I, the queen and the father, start with a deer as a horse

Chapter 157 The Angry Little Empress

After finishing speaking, the little empress felt that this question was too naive, she laughed lightly like self-deprecating, and said to herself:
"I'm so stupid, I can ask such an inexplicable question."

"Great harmony in the world... Even if there are gods in the world, it won't be possible."

Fang Xiu was noncommittal.

The little empress suddenly raised her eyes, looked at Fang Xiu, and blinked her big watery eyes:
"Speaking of which, if I remember correctly, the imperial court should have set up Beitianyuan and Salesian Bureaus in various places to accommodate widows, widows and lonely people. If this is the case, why are there so many beggars? Where did the money allocated to them go? "

After a pause, it seemed that it was not appropriate to ask such a question, and added:
"I'm not questioning Fang Xiang... I'm still young, and Fang Xiang shields me from the wind and rain. It's impossible for me to do everything myself. I just want to know why."

Fang Xiu really couldn't answer this question, because he didn't know.

He is not a god, he works hard, and he has to make up his mind on all important matters.

In addition, we must also think about how to plan the world, how to innovate technology, and how to rectify the administration of officials.

If Beitianyuan and Salesian Bureau want him to intervene, then he doesn't have to do anything.

then.

Fang Xiu told the truth: "I don't know either."

"However, I can accompany His Majesty to investigate."

The little empress said "hmm", looked at Lin Wan'er at the side, and ordered:
"Let the guards drive the carriage to the Salesian Bureau."

Lin Wan'er nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

The little empress withdrew her gaze, pressed her little head against Fang Xiu's chest, and slowly closed her eyes.

After a while, I fell into dreamland.

Fang Xiu hugged her and wanted to do something, but seeing the peaceful expression on the little empress's face, he restrained himself again.

The carriage moved on.

After an unknown amount of time, it slowly stopped.

The guard's voice came from outside the carriage.

"My lord, the Salesian Bureau of Anhua County is ahead!"

Heard the words "Salesia Bureau".

The little empress who was sleeping slowly opened her eyes, looked ahead in a daze, and asked, "Are you there?"

"Ah."

Fang Xiu responded with a hoarse voice.

The little empress noticed the change in Fang Xiu's voice, turned to look at him, and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Faint bloodshot eyes appeared in Fang Xiu's eyes, and he looked at her with the eyes of a hunter looking at his prey, without speaking.

The little empress didn't notice his eyes, felt a little uncomfortable, frowned, and twisted her body.

"Your dagger hit me."

Fang Xiu's eyes darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "I don't have the habit of carrying a dagger with me."

The little empress frowned slightly, and said angrily: "I can feel it, but you are still coaxing me."

The voice fell.

She suddenly thought of what Shang Gong said to her a month ago.

"If a man is emotional, he will..."

The little empress realized something instantly, her pretty face flushed red, and she left Fang Xiu's embrace.

The voice trembled a little:

"Here we are."

"get off."

As he said that, he didn't dare to look into Fang Xiu's eyes, and got out of the carriage.

On the side, Lin Wan'er was curious why His Majesty's face turned so red all of a sudden, but she was too embarrassed to ask, so she kept the question in her heart and walked on.

Fang Xiu sat alone in the carriage, took a deep breath, calmed down, got up slowly, and got off the carriage.

sunset.

The fiery red sunset glowed half of the sky.

In Anhua County.

In front of a dilapidated courtyard.

Wearing a fox fur, Wu Mingkong felt a little dazed when he heard the laughter coming from inside.

"The Salesian Bureau does exist, and there are indeed children in it. If so, why are there so many beggars?"

With such doubts.

Wu Mingkong pushed open the gate of the courtyard and walked in.

Fang Xiu and Lin Wan'er followed closely behind.

Then there's the guard with the knife.

The space in the courtyard is not large, and there is only one jujube tree in it.

There are two water jars under the jujube tree, and there is water in the jars.

Together, front, back, left, and right, there are four huts in total, and the sound of children playing and playing is coming from the huts.

Fang Xiu winked at the guard.

The guard immediately understood and pushed open the door of the hut.

The sound of playing and playing stopped abruptly.

Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong looked at each other and walked into the room.

Entering the room, the first thing that catches the eye is a dozen immature and rough faces.

Immature means that they are very young, the oldest is only twelve or thirteen years old, and the youngest is only seven or eight years old.

Rough means their faces are pitted and covered with chilblains.

Look around for a week.

will be able to see.

The house is small and simply decorated.

There was only one bed with a quilt.

A crude stove.

A wooden table.

A wooden chair.

There are also a dozen porcelain bowls.

Other than that, nothing!
It is no different from the ruined temple where beggars live.

"Who are you, you guys?"

At this time, an older boy stood up and looked at Fang Xiu with a frightened expression and a trembling voice.

Fang Xiu looked at him and said in as gentle a tone as possible: "Don't be afraid, uncle is a businessman from Chang'an. He passed by here and wanted to see the children from the Salesian Bureau."

After a pause, he asked, "Is this the Salesian Bureau?"

The little boy was silent for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

Fang Xiu asked again: "Who is in charge here on weekdays?"

The little boy fell silent and did not answer for a long time.

Fang Xiu thought for a while and gave the guard a wink.

The guard immediately understood, took out a piece of mustache from his arms, and handed it to the little boy.

Wu Mingkong noticed it keenly.

The moment the guard took out the mustache.

The eyes of the children around were all bright, looking at the food and swallowing.

