"Slave, I obey."
The fifth lady, Pei, hurried to the east courtyard.
Mrs. Pei told the Fifth Lady about Xiao Yi's decision.
"What do you think of this?" Mrs. Pei looked at the Fifth Lady and asked.
The Fifth Lady was silent for a moment and then said: "The prince is an ambitious man, and this matter cannot be stopped."
Mrs. Pei sighed, "I originally hoped that the brothers of the Xiao family could support each other, respect and love each other like brothers. Unfortunately, Xiao Yang has never gotten rid of his domineering temper. This time he arbitrarily reduced the food and salary, which is obviously forcing the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry.”
The fifth lady said: "Sister, should we give some advice to the prince? Don't let a small thing lead to a big loss."
Mr. Pei shook his head, "I can't persuade you."
"But if this continues, the victims in southern Xinjiang may not be able to transport food."
Mrs. Pei sighed quietly, "It's my fault too. If I hadn't insisted on sending rice to the people in southern Xinjiang, how could the prince have made such a ridiculous decision. Well, I will go to the palace to plead for mercy. No matter what, I must give up the household. The Ministry of Finance allocates funds to provide relief to the victims. In addition, I plan to ask the prince to select a group of military generals from the military camp to be responsible for the distribution of food and wages. I will leave this matter to you."
"I obey."
Mrs. Pei thought for a while and then ordered: "There are also those two princes. Their actions have become more and more frequent recently. Especially Princess Chu, who has frequently summoned members of the clan to the palace to discuss matters. Keep an eye on her. Don't do it. She took advantage of her."
"Don't worry, sister, I know."
Mr. Pei rubbed his eyebrows and said, "I'm tired. You can go down."
The fifth lady respectfully stepped back.
Mr. Pei leaned on the soft pillow and closed his eyes to rest.
After a long time, Mr. Pei opened his eyes, with a cold light in his eyes.
"Come here, send a message to the master and ask him to enter the palace immediately."
"Here!"
"Send someone to Prince Yan's Mansion and pass the news to the fourth aunt in the second room. Ask the second girl to help pay attention to the movements of the third aunt and report to me immediately if there is any abnormality. Remember, as long as the third girl has any abnormality, don't alert other people. Come and report it to me directly.”
"Here!"
…
Xiao Yuanjing narrowed his eyes slightly after learning that Xiao Yi had privately increased his food salary and decided not to support Guanzhong's food and grass.
He smiled coldly, "As expected of Xiao Yi, he acts vigorously and resolutely without being affected at all."
Chen Zhong said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, do you need to remind your Majesty? Now the court is short of money and food. If Your Majesty reduces the food and salary at this time, I am afraid it will cause a backlash from the ministers."
"It doesn't matter. I don't want to reduce the food and salary. I want to reduce the amount of food and salary to prevent some people from taking the opportunity to make money. Since they want money and food, then use money to buy it."
Chen Zhong was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "My subordinate understands. Your Majesty is wise."
Xiao Yuanjing waved his hand, "I am tired, you can go down."
Chen Zhong left the study quietly.
After Chen Zhong left, Xiao Yuanjing called Mr. Deng again and said, "Let Aunt Wang pack her things. I am going to Jiangzhou."
Mr. Deng was surprised, "Your Highness is going to Jiangzhou now?"
Xiao Yuanjing hummed.
Mr. Deng asked: "Aren't you going to take a few people with you?"
Xiao Yuanjing glanced at Mr. Deng with a half-smile, "Where am I going and need to report to you? You are so brave!"
Mr. Deng quickly bowed to apologize, "I don't dare. I just think that the prince should bring a few people with him, just in case. After all, the prince's safety is more important than anything else."
"These words sound familiar." Xiao Yuanjing said slowly, "On the day I just ascended the throne, didn't you also remind me to be careful of assassins' sneak attacks? Don't underestimate the enemy, let alone be careless."
Mr. Deng laughed dryly and said, "Aren't you worried about the prince?"
Xiao Yuanjing chuckled, "I don't need you to worry."
"My lord, do you really not want to think about it? The situation in Jiangzhou is not stable. If you go alone, there is no guarantee that someone will not cause trouble in the dark."
