Chapter 1: The Miserable Transmigration

  He had just gone through the drought in Henan and the military expenses on the northern border, so when Zhu Houzhao saw the words "800,000 taels", he felt extremely annoyed.

  Zhu Houzhao folded the memorial and said lightly: "Yang Aiqing's suggestion is very good, but this matter is of great importance. I think we should consider it carefully. Yang Aiqing can go back to Shaanxi first, and wait for me to come up with a comprehensive plan before notifying you again."

  Zhu Houzhao's words were polite, but Yang Yiqing was not a fool, couldn't he tell that Zhu Houzhao was making excuses? It seemed that this matter would come to nothing, and the efforts of several years would turn into nothing but a mirage. Yang Yiqing couldn't help but feel unwilling to give up, and he couldn't bear to say: "Your Majesty, this..."

  Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said, "I'm tired today and don't want to discuss state affairs anymore. If Yang Aiqing still has something to discuss, he can stay in the capital for a few more days and talk about it later."

  "Your humble servant obeys the edict." Yang Yiqing gritted his teeth and spoke these four words, then performed a kowtow to Zhu Houzhao before saying: "Your humble servant takes leave."

  As he walked out of Qianqing Palace, he met Zhang Yong at the gate. Zhang Yong approached and asked Yang Yiqing: "Mr. Yang, how is it going?"

  Yang Yiqing shook his head and sighed. Although he didn't say anything, it was clear that he had failed.

  Zhang Yongchao looked around the Qianqing Palace and then said to Yang Yiqing, "Lord Yang, don't be discouraged. The current imperial treasury is empty, I think the emperor also wants to agree, but can't agree because even if he agrees, there's no silver to give."

  Yang Yiqing couldn't help but sigh: "The national treasury is actually empty to this extent?"

  Zhang Yong nodded and said, "That's right. This time Henan is experiencing a severe drought, and the northern border army is also demanding that the imperial court issue military rations. These two things will cost a total of 700,000 taels of silver, but at first, there were only 400,000 taels of silver in the national treasury that could be mobilized. If not for the emperor having wise and capable assistants, it's likely that neither the disaster relief funds nor the military rations would have been available."

  "High man?" Yang Yiqing was slightly stunned, and he couldn't help but ask: "Sir, who is that high man?"

  Zhang Yong glanced at Yang Yiqing and suddenly understood that Yang Yiqing was so desperate that he had turned to the idea of seeking help from a "high-ranking person". Zhang Yong thought for a moment before saying, "The master of Wuyue Manor, Jiang Xia, but after you go there, don't mention that I introduced you. The Emperor forbids anyone from revealing his identity in front of Jiang Xia."

  Yang Yi nodded and bowed to Zhang Yong, saying: "Thank you, Lord Zhang, for pointing out the way."

  Zhang Yong smiled and shook his head: "No need to be polite, Lord Yang."

  Yang Yiqing and Zhang Yong bid farewell and came out of the right wing gate of the imperial palace, where they happened to meet Liu Jin.

  Liu Jin warmly greeted Yang Yiqing: "Ah, Lord Yang, it's been a long time, really a rare guest, haven't seen you for many years."

  Yang Yiqing also saluted Liu Jin with a fist and called out: "Lord Liu."

  Liu Jin smiled and asked: "Sir Yang, have you just come out from an audience with the Emperor?"

  Yang nodded, "Exactly."

  Liu Jin said: "I don't know if Mr. Yang has any free time, let me invite Mr. Yang to have a good drink?"

  Yang Yiqing glanced at Liu Jin and couldn't help but furrow his brow.

  The Taizu Emperor had a clear order, "Eunuchs in the palace, princes of the Zhu family, are not allowed to meet and interact with civil and military officials privately. Those who violate this will be considered treasonous." Yang Yiqing himself was a man who held military power, and on top of that, he was also a central government official of the second rank, his identity was sensitive and special. If he were to go out to eat with Liu Jin, wouldn't that be an open and blatant violation of Taizu's legacy?

  Yang Yiqing's face was somewhat displeased. Liu Jin clearly knew the Taizu's will, so why did he still propose such a request to make things difficult for himself?

  Liu Jin's proposal was actually very simple, he wanted to test whether Yang Yiqing was willing to join his camp. After operating in the imperial court for so many years, Liu Jin had already won over a large number of civil officials, and what he lacked now was military generals, especially ones like Yang Yiqing who were highly respected and influential. If Yang Yiqing was willing to join his camp, Liu Jin's current power could be expanded by more than double.

  However, Liu Jin seems to have forgotten that Yang Yiqing was able to become the governor of Shaanxi because of Liu Daxia's recommendation to the current emperor. And when the emperor first ascended to the throne not long ago, a group of ministers in the court jointly launched a movement to "destroy the eight tigers", with Liu Daxia as the leader.

  In the end, Liu Jin lost to Eunuch Li in a confrontation. Heartbroken, Liu Da Xia submitted a memorial requesting to retire, but vengeful Liu Jin had no intention of letting him off so easily. To be sure, at that time, Liu Da Xia's side was on the verge of winning, and Liu Jin felt his life was in danger, so he ran to Zhu Houzhao's presence and cried out his grievances, stirring up Zhu Houzhao's sympathetic heart, thus avoiding being beheaded.

  Liu Daxia had just retired when Liu Jin immediately joined forces with the Imperial Guard and had him arrested and thrown into prison, intending to put him to death. Fortunately, Li Dongyang later came to his aid and rescued Liu Daxia, otherwise Liu Daxia would have died at Liu Jin's hands long ago.

