Clear and Muddy Loss of Love

Chapter 231

Give it all just for Iraq

Qi Yan stared at Nangong Jingnv for a long time, then slowly moved her body and got off the Babu bed.

Dressing, washing, and a series of actions are carried out silently to ensure that Nangong Jingnv will not be disturbed.

Qi Yan glanced back, pushed the door out of the bedroom, and said to the maid guarding the door: "Your Majesty is asleep, don't let anyone disturb her."

Servant: "Yes."

Qi Yan called Qian Tong to the study room, wrote a handwritten letter and handed it to him: "Memorize it."

Qian Tong: "Yes."

After Qian Tong memorized it, he returned the book to Qi Yan, who destroyed it in front of Qian Tong and said, "Go to the teahouse in the north of the city and buy some almond cakes."

Qian Tong: "Yes."

The almond cake was just a reason to leave the palace. The century-old store in the north of the city was taken over by Sifang Bank two years ago, and now it is one of the strongholds for Qi Yan and Qian Yuan Gufeng to contact.

Qi Yan: "You take this token with you."

Qian Tong: "Yes."

Qi Yan: "Go, go and come back quickly."

After Qian Tong left, Qi Yan took another half-written dossier. Originally, Qi Yan only planned to write an outline for Nangong Jingnv, but he didn't want to write it, but he became more and more worried: the country of Wei is already a thousand years old. It is full of holes, and it may collapse if you are not careful. Every reform must pay attention to the scale and implement it gradually.

Qi Yan simply started writing, this file is the third volume of "On the Ten Malpractices of the Old Politics".

One volume is one volume, and the two completed are: "On the Disadvantages of Irregularity in Court Defense" and "On the Disadvantages of Redundant Officials and Expenses". This volume is about "On the Disadvantages of Official Corruption".

Qi Yan didn't study the ink, but just looked at what he wrote.

The weak appearance of Nangong Jingnv reappeared in front of Qi Yan's eyes from time to time, she really couldn't concentrate on writing.

Qi Yan returned to the bedroom and saw Chen Chuansi, the chief servant standing at the door. The maid seemed to be explaining something. Seeing Qi Yan's return, the maid seemed to be seeing a savior: "Prince, empress... the master is back, the chief manager is with the master. Said, slaves are only following orders."

The emperor's husband is an embarrassing position in the inner court. It is the first time for the empress to be the emperor's husband. Many servants in the palace don't know how to address Qi Yan.

Chen Chuansi bowed and said: "Dagong, the Taiwei has entered the palace, please see your majesty."

Qi Yan: "Did you say something?"

Chen Chuansi: "Never."

Qi Yan: "Then look at him, are you in a hurry?"

Chen Chuansi: "This...slave can't say well, it seems to be the same as usual."

Qi Yan: "Then there is no rush, you go back to him: His Majesty is resting, let him come back another day, you just say I said so."

Chen Chuansi: "Yes."

After Chen Chuansi left, the palace maid silently wrote down Qi Yan's new address, and took a sneak peek at Qi Yan, only to be relieved when she saw that the other party was not unhappy.

Qi Yan: "You've done a good job, keep staying here and don't let anyone disturb you."

Palace maid: "Yes."

Qi Yan entered the sleeping hall, Nangong Jingnv fell into a deep sleep, she didn't even change her posture.Qi Yan moved the round stool to sit beside the bed, looking at Nangong Jingnv with pity in her eyes.

……

Nangong Jingnv had a good night's sleep and slept from noon until dusk. When she woke up, she saw Qi Yan sitting at the round table reading a book, and the hall was not even lit.

Nangong Jingnu: "Why don't you light the lamp? Reading like this hurts your eyes."

Qi Yan raised his hand and put down the scroll in his hand: "Your Majesty is awake? Did you sleep well?"

Nangong Jingnv supported Qi Yan on the bed and supported her forehead with a soft snort: "My head is still a bit heavy, how long have I been asleep?"

Qi Yan: "It's less than three hours, is Your Majesty hungry, let the kitchen come over to order something to eat?"

Nangong Jingnv shook her head: "I don't have much appetite, oops!"

Qi Yan walked over: "What's wrong?"

Nangong Jingnu: "I announced that Gong Yanghuai will enter the palace in the afternoon, why did I forget about it?"

Qi Yan: "Eunuch Chen has come to report, and I have asked Baishi to come back another day, don't worry, Your Majesty."

Nangong Jingnv stopped putting on her shoes and socks: "That's good."

Qi Yan: "Is there something wrong with the military officer? Why is Your Majesty in such a hurry?"

Nangong Jingnv patted the seat next to her, and Qi Yan sat down. Nangong Jingnv leaned on Qi Yan's shoulder and said, "Last night, I received two urgent notices from 230 li. There was a severe drought in Gyeonggi, and the crops were not harvested. When the water ran out, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced, and countless granaries and houses were destroyed. The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry made accounts overnight. The imperial court needed to provide 23 million taels of silver and 200 dans of grain to effectively quell the natural disaster. But the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs told me that the imperial court can’t even provide [-] million taels. Even if it can barely be allocated to the disaster area, the salaries of the imperial court officials and the inner court’s expenses will be tight.”

Then, Nangong Jingnv repeated to Qi Yan the accounts reported by the Minister of the Household Department last night, and finally said with emotion: "If I had known earlier that 800 million taels of silver had been consumed to restore an unknown palace, I would have persuaded my father, I thought about it all night. From now on, the inner court's expenditure can be saved. In a few days, the women in the harem... who have children will be put in the fief, and those who have no children will be allowed to return to the mother's house. This way, a group of women can also be abolished Palace people, strive to spend less than 50 taels per year on the inner court, 80 taels is too much. The previous funerals cost a lot of money, but it was all a sum of money, and it will be over when it passes However, the Minister of the Ministry of Accounting told me yesterday that the army’s annual salaries and ordnance maintenance costs are as high as 500 million yuan, and the money is not returned to the Ministry of Accounting. , and then go directly to the household department to pay the money with the approval document, this is not possible."

