In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

With the Grand Secretary's passionate and almost tearful testimony, the situation instantly reversed, and the matter of sending medicinal herbs to the northern frontier according to the prescription was settled.

No one dared to be slow when it came to matters related to the epidemic. The Ministry of Revenue almost immediately took out the budget document and presented it to the Emperor.

Such a large sum of money was spent, and it was even from his own private treasury. Even the Emperor felt a pang of regret when he looked at the memorial.

Having resolved the immediate worries, we must naturally consider the long-term consequences. Otherwise, with this annual event, we can't just keep targeting the emperor, this fat sheep.

The Emperor naturally became interested in the progress of the construction of Huiyi Temple. This was Gu Zhao's suggestion, and Gu Zhao was also handling the matter. So the Emperor kept Gu Zhao behind and asked:

"Has the Zhang family sent the money for building Huiyi Temple to the Ministry of Revenue? Is it enough?"

He then instructed Eunuch Qiu:

"Is Shen Xu still waiting outside for a reply? Let him in. I also want to ask him about the Zhang family's matter."

After Eunuch Qiu left, Gu Zhao bowed and replied:

"That's about enough. It's sufficient for the initial establishment, but if we want to continue operating it, recruiting and training doctors, and subsidizing the medical and medicine costs for the people, we'll need special funds allocated by the government every year. Relying on just one salt merchant is not a long-term solution."

The Emperor's face showed a rare hint of weariness as he sighed:

"How could I not know? But the national treasury has no extra silver. I, the emperor, am constantly worrying about these financial matters. It's truly a headache. Among the officials, there are few who are loyal, and even fewer who can relieve my worries. Yesterday, I approved the execution order for Lin Shan. I had him beheaded. Alas, who could have imagined that he would betray my good intentions to this extent?"

Lin Shan was a eunuch who grew up with the emperor and had suffered hardships with him. He was a loyal and trusted member of the imperial faction, so after the emperor ascended the throne, he sent him to manage the Jiangning Textile Bureau.

But even the most loyal person, upon arriving in the prosperous Jiangnan region, harbored disloyal intentions. Under Lin Shan's leadership, the Jiangning Textile Bureau, such a large operation, actually went bankrupt.

The person the emperor wanted to execute was someone the emperor had trusted for many years. It was hard to tell what the emperor was sighing about.

Gu Zhao didn't know how to continue the conversation, so he focused on the matter at hand and replied:

"In the Jiangnan region, the three major textile manufacturing bureaus, just like the salt tax of Lianghuai, are vital to the nation. In my opinion, loyalty and skillful management are both indispensable for such important positions."

The emperor looked even more tired.

"Speaking of which, the whole world is my subject, but how many are truly loyal to me? And to be good at managing them is even more difficult. Cousin, when you mentioned the salt tax, were you still thinking about salt law reform? It's a good thing, but the person who does it will be hated. It has to be someone who can handle things. The person to do this job is even harder to find than the person to be the Jiangning Textile Commissioner. Let me think about it some more."

As the two were talking, Shen Xu entered. The Emperor looked over and asked:

"How are the Zhang family's assets being handled? Is the Zhang family hiding anything?"

Shen Xu replied calmly and steadily:

"Now only the residence in the capital remains, and the official brokers are looking for someone to look at it. Everything else has been dealt with. The women of the Zhang family have even pawned their clothes and jewelry, without keeping anything for themselves."

Seeing that Shen Xu was about to stop speaking, Gu Zhao frowned slightly, looked at him, and shook her head almost imperceptibly.

Seeing him shake his head out of the corner of his eye, Shen Xu changed the subject and said:

"In Yangzhou, there is also a two-story clinic with four rooms, which seems to have not yet reached an agreement with the government broker."

Gu Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and, taking this opportunity, took out a silver note from his pocket and presented it to the Emperor:

"emperor."

When the Emperor saw that it was a silver note containing one hundred and twenty taels of silver, he was almost laughed to death by his cousin.

"Cousin, what are you doing? I am short of money, but I don't need to ask you for donations. Please take it back immediately."

Gu Zhao looked ashamed.

"Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness. The clinic that Chongshu mentioned should, in principle, be sold along with the funds raised by the Zhang family. However, this is the dowry of the eldest daughter of the Zhang family. I beg Your Majesty's grace to allow her to keep this clinic. I am willing to make up for any shortfall in funds for her."

Thank goodness the Emperor didn't drink tea today, otherwise he would have given a good scolding. Everyone was stunned.

"No, cousin, you two are still in contact? Before, you could say she was being protected, but now that her proper husband has appeared, sigh, cousin, you should break it off."

Gu Zhao felt even more ashamed:

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am ashamed. We have already broken off relations. But she is now implicated by her husband's family and has pawned her clothes, jewelry, and dowry. She has been with me for a while, and I really can't bear to do this. I want to at least let her keep some dowry so that she won't be destitute in the cold winter, without clothes to cover her body, food to fill her stomach, a place to live, or even a warm coat to wear."

The emperor was also furious upon hearing this:

"No, Zhang Jingyan is too honest. I asked him to build Huiyi Temple, but it doesn't mean he should include the women's clothes, jewelry, and dowries. If word gets out, what will I look like! Oh well, Eunuch Qiu, send someone to the Zhang family to deliver the decree. The task of building Huiyi Temple is done for the Zhang family."

After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Gu Zhao called out to Shen Xu:

"Shen Chongshu, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Emperor's eyes and ears! What were you just doing? You're courting death!"

Shen Xu laughed:

"What I'm doing is trying to survive."

Gu Zhao narrowed his eyes, his tone already carrying a threatening undertone:

"Shen Chongshu! You think she'll choose you?"

Shen Xu smiled so hard that his dimples appeared on his cheeks:

"Why not? I never really coerced her. Zhang Jingyan can't protect her, not in the past, not in the future. Once she leaves the capital, you won't be able to protect her either. At that time, why wouldn't she choose me?"

Gu Zhao's expression changed:

"She's leaving the capital? Where is she going?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had many eyes and ears, and no matter how small the movement was, it would not escape Shen Xu's notice, especially if he specifically focused his spies on the Zhang family.

Therefore, Gu Zhao believed that if Shen Xu said she was leaving, then she really was leaving, much faster than he had thought.

The night before, he had thought it over carefully, and the only way to advance his relationship with his partner was to retreat. But in the blink of an eye, there was no room or opportunity left for him to retreat.

She was leaving the capital; the world was vast, where could she possibly go?

When Gu Zhao asked, Shen Xu smiled but did not answer.

Now that the two have a conflict of interest, Gu Zhao didn't expect Shen Xu to answer and went straight to the pawnshop.

She made an appointment with the pawnshop owner yesterday to come today. Knowing her as he does, he knows she will still come even if the business with the Zhang family is finished; she won't break her promise.

As expected, when the appointed time arrived, Zhu Qingyu walked into the pawnshop. Before she could even greet anyone, a figure emerged from the side door, pulled her along, and led her to the inner room where business was being discussed.

Gu Zhao pinned her against the door, his eyes filled with icy coldness:

"You're leaving? Where are you going?"