This time, Kaiyang remained silent. Although he was young, he could still judge that what Minister Cao said at this moment was normal and reasonable.
Hong Xiaoduo also knew that, from the perspective of the emperor and his ministers present in Fengliang Kingdom, her actions just now had crossed the line.
Actually, she didn't want to cause trouble, nor did she want to do anything that was thankless.
I'm not even from this dynasty, and I might leave at any time. Who cares if they get harmed by opium!
However, Tian Shu and his seven children are people of this dynasty. They will grow up here, start families, and build careers.
Hong Xiaoduo didn't want them, or their descendants, to be poisoned by that kind of thing.
She could tell them individually not to touch that thing, but even if they listened and didn't touch it, and the descendants followed their elders' teachings and didn't touch it, others might touch it, and when things got out of control, the unimaginable consequences and environment could also affect Tian Shu and the others.
As someone who grew up in modern times, Hong Xiaoduo keeps in mind the lessons of history: the Opium Wars of the Qing Dynasty, and the anti-drug police officers who fought on the front lines of the fight against drugs in peacetime, shedding blood, tears, and even sacrificing their precious lives for the peace and tranquility of the nation.
Now that I've come across this bad sign, while the harm is still small, I should do my best to help them completely eliminate it. That should be a meaningful thing!
In particular, seeing Xiao Kaiyang defend her just now made Hong Xiaoduo even more determined to get involved in this matter.
This is not her trying to be a hero or anything like that.
Thinking of this, Hong Xiaoduo stepped out from behind the table and faced the emperor.
The emperor immediately sat up straight, thinking to himself, "Here she comes again."
Hong Xiaoduo clasped her hands and said, "Your Majesty, I know what I am saying and doing. I believe that the opium issue should be suspended and reconsidered."
Your Majesty, do you believe in me?
Upon hearing her last sentence, the emperor thought to himself, "I knew it."
A sense of pride actually welled up inside me!
"Hmm, I see you don't seem like someone who acts recklessly or frivolously regardless of the occasion. I grant your permission, but you'll have to explain your reasoning to the delegation." The Emperor readily agreed.
Since the emperor had spoken, Minister Cao and the others couldn't say anything more.
Then they heard Hong Xiaoduo chattering away in a foreign language at the delegation. Although the delegation members looked displeased, they still got up, bowed to the emperor, and left.
"Lord Cao, could you please help me find out the identity of the person in the delegation who is wearing our clothes?" Hong Xiaoduo said to Minister Cao as she remembered.
Upon hearing this, Minister Cao wanted to ask her why she wanted to know the man's identity, but the thought of the conversation stopping halfway through made him feel a bit choked up.
When the interpreter who came to the rescue was useful, he was indeed more useful than Shi Rong from the Ministry of Rites. But when he was inconvenient, he could be a real pain.
The opium mission said they could double the amount, so let's double the price. We can negotiate and it will eventually come down a bit. A larger quantity is always better than a smaller quantity in previous years!
Even though it's expensive, as long as it's in stock, I'll always find a way to get it if I really need it.
No matter how cheap the price is, it's useless if you have the money but can't buy it.
"Now, can you tell me what happened?" The emperor spoke after the delegation had disappeared outside the palace gates.
Hong Xiaoduo organized her thoughts for a moment before speaking, "Your Majesty, it's like this: if this opium is the kind I know, then it's best not to keep it."
As far as the woman knows, opium does have medicinal value in relieving pain and stopping diarrhea. In fact, it also has the effect of suppressing cough.
However, this substance is also addictive, causing lethargy and physical weakness. Even if someone wants to quit after a long period of use, it is very difficult. Your Majesty, just think about it: if farmers are too weak to farm, and soldiers defending the city become addicted to this substance, even an ordinary woman could knock them down. If foreign enemies invade, how can we expect them to defend the city?
I know you all think I'm exaggerating, but didn't Lord Wen just say that some people call opium "forget-sorrow" because they use it to forget their pain?
What I mean is that Your Majesty should order someone to inquire at the pharmacy if anyone is buying opium frequently. If so, check who is using it, and what their condition is—their mental and physical state.
"Investigate as many people as possible. If they are opium addicts, they are no different from ordinary people. Then it's just that I've been meddling, and I will apologize to the delegation later."
The emperor didn't really think Hong Xiaoduo was causing trouble. In fact, opium was always the main character in the annual trade negotiations with the opium kingdom delegation, and the other party raised the price every year.
Now, after hearing Hong Xiaoduo's words, his curiosity was piqued. Was that thing a good medicine, or was it a hidden danger to the country, as Hong Xiaoduo had said?
Therefore, the emperor issued an order to investigate.
“Young Lady Hong, some people are born weak, and some are weak and listless because they have just recovered from a serious illness. This does not prove that they used opium, does it?” Someone from the Ministry of Revenue stood up and spoke, his tone not very good.
Everyone else looked at Hong Xiaoduo and agreed with what she said.
“This gentleman’s doubts are not without merit. Let me explain in more detail. I would appreciate it if one of you could write this down so that when the people who went out to investigate return, they can compare the results and see if they are roughly the same.” Hong Xiaoduo was not annoyed.
On the desks of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, there were already people recording the contents of the discussions with the delegation, so the task of recording this matter was handed over to that person.
"First of all, people addicted to opium and who take it for a long time will experience physical characteristics such as rapid weight loss. Men will often become extremely thin, while women may exhibit seductive behavior."
Their appetite, energy, and physical strength will decrease, their skin will deteriorate, their complexion will turn yellow, and their eyes will become dull!
Secondly, there is their mental state. They are usually listless, have large mood swings, are easily irritated, and have irregular sleep patterns. They may not sleep for several days in a row and then fall into a coma for several days.
In addition, it can lead to personality problems, such as emotional detachment, cruelty, and impulsive behavior.
"Well, that's all I know. Sir, is this information enough?" Hong Xiaoduo asked the person who had questioned her earlier.
"That's quite detailed, but who knows if it's just empty talk?" the man said in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, Kaiyang was about to explode again, but after glancing at Chaohong Xiaoduo and seeing no anger on her face, Kaiyang rolled her eyes at the person and decided to hold back for now. She'd wait and see them get their comeuppance later.
Going out to investigate won't yield results so quickly.
So the emperor said, "Let's rest for a while."
Hong Xiaoduo then led Kaiyang outside the palace, intending to take a stroll around the neighborhood.
As soon as the two of them left, the emperor went to the imperial study. The officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites stayed in the hall, drinking tea and talking. Their conversation ranged from the opium they had just discussed to the emperor's attitude towards Hong Xiaoduo, then to the matter of Dong Xiang's youngest son, the Wei family's grandson, and the affairs of Minister Gu's residence.
In short, it was discovered that every matter seemed significant, yet they were all related to her, and she was the most crucial person involved!
"Perhaps she really knew the dangers of opium?" someone from the Ministry of Rites said.
"In the end, there will be a result today..."
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