Jiaohua

Chapter 1638 Xia Zhaoyi kicks Shen Lie out (Thanks for the reward, Yuanyuan Niang!)
These past few days, Xia Zhaoyi has been sleeping directly on the soft couch on the side of her office desk.

She would wake up immediately whenever someone contacted her.

Song Zhiyi's group of officials consisted mostly of military officers who were sent to do manual labor, while many civil officials remained, but they were no match for the veteran officials of Hejing.

Bring Yu Shiling, Yin Zemin, and Wei Yaojun here; the three of them are worth thirty of the people here.

The female soldiers returned one by one to report on the situation outside, and Feng Ping was the last to return.

She said that Pei Huirao was very sad.

Xia Zhaoyi was not surprised.

Pei Huirao is a person who values ​​loyalty and righteousness; otherwise, she would not have given up her wealthy and comfortable life to save Zhu Xiaohui.

Feng Ping added that Tian Wu's beautiful concubine was named Yaoqin, and she was pregnant with Tian Wu's child and about to give birth.

Xia Zhaoyi rubbed her temples and said slowly, "Tomorrow, you will take people to investigate her character. If she is good-natured, Tian Wu's property in the capital will all belong to her. I hope she will raise the child well and treat Tian Wu's other family members kindly. If she is not good-natured, Tian Wu's property will be divided in two, with half going to her and the other half to the concubines and servants."

Feng Ping looked at Xia Zhaoyi with concern: "General, you have worked hard these past few days. You don't need to worry about these trivial matters. You should get some rest."

Xia Zhaoyi nodded: "Okay."

Feng Ping didn't stay any longer.

Xia Zhaoyi continued reading the document, her left temple throbbing with pain.

What she is looking at now is the tax audit register submitted today by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue.

Song Zhiyi was a man of great vision. After becoming emperor, he had no shortage of beautiful women, fine wines, and delicious food, but he did not indulge in pleasure alone.

From the documents Xia Zhaoyi had been reading over the past few days, it was clear that Song Zhiyi had tried more than once to eliminate the long-standing abuses and create peace. However, due to the circumstances, he wanted to follow the ways of the sages and implement policies that benefited the people. On the other hand, he had to add a bunch of exorbitant taxes and levies and engage in tyrannical practices due to the war.

His civil officials were quite capable, managing his situation very well and keeping him in a state of balance.

When Shen Lie brought in the late-night snack, Xia Zhaoyi was still engrossed in reading and even started working on her abacus.

These past few days, Shen Lie has also been very busy. Yan Jun has been dividing his forces to conquer the large circle of cities and counties surrounding Yong'an, and he personally led his troops to attack several heavily guarded cities. Finally managing to steal a moment of leisure, he immediately rode back to see her.

"It smells so good." Xia Zhaoyi looked at the meat sauce noodles that Shen Lie had put down, and there was also a plate of ribs next to it, sprinkled with fresh green scallions.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Lie asked.

Xia Zhaoyi pointed to the booklet: "I found a few places that I don't quite agree with. I think Song Zhiyi's tax calculations are not quite right. But this is just my opinion. I plan to organize it and send it to your Huijin tomorrow."

"...What do you mean by 'my Huijin'?"

"Good, good, it's Yan Jun's Hui Jin." Xia Zhaoyi said with a smile.

Xia Zhaoyi got up and moved to a different seat. She first asked Shen Lie if he had eaten. After learning that he had, Xia Zhaoyi picked up her chopsticks and lowered her head to eat her noodles.

Shen Lie naturally began to massage her shoulders. He was strong, but he restrained himself, and the pressure was just right.

They were all spare ribs, the meat was very tender, the bones were very soft and smooth. Xia Zhaoyi picked up her chopsticks several times to feed Shen Lie, and Shen Lie rinsed his mouth before eating. He was forced to eat another small meal.

When Xia Zhaoyi talked about Song Zhiyi's policies, she sighed, "Song Zhiyi is more reasonable than Li Ju. If Song Zhiyi had managed a prosperous dynasty, he would have been a good and wise ruler."

