With the Grand Secretary sharing his personal experience so emotionally that he almost burst into tears, the tide instantly turned. The matter of dispatching medicinal herbs to the northern frontier according to the prescription was settled just like that.
No one dared to delay matters related to the epidemic. The Ministry of Revenue practically brought out the budget memorial on the spot and presented it for the Emperor's review.
Spending such a large sum of silver, and from his own private treasury at that, made even the Emperor wince with a pang of heartache as he read the memorial.
Having solved the immediate crisis, they naturally had to consider long-term plans. Otherwise, if this happened every year, they couldn't just keep fleecing the Emperor like a fat sheep.
The Emperor naturally grew concerned about the progress of establishing the Huiyi Temple. This was Gu Zhao's proposal and Gu Zhao was handling it, so the Emperor asked Gu Zhao to stay behind and inquired:
"Has the Zhang family sent the silver for establishing the Huiyi Temple to the Ministry of Revenue yet? Is it enough?"
He then ordered Eunuch Qiu:
"Is Shen Xu still waiting outside to report back? Let him in. It's the perfect time for me to ask him about the Zhang family's affairs as well."
After Eunuch Qiu went out, Gu Zhao bowed and replied:
"It's almost enough. If it's just for the initial establishment in the first year, it is naturally sufficient. But if it is to continue operating in the future, recruiting and training doctors, and subsidizing the consultation and medicine fees for the commoners, it will still rely on special government allocations. Relying solely on a single salt merchant is truly not a long-term solution."
A rare trace of exhaustion appeared on the Emperor's face as he sighed:
"How could I not know? But the national treasury has no spare silver. As the Son of Heaven, I fret over these monetary matters all day long; it truly gives me a headache. Among the civil and military officials in the court, few are loyal, and even fewer can relieve my worries. Yesterday, I approved a memorial for execution. I had Lin Shan beheaded. Sigh, who would have thought he would betray my earnest intentions to such an extent."
Lin Shan was a eunuch who had grown up with the Emperor since childhood. He had shared hardships with the Emperor, was a trusted confidant, and was loyal. Therefore, after the Emperor ascended the throne, he was sent to manage the Jiangning Weaving Bureau.
But no matter how loyal a person was, upon arriving in the prosperous lands of Jiangnan, ulterior motives arose. Under Lin Shan's management, such a massive enterprise as the Jiangning Weaving Bureau actually operated at a loss.
The person the Emperor wanted to execute was also someone he had trusted for many years. It was hard to tell exactly what the Emperor was sighing about.
Gu Zhao found it inappropriate to continue this topic. Avoiding discussing the person and focusing only on the matter, he replied:
"In the Jiangnan region, the three major weaving bureaus, just like the salt tax of Lianghuai, are the lifeblood of the nation. For such crucial positions, I believe both loyalty and business acumen are indispensable."
The Emperor looked even more exhausted:
"Speaking of which, the whole world consists of my subjects, but how many are truly loyal to me? And requiring them to be skilled in management makes it even harder. Cousin, by bringing up the salt tax, are you still thinking about the salt law reform? It is a good thing, but the person executing it will be hated by many. It must be someone who can withstand the pressure. Choosing someone for this task is even harder than selecting someone for the Jiangning Weaving Bureau. Let me think on it a bit more."
As the two were talking, Shen Xu entered. The Emperor looked over and asked:
"How is the liquidation of the Zhang family's properties going? Is the Zhang family hiding anything for themselves?"
Shen Xu replied steadily:
"Now only the residence in the capital remains, and the official brokers are finding buyers to look at it. Everything else has been cleanly dealt with. The women of the Zhang family have even pawned their clothes and jewelry. They have not hidden anything."
Seeing that Shen Xu was about to stop speaking, Gu Zhao frowned slightly, looked at him, and almost imperceptibly shook his head.
Catching his head shake from the corner of his eye, Shen Xu changed his tone and added:
"Additionally, in Yangzhou City, there is a two-story medical clinic with four rooms. It seems they haven't reached an agreement with the official brokers yet."
