Beijing.
In a private room of the Erli Street Teahouse.
A young man with a fair face was sitting at the table. Although he was wearing a very ordinary moon-white gown, there was an air of nobility that could not be hidden all over his body.
Most people can't see his true identity, and they will think at first glance that he comes from a wealthy family.
"Your Majesty, arrangements have been made in the teahouse, and the storyteller will appear soon." Wang Yun stood aside, folding his sleeves.
"Did you give me enough money? You didn't force me, right?" Qi Xingyun asked after taking a sip of tea.
"Your Majesty, this old slave always dares to force others. He only came after giving him enough money." Wang Yun responded in a low voice.
"Okay, I'll wait..." Qi Xingyun patted the back of Wang Yun's hand with the folding fan in his hand and said, "Remember, don't call your Majesty outside, call him Master Yun."
"Yes, Master Yun." Wang Yun stood still obediently and said no more.
Qi Xingyun took a few sips of tea and heard the storyteller's voice coming from outside, as well as applause from all around.
"Chang! Bang!"
As soon as the gavel sounded, the storyteller opened his mouth with a loud voice.
"The court is melancholy when the law is down, the strong beams sing for joy every night, the horses and mules are used to benefit oneself at the expense of others, the upright public servants go hungry.
Building bridges and repairing roads is blind, and there are many murders and arson. I went to the West and asked my Buddha, and the Buddha said... I can't do anything either! "
"This talk is about the old story of the Wang family in Dingyuan County. It is said that the Wang family has an extraordinary origin. The ancestor was a member of the previous dynasty. He served as a county magistrate and saved a large fortune..."
"... Mr. Wang's family has a huge fortune. He collaborated with thieves and loaned usury money at 40% profit. Many people were ruined and were forced to become tenant farmers of his family. The Xi'er family borrowed his money and encountered natural disasters. This money If you can't pay it off, you have to use your innocent daughter to pay off the debt..."
Qi Xingyun's face was gloomy as he listened to the storyteller's words.
Standing aside, Eunuch Wang Yun did not dare to express his anger. He knew that the emperor was angry at this moment and he could not bear the emperor's anger.
"Is this a storyteller adapted from Zhuang Yulou's new play The White-Haired Girl?" Qi Xingyun said in a low and hoarse voice.
"Master Yun, this is a little different from the white-haired girl written by Shen Biyu and everyone." Wang Yun whispered.
"Different? How is it different? You have watched the play performed by people from Xiangyu Tower. Please tell me about it." Qi Xingyun wrote lightly.
"The background is a little different. The white-haired girl was talking about the previous dynasty, but this storyteller was talking about the current dynasty, or a case that happened a while ago." Wang Yun said.
"This storyteller is very brave and dares to talk about the affairs of this dynasty..." Qi Xingyun sneered.
"Do you want to send someone to arrest him?" Wang Yun said immediately.
"What are you arresting? More people need to know about such scandals. What's the use of hiding it?"
Qi Xingyun snorted coldly and said: "It's the squires from Jiangnan again. Those families who have accumulated good deeds are just like this."
Qi Xingyun's eyes were filled with murderous intent, which frightened Eunuch Wang Yun beside him so much that he trembled and did not dare to speak.
No wonder Qi Xingyun was angry. At this time, there was a flood and locust plague in the south of the Yangtze River. He asked the wealthy and wealthy families in the south of the Yangtze River to donate money. As a result, they all cried poor. The largest family, the Jiang family, only donated five hundred taels, which was a slap in his face. .
A reliable person sent by the Hidden Guard to Jiangnan sent back a secret letter. The land annexation in the entire Jiangnan has become extremely serious. After the floods and locust plagues, a large number of people were destroyed and their families were destroyed. It was terrible to watch.
However, the local government office wrote in a letter to the court that Jiangnan was full of flowers and the situation was very good. The literati in Dongling Academy were drinking and having fun, and painted a picturesque scene of Jiangnan.
Naturally, he didn't believe those people.
This was a chronic illness that Da Qi had accumulated for many years, how could he not know about it.
I hate those who whitewash the peace and deceive others. They deserve to die.
"Wang Yun, is there any new news from Thousand Machine City?" Qi Xingyun calmed down his anger and his tone became calmer.
"Last time Zhazi, General Luo reported that he had helped Princess Qiqige restore the Iron Tooth Golden Tent and recapture the Iron Tooth City. Recently, Miss Zi Yan will leave for the capital." Wang Yun said cautiously.
He has also been having a hard time recently. During this period, the emperor's temper has become worse and worse. In the court, the group of civil servants are still making trouble, which is really worrying.
"Come back, I'm looking forward to their early return. Zi Yan's return will be enough. This time I am determined to renovate Jiangnan." Qi Xingyun sneered.
During this period of time, he was thinking about how to rectify the affairs in Jiangnan.
In the land of Jiangnan, half of the world's taxes come from this, and it affects the whole body. That's why he hesitated, worried that some changes in the situation would cause big trouble in Jiangnan.
However, now that normal taxes cannot be paid, Daqi will be in trouble if he doesn't find a way to deal with it.
According to the news from the hidden guards, most of the aristocratic families in Jiangnan have some connection with the rebels.
If Da Qi falls, they can still enjoy the good food and drink. At worst, if the dynasty changes, their family status will not change.
But the Qi family has no retreat. The royal Qi family truly lives and dies with Da Qi. If Da Qi falls, even if the Qi family is not wiped out, few of them will survive.
"Wang Yun, let's go back to the palace." After listening to this story, Qi Xingyun stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked outside.
Wang Yun breathed a sigh of relief, the master was finally going back.
Staying outside, he felt too stressed. In order to protect his master's safety, he had sent many good men to lurk around.
But don’t be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the eventuality.
If there was an assassination, it would be his fault that every hair on his precious body would fall off.
It's better to go back to the palace. You're all your own in the palace and it's much safer.
Qi Xingyun stepped out of the teahouse. He stared at the sky all night. It was already dusk, and a red light appeared in the sky, making the clouds red.
A gust of cool wind blew by, and Qi Xingyun's nose felt itchy and he wanted to sneeze.
But the next moment, he looked up and saw a familiar person. He suppressed the sneeze and did not sneeze.
"Shen Biyu, everyone, what is she doing in Erli Street?"
Qi Xingyun saw Shen Biyu and two maids walking leisurely on the street.
Erli Street is a street near the palace. It is relatively prosperous, but it is some way away from Zhuang Yulou where Shen Biyu is located. Logically speaking, she should not come here at this time.
"Wang Yun, send someone to inquire and find out what Shen Biyu is doing here." Qi Xingyun ordered.
"Okay, Master, please wait a moment." Wang Yun stretched out his hand and summoned a guard. After whispering, he let him go.
Qi Xingyun naturally knew that the area was full of hidden guards, which was inevitable. He also attached great importance to his own safety. He would not take risks easily unless he had a perfect plan.
