"Because ......"

Peach's pretty face turned red, and she held it for a long time before she came up with a suitable explanation.

"Because the slave maid heard that His Majesty was able to sit on the throne, and it was inseparable from the support of the lord back then."

When Li Yingyue heard this, her delicate face showed a sudden look, and she muttered to herself: "I see." ”

She had long felt strange, Fang Xiu didn't look much older than her, he still looked like a young man, why he was able to achieve the position of prime minister, it turned out that he had "the skill of following the dragon".

If what Tao'er said was true, there was really no need to worry that he would be severely punished for offending the emperor.

It's just that......

Not because he was punished by the emperor, but because of what?

She looked at Tao'er with a blank look in her eyes again, and asked, "In that case, why hasn't he returned home these days?" ”

Tao'er said: "The slave doesn't know either. ”

After all, she is a little maid in the house who serves people, how can she know where the master has gone.

Li Yingyue thought for a while, and suddenly said, "I want to go and see him." ”

When Tao'er heard this, she was slightly stunned, and then her face showed a panicked look, and she waved her hand busily and said, "No, madam." ”

Tao'er's reaction made Li Yingyue a little puzzled and asked, "Why?" ”

"Because the lord won't allow you to leave Xiangguo's Mansion!"

Tao'er's face turned red, and she couldn't bear to tell her wife the truth, so she stood in place at a loss, not knowing what to do for a while.

Seeing this, Li Yingyue was even more puzzled.

She and Fang Xiu, although they are not husband and wife, but they have the name of husband and wife, why can't they visit?

Minutes and seconds passed.

After a while, Tao'er finally held back a sentence.

"When the master is busy, he doesn't like to be disturbed."

This reason obviously could not convince Li Yingyue.

After all, Tao'er was a maid who served her, not a maid who served Fang Xiu, how could she know about such a thing.

This was obviously a makeshift reason to prevent her from visiting Fang Xiu.

"Could it be that Fang Xiu didn't go back to the house because he had a concubine outside?"

"Perhaps, that's his sweetheart."

Although I have been mentally prepared during this time, I thought of this possibility.

Li Yingyue still felt that her chest was tight, and a congested breath was stuck there, and she couldn't swallow it or spit it out.

After a moment of silence.

She finally gave up the idea of visiting Fang Xiu, sighed, and said leisurely: "Since that's the case, I won't go to see him." ”

When Tao'er heard this, a stone in her heart finally fell to the ground.

She breathed a sigh of relief and cautiously made her own suggestion.

"Madam, there are still some osmanthus flowers left in the house, do you want to make pastries for a while?"

Li Yingyue thought about it, waved her hand gently, and said, "That's it...... I've been in Chang'an for so long, and I haven't gone out to see it, so you can accompany me to visit the temple fair today. ”

One sentence made Peach's heart rise again.

There was a panicked look in her eyes, and she hurriedly said, "Madam, there is no temple fair today. ”

Li Yingyue glanced her up and down, her willow eyebrows frowned slightly, and asked, "Why are you nervous?" ”

Tao'er was slightly stunned, pretended to be calm, and replied, "The slave is not nervous......"

Li Yingyue looked at her and asked again, "When will there be a temple fair?" ”

Hearing this, Tao'er once again showed a panicked look, didn't know how to answer, and hesitated: "Slave, slave doesn't know ......"

Li Yingyue looked at Tao'er, as if she realized something, there was a flash in her eyes, and she asked in a trembling voice: "Does he not allow me to leave Xiangguo Mansion?" ”

Tao'er opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but when she saw Li Yingyue's eyes, she was deflated again, and slowly lowered her head without saying a word.

Nowadays, the more you say, the more you get wrong, it's better to stay silent.

After all, she is just a little girl, and she can't change the facts at all.

When Li Yinyue saw this scene, she immediately understood that she had guessed correctly, Fang Xiu really didn't let her leave Xiangguo Mansion, but she was just ...... Why?

