northernbook Chapter 150: In the end, I am still a pauper
Chapter 150: In the end, I am still a pauper
"Your Majesty, the gold mine is located on the territory of Daxia, not your personal property. Therefore, this gold should belong to the national treasury!"
After searching and finding the gold hidden by the magistrate of Yunshan County, Xie Xu did not stay in Yunshan County, but immediately rushed back to the capital with the gold.
Xie Xu originally wanted to hand over the gold to Emperor Yuan, but he didn't expect that Minister Jiang had already arranged people to wait at the city gate.
Emperor Yuan, who originally wanted to secretly put the gold into his own private treasury, encountered an obstacle in the form of Minister Jiang.
Look, the two of them are fighting for the ownership of the gold.
Emperor Yuan was so angry that he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. "Jiang Chengrui, don't go too far! You've already deposited all the gold from the confiscation of the Pingxi Marquis's mansion into the national treasury. Can't you give this gold to me?"
Minister Jiang said ruthlessly: "Your Majesty, most of the stolen money confiscated from the Pingxi Marquis's Mansion was disaster relief funds paid from the national treasury. It should now be returned to the national treasury and used for the reconstruction of Yanzhou in the near future.
As for the remaining part, it is the people's blood and sweat, and should be added to the national treasury and used for the people in the future.
Your Majesty, as the ruler of Daxia, should set an example for all people. One is one, two is two, how can you act recklessly? I am now following the rules, and Your Majesty should not stop me."
Emperor Yuan was so stunned by Minister Jiang's advice that he couldn't refute a single word, but he really needed money right now.
"If your Majesty has nothing else to do, we will take the gold back and count it and store it in the treasury."
After saying this, Minister Jiang waited for a few seconds symbolically before planning to have someone move the boxes.
Upon seeing this, Emperor Yuan pulled Minister Jiang aside and whispered, "Lord Jiang, I don't want more. Just one box, is that okay?"
"No."
"Half a box."
"Even if it's just one piece." Minister Jiang paused, "That's not allowed."
Emperor Yuan: “…”
Minister Jiang bowed to Emperor Yuan, then said to Xie Xu, "Sir, please have someone move this gold to the Ministry of Revenue."
Xie Xu glanced at the emperor and saw that his face was ashen with anger but he didn't say anything, so he nodded slightly to Minister Jiang.
Afterwards, the imperial guards took all the gold away.
Emperor Yuan watched helplessly as the gold that was about to be in his hands flew away from his eyes, and tears could not help but flow from his heart.
Seeing that Emperor Yuan looked like he wanted to cry but had no tears, Xie Xu couldn't help but walk over and quietly handed him two gold bars.
Emperor Yuan glanced down at the gold bar in his hand, then looked at Xie Xu in confusion.
Xie Xu explained: "I hid it secretly."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuan looked at him with dismay and asked, "Why don't you hide a little more?"
"These two are my bottom line."
Emperor Yuan: “…”
"No, those were all gold. What about the private property of the Yunshan County Magistrate?"
Xie Xu took a few steps back and said, "Your Majesty, my brothers rushed to Yunshan County at full speed, so they should be given some hard work compensation."
Confiscating property is a lucrative job. Apart from the things recorded in the book and some things that must be handed over, how much of the other things are handed over depends entirely on how much the person in charge of the confiscating property wants to keep.
As long as it is not too excessive, Emperor Yuan and all civil and military officials will have no objection.
After all, who can tell exactly how much property the person whose property was confiscated had?
"You can't take it all!" Emperor Yuan extended his hand towards him, "I want a portion too."
Xie Xu shook his head. "It's gone. I gave it all away. Your Majesty, you can't ask me to take it back, right? I don't have the nerve to do that."
Emperor Yuan: "...Then give me half of your share."
Xie Xu pretended not to hear and clasped his fists, saying, "Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered that I have something else to attend to. Please excuse me and take my leave first!"
After he finished speaking, Xie Xu left quickly without waiting for Emperor Yuan to speak.
A breeze blew by, and Emperor Yuan stood there alone, looking a little desolate.
He looked down at the two gold bars in his hand and couldn't help but smile bitterly. In the end, I am still a pauper.
***
After Jiang Yueyang chatted with the queen in Ning'an Palace for half an hour, he left the palace with the gold and rewards given by the queen.
She said to the system happily: "The Queen is so generous. She just gave me a priceless South Sea pearl. It's much better than your stingy Majesty."
The system agreed, "This box of pearls that the Queen gifted to the host is of much better quality than the one jar of pearls your aunt gave you previously."
At this time, a group of palace maids came towards them.
The leading aunt saw Jiang Yueyang and led the palace maids to kneel and salute her.
"This servant greets Princess Yongle."
As soon as she finished speaking, the palace maid behind her immediately shouted.
Jiang Yueyang was stunned for a moment, and only after a moment did she remember that she was still a princess.
Because the people she usually met were officials from Da Xia, and they called her Lord Xiao Jiang, she had no real sense of the identity of a princess.
I felt a little uncomfortable when someone suddenly called me like that.
Seeing that they were still in the posture of saluting, Jiang Yueyang hurriedly said, "You two should get up."
"Thank you, Princess!"
Jiang Yueyang pulled the corners of her mouth awkwardly, nodded at them, and quickly walked towards the palace gate.
After she walked away, the person behind the head aunt asked in a low voice: "Aunt, why is Princess Yongle wearing her official uniform?"
The head aunt led them forward and explained, "Princess Yongle was personally appointed by His Majesty as a fifth-rank editor."
"The princess is wearing her official uniform, shouldn't we call her sir?"
"What do you know? A princess is of the first rank, so she should be addressed according to the highest rank!" The head aunt stopped after saying this. "Also, once you enter this palace, in front of the master, you can only call yourselves slaves. Remember this!"
"Yes, I will follow your aunt's instructions."
At this time, on the other side, in the Ministry of Justice’s prison.
Chang Ming was locked in a cell, while Xie Xu stood outside the cell, separated by an iron door.
"My lord, I'm sorry for you."
Xie Xu said expressionlessly: "You are not sorry for me, but for those innocent people who died in vain!"
Hearing this, Chang Ming shed tears of regret.
It was his selfishness that killed those people. He is unforgivable!
Xie Xu: "His Majesty, considering your past achievements and the threats you have suffered, will show you mercy and spare your life, but will exile you three thousand miles away. You... take care of yourself."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Chang Ming hurriedly called out to him, "Sir, my family..."
"They're fine."
"That's good." Chang Ming wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, "Take care, sir."
Xie Xu clenched his fists slightly, and finally left without saying anything.
But just as he walked out of the Ministry of Justice's prison, a jailer chased after him and shouted, "Thank you, Master Chang... committed suicide."