[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 231 [English]

Chapter 222 Cheating (Part 2)

It was still dark, and the ladies of the palace were waiting under the eaves of the palace. They all took shelter and held lanterns, silently lighting the way.When Qi Zhuyin came to the palace for an audience, he had to go to Mingli Hall, while Hua Xiangyi had to wait in the Queen Mother’s palace. The two of them could only walk a short distance together.

Hua Xiangyi wore a lying rabbit on her forehead because she was afraid of the cold.She has really good manners. She doesn’t hear the sound of wearing a ring when walking. She is just a little shorter when standing next to Qi Zhuyin.

Qi Zhuyin has been staying in the border county in Qidong all day long, and has not spoken a few words to Hua Xiangyi. Now she feels a little dull and is about to speak.

Hua Xiangyi said, “Have you seen the account books at home?”

Only then did Qi Zhuyin remember what happened last time and said, “I went home to see it last time. I’m busy…” She was stuck on the word “mother” for a long time. She couldn’t say anything to Hua Xiangyi’s face, which was two years younger than her. She could only skip it hastily and said, “…”

The fragrance of flowers covered Tang Po, and she watched the crows fly across the dark sky and disappear under the eaves of the palace in a blink of an eye. This was a scene she was familiar with.She said: “You’re welcome, Marshal.”

From the corner of her eye, Qi Zhuyin glanced at the small sunflowers embroidered on the collar of Hua Xiangyi, which seemed to be a delicate beauty hidden under the dignity. It was incompatible with the deep palace, so it looked extraordinarily beautiful and lovely.

Hua Xiangyi suddenly turned her head and looked at Qi Zhuyin. After just a moment, she looked away and said softly: “My aunt summoned the commander-in-chief, firstly to send troops to the Green Rat Division, and secondly to recruit military rations. These two things can be combined into one, and the commander-in-chief has to make a decision.”

Qi Zhuyin was not sure what Hua Xiangyi meant by telling her these things at this moment. When she entered the capital this time, she was used as a knife by the Queen Mother to intimidate Xue Xiuzhuo and the cabinet. She had already heard about the Dancheng field tax.

Hua Xiangyi changed the topic and said: “The wind is always strong in Qandu, and you can’t see the glory in front of the stairs even if you stand upstairs. It’s so cold, many shops on Shenwu Street are closed, and those who get drunk at night are all on an empty stomach.”

Qi Zhuyin was slightly startled and looked at Hua Xiangyi.Hua Xiangyi had already stopped, turned sideways and smiled at Fuman who was silent behind her, “You look like a male.”

Fuman himself was in a state of confusion. He vaguely heard something about “cold weather” but didn’t take it to heart.Seeing the fragrant flowers standing in front of him, he felt that the third lady’s appearance was extremely beautiful, so he held up a lantern and said with a smile, “I’m afraid of disturbing the elegance of the madam and the commander, so I don’t dare to make any noise.”

“Now that we’re here,” Hua Xiangyi whispered to Qi Zhuyin, “Commander, let’s go first.”

* * *

The newly planted flowers and trees on the steps of Mingli Hall are covered with a thin layer of frost. The front of the hall is empty and the floor has been polished.After the names were announced in the hall, the eunuch led Qi Zhuyin up the steps.As she stepped on the steps, she felt cold under her feet. This was a feeling she could never get used to no matter how many times she walked.

The curtains in the hall were opened to both sides, and Qi Zhuyin stepped in.

Several courtiers waiting inside stood up, but Qi Zhuyin saluted to the Queen Mother without looking at anyone.The Queen Mother did not put up the bead curtain and said with a smile: “The Ai family and Zhuyin have not seen each other for two months, so they feel very missed. The county over there is bitterly cold. Get up and let the Ai family take a closer look.”

Qi Zhuyin raised his head and saw the prince standing beside him from the corner of his eye.

Chen Zhen, Minister of the Ministry of War, stood with his sleeves tied up and looked at Qi Zhuyin with worried eyes.Cen Yu’s face didn’t look good, but Kong Qiu looked normal.The atmosphere in this hall is strange, just like the newly planted flowers and trees outside. They seem to be connected together, but in fact they are superficial and their roots have been frozen.

