Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 232 My money!
The back hall outside the second gate was originally where the maids and servants received their marriage cards.

This place faces south and has three small side rooms. Because it is not exposed to sunlight, the room is a little damp and cold.

Qin Keqing stood under the window, blocking out all the sunlight. Her face looked even more gloomy, which frightened Qin Zhong on the spot.

"The master sent you to study at the Imperial College, and you didn't even have to pay tuition fees. Yet you are not grateful for this. Instead, you try to take shortcuts and discredit the master. I really don't know what you learned at the Imperial College!"

"It's good that you stay in school. You are not the kind of person who studies. This is a good opportunity for Dad to face reality!"

"Don't think that just because I work in your mansion, I am your lady. What kind of lady am I? What kind of relative are you? You don't know what's good for you!"

At this moment, Qin Keqing wished she could find a feather duster and beat this idiot.

Qin Zhong was a timid person to begin with, and after being taught a lesson by his sister, he immediately shrank into a coward.

But in his eyes, she was always the soft-spoken, gentle sister who had stayed in the Yue Mansion for several years. But when she opened her mouth, she was so fierce and scolded him, which really scared Qin Zhong.

He thought this was the sister who could act coquettishly, please others and pretend to coax others.

"It's the same in the Imperial College. There were also students from other families who passed the exam with the help of the Dean. I just thought it was a common thing and didn't think too much about it."

Qin Zhong tried to find excuses for himself.

Qin Keqing put her hands on her hips, looked at him coldly, "Not only is this a proper method, but it's also normal? You really shouldn't have gone to school, or you'll end up being a corrupt official! The master has always been upright and honest, do you want the master to make an exception for you?"

"Get out of here, and don't embarrass yourself in this mansion again!"

Qin Zhong had come here with great interest, but now he was scolded. However, he dared not disobey Qin Keqing's wishes, so he stood up and was about to leave dejectedly.

Just as they reached the threshold, Qin Keqing spoke again, "Don't do anything outside under the banner of the mansion from now on. If I hear about it, you'll see whether I will forgive you or not!"

Qin Zhong was not careful and tripped on the threshold. He nodded to Qin Keqing and left in a hurry.

At that moment, Ruizhuzhu passed by him.

Seeing that Qin Keqing's chest was rising and falling with anger and her expression changed, he hurried forward and asked with concern: "Sister, what is he doing here? Could it be that the Qin family is here to ask for money again?"

Qin Keqing shook her head. "Even if Daddy doesn't know right from wrong, he still knows what's good and what's bad. How dare he offend the master? The master is getting more and more popular in the capital now. Only someone as naive as Qin Zhong has the nerve to come and beg for mercy."

"For a fool like this, Daddy should find him a job that can support the family. He is still dreaming about passing the imperial examination. His mind is not clear."

Ni Er came in at the right time and said, "Miss Keqing, although I didn't hear what he came to ask for, I know from his look that it's not a good thing. Now that you are in the mansion, it's right to draw a clear line between you and them, and don't bring bad things to the master."

"If he comes again in the future, I will have the doorman send him away and be done with it."

Qin Keqing nodded, "Okay, I'll trouble Butler Ni then."

Ni Er shook his head, bowed, and went outside.

Only after Ni Er left did Qin Keqing breathe a sigh of relief. She collapsed and leaned against a bench beside her.

Even though Lin Daiyu was not in the mansion, she was the one who took care of all the affairs in the mansion, so she could show some magnanimity. She showed no mercy when she scolded Qin Zhong just now.

She managed the household carefully and did not dare to show favoritism in the slightest. This evil creature actually asked her to help him cheat outside. How could Qin Keqing not be angry?

Qin Keqing, dressed in a plain white dress and hairpins, now lives a very simple life in the mansion, just to set an example for the other servants.

Do not be carried away by the Marquis's fame, and do not become extravagant just because the Marquis is not at home.

In a mansion, if corruption starts among the servants, then the mansion is already in decline, just as Qin Keqing sees the two mansions of the Jia family now.

"Let's go, let's go back first."

Ruizhu stepped forward and helped Qin Keqing up.

Both of them stared at Qin Keqing, their eyes moving around.

"Two silly girls, what are you looking at?"

Ruizhu replied, "The girl is much stronger now than when she was at home. I don't know why, but I feel relieved. We were worried that she would be taken advantage of by him like before."

Qin Keqing smiled and said, "That's not the case. I just didn't want to bother with him in the past. Now I am in the Marquis' Mansion. In everything I do, I have to take care of the master first, and then others."

"And you, you called me the wrong name again."

Qin Keqing poked Ruizhu on the forehead with her scallion-white fingers, but it didn't hurt or itch, so Ruizhu just laughed.

Holding Qin Keqing's arm tightly, Ruizhu called out sweetly, "Okay, Sister Keqing..."

……

Palace of Heavenly Purity, Imperial Study,
Emperor Longyou was absorbed in state affairs, reviewing memorials at his desk. Since Yue Ling submitted his memorial, Emperor Longyou became more diligent. It was also because he suddenly found a way to enrich the country and strengthen the army, and he looked forward to making the country a new one one day, and he could truly become a wise ruler who would go down in history.