Xiao Yuanjing laughed and said, "You are worried. Don't worry, I know what I know. After the autumn harvest is over, you can write a memorial for me and submit it to the court according to your suggestions, so that the court can allocate funds for road construction and disaster relief. "
Mr. Deng frowned, "This is too eager. What if the court disagrees or sends a new Minister of Household Affairs to Jiangzhou?"
"Then it's not up to them."
Xiao Yuanjing has a tough attitude.
Mr. Deng sighed helplessly.
He really felt that Xiao Yuanjing was not safe enough.
But then I thought about it, a man of Xiao Yuanjing's age is at the age when his blood is boiling, so it is reasonable for him to do impulsive things.
Mr. Deng only hopes that Xiao Yuanjing will not regret it.
After Mr. Deng left, Xiao Yuanjing called Han Zhong, "Have you found out the background of the princess?"
Han Zhong lowered his head and replied, "Prince Qi, the princess's ancestral home is Shanyin. Both her parents died. She lost her father when she was young. She lived in her uncle's house for a while. Her uncle was a down-and-out scholar. Later, her uncle participated in a rebellion. , his family was confiscated and his family was exterminated."
Xiao Yuanjing raised an eyebrow, "Does the princess have a grudge against her uncle's family?"
"According to my subordinates' investigation, the princess's uncle's family does have some grudges with the princess."
Xiao Yuanjing asked: "What specific grudges are they?"
Han Zhong thought carefully about his words, "The princess's uncle and her father were cousins, and they had a very good relationship. Later, the princess's father married her stepmother. Her stepmother was a vicious character, and she always ran against her uncle.
The princess's uncle was an honest official. Although he was a bit pedantic, he was not greedy. Therefore, he had a good reputation in the capital and many people were willing to fawn over him. The princess's stepmother couldn't stand her uncle, so she tried to get her uncle to a remote village. Not only that, she also killed her uncle's wife and children. "
"Her stepmother and cousins are all dead?" Xiao Yuanjing frowned.
"All dead."
Xiao Yuanjing looked cold, "This woman is not simple."
Han Zhong hesitated for a moment and said: "As far as my subordinates know, the reason why she was able to kill the princess's stepmother, stepbrother and step-sister was because the princess's uncle owed gambling debts and was hunted down. The princess's uncle's wife and children were all He was killed during the war."
Xiao Yuanjing smiled coldly when he heard this, "Killing with a borrowed knife, killing with a borrowed knife, what a clever trick!"
Han Zhong was puzzled.
Xiao Yuanjing said: "Go and check, is the princess's mother also dead?"
Han Zhong suddenly realized, "The princess's mother was probably killed by the princess's stepmother. This grudge has lasted for more than ten generations."
Xiao Yuanjing smiled sarcastically, "It turns out that the princess and her mother have such a connection. No wonder she hates the princess so much."
"The princess's father and uncle are both scholars. They have an old-fashioned character and consider themselves to be gentlemen. As a result, they married a wicked woman like her stepmother and gave birth to a stepdaughter. Life must be difficult. The princess's stepmother is also a vicious and vicious woman with a vicious heart. He not only killed the wife and children of the princess's uncle, but also forced the princess's father to take her as a concubine.
It must have been difficult for the princess to live alone these years. "
"Pity!"
Xiao Yuanjing shook his head and regretted, "My daughter-in-law is so smart, but she has been treated unfairly. That's all, I don't care about her anymore. After all, she is not stupid and will find a way to solve the trouble by herself."
Mr. Deng persuaded: "My lord, let me accompany you to Jiangzhou. If anything happens, I can take care of you."
Xiao Yuanjing waved his hand, "Even if you go, you can't help me. I want to go to Jiangzhou because Jiangzhou is the only place that can save the people at the moment."
"Didn't you say you want to build roads for disaster relief? Why not ask the princess to find craftsmen and hire people to build roads?"
Xiao Yuanjing shook his head, "This matter is not as simple as you think. The water depth in the south of the Yangtze River is not suitable for doing good deeds. Besides, my son has not grown up yet, and I still need to do it myself."
Mr. Deng frowned, "Then you don't care about the princess?"
