Qianlong came to the bow of the ship and showed off his ceremonial guard. The flags were fluttering and the gongs and drums sounded, which was quite grand.
When people on both sides of the canal and on the boat saw it, they knelt down and shouted long live the mountain.
"Everyone, fellow villagers, offer sacrifices to the Dragon King and pray for sweet rain. I will also do my best!" Qianlong said loudly.
After hearing what he said, the people shouted Long Live even louder.
When Qianlong saw this, he couldn't help but feel very good.
After a while, the sacrifice was completed.
The people kowtowed repeatedly, which made Qianlong very happy. But the wood was still in the river, blocking the river channel and making it impossible for the ship to move forward.
"Ji Xiaolan, what should we do?" Qianlong looked at Xiang Nan and said.
"Your Majesty, I can't do anything. You can only issue an order to let the people remove the yellow beams, so that we can pass." Xiang Nan waved his hand and said.
Qianlong nodded, "Then issue an order to remove the yellow beams!"
"Yes!" Xiang Nan immediately stepped onto the bow of the ship and shouted loudly, "The emperor has an order to remove the yellow beams!"
"Your Majesty has graciously exempted us from the imperial rations. We have a way to survive! Long live, long live, long live my emperor!" As soon as Xiang Nan finished speaking, the people on both sides of the canal and on the boats all knelt down and kowtowed.
"Ah, what?!" Qianlong was surprised.
He just wanted to remove the wood, but he didn't ask for exemption from paying the imperial rations.
Jiangnan was an important source of grain and taxes for the imperial court. Since ancient times, it has been said that if Huguang is cooked well, the world is sufficient. If Jiaxing's imperial rations were waived, then he would not only make less money.
"Your Majesty, the villagers are ignorant and hear the yellow in 'yellow paper' as 'emperor'; the beam in 'liangmu' as 'grain' in grain." Xiang Nan quickly explained, "So They thought the emperor had withdrawn this year’s royal rations.”
"Then what should we do?" Qianlong said speechlessly.
"Your Majesty, it's actually fine. You have always been a good Emperor who cares about your subjects and benefits the people. Now Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Jiaxing are suffering from drought, and there is no harvest. Your Majesty, you are determined to exempt the imperial rations.
Just let it be known that it is wrong and announce it here, so as to save those local officials from misinterpreting the holy will and harming the people again. Xiang Nan smiled.
Qianlong thought for a moment and nodded.
"On behalf of the people of the south of the Yangtze River, I would like to express my gratitude to the emperor for his grace." Xiang Nan said hurriedly, and then announced loudly, "My emperor has a decree. There is a severe drought in the three prefectures of Hangzhou, Jiazhou and Hu. This year, all the imperial rations will be withdrawn!"
"Long live long live long live!" the people shouted together, and the cheers were loud.
When Qianlong saw this, he relieved some of his unhappiness.
…
Afterwards, the villagers scooped up all the wood, and the river was quickly cleared, so the imperial boat continued northward along the river.
"Sir, he is smart and wise, has clever calculations, punishes corrupt officials, and helps the people with justice. He has benefited millions of people in Hangzhou, Hu, and Jiazhou. Such behavior makes you admire me." Su Qinglian said to Xiang Nan with an admiring look on his face. .
She has always been pretentious and thinks that she is proficient in all of them, including playing music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, poetry, and the Four Books and Five Classics. She only wishes she was born a daughter, otherwise she would have the ambition to compete for the title of the best talent in the world.
However, now that she saw Xiang Nan's plan to punish corrupt officials and exempt the people of Li from imperial food, she realized that she had been too frivolous before.
She is talented, but her poetry, poetry, music, chess, calligraphy and painting are just minor talents. Xiang Nankuang is a real talent who helps the country, helps those in need, punishes evil and promotes good, and she really admires him.
"It doesn't have to be like this. Working for the people and eliminating shortcomings for the country has always been my purpose." Xiang Nan said with a smile.
"Sir, you are so generous, Qing Lian is ashamed of yourself." Su Qing Lian was moved, "I only wish to stay with you and serve you my whole life."
"Qing Lian, with your words, Ji will have no regrets." Xiang Nan hugged her emotionally after hearing what she said.
"Hey, I'll hug you now, so I won't have to pay a visit." At this moment, the hatch opened and Du Xiaoyue flashed in.
When Su Qinglian saw it, she was immediately ashamed and quickly let go of Xiang Nan.
"Xiaoyue, this plan can be implemented smoothly, thanks to your operation." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "The people of Hangzhou, Hu, and Jiazhou can live, and you are the number one contributor."
"It's Mr.'s clever plan that even the emperor was fooled." Du Xiaoyue waved her hand and said with a smile.
"Hey, the emperor didn't fall for my trick." Xiang Nan waved his hand and said with a smile, "Actually, he had already seen my plan, but he just didn't want to expose it, so he just used it."
"Ji Xiaolan, I think you understand." Qianlong opened the door and said, "What's more, you are really capable."
"I deserve to die. I already knew that the emperor was wise and wise, and I couldn't hide my thoughts from the emperor." Xiang Nan quickly apologized.
"Huh, you know you can't hide it, but you still do it? It seems that you are indeed brave enough." Qianlong said with a straight face, "That's all, in that case, I will reward you for your courage. Ji Xiaolan, I will grant you the title of Prince Shaobao. I will continue to do business in the future. Be loyal to the country and benefit the people."
"Long live thanks." Xiang Nan saluted.
Qianlong smiled and nodded, glanced at Su Qinglian, and showed a hint of regret.
After all, I missed out on such a beautiful and talented girl.
…
After returning to the capital, Xiang Nan took Su Qinglian back to Ji Mansion.
Xiangyun was stunned when he saw Su Qinglian.
A girl with such beauty and temperament is really rare in the world.
Standing in front of her, she felt a little ashamed.
After hearing that Su Qinglian was going to stay in Ji Mansion, Xiangyun couldn't help but feel a little sad.
She had stayed in the capital for half a year, but she never expected that when Xiang Nan came back this time, he would bring back another woman. She couldn't help but feel a little mixed.
"Xiangyun, Miss Su's life experience is very pitiful. She was sold into Fireworks Willow Alley since she was a child, where she studied poetry, poetry, chess, calligraphy and painting, and the Five Classics and Four Books. Later, she was redeemed by Wang Danwang and raised as an adopted daughter.
But in fact, Wang Danwang wanted to find something rare to live in, and regarded Miss Su as a weapon to make friends with powerful people and climb up the dragon and the phoenix. In order to curry favor with the emperor, Heshen and me, he used Miss Su as a bargaining chip. It can be said that Miss Su is nothing more than a tool that can be used by him.
Now Wang Danwang has been executed, and his family has also been sent away. Miss Su was helpless. If I hadn't taken her in, her end would have been very tragic.
So be more tolerant to her, okay? I know that you have always been the kindest person. "At night, Xiang Nan said to Xiangyun.
Xiangyun hesitated for a moment and finally nodded.
The execution of Wang Danwang, the governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang for the grain supervision case, had already caused a sensation in the world, and she had heard about it in the capital.
Wang Danwang was greedy by nature, he amassed people's wealth and embezzled three million taels of silver, which can be said to be a heinous crime. As his adopted daughter, Su Qinglian would naturally be implicated.
If Xiang Nan didn't save her, with her beauty, she would probably become the plaything of the powerful and live a life of darkness. So although Xiangyun was a little concerned, he decided to keep her in the thatched cottage and become her sister.
