After speaking, the little empress felt that this question was too naïve, laughed self-deprecatingly, and said to herself:

"I'm really stupid, I can ask such an inexplicable question."

"The world is in harmony...... Even if there are really immortals in the world, it can't be done. ”

Fang Xiu was noncommittal.

The little empress suddenly raised her eyes and looked at Fang Xiu, her big watery eyes blinked:

"Having said that, if I remember correctly, the imperial court should have set up the Mercy Field Courtyard and the Salesian Bureau in various places to shelter widows and lonely, in this case, why are there so many beggars, where is the money allocated to them?"

After a pause, he seemed to think that it was not appropriate to ask such a question, and added:

"I'm not questioning Fang Xiang...... I'm still young, and I'm sheltered from the wind and rain, so I can't do everything myself, I just want to know why I'm so ......."

Fang Xiu really couldn't answer this question, because he didn't know either.

He is not an immortal, he is a big cadre, and he has to make up his mind about all important things.

In addition, we also have to think about how to plan the world, how to innovate technology, and how to rectify the rule of officials.

If the Salesian Bureau and the Salesian Bureau also wanted him to come and ask, then he wouldn't have to do anything.

Thereupon.

Fang Xiu told the truth: "The minister doesn't know either. ”

"However, the minister can accompany His Majesty to check."

The little empress said "um", looked at Lin Wan'er on the side, and ordered:

"Let the guards drive the carriage to the Salesian Bureau."

Lin Wan'er nodded and responded, "Yes, Your Majesty!" ”

The little empress retracted her gaze, pressed her little head tightly against Fang Xiu's chest, and slowly closed her eyes.

After a while, I fell asleep.

Fang Xiu hugged her, wanting to do something, but when he saw the little empress's face showing a peaceful look, he restrained himself again.

The carriage continued.

I don't know how long it took, but it slowly stopped.

The voice of the guards was heard outside the carriage.

"Childe, the Salesian Bureau of Anhua County is ahead!"

Hear the words "Salesian Bureau".

The little empress in her sleep slowly opened her eyes, looked ahead a little blankly, and asked, "Arrived?" ”

"Hmm."

Fang Xiu responded, his voice a little hoarse.

The little empress noticed the change in Fang Xiu's voice, turned her head to look at him, and asked with some curiosity, "What's wrong?" ”

A bloodshot appeared in Fang Xiu's eyes, and he looked at her with the eyes of a hunter looking at his prey, without speaking.

The little empress didn't notice his eyes, felt a little uncomfortable, frowned, and twisted her body.

"Your dagger is gone."

Fang Xiu's eyes darkened, and he said in a deep voice: "The minister doesn't have the habit of carrying a dagger with him. ”

The little empress frowned slightly, and said angrily: "I feel it, you still coax me ......"

The voice fell.

She suddenly remembered what Shang Gong had said to her a month ago.

"If a man is emotional, he will ......"

The little empress realized something in an instant, her pretty face turned red, and she left Fang Xiu's embrace.

The voice trembled a little:

"It's here, it's ......"

"Get off ......"

As he spoke, he didn't dare to look at Fang Xiu's eyes and stepped out of the carriage.

On the side, Lin Wan'er was very curious why His Majesty's face suddenly turned so red, but she was embarrassed to ask, so she had to hide her questions in her heart and follow along.

Fang Xiu sat alone in the carriage, took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, slowly got up, and stepped out of the carriage.

Sunset.

The fiery red sunset renders half of the sky.

Anhua County.

In front of a dilapidated courtyard.

Wu Mingkong, who was wearing a fox fur, listened to the laughter and laughter coming from inside, and he actually felt a little dazed.

"The Salesian Bureau does exist, and there are children in it, so why are there so many beggars?"

With such doubts.

Wu Mingkong pushed open the gate of the courtyard and walked in.

Fang Xiu and Lin Wan'er followed.

Then there were the guards with knives.

The courtyard is not very large, and there is only one date tree in it.

Under the jujube tree, there are two water tanks, and there is water in the tanks.

There are four huts in total, and the sound of children playing and playing comes from the rooms.

Fang Xiu gave the guard a look.

The guards immediately understood, and pushed open the door to the hut.

The sound of frolicking and playfulness came to an abrupt end.

Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong glanced at each other and walked into the room.

When I entered the room, the first thing that caught my eye was a dozen immature and rough little faces.

Immaturity means that they are very young, the oldest is only twelve or thirteen years old, and the youngest is only seven or eight years old.

Roughness means that their faces are pitted and covered with chilblains.

Look around.

You can see it.

The house is small and the décor is simple.

There was only one bed covered with quilts.

A rudimentary stove.

A wooden table.

A wooden chair.

There are also a dozen porcelain bowls.

Other than that, there's nothing!

It's no different from a ruined temple where beggars live.

"You, who are you?"

At this time, an older boy stood up and looked at Fang Xiu, his expression a little frightened, and his voice trembled.

Fang Xiu looked at him and said in the most gentle tone possible: "Don't be afraid, my uncle is a merchant from Chang'an, passing by here, I want to take a look at the children of the Salesian Bureau......"

After a pause, he asked, "Is this the Salesian Bureau?" ”

The little boy was silent for a moment, then replied, "Yes." ”

Fang Xiu asked again: "Who is in charge here on weekdays?" ”

The little boy fell silent and did not answer for a long time.

Fang Xiu thought for a moment and gave the guards a look.

The guard immediately understood, took a piece of bread from his bosom, and handed it to the little boy.

Wu Mingkong noticed it keenly.

The moment the guard took out the bread.

The children around were all bright-eyed, looking at the food and swallowing their saliva.

Little boys are no exception.