Shen Lie said, "He can't possibly be a wise ruler."

Xia Zhaoyi smiled: "Indeed, he turns a blind eye to the chaos caused by the Northern Yuan. For so many years, he has never sent a single soldier or even a pound of grain."

Moreover, the methods Song Zhiyi used to take over Yong'an back then were extremely dirty.

After finishing the ribs and noodles, Xia Zhaoyi held Shen Lie's hand on her shoulder and asked, "How many more days do you think Song Zhiyi can hold on?"

Shen Lie looked deeply at her slender fingers and said softly, "Let's see how much backbone he has, but he might not even be as good as Tian Wu."

The entire Tiansheng Palace was surrounded by Yan's army, completely sealed off. Song Zhiyi was still inside the palace, possibly in some secret room or some hidden passage.

However, Shen Lie had already sent people to block the exit of the secret passage before entering Yong'an.

To plan such a big event, they had made various preparations long ago. The blueprints for Tiansheng Palace had been obtained from Song Du, the Minister of Works and father of Song Qingtang, last year.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that there are secret passages that Song Du is unaware of.

Xia Zhaoyi was full and starting to feel sleepy, so Shen Lie accompanied her to wash up. When they returned, Xia Zhaoyi hesitated, "Where...are you sleeping tonight?"

Shen Lie glanced at the soft couch she had been sleeping on these past few days: "Are you patting me on the shoulder and squeezing me?"

"The soft couch is spacious and not cramped, but... I haven't bathed for two days."

She could smell the soap scent on him; he had come prepared.

Shen Lie smiled and deliberately asked, "What do you think I'm going to do?"

Xia Zhaoyi looked into his dark eyes: "Can you guarantee you won't do anything?"

"..."

As if making up his mind, Shen Lie said, "Yes."

"But I can't."

"..."

Shen Lie said in a hoarse voice, "Then, will you go take a bath now? If you don't want to move, I'll bathe you."

Anyway, he had "served" her more than once; he had washed her several times back in the Northwest.

Xia Zhaoyi shook her head, still refusing: "It's inconvenient here, inconvenient to boil water, and inconvenient to take a bath."

“Ah Li…” Shen Lie felt disappointed and aggrieved.

The look in his deep, beautiful eyes was so captivating that Xia Zhaoyi was completely overwhelmed.

However, she still steeled herself and kicked Shen Lie out.

Shen Lie knocked on the door from the outside: "Ali, I really promise you."

Xia Zhaoyi gritted her teeth, her back blocking the door: "Tomorrow, at noon tomorrow, I'll come find you."

"But I have to leave the city again early tomorrow morning."

When will you be back?

"The evening after tomorrow."

"Then the day after tomorrow evening!"

"..."

Shen Lie sighed softly, finally giving up and compromising, "Then, I'll hug you now, and then I'll leave."

Xia Zhaoyi opened the door, and she couldn't help but laugh, looking at him with a smile.

Shen Lie couldn't help but smile: "What are you laughing at me for? Are you laughing at me for looking like a little kid who can't get candy?"

Xia Zhaoyi stepped forward and hugged his slender waist, burying her head in his chest: "I'm a child too, I love candy too."

Having tasted the sweetness, she found enjoyment in sharing pleasure with him.

Shen Lie is very considerate of her feelings, always gentle and caring, but on the other hand, he is fierce, savage, and aggressively possessive.

At the same time, he could show such a huge difference, but she liked that difference very much.

"I will definitely get back as soon as possible," Shen Lie said, hugging Xia Zhaoyi tightly. "When that happens, I will stay with you and not leave."

Xia Zhaoyi smiled sweetly and nodded, "Okay."

Shen Lie gently kissed her forehead and reluctantly left.

Xia Zhaoyi was really sleepy. She lay down on the soft couch fully clothed and quickly drifted off to sleep.

However, she was awakened by her subordinates not long after.

Song Zhiyi has been found.