Qi Yan: "So Your Highness wants to talk to Baishi about this matter?"

Nangong Jingnv rubbed Qi Yan's shoulder: "That's right, this money is the annual fixed expenditure of the imperial court, it's impossible to continue like this."

Qi Yan: "The reasoning is true, but I'm afraid there will be a lot of resistance in implementing it."

Nangong Jingnu: "Are you saying that it will cause dissatisfaction among the military attache group?"

Qi Yan: "There is a part of it, now I finally understand..."

Nangong Jingnu: "Understand what?"

Qi Yan: "Why is the Taiwei's mansion the only military attache in the world to look forward to? It is reasonable to say that the world has a variety of attitudes, so it should be difficult to be so united. It turns out... Lu Taiwei has been spending the court's money to buy personal affection all these years. Now The world is peaceful, does the maintenance of armies everywhere really need so much money?"

Nangong Jingnu: "Hateful, no wonder father..."

Qi Yan: "Huh?"

Nangong Jingnv was silent for a moment, and said leisurely: "It's okay to tell you, my father wants me to beware of the Taiwei's Mansion, gradually take back the military power, and when the time is right, I will uproot the Taiwei's Mansion."

A gleam flashed across Qi Yan's eyes, and he calmly analyzed: "This time, now is not the best time to settle accounts with Lu Quan. As the saying goes, it is easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to frugal. Even the military attache group knows I know that the military expenditure is not going to be so much, but... it is not wise for His Majesty to put his hand into their pockets as soon as he ascends the throne."

Nangong Jingnu was a little anxious: "Why don't I understand? It's just... hundreds of thousands of people are waiting, I really... I want to sell all the things in the mansion, but the Ministry of Rites said that now my Those things have become royal objects and cannot be moved rashly."

Qi Yan embraced Nangong Jingnv's shoulders, and patted her comfortingly: "Your Majesty loves the people like a son, and I understand His Majesty's feelings. But this year's military expenditure has already been settled, and it will not help to look for it now. If you want to fill the treasury, Saving money alone is not enough. Money is not saved, His Majesty should think of a way at the source."

Nangong Jingnu: "I have just promulgated the imperial edict for tax reduction and exemption. Do we have to change the decree day by day?"

Qi Yan shook her head: "No, according to my opinion, it's time for His Majesty to hold the Enke."

Nangong Jingnu: "What does this have to do with Yinzi?"

Qi Yan replied: "According to the law, the descendants of merchants cannot participate in the imperial examination to become officials. Your Majesty can announce a decree. This Enke will be divided into two sessions, one for the students of the world, and one for the descendants of merchants. But this It is not without conditions. Merchants from all over the country need to pledge a certain amount. The imperial court can also change the household registration of one of the descendants of the merchants who pledged donations, from a merchant to a farmer. As for all pledged donations, His Majesty wants to make it clear: it will be used for disaster relief, the accounts will be open and transparent, and the criticism of selling officials and nobles will be avoided."

Nangong Jingnv's eyes lit up, she hugged Qi Yan's arm and said excitedly: "This is a good idea! How did you think of it?"

Qi Yan smiled without saying a word, watching Nangong Jingnv sweep away her sorrow, Qi Yan's eyes were filled with gentle warmth.

Where is a good way?It's just the only way for Qi Yan to give Nangong Jingnv some of her wealth in an open and aboveboard manner.

Qi Yan: "Your Majesty, I think it's time for the Great General to go back to Youzhou."

Nangong Jingnu: "I originally wanted to talk to my elder sister, see if I can borrow the 200 million taels that my elder brother-in-law took from the court first, and return it to him later."

Qi Yan shook her head: "Forget it. However, the military expenditure of the whole country's army is only 400 million taels a year, so it's really expensive to invite the General Wang to go this way."

Seeing that Nangong Jingnv was silent, Qi Yan changed the subject: "There is one more thing, Eldest Sister and Princess Danyang can go back to Youzhou together, Fu'er will stay in the capital."

Nangong Jingnu: "You want Fu'er to be a proton? That's not good..."

Qi Yan: "There is nothing wrong with it. If Your Majesty does nothing, it will be the General's Palace that will be uneasy. Your Majesty can go to Eldest Sister and say... Yu Xiao is at the age of enlightenment, please help her find some suitable ages." The children of the aristocratic family go to the imperial study to study together, so that Yuxiao will not be lonely alone."

Nangong Jingnu: "Okay, I will listen to you."

Qi Yan turned her head, only stared at Nangong Jingnv but did not speak.

After a few breaths, Nangong Jingnv's cheeks became more and more red, and her expression became swaying.

Nangong Jingnv lowered her head, bit her lips, and murmured: "The national mourning system is strictly prohibited..."

Qi Yanwan didn't expect Nangong Jingnv to say that, her breathing became stagnant, and her expression became unnatural.

Qi Yan: "I...actually just want to ask His Majesty if you are hungry this time, it's time to eat."

Nangong Jingnu let out an "ah", covered her face and turned her back.

Qi Yan also smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes when he smiled.

If it was a last resort for me to conceal my identity in the past, now that the overall situation has been settled, I really shouldn't hide it anymore...

Let's wait a little longer, when Xiaodie has settled down and helped Jingnv get through this difficult time, what should be faced should be faced.