Xiao Jiaojiao suffered from morning sickness and had many babies, and was pampered by Qing Leng'

"Are my siblings from Yuanjiang Fucheng?" Ryan asked.

Jiang Mingyue said softly.

Ryan then asked some about the customs and customs of Yuanjiang Mansion. He felt that she had completely relaxed, and then he asked about what he was most concerned about.

"Do my brothers and sisters know General Zhang?"

Jiang Mingyue knew that he was starting to ask about serious matters.

"Know!"

"How do you locals in Yuanjiang Prefecture evaluate him?"

"It was mixed at the beginning, but in recent years his reputation has become increasingly bad."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"I don't know if anything else is true or false. I'm just telling a few things I know."

Jiang Mingyue took the tea cup from Xie Yuan's hand and took a sip of water, moistened her throat before speaking.

"We have a large salt mine in Yuanjiang Prefecture. Although most of the mined salt is transported to Kyoto, some is kept locally every year.

In previous years, this salt was sufficient for the daily needs of the people of Yuanjiang Prefecture. But starting from four years ago, we could only go to Yuecheng next door to buy salt, because all the salt left behind was taken from the hands of the prefect under various names by General Zhang. Li is leaving.

And I heard an old man from a salt mine say that General Zhang has sent people into the salt mines to mine secretly in the past two years. "

After hearing what his wife said, Xie Yuan couldn't help but shake her little hand. If it wasn't inappropriate, he would have wanted to praise her.

When they returned to the village to buy salt, he had explained to his wife why the price of salt had risen recently, the possible consequences of this incident, and the fact that the court would definitely pay attention to this matter.

It was obvious that Mingyue had kept these things in mind, and it was most appropriate for her to use the salt mine as the starting point.

Ryan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Zhang Zhongyue actually had a hand in the salt mine matter.

"Is this true?" Ryan asked cautiously.

Jiang Mingyue said 'hmm'.

"Those old people who are mining all know this, and they will tell you if you ask."

Ryan took it to heart immediately.

"In our Yuanjiang Prefecture, because there are many rivers and water, most people make a living by fishing, so there are many large and small fishing boats. As far as I know, all people who enter the rivers and rivers to fish must go to the river to fish. General Zhang paid a 20% tax, which we locals also call fishing tax."

Old man Lai frowned slightly when he heard this.

Ryan didn't expect that Zhang Zhongyue would dare to tax the people privately. He was so brave, but...

"The imperial court has not levied any fishing tax, and the officials from Yuanjiang Prefecture have never reported this matter?"

Jiang Mingyue heard this and looked at the man beside her.

"After I married my husband, I learned that the court had never levied any fishing tax."

Xie Yuan held his wife's hand and looked at Ryan: "The people of Yuanjiang Mansion always thought that this tax was levied by the imperial court.

As for those officials who wrote to the court to report the matter, they were either suddenly dismissed from office or died in confusion. Brother An will find out after he returns. "

Ryan nodded and looked at Jiang Mingyue.

"Any more?"

Jiang Mingyue naturally would not miss the opportunity to expose Zhang Zhongyue: "General Zhang conscripted troops once three years ago."

After hearing this, the expressions of Ryan and his son changed instantly. This time, Old Lai didn't wait for his son to speak and asked: "How many have been levied?"

"It should be at least 20,000, I don't know the specifics."

Zhang Zhongyue dared to raise troops in private. What did he want to do? The rebellion failed. After Lai and his son looked at each other, Ryan suddenly stood up.

Old man Lai knocked on the table lightly.

"Sit down, your mother will prepare the meal soon. We will leave after dinner."

Ryan suppressed the urge to return to Beijing immediately and sat down again.

The five of us had a pleasant dinner, at least that's how it seemed.

After the meal, Jiang Mingyue gave gifts to Lai Hua and Lai Laohan.

The two looked at their self-portraits with surprise and joy.

"It really looks like it. It's like it was printed from the same mold. Girl Ming didn't expect you to have such skills." Old Man Lai looked at his self-portrait and felt satisfied.

Ryan glanced at the portrait in his parents' hands, and a flash of surprise flashed through his eyes. It could be described as lifelike. No wonder his parents liked it so much.

"As long as Grandma Lai and Grandpa like it."

The gifts were sent out, and since it was already dark, the two of them did not stay any longer. Xie Yuan helped his wife leave the dock.

Ryan saw the three people leaving and stood up: "Mom and dad, I'll come back to see you another day."

Old man Lai waved his hand.

"Go! Business is more important."

Ryan nodded and was about to leave when his mother said, "Go to Yuanjiang Mansion in person. While you're doing things, try to bring me a daughter-in-law back."

When it comes to his life-long events, Ryan's emotions are somewhat ups and downs.

"understood!"

Old man Lai sighed when he saw his son leaving: "Zhang Zhongyue is a very smart man. I didn't expect that he would become like this when he gets old."

He turned his head and looked at his wife: "You said that old Shen Mo took the eldest princess to the Yuanjiang Mansion. Did he hear something?"

Laihua said calmly: "No matter what, it's very late, go to bed early!"

On the way home, Jiang Mingyue and Xie Yuan had a tacit understanding that no one mentioned Zhang Zhongyue again. All they talked about was their children.

When the child moved violently, they stopped to rest for a while, and it was already past midnight when they got home.

In the study, Jiang Minghong felt relieved when he saw that his brother-in-law and brother-in-law were back.

As usual, Xie Yuan sent his wife to the backyard, then went into the study, read a book with Jiang Minghong and Qi Yongsi for a while, then washed and rested.

In the bedroom, after Jiang Mingyue waited for her husband to lie down, she immediately got into his arms and asked in a low voice, "Who is Ryan?"

Xie Yuan gently combed his wife's soft hair.

"But still remember that I told you about the secret guard before."

"Remember, Ryan is a secret guard?"

Xie Yuan made a 'hmm' sound and whispered: "He is not only the secret guard, but also the commander of the secret guard. He is the personal bodyguard of the Holy Emperor. He is highly valued by the Holy Emperor."

"He asked me about the Yuanjiang Mansion. Does it mean that the Holy One has been investigating Zhang Zhongyue's affairs recently?"

Xie Yuan nodded.

"Searching for four million taels of people's fat and oil, plus iron ore and salt mines is no small matter. The Holy One will naturally investigate all of this."

Xie Yuan kissed his wife's forehead and praised softly: "You did a good job today and helped my father-in-law and I a lot."

If His Majesty would have spared Zhang Zhongyue's life before because of his old friendship, now that he knew that he had violated His Majesty's taboo by collecting taxes and privately recruiting soldiers on behalf of the imperial court, His Majesty would never spare him.

Not only did she hear her husband's praise, but she also exposed Zhang Zhongyue's evil deeds, which indirectly helped her parents and husband. Jiang Mingyue smiled with crooked eyebrows.

Looking at his smiling wife, Xie Yuan was in a good mood. He patted her vest gently and said warmly, "Go to sleep!"

Jiang Mingyue buried herself in the man's chest and closed her eyes listening to his strong heartbeat.