Jian Huaizhen comforted Li Xian, and Li Xian asked Jian Huaizhen, "Princess, why did you suddenly ask about Li Xian?" ”

Jian Huaizhen told him that in the area of Wushan County, there was a matter of levying taxes and miscellaneous taxes. After hearing this, Li Xian struggled to get up and said: "There is such a thing in the world, Li Xian can't lie down on this bed anymore no matter what, if not, he will be laughed at by the world." ”

Jian Huaizhen saw that he was so stubborn, so he helped him and lay down again. said to him: "Master Li, don't worry, this palace will definitely find a way to deal with this matter." ”

Li Xian shook his head, he sighed and said: "It's not that the eldest princess Li Xian doesn't believe in the people in this court, it's just that now there are indeed traitors in the court, people like Liang Fang, if the eldest princess delegates these tasks to them, they will definitely not do their best." ”

Jian Huaizhen shook his head and said, "I know what you are worried about, don't worry, since this matter is known to the palace, then the palace will personally investigate it, Lord Li, you can take care of your illness, right?" ”

Then Li Xian didn't expect Jian Huaizhen to be willing to investigate this matter in person, he heard Jian Huaizhen say this, nodded again and again and said: "Li Xian is so grateful to the eldest princess for the people of the world, the eldest princess doesn't know when you will set off, now that there are heavy taxes in the world, then the people there should live in dire straits, they can't wait." Li Xianti specially pleaded with the eldest princess for the people of the world, hoping that the eldest princess could set off as soon as possible. ”

When he said this, he couldn't help but sigh and said, "It's all Li Xian's poor health, and the eldest princess has to work hard for these things at her age." ”

Jian Huaizhen smiled and said, "This palace was born and experienced five dynasties, and it was born to work hard. The two of them laughed together.

After Jian Huaizhen left Li Xian's mansion, he returned to the palace, and the emperor heard that Jian Huaizhen had returned, so he personally went to visit her in Wan'an Palace and asked her how Li Xian's condition was. Jian Huaizhen told the emperor about Li Xian's illness, and after finishing speaking, Jian Huaizhen couldn't help but sigh there.

When the emperor rarely saw Jian Huaizhen sighing like this at that time, he opened his mouth and asked: "Why did the eldest princess sigh here after you came back, could it be that Li Xian's condition is not good?" ”

Jian Huaizhen nodded and said: "I'm afraid yes, I am also proficient in medical skills, I saw Li Xian's face and knew that he was already sick from the bottom of his lungs, it was caused by long-term hard work, I hope he can recover after a period of rest, if not, it will be the loss of our society." ”

When the emperor heard Jian Huaizhen say this, he nodded and said, "I also hope that Li Aiqing can get better after such a long period of rest." ”

The two talked about it again, and Jian Huaizhen took the initiative to say to the emperor: "Your Majesty, now that there is a matter of excesses and miscellaneous taxes in Wushan County, I must not sit idly by, and now Lord Li is not feeling well, except for Lord Li in the court, there is no one in the palace who believes in it, so I implore the emperor to let the palace investigate this matter." ”

"What, the Emperor is going to go down to Wushan to investigate this matter in person?"

"Yes." Jian Huaizhen said solemnly: "Although this matter seems to be a trivial matter on the surface, if someone dares to use the name of the emperor to wantonly levy heavy taxes in Wushan County, this will not only damage the prestige of the emperor, but also make the people live in dire straits." As the eldest princess of the royal family, Hongu would not allow such a thing to happen no matter what. He also asked the emperor to agree to the request of the palace and let the palace go to Wushan County to save the victims. ”

That Zhu Jian thought deeply for a long time, and then said to Jian Huaizhen with some pity: "The eldest princess, it's not that I refuse to let you go, it's just that now that you are also an elderly person, I am afraid that your body will not be able to bear the hard work along the way." ”

Jian Huaizhen laughed, and said heroically: "Don't worry, this palace is not going alone, there are always some partners around this palace who fight side by side with me, and the partners she is talking about are naturally people in Huaiming Yuan."

When Zhu Jianshen heard her say this, his heart was lowered and he said: "Since this is the case, then I will agree to the request of the eldest princess, but the eldest princess must also agree to me, I must take good care of myself along the way, no matter what the results of the investigation are, the eldest princess must also put her own safety first." ”

Jian Huaizhen nodded and said to Zhu Jianshen: "Your Majesty, don't worry, this palace promises you." ”

So, Jian Huaizhen went back to pack her bags and prepared to go to Wushan County, after Jian Huaizhen packed her bags, she went to Huaiming Garden to find a group of people, and told them that she planned to go to Wushan County to investigate the heavy taxes, and after hearing this, the group in Huaiming Garden naturally followed.

