amaotonovel Chapter 732 Your Majesty, why bother?
Chapter 732 Your Majesty, why bother?
The bluestone pavement of Zhuquefang in Chang'an was covered with a thin layer of frost. Cui Wanying sat on a stone bench under a locust tree. The baby in her arms was wrapped in a patched swaddling cloth, and the baby's little mouth was holding her frayed cuff.
Aunt Wang's sharp voice came from outside the bamboo fence: "Look at how poor he is. He doesn't look like someone who has embezzled a million taels of silver. He might have hidden all the silver with his mistress!"
Amidst the laughter, half a frozen vegetable ball hit the fence, startling the sparrows foraging at the foot of the wall, who fluttered off into the gray sky.
The baby suddenly let out a weak cry, and Cui Wanying patted him gently.
The sound of porcelain breaking came from the inner room—Wang Wen’s sister broke another bowl.
This was the thirteenth bowl to be broken since last winter, each crack a reminder of the shattered lives they had lived.
The old woman came out on crutches, clutching a piece of hard bread in her hand, with the bran falling off the bread. "Miss Cui, you should eat something first. If the child continues like this, he will probably have diarrhea..."
Cui Wanying shook her head and looked away, her eyes fixed on the ceramic bowl on the stone table. It was the water she had drawn from the well this morning.
She suddenly remembered that Wang Wen had returned riding a tall horse, with the purple gold fish bag on his chest dazzling in the sun. He said that His Majesty was going to implement new laws on maritime trade, and merchants had to pay taxes according to the regulations.
At that time, there was a light in his eyes, just like the candlelight in the bridal chamber on the wedding night, and she stood under the locust tree, feeling that she had married the most dazzling young man in the whole world.
"Sister," Wang Wen's younger brother poked his head out of the woodshed, his temples still stained with grass debris, "the radishes at the back wall are ready to be harvested. Should I go dig some to make soup?"
The cuffs of the boy's cotton-padded jacket were worn to a shine, yet he still exuded the air of a scholar.
Cui Wanying was about to speak when she heard the sound of a gong from the street corner. The patrolling Wu Hou shouted at the top of his voice: "Everyone, listen up! Anyone who discusses state affairs will be flogged fifty times!"
At three quarters past the hour of You, the sound of the night watchman's clappers echoed through the streets.
Wang Wen's father put his ear to the elm door and listened for a full cup of tea before he dared to remove the three bolts.
In the twilight that seeped in through the crack in the door, the toes of Zhang An's black boots rolled over fallen leaves, and the white grooves on the edges of his boots were embedded with fine snow.
He slipped in, his official uniform on his shoulders stained with dark water marks.
Zhang An took off his bamboo hat and pulled out an oil-paper bag from his bosom. Inside, besides the Hu pancake, there was also half a piece of sugar cake wrapped in it. "This is the new chestnut cake from the Shangshi Bureau. Please give it to the old lady to try..."
The old man's hand suddenly trembled as he took the oil-paper bag.
"Uncle," Zhang An's voice rang out, "Tomorrow at 11:00 AM, a vegetable cart will pass by the alley. You should...pack up some valuables."
"I do not go!"
The candlelight in the inner room suddenly flickered, and Wang Wen's sister came out holding a lantern, her face pale in the light. "Brother Zhang, is there any news about my brother?"
The girl had a thorn wood hairpin in her hair, which was a gift from Wang Wen.
Zhang An hesitated to speak and turned to leave.
All the neighbors around here know that there is a group of people from Liaodong living here.
Everyone knows that there is a corrupt official in their family.
He is the biggest corrupt official since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. Everyone here has tried that man.
Now, His Majesty has returned, but they still feel that this man is guilty.
He doesn't look like a good person at all.
I heard that he is the Majesty's student. At such a young age, he has become the Grand Councilor, the Regent in charge of all important affairs. If he was not the Majesty's student, how could he have become such a high-ranking official?
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a good man and he finally sat on the throne.
The good days for the people are about to come, and that old guy is back again.
As soon as he came back, he imposed a bunch of restrictions, making it impossible for them to make money or get rich.
Unfortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was so young, and he wanted to show his determination by committing suicide, and he died by hitting his head on the dragon throne.
What a tyrant! What a tyrant!
These rumors have been spreading more and more among the people recently. Even the officials of the court don’t know why His Majesty has gone from being a beloved ruler to a tyrant that everyone curses in their hearts.
Ultimately, it was due to Li Chengqian's capital limitations.
During Li Jingyou's reign, capitalism began to emerge, business became more prosperous, and ordinary people could make a lot of money.
But after Li Chengqian came back, he blocked the road.
Naturally, everyone's way to make a lot of money was cut off by Li Chengqian.
Cutting off someone's source of income is like killing their parents. How can the people not feel resentful?
Looking at Zhang An's departing back, Li Chengqian took Wang Can to see a lot.
"Wang Can, why are Wang Wen's family members like this now? Hasn't Wang Wen been rehabilitated?"
"Jinyiwei, is this how they do things?"
When Wang Can heard what Li Chengqian said, he paused.
"Your Majesty, everything you mentioned has been done, but the people don't acknowledge it. They think you are protecting your students."
"and……"
Wang Can didn't finish his words.
Because in the eyes of the people, His Majesty has now become an unforgivable tyrant.
To put it bluntly, he could have died peacefully, but now he is alive and has cut off the people's financial resources.
Wang Can didn't say anything else, and Li Chengqian knew what he was thinking.
If it weren't for him, the Jinyiwei would probably not be able to cut off all the tongues every day.
But, Li Chengqian said.
Let the people speak.
"Your Majesty is a person of ten thousand gold. Why bother getting involved with the people and arguing with these ignorant people?"
Li Chengqian shook his head.
"If I hadn't come, how could I have heard them cursing me for having no descendants?"
Just as Wang Wen's father was about to close the door, a pair of bony hands gently pressed the latch.
There was fear in his eyes at first, but when he saw Li Chengqian's appearance, his eyes lit up.
"Brother, why are you here?"
His first impression was that the man in front of him was his child's superior, and he must have a way to save his child.
"Brother, you know, they all say Wang Wen is a corrupt official! But this kid only sends home ten taels of silver a year, and we don't spend any of it."
"Keep them all. His Majesty said that Wang Wen is innocent and my child has committed no crime, but they don't believe it! Brother! My child is innocent!"
"Brother, can you please help me clear my son's name?"
"I know, you are a high-ranking official!"
Li Chengqian listened to Wang Shitou's words and nodded slightly.
"I know everything. Why don't you let me come in and sit down?"
Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Wang Shitou smiled bitterly.
"Brother, you can come if you want, but I'm afraid I'll be a burden to you!"
"I'm afraid people will talk about me behind my back then."
Hearing Wang Shitou's words, Li Chengqian looked at him.
Said seriously.
"I've never been afraid of what people say, brother. There are so many people who secretly curse me in their hearts, I don't care."
"I'm here today. Let me see who dares to talk about it."
Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Wang Shitou sighed.
Li Chengqian walked in step by step with the help of a cane. Wang Can stood at the door, looking at the back of His Majesty.
My heart ached.
Even a rough man wiped away a few tears.
Your Majesty, why bother!