Drunk Bamboo

Gu Suiyi waved his sleeves and folded his folding fan. After a passionate expression, he was filled with righteous indignation.

"That evil bandit actually robbed the government silver for building the dam. Did they just rob the silver? They robbed the lives of the people along the Yangtze River! If the construction is completed one day later, the people will have one day less peace! We are all citizens of Rao State. When one side is in trouble, all sides will come to its aid. As long as there is enough silver, we can hire more craftsmen, buy more materials, and help the prince complete the dam project faster!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud bang of gongs and drums.

The people below were excited.

Gu Suiyi stretched out his arms and waved, and the scene immediately became quiet.

He waved to the man in official uniform beside him, and a scroll with names and numbers written on it appeared in front of everyone.

"The Zhao family along the river donated 1,000 taels of silver! The Qianwan family in the west donated 2,000 taels of silver! The Liu family in the north of the city donated 2,000 taels of silver! Duke Chen donated 5,000 taels of silver... All these sums of silver were recorded in the book one by one. The people watched and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue followed. No one would hide it privately!"

Gu Suiyi took out a stack of banknotes from his arms and said, "As the eldest son of the Yongxing Marquis Gu family, I must lead by example and not just talk. This morning I just sold the Gu family's heirloom jade ruyi for eight thousand taels of banknotes to help the people of Dajiangzhongdao!"

The people clapped and cheered: "Good! Good!"

The scene was in a state of excitement.

Xie Yuzhu followed the public opinion and applauded: "Mr. Gu, you are a good person and good people. God will definitely see it. God will bless the project to be completed smoothly and protect the people of Rao country to live and work in peace and contentment."

When Gu Suiyi saw her, he immediately made room for her to stand in the middle.

"Your Highness was the first to bear the brunt of the fight to suppress the bandits in Loushan. It is a blessing for Rao State to have a war god like King Feng to protect it."

Xie Yuzhu raised his head and said to everyone, "Three years ago, the You Kingdom invaded our western border, intending to occupy our territory and kill our people. Your Majesty fought bravely and annihilated the You Kingdom army. His Majesty rewarded us with 100 taels of gold as a reward. Now, I will donate it all, hoping to do my part."

Suddenly, a burst of excited voices rang out: "The Wind King is mighty! The Wind King is mighty!"

"I'll donate too! I'll donate too!"

“Although the money is small, it is a thoughtful gesture!”

“I donate…”

The onlookers began to scramble to take out money.

"Come one by one, don't crowd! Register here, what's your name..."

Xie Yuzhu and Gu Suiyi were pushed aside by the crowd. They entered the palace through a side door, separated from the outside by a wall.

Gu Suiyi waved his folding fan, looking very proud:

"Is the princess satisfied?"

Xie Yuzhu gave a thumbs up: "Mr. Gu is very kind."

This scene was also unexpected for her, it was so blatant and bold.

Gu Suiyi flattered him, "I have offended all the big shots in the city. I am afraid I will never be able to serve in the imperial court. I also sold the jade ruyi without my father's knowledge. I am afraid that I will lose the position of the crown prince. I will be helpless, without money or power, and living on the streets. The Feng Palace must take me in and give me food to eat."

As he spoke, he hung his head with a pitiful look on his face.

Xie Yuzhu couldn't tell whether he was joking or really that miserable.

He just said calmly: "Mr. Gu is no longer a playboy from now on. If you have the opportunity to rise to prominence in the future, don't forget the kindness of the Feng Palace."

Gu Suiyi still smiled charmingly, but his eyes became serious: "What do you mean by this, Princess? I don't understand."

Xie Yuzhu did not answer, but asked: "Mr. Gu is such a smart person, since he knows that there is no benefit in doing this, but it is full of disadvantages, why did he agree to it?"

Gu Suiyi stopped smiling and suddenly became serious.

"Although I don't know much about court affairs, I have heard from my father, who only wants to protect the wealth of the Marquisate, that the treasury has been empty in recent years, and 100,000 taels of silver have been robbed. The prince's dam project in the middle of the river may come to nothing, and the stable home that the people have been looking forward to will disappear."

"Even my father, who is free and easy, knows this, so how could those people in the court not know it? Your Majesty agrees with the idea of ​​raising funds proposed by the Minister of Revenue, but now everyone is complaining about poverty, while the young men who drank with me and visited Taohua Tower threw away five hundred taels the night before yesterday."

He lowered his eyes, a hint of sarcasm flashed across his face: "Princess, tell me, where is justice?"

Xie Yuzhu raised her eyebrows: "So, you are punishing evil and promoting good."

"My reputation has long been tarnished, and I don't care who dislikes me. It's just that they all have money in their hands, squandering it without restraint, but are unwilling to give a little to help the suffering people. I really can't stand it. I will help them do good deeds and accumulate virtue for future generations. In this way, they will thank me in the future."

Xie Yuzhu was a little surprised. At this moment, she could feel that Gu Suiyi was not as casual as he appeared to be.

"Gu Suiyi, I find that your sarcasm is particularly pleasing to the ear and eye."

Gu Suiyi was flattered and bowed: "It's not easy to get a compliment from the princess."

He stood up, waving his folding fan, with a puzzled look on his face. "I brought a group of followers, some beating gongs and drums, and many common people followed behind me. I specifically went to various prominent families in the city, saying that we were raising money to build a dam for the people in the middle of the river, and it was all voluntary. But this posture was clearly coercion. It's strange to say that no one drove me out, nor did they report me to my father. My father didn't even beat me last night."

Perhaps the only person who dared to comment in front of outsiders that his father was a son who only wanted wealth and a leisurely life was Gu Suiyi.

Since you turn a deaf ear to what's happening outside, naturally news comes slowly.

Xie Yuzhu: "Maybe the Marquis doesn't know yet."

"The fundraising was proposed by Mr. Liu from the Ministry of Revenue, and it is also what His Majesty wants. However, it is just a superficial effort, and it is under the banner of voluntary participation. You are helping His Majesty as a thug. Who dares to find fault with you openly? It is inevitable to offend them, and they may cause trouble for you behind your back."

Gu Suiyi screamed, touched his face, and said in horror: "Then the princess should find a few martial arts masters to protect me all the time! I am a romantic and charming man, and everyone loves me. I can't die young!"

This is too exaggerated.

Xie Yuzhu rolled her eyes at him in her heart.

"I have taken good care of you, so how can I let you show your face in front of His Majesty?"

"Show my face?" Gu Suiyi thought for a moment, and then fanned himself leisurely. "Although I have offended many important people, what the princess said is right. I am working for His Majesty. Once this is accomplished, His Majesty will definitely reward me. Once the reward comes, who dares to hurt me? Princess, don't underestimate me. I am so tall and straight that a few followers can't hurt me."

"Gu Suiyi, I know you are quite skilled. If someone really wants to trouble you, don't hide. Just get hurt a little. It would be best if you look miserable on the surface, so that people can feel pity for you."

"The princess even knows that I'm good at fighting!" Gu Suiyi was shocked that she actually knew that he was good at fighting, but soon his expression returned to normal and he said shamelessly, "But how can my handsome face be hurt?"

Xie Yuzhu raised her eyes and said, "You sold the heirloom jade ruyi without the knowledge of the Marquis. Will he beat you to death if he finds out?"

"Princess, are you asking me to use a self-torture trick?" Gu Suiyi rested his chin on his hand, thought for a moment, and agreed, "Good idea!"

Xie Yuzhu said in a very gentle voice: "Gu Suiyi, good people will be rewarded. You have done good deeds, and the blessings are in the future."