Jian Huaizhen thought for a long time before saying: "Brother Fang, Brother Jiang, you are all old people, don't follow me with old arms and legs, it's better to give young people some opportunities to practice, I'll discuss with my brother, how about letting Polang follow me?" ”

The breaking waves in her mouth naturally refer to Jian Wenying's son Jian Polang, and the reason why Jian Huaizhen suddenly said Jian Polang was because Jian Polang is now living in Huaiming Garden with Jian Wenying. When he heard Jian Huaizhen say this, he hurriedly clapped his hands and said, "Aunt Huang, since you are willing to take me to investigate such a major matter, it is really good." ”

Jian Huaizhen nodded, smiled and said, "Yes, you are also a big child, and you also need to go through some experience, so you will follow me this time." ”

But Jiang Shaoheng, Fang Xiao, Ji Qihan and others still felt uneasy when they heard her say this, inevitably Jian Polang was just a child, and asked him to follow Jian Huaizhen, not only could he not take care of Jian Huaizhen, but also asked Jian Huaizhen to take care of him, which was really good.

Jian Huaizhen laughed and said: "Don't underestimate the breaking waves, there is nothing to say about the kung fu of breaking the waves, and now that I have been carefully cultivated by Brother Ji, I must have made a lot of progress, and I will definitely be able to take care of me along the way." And whatever I do, I go with you, so if I want to do something alone, can't I do it now?

Jian Huaizhen's words caused everyone to laugh for a while, and Jiang Shaoheng seemed to be worried and said to Jian Huaizhen on the side: "Princess sister, no matter what, this trip to Wushan, you must put your own comfort first, if there is anything you need our help with, you must remember to pass the book to us, we will definitely go on time." ”

Jian Huaizhen laughed and said to him: "Brother Jiang, don't worry, I have my own sense of proportion. ”

So, everyone gave another exhortation to Jian Huaizhen. After the discussion, Jian Huaizhen took two horses from Huaiming Garden and took Jian Polang to Wushan County.

Along the way, Jian Polang seemed very excited, when Jian Polang used to live in seclusion with his parents on Wuyi Mountain in Fujian, he rarely experienced any wind and rain, and then he went through a storm and came to the capital again. Since he came to the capital, he has been living in Shangshu Mansion with Jian Wenying, and he has lived a very peaceful life.

Although it was said that he had been imprisoned in the prison of the Criminal Department before, but at that time, it was as happy as a trip to him, and Jian Polang could not be happier to follow Jian Huaizhen out of his heart now. Along the way, he didn't seem to be investigating the case, but like he was going to some festival, Jian Huaizhen couldn't help but shake his head again and again, but Jian Huaizhen understood his youthful nature, and he didn't go to his heart.

The two of them walked all the way down and found that there were indeed many rotting corpses along the way, as if something really happened to them. When the two of them entered the territory of Henan and had not yet reached Wushan, they came to a small town called Chunshan, which looked very depressed, as if it had just experienced a harsh war.

Jian Huaizhen felt very strange, she walked on the road for a long time, and finally met a person, so she opened her mouth to ask him, "What's wrong with your town?" Why are there ten rooms and nine empty rooms? ”

After that person saw Jian Huaizhen, he shook his head again and again and said to her: "This lady, you are a foreigner, I think you should leave first, don't be here again, if not, there will be an official to arrest you." ”

Jian Huaizhen was slightly stunned and said, "I didn't commit any crime, why did an official come to arrest me?" ”

The man said to Jian Huaizhen with strokes: "Our Chunshan Town was originally very prosperous. But now the town of Chunshan is different from before, now those officials are taxing, harsh and fierce, and we can't live anymore, so we flee to other places where there is no tax. ”

Jian Huaizhen's heart moved, and he asked him if this Chunshan Town belonged to Wushan County, and the person cried to Jian Huaizhen and said, "Yes, how do you know this, madam?" It's just that not only our Wushan County has levied harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, but several surrounding counties and cities have also been levied. In the past, we only had to pay one quintal of rice at a time, but now we have to pay ten quintals of rice, not only do we have to pay ten quintals of rice, but sometimes we have to collect all kinds of miscellaneous taxes, such as poll tax, and other taxes, even if we sleep, we also have to have a sleep tax, and we also have to have a meal tax. ”

When Jian Huaizhen heard that what this person said was exactly the same as what the old man she had met in the capital before, she felt very panicked, so she couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that all the people here have fled?" ”

"Yes, ma'am, I think you should also flee quickly, as long as you pass by here, they will all be dragged by them to collect taxes."

Jian Huaizhen nodded, they went out of Chunshan Town, and after asking the road to Wushan County clearly, they walked all the way to Wushan County, and Jian Polang said indignantly: "Aunt Huang, this thing is really annoying, how can they do such a thing?" Those ordinary people, life is already hard enough, they still have to force the people to pay them heavy taxes, these things are not done by the emperor, who did it? ”

Jian Huaizhen shook his head with a smile and said, "The affairs in this palace are originally very complicated, and the affairs of the imperial court are even more ???? , I don't know who did it, and ah, Lang'er, since you came out of the palace, don't call me the emperor's aunt anymore, you call me aunt, lest our identities be revealed, do you know? ”

Jian Polang nodded and said, "I know, Aunt Huang, oh, no, aunt." ”

His statement caused Jian Huaizhen to laugh, the two of them were on the way, Jian Polang was very happy, but since they saw the heavy tax area, they have been in a bad mood, and then after coming here, they saw carrion and starving people all the way, and there were even some places that were empty, not to mention the sadness in their hearts, so the two of them were in a heavy mood, and basically didn't say anything on the road. Now suddenly, when Jian Huaizhen heard Jian Polang say this, he couldn't help but be bitter, smiled, and the two of them continued to walk forward.

