Shu Zicheng went all the way under the leadership of Zhao Gonggong, and came to Jinghe Hall in a short time.

The emperor was already sitting in the Jinghe Palace.

Shu Zicheng took a deep breath outside the hall, and then walked into the hall with his head down.

Seeing Shu Zicheng walking slowly, the emperor stood up in person at the moment: "Shu Aiqing, you have finally returned to Beijing!" Come on, come on, sit down, I am very happy to hear that you have returned to Beijing, and I specially asked the imperial dining room to prepare some good wine and food, Aiqing come and enjoy it with me. ”

Shu Zicheng looked up, and really saw a table of wine banquet set up in Jinghe Palace, he only hurriedly brushed his head, then buried his head again, pursed his lips and said: "The grass people are guilty, and they dare not have a banquet with the emperor." ”

The emperor grinned lightly: "Shu Aiqing's words are wrong, you are the first imperial merchant of the Great Zhou, and the richest man of the Great Zhou, you have always been loyal to the royal family, what is the crime?" Come on, take a seat. ”

Shu Zicheng still didn't dare to act.

The emperor said half-jokingly: "What, does Shu Aiqing want me to personally invite you to take a seat?" ”

Although there was a smile in his words, it made Shu Zicheng feel extremely cold, as if he was covered with frost.

"The grass people don't dare." Shu Zicheng bowed his head, and then cautiously walked to the banquet and sat down on another empty seat.

There were only two people in this small banquet, the emperor and Shu Zicheng, and the huge palace was full of fragrance, but Shu Zicheng only felt like pins and needles, and his mind was restless.

"Does Shu Aiqing know why I summoned you to the palace today?" The emperor personally poured a glass of wine for Shu Zicheng and asked with a smile.

Shu Zicheng clenched his fists, and layers of cold sweat broke out in his palms: "The grass people don't dare to guess the holy will. ”

The emperor smiled, unhurriedly took a piece of fragrant and soft crispy meat and put it in his mouth, and said slowly: "I have heard of someone selling illicit salt in the Chenzhou area, but I firmly believe that Shu Aiqing will definitely not be that kind of person. ”

Shu Zicheng took a deep breath, but his heart became more and more uneasy because of the emperor's words.

Although he no longer works in the court, he has long understood the temperament of the little emperor, which is really not like the character of the little emperor.

"There is no wind and no waves, and the grass people must have done something wrong, which will cause such criticism." Shu Zicheng lowered his head obediently, and did not dare to move his chopsticks from beginning to end.

He does have some financial resources and status in Da Zhou, but in the final analysis, he is just a businessman, and in the face of imperial power, he can't do any resistance at all, so at present, he can only obediently admit his guilt.

The emperor's smile was as usual: "According to me, Shu Aiqing's family business must be too big, which has aroused the jealousy of others, so there are such ridiculous rumors, the so-called people are afraid of being famous, pigs are afraid of being strong, this is the reason." ”

Shu Zicheng has been in the business world for so many years, and he has long learned to observe words and feelings, and he can clearly hear the deep meaning of the emperor's words - the emperor has begun to taboo the Shu family's financial resources.

Shu Zicheng has always understood this, especially in the past two years.

In the past two years, the business of Shufu has become bigger and bigger, and it is not an exaggeration to say that their Shufu is rich and rivals the country, and the silver stored in Shufu has already been as rich as half of the Great Zhou.

Seeing that Shu Mansion is growing day by day, the emperor will naturally be on guard.

Shu Zicheng's face was pale, and he didn't dare to speak.

At this moment, the emperor suddenly sighed again: "Hey. ”

Shu Zicheng asked cautiously: "The emperor seems to have something on his mind, I wonder if the grass people can solve the emperor's worries?" ”

The emperor put down his chopsticks and his eyes flickered: "Hey, there are indeed a lot of troubles recently. That royal brother of mine is really messing around. I know all the good things he did in Chenzhou, I heard that now Liu Chuimian is missing, and the imperial brother has begun to pester Miss Shuqing again. ”

Shu Zicheng's heart trembled, but he only smiled and said with relief on his face: "The emperor can rest assured, Chenzhou Mountain is high and far away, and no one will know." ”

As he said, Chenzhou Mountain is high and far away, but the emperor knows all about these little things, and he thinks that he has already planted fine works beside them to monitor their words and deeds.

Thinking about it like this, Shu Zicheng only felt cold all over his body.

The emperor smiled again: "These children's affection is still a trivial matter, and it only takes a holy decree from me to solve it, but the imperial brother also takes all the blame for the case of private salt on him, which makes me very embarrassed." You say that if I speak for him, someone will say that I am protecting him, but after all, he is my royal brother, and I really can't bear to see him in the middle of it. When the time comes, there will be more rumors, and that side will involve Miss Shu, if you ruin Miss Shu's reputation, how can you bear it in your heart. ”

Although the emperor's words sounded like everything was for the sake of Shu Fu, Shu Zicheng heard the threat.

It's just that Shu Zicheng doesn't know what the emperor wants at the moment, and what he wants him to do, Shu Zicheng has to respectfully test: "People are terrible, but it is also the most difficult thing to control, this matter is that Ah Qing has affected the prince, if the emperor is worried about this, the grass people will let Ah Qing be more careful in the future." ”

"Hey, Brother Huang and Miss Shu are in love, wouldn't it be a pity if they were broken up because of these gossips?" The emperor frowned, "Shu Aiqing doesn't have to be angry with Miss Shu. I still want to hold another grand wedding for the royal brother and Miss Shu. ”

Shu Zicheng was silent, now he has agreed with Mo Wengu as a son-in-law, not to mention that he knows that the bond between Shu Qing and Mo Wengu has not been broken, and the emperor has seized this point to blackmail him.

Shu Zicheng guessed that the emperor had laid the groundwork so much, and it was time to get to the point.

Sure enough, the emperor followed up and said: "It's just that there are things that make me more troublesome at the moment, the current shortage of military funds at the border pass, but it coincides with the emptiness of the treasury, if the military resources at the border pass are broken, I am afraid that the border defense will be broken sooner or later, and at that time the entire Great Zhou will be turbulent, what are the little things I just said?" ”

I don't know why, hearing the emperor say this, Shu Zicheng breathed a sigh of relief.

He waited for so many years, and finally waited for this day, as early as the day he became the richest man in Da Zhou, he expected such a day. In fact, the emperor went around in a big circle like this, isn't it for the money of Shufu?

Shu Zicheng sighed and smiled suddenly: "The grass people can't help with the things on the side, but the grass people may be able to contribute to this matter." If the emperor does not dislike it, the grass people are willing to sacrifice half of their family resources. ”