But, despite the desire for food written in his eyes, he still didn't reach for it.

I just swallowed my saliva and didn't speak.

Seeing this, Wu Mingkong said, "We have no malicious intentions, we just want to know if anyone usually takes care of you...... Or rather, is there anyone to bring you food and clothing? ”

The voice fell.

A little girl said timidly: "There are several uncles ......"

As soon as she spoke, the little boy glared at her and scolded, "Don't say it! ”

The little girl hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to say more.

Wu Mingkong and Fang Xiu glanced at each other, and they could see surprise in each other's eyes.

It seems that there are really people in charge of the Salesian Hospital.

It's just that these children are very wary of outsiders and dare not speak.

See this scene.

Wu Mingkong looked thoughtful, thinking about how to make these children let down their guard.

Right now.

The other little girl seemed to recognize the guards and said excitedly, "I know them!" They gave a lot of food today! ”

As soon as this remark came out.

Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong were both stunned.

After taking a closer look at these children, I realized.

There are several of them, all of them are young beggars who used to beg on the official road.

In an instant, a nameless fire rose from the little empress's chest.

"The imperial court allocated money to set up Salesian bureaus in the state capitals, but the local government swallowed the money cleanly, and let these children who no one wanted become beggars for a living, which is really hateful!"

Come to think of this.

The little empress could no longer restrain the anger in her heart, and said coldly:

"Find Anhua Zhixian! Ben Gongzi has something to ask him! ”

"Yes!"

The guards took the order and turned to leave.

Meanwhile.

I learned that Fang Xiu and his party were the good people who gave them food before.

The little beggars were much less guarded.

At the very least, dare to look up at Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong's appearance.

Wu Mingkong looked at the little girl who wanted to speak before, and said in a gentle tone:

"You just said, how many uncles there are, what's wrong with a few uncles?"

The little girl was a little nervous, lowered her head, clenched her little hands, and said nothing.

The little boy on the side was much bolder and answered for her.

"She just wanted to say that there are a few uncles who usually bring food and clothes......

Let's take the bowl and beg on the road, it was also the idea of those uncles. ”

Wu Mingkong's face showed a sudden expression, and he understood in his heart.

Those uncles may be the big beggars who followed the little beggar before.

I guess I couldn't bear to see these children starve to death, so I taught them some begging skills.

"Beggars still have the heart to care for children, how can those dogs in the government who are full of sage books turn a blind eye to these seven or eight-year-old little beggars!"

Wu Mingkong thought about this, and felt more and more angry.

After a while, he asked again, "Then why didn't you let her say it just now?" ”

The boy replied, "Who knows if you are bad people or not." ”

Wu Mingkong was speechless, thought about it, and asked again:

"Where's your family?"

The little boy said, "I'm the only one!" ”

Wu Mingkong was silent for a while, then looked at the little girl and asked, "What about you?" ”

The little girl grabbed the corner of her clothes and said timidly:

"In Liujia Village."

Wu Mingkong was a little surprised and asked, "Then why don't you go home?" ”

The little girl lowered her head, as if remembering something sad, and her voice was crying and trembling a little:

"My dad said I was a money-loser and sent me."

When Wu Mingkong heard this, he suddenly felt as if his heart was being clutched tightly by something and he couldn't breathe.

After a while, Fang asked, "How old are you?" ”

The girl trembled, "Thirteen." ”

Wu Mingkong's eyes widened, a little incredulous, and he looked her up and down carefully.

The girl was wearing a tattered cloth dress, looking very short and thin, and she looked like she was eight or nine years old.

Wu Mingkong looked at her and was speechless for a long time.

On the side, seeing this, Fang Xiu stood behind her, leaned over and explained in her ear:

"According to the law of the Great Qian, people over the age of sixteen, both men and women, are required to pay taxes.

Some poor families gave birth to girls, and they could still raise them at first, and when they were thirteen or fourteen years old, they were thinking about marrying off the girls.

If you can't get married, you can only stay at home, you can't do much work, you have to eat, you have to pay taxes, and you become a money-loser.

Being a parent is to lose money and goods, and you have to support them, but there are always some ruthless ...... in this world"

Speaking of which, it came to an abrupt end.

But the little empress understood.

After all, there are some ruthless people who will lose their own flesh and blood to reduce the burden on the family.

Wu Mingkong heard Fang Xiu's explanation, and felt anger rise in his chest, but he had nowhere to vent.

Looking at the room full of scrawny children...... Or teenagers and girls.

Wu Mingkong wanted to throw himself into Fang Xiu's arms and cry.

But she knows that on the road of life, there are some things that have to be faced alone after all.

What's more, what are these for?

This is Anhua County, which is very close to Chang'an.

If you arrive in Qingzhou, which has just ended the disaster, I am afraid that there will be even worse scenes than this.

What about her?

Have you been crying in Fang Xiu's arms?

Thinking so, the little empress took a deep breath to calm her emotions.

Looking at these little beggars, he forced himself to ask a few more questions.

The little beggars also answered one by one.

A moment later.

The little empress's heart was already full of anger.

In her opinion.

It is understandable that such a thing happened in Qingzhou.

But the occurrence of such a thing in Anhua County is completely the responsibility of the government!

Don't say anything else.

The government can't even give money to some little beggars!

It's nothing more than being filled with selfish pockets by these crazy guys!

Think so.

The little empress looked at the guards and ordered: "Go and urge, let Anhua Zhixian come and see you quickly!" ”

The guard arched his hand and was about to leave.

There was a rush of footsteps at the door.

Immediately after, an unfamiliar voice was heard.

"Dufang Township, Anhua Zhi County, Xiaguan, meet your lord!"