After Fang Shan's father and son left the Chengji Palace, Shi Xiangjin stepped forward to bow down and began to tell Emperor Hao about all the financial hardships.

Before Qing Ling came, he had prepared some plans to play, but now he was in a state of confusion, so he was a little silent.

Shi Xiangjin seized the opportunity and said to Emperor Hao: "The minister thinks that the best solution now is to let Daze pay half of next year's taxes in advance, reduce a quarter of his taxes next year, and gradually reduce and make up the difference in the future." Cautiously glanced at Qing Ling and lowered his voice, "But Di Ji doesn't think this method is advisable. ”

Emperor Hao looked at Qing Ling, "Why is it not advisable?" ”

Qing Ling adjusted his emotions and replied: "Back to my father, my sons just feel that the bereavement expenses are related to the subjects of the entire Chaoyan, and they should not just throw the burden on Daze's body. ”

Emperor Hao's expression seemed to be becoming more and more severe, "How do you say this?" Isn't Daze Chaoyan's territory? Chaoyan's subjects have needs, shouldn't they share in them? ”

Qing Ling knelt on the ground when he heard this, "That's not what Erchen meant. He glanced sideways at Shi Xiangjin, who was nodding his head because he had been subordinating to Emperor Hao, and asked him to play: "Erchen has something to say to his father alone." ”

Emperor Hao stared at her for a moment, then waved his hand at Shi Xiangjin, "You can retreat first." ”

Shi Xiangjin withdrew from the main hall with mixed feelings, glad that he had finally made a suggestion, and His Majesty seemed to agree with his opinion. On the other hand, I was worried that if the emperor took out a set of her little daughter's coquettish and pestering in front of His Majesty, she had to do it according to her advice in the end, which made things a lot more complicated.

Emperor Hao in the hall motioned for Qing Ling to stand up, "Say it." ”

Qing Ling looked at Emperor Hao, "Father, now that Yuzhong has been destroyed, the next thing we have to deal with is Jiuqiu." In this case, how can you ask Daze for an increase in tax tribute? What if they take the opportunity to ask us again? ”

Emperor Hao raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, and the corners of his mouth pulled out a slightly cold arc, "What else do they dare to ask?" At present, the Chaoyan army has reached the gate of Jiuqiu, and it is only a matter of time and night to take the land of projectiles. I can promise to leave Luo Jia's life for them, and it is already a blessing, what other requirements are they qualified to make? ”

Qing Ling pondered Emperor Hao's tone, "That...... After capturing Jiuqiu, does my father have any plans for the Baili clan? ”

Emperor Hao looked at Qing Ling, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, "Why do you suddenly care about this?" ”

After a pause, he asked again: "Last time, on the way back to Lingxiao City with Baili Fuyao, why did you suddenly run to Zhanggu Mountain?" What happened when he was injured? ”

Qing Ling heard Emperor Hao's repeated questions, and understood that he was suspicious of himself, so he quickly fell to his knees again.

"Father Wang Mingjian, my daughter has no bias towards the Baili clan! The last time I went back to Beijing and passed by Zhanggu Mountain, Baili Shizi said that since he was engaged to me, he had never had the opportunity to officially visit my biological mother, and now my father gave Zhangguo Mountain as my dowry, so he proposed to go and pay respects. Who knows what we'll ...... There was an argument in the main hall, and I accidentally wounded him, and it was difficult for me to come out and tell my servants to see the joke, so I had to take refuge in the hall for a few days. ”

With the lessons of the past, Qing Ling understood that his words and deeds could not escape the eyes and ears of Emperor Hao, and he had arranged his words in his heart in advance on this matter.

"There was an argument?" Emperor Hao inquired and asked, "Why did you have a dispute with him?" ”

"Back to my father,"

Qing Ling said for some time: "It's because ...... Before leaving the camp, her daughter had visited Fang Shan's son. ”

Emperor Hao narrowed his eyes, "Oh? After a pause, "That kid from the Baili family is so stingy that he even cares if you visit the patient?" ”

Qing Ling remembered the conversation he had with Luo Yao because he was drunk a few days ago, and just said in the same way: "It's not! I didn't care about my reputation and lost his face! I said, 'You're a demon of the Nine Hills Luo clan, and you're embarrassed to dislike my reputation?' Then he got angry and said something even more excessive. In the end, I couldn't get angry, and I shot him while he wasn't looking. ”

In a serious competition, she is not Luo Yao's opponent, but it is possible to secretly attack and seriously injure him.

Seeing that his daughter was full of righteous indignation, his emotions did not seem to be fake, and the original doubts in his heart finally disappeared, and he beckoned Qing Ling to come to his side.

"You girl, you can say the words 'the demon of the Jiuqiu Luo clan'! He is the son of Daze, and you still have to give him the face he should give. ”

Qing Ling half-knelt beside Emperor Hao, raised his hand and gently beat his legs, "But the Jiuqiu Luo clan is originally a demon!" When I thought of the tragic death of the Third King Brother at the hands of that demon, I felt very sad! In the future, if I really marry Daze, won't I still call that demon uncle? Just thinking about it makes me feel disgusting! ”

Emperor Hao didn't speak, raised his hand and stroked the top of Qingling's hair, and after a long time, he slowly spoke: "Bear with it again." ”

Bear with me.

In just a few words, it seems simple, but it is the clearest hint that Emperor Hao made to his daughter within the scope of what he can allow.

Qing Ling was stunned for a moment, and raised his head to look at Emperor Hao.

