It has entered March, it is the season when the grass grows and the warbler flies, and the willows on the embankment are drunk with spring smoke, and the situation is still very good.

The state of Chu is peaceful and tranquil.

The literati fanatics trumpeted on the streets that the court at this time was politically clear, and there was no happier land than living in the Chu State.

As for why.

As a large country in the trading and business world, the strict commercial tax is very onerous for the businessmen who do business.

In particular, some ministers feel that among all industries, business is inferior, although they are openly blocked, but secretly there are still many ways to obstruct.

This is especially true in the area of commercial taxation.

Qi Qingchu is one of the representative figures, but he is not to collect money, but to solve problems for His Majesty, because His Majesty always feels that the treasury is empty.

Even if the tea, salt and iron are collected, but for the sake of social stability, they do not dare to charge high tax prices, but there is still no abundant oil and water for business, and it is not advisable to impose harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, so they can only stare at the fat of commercial taxes, and toss those businessmen who try their best to drill into business.

The commercial tax has always been in charge of Qi Qingchu, but after the year, I don't know why, His Majesty suddenly removed Qi Qingchu's position, and then asked him to go to various parts of Chu State to conduct inspections and inspections.

That is, the appointed Chincha-sama.

On the surface, it seems that this is for the people, but in fact, the people in the court know that this is His Majesty suddenly annoyed Qi Qingchu, so he sent him to various places, who knows what kind of position will be assigned to him when he comes back?

But most people don't know what Qi Qingchu annoyed His Majesty because of what made His Majesty so important to him in the past.

Some people are sympathetic and compassionate, some people are unkind, and some people are even more anxious.

Those who are in a hurry to get angry, such as Xi Zien.

Everyone knows that the minister is not so easy to do, and if he finds something, he may be harmed by the locals, after all, the strong dragon can't suppress the ground snake.

Since the founding of the country, there have been many ministers who have been sent down before and after, but in the process of visiting various places, they lost contact while walking, and disappeared as they walked.

It's fine that there are more people sent to escort it, but if there are fewer people sent there, it's even more dangerous.

Usually above the court, Qi Qingchu made a lot of enemies, but it was safer in the capital, and when he went out, he went out to some wilderness, and there was no place in front of the village and no store in the back, so what should I do?

Anyway, Xi Zien himself is worried, no.

But it seems that Qi Qingchu doesn't care much.

He couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

The deaths of Li Jicai and Li Jiye were very unexpected for Xi Zien, but since then, Qi Qingchu has been a little negative and unable to lift his spirits.

To this day, he still hasn't found out the relationship between Qi Qingchu and Li Jicai and Li Jiye's sister and brother.

He knew that among these three people, there must be something to do with each other, but his Taoism was still too shallow, and he still couldn't find out.

Out of brotherly love, Xi Zien did not abandon his brother, and enjoyed himself in the capital.

His Majesty appointed Qi Qingchu to inspect various places, and Xi Zi'an also took the initiative to ask Ying to ask for help for Qi Qingchu, saying that he was afraid that he would not be able to do it alone.

Although there is no precedent for the imperial court to appoint two ministers at once, it is still possible to have Xi Zien as Qi Qingchu's assistant.

Xi's father, who was also above the court, did not stop him, after all, his son had a good relationship with Qi Qingchu, and his son's righteousness was not a bad thing, he was thinking about going out to experience a good experience, but he couldn't count on everything, hiding behind them, in case they went to the west in the future, who would Xi Zien rely on?

So if the son is going, then let's go.

Before asking His Majesty to agree to his idea, Xi Zien also secretly looked at his father's expression and found that there was nothing unusual on his father's face, so he was relieved.

The relationship between their family has always been very good, although sometimes he is annoyed because he is addicted to lotus and because he is not doing his job, but most of the time, he still loves him very much.

So Xi Zien was very sure, and felt that his father would promise him when His Majesty asked for his opinion, but Xi's father didn't say anything and responded directly, feeling that things like this were taken for granted, and His Majesty was able to ask him purely to give him face.

When everyone was looking forward to the strong spring and full of vitality, when Qi Qingchu was ordered to stay at home and wait for the full set-up, his heart was really like falling into an ice cave, and the snow drifting in the west wind had not melted.

There are very few colleagues who dare to come to the door to prepare for him to practice, he was cold and used to it in the past, and he naturally thought of it long ago when he encountered such a situation and did not feel very sad, but it was just that the depression in his heart was more or less difficult to dissolve.

If he is really resourceful enough to not make a mistake in this matter, the big hand that moves in the shadows in the capital will only become more arrogant after he is gone.

Before leaving, Qi Qingchu still thought about writing a word of admonition to Emperor Gao De, asking him to be vigilant, and when he was not by his side to wait for the inspection.