Even if they don't have feelings, they don't have to confine her in Xiangguo Mansion, right?

Unless something happened in the six months since she got married, Fang Xiu was wary of her.

As soon as she thought of this, Li Yingyue looked at Tao'er, wanting to ask what had happened in the past six months, and why did Fang Xiu do this to her......

After thinking about it, he felt that it was not necessary, sighed in his heart, sat back on the stone bench, and fell silent.

The delicate melon seed face showed a blank look, mixed with a touch of sadness.

The world is big, but I don't know where it is.

Peach stood behind her, her head down, trying to comfort her, but she didn't know how to speak.

The breeze blows slightly, bringing the fragrance of the earth, mixed with the scent of flowers.

Time seemed to stand still in this moment.

Li Invitationyue raised her eyes to look at Tao'er, her expression was a little cold compared to before, and she said softly: "Can you tell me why I fell into a coma and how did the injury on my head come from?" ”

Since Fang Xiu didn't allow her to leave Xiangguo's Mansion.

Then, the wound on the head is most likely not attacked by someone or hit by something......

From this point of view, the reason why she fell into a coma and lost her memories in the past few years should have another hidden reason.

In fact, she already had a guess in her heart, but it was not confirmed.

Tao'er looked like she wanted to speak and stopped, and after a long time, she didn't speak, but just lowered her head, and her expression looked a little guilty.

Seeing this, Li Yingyue's eyes showed pain and sadness, and she quickly hid it, she couldn't see any expression on her face, and said coldly: "Go and get the remaining glutinous rice of osmanthus, since you do it, there will be a beginning and an end......"

Momo let out an "um", nodded slightly, turned back to the house to get the rest of the materials, and returned to the courtyard after a while.

The spring breeze blows, and the trees grow buds.

Li Yingyue and Tao'er are a master and a servant, sitting under the tree, quietly making pastries.

The warm sunlight passed through the branches of the trees and sprinkled on their bodies like starlight.

The glutinous rice flour in front of Li Yinyue was mixed with water, making waves, broken and round.

............

Chang'an City, somewhere in the courtyard.

More than a dozen wealthy merchants gathered to discuss how to deal with the new commercial tax set by the imperial court.

The first to speak was the shopkeeper of Zhou's cloth village - Zhou Chenzi.

He sat down in his chair, his slightly youthful face, with a look of exasperation, and said loudly:

"Lao Tzu doesn't need to think about it to know that the new commercial tax was formulated by the imperial court in order to harvest silver from us and fill the gap in the war!

Such a thing, they did it more than once or twice!

Catch a sheep and die! It's so deceitful! ”

As he spoke, he slapped the table with a look of righteous indignation.

When they heard this, they all sighed and looked helpless.

"Among the four people, Shang is at the bottom, and this has been the case throughout the ages, even if you know that the imperial court formulates a new commercial tax, which is equivalent to robbing us of our silver, what can you do?

We are powerless, facing the imperial court, like fish on a eucalyptus board, we can only be slaughtered. ”

These words seemed to touch the sore spot in the rich businessman's heart, and he sighed one by one.

"I waited for the wind to eat and sleep, and I finally saved up some silver, hoping to be able to rely on it to support my old age.

But I didn't expect that a proclamation from the imperial court would put us to death, hey......"

"Wu is so developed in commerce and trade, and the commercial tax is only one of ten taxes, and the new commercial tax formulated by the imperial court has reached five taxes and one, or even five taxes and two.

I don't earn much, and I still have to honor those masters, and pay so many business taxes, how much is left?

I'm afraid I can't even raise a family at Hukou!

The imperial court didn't plan to leave me alive at all! ”

The people present are all the top wealthy businessmen in Beijing, and almost all of them have backers behind them, and they are all doing a profitable business, so they naturally have to pay higher business taxes.