  Liu Daxia had a favor for Yang Yiqing, and Liu Daxia also had a feud with Liu Jin, so Yang Yiqing didn't have a good impression of Liu Jin. At this moment, seeing Liu Jin staring at him intensely, Yang Yiqing bowed to Liu Jin and said: "Lord Liu is being too kind, but I have an appointment with Lord Li to discuss some important matters, so this drink together..."

  "No hurry, no hurry, we'll have plenty of opportunities in the future, what do you think, Lord Yang?"

  "What you said is absolutely right, it's getting late, I'll take my leave first."

  "Slow down, Mr. Yang."

  "See you again, sir."

  Yang Yiqing and Liu Jin bid each other farewell and parted ways, then walked towards their own carriages. The carriage slowly drove away. Liu Jin stood still, his eyes narrowing slightly, originally very fine and long, now this narrowing made people feel as if a venomous snake was staring at its prey.

  "You don't know how to appreciate favors. Do you think your position as Grand Preceptor is really as stable as a mountain? Just wait, I, Liu Jin, will one day pull you off your horse."

  Yang Yiqing told Liu Jin that he had something to discuss with Li Dongyang, and this was not entirely a lie.

  As an official returning to the capital, no matter what, he should go visit Li Dongyang. So after Yang Yiqing came out of the imperial palace, he rushed straight to Li's mansion and arrived at the gate of Li's mansion after reporting through the door god, Li Dongyang surprisingly came out to greet him in person.

  When Yang Yiqing saw this scene, he was suddenly shocked and hurriedly went forward to say: "Taifu is really too polite, I don't know how I can get Taifu's...".

  "We are all old men who have been officials together in the court for many years, don't be so polite." Li Dongyang raised his hand and pointed to his study: "Let's go, we'll talk in my study."

  "Yes." Yang nodded and said.

  Li Dongyang sat down in his study and asked, "What brings you back to the capital this time, Yiqing?"

  Yang Yiqing immediately told Li Dongyang his own thoughts and at the same time spoke of the emperor's attitude.

  After listening to Yang Yiqing's words, Li Dongyang nodded and said: "This matter is not the emperor's fault. I am the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and I can tell you that it is absolutely impossible for the Ministry of Revenue to come up with 800,000 taels of silver now. If we want 300,000 taels, there might be a chance."

  "Three hundred thousand taels, that's far from enough." Yang Yiqing sighed and thought to himself that he could only wait patiently for the right opportunity.

  Li Dongyang also sighed, saying: "During the reign of the previous emperor, the national treasury was so full. It's just that after the current emperor ascended to the throne, he has been extravagant and wasteful, exhausting his desires, building palaces and pleasure houses, finishing the pleasure house and then wanting to tour Jiangnan. The little remaining wealth in the national treasury had already been depleted long ago. This time, with the severe drought in Henan and the border army rioting over rations, if not for the help of a wise person, I'm afraid we wouldn't know how to solve these two problems."

  "Is it 'help from a noble person'?" Yang's heart suddenly lit up as he heard someone say "help from a noble person" for the second time.

  The first was Zhang Yong, and the second is now Li Dongyang. What kind of identities do these two have that they can both recognize a superior person, and how high does this superior person need to be?

  Yang Yiqing couldn't help but ask tentatively: "Taifu, are the superior people you mentioned not the master of the Carefree Mountain Villa, Jiang Xia?"

  "Do you know him?" This time it was Li Dongyang's turn to exclaim in surprise.

  After getting Li Dongyang's confirmation, Yang Yiqing secretly made up his mind to find an opportunity to meet this master and ask him if there was any other feasible way.

  Yang Yiqing didn't know that at this moment, Gao Ren was sitting in Cui Nian Nu's room like a needle on a pin cushion, praying for some goddess to come and rescue him from his suffering.

  Today is Cui Nianshu's birthday, and Cui Ruxue and Jiang Xia specially came to celebrate with her. Jiang Xia had the people of Xiangyashan Manor prepare a big table of delicious dishes, and also brought out a jar of 50-year-old Shuangtuan Red to drink together.

  It wasn't clear how it happened, but as Jiang Xia drank the wine, he suddenly felt something was off. Cui Ruxue and Cui Nianslave were actually drinking together on their own, and the two of them spoke with veiled words, always making Jiang Xia feel like there was a thorn in his side.

  Cui Nianshu raised his wine glass and said to Cui Ruxue: "Sister, I'd like to toast you again. Thank you for teaching me many things in the past, such as 'first come first served' and 'yielding to others'. Sister, thank you."

  Chui Nian Nu took a sip of wine, and then Chui Ru Shuang also followed suit.

  After drinking, Cui Ruxue poured herself another cup and said to Cui Nianslave: "Sister, come, I'll toast you a glass. Today, sister will teach you another truth, people must be brave enough to strive for it, can't leave regrets in life. If emotional things are encountered, don't say let go, because emotions can't be let go."

  Jiang Xia is such a clever person, how could he not know what Cui Nianslave and Cui Ruxue meant.

  Being too handsome and excellent is a trouble. How did two sisters start fighting over one person? It seems that old man was right at noon, I'm suffering from peach blossom fate.

  Jiang Xia felt uneasy in his heart, he thought this fire would eventually burn onto his own head.

  As soon as this idea arose, Cui Nianshu suddenly leaned against Jiang Xia's chest and said with a big tongue: "Jiang... Brother Jiang, if you had to choose between my sister and me, who would you choose?"

  "Yes, Jiang Xia, you say." Cui Ruxue was also leaning on Jiang Xia's left shoulder with a strong smell of wine.

  Feeling the two slender bodies pressed against him, Jiang Xia's heart was racing and he swallowed hard before saying: "How about...not choosing?"

  "No way! We have to choose!" they exclaimed in unison.

  "Then I want both," Jiang Xia said through gritted teeth.

  "Slap!" "Slap!" "Ah!"

  A loud slap rang out.