Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

"Then she..." Zhang Jingwei was about to speak when he was interrupted again.

Wang Ergou knew he wanted to know why Tian Manying was still alive. "Mr. Zhang Lian risked his life to save the Tian family's descendants. The males were exiled, and the females were confined to the Imperial Music Bureau!"

"Jiaofangsi?" When Zhang Jingwei heard this word, scenes from the costume TV dramas he watched as a child emerged in his mind, and he couldn't help feeling curious and confused.

Wang Ergou, who was standing by, saw what he was thinking and took the initiative to explain, "Young Master, this Jiaofangsi is a great place! Once a woman enters, if she can pass the examination, she can become an official prostitute, serving the officials and even have the chance to redeem herself and marry into a wealthy family, where she will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of her life. If she fails the examination, she will only become a camp prostitute to comfort the soldiers, and when she reaches a certain age, she will have to marry some wounded soldier and be a slave for the rest of her life!"

"Then..." Zhang Jingwei wanted to ask something else, but was interrupted before he could finish his words.

Wang Ergou suddenly interjected, "The Tian family's granddaughter is a prostitute in the Hedong Jiaofangsi camp! Her nickname is 'Jadeite'!"

Zhang Jingwei was stunned for a moment, then frowned and looked at Wang Ergou angrily, demanding, "Can you read my mind? I haven't even said a word, how do you know what I want to ask?"

Wang Ergou bowed and said, "Young Master, you came to me at this time. I can roughly guess what you want to ask!"

"Why do you all call me 'Young Master' now? Didn't you call me 'Son-in-law' before?" Zhang Jingwei deliberately asked a question that had nothing to do with intelligence.

"Since our slave status has been transferred to the young master's household, it is natural for us to call you young master."

Zhang Jingwei paused. Although he deliberately changed the subject, Xiao Cui's figure was still in his mind. Logically, Xiao Cui shouldn't get married so early at her age.

"Master, are you thinking of 'Emerald'?"

Zhang Jingwei was furious and shouted, "That's enough! Stop speculating on my thoughts. I'll come back to you tomorrow. I need some quiet time now!"

"Then I'll take my leave..."

Only after Wang Ergou left did Zhang Jingwei breathe a sigh of relief.

While there was still some light in the sky, I quickly returned to my room.

……

In the room, two maids had already arranged the food neatly and were standing by ready to serve, but Zhang Jingwei sent them away with a few words.

As soon as the two maids left, Huangfu Ling came again.

When Huangfu Ling learned that her disappointing husband had returned, she went to Zhang Jingwei with a bill to settle the score.

"It cost two taels to rent the car, and three taels to repair it! Why did you dismantle the car for no reason?" Huangfu Lingqi questioned him angrily.

Zhang Jingwei's eyes widened, and he replied nonchalantly, "It's hot!"

Huangfu Ling pinched her waist and asked again: "Why did I hear that you gambled in the clinic?"

Zhang Jingwei flatly denied it: "Nonsense! Who told you that? Isn't that just gossip?"

"Have you forgotten that Zhu Banshan was a servant in the Marquis' Mansion before? He has confessed everything he should have. He told me everything about you in the clinic and in the prison!"

"Okay, I was wrong! What do you want to do?" Zhang Jingwei spread his hands and lay there in disarray.

"From now on, you have to hand over your food rations and tuition allowances every month! I will naturally allocate some for your pocket money, and the monthly wages of your servants will also be deducted from these!" Huangfu Ling did not like this attitude very much, so he thought about depriving Zhang Jingwei of his financial power.

"What did you say?!" Zhang Jingwei exclaimed.

Huangfu Ling's mouth curled up slightly, a hint of pride flashed in his eyes, and he secretly rejoiced in his heart: Humph, this young man used to spend money like water! Now that he has fallen on hard times, he should know how to be frugal, right?

And now, she was very satisfied that she had successfully taken away his financial power. Because this way, she could better control him in the future. Thinking of this, Huangfu Ling couldn't help but feel a little proud, as if she had seen the beautiful vision of controlling everything in the future.

Zhang Jingwei stood there in shock. He was actually shocked: Could it be that the government would give money to scholars? That was impossible! And were those scholars on TV who were so poor and destitute fake?

"Have you eaten?" Zhang Jingwei asked calmly.

"I ate it." Huangfu Ling answered unhappily.

Zhang Jingwei sat down silently and started to eat. He had to finish his meal quickly and then go to the government office to ask what the food rations and school subsidies were.

Seeing Zhang Jingwei remained silent, Huangfu Ling thought he had given in, and softened his tone, "Don't think I'm too strict. You're not the same as before, you have to save money..."

Zhang Jingwei became increasingly annoyed as he listened. He quickly took two mouthfuls of rice, put down his chopsticks, and said, "I'm full."

"You..." Huangfu Ling was so angry that she couldn't speak. She didn't expect Zhang Jingwei to turn against her so quickly.

Zhang Jingwei turned around and went out, leaving Huangfu Ling alone in the room sulking. He had to quickly sort out the issues of food rations and tuition subsidies.

Zhang Jingwei came to the government office and told the two guards at the door that he had something very important to tell and wanted to meet the prefect.

The two guards on duty looked at each other, and one of them turned around and went in to report.

Not long after, the yamen runner came out and said, "Your Excellency is waiting in the back hall. Please follow me."

Zhang Jingwei followed him into the government office and came to the back hall.

At this time, Lu Hui was drinking tea leisurely. When he saw Zhang Jingwei coming in, he immediately put down the teacup in his hand.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Lu Hui asked Zhang Jingwei in an unhappy tone.

Zhang Jingwei bowed respectfully, then explained to Lu Hui, "Your Excellency, I came here to inquire about the situation of food rations and tuition subsidies."

Hearing this, Lu Hui's eyes widened immediately, and he slammed the table angrily, saying, "You bother me for such a small matter?! Is this considered a big deal?!"

Zhang Jingwei shamelessly continued, "I'm also a student from Yunzhou. How can issues concerning students' lives and studies not be considered a big deal?"

"You..." Lu Hui calmed down and smiled, explaining, "The imperial rations are the food rations given by the court to scholars, and the tuition is to subsidize the students' tuition. However, both are not much, just enough to barely make ends meet."

"Hey, stop keeping us in suspense. How much can you give?" Zhang Jingwei urged anxiously.

"The rations in the government office are only five dou, and the tuition fee is only two liang and five qian." Lu Hui answered slowly, with a hint of helplessness and bitterness in his tone.

"That's just a little! I thought it must be at least 11 or 12 taels..."

Zhang Jingwei couldn't help but frown, feeling a sense of loss in his heart.

Lu Hui really didn't like the young man's attitude and sarcastically said, "Eleven or twelve taels? How about I let you be the governor? Two taels and five cents is a lot, and that's your high tuition as a student on government stipend. Ordinary students only get a few taels a month, not even enough for food!"