Little boys are no exception.

But, although his eyes were full of longing for food, he still didn't reach for it.

He just swallowed his saliva and didn't speak.

Seeing this, Wu Mingkong said, "We have no malicious intentions, but just want to know if there is anyone who takes care of you or brings you food and clothing."

The voice fell.

A little girl timidly said: "How many uncles?"

As soon as she opened her mouth, the little boy glared at her and scolded, "Don't say it!"

The little girl lowered her head hastily, not daring to say any more.

Wu Mingkong and Fang Xiu looked at each other, and they could see the surprise in each other's eyes.

It seems that there are actually people in charge of the Salesian Home.

It's just that these children are very wary of outsiders and dare not speak.

see this scene.

Wu Mingkong showed thought, thinking about how to make these children let go of their guard.

Just now.

Another little girl seemed to recognize the guards, and said excitedly: "I know them! They gave us a lot of food today!"

As soon as this word comes out.

Both Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong were taken aback.

After carefully looking at these children, I found out.

Several of them were little beggars who used to beg on the official road.

In an instant, an unknown fire rose from the chest of the little empress.

"The imperial court allocated money to establish Salesian Bureaus in various state capitals, but the local government swallowed up all the money, and turned these unwanted children into beggars for a living. It is really abominable!"

Think of this.

The little empress could no longer restrain the anger in her heart, and said coldly:

"Bring the magistrate of Anhua! I have something to ask him!"

"Yes!"

The guard took the order and turned to leave.

at the same time.

Knowing that Fang Xiu and his party are the good people who gave them food before.

The vigilance of the little beggars was also much weaker.

At the very least, dare to look up at the appearance of Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong.

Wu Mingkong looked at the little girl who wanted to talk before, and said gently:

"You just said, how many uncles are there, what happened to the uncles?"

The little girl was a little nervous, she lowered her head, clenched her hands tightly, and said nothing.

The little boy on the side was much more courageous and answered for her.

"She just wanted to say that there are a few uncles who usually send food and clothes
It was also the idea of ​​those uncles to let us take the bowls and go begging on the road. "

Wu Mingkong's face revealed a sudden look, and he understood in his heart.

Those uncles may be the big beggar who followed the little beggar earlier.

Probably because he couldn't bear to watch these children starve to death, so he taught them some begging skills.

"Beggars still have the heart to care for children. How can those dogs in the government who have read sage books turn a blind eye to these seven or eight-year-old beggars!"

Thinking of this, Wu Mingkong felt more and more angry.

After a while, he asked again: "Then why didn't you let her talk just now?"

The little boy replied: "Who knows if you are bad people."

Wu Mingkong was speechless, thought for a while, and asked again:

"What about your family?"

The little boy said, "It's just me!"

Wu Mingkong was silent for a while, then looked at the little girl again, and asked, "What about you?"

The little girl clutched the corner of her clothes and said timidly:
"In Liu's Village."

Wu Mingkong was a little surprised and asked, "Then why don't you go home?"

The little girl lowered her head, as if remembering something sad, her voice trembled with tears:
"My dad said I was a loser and sent me here."

Hearing this, Wu Mingkong suddenly felt as if his heart was tightly clenched by something, unable to breathe.

After a while, he asked, "How old are you?"

The girl tremblingly said: "Thirteen."

Wu Mingkong's eyes widened in disbelief, and he looked her up and down carefully.

The girl was wearing tattered cloth clothes, she looked very short and thin, she looked like she was eight or nine years old.

Wu Mingkong looked at her, speechless for a long time.

Seeing this, Fang Xiu stood behind her, leaned over and explained in her ear:
"According to the Dagan law, people over the age of 16, regardless of gender, have to pay taxes.

Some poor families gave birth to girls, and they were able to raise them at first, but when they were thirteen or fourteen years old, they planned to marry off the girls.

Those who can't get married can only stay at home, can't do much work, and have to eat and pay taxes, so they become losers.

As parents, even if you lose money, you have to support them, but there are always some cruel people in this world."

Speaking of which, stop abruptly.

But the little empress understood.

After all, those who are a little cruel will lose their own flesh and blood to reduce the burden on the family.

Hearing Fang Xiu's explanation, Wu Mingkong felt anger rising in his chest, but he had nowhere to vent it.

Looking at the skinny children in this room. Or teenagers, girls.

Wu Mingkong really wanted to throw himself into Fang Xiu's arms and cry loudly.

But she knows that on the road of life, some things must be faced alone after all.

What's more, what are these?

This is Anhua County, which is very close to Chang'an.

If you go to Qingzhou, where the disaster has just ended, I'm afraid there will be worse scenes everywhere.

What about her?
Have you been crying in Fang Xiu's arms?
Thinking so, the little empress took a deep breath to calm down her emotions.

Looking at these little beggars, he forced himself to ask a few more questions.

These little beggars also answered one by one.

After a while.

The little empress's heart was already full of anger.

In her opinion.

It is understandable that something like this happened in Qingzhou.

But what happened in Anhua County is entirely the responsibility of the government!

Don't say anything else.

The government can't even give out the money to help some small beggars!
It's nothing more than being enriched by these crazy guys!

Think so.

The little empress looked at the guards, and ordered: "Go and urge, let the magistrate of Anhua come and see you quickly!"

The guard cupped his hands and was about to leave.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps at the door.

Immediately afterwards, a strange voice came.

"My lower official is Du Fang Township, Magistrate of Anhua County, and I greet you, Your Excellency!"

(End of this chapter)