The Prodigal Son

As the two walked out of the room, Zhao Luan, dressed in casual clothes, had already entered, led in by a servant of the Song residence.

Surprisingly, of the two generals, only Yun Ying followed him.

"Your humble servant Song Zhuo (Qin Yu) greets Your Majesty!"

Song Zhuo led Qin Yu forward to pay their respects.

"No need for formalities!"

Zhao Luan stepped forward to help Song Zhuo up, her gaze falling on Qin Yu. "Did you come to wish your mentor a Happy New Year, or to ask him for help?"

Got it!

Upon hearing Zhao Luan's words, Qin Yu understood that she must already know about the City God Temple.

Could Song Zhuo have really been right?

That can't be!

If anyone wants to cause trouble, they should go to Lü Si, not me.

What, you want to take the blame?

None of the doors!

"What help do I need from Chancellor Song?"

Qin Yu chuckled and said, "I just brought Que'er to pay my respects to Prime Minister Song for the New Year and to check on how his health is improving."

That's the truth!

Help?

That's something Lü Si should do!

However, to be fair, Lü Si is in a pretty bad situation now.

He would definitely not want to marry Shi Lian'er.

If I don't marry her, I'll probably ruin the she-devil's plans again!

My heart aches for Lü Si for a second!

Amitabha……

"Is that so?"

A playful glint flashed across Zhao Luan's face, and she smiled at Song Zhuo, saying, "Teacher, it's chilly outside, let's come inside!"

"well!"

Song Zhuo gave Qin Yu a look that said, "May you have good luck," and gestured with his hand, "Your Majesty, please!"

Qin Yu didn't take it seriously and followed Nan Que'er inside.

Trying to pin this on yourself? No way!

After sitting down in the room, Qin Yu asked with a smile, "Your Majesty has also come to visit Prime Minister Song?"

Zhao Luan raised an eyebrow. "How do you know I didn't come here specifically to see you?"

"Your Majesty, please don't frighten me."

Qin Yu chuckled and said, "If Your Majesty truly wishes to summon me, you can simply send someone to invite me to the palace. Why go through all this trouble?"

As he spoke, Qin Yu picked up the teapot again and poured tea for Zhao Luan.

"You two bastards can't even have peace during the New Year! I'll deal with you later!"

Zhao Luan glared at him irritably, then asked Song Zhuo about his health.

She wasn't there to cause trouble for Qin Yu; she was just there to wish her mentor a Happy New Year and chat with him about something.

She never expected to run into that bastard Qin Yu at the Song residence.

When Zhao Luan asked him questions, Song Zhuo gave the same answer.

Eat well and stay healthy!

However, everyone knows that he was just trying to reassure people.

"Please take good care of yourself, dear teacher! It's getting chilly, so please stay indoors and rest more."

After giving some instructions, Zhao Luan said, "After the spring, once the situation in Wu and Xing prefectures has stabilized a bit, I will send someone to replace Song Xian. At that time, he can come back and spend more time with his mentor."

"Your Majesty need not do this."

Song Zhuo chuckled, "If Song Xian doesn't do a good job, Your Majesty can send someone to replace him, and I will certainly agree! But if he does a decent job, the stability of the two prefectures should be the top priority."

He knew his days were numbered.

When Song Xian left the capital, he had already given many instructions in advance.

Even if Song Xian comes back now, he won't have much to say.

"Let's see how things go!"

Zhao Luan didn't dwell on that question and instead asked Song Zhuo, "Did Qin Yu tell you about them beating Shi Lian'er at the City God Temple?"

"I already said that."

Song Zhuo laughed heartily, "He also said that His Majesty intends to arrange a marriage between the Shi family and the Lü family."

"really!"

Zhao Luan nodded slightly. "My mentor should have guessed my purpose by now, right?"

"I guessed it!"

Song Zhuo smiled. "Your Majesty's move is indeed brilliant! However, is reforming the salt administration truly imperative?"

He still didn't really want Zhao Luan to make a move against those salt merchants at this time.

Even if we are to take action, we should wait until the situation stabilizes and the salt route in Min is fully opened.

For now, as long as those salt merchants don't go too far, we can tolerate them for the time being to avoid any further complications. There will be plenty of opportunities to settle accounts with them later!

"I was initially somewhat hesitant, but this morning I received a secret report, and I believe that reforming the salt administration is now imperative!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Luan's eyes, and she instructed Yun Ying, "Show the account books and secret reports to our master! Qin Yu, you can take a look too!"

