Come on, Your Highness

In fact, there is really not much time for He Xichao to worry about the spring and autumn. Once he gets busy, he really doesn't care about these things.

After all, the flood in Jiangzhou was in the south of the Yangtze River. Even if the Lu family had all-powerful abilities, it was impossible to bribe the entire imperial court. However, border smuggling was different.

A lucrative business, with a line strung together with interest entities one by one, all the way to the top, and sent to the various mansions.

Even in the imperial palace, in the harem, there are also many threads involved.

This long border line and various smuggling lines, from the border gate to the noble families of the capital, are almost involved.

Thinking about Lin Cenyan being able to force the entire He family to remove He Xichao, it can be seen that there are huge interests involved.

He Xichao's new official has not yet started to light the flames, and now he has been targeted by various forces.

Everyone is waiting for his action.

Steward Wang sorted the gifts and famous posts from various places into categories and placed them one by one.

"Young master, these are for you to enjoy the flowers and drink, and these are for your house property. I want to visit you when you are free, or to visit the house." Steward Wang put a dozen famous cards in his hand on He Xichao in front of him, and then pointed to the etiquette that was almost out of place, "Calligraphy and paintings of celebrities, house land deeds, valuable medicinal materials, bank notes... everything is there, and there is also a jewelry head for the wife, silk and satin, the most expensive All of them are here, and some of them are stored in the warehouse, but the warehouse can’t put them down!”

"There are so many, tsk tsk, it seems that the scope of the influence is really wide, and everyone can't sit still." He Xichao listened to the butler's introduction, and sighed while walking. Looking at these gifts, he tsk tsk twice: " My eyes are dazzled."

"Let's not talk about you, so many valuable things are placed here, young master, the little ones are afraid of thieves coming to worry about them. These days, the nursing home has not dared to rest, and they are strictly guarding the warehouse!" Wang Steward said worriedly, "Look How to deal with it? These things should be returned, or there is really no place to store them."

"Returned? It was delivered with great difficulty, why should I return it?" He Xichao picked up a pearl in the brocade box in front of him, put it in front of his eyes and looked at it carefully, "It's really big!"

"This is a high-quality Dongzhu, which is usually sent to the palace, and it is not common among the people." Wang Guanjia said.

"The prince's mansion, the crown prince couldn't send it in, so they all ran here." He Xichao put the beads back where they were, and clapped his hands: "By the way, what day is it when the gifts are received?"

"26 days, almost a month. Young master, is it not too good for you to receive gifts with such a big fanfare? What if you are impeached?" Steward Wang asked worriedly.

"Who said there was no impeachment? I guess the cabinet is almost overwhelmed." He Xichao said leisurely.

Steward Wang was shocked: "Then you still..."

"Didn't the emperor say nothing, what are you afraid of?"

"Ah? But young master, it's almost Chinese New Year, so we can't put these things in the new year, can we? Look at the momentum, it seems that we have to rent a yard."

He Xichao smiled. He found a chair and sat down. Looking at these things, he tapped the table with his fingers and said, "No, basically everything that will be delivered has been delivered, and those who don't can't wait. It's so expensive, if I don't It's interesting, we should see the real chapter in the next year." He Xichao turned around and asked Xia He, "Speaking of which...how is Madam, no one bothers her?"

Xia He reported: "There are invitations for chrysanthemum appreciation, tea tasting, and door-to-door visits. For the time being, these are the madams who have been around in the past two years, but it is related to the young master, and the madam refused because of physical discomfort."

He Xichao sighed after hearing the words: "It's hard to be a mother. I have no wife and no children, and she is the only family member. Before this turmoil is over, don't go to other women's relatives for the time being. By the way, there is no one from the Li family?"

Xia He thought for a while, then shook his head: "No."

He Xichao's face was a bit strange: "No? My grandfather has several lines in his hand, and he didn't show it?"

Xia He said: "Maybe it is because you know that the young master and the Li family are not dealing with each other and have no relationship, so you don't want to humiliate yourself? After all, although you haven't made it clear, you already know each other well. You are here in the north. For a year, no one came from the Li family."

"So self-aware?" He Xichao raised his eyebrows.

Xia He shook his head to express his ignorance.