The Queen Mother was sure of the victory, so she didn’t want to rush into the topic. After chatting with Qi Zhuyin for a long time, she said, “You have been stationed at the border all year round, come and go in the wind and rain. The Ai family heard that you don’t even want a maid. There is no one who cares about you, and your iron body cannot bear such torment.” She did not wait for Qi Zhuyin to reply, and turned to Marquis Helian and said, “Look.”

Marquis Helian met the Queen Mother’s gaze and said with emotion: “When I saw the commander-in-chief, I thought of the useless Fei Shi. Although he was a man, he didn’t understand Ling Yunzhi, which made me very worried.”

“Fei Shi has just reached his age, so someone must be there to guide him, otherwise a good boy will become a bad boy.” The Queen Mother looked at Qi Zhuyin again, “Zhuyin, do you still remember your brother Fei?”

Qi Zhuyin said: “I vaguely remember that he is Zhaoyue’s younger brother.”

She seemed to be used to being straightforward and answered casually, but Princess Zhaoyue had to call her “sister”. This was a sign of her seniority with Fei Shila.

But the Queen Mother said: “Fei Shi is young and is worried about having no one to teach him. You are the commander-in-chief of the Qidong army. He admires her very much. He talks about Sister Qi all the time and wants to run to Qidong. You and Zhaoyue are good friends, and the two families are not strangers. If you have time these days, you can also talk to him about border anecdotes, which can be regarded as fulfilling his idea.”

Fei Shi is already in his prime. What can’t he do? Should he, Qi Zhuyin, follow behind and teach him?Besides, Fei Shi was just a young marquis, who had not yet inherited the title of Marquis Helian, and had no official position. He was so short when he stood in front of Qi Zhuyin that he was acting recklessly by calling her sister.

The Queen Mother’s intention was obvious. She wanted to hold down Qi Zhuyin and point Fei Shi to her.Qi Zhuyin couldn’t fall out because of the military pay. She said: “The Queen Mother gave orders and I shouldn’t refuse. However, entering the capital this time is actually a military matter. The border issues are urgent and it is not appropriate to delay.”

The Queen Mother sat back for a moment, but instead of embarrassing her, she said smoothly: “This is natural. Last month, the military report stated that the Qing Mouse tribe was attacking. You won the battle and you deserve a reward.”

Qi Zhuyin clearly understood the flaws in Qudu, and the Queen Mother gave Fei Shi to her at this juncture, just to punish Xue Xiuzhuo and to make her honest at the same time.Military rations are a problem – if she doesn’t have supplies from Shen Zechuan.

Qi Zhuyin suddenly remembered Hua Xiangyi’s words just now.

The wind is strong in Qudu.

What is Hua Xiangyi hinting at her?

“The Ai family has also read the excerpt you gave to the Ministry of War. It is true that they want to take advantage of the victory and pursue it, but now is not the time.” Unable to get Qi Zhuyin’s compromise, the Queen Mother said, “March is the time of spring plowing, and there will be a war in Qidong, so the military camp will have to be vacant., the food supply after the autumn will inevitably be reduced, and it will have to be transferred from other granaries, but it can no longer be supplemented, and the people in Juexi also have to eat.The imperial court also has difficulties, and going to war is definitely not a good strategy, and it is the people who suffer.”

The Queen Mother kept silent about the Bacheng Granary, leaving it to Qi Zhuyin to raise it on her own. As long as she brought it up, the issue would be kicked to Xue Xiuzhuo. When the time comes, everyone would be in a stalemate and would still have to listen to the Queen Mother’s orders.If Xue Xiuzhuo doesn’t wave his hand and Qi Zhuyin doesn’t get married, then Qidong won’t be able to send troops or get food.

Suddenly a pin drop could be heard in the hall, no one on the left or right said a word, Qi Zhuyin was in the middle thinking about Hua Xiangyi’s words.

“At the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Household Affairs reported the harvest status in various places,” Li Jianting, who had never intervened in Mingli Hall, said coldly, “If Juexi can’t afford it, we can unite with the granaries of other states to make up for the gap.”