Gu Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. Taking this opportunity, he took a bank note from his chest pocket and presented it to the Emperor:
"Your Majesty."
Seeing that it was a bank note for one hundred and twenty taels, the Emperor almost died laughing at his Cousin:
"Cousin, what are you doing? I am short of silver, but not to the point of asking you to donate it. Quickly, take it back."
Gu Zhao looked ashamed:
"I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness. Regarding the clinic Shen Chongshu mentioned, by rights, it should be sold along with the rest for the Zhang family's fundraising. However, this is First Madam Zhang's dowry. I beg Your Majesty for a favor, to allow her to keep this clinic. I am willing to make up the missing silver for her."
It was a good thing the Emperor wasn't drinking tea today, otherwise he would have spat it out. He was dumbfounded:
"No, Cousin, you two are still in contact? In the past, it could be said she was seeking your protection, but now her lawful husband is out. Ah, Cousin, you should break it off."
Gu Zhao felt even more ashamed:
"Yes, I am ashamed. It has already been broken off. But she is now implicated by her husband's family, pawning her clothes, jewelry, and dowry. She was with me for a time, and I truly cannot bear it. At the very least, let her keep a bit of her dowry to rely on, so she won't be left without proper clothing to cover herself or food to eat in the freezing winter, without even a place to live or a thick coat to wear."
The Emperor was driving himself crazy listening to this:
"No, this Zhang Jingyan is far too honest. I asked him to raise funds to build the Huiyi Temple, but not to the extent of throwing in the women's clothes, jewelry, and dowries. If word of this gets out, what will people think of me! Ah, forget it, forget it. Eunuch Qiu, find someone to deliver a decree to the Zhang family. The Zhang family's task of raising funds for the Huiyi Temple is considered complete."
After coming out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Gu Zhao called out to Shen Xu:
"Shen Chongshu, the Embroidered Uniform Guard are the Emperor's eyes and ears. What were you doing just now? You are seeking your own death!"
Shen Xu, however, smiled:
"What am I doing? I am trying to figure out how to stay alive."
Gu Zhao narrowed his eyes, a threatening tone creeping into his voice:
"Shen Chongshu! Do you think she will choose you?"
Shen Xu smiled so broadly that the dimples on his cheeks appeared:
"Why wouldn't she? It's not like I've ever truly coerced her. Zhang Jingyan can't protect her; that was true in the past, and it will be true in the future. Once she leaves the capital, you won't be able to protect her either. When that time comes, why wouldn't she choose me?"
Gu Zhao's expression changed:
"She is leaving the capital? Where is she going?"
The Embroidered Uniform Guard had numerous eyes and ears; not a single rustle of grass or gust of wind could escape Shen Xu's eyes, especially if he had deliberately placed informants on the Zhang family.
Therefore, Gu Zhao believed that if Shen Xu said she was leaving, then she was indeed leaving, and much sooner than he had anticipated.
The night before, he had thought deeply about it and concluded that in their relationship, the only way forward was to retreat in order to advance. But in the blink of an eye, there was absolutely no space or opportunity left for him to do so.
If she left the capital, the world was vast, where would he find her?
Hearing Gu Zhao's question, Shen Xu simply smiled and did not answer.
Given their current conflict of interest, Gu Zhao didn't expect Shen Xu to answer anyway, and headed straight for the pawnshop.
She had made an appointment with the pawnshop owner yesterday to come today. Based on his understanding of her, even if the Zhang family's errand was finished, she would still come and would not break her promise.
Sure enough, at the appointed time, Zhu Qingyu walked through the doors of the pawnshop. Before she even had time to offer a greeting, a figure emerged from the side door, grabbed her, and within a few steps pulled her into the inner private room used for business negotiations.
Gu Zhao pinned her against the door, his eyes filled with icy frost:
"You're leaving? Where are you going?"