The people of the Qi Mansion are not worried about Qi Qingchu being sent out, as for Qi Qingchu losing his favor in front of His Majesty, it is even more nonsense, Qi Qingchu is a loyal minister and important minister in the world, how can he be abandoned by His Majesty? Absolutely impossible.

This is definitely His Majesty's strategy, it can be seen from the fact that His Majesty sent a lot of guards to protect Qi Qingchu, if it is an abandoned courtier, will Your Majesty care how many people protect Qi Qingchu? I also personally explained.

In addition to His Majesty's people, the Qi Mansion itself also sent a lot of family members.

Besides, it was Prince Yong's son who accompanied his son-in-law, so a rough estimate would probably not be as many as 100 people on the road. Everywhere you go, there will be corresponding local officials to receive you, and the safety is more guaranteed.

Having said that, Mother Qi cried for many days before Qi Qingchu set off, and Father Qi comforted him for a long time, but Qi Qingchu's grandfather didn't say anything, nor did he see Qi Qingchu, as if he didn't care about this matter.

At the time of the dispatch, Qi Qingchu went to the dock with his bags on his back without hesitation, preparing to take the waterway, down the river, and straight down to Yangzhou, and the path for the inspection had already been set.

Several majestic and luxuriously decorated official ships were neatly arranged at the dock, waiting for the arrival of Qi Qingchu, Xi Zien and others, and when they came, they could start the ship.

In the past, there seemed to be no difference, Qi Qingchu was dressed in black, with a golden crown in his hair, and he looked serious and unsmiling, striding in front, and following him, the handsome boy who looked left and right, and was elegantly dressed in white was Xi Zien.

One is tall and one is short, but the difference between fat and thin is not too big.

Xi Zien and Qi Qingchu talked a lot along the way, but Qi Qingchu didn't like him very much, I don't know if it was his feelings, since Li Jicai and Li Jiye were gone, Qi Qingchu's mood has not been very good.

Xi Zien went to his house to find him several times, but he turned him away, I heard that when he set off today, Qi Qingchu asked people to block his long wing, that's right, it's a blockade, I heard that people don't let in when they go in, and they don't let people clean it when they clean it.

He felt that Qi Qingchu must have buried something very deep in his heart, so that he was moved by his destined dedication to accompany him to the inspection, he was obviously so righteous, but the other party did not appreciate it, it was really indifferent and ruthless.

After getting on the boat, Qi Qingchu held the scroll and read it seriously, sat in the cabin silently, there was no one around, the next person made tea and brought it up, and by the way, brought a few plates of hot cakes, and then retreated, Qi Qingchu They had to float on the water for several days, the big boat was very stable, but it was too bumpy.

Almost inaudible sighed softly, my heart couldn't settle down.

Xi Zien was not willing to stay lonely in his cabin, but "dong dong dong" came to Qi Qingchu's room, although Qi Qingchu was dull and did not speak, but there was no woman on this ship, and there was no better choice, his own identity mattered, and naturally he would not have any intersection with those subordinates, so as not to make people look down on him, and he was not a civilian like Li Jicai.

"Qingchu, can't you stop looking? What's there to see, we went to Yangzhou this time, how beautiful the scenery is, it's better than others going to Liangzhou to suppress bandits, right? Xi Zien said indignantly.

"Since it is His Majesty's will, there is no good or bad."

"You don't understand, there are many beauties in Yangzhou, and they are beautiful and delicious! Yes, that's right! Delicious and delicious. Xi Zien also reads, but he doesn't like to read or remember, but when an adjective occasionally pops up, he will feel excited and feel very talented.

When Qi Qing first heard Xi Zien mention women, she didn't know what she was touched, but what she remembered in her head was Li Jicai's face, that ordinary face with a slight naivety, with changeable emotions, happy and sad, like a little madman.

Xi Zien was unwilling to be left out in the cold, reached out and took a piece of cake, took a bite, put it in his mouth and tasted it carefully, squinted his eyes slightly, and tasted it carefully.

Hmm, red bean cake, it's so sweet!

"This is not as delicious as Li Jicai's cooking, and I found that the chef in my house does not have as many ideas as Li Jicai. The things that are made are just a few things, which make people lose their appetite and are tired of eating. Xi Zien said as if complaining.

Qi Qingchu put down the book suddenly, then raised his face, looked at Xi Zien with deep eyes, and looked at the other party for a while.

After a while, Xi Zien couldn't stand it anymore, and couldn't help asking: "If you have something to say, just say it, don't look at me like this, weird panic." ”

"She's dead." Qi Qingchu spit out a few words, and didn't feel anything when they came out of his mouth, but he faintly felt a sudden dull pain in his chest, an indescribable sense of manic depression, and his heart suddenly became nameless, but he didn't know who to vent to, he just felt very irritable.

"Dead is dead, I know, I'm not mourning her, why are you so excited, why do you like her? The tone is so strange. Xi Zien said in confusion.