After hearing her gossip, all the civil and military officials went crazy.

Chapter 143 Increase Taxes
Fang Lingchu looked completely bewildered and asked, "Isn't the head tax collected once a year?"

The young girl nodded and said, "Yes, last month we collected miscellaneous taxes, the month before that we collected land tax, and this month we're collecting poll tax. That's what the official said anyway."

Fang Lingchu: ……

Good, she finally understands why this place looks so poor.

Fang Lingchu squatted down and asked, "Is someone else coming tomorrow?"

Several people nodded.

Fang Lingchu touched their dry hair and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll give you each another piece of candy. Don't tell the adults about this, okay?"

The child saw the candy in Fang Lingchu's hand, swallowed hard, really wanted it, but still refused.

"Sister, you've already given it to us, we won't tell anyone."

Fang Lingchu was delighted to see how well-behaved they were. After handing out the candy, she got up to go home.

The smile that started instantly vanished.

[Guagua, is it because of these people that we always have so little luck?]

Fang Lingchu's smile was sinister, and the words she spoke also had a somewhat frightening quality.

Seeing Fang Lingchu's reaction, the system said somewhat fearfully, "Of course it does, host. No matter how many officials the emperor kills, those below who want to line their own pockets will still jeopardize the nation's fortunes."

Fang Lingchu narrowed her eyes and said, "I remember the emperor often made an example of someone to scare others, so why are there still so many people who dare to do this?"

The system explained: "Host, the emperor only kills corrupt officials; the investigation hasn't reached them. Besides, doesn't your father work in the Ministry of Revenue? The emperor seems to trust your father quite a bit, so they're even less afraid."

Fang Lingchu didn't quite understand what the system was saying.

What does this mean? What does this have to do with our family?

The system continued to explain: "Host, your father is the highest-ranking official in charge of this matter, followed by the Left and Right Vice Ministers. Those below should claim your father ordered their actions. If the Emperor blames you, your Fang family will take the fall."

Fang Lingchu looked completely bewildered.

Do they think the emperor is a fool? How could the emperor not know what my father is like? If it weren't for my maternal grandparents, my father probably wouldn't even be able to afford meat.

What are they thinking? They make the money, but the Fang family suffers the consequences? They're really dreaming! I'm writing to my father right now.

After saying that, Fang Lingchu rushed to the rooms that the Chang family had arranged for the women.

"Hua, did you bring any writing brush, ink, paper, or inkstone?"

Hua looked at Fang Lingchu's appearance and took out a pen and paper.

Fang Lingchu took the pen, lay down on the bed, and began to write a letter to her father.

"Father, I, Fang Lingchu, am safe and sound. I came to Changcun today and found that some people are levying miscellaneous taxes. I hope you will investigate this matter thoroughly, especially your men..."

Fang Lingchu wrote two pages of eloquent prose.

After seeing that Fang Lingchu had finished writing, Hua was thinking about whether to send it to the guards when she saw a man in black appear in their room.

"Xiao Hei, deliver this to all the parents, and be quick."

Xiao Hei took the things Fang Lingchu handed over and then disappeared.

Hua watched the disappearing man in black, and thinking of the letter the general and the crown prince had asked them to deliver, she felt a little... It was quite far from the capital, but given Xiao Hei's speed, it should arrive by midnight.

Even after delivering the items, Fang Lingchu was still somewhat unsatisfied.

He got up and went to knock on the rooms of the Crown Prince and Gu Wangyan.

Gu Wangyan opened the door and saw Fang Lingchu standing there, somewhat puzzled.

Fang Lingchu saw Gu Wangyan and said, "I need to talk to you. Wait for me."

Then Fang Lingchu went to exchange for the sedative energy and secretly put it into Chang Yingying's and her parents' room.

The Crown Prince and Gu Wangyan were instructed to leave two people behind to protect Chang Yingying's family.

The five of them then went into the mountains.

At this time, most of the villagers were asleep, so to be on the safe side, Fang Lingchu still didn't dare to discuss important matters directly with the Chang family.

Several people stood in an open space, and Fang Lingchu sent out a few more people to keep an eye on the surroundings and protect everyone.

The Crown Prince and Gu Wangyan's men were also nearby.

Seeing Fang Lingchu being so cautious, the group felt that something serious might have happened.

Yu Shuang asked nervously, "Princess, what happened?"

Fang Lingchu felt safe and told him what she had just learned from the children.

Having explained the whole story, she then looked at the Crown Prince and said, "Your Highness, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with our Fang family. Your Highness, you must investigate this thoroughly and clear our family's name!"

At this moment, the system said: [Host, the situation in your family has been updated again. This matter really involves your family, and it's also related to the remnants of the former crown prince.]

Fang Lingchu is super annoyed right now. There's the increased taxation, the remnants of the former crown prince, and the female lead's destiny mission. Why are there so many problems when she just goes out?
[Guagua, should I not have gone out? Every time I go out, all sorts of things happen.]

The system seemed somewhat helpless, but still said: "Host, although you won't encounter these things if you don't go out, these things will still happen, and our mission and the Dragon Kingdom will remain in dire straits."

She knows this, but she's really annoyed! Why is it so hard to just quietly enjoy the scenery and give herself a break?
[Understood. We'll take it one step at a time. Let the Crown Prince figure out a solution to the tax increase issue himself.]

The system nodded and said, "[It should have been him who did it! He's the Crown Prince! If he doesn't go to do something that wins the hearts of the people, who will?]"

Fang Lingchu continued, "[There's another matter. The emperor has clearly done many good things for the country and its people, but the common people are unaware of them. This is one of the reasons why there are so many bandits and outlaws in many places. We must find a way to solve this problem!]"

There's nothing the system can do about this.

[Guagua, our current papermaking technology uses trees, and it seems to be only mastered by people in other countries, right?]

The system nodded and said, "[No, that's not true. Your country has it too, but it's all monopolized, and the supply is limited. To make money, some of them deliberately don't produce much.]"

Fang Lingchu thought for a moment and asked Gu Wangyan, "General Gu, do you have a lot of those remnants and veterans under your command?"

Although Gu Wangyan didn't understand why Fang Lingchu asked this question, he still nodded and said, "Yes, every year tens of thousands of soldiers retire and have to be supported by the imperial court. This is also a major concern for us."

After all, it takes a lot of money to support these people every year, which is why China is so poor.

Upon receiving his answer, Fang Lingchu smiled and said, "General Gu, I have a good place for them. Would you like to give it a try?"

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I'll start the new book once I have enough drafts saved up this month. I hope you can give me lots of feedback then! (><).

I can't say much more because I need to take my driver's license test! Sorry! Love you all! (Sending hearts)
(End of this chapter)