"Haha, I'm finally back!"
Yan Maoqing looked at the capital city so close and couldn't help but said excitedly.
Since receiving the emperor's order to dispatch local guardsmen in Nanzhili and carry out a killing spree, Yan Maoqing's progress in collecting salt taxes has been much faster, and no official dared to play tricks with him anymore.
"Sir, the people from Jinyiwei are here!"
At this moment, Yan Maoqing's personal bodyguard came forward and reported respectfully.
"Well, I know."
Yan Maoqing nodded, and immediately led by his personal bodyguards, he met the Jin Yiwei who came to meet him.
The Jin Yiwei who came to meet him had a stern look on his face. After seeing Yan Maoqing, the left deputy censor, his face showed some expression. He cupped his hands to Yan Maoqing and said in a deep voice.
"Meet the adults!"
Yan Maoqing just waved his hand quite casually and said: "No need, we will hand over the money after confirming that the amount of silver is correct!"
"I can let the stone in my heart fall to the ground!"
At this moment, a guard in royal robes stepped forward and reported respectfully: "Sir, we have confirmed that the amount of silver on board is basically the same as what was previously reported. There is no problem!"
When the Jin Yiwei saw this, he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately ordered his subordinates to officially start the handover.
Jin Yiwei's efficiency was very fast. In less than a quarter of an hour, both parties completed the handover work.
Yan Maoqing looked at the dozens of ships sailing in the distance and couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief and said to himself: "It's finally over!"
After saying that, Yan Maoqing took the sedan that had been prepared and headed for the Forbidden City.
Because he completed the task of collecting the salt tax very well, he also got an unprecedented opportunity to report his work to the emperor in person.
On the way to the Forbidden City in the sedan chair, Yan Maoqing was extremely uneasy.
Before this, he had never met the emperor, let alone reported his duties to the emperor in person!
"Yan Maoqing, Yan Maoqing, you must seize this opportunity and show your talents to His Majesty!"
Yan Maoqing warned himself in his heart, perhaps because he was too nervous, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead from time to time.
The closer he got to the Forbidden City, the faster Yan Maoqing's heart beat. He could even hear his own heartbeat clearly.
I don’t know how long time passed, but I heard a voice: "Sir, the Forbidden City is ahead!"
When Yan Maoqing heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately got down from the sedan. Just as he was looking left and right, he saw an eunuch walking up and said respectfully.
"Sir, please come with me!"
"Um."
After Yan Maoqing responded, he followed the eunuch's footsteps and headed towards the east gate of the Forbidden City.
Later, the eunuch took out a voucher from his arms. After showing it to the Forbidden Army for inspection, they were put into the Forbidden City.
Along the way, the eunuch just led the way and had no intention of explaining for Yan Maoqing.
When he took Yan Maoqing to the corner, he turned around and gave instructions.
"Sir, please wait here for a moment. Someone will come to pick you up soon!"
"wait!"
Before Yan Maoqing could finish his words, he saw the eunuch disappearing after turning around.
Yan Maoqing just stood there waiting boredly. After a while, he saw an old eunuch walking towards him.
When Yan Maoqing saw this, he quickly said respectfully: "I have met my father-in-law!"
Unexpectedly, the visitor just glanced at him and said calmly.
"Come with me, I will take you to meet His Majesty!"
After the visitor finished speaking, he just like the previous eunuch, led the way in front of him, without any intention of talking to him.
In this way, both parties walked slowly through the Forbidden City in silence.
When the eunuchs and maids they met on the road saw the old eunuch passing by, they would put down their work and salute him respectfully.
"Eunuch Shi!"
But this Eunuch Shi turned a blind eye to everything around him and just led the way.
After countless turns and long corridors, Yan Maoqing finally arrived at the Yangxin Palace under the leadership of Eunuch Shi.
Immediately, Eunuch Shi turned around and warned.
"You can answer whatever His Majesty asks later. Don't answer randomly, and don't break the rules. Do you understand?"
"In addition, you should pay attention to etiquette..."
Along with Eunuch Shi's story, Yan Maoqing also had a general understanding of the etiquette he would need to use when meeting the emperor later.
After Eunuch Shi finished explaining all the precautions, Yan Maoqing calmly stuffed a thick stack of banknotes into Eunuch Shi's hand, with a look of gratitude on his face.
"Thank you, father-in-law!"
After roughly feeling the thickness of the banknote, Eunuch Shi's attitude improved a lot and he warned.
"Remember, when you see His Majesty later, don't talk too much nonsense."
After Eunuch Shi said these words, he turned and left.
"Thank you, father-in-law, for reminding me!"
After Yan Maoqing finished speaking with tears of gratitude, he turned his attention to the nearby Yangxin Hall.
…
"Your Majesty, Yan Maoqing is waiting outside!"
Lu Fang took a step forward, came to Jiajing, and reminded him.
"Oh, I know, tell him to come in!"
After listening to Lu Fang's reminder, Jiajing nodded and gave instructions calmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang responded, she immediately left the Yangxin Hall and gave her instructions.
After a while, a high-pitched voice was heard: "Yan Maoqing, the deputy censor of Xuanzuo City, has an audience!"
As soon as the voice fell, Yan Maoqing stepped onto the steps of the Yangxin Hall, and not long after, he entered the Yangxin Hall.
The moment Yan Maoqing entered the Yangxin Hall, he immediately felt an invisible pressure that enveloped him layer by layer, making even breathing difficult.
After being stunned for a moment, he finally remembered Eunuch Shi's previous instructions, and immediately knelt down on the ground with a plop, raised the memorial high above his head, and said loudly.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
"Your Majesty, here is the specific account book of the salt tax. Your Majesty, please check it!"
Hearing this, Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang beside him, and the latter quickly understood. He came to Yan Maoqing, took the account book, and then returned to Jiajing's side, saying respectfully.
"His Majesty!"
"Um."
After Jiajing responded, he took the account book from Lu Fang's hand and began to look through it.
I saw this recorded on the first page of the account book, Zhejiang, 1.26 million taels!
After Jiajing flipped through a few pages, he lost interest. He immediately put the account book aside, turned his gaze to Yan Maoqing, who was kneeling on the ground, and spoke words of encouragement.
"Yan Maoqing, you have done a good job. You have made great contributions in collecting the salt tax this time!"
"In one go, we collected more than fifteen million taels of silver from all over the country."
Faced with the emperor's praise, Yan Maoqing was a little embarrassed and immediately said in a deep voice.
"As a minister, it is my blessing to be able to share your Majesty's worries!"
After Jiajing heard this, he immediately looked away from Yan Maoqing and said in a deep voice.
"That's good. If that's the case, then you will be responsible for collecting the salt tax from now on!"
After Yan Maoqing listened to Jiajing's instructions, he suddenly looked embarrassed and hesitated.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, I think..."
However, Yan Maoqing was interrupted by Jiajing before he finished speaking.
"Oh, Yan Maoqing, aren't you willing to share my worries?"
"Or are you just deceiving me about sharing your worries for me?"
Seeing that the emperor said such heart-wrenching words, Yan Maoqing no longer dared to evade, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the job.
"We are willing to share your Majesty's worries!"
When Jiajing saw that Yan Maoqing had surrendered, he couldn't help but feel good and immediately ordered.
"In recent days, salt taxes have been collected everywhere, which is also a big thank you to you."
"Let's do this. I will reward you with five hundred pieces of silk and give you a few more days off. You can go back and have a good rest!"
After hearing this, Yan Maoqing's face was filled with gratitude, and he immediately knelt on the ground and thanked him.
"Thank you for your grace!"
(End of chapter)
