The substitute prince: Reported the emperor's brother at the beginning

In the palace, Emperor Wu, who was preparing to rest, heard Eunuch Zhao's report.

He was angry at first. The Sixth Brother was so bold that he actually led my royal guards to confiscate the property of the nobles.

Do you, the rebellious son, want me to be scolded for ignoring the merits of following Taizu in conquering the world?

After hearing the details, I was stunned for a long time.

I was angry again. They were a bunch of parasites. After being the heroes of the founding of the country, they did such a shameful thing. Their property should be confiscated.

Tan Donglin and the other two watched as His Highness returned with a group of imperial guards and countless gold and silver.

They were all dumbfounded.

They never imagined that those nobles who cried poor in public and even sold their belongings were actually so wealthy in private.

Your Highness is really amazing, with his sharp eyes, he can deal with all the rats.

"Now, we have enough silver. What else do we need for disaster relief?" Ning Yi asked.

Among the three, Tan Donglin said, "Your Highness, we are still not short of supplies. The only thing we lack right now is..."

"It's human."

"People?" Ning Yi was surprised: "Tell me."

Tan Donglin said sternly, "Your Highness, the so-called disaster relief is nothing more than purchasing food and shipping it to the victims in the disaster area."

"This needs to be distributed by local officials, but with so much deduction going on, only one in ten of the relief grain actually reaches the victims."

Ning Yi understood this principle very well. He thought for a moment and asked, "How do we solve this problem?"

"It's impossible for them all to keep an eye on the local officials, right?"

"That's not necessary," Jiang Bingwen said. "I think it would be best to send someone capable of investigating corruption."

This one must be sent over.

Ning Yi didn't want the food he had collected with great difficulty to be embezzled by a group of bastards.

"Would you three like to go?"

Tan Donglin and the other two looked at each other, smiled bitterly and shook their heads.

Ning Yi frowned: "Why, do you think this job is hard?"

"Don't worry, once it's done, I can guarantee you a promotion of two ranks in front of the Emperor."

This is a major disaster relief effort, and since they've made the difficult trip, we must give them enough benefits.

The three of them were indeed moved.

In the past, if it was disaster relief, they would take over immediately.

But now, this master is not so easy to fool.

If you mess up, he really dares to deal with you.

They can kill officials of the third rank at will and plunder nobles at will. What kind of people are they?

Fang Wanhua shook his head slightly: "Your Highness, it's not that we don't want to serve."

"Indeed, if this matter were to be implemented, we would be incapable of doing so and would hinder His Highness's important affairs."

The three of them were unwilling to go, and Ning Yi really had no choice for the time being.

On the other hand, the quick-witted Jiang Bingwen bowed and said, "Your Highness, I can recommend someone."

"Who?" Ning Yi asked, "If you are an upright person who dares to take on responsibilities, this prince will naturally make use of you."

Jiang Bingwen said: "High-definition water."

"High Definition Water?" Ning Yi frowned. What a strange name.

"Hmm?" Tan Donglin was surprised. "Could it be that Lord Jiang is talking about the high-quality water in the Honglu Temple?"

"Yes, it's him." Jiang Bingwen nodded.

"Honglu Temple?" Ning Yi was surprised. "Can people from there investigate cases?"

To put it simply, the Honglu Temple is for receiving foreign guests.

There is usually nothing going on, it's like a clean office.

When it comes to high-definition water, all three of them know it.

Tan Donglin smiled bitterly: "Your Highness, Gao Qingshui was once a censor of the Inspectorate."

"It was because of his investigation into the Jiangnan Salt Tax Case that year that he implicated many people, and was eventually sent to the Honglu Temple to retire."

"How old are you? You've already retired." Ning Yi asked.

Fang Wanhua said, "Your Highness, Gao Qingshui and I both passed the imperial examination in the same year, and are thirty years old this year."

Only 30 years old? It’s the time to work. What about retirement? This has been squeezed out.

Ning Yi thought for a moment and said, "I will go meet him."

"Your Highness, that's not necessary." Tan Donglin said with a smile, "Just ask someone to invite him over."

A prince went to see a minister who was kicked to the margins of the court. He was too respectful to him.

But Ning Yi insisted on going there.

Just as he left the house, the servant who had inquired came to report: "Your Highness, Gao Qingshui is in Xiuchun Garden."

"Xiuchun Garden?" Ning Yi frowned.

Isn't that a brothel? This honest official with a great reputation actually went to a brothel.

Qin Haifeng advised: "Your Highness is of noble status, don't go, otherwise it will tarnish the royal reputation if the news gets out."

"I will go and pick him up myself."

Ning Yi rejected the idea: "No need. This prince will go and see for himself how this upright official listens to music in the brothel."

Xiuchun Garden, although called a brothel, is also a prostitute.

The courtyard was full of people, surrounded by small buildings, and the corridors were filled with chirping birds.

On the stage downstairs, stunning women would come on stage to sing and dance from time to time.

In the private room on the second floor, a thin man in an ordinary blue shirt was painting with his head down.

Beside him stood a beautiful woman, who covered her mouth with a fan and chuckled from time to time.

Suddenly the door was kicked open and a young and handsome man came in with a dark-faced servant.

Gao Qingshui frowned and stopped writing: "Who are you waiting for? Why are you disturbing me?"

"How dare you! You see His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince and you don't kneel down?" Qin Haifeng shouted angrily.

Gao Qingshui and the other two were shocked and immediately knelt down: "Greetings, Your Highness."

Ning Yi calmly walked over and sat down in front of him: "Are you Gao Qingshui?"

Gao Qingshui raised his head slightly and said, "Your Highness, it is my humble duty."

"Everyone says Gao Qingshui is honest, but you come to the brothel to recite poetry and paint, you seem to be free and easy."

Ning Yi's words made Gao Qingshui smile bitterly: "Your Highness, you don't know that I don't spend any money when I come to the brothel."

"Hmm?" Ning Yi raised his eyebrows: "There are girls who don't want money? Such a conscience."

By the way, take a look at the woman kneeling beside him, not daring to speak. She looks very ordinary.

Gao Qingshui explained, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but I came to the brothel not to order any tea or food, but only to paint for the girls, hoping to earn them some money so they can have something to rely on when they are old."

"However, I have never taken advantage of any girl. Your Highness, please understand."

Ning Yi was puzzled: "You mean you just came here to give me the painting, without taking advantage of me or asking for a penny?"

After Qin Haifeng came back from a walk, he nodded slightly.

Ning Yi was speechless. Gao Qingshui, you are such a kind person.

"Get up."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Gao Qingshui finally stood up.

The woman left tactfully.

"You know that this prince has come to the brothel specifically to find you. Why is that?"

The two of them sat opposite each other, and Ning Yi's first question stumped Gao Qingshui.

Gao Qingshui was puzzled: "I don't know."

"If it's disaster relief, I've already donated two hundred taels, which is all I'm worth."

Ning Yi naturally knew that those officials who really had no money and no background would be surrounded by Tan Donglin and the other two.

The amount can be as much as several thousand or several hundred taels, or as little as a few dozen taels.

Of course, it was impossible for Ning Yi to really lead the Imperial Guards to search every house one by one.

"This prince naturally knows that officials like you don't have much money."

Gao Qingshui is embarrassed. There is no money to be made in the Honglu Temple.

"This prince will not beat around the bush with you." Ning Yi looked at him and said, "I heard that you are very good at investigating corruption cases?"

Speaking of this, Gao Qingshui's face was a little excited. After a moment, he sighed and said, "Your Highness, you are too kind. If I were really powerful, I would not be enjoying my old age in the Honglu Temple."