After my whole family overheard my thoughts, they went berserk.

He quickly arranged for Luo Jialin to secretly contact Si Pei'an and have him pretend to visit various government offices to offer New Year's greetings and find out what the officials were saying.

When Si Pei'an heard this news, he was overjoyed. These people had been causing trouble in the court for many years, and the emperor had finally taken decisive action.

Then shouldn't he hurry up and eat some fresh melon?

"Prime Minister Rong!" Si Pei'an arrived and saw Rong Li pacing back and forth in the main room with dark circles under his eyes.

Rong Lizheng saw him arrive and couldn't resist making a few sarcastic remarks.

"Oh, what wind has blown the Governor-General here? Now that you've returned from Gui County and become a favorite of the Emperor, why are you coming to my old man's residence instead of going to the palace to ask for rewards!"

Si Pei'an didn't argue with him; he was actually quite pleased with himself.

"Thanks to you, His Majesty has already bestowed many rewards. This wealth comes so easily; I never even dared to dream of it!"

Rong Li's face darkened, and he immediately became defensive.

Is this a veiled criticism of him?

"Speak quickly, I'm very busy!" Rong Li was very annoyed; he hadn't slept a wink since last night.

Si Pei'an pricked up his gossipy ears: "What's on your mind, Prime Minister Rong, during the New Year? Could it be something related to embalming?"

Rong Lizheng's expression changed drastically: "What nonsense are you spouting? I am loyal and patriotic, how could I get involved in such a thing? Besides, I have a mountain of medicinal herbs, do I lack that little bit of money!"

"cough--"

Si Pei'an's eyes lit up: "It's nothing much. I just came to ask if the Rong family's medicine mountain is for sale?"

Rong Li was furious.

"I see you've really gotten too cocky lately when you went to Gui County. You even dare to covet my family's medicinal herb mountain?"

He seemed to have thought of something, and gave Si Pei'an the order to leave, then plunged into the warehouse.

After Si Pei'an left, he went to the Wu residence.

Wu Bende has been losing his appetite lately, as if he has lost his soul.

Unable to deal with the stolen money at home and unable to send the news to Qingning Palace, he was now frantically running around in a panic.

"Lord Wu? Why do you look so listless on the first day of the new year? Is something bothering you?" Si Pei'an asked with a smile.

Wu Bende was quite surprised to see him.

This person doesn't usually associate with them and always has a stern face. Could it be that he knows there's been some trouble in his family recently and came here specifically to make fun of him?

"Si Pei'an, you, a mere Vice Minister of Works, are becoming increasingly arrogant these days. You even dare to mock me?"

"Hahahaha." Si Pei'an let out a laugh that was both in his heart.

"You!" Wu Bende was so angry that he was speechless.

Si Pei'an was not polite at all.

"Isn't this the secret investigation that the court has been conducting recently? I see the officials are all in a frenzy. I'm penniless and have nothing to lose, so I'm not afraid of being investigated. I'm just taking a look at Lord Wu when I have nothing else to do."

Upon hearing this, Wu Bende became very sensitive and couldn't help but scrutinize Si Pei'an.

Could this old man be secretly investigating him?

"I just came from the residences of the various ministers and encountered a strange thing. They were all busy donating to Gui County, and some were even donating to the national treasury. Oh, I also just went to the Prime Minister's residence."

"What is Lord Rong of the Prime Minister's residence doing?" Wu Bende asked hurriedly.

Si Pei'an said, "They didn't do much, just that they had too much money at home, which was tied up in the house. They planned to donate some of it and sell the medicine mountain to the imperial court at break-even. Tsk tsk tsk, this is truly touching!"

Wu Bende frowned and cautiously inquired, "Did he really say that?"

“Really!” Si Pei’an said firmly.

Wu Bende knew what to do.

So Si Pei'an went from house to house, passing on rumors to them, and didn't return home until dark to have a hot meal.

The next day.

A strange and unusual event has occurred in the capital.

During the New Year, officials set up stalls outside the city to distribute red envelopes to the people. Each person who came to pay New Year's visits received one tael of silver.

Some court officials donated silver to the national treasury to express their gratitude to the court.

Even Rong Lizheng's family was transferred to the imperial court at half price, supposedly as a contribution to the court!

It is said that they had emptied their bank accounts and, after donating the money, several adults were seen weeping bitterly outside the city!

The financial ledgers were full of records. After the silver was deposited into the treasury, the emperor immediately sent Luo Jialin to carry out a new task: to return all the embezzled silver in full.

As for the pharmaceutical company's secret, it was not made public.

Although the medicine merchants are pitiful, they also participated in the exploitation of the herb farmers and are therefore accomplices. The imperial court will not change their names.

The people of the capital returned to their usual lives, just as the emperor had hoped.

Before we knew it, the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month had arrived.

After much pleading and cajoling, Shi Miaomiao's three older brothers finally obtained the Empress's permission to take their younger sister out of the palace to enjoy the lanterns.

"Sugar figurines! Sugar figurines we didn't get to try last time! So many sugar figurines!"

Shi Miaomiao was very excited and kicked her legs in the prince's arms.

Shi Youzhi always doted on her, buying her whatever she wanted.

"The one on top is so special! I want the one on top, I want it, I want it!"

Shi Youzhi reached out to take it.

At the same time, another hand reached out from beside them and grasped the sugar figurine. The two hands overlapped, attracting each other's attention.

Shi Youzhi looked at the girl in front of him. She was wearing a light pink dress, with a delicate face, clean and neat appearance, and had the demeanor of a well-bred young lady.

He held her slender, cold little hand, and her handsome cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I apologize for my offense, please forgive me, young lady. However, my sister really likes this sugar figurine. Could you please spare her the trouble?" The prince asked apologetically.

The girl looked towards his arms.

The little baby was fair-skinned and had a blessed look on his face. He was looking up at the sugar figurine with longing eyes, drool dripping down his chin.

The baby was so cute that she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Your Highness, you've come to the lantern festival too?" A familiar voice came from behind Shi Youzhi.

Si Lingchen stepped forward and bowed to Shi Youzhi.

"Si Lingchen? I didn't expect to run into you at this lantern festival!" Shi Youzhi was delighted to see him.

Back then, he was able to efficiently complete the relocation in Gui County not only because Si Pei'an was in charge, but also because Si Lingfachen helped him.

Moreover, Si Lingchen's personality is like his father's; he is unconcerned with trivialities and is a man of action. If it weren't for the incident in Gui County, it would have been difficult to get to know him.

"Xue'er, hurry up and greet His Highness the Crown Prince, the two princes, and the little princess." Si Lingchen looked at the girl in pink beside him.

"Xue'er greets His Highness the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Little Princess." Si Xue'er adopted the proper etiquette of a well-bred young lady and bowed to them one by one.

"Oh my, my new sister-in-law has arrived! My son would never have imagined that he would spend five months living with his future father-in-law in Gui County."

Shi Miaomiao squinted her eyes and looked at Si Xueer, instantly becoming her little fangirl.

"She's so beautiful, with big eyes, a high nose bridge, and a dignified posture. Her name is also lovely, like a snow lotus in winter."

"Would you two like to continue with your sugar figurines?" the stall owner asked.

"Yes, yes, yes! My brother, you must seize this opportunity! Buy some sugar figurines for my new sister-in-law and get her attention quickly!"