Emperor Hao patted her hand and said, "Father didn't expect that the matter of the southern expedition would go so smoothly. After a pause, his expression seemed a little stunned, "I have to admit that your eldest brother is indeed a rare talent." ”

Then he looked down at Qing Ling and smiled lovingly, "You are also a good boy, you have solved a lot of worries for your brother Wang, so that he can quickly and decisively take down Zhong Qi and Yuzhong." In the future, you must continue to work together, make contributions, and live up to the surname Chaoyan. ”

～～

After some time, Qing Ling found a reason to go to Fang Shan's mansion to visit Fang Shanxia, the eldest lady of Fang Shan.

Her relationship with Fang Shanxia was originally good, and they had a close relationship in the past. However, now that Ah Jing has returned to Lingxiao City, she has hinted behind her back that all her close friends are close friends, and if you want to continue to maintain friendship with her, you should not have any more intersections with Qingling. There are many people who are not used to seeing Ah Jing on weekdays and continue to be friends with the two emperors, but Fang Shanxia, as Ah Jing's cousin, can't help but avoid suspicion, so she gradually faded her connection with Qingling.

Today, when people came to say that Emperor Qingling had visited, Fang Shanxia was quite surprised.

The two drank tea and chatted in Fang Shanxia's boudoir.

Fang Shanxia and Chun Yujue's wedding date was booked, and she was busy preparing for various matters recently, and sighed: "In the past, when I participated in other people's weddings, I always secretly thought that when I did it myself in the future, all the procedures would be more complicated and exquisite. But now, I wish I could keep everything simple! It's best to have a casual meal with two families! ”

Qingling chuckled, "Sister Xia wants to be simple, but the parents of the two families won't agree!" After all, it is a marriage between the four great families, and it is still the first in our lives, right? Patriarch Fangshan said that he would have to let you marry to the fullest! ”

Fang Shanxia shook her head, "Alas, you also know that my family is just the opposite of Chunyu's family, there are more boys, fewer girls, and my mother is weak. Where is it like you, there is a special eldest emperor to help handle the deliberations, and you don't need to spend half of your thoughts! Now that you're here, why don't you stay a little longer and help me pick out the style of dress. ”

Qing Ling nodded in agreement, "Okay." ”

Fang Shanxia then instructed the maid to take the patterns and unfold them with Qing Ling one by one to comment on them.

The two of them tacitly avoided the topic of Ah Jing or Fang Shanlei, and never involved in the affairs of the imperial court, only focused on discussing the style of clothing and decoration, and laughed and joked from time to time, but they also got along very well.

Fang Shanxia's temperament was originally calm and generous, but now that the wedding is approaching, her mood is inevitably a little excited, and she has added the delicate attitude of many little daughters when she speaks, holding Qingling's arm, and smiling all the time.

Qing Ling was secretly in his heart, and his gaze was a little wandering unconsciously.

After about half an hour, the maid came in and said, "Miss, the eldest prince is here." ”

Hearing this, Fang Shanxia quickly glanced at Qing Ling, her expression seemed to be a little helpless and melancholy, she stepped forward and quietly pinched her wrist, and whispered in her ear: "Look, I know that as soon as I heard that you were coming, the eldest brother would have to make up a reason to find it." Sighing, "He's been in a bad mood lately, if you say something wrong, don't take it to heart." ”

Qing Ling smiled and nodded.

When Fang Shanlei stepped into the house, the two servants behind him also followed in with a pair of tall mirrors inlaid with silver nanmu.

Fang Shanlei pointed to the mirror, and said to Shanxia: "The day before yesterday, you said that the gold jewelry embedded in this set of makeup was a little too tacky, so I asked someone to replace it with silver jewelry." Do you see if you're satisfied? ”

Fang Shanxia looked at her glasses, then raised her eyes to look at Fang Shanlei, and saw that although he was talking to herself, her eyes kept falling in the direction of Qingling, and she couldn't help but sigh secretly in her heart.

Obviously, the things that can be sent by sending a subordinate have to bother the eldest prince of Fang Shan to go there in person and spread it out, and I don't know how others can speculate how much he is favored by his brother in the family......

Although Fang Shanxia thought like this in her heart, she couldn't tell it, so she had to take advantage of the situation and walk in front of the mirror, pretending to seriously examine the details everywhere.

Fang Shanlei walked up to Qing Ling and looked at her with burning eyes, "Emperor Ji." ”

Qing Ling saluted Fang Shan Lei, "Fang Shan Gongzi." ”

"Why does Emperor Ji have time to come and see Sister Xia today?"

Qing Ling smiled politely, "I originally wanted to come for a long time, but I have been too busy with government affairs recently, and I haven't been able to spare time." ”

Fang Shanlei asked, "Are you still busy with taxes?" ”

Qing Ling nodded, "Hmm." ”

Both of them remembered in their hearts that day Fang Shanxiu impeached Mu Chen, who was eager for success and profit, causing heavy losses to the imperial court, and they were silent for a moment with each other.

Qing Ling asked, "Is there any progress in the matter of Fang Shangongzi's arraignment?" ”

Fang Shanlei hesitated for a moment and said, "I guess you have heard that Cheng Yi has been escorted into Beijing a few days ago. I interrogated him privately a few times, but he always refused to admit that he had colluded with Luo Heng. ”

Even if he did not hesitate to use harsh lynching, he could not dig out the answer he wanted.

Fang Shanlei was quite puzzled in his heart.

Since Yuzhong has lost the country, Cheng Yi will not escape death, so why bother to cover up the conspiracy with Jiuqiu and exonerate others?

Qing Ling on the side heard Fang Shanlei say this, and a complex and indistinguishable look flashed in his eyes, as if he understood it, and he was even more worried.

At the end, she looked up at Fang Shanlei, "Has Young Master Fang ever thought that since the matter has passed, why do you have to spend manpower and financial resources to get to the bottom of it, and let yourself remember the past and increase your sadness?" In the final analysis, this matter can only be blamed on Mu Han's impulsiveness, isn't it? ”