"yes!"

Yun Ying accepted the order and immediately handed two account books and a secret report to Song Zhuo.

Song Zhuo took the account book and looked through it, while Qin Yu leaned over to examine it as well.

The two men only glanced at it briefly before their expressions simultaneously turned ugly!

After reading the account book and the secret report, the two were so shocked that they were speechless.

The salt merchant involved in the ledger had 50% of his salt quota filled by smuggled salt that was passed off as official salt!

Moreover, some salt merchants even conspired to monopolize the salt industry in Minjiang.

Song Zhuo slammed the secret memorial on the table with a "bang," his face turning ashen. "These salt merchants are truly insatiable! Do they really think the imperial court won't dare to touch them?"

Qin Yu didn't speak, but just shook his head secretly.

People!

The worst thing is not recognizing yourself!

They'd risk their lives for money!

Why do you need so much money?

You can't take anything with you when you're born, and you can't take it with you when you die!

They haven't learned a single lesson from the past thousands of years!

Zhao Luan's face darkened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "These salt merchants are becoming increasingly audacious, to the point of ignoring the imperial court! If the court continues to indulge them, the existing salt administration will become even more corrupt, and the project to open up the salt route in Min will inevitably be greatly hindered!"

"really!"

Song Zhuo nodded in deep agreement, "This matter is also my fault. If I hadn't hesitated and advised Your Majesty to postpone the rectification of the salt administration, these salt merchants wouldn't have become so arrogant!"

"What are you saying, my dear teacher?"

Zhao Luan gently shook her head. "The situation at court was too complicated back then; it certainly wasn't the right time to reorganize the salt administration! Even now, it's not the best time to do so, but it's now imperative!"

Song Zhuo lowered his head and pondered for a moment before asking, "Does Your Majesty intend to carry out the reorganization of the salt administration and the opening of the salt route in Min region at the same time?"

"Um."

Zhao Luan nodded slightly, her gaze unwavering.

Song Zhuo thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "I suggest that the task of opening up the salt route in Min should be entrusted to Yu Jing! The newly added salt merchants should each be divided equally between Min and the imperial court!"

"My mentor and I are thinking the same thing!"

Zhao Luan immediately smiled and looked at Qin Yu: "I'm too lazy to summon Feng Yingxu. Tell him for me that the Feng family's other businesses can be put on hold for now, and that opening up the salt route in Min is the top priority!"

Ok?

Qin Yu was slightly surprised.

So it was decided beforehand?

Why doesn't she give Feng Yingxu another chance?

Or is this her way of returning the favor?

Qin Yu was secretly puzzled, but accepted the order and said, "Yes!"

"There are some things you need to tell him for me!"

As Zhao Luan spoke, his voice suddenly turned cold: "The court may grant them wealth and honor, but anyone who tries to firmly grasp the lifeblood of the court in their own hands, I will surely cut off their claws!"

Qin Yu nodded: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I know how to explain this!"

"I believe in you!"

Zhao Luan nodded slightly, then abruptly changed the subject, "Shouldn't you give me an explanation for beating Shi Lian'er?"

"Your Majesty, you should go and discuss this with Lü Si!"

Qin Yu looked completely innocent. "Lu Si is the Empress Dowager's nephew. I can't just stand by and watch him get beaten to death or maimed, can I? If I don't do anything, the Empress Dowager will surely hold me accountable. This is too much for me!"

"I knew you'd say that!"

Zhao Luan glared at them. "Let's see what the Shi and Lü families have to say first! If the Shi family doesn't know what's good for them, then I'll deal with you!"

"..."

Qin Yu's face suddenly darkened. "Your Majesty, isn't this a bit unreasonable?"

"really!"

Zhao Luan nodded in agreement, a sly smile flashing in her eyes. "But when you made me angry, you didn't reason with me either!"

"I……"

Qin Yu was speechless for a moment, and could only pick up his teacup and drink tea to relieve his depression.

A hint of a smile flickered in Zhao Luan's eyes, and she asked Song Zhuo with a grin, "What did Qin Yu talk about with his mentor before I came?"

Song Zhu chuckled and said slowly, "He said he has long admired His Majesty..."

"puff……"

Qin Yu spat out a mouthful of tea.

The tea sprayed precisely onto Zhao Luan's beautiful yet dignified face...