asked.
"I really have nothing left! I am not like the ministers outside who have plenty of money but still pretend to be incorruptible. I will do my best! One hundred thousand taels is one hundred thousand taels, and there is at most ten thousand taels of silver left. The princess and I cannot be without money to spend! Does Your Majesty want the princess and I to starve?" said Zhao Xiaofei.
He thought to himself, Chongzhen, you are bullying an honest man! I donated the most silver, and in the end you still have to borrow money from me! Your father-in-law is richer than me, so he sent soldiers to raid their house. I guarantee there will be a lot of silver!
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