Xiao Yuanjing said lightly: "I have left enough banknotes for her to make a living on her own. If she cannot overcome this difficulty, then I can only make other plans."
Mr. Deng sighed. He also hoped that Xiao Yuanjing's choice was correct, but he was afraid that Xiao Yuanjing would make the wrong choice and ultimately break the princess's heart.
…
Chen Suxin felt very sad when she learned that Xiao Yuanjing was about to leave the capital.
She had been pampered since she was a child. Except for following Chen Guogong and Xiao to live in Zhuangzi for a while, she lived in wealth and splendor for the rest of her life.
Xiao Yuanjing suddenly abandoned her, which caught her off guard and made her completely confused.
Chen Suxin sat in the room in a daze, her eyes dull.
Cuilan stood beside Chen Suxin and whispered: "Girl, His Highness the Crown Prince left in a hurry this time and did not take the girl with him. The servant guesses that it is probably because of the Crown Princess."
Chen Suxin raised her head and stared at Cuilan, "The Crown Princess? What is my relationship with her?"
"I heard from the lady in the palace that the princess was driving the prince to Jiangzhou because she thought the girl was an eyesore to the prince."
Chen Suxin sneered, "How is that possible!"
Seeing that Chen Suxin didn't believe it, Cuilan said, "I'm just guessing. Anyway, this time the prince left the capital without taking the girl with him, it must be because of the princess."
Chen Suxin gritted her teeth and said, "Who is the Crown Princess? How dare you blame me for getting in her eyes?"
Chen Suxin clenched her fists and pounded the bed, "Xiao Yuanjing is such a bastard for leaving me alone."
"Oh, girl, stop smashing it."
Cuilan quickly stepped forward to stop him.
Chen Suxin glared at her and yelled, "Get away! Don't stop me, I have to beat that bitch."
Cuilan shrank her neck, retreated silently, and stopped talking.
"What are you all doing here? Clean up this room quickly, I'm going to move out soon." Chen Suxin directed the maids.
"Yes, yes, the slaves will take care of you now."
The maids immediately took action and put away all the objects in the house.
Chen Suxin stood by the window, looking at the lakes and mountains in the distance.
Suddenly I remembered what Xiao Yuanjing said.
She is the princess's legitimate daughter, and she is a noble princess!
But why doesn't Xiao Yuanjing love her? How is she inferior to the princess, and how is she inferior to that bitch?
The princess is just a piece of trash, why should she seize Xiao Yuanjing's favor and the man of her dreams?
no!
Absolutely not!
She will never let go!
Chen Suxin clenched her fists, she wanted revenge, she wanted to destroy the princess's marriage.
She wants to steal Xiao Yuanjing and become Xiao Yuanjing's only wife. She wants to be the princess.
The more Chen Suxin thought about it, the more excited she became, and she couldn't help laughing.
Cuilan shouted fearfully: "Girl, are you okay?"
Chen Suxin turned around and grinned at Cuilan, "Do you think I'm in trouble?"
"This slave looks like she is sick."
Chen Suxin's expression suddenly changed, "You dare to scold me?"
"I don't dare. I am worried about the girl. If the girl is uncomfortable, I will help you lie down and rest."
"What's wrong with me? You're the one who's sick!"
Cuilan was frightened and knelt down, "I said the wrong thing. I will apologize to the girl."
Chen Suxin snorted, "I'm telling you, when I'm not feeling well, don't mess with me, otherwise I'll punish you carefully."
"This slave will obey the girl's teachings and will never dare to contradict her again."
Cuilan breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glad that she was lucky today and didn't make any mistakes.
Chen Suxin was dissatisfied with her attitude, "You obviously didn't take me seriously just now. You were obviously perfunctory with me."
Cuilan was extremely frightened, "Miss, please spare your life! I will never dare to do this again. I promise, I will never dare to do this again."
Chen Suxin snorted, "Remember, I am the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao family and Xiao Yuanjing's first wife. When I come in, I will definitely give the princess a hard time with that bitch."
"Yes, I will obey the girl's instructions."
Chen Suxin smiled proudly, "That's pretty much it."
Xiao Yuanjing left the capital.