However, the problems left behind by Emperor Yuan Qing were many and complex, such as redundant officials and soldiers, a complicated tax system, and a group of powerful nobles and civil servants with increasingly fierce party struggles.

Right now, the most serious problem facing Emperor Longyou is that there is no money in the national treasury.

The two wars consolidated the country, but also destroyed many years of savings in the national treasury. Jinzhong, Liaodong, Jingji and other places are still recovering their people's livelihood, and tax revenues in the past two years will certainly be cut a lot.

But Emperor Longyou wanted to reform the country and strengthen the country, so he needed money everywhere.

Just like what Yue Ling said about opening up the source of income, opening up the sea for trade can be exchanged for silver, but before that, there must be ships and an escort navy to ensure the trade route, but this requires a large sum of silver.

The imperial court is now unable to come up with the start-up funds.

"Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister An Jingzhong, the Right Prime Minister Chai Pu, the Privy Councilor Dongfang Zhi, and the Minister of Revenue Zhao Gongjin have arrived and are waiting in the side hall."

Xia Shouzhong bowed and saluted at the desk and reported.

Emperor Longyou put the red brush on the pen holder and nodded, saying, "Let them in."

"Yes."

Soon, the four important ministers entered the imperial study together and were given seats.

On days when there are no court meetings, small court meetings like today are very common. Anyway, Emperor Longyou has no rest, and it is difficult for the ministers to rest either.

All the people were present, and Emperor Longyou said without further ado, "My dear ministers, you all know that I want to establish new laws, but now the treasury is empty and I dare not act rashly. In addition, natural disasters and man-made disasters have continued year after year, so how to increase the income of the court is the top priority. We can't have nothing this year and spend money on food next year. What will we eat if the food is gone?"

The four of them all looked unhappy. It was not easy for a family to make a living, let alone a country.

"Lord Zhao, tell me, how much did the national treasury receive last year?"

As the Minister of Revenue, Zhao Gongjin was naturally familiar with this amount and replied, "Last year, the deposits amounted to 15 million taels of silver, and the expenditures amounted to 37 million taels..."

Emperor Longyou nodded, "Yes, the annual tax revenue is only 15 million taels. Do you know how much taels Yue Ling seized from wealthy merchants in Cangzhou who were secretly in contact with the Japanese pirates?"

The four shook their heads and said they didn't know.

Emperor Longyou answered: "Nearly one million taels, and this is just a small Cangzhou."

The four of them were all shocked. They were well versed in the ways of officialdom. Emperor Longyou had just given the first words, and the following words would certainly be even more shocking.

Emperor Longyou looked calm. He picked up the teacup that Xia Shouzhong had left on the table and took a sip to moisten his throat.

"Cangzhou suffered from disasters for five years, but with the collusion between officials and businessmen, such a huge amount of wealth has been accumulated. Tell me, how much of this money should be mine?"

"The salt administration in Lianghuai is hampered from collecting taxes, and private salt is rampant. Smuggling is rampant on the seas of Fujian and Zhejiang. Tell me, how much of this is my money?"

"It's not that I don't know who the money goes into, it's just that many people have worked hard and made great contributions, and I don't want to do anything too embarrassing. But you can't embarrass me, right? You want me to spend money from the treasury?"

The words of Emperor Longyou were like a needle hidden in cotton, which made the ministers feel uneasy and uneasy.

Emperor Longyou was determined to clarify the tax policy, and as Yue Ling said, he collected all the silver and kept the accounts clear.

But it is still difficult to implement it now, and it needs to be done step by step. Emperor Longyou is always paying attention to the changes in Cangzhou.

It can also be regarded as a pilot site for the new policy. If Yue Ling does a good job, he will have more confidence.

"Okay, I won't talk about this anymore. You are officials from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and your prestige in the local area is not low. I am just reminding you not to do things that I don't like when you are in this position."

"Let's talk about increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. You can think of a way for me to replenish the national treasury without causing any war."

The four of them sat upright, none of them showing any intention of speaking.

Dongfang Zhi, who was also an old official of the Qin Palace, said, "The issue of increasing income was also mentioned in the memorial of An Jinghou. It includes measuring the land, opening up the sea, clarifying taxes, and clearing out redundant officials and soldiers. However, these are not things that can be achieved immediately."

"I do have some ideas, but they go against the teachings of the sages. I wonder if Your Majesty is interested."

Emperor Longyou waved his hand and said, "Don't keep us in suspense at this time. Just speak directly."

Dongfang Zhi nodded and said, "Marquis An Jing was ambushed and killed by the Japanese in Cangzhou. The Japanese should give an explanation to the court of the Heavenly Kingdom. We can ask for a high price and make a request that they cannot meet. If they refuse, we will send troops to the sea to deter the Japanese."

"Japan has been in constant war lately, and it is difficult for it to be an enemy of our country. I also heard that they discovered a silver mine on the island. The best thing for them is to pay more silver in exchange for peace."

The left prime minister, An Jingzhong, spoke helplessly, "Eastern Privy Councilor, you are robbing small countries to enrich yourself. Our Celestial Empire is powerful throughout the world. If we do such robbery, how will the surrounding tributary states view us..."

(End of this chapter)