Ye Zao played with the tassel in his hand: "That's really... good news."

  "Does the girl want to give gifts?" asked Ah Ling.

  "Silly girl, how would I know where your home is? I don't know. What gift should I bring?" Ye Zao smiled and said.

  Song Daigne also smiled: "Isn't it? Concubine, it's not good to communicate with family."

  A Ling scratched her head and said "oh", thinking to herself: didn't you already know? Why are you still saying you don't know?

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  Everyone burst out laughing. The coal ball wagged its tail and barked, wanting to climb onto Ye Zao's body. Ye Zao picked it up: "You little stinker, what do you want to do?"

  The coal ball doesn't understand, but it's very excited and wags its tail, haha, opens its mouth to look at Ye Zao, just wants to come and lick it.

  "Stop!" Ye Zao blocked him with one hand:

  "Wooo..." The coal ball cried out in a very wronged tone.

  "No... permission." Ye Zao slowly muttered, staring at the coal ball.

  The coal ball let out another mournful cry, then crouched in her arms, looking up at Ye Zao with big, wet eyes that seemed to hold a deep grievance.

  "Don't think that just because you're acting pitiful I'll agree."

  As she spoke, she thought of how Fourth Master used to look at her... and she was just like this little dog, pitiful?

  "Go go go, go find your sister A Ling instead."

  Fourth Master in Tongzhou is in a bad mood.

  Tongzhou is not severely affected by snow, but Tongzhou paid less tax silver last year, just saying it's a natural disaster.

  But whenever there is a natural disaster, there are always fewer of them, and this is also an unavoidable thing.

  The question is, although last year's natural disaster led to a reduction in grain production, the part of the tax silver that was reduced still raises some suspicions.

  Fourth Master is not very clear, but Crown Prince is clear.

  The emperor summoned him this time just to find a job for him.

  This year, Huang Ama didn't go to Mongolia and didn't go on a southern tour. The crown prince was also put on hold. At the end of the year, something should be done...

  Tongzhou Prefect Zhao Wenxuan has always been loyal, even if there was a problem with the tax silver, he felt that it was not someone Emperor Ama wanted to bring down.

  I'm afraid there's been a problem at the Ministry of Revenue under Mao Wenlong.

  The crown prince sat in his own room, sipping tea and pondering.

  The expression is still gentle and elegant, but in his heart, it has already been turbulent.

  How much did the Empress Dowager know? The taxes in Zhili were not that many, and Tongzhou was able to make some adjustments because it had indeed suffered from natural disasters. However, why would the Empress Dowager be so fixated on this small amount of silver?

  So what does this mean again?

  As a prince, should he be leading by example? But it just so happens that he is leading by example in this matter? What a coincidence?

  Or this time... is it Herschel's again or whose family problem that brought him along?

  The crown prince was somewhat tired, propping up his head and rubbing his own temples.

  "Master, Fourth Master has arrived." Eunuch Song Bao said in a low voice.

  "Please come in, Fourth Brother." The prince looked up, and once again he was that carefree and gentle prince.

  "Pay respects to the prince." Fourth Master came in and bowed his hands.

  "Fourth Brother, sit down." The prince waved his hand.

  Fourth Master sat on one side: "Does the prince have any leads? Can't directly investigate the accounts?"

  Fourth Master is still young now, but he also knows that directly checking accounts can't see anything.

  The crown prince smiled and nodded: "This is just a formality, wanting to shock the ghosts in the capital. Fourth brother saw that there was a problem with this year's tax revenue, actually, for just this year, neither of us needs to come. It's just that, the past few years are not clean either."

  One Tongzhou prefecture, how much tax revenue can be generated in a year? Even if it's reduced by half, how much can be left?

  All I can say is that the people who took action here have caught the eye of the Emperor. The crown prince covered up the sharp light in his eyes.

  "My younger brother's thoughts are too simple, after all, they don't match the prince's vision." The fourth master was enlightened and also grateful for the prince's guidance.

  Fourth Master returned to his own house, and hesitated for a while: "Su Peisheng, send someone back to Beijing to investigate. Don't let others know." Since this matter is deep, we can't drown in it.

  At least you should have a general idea.

  "Master, Fourth Master has indeed called for someone to return to Beijing." Song Bao came and said to the Crown Prince again.

  The crown prince smiled: "Fourth brother making progress, this is a good thing."

  Now that Lao Si is involved with his... then this matter can't be hidden anymore. Lao Si, are you helping or just watching? Or are you going to kick him while he's down?

  Second brother is watching you. Take a good look now and avoid trouble later on.

  In this matter, the Crown Prince won't fall.

  Fourth Master has experienced less after all.

  He had no idea that he had stepped into a situation where he was in a dilemma. He just thought that he could get the news as soon as possible, to share the worries of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

  The investigation in Tongzhou yielded nothing, and Zhao Wenxuan, the prefect of Tongzhou, was indeed clean. At least, on the surface he was clean.

  Zhaowen Xuan's hospitality was very thoughtful, but the fourth master returned home like an arrow. Since there was no problem here, he could only go to the Ministry of Revenue for investigation.

  Ten days have passed, and even the Crown Prince and the Fourth and Fifth Princes no longer have any significance left.

  On the day of returning to Beijing, Zhao Wenyuan saw him off, with a reluctant look. He also called out to several princes, who were indeed surprised.

  "You're not a native of this place, are you?" The prince said with a smile as he got into his carriage.

  Fourth Master turned his head and took another look at Zhao Wenhuan who was still standing outside the city.

  Perhaps seeing him turn back, he cupped one hand in the other and bowed.

  Fourth Master turned his head and hummed softly. Those who curry favor with the powerful are finished.

  Before returning to Beijing, Fourth Master had not yet received the news. This matter ultimately fell to the Ministry of Revenue. The person in charge of Tongzhou taxation was Mao WenZhong, a vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

  This man is indeed under the Crown Prince's command.

  By the time he got here, Fourth Master felt something was off.

  Holding the letter in his hand while sitting in the carriage, Fourth Master's expression was very solemn. He regretted it. Shouldn't have investigated.

  Now, should I pretend I don't know or continue investigating?

  Unfortunately, the Fourth Master's men were not sloppy in handling matters. Not only did they investigate Mao WenZhong, but also the tax records of Tongzhou, which had been handled by Mao WenZhong after entering the capital. The Crown Prince had already communicated with Mao WenZhong through letters several days ago.

  Although I don't know the content, it's just to keep Mao Wenzhong's meaning intact.

  Fourth Master now knows some news, it's a bit embarrassing.

  Mao Wen-zhong is a Han Chinese and has always been known for his integrity. How could he possibly be corrupt in the Tongzhou tax silver? To think of corruption, there must be many opportunities.

  So... is he corrupt for the prince?

  What does the prince want to do with the silver again? The fourth master clenched the letter tightly, feeling that the light letter paper was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

  Digging down is a cliff.

  Fourth Master dare not think, if this matter is really the Crown Prince's handwriting...... then...... does the Emperor really not know?

  Huang Ama called him and his fifth brother over, was it just for this?

  Now I really know what's going on, but I can't keep digging. Fourth Master is anxious.

  "Master, the Crown Prince said he will arrive in the capital by dusk." Su Peisheng came over and said.

  Fourth Master crumpled up the letter and grasped it in his hand: "Alright."

  Anyway, for now he can only pretend he doesn't know.