Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

Li Yuanqi kicked the last struggling assassin to the ground, then turned and shouted to the corner:

"It's okay, come out."

Gu Wang'an looked at the corner where Li Yuanqi was looking with a puzzled expression, and then a living person appeared out of nowhere.

Gu Wang'an raised his hand to rub his eyes, his mouth involuntarily opening slightly. Was anyone there just now?

Lian Rongrong approached Li Yuanqi with a smile, and also kicked the assassin on the ground.

"This won't do either; it's too fragile. It seems Qian Lin's skill level is nothing special after all."

"Qian Lin? Wait, who are you people? What are you doing in my yard?"

Gu Wang'an felt as if he had a breath stuck in his chest, unable to get it out. Although he was there, it was as if he wasn't there at all.

These men in black were fighting and killing each other in their own yard, but no one came out to explain why.

Fortunately, Gu Wang'an's voice was finally heard. Li Yuanqi turned to look at the only upright official in the Ministry of Revenue and said:

"Lord Gu, there's no need to worry. We're here to rescue you." In Li Yuanqi's eyes, people are only divided into two categories: his wife and everyone else.

Therefore, this Prince Qi often had one expression when looking at his own wife and another when looking at others.

Clearly, Lord Gu was one of the others.

Lian Rongrong stood to the side, looking at Li Yuanqi's cold face and listening to his cold voice, and couldn't help but curl her lips in disgust.

This person doesn't look like they're here to rescue someone; they're clearly here to silence them. Forget it, to calm Lord Gu down as quickly as possible, let her do it.

"Lord Gu, there's no need to be nervous." Lian Rongrong smiled slightly and said softly, "This is His Highness Prince Qi. We came here tonight because we heard that Qian Lin and others wanted to silence Lord Gu."

"Your Highness, mindful that Lord Nian is a rare and exceptionally talented and upright official, and unable to bear seeing you die a violent death, has brought men to rescue you."

Lian Rongrong's gentle voice did indeed reassure Gu Wang'an quite a bit. Through the dim night, Gu Wang'an carefully examined Li Yuanqi.

Gu Wang'an was merely a fifth-rank official, and naturally had no opportunity to directly interact with someone like Prince Qi, especially since this prince had only recently returned to the country.

However, five days ago at the grand court assembly, Gu Wang'an had seen Li Yuanqi's figure from afar outside the Taiji Hall.

Looking closely now, the stern-faced man in front of him does bear a resemblance to Prince Qi in stature.

"Your humble servant greets Prince Qi." Gu Wang'an performed a courtier's salute.

Seeing this, Li Yuanqi very considerately raised his hand to let Gu Wang'an rise without formalities.

However, apart from Lian Rongrong, this guy seems to have that perpetually icy face to everyone else.

Gu Wang'an looked nervously at the assassins lying dead or wounded on the ground, and couldn't help but think:

I don't seem to know this Prince Qi very well, and he doesn't seem to like me. Why would he come to my house to save me? It's really strange!

Lian Rongrong seemed to see through Gu Wang'an's thoughts. She smiled slightly, stepped forward, and said softly:

"Does Lord Gu have any concerns?"

Gu Wang'an looked at Lian Rongrong, but before he could speak, Lian Rongrong continued:

"Let me get straight to the point. Since Lord Gu is in the Ministry of Revenue, he must know that things haven't been peaceful there these past two days."

Gu Wang'an looked at Lian Rongrong with some hesitation, then his gaze fell on Li Yuanqi, and finally he nodded and replied, "I heard that Prince Qi is going to take over the Ministry of Revenue, so there will be some personnel adjustments within the Ministry of Revenue."

"It seems that Lord Gu is indeed not one of Minister Qian's own people."

Lian Rongrong's seemingly joking remark directly revealed the relationship between Gu Wang'an and Qian Lin.

"What does Your Highness mean? I do not understand."

"Lord Gu is so intelligent that he could see through my relationship with the Prince at a glance, so how could he not understand the implication of my words?"

Lian Rongrong paused, glanced at Gu Wang'an's expression, and seeing that he was only hesitant and not resistant, she felt relieved and said:

"Lord Gu, Prince Qi is not just making a show of his new position. He has genuinely seen the deep-seated problems in Dasheng and the people's suffering, which is why he wants to do something for Dasheng and its people."

After taking over the Ministry of Revenue, Prince Qi had already inventoried his private treasury. Knowing that the Ministry of Revenue had a huge deficit, he wanted to use his own private funds to try to fill the gap.

"Use His Highness's private treasury to fill the Ministry of Revenue's deficit?" Gu Wang'an looked at Li Yuanqi with doubt and distrust.

“But the matter concerning the Ministry of Revenue is not His Highness’s fault. His Highness has no need or reason to do so.”

Gu Wang'an's tone wasn't entirely one of disagreement. A closer listen revealed more of a probing and suspicion.

"I have indeed done nothing wrong in the matter concerning the Ministry of Revenue, but what about the people of the world? Are they at fault?"

These corrupt officials have turned the national treasury into their private coffers. The lives of ordinary people are worth less than grass to them.

I have personally witnessed how, during the snow disaster, people were displaced and resorted to cannibalism.

At that time, I wished I could tear those rats to pieces. Lord Gu, whether I saved you or used my private treasury to cover the deficit, it was all for the sake of the innocent people of Dasheng.

A flicker of emotion crossed Gu Wang'an's eyes. Just then, Lian Rongrong spoke again:

"I happened to run into Qian Lin and his group at Hua Ji today. I heard that they wanted to harm Lord Gu, so Your Highness rushed over to help."

Lord Gu, whether you speak up or not, Qian Lin and his men will not let you go. In that case, why not help Prince Qi to wipe them all out in one fell swoop?

"Lord Gu, we need you, and the people of Dasheng need you too."

Lian Rongrong looked at Gu Wang'an with a sincere expression, and Gu Wang'an turned around and went back to his room almost without hesitation.

Lian Rongrong and Li Yuanqi exchanged a glance, unsure of Gu Wang'an's true intentions.

After a while, Gu Wang'an returned to the courtyard, holding an inconspicuous, ordinary wooden box in his hands.

Judging from the dust on the wooden box, it must have just been dug out from somewhere.

"Your Highness, these are secrets of the Ministry of Revenue that I have collected over the years. I present them to Your Highness today, hoping that Your Highness will one day restore peace and prosperity to the people of Dasheng."

Gu Wang'an held the wooden box above his head and performed a deep kneeling bow, his body trembling slightly from excessive excitement.

He had waited too long for this day; how could he not be excited and overjoyed?

Li Yuanqi accepted the wooden box with both hands and helped Gu Wang'an up, saying, "I will certainly not disappoint you, my lord."

"Although I am only a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue, I am willing to risk my life to speak out for the people as long as Your Highness needs me."

Li Yuanqi patted Gu Wang'an on the shoulder: "There's no need for that right now. It's better to let the dogs fight than to try to beat them behind closed doors!"

"Your Highness means..." Gu Wang'an looked at Li Yuanqi with some confusion. This official of the Ministry of Revenue was more than honest, but lacked strategic thinking.

However, there are countless cunning schemers in this world, and it is the upright officials like Gu Wang'an who are truly rare and precious.

"Lord Gu's evidence has been of great help. You can leave the rest to me."

I will assign secret guards to protect you and everyone in the Gu household. Lord Gu, please do not act impulsively.

"Your Highness understands. I will follow Your Highness's arrangements."