The First Auxiliary Road from the Imperial Examination

"Ah? Who are you talking about and who had a fight in the inner city?!" Sheng Yuan, who was originally dozing off, stood up with a "whoosh" while supporting himself on the table after hearing the report from his subordinates.

The drowsiness after lunch disappeared in an instant.

"Replying to the Minister, it's Concubine Cen and Grand Princess Hong'an!" Seeing Sheng Yuan's curiosity, the subordinates under the Right Minister quickly got straight to the point, "As far as I know, the two nobles are still confronting there!"

"This is really a strange thing!" Sheng Yuan rubbed his hands excitedly and muttered to himself, "One is said to be recuperating in the palace, and the other is under the emperor's order to be confined for self-reflection, and now the two of them are confronting each other in the downtown area?"

The subordinate nodded in agreement. When he heard the comments about Grand Princess Hong'an, he thought she was unaware of the situation and whispered, "Minister, I vaguely remember that the previous Emperor Chengyuan gave the Grand Princess a token, saying that as long as the Grand Princess holds the token, she can return to the imperial estate at any time without hindrance, and the successor emperor cannot refute it."

"Yes, that is true." Sheng Yuan nodded and said with a smile, "It's just that the eldest princess has been traveling back and forth between the two places quite frequently recently!"

Upon hearing this, the subordinates could not help but chime in: "Perhaps the nobleman finds it amusing!"

Sheng Yuan glanced at him, his eyes flickering across the table piled with books, and his eyes rolled around: "I seem to remember that the Grand Princess's Mansion and Prince Jing's Mansion have not yet repaid the silver they owed to the national treasury for their investment in sea trade?"

Coincidentally, this official happened to be the head of Jinke, and his jurisdiction included maritime trade.

The subordinates heard the words and understood what he meant, and immediately agreed: "It is true that it has not been repaid."

But after saying this, he silently added in his heart: Because the emperor never intended to ask them to pay it back in the first place!

A large part of the maritime trade business managed by the imperial court was the care and bonuses given to royal family members and nobles.

Earlier, the Prince Jing's Mansion and the Grand Princess Hong'an's Mansion were allowed to participate in the shares. That was a benefit given by the Emperor to Concubine Dowager Cen and Grand Princess Hong'an.

Since the Emperor was caring about the two elders, it was naturally impossible for him to ask for their investment silver. However, in order to prevent other clan members from talking nonsense, he said that he would lend the silver to the two of them for investment, and then slowly repay them after receiving the dividends.

Of course, that is what they said, but the dividends had been paid out many times, but had never been used to make up for the investment expenses at that time; if there were no variables, then when the Ministry of Revenue completed the audit and settlement of accounts once every ten years, the two loans would naturally be written off.

If it were in the past, when Sheng Yuan brought up the issue of the loan between the two governments, the officials would have certainly spoken out to persuade him.

But now, the emperor's attitude towards Princess Hong'an is different from before. It is not certain whether the previous investment is still a cover as before.

Although tens of thousands of taels of silver might not be of great interest to Concubine Cen and the Grand Princess, Minister An of the Ministry of Revenue would treasure it very much!

The subordinate officials guaranteed with their professional reputation that as long as their Right Vice Minister suggested collecting the debt, their Minister An of the Ministry of Revenue would immediately verify the debt and collect it immediately.

"Well, the trade directly managed by the court is indeed prosperous, but the funding for each ministry is also increasing step by step. Even if the Ministry of Revenue intends to be comprehensive, it still depends on whether there is surplus grain in the national treasury! At present, the grain taxes from various places will soon be sent to the capital, and we will be busy then. Now that we are still relatively free, shouldn't we collect the accounts that have been issued in the past?"

"What the Minister said makes sense. I think the Minister will agree to it after hearing it."

  "Well, in that case, you should personally deliver my letter of suggestion to Minister An and let him read it and seal it." Sheng Yuan put down his pen and handed over the letter he had just written. "As for me, I will go over and see what Concubine Cen and Princess Hong'an think about the repayment of the loan." "...Well, thank you for your hard work, Minister." The official paused and quickly expressed his admiration!

It was not easy for her own Right Assistant Minister to wait until now to watch the fun, especially since she could think of making up an excuse!

……

"Concubine Cen!" Princess Hong'an looked at the person in front of her with uncontrollable anger.

She had never really trusted this old woman, even though she had always appeared to be peaceful, sincere and kind.

  But she never expected that the other party would suddenly make a move, slandering and accusing her in the street, and calling a horse a zebra!

Everything he did was aimed at taking her daughter's life!

Although she couldn't figure out the reason, Princess Hong'an, whose head was buzzing, had a vague feeling that if she confronted her, there would probably be setbacks.

"Hong'an! I have known you for a long time, and we have never had any grudges against each other, let alone personal hatred! Now I am reporting to the emperor that Yongning has the intention of being disloyal, which is truly for the country and the people! I made the report first, and now I am urging you to take the blame and come to the palace to apologize for not teaching your daughter well. Although it may seem a bit heartless, I also hope that you can come to the palace to persuade him to return to the right path!"

Concubine Cen stood on the carriage and gave an impassioned speech to Princess Hong'an in front of her.

The angry and confused Princess Hong'an was so angry that she almost fainted after noticing all the looks and pointings from all around her.

The way they were standing at the moment, it looked like she was about to leave the city, and Concubine Cen caught up with her to persuade her to return.

But in fact, when she was preparing to leave the city, she and Concubine Cen's carriage went in the opposite direction.

In view of the other party's seniority, she also ordered the convoy to give way and let the other party go first.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stopped, the other party rushed to her and scolded her without saying a word, saying that she should not indulge Yongning's ambitious plans, and that she should not be unrepentant and use the grace of the late emperor to help the tyrant.

  How ridiculous!

She had been traveling frequently between the imperial city and the imperial farm recently. One reason was to let the emperor remember the favors of the two previous emperors to her; the other reason was that most of the people in the Grand Princess's Mansion in Kyoto were spies from the internal security guards, and she could not tolerate the strict supervision and control. Only in the imperial farm given to her by her uncle could she find peace, sort out her thoughts, and think of ways to rescue Yongning and her grandchildren.

But even though she desperately wanted to take her daughter out of the palace, she never thought of joining forces with certain forces and using force to coerce her.

She just wanted to take her daughter back, even if the price was to leave Kyoto and live in seclusion in the Jiang clan's territory, or to travel across the ocean and live in seclusion on an island overseas.

  She has compromised so much! She has bowed her head so much! Why is she helping the tyrant? !

Princess Hongan felt so ridiculous that she laughed out of anger.

"Since Yongning entered the palace, she and her child have been confined to the outer garden, under surveillance day and night, and cannot enter or leave at will, nor can they contact anyone outside the palace. Her food, clothing, and paper and pen are all provided by the palace. I, her biological mother, cannot see her at will, but you, a concubine who lives outside the palace, know her life in the palace clearly. It's strange! Isn't it obvious who is confusing right and wrong?!

Humph! Although I don't know why you framed me, I can't let you go easily! If you are not guilty, come with me into the palace! Let's talk to the court officials and relatives and have a clear account! Then the emperor will definitely judge you for being old and confused!"

Princess Hong'an was still rational. Although she argued loudly for the sake of public opinion, she was not prepared to deal with the other party for too long.

The situation is unclear, and the other party's purpose is unclear. She can only take the opportunity to make trouble in the court to get rid of the other party's control. (End of this chapter)