The Queen Mother said: “The prince ignores the affairs of the court and does not understand the ways of it. Hezhou only had one turn last year, and this year we have to supply Qudu granary with Juexi. It is difficult to do it everywhere.”

During the conversation, they all avoided the eight major cities, and Qi Zhuyin suddenly had an idea.

The eight major cities surrounding Qudu are not the “prosperity before the steps” of Qudu?Hua Xiangyi said she couldn’t see clearly. What could she not see clearly?Can’t see clearly the details of the eight cities’ harvest!Since the field taxes in Dancheng can be faked, how much of the field taxes in other cities are true?The fields have not been measured clearly, so there are many things that can be hidden.Hua Xiangyi’s last sentence was about people on an empty stomach. Last year, there were countless refugees in Dan City, and they all ran away hungry. Pan Yi knew he couldn’t hide it, so why didn’t Pan Yi immediately set up a tent to provide porridge?

In just a few moments, Qi Zhuyin began to sweat on his temples, and secretly said, “What a dangerous situation!”

* * *

The wicker chair swayed slightly, and the snow-white sleeves curled around her knees.Shen Zechuan opened the folding fan to block some sunlight.Yao Wenyu was still packing old books at the table, and the courtyard was very quiet.

Shen Zechuan looked at the mottled plum leaves above his head as he swayed. The light fell on him in fine pieces. He caught it with a folding fan and held it in front of his eyes to examine it.

Yao Wenyu found a case record from an old book. He opened it and saw that it was the earliest grain record book in Chazhou.He had seen it before, but this time he accidentally flipped to the back, turned the four-wheeled cart, and said to Shen Zechuan at the door: “The high-priced grains in Chazhou in previous years were all from Hezhou. But last year, Hezhou also paid for military rations and Qudu granary. I think the books are all big goods. If Yan Heru still has to bear the grain of the Luoshan bandits, then even if Hezhou has a good harvest every year…” He slowly flattened the book, “It’s time to move.”

“I originally suspected that Yan Heru was stealing grain from Juexi and Hezhou to sell, but when Fanzhou’s accounts came out, I found that there was no grain left in the granaries in these two places to do business for him.”

“Last year, Liang Yangshan began to take charge of the taxation of Juexi and Hezhou. Yan Heru said last time that he failed to establish a relationship with Liang Yangshan.” Yao Wenyu held on to the door frame, her expression slightly changed, “Then where did the food he resold last year come from?”

Shen Zechuan tilted his head and looked at Yao Wenyu for a moment.

“The eight-city granary. The grain that Yan Heru sold to Zhongbo states last year all flowed out of the eight cities.” Yao Wenyu quickly flipped through the book on his lap. “The high-priced grains in Fan and Deng states were resold by Cai Yu. The prince killed Cai Yu, and Yan Heru didn’t tell the truth.”

The folding fan in Shen Zechuan’s palm suddenly closed, and he was still leaning up, staring at the sunlight.At that moment, she was enlightened and said: “Then the Queen Mother does not have the reserves to afford Qidong’s military rations. She is making empty promises.”

This fraudulent move completely trapped Xue Xiuzhuo. Bacheng’s accounts were so bad that even Pan Lin might not know which ones were true or false.The Dancheng field that Xue Xiuzhuo checked was indeed wrong, and the harvest details that Pan Yi first delivered to the household department were also false, but the grain surplus submitted by the family was true.They usurped people’s fields but had no food, because the food had long been secretly transferred to Yan Heru and resold.

The Bacheng granary was simply empty.

“Hua Hewei…” Shen Zechuan laughed out loud and had to sigh, “The Queen Mother is amazing!”

If Xue Xiuzhuo, forced by the rationing of military rations, stopped inspecting the Dancheng fields and retreated to show his favor to the Queen Mother, then when he really finished all this, he would find that the Queen Mother had no food at all and Qidong still could not send troops.At that time, Xue Xiuzhuo will not only lose his existing advantages, but also bear the risk of Taixue turning against him, and will even face doubts from the practical faction.

Hua Hewei is not a courtier.

She has her own way of playing in this group of scheming men.