According to their profits, not to mention five taxes and one, five taxes and two, even if it is two taxes and one, the silver earned is far beyond that of ordinary merchants.

It is that I earned too much in the past and paid too little commercial tax, and after the implementation of the new commercial tax, I will feel that the gap is too big, and I will complain one by one.

Facing the crowd with long sighs.

Zhou Chenzi was even more angry, slapped the table hard, stood up, and raised his voice:

"The court is ruthless, don't blame us for being unjust!"

"So far, we can only have a glimmer of life if we join forces!"

When the words fell, the entire courtyard fell silent, and the audience was silent.

Everyone looked at the young Zhou Chenzi, with a look of hesitation on their faces, and said, "In the final analysis, we are just businessmen who do business, how can we have the courage to confront the imperial court." ”

Zhou Chenzi looked around, his expression was heavy, and he said, "Do you want to sit still?" ”

When they heard this, they fell silent, and their minds spun rapidly, pondering the possible consequences of confronting the court.

After only a moment, they gave up this idea, shook their heads, and said: "Even though we have some family background, we are still like ants in front of the imperial court, and confronting the imperial court is tantamount to blocking the car with a mantis arm and killing ourselves......

Zhou Chenzi looked at the person who spoke, frowned, and said coldly:

"In that case, what's the point of us gathering here? It's better to go back early, count the profits, and go to the tax office early tomorrow to register and determine whether you have to pay 20% or 40% of the commercial tax. ”

As soon as these words came out, the audience fell silent again.

After a while, a merchant stood up and said:

"As far as I know, the new commercial tax was formulated at the behest of Fang Xiang, and the princes were also dissatisfied with it, but they were afraid of Fang Xiang's power and did not dare to oppose it.

Therefore, what we have to do is not to confront the imperial court, but to express our attitude to the prime minister......

The commercial tax can be changed, but it can't be as outrageous as it is now, just like Wu Guo, from 20 taxes to 10 taxes. ”

Hear this.

Everyone looked at each other.

After a while, someone frowned and said, "Then how do you show Fang Xiang's attitude of waiting?" ”

The merchant had a surging smile on his face, a breezy look, and replied: "It's very simple, the imperial court is not a rule, whenever you open a shop and sell goods, you must go to the tax office to register, so why don't I wait to postpone the registration?" ”

"Late registration?"

Everyone looked at him with a thoughtful look on their faces.

The merchant continued: "Of course, not only will we wait to postpone the registration, but we will also mobilize the rest of the shops to postpone the registration together!"

As long as half of the merchants in Beijing do not register and close their doors, the daily lives of the people will be affected, causing unrest......"

"It's a good idea!"

Before he finished speaking, some people clapped and praised.

His eyes showed excitement, and he said loudly: "If you don't register or sell goods, you haven't disobeyed the orders of the imperial court, even if the imperial court investigates it, there is no way to take me!"

The princes are not in favor of the new commercial tax, and if the capital is turbulent, they can make a big fuss, even if Fang Xiang is powerful, he has no choice but to give in in the face of this situation.

When the time comes, the princes will ask Your Majesty again to change the commercial tax again, and change the twenty taxes to ten taxes and one, which is a matter of course! ”

These statements are well-founded and convincing.

When the wealthy businessmen heard this, they all smiled and praised again and again.

Now that the direction has been set, the next step is to refine the details and put them into practice.

The people present are all top wealthy businessmen, who have been in business for so many years and have accumulated a lot of contacts.

They personally went out and persuaded them from house to house, and it didn't take long for them to unite a large number of merchants.

Therefore.

Two days later, a miraculous phenomenon occurred in Chang'an.

In the bustling streets of the past, the doors of the shops on both sides were closed.

People who wanted to go shopping and buy some cloth and jewelry had no idea what was going on, standing on the concrete floor, looking around blankly.

Walking all over Chang'an, only Jumbo Zhai and small stall vendors are still operating.

