After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Inside the carriage, Mu Bin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Majesty, judging from their appearance, these people are local bullies. Having suffered a loss today, they will certainly not let it go and will definitely seek revenge. I should send a few men to deal with them!"

The Hongzhi Emperor gazed at the bustling kilns and remarked calmly, "This is the territory of the Marquis of Shouning. He can't even handle a few local bullies?"

Xiao Jing quickly chimed in, "The Imperial Brother-in-law will certainly handle this properly!"

The Hongzhi Emperor withdrew his gaze and said, "Let's go back to the palace."

Mu Bin agreed and drove the carriage away.

Halfway there, the Hongzhi Emperor suddenly asked, "Xiao Jing, has that memorial been embroidered in red ink?"

Xiao Jing asked instinctively, "Which one is Your Majesty referring to?"

"The Cabinet submitted the appointments of officials today."

"