They walked a far, far away before they came to Wushan County, which looked like it should have been a very prosperous county seat, because all the houses were carved beams and paintings, and they looked very magnificent, but now only a few people have walked on the street.

Jian Huaizhen saw an old woman selling steamed buns there, so he stepped forward and bought a few steamed buns from her, and then asked her: "Old woman, why are all the people in this town empty, are they harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes?" ”

The old woman suddenly heard Jian Huaizhen ask her about her harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, she hurriedly waved her hand and said, "This lady, you are a foreigner, right?" Don't talk and run away. ”

Jian Huaizhen was slightly stunned, and then asked: "Why am I running away, is it that if someone catches me, they will levy heavy taxes on me?" ”

The old woman sighed, and then said slowly: "If they really catch outsiders and collect taxes, then that's all." The main thing is that we can't speak, if we speak, they will be levied a talking tax, and the speaking tax is also very heavy. So there is no way, I can only sit here and let others slaughter, in this county, as long as there are young people who can escape, they have almost escaped. You look at the previous Zhu Lou compound, that family was originally the family of the rich man Huang, the rich man is the richest person in our town, but even a rich person like him can't bear the harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, and has fled with his family, let alone ordinary people? ”

The old woman was very emotional when she said it, and Jian Huaizhen was also very emotional when she heard it. Throughout the ages, she had heard the words of the harsh government and the tiger, but she never thought that the harsh government would really appear in the Ming Dynasty, she nodded after listening to it and said, "Old woman, I know." ”

She saw that the old woman was very pitiful, and took out a few taels of silver, and put it in the old woman's hand, who knew that the old woman would not want to die, she said: "This lady, I know that you have good intentions, but I cannot accept your money, because I have received your money, and it is useless, and if I accept your money, it will soon be robbed by the people of the government." ”

Jian Huaizhen was slightly stunned, she suddenly felt angry in her heart, she didn't expect that in the Qingping world, this kind of thing would happen. Since this is the case, she still holds back the resentment in her heart, she wants to take Jian Polang to ask some more people, observe the people's feelings, and then decide what to do.

Who knew that at this time, a few fierce officials suddenly walked in front of them, and those officials were dressed more imposingly than the usual officials, and their bodies were full of all kinds of jewelry, which looked nondescript.

After those officials stepped forward, they suddenly saw Jian Huaizhen and Jian Polang, they saw that Jian Huaizhen and Jian Polang were dressed, looking either rich or expensive, and suddenly they were like cats seeing fish, so they asked Jian Huaizhen and Jian Polang: "Where are you from, you dare to come here, pass by our Wushan County, and make a big fuss here." Don't you know that we have to pay taxes here? ”

Jian Huaizhen laughed and said, "I heard that you are going to collect taxes here, but we two passers-by, what kind of tax should be levied?" ”

Those officials didn't expect the identities of Jian Huaizhen and Jian Polang at all, so one of them said proudly: "Now that you have set foot on the boundary of our Wushan County, of course you have to pay the tolls." You just talked to this old man who sells steamed buns, and both of you have to pay the talking tax, if not, take the two of you to the official. Also, Madam, since you are wearing clothes, then you have to pay the clothing tax, and if you wear jewelry on your head, you have to pay the jewelry tax. In short, if you have a baggage in your hand, you will have to pay the baggage tax. In short, if you buy a bun and want to eat it now, you have to pay the food tax. In short, you have to pay taxes on everything you do. ”

Jian Huaizhen suddenly laughed, and she said: "This official, what you said is too ridiculous, throughout the ages, I have never heard that there are so many taxes in the world, and I don't know who set this tax for you?" ”

An official became even more angry and said: "Of course, this is what the emperor has set for us, and the emperor's decree is still hanging above the hall of our county government?" If any of you disobey, you will not be able to get along with the emperor, and you will be a great rebel, and you will commit a great crime of the nine clans. When he had said that, he burst out laughing.

Jian Huaizhen endured the raging anger in her heart, and she said to that person: "What you said is too incredible, I heard that the current emperor is not a faint king, and he has to do things, how can he do such a thing?" ”

"If you don't believe it, why should I be noisy with you, I have been noisy with you for so long, and I have wasted a lot of my saliva, so I have to collect a saliva tax on you. Okay, I'll do the math, you need to pay a total of 110 taels of silver, and you look like you're dressed like you're very rich, and you'll be levied 110 taels of silver, which isn't much, right? As for you, an old woman. An official went up to the old woman who sold steamed buns, stretched out his hand and snatched a lot of steamed buns from her stall, and then everyone took them in their hands and said to her, "We are also considerate of you, and we have recently made you pay a lot of taxes, and we know that you have no money, so you will give us these buns as compensation." ”