There are many people, few things, and queuing is inevitable.

Some girls have to stand in line under the scorching sun for an hour or two in order to buy a piece of jewelry, and they may not be able to buy it in the end.

For a while, the people of Chang'an City were panicked.

At this moment.

Fang Xiu didn't know anything about it.

Outside Miyagi.

He stood on the concrete floor, looked at the open space in front of him, and ordered: "The yamen of the tax institute will be built here, and we will strive to complete it within a year." ”

The director of the Ministry of Works hurriedly responded: "Yes, Fang Xiang!" ”

After the address of the yamen was determined, the next step was the selection of officials.

Both the Inland Revenue Department and the Royal Bank have a great responsibility.

From top to bottom, people with both ability and political integrity should be selected.

Although the rule of officials has been chaotic and the talents of the imperial court have withered in recent years, there are still many young talents in the Hanlin Academy, and after entering the Royal Bank and the Tax Academy, they can also be competent if they read more.

Not really.

Fang Xiu could only use his emotional value to summon some more people from the system.

Of course, at the moment, there is no need for this.

In addition to this, the appointment of the chief officer is also very important.

The president of the Royal Bank is Daji, and Fang Xiu is quite relieved.

The chief official of the Tax Institute, in a short period of time, Fang Xiu could not find a suitable candidate, so he could only let Hai Rui, who had returned to Beijing, temporarily serve as a part-time officer.

"With the development of the great cadres, many systems will have to be changed, and Zhongshu Province will have to set up more new yamen.

"It's a long way to go, it's a long way to go......"

Fang Xiu looked at the open space in front of him and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Stood there for a moment.

He looked at the director of the Ministry of Works, gave a few commands, turned around and left here, got into the carriage, and walked on the way home.

"I haven't seen you for a few days, and I don't know if Li Yinyue's brain is a little clearer."

Fang Xiu sat in the carriage, closing his eyes and recuperating while he couldn't help but think about it.

According to the Imperial Doctor.

Li Yinyue lost her memory of the past few years, not only because of her head injury, but also because of depression in her heart.

In short, it is that I have psychological problems, and I hit my head, so I selectively forget some unbearable past.

"I hope that one day, she can recover her memory, otherwise it will always feel a little awkward to lock her up like this."

That's it.

Fang Xiu's mind couldn't help but come to mind, when Li Yingyue saw himself after waking up, the hesitant, restless and pretending to be strong face, and the pair of phoenix eyes mixed with sadness mixed with a touch of dependence.

He could feel Li Yingyue's trust and dependence on him that night.

In this foreign country, Li Yinyue, who has lost the memory of these years, can only rely on him as a husband.

It's a pity......

What Li Yingyue didn't know was that the reason why she ended up so miserable was because of her husband.

Come to think of this.

Fang Xiu felt inexplicably upset, and lifted the curtain, intending to breathe, but found that he had returned to Xiangguo's Mansion.

"Whew-"

Fang Xiu exhaled a breath of turbidity, tried his best to stop thinking nonsense, got up and walked out of the carriage.

As soon as he took two steps, he saw a tall and slender figure, standing behind the door, looking at him with a pair of phoenix eyes, which looked extremely complicated.

Precisely...... Li Yingyue!

Wearing a long ink-colored dress, she stood in place, her slender and straight jade legs were put together, her long black hair hung down her waist, her white arms like tender lotus roots hung down in front of her, and her slender soft hair didn't know what she was holding.

Fang Xiu looked at her, stunned for a moment, and quickly returned to normal, and said coldly, "What are you doing here?" ”

"Waiting for you."

Li Yingyue's good-looking phoenix eyes looked at Fang Xiu, and her tone was calm, as if she was narrating a normal thing.

When Fang Xiu heard this, he was slightly stunned.

It was the first time he discovered that Li Yingyue's voice was also very pleasant, and in the words of his previous life, it was a full and mellow royal sister voice.

The other side.

Li Yingyue looked at the porter Lao Zhang on the side and asked softly, "Can I go out?" ”

The porter Lao Zhang was stunned, subconsciously looked at Fang Xiu not far away, was silent for a while, and nodded.

The dignified princess of Zhou Guochang, the mistress of Xiangguo's mansion, wanted to step over the threshold, and the porter nodded.

Li Yingyue's eyes showed a self-deprecating smile, and she walked up to Fang Xiu and handed over the things in her hand.

"I was going to keep it for myself, but after thinking about it, since it was made for you, it was better to give it to you, and it could be regarded as a beginning and ......an end."

This time.

Fang Xiu found that Li Yinyue was holding two delicate pastries in his hands, with two small characters engraved on them, one was Fang and the other was Li.

"Is this flattering me?"

Fang Xiu hesitated, but still reached out and took the pastry.

Li Invitationyue looked at him, her eyes revealed a touch of complexity, and she lowered her voice and said:

"Thank you for being with me that night......"

The voice was mixed with mixed emotions and trembled.

Fang Xiu was slightly stunned, raised his eyes, and found that Li Yinyue had already turned around and left, leaving him with only a cold back.

For some reason, the original boredom came back to my heart.

Back in the courtyard, sitting on the stone bench, looking at the delicate pastries in his hand, I wanted to throw them away, but when I saw the square characters on it, I left it behind.

"Whew-"

On the side, the little tiger yawned, rolled over, exposed his belly, and continued to lie down.

Half a year has passed.

The original dog-sized little tiger has grown up, and the texture of the king character on the forehead, combined with a bloody mouth, is quite imposing.

Lying there, it's chilling.

It's just that those who are familiar with it all know it.

This guy is willing to move his nest except when he eats on weekdays, and most of the time he lies still, lazier than a beggar on the side of the road.

"Except for eating, sleeping, and doing nothing all day long, I will throw you next to Bai Qi another day, which can be regarded as waste utilization."

Fang Xiu, who was distraught, heard the little tiger's voice, looked over, and saw that it looked lazy, and complained angrily.

The little tiger seemed to be human, hearing Fang Xiu's complaints, knowing that he was in a bad mood, he got up from the ground, walked to him, and rubbed his arm with his huge head.

“......”

In an instant, Fang Xiu couldn't scold, his face showed helplessness, he reached out and stroked its head, and stopped talking.

That's when it happened.

There was a sound of footsteps outside the courtyard.

Immediately after, a familiar voice sounded.

"Fang Xiang, the lower officials have important things to do......"

Qin Xingyan was about to walk up to Fang Xiu, only to find that there was a white-fronted tiger crawling at his feet, looking extremely powerful and chilling!

With a look of horror on his face, he subconsciously took a step back, and said in his heart:

"Good guy, it's outrageous enough for Wu Song to fight a tiger in the script, Fang Xiang actually raised a tiger, and he was domesticated so docile......"

"Having said that, it is worthy of Fang Xiang, even this kind of beast has to surrender to his feet."

Qin Xingyan looked at the black and white tiger and stood in place, his mind was in chaos.

"What?"

Fang Xiu raised his eyes and glanced at Qin Xingyan, and asked coldly.

Qin Xingyan was slightly stunned, and it took a while before he came back to his senses and replied: "The merchants of Chang'an City are united, they don't go to the tax institute to register, and they don't open their doors, the people can't buy things, they are panicked, and the lower officials don't know what to do, so they come to tell Fang Xiang." ”

When Fang Xiu heard this, a disdainful smile appeared on his face.

Playing this set in front of him, it's still very tender!

"Draw up a notice, if the existing shops are not registered within ten days, they will be regarded as confronting the imperial court and will be disqualified from doing business forever! Not only that, but relatives within three generations are not allowed to do business! ”

Qin Xingyan was slightly stunned, and then his face showed hesitation, and he looked like he wanted to say something.

Fang Xiu glanced at him and asked, "Do you think that the methods of the true appearance are too tough, not in accordance with the rules, and not in accordance with the law?" ”

Qin Xingyan hurriedly said: "Xia Guan didn't have this intention. ”

Fang Xiu said: "To deal with this kind of scoundrel, you should use the means of scoundrels, the more you indulge them, the more presumptuous they are!"

For example, today, they can use the strike to coerce the imperial court to make concessions on commercial taxes, and one day in the future, if a certain decision made by the imperial court harms their interests, can they repeat the same trick?

There is no perfect law in the world, not only want the treasury to be full, the people live and work in peace and contentment, but also want to ensure that the rich businessmen make money every day, how can there be such a good thing!

If you want to develop, you must make changes, and in this process, the interests of some people will be harmed, and they will definitely fight back, which is human nature!

In the face of these obstacles, we must be decisive, once hesitated, the consequences are unimaginable! ”

Maybe it's to let me not think about Li Yingyue.

This time, Fang Xiu spoke in great detail.

Qin Xingyan listened, looked like he thought it was true, nodded heavily, and complimented: "Listening to Fang Xiang's words, it's better than reading for ten years!" Xia Guan is really taught today! ”

Fang Xiu glanced at him and said coldly: "I know that this time the new business tax was formulated, and many people in the court were not convinced......

To tell you the truth, the prime minister sits in this position, and the military and government of a country are all in his hands, what to do and what not to do, not to convince some people!

The new commercial tax involves all aspects of the big business, and this phase will definitely be implemented!

In this world, three-legged toads are not easy to find, and two-legged businessmen are not easy to find?

If those dogs dare to make trouble again, Shadow Guard's knife is not vegetarian!

Track it down, pull out the radish and bring out the mud, and don't blame the ruthlessness when the time comes! ”

The words were so loud that Qin Xingyan's heart was shocked.

He subconsciously raised his eyes to look at Fang Xiu, and when he saw his serious expression, he instantly understood that these words were a warning to the princes of the court, and also a warning to him.

If the commercial tax can't be implemented, Fang Xiang will go on a killing spree!

With the support of the new army, even if there is turmoil, it can be calmed down in a short time!

No one can think about it!

This moment.

Qin Xingyan felt a chill all over his body.

He didn't dare to be the slightest slack, stood upright, bowed respectfully, and said solemnly:

"Xia Guan understands!"

Fang Xiu stretched out his hand and stroked the little tiger's head and continued: "Who came up with the idea of this strike? ”

Qin Xingyan hesitated for a second, and said truthfully: "As far as the lower officials know, it is Zhou Chenzi of Zhou's cloth village who takes the lead, as well as the other seven businessmen......"

Fang Xiu glanced at him and asked, "Who is the backer behind them?" ”

Qin Xingyan replied: "Zhou Dao, a member of the courtesy department, Yuan Junkai, the young secretary of Taichang Temple, ......"

He didn't dare to hide anything from him, and he told what he knew.

"Go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate and tell Hai Rui that the prime minister will give him a chance to show his strength and check the old bottom of these guys!"

Qin Xingyan was shocked in his heart, and hurriedly said: "Xiaguan understands." ”

Fang Xiu glanced at him, with a breezy look, and asked, "Is there anything else?" ”

Qin Xingyan said respectfully: "It's gone." ”

"Let's go down then."

"Yes, the lower official retired......"

Qin Xingyan saluted respectfully, turned around and left, and walked out of Xiangguo's Mansion all the way, still trembling in his heart.

Secretly glad that I didn't think about making some small moves this time, otherwise I was afraid that it would be worse than those guys.

Thinking like this, he didn't dare to stop for the slightest, and walked towards the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

The other side.

Fang Xiu sat on the stone bench, looking at the osmanthus cake on the table, and fell into a tangle.

Eat......

Still don't eat......

This is a problem.