northernbook Chapter 464 Gaining a Good Reputation
Chapter 464 Gaining a Good Reputation
When Emperor Bei Qi saw Zhao Yi accept the token, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He's someone who knows how to adapt to the times.
Knowing when to stop while you're ahead.
The Northern Qi emperor said to Zhao Yi with a gentle smile, "The silver that the wise king took from the people was to fill the gap in the national treasury, and according to the law, it should be turned over to the national treasury."
"However, the people of Yongqing County have been severely exploited and are now starving and living in dire straits. I have allocated that sum of money in the name of the court to help the people get through the famine."
"As for the ten thousand taels of silver that the Prince Xian contributed himself, it was distributed to the people of Yongqing County under the name of his donation."
Zhao Yi sneered inwardly; the Northern Qi emperor was truly playing a clever game.
The wise king plundered the people's wealth and committed all sorts of evil deeds. Instead of receiving the punishment he deserved, he took the people's money and donated it back to them, thus gaining a good reputation.
Zhao Yi naturally wouldn't let the Northern Qi Emperor get what he wanted: "The case in Yongqing County can't be delayed any longer. I hope the disaster relief and donation funds will be finalized within three days."
The Northern Qi emperor wanted Zhao Yi to clean up the mess left by the Prince Xian, but fearing that delays might cause complications, he agreed: "I grant your request."
Having resolved one of his concerns, the Northern Qi Emperor finally had the mind to care for Zhao Yi: "You've had a long and arduous journey, and you're still injured. Rest in your palace first, and I'll send the imperial physician to treat your wounds."
"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious." Zhao Yi was in a hurry to see Shen Qingtan, so he cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "This humble subject has official business to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
Before the Northern Qi emperor could speak, Zhao Yi turned and left.
The Northern Qi Emperor stared at Zhao Yi's retreating figure with a dark gaze until he disappeared at the entrance of the main hall, then turned his gaze away and dismissed the eunuch Liu who was serving him.
Eunuch Liu left the main hall and closed the door.
Only the Northern Qi Emperor and the Wise King remained in the inner palace.
The wise prince said anxiously, "Father, I don't have that much silver on hand. I need more time to raise it. Three days is too short. Could you please give me a few more days?"
Although he was sent to his fiefdom, he still kept an eye on what was happening in Kyoto.
Upon learning of the uprising of the people in Yongqing County and that the Northern Qi emperor had sent Zhao Yi to Yongqing County to quell the rebellion, he began to have other ideas.
The King of Qi's origins are disputed, and he is currently under house arrest in Guangyang Palace, where he will never be allowed to leave.
If Zhao Yi were to meet with misfortune in Yongqing County, then the Northern Qi emperor would only have one son left...
He was about to call his advisors over to discuss some plans when the gatekeeper came to announce that the Emperor of Northern Qi had sent someone to fetch him back to the capital.
This news revealed to him that the Northern Qi emperor intended for him to inherit the throne.
After all, Zhao Yi's bloodline is not pure.
If the Northern Qi emperor intended for Zhao Yi to succeed to the throne, why would he send someone to bring him back to the capital?
But Zhao Yi is ultimately a hidden danger.
The Emperor of Northern Qi seemed to have seen through his thoughts and sent a message to the guard who was supposed to pick him up, forbidding him from taking any action against Zhao Yi.
He feared that his little actions would not escape the Northern Qi emperor's surveillance, so he did not dare to disobey the emperor.
He simply sent people to keep an eye on the situation in Yongqing County. When he learned that Yongqing County was experiencing a food shortage and that the price of grain had increased several times, he arranged for people to buy up large quantities of grain in his fiefdom and then transport it to Yongqing County to sell.
All the silver has been converted into grain, and we haven't had a chance to cash it out yet.
"I have already forgiven you, yet you still dare to make demands." The Northern Qi Emperor's face was gloomy: "If you cannot raise the silver within three days, then you can expect the Prince of Guangling to expose your crimes."
"Father, please calm your anger." The Prince Xian's face turned pale, and he knelt on the ground, trembling. "Your subject will gather the silver as soon as possible."
Seeing that his father had protected him, he became even more convinced that he was his father's only choice for successor, and for a moment he became a little carried away with his pride.
The Northern Qi emperor knew that the Prince Xian was a mediocre person, but he never expected that he would have the audacity to cause such a huge mess.
Fortunately, Zhao Yi coveted the throne and did not intend to break ties with him for the time being, and was still willing to cover it up.
The Northern Qi emperor was worried that the virtuous prince would hold him back, so he first reassured him: "Once you have gathered the silver, stay obediently in the mansion for the next few months. After I have resolved the matter of Yongqing County, I will then appoint you as the crown prince."
The wise prince, his heart at ease, said respectfully, "Father, rest assured, I understand your good intentions."
The Emperor of Northern Qi, finding the Prince Xian an eyesore, waved his hand, signaling the Prince Xian to step down, and then summoned his secret guards.