Wang Guanjia said: "Then, these gifts, young master..."

He Xichao waved his hand: "Before the court ends and the old man is not on holiday, why don't you give him a New Year's gift. Make sure everything is neatly organized with the gift list, and don't miss anything. Mark the source of everything. In two days, the young master will return to you." Go into the palace."

Just as he was talking, the porter came in and said: "Young master, He Xiang from Duke Wei's residence is asking to see you."

It has been a year since He Xichao stepped into Duke Wei's mansion.

Seeing that the Sansong Hall in front of him seemed to be the same, he followed He Xiang in, and Wei Guogong had already poured hot tea in front of him, waiting for him.

He Xiang led them to the door and went out.

"The celebration banquet was in a hurry, so I didn't take a closer look. Now that I look closely, my grandfather is still in good health, and my grandson is very happy. I'll greet you." He Xichao saluted Wei Guogong and said with a smile.

"I don't know if I'm happy or not. It's true that I don't care. If the old man doesn't call you, you probably won't remember that there is a bad old man in this Duke's mansion, right?" Wei Guogong said expressionlessly.

He Xichao raised his head in surprise when he heard the words, leaned closer, and looked at it with a smile: "Why is my grandson so sour after hearing this, grandfather... If you miss me, just say it, there are so many servants, just find someone to congratulate Let me call out, and I will come over to greet you without any hesitation."

"Hmph, does this need to be said by the old man?" Wei Guogong glared at him sullenly.

"Busy, it's not like you don't know." He Xichao blinked innocently.

Wei Guogong looked at the face in front of him, he couldn't get angry no matter what, he sighed, and said with pity: "I lost weight."

He Xichao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "Young master, you have to work hard, so you have to lose weight? After returning to Beijing, you have already recovered a little bit."

"Since you can't bear hardships, why do you still want to go to the wind and sand carriage to toss again? It's nothing more than the northern border, after all, you are with the prince, but where did you, Honglu Temple, sing?"

Wei Guogong pointed to the chair in front of the table and told He Xichao to sit down.

"It's been more than two months, don't you think it's a bit late to ask now?" He Xichao sat down as he said, then picked up the tea soup in front of him, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea. "

Wei Guogong looked at He Xi and said to the east: "The old man was thinking about it before, why you have to be removed from the name, why you have to leave the He family, now it is clear."

He Xichao finished the tea in his cup, picked up the teapot and continued pouring it in: "The whole court and the whole capital are probably clear."

"Is this what the prince meant, or what you meant?"

He Xichao asked: "Is there a difference?"

"The prince's wings are hard. As the biggest hero, he actually asked you to preside over border trade and prohibit smuggling. This is putting you on the fire! It has aroused the envy of all the people in the court! This is how lonely ministers are, and there is no way out." No, Xi Chao, do you regret it?"

He Xichao stopped drinking tea, raised his eyelids, and said to Wei Guogong: "I asked the emperor for this myself, the crown prince can't stop it."

"Heh..." Wei Guogong sneered.

"You don't believe it?"

"Do you think the old man is so easy to fool?" Wei Guogong leaned forward slightly, staring into He Xichao's eyes and said, "The old man knows you well, and I can't drive you without enough interests. Such a resounding scholarly reputation is placed in the Imperial Academy Why take over this hot potato? Mr. Xie Ge is your teacher, and it will not be difficult for you to inherit his mantle. What's more, you have to leave Beijing. What good will it do you to leave the prince? ...he doesn't need you anymore."

"If I really don't need it, it's easier for me. I just can't bear it, so I have to go this way." He Xichao said as he poured the last sip of tea into his mouth.

Wei Guogong frowned: "Then why?"

He Xi looked down at his eyes, pursed his lips and said, "The taxation in the world is based on the agricultural tax. The treasury is too small, which will only increase the burden on the people. With the land annexation and the imperial fiefdom, the life of farmers everywhere will become more and more difficult. But Da Qi The world is in peace, wealth is accumulating more and more, where do you think it all went? Merchants have a lot of money, but the taxes they pay are pitiful, but the filial piety is extremely generous, especially smuggling at the border. After investigation, more or less ministers of the court It’s all a bit involved, self-interest hurts the country, this is wrong.”

