Liang Jiugong understood, and hurriedly said loudly: "Your Majesty is on a southern tour, and everywhere you go, you use jade and silver chopsticks, and you eat all the famous dishes and delicacies from all over the world, not to mention that there must be thirty or forty kinds. You will give the Holy Lord, the Crown Prince and the princes four dishes today, which is clearly to despise the Holy Lord, deceive the king, and deserve to be beheaded according to the law. ”

Kangxi listened to it, was very satisfied, and then stared at Liu Jingxuan without blinking.

Liu Jingxuan did not panic at all: "Your Majesty." Wechen's silver is one hundred and fifty taels a year, and today is the banquet for His Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and all the adults and entourage, and Wechen spent more than forty taels. And that's not even counting the day's expenses for a hundred gardens. Wechen is not stingy, he is really powerless. If Your Majesty agrees to use the silver from the treasury for your Majesty's expenses, the ministers will surely serve Your Majesty and the princes and ministers to your satisfaction. ”

At this time, Kangxi was already so angry that his lips were blue. He glanced at the people present, and found that after the governor Ahsan was scolded by himself, he lowered his head and said nothing. Zhang Pengxi, the governor of the river, Song Ju and others are all looking at the nose, nose and mouth, and asking the heart, as if the mud in the temple. Even Prince Yinren and Sibeile Yinzhen sat upright, not squinting, and did not dare to make a sound.

Suddenly, the dark clouds on Kangxi's face swept away, and a smile hung on his lips: "Aiqing is really honest and honest, with a clear distinction between public and private, and I am very relieved." In that case, then I'm welcome. With that, he took the silver chopsticks handed to him by Liang Jiugong and began to eat.

Seeing that Kangxi had already moved the chopsticks, Prince Yinren and others picked up the chopsticks one after another according to the grade and ate slowly. Kangxi thought secretly in his heart: "Liu Jingxuan, I want to set my words." I won't bother with you today, and when I return to Beijing, I'll see how I clean up with you. ”

Although this banquet could not be called unhappy, it was also lifeless, and no one spoke. The feast was over, and the crowd dispersed.

Sibeile Yinzhen called Liu Jingxuan, who was about to return home: "Lord Liu, slow down." ”

Liu Jingxuan saw that it was Yinzhen calling, and hurriedly bowed down to salute: "Xiaguan see Sibeile." ”

Seeing that there was no one outside, Yin Zhen said in a low voice: "Lord Liu, what happened to you today? Today, the emperor is fortunate to be in Yangzhou, and you should serve it carefully. Do you want to cut yourself off?"

Liu Jingxuan saluted again and said, "The lower officials don't dare." But Xia Guan does have something unspeakable. The lower officials' salaries are meager, and there are so many people in the holy car. People eat horses to feed, and it is really difficult for the lower officials to continue!"

Yin Zhen frowned, he knew that Liu Jingxuan's words were not false. Liu Jingxuan has always had a very high official reputation, and he never accepted bribes or scraped land. And Kangxi's Luan driving entourage has five or six hundred people, people eat horses and feed, bring hundreds of garden accommodation and belongings, down to calculate, the daily cost is not too much. Liu Jingxuan is just a small four-pin Huangtang, where can he find so much silver.

Yin Zhen pondered for a moment and said, "Lord Liu." If you are really a little short of money, you can borrow some from the Ministry of Works. When I have the money, I'll pay it back!"

Liu Jingxuan smiled bitterly: "Fourth master." The two Huai patrol salt imperial Shi Cao Yin took over several times during the southern tour of the saint, and now he has owed more than 2 million taels of silver to the Ministry of Works. I'm afraid it will be difficult to pay it off in this life. Although the lower officials were foolish, they never dared to borrow money from the Ministry of Industry. If there is a holy decree in the saint, the lower officials can borrow money from the Ministry of Works on behalf of the saint. ”

Yinzhen's nose was so hung that it was not crooked: let Kangxi borrow silver from the Ministry of Industry, how did Liu Jingxuan think about it? But Yinzhen didn't show it.

Yin Zhen smiled and said, "It's not early, Lord Liu, you're tired for a day, go down and rest early!"

Liu Jingxuan respectfully bowed: "The lower official retired." With that, he bowed and withdrew.

Looking at Liu Jingxuan's distant back, Yinzhen was a little confused for a while. He really couldn't see through what Liu Jingxuan was thinking in his heart. What Liu Jingxuan said is indeed true, but it is also too sharp. Yinzhen had never seen anyone act like this. But now that the matter has come out, Liu Jingxuan will depend on your own creation in the future.

It was not until the second watch that Liu Jingxuan returned to the prefect's yamen. Xiao Rang has been waiting at the gate of the mansion for a long time.

"My lord, how about taking over today?" Xiao Rang asked with a worried face.

Liu Jingxuan's face was solemn and said, "Come into the house and say." ”

Coming to the back hall, Xiao asked the servant Liu Jingxuan to take off his official uniform. Xiao Rang found that Liu Jingxuan's heart was soaked.

Xiao Rang hurriedly looked for clothes for Liu Jingxuan: "My lord, your clothes are soaked." ”

Liu Jingxuan realized this, thought about it, and said lightly: "Yes." It was just too hot. ”

Liu Jingxuan didn't know whether it was too hot or he was too nervous. Liu Jingxuan changed into a thin cotton shirt and drank a cup of tea handed over by Xiao Rang, and then he felt much calmer.

Liu Jingxuan said lightly: "Look at the meaning of the saint today, I'm afraid that my top won't be worn for long." ”

Xiao Rang was relieved: "Adults don't have to worry too much. It's too early to tell. What does Emperor Kangxi mean?"

Liu Jingxuan smiled slightly: "He is very angry today, I expect him to leave Yangzhou the day after tomorrow if he doesn't leave tomorrow." As long as he leaves, this Yangzhou city will be able to return to business as usual. ”

Xiao Rang's face also showed a smile: "Then adults can sleep with confidence." ”

Liu Jingxuan shook his head: "Don't take it lightly now. Go and call Nangong Xuanyun to me. ”

Xiao Rang led the order to go out. After a while, Nangong Huangyun followed Xiao Rang into the door.

Nangong Xuanyun hit a thousand with one leg and said, "See your lord." ”

Liu Jingxuan waved his hand: "No courtesy, please take a seat." ”

Xiao Rang and Nangong Huangyun sat down, and Liu Jingxuan said: "Huangyun, tomorrow you will lead all the brothers in the palace to guard the front and back of the Jade Phoenix Terrace." I expect that today's saint will definitely ride the Jade Phoenix Terrace tomorrow night. If Chu Jinglian has the slightest abnormality, he will immediately take someone to take it down. ”

When Xiao Rang heard this, he frowned: "Do you need to notify Princess Chunyu to come to escort me together, I'm afraid that when the time comes, it will be a little lonely just to catch the head of Nangong." ”

Liu Jingxuan smiled slightly: "No need. I think Princess Chunyu will definitely go to the Jade Phoenix Terrace tomorrow night to escort her. ”

The next day, Princess Chunyu went to the Hundred Gardens to meet Emperor Kangxi. Kangxi inquired about the recent situation of the princess Chunyu, and did not criticize the fake Zhu Cihuan, the third prince of Zhu, too harshly. Then Kangxi, under the guidance of Liu Jingxuan, met with local celebrities and giants in Yangzhou. Most of them were officials in the imperial court and later retired. Among them, there was a graceful and dashing young man who caught Kangxi's attention. He is Chu Jinglian, the richest man in Yangzhou.