While the three of them were eating, Xu Er also rushed to Shang Rong's tent.
"Master Shang, the two women in the inn are indeed suspicious. They may be Hong Derui's daughters." Xu Erhui reported.
"Hmph, they must be heading south to Quyang." Shang Rong heard this and said worriedly, "Ji Xiaolan led the emperor to go south and pass by Quyang. Is there something fishy here?"
"Sir, in my opinion, we might as well strike first. No matter whether those two women are from the Hong family or not, and whether the emperor is going to Quyang or not, let's get rid of Hong Derui first." Xu Er sneered, " As long as Hong Derui dies, even if they rush to Quyang, it will be of no use."
"Okay, Xu Er, you are indeed my confidant." Shang Rong laughed and said, "Okay, let's rush to Quyang right away."
…
In the hotel, Qianlong, Heshen and Xiang Nan were sitting and drinking tea after eating.
"Lao Ji, He Er, I have a profound understanding when I come out this time." Qianlong sighed.
"Master, tell me!" Xiang Nan and He Shen asked together.
"I thought I had done a good job this time. After three hundred miles, after thirty miles, this world will be very different from what I imagined. If it goes down three thousand miles, I won't dare to recognize this country." Qianlong sighed.
"Master, you are wise and enlightened." He Shen said flatteringly.
"Don't say nice things." Qianlong glared at him, "I have only been out for two days, and the scene I saw is completely different from what you told me.
Bitter well water, dark dens, dilapidated thatched huts and livestock sheds, homeless and beggars everywhere... Is this my Qing Dynasty? What kind of prosperous age is this? "
He Shen suddenly looked embarrassed after being reprimanded by him.
At this moment, three beggars walked in at the door, one big and two small. They were dressed in rags and had unkempt hair.
"Master, please give me some food~" the three of them begged pitifully.
"Get out, get out!" When the guy saw it, he shouted out quickly.
When He Shen saw him, the opportunity to show off came. He quickly took out a few copper coins from his pocket and asked for alms to the three beggars.
"He Er, no need, no need." Qianlong stopped him.
"Master, they look really pitiful." He Shen explained.
"Are they pitiful, or are you pitiful? Does it count as good deeds for a beggar?" Qianlong said displeased, "Isn't it a great kindness for a monarch to make sure there are no more beggars in the world? I can't give it, give it, my lord." It’s even more pitiful.”
"Master, don't do good deeds because they are small, and don't do evil because it is small. Doing good deeds does not depend on the size, and the same is true for kings doing good deeds." Xiang Nan said with a smile, then took out some silver coins from his pocket and handed them to the three Beggar: "Go and buy something to eat."
"Thank you, uncle, thank you, uncle!" The three beggars left gratefully.
…
"Third Master, do you think that the bitter wells, dark dens, and homeless people and beggars everywhere are already the worst scene?" Xiang Nan sat back and said, "Sir, this is not the darkest thing."
"Oh, then what is the darkest?" Qianlong asked curiously.
"Extremely exacting taxes, breaking the bones and devouring the marrow, leaving the poor people fat and covering the sky with one hand." Xiang Nan said in a low voice.
"Old Ji, what nonsense are you talking about!" He Shen said angrily upon hearing this.
"How can there be such a tragic picture as you mentioned?" Qianlong frowned and asked after hearing this.
"Master, do you want to see it? Do you dare to see it?" Xiang Nan did not answer, but asked directly.
Qianlong's expression froze, and then he nodded, "Take me there. You asked me to be exiled for three hundred miles, didn't you just want me to see this world? I have been out since I came out, if I give up halfway, I will go back like this for the rest of my life. All I can do is be a confused emperor."
"Master! Well said! What I said here is more truthful and thorough than what I said in the Golden Palace." Xiang Nan extended his thumb and said, "It's not very convenient here, or because of what you said, I want to give you a big gift!"
"Okay, let's owe it first, let's do it." Qianlong waved his hand, "Old Ji, where are we going?"
"Quyang." Xiang Nan said, "Sir, I have hired the car. Let's set off now."
"Old Ji, what are you doing in Quyang?" He Shen was shocked when he heard this.
"He Er, why does your expression change when I mention Quyang?" Xiang Nan sneered, "Are you so afraid that I will go to Quyang with Third Master?"
"Huh?!" Upon hearing this, Qianlong looked at Heshen curiously.
"Nonsense, how could I? What should I be afraid of?" He Shen said quickly trying to calm down.
Xiang Nan smiled, asked the driver to drive, and the three of them rushed to Quyang.
…
At this time, Xiaoyue and Hong Xia also walked a step early and rushed to Quyang Quyang to meet Hong Derui.
"Dad, you have suffered." Hong Xia couldn't help but feel sad when she saw Hong Derui's ragged clothes, dusty face, and haggard and old appearance.
"Xia'er, how did you come here?" Hong Derui couldn't help being surprised and happy when he saw his daughter.
"Master Ji asked Sister Xiaoyue to rescue me." Hong Xia explained simply.
When Hong Derui heard this, he was extremely grateful, "I don't know Mr. Ji, but he actually took risks for me. It's hard to repay such a great kindness."
"Hong Yushi, I won't say thank you anymore. My husband told me that you are in danger now, and Shang Rong is likely to deal with you and eradicate you." Du Xiaoyue said, "So you can't stay in the quarry anymore. , we will come over at night and rescue you out. When you hear three cuckoo calls, come out of the shed. At that time, we will take you away."
Hongdry nodded.
…
At night, Du Xiaoyue and Hong Xia quietly came to the quarry.
It was dark and windy at the moment, and most of the soldiers were fast asleep, with only a few standing guard.
Du Xiaoyue quietly went up to them, dealt with several sentries, and then let out three cuckoo calls.
Hongdry heard the sound and got up.
"Hong Yushi, where are you going?" someone asked in the work shed.
"I'm going to relieve myself," Hongdry said, then slipped out of the shed.
Xiaoyue and Hong Xia quickly stepped forward to help him and helped him leave the quarry.
Not far away, Hong Derui suddenly stopped and said, "It's broken, I didn't bring my account book."
"What ledger?" Xiaoyue asked curiously.
"This is evidence that Shang Rong embezzled public funds, passed off inferior goods and deducted wages from his wages." Hong Derui explained.
"Let's go first and come back to get it later." Xiaoyue said quickly after hearing this.
"No, once someone discovers it and destroys it, Shang Rong cannot be cured." Hong Derui waved his hand, "We must go back to get it, it is more important than my life."
Seeing this, Du Xiaoyue had no choice but to nod her head and took Hong Yushi to get the account book.
After such a delay, Shang Rong had already led his troops to surround the mining market.
Lamp balls and torches illuminate the quarry as brightly as day.
"Hong Yushi, I haven't seen you for a long time. How are you?" Shang Rong stood on the hillside, looking at Hong Derui in the stone field, and asked with a sneer.
"Shang Rong, you are a wolf in human skin. As long as I, Hong, am still breathing, I will fight to the end with you, a corrupt official!" Hong Derui gritted his teeth.
"Hmph, you are so stubborn even when you are about to die. Come on, arrest them." Shang Rong sneered.
"Slow down! I have the royal fan in my hand, who dares to be presumptuous!" When Du Xiaoyue saw it, she immediately took out the royal fan.