"I want to innovate and rewrite the taxation system. Xie Sanhui will be sent to the Western Regions. I lobbied for the past. This matter was done by me. When the time comes, I should naturally do it. His Royal Highness will help you. This is our common cause." The goal. What do you say it is for, that is, for the poor people in the world to breathe a sigh of relief?"

"Grandfather, I don't know if this reason is enough?"

When He Xi frowned and smiled, there was always a kind of cunning of a little fox, which made people feel wary, but when he looked closely, his eyes were clear and bright, with a hint of light, but it gave people a sense of sincerity.

"The ambition is really lofty, the old man admires."

He Xichao raised his hands and arched: "It's all because of your good teaching."

Wei Guogong shook his head: "There is no need to praise me, the old man can't teach a grandson like you who values ​​love and righteousness."

"Ah, this evaluation is really high, and my grandson deserves it." Although He Xichao said so, his face was not humble at all. He was fair to Wei Guo, "Grandfather, in fact, I am not so selfless. The treasury is not rich, and the emperor needs a capable minister who can save money for him. Looking at the court, who else can I? Although the teacher intends to cultivate, but let me wait five or ten years in the Imperial Academy to get a seat , It's too long. As for me, I just want to be a dependent minister who the emperor can't let go of, and who is reluctant to forgive me infinitely! Do you think this reason is more appropriate?"

Wei Guogong listened slowly, and nodded heavily: "You can't wait five or ten years, you are only 16 years old! Xi Chao, it's not that the old man said you, you are too aggressive! Almost all the officials in the court, big and small, are involved. , as well as the royal palace, they will all oppose it, I am afraid that you will fall down before you have done your meritorious deeds!"

"Grandfather, I've thought about all of this." He Xichao said, "But don't worry, since I'm in this position, I must have the determination to win, whether it's a real fight or a cold shot, I'm not afraid. "

"Really, what are you doing recently, are you being soft on the gifts?" Wei Guogong asked coldly.

He Xichao raised his eyebrows: "Oh, this is what you want to ask the most, right?"

"Otherwise, is it useful for the old man to object to what you are going to do?"

"It's useless."

Wei Guogong snorted again: "That's it, the New Year's Eve is almost here, and the court will have to close the court in three days. If you want to keep these people and these things for the New Year, you are afraid that others will not take part in your crime of accepting bribes? "

"It seems that the cabinet can't hold it down, and you know it too." He Xizhao said flatly.

"Xie Ge didn't mention you?"

"The teacher thinks it's troublesome, so I don't care, it's my grandfather who cares about me."

"What do you want?"

He Xichao blinked, and said happily: "This is all evidence, naked, since you have such a heart, I will give the emperor a New Year's gift."

Wei Guogong's face changed: "Then you have really offended everyone! Why don't you just go back and save some sympathy."

"Go back? Why? Anyway, they have to affect their interests, and it will be a matter of time to tear their face apart. There is nothing to offend." He Xichao said indifferently, "By the way, after Lin Cenyan's line was cut off, He Xichao Is the family still involved?"

Wei Guogong did not answer immediately after hearing the words.

He Xi looked at it, clicked his tongue, and sighed: "The speed is really fast, but these days, I don't want to work, I don't want to worry about it, and I want to see the sky, it seems that I can only go back to the old business. He Mingrui helped Is it not easy to find the line?"

"The involvement is not deep, so it is not difficult to withdraw." Wei Guogong said.

"Then get out quickly, what's the use of ill-gotten gains?"

Wei Guogong didn't speak.

He Xichao asked: "Grandfather, you called me today not only because you want me to care about me, but also because you want to find out for some people, right?"

Wei Guogong said helplessly: "You don't want oil and salt, what can you do?"

"No way, but the same surname is He, for the sake of blood, please remind He Mingrui, no matter where he found these threads, and for whom he collected money, it's time to stop, otherwise don't blame me for using him to practice The knife makes it difficult for you."

Wei Guogong frowned and nodded slightly.

He Xichao then smiled, stood up, and bowed his hands to Duke Wei, "Then Xichao will leave and come to visit you when I have time."

"Go."

As soon as He Xichao left, Duke Wei let out a deep breath and said, "Go and call Ming Rui over here."