She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

After leaving the Duke of Zhao's mansion, Liu Ruojiao hurriedly returned to the Earl of Yongyi's mansion and went directly to find the Earl of Yongyi and his wife.

"Father, Mother!" Liu Ruojiao stepped into the main room and said happily, "I have good news to tell you."

The Earl of Yongyi and his wife looked gloomy and dejected, completely lacking any enthusiasm.

Since the Marquis of Chengen's mansion was unreliable, they went to find the connections left by the late Marquis today. They sat on the cold bench in the mansion for most of the day, but didn't even see a shadow of anyone.

Liu Ruojiao dismissed the maids, carefully closed the door, and said with a cheerful expression, "I heard some news at the Duke of Zhao's mansion today: the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai has been investigated, and His Majesty has not yet arranged for someone to fill the vacancy."

The Earl of Yongyi and his wife sighed, they dared not even dream of such a lucrative job.

"Everyone in the capital knows how much the Emperor dotes on my eldest cousin's husband. I've got my eye on this vacant position. I'll visit my eldest cousin's husband and sister at the Duke's mansion these next few days, hoping he can recommend them to the Emperor."

Liu Ruojiao's eyes revealed longing: "My older cousin has always taken good care of our family. If we ask her for help, we should be able to get this job for Father?"

The Earl of Yongyi and his wife exchanged a glance, and their minds immediately became active.

When you're really sleepy, someone will hand you a pillow.

Why didn't they think of this connection?

Lady Yongyi realized a problem: "If we offend Tan'er, will she still help us?"

The Earl of Yongyi disagreed, saying, "She has always been kind and generous, she won't hold it against us."

Lady Yongyi calmed down and decided to sound out Shen Qingtan's opinion.

"Knock knock!"

At this moment, a maid knocked on the door and stood outside, saying, "My lord, the Marquis of Chengen has come to visit you."

The Earl of Yongyi asked in surprise, "The Marquis of Chengen has come to our Earl's residence?"

The maid replied, "That's what the gatekeeper said."

The Earl of Yongyi hurriedly said, "Go quickly and invite the Marquis to the study in the front courtyard."

The maid replied, "Yes."

The Earl of Yongyi then said to his wife, "Although we are looking for a better match, we have done a lot for the Marquis's family before, and they have some leverage over us. We can't just break off relations all at once, so we still have to go and meet them."

Lady Yongyi looked displeased: "If Marquis Chengen asks you to do something for him again, you must not agree."

The Earl of Yongyi readily agreed and went to the study in the front courtyard.

He sat on the short couch and instructed the servant to brew a pot of hot tea and set it on the table. Just then, the Marquis of Chengen arrived.

Yongyi remained seated and said, "Brother-in-law, your presence today truly brings honor to my humble abode."

Marquis Chengen sensed the sarcasm in Earl Yongyi's words, but did not take it to heart.

He lifted the hem of his robe and sat down opposite the Earl of Yongyi: "Brother, you yourself are in the officialdom, you should understand my difficulties."

Uncle Yongyi didn't respond, but took a sip of hot tea.

“Your Yongyi Marquis’s Mansion has offended the Eldest Princess. Our Marquis’s Mansion must first protect itself and not be dragged down by you before we can find a way to rescue you.”

Marquis Chengen looked at Yongyi Earl as if he didn't understand his good intentions, and said helplessly, "If we don't sever ties, and if the Princess punishes you and then takes her anger out on our Marquis's mansion, both of our families will be finished!"

The Earl of Yongyi glanced at the Marquis of Chengen through his teacup, pondering the Marquis's intentions.

“You are my brother-in-law, I can’t just abandon you.” Marquis Chengen said bluntly, “The famine in Guanzhou has not been resolved yet, and refugees have already fled to the capital. This matter will soon escalate, and the Emperor will definitely take it seriously.”

Earl Yongyi put down his teacup and asked, "Are you going to take the initiative to solve the problem of the refugees?"

Marquis Chengen shook his head and revealed his plans.

"There is a severe food shortage in many places right now. Fortunately, the disaster situation in other places has been alleviated. Only Guanzhou is still experiencing a food shortage. Grain merchants are selling grain to the people of Guanzhou at four times the usual price."

“I know a grain official in Guanzhou. He used to be in charge of collecting and transporting grain for the imperial court. He would also take the opportunity to hoard some grain for himself.”

“I will have him sell it to you at 10% below the normal grain price. After you buy this batch of grain, you can sell it to the people at the normal grain price and earn the 10% difference.”

"Once the Emperor notices the disaster in Guanzhou and sends people to investigate, he will find that you used this batch of grain to alleviate the disaster. At that time, I will ask my colleagues to submit a memorial to the throne to recommend you for merit, and you may get a promotion because of it."

After speaking in one breath, Marquis Chengen observed the expression of Earl Yongyi. Seeing that his expression had softened, he knew that the fish was about to take the bait.

"I'm only giving you this opportunity to claim credit because you're my brother-in-law. Think it over carefully." Marquis Chengen stood up and delivered the final blow: "This matter is urgent. Give me your answer before nightfall. You don't need to consider my feelings by accepting this assignment. If you find it troublesome and don't want to go to Guanzhou, I can arrange for someone else to go."

"Wait!" Marquis Yongyi called out to Marquis Chengen, voicing his doubts: "The grain chief has grain in his hands, why doesn't he sell it himself?"

"He might want to, but he'd better have the guts. If someone exposes him for abusing his position for personal gain, he'll be stripped of his property and beheaded!"

Seeing that the Earl of Yongyi was still skeptical, the Marquis of Chengen explained, "He and I are sworn brothers. He only trusts me, but I trust you the most. If I didn't want you to make a contribution, I wouldn't have persuaded the grain chief to risk his head to sell the grain to you."

With his worries dispelled, Earl Yongyi rubbed his hands together and asked, "How much grain does the grain chief have?"

Marquis Chengen gestured with his fingers: "You can earn this much silver."

The Earl of Yongyi was instantly blinded by greed and agreed to the task: "I will set off for Guanzhou first thing tomorrow morning."

Marquis Chengen took out a letter and gave it to him: "Take this letter of recommendation to the grain chief. Only after he has read my handwritten letter will he sell you grain."

The Earl of Yongyi accepted the letter, completely forgetting the promise he had made to his wife.

-

The next day, Shen Qingtan waited at the Duke of Zhao's mansion for people from the Earl of Yongyi's mansion, but no one from the mansion came all day.

It wasn't until after bathing that evening, when she was preparing to rest with Zhao Yi, that Liu Yue brought news.

"Second Madam, this morning, Marquis Yongyi secretly left the capital for Guanzhou."

Shen Qingtan frowned slightly. The Marquis of Yongyi hadn't come to see her; instead, he had gone to Guanzhou at this critical juncture...

It is likely that Marquis Chengen offered generous benefits to persuade Earl Yongyi to continue serving him.

This time, Marquis Chengen truly sent Earl Yongyi to his death.

"Guanzhou?" Upon hearing these two words, Zhao Yi looked up at Shen Qingtan: "You're paying attention to this matter?"

“I previously instigated Zhao Jue to investigate the Chengen Marquis’s residence, and I took advantage of the chaos to arrange for people to investigate the Chengen Marquis’s residence as well, and I actually found out some things.”

After Shen Qingtan explained the situation in Guanzhou to Zhao Yi in detail, a plan immediately came to mind: "Those officials, relying on the emperor's compassion for the poor, will issue edicts to exempt the people from the grain they have borrowed, and then they will embezzle this batch of disaster relief grain and sell it to grain merchants at high prices, without actually distributing the grain to the people."

A sly glint flashed in her eyes: "Why don't you suggest to the Emperor that, in order to prevent officials from embezzling disaster relief grain, if the people are unable to repay the borrowed grain during the wheat harvest in May, the official in charge of this matter should find a way to make up the difference, and it should not be less than the amount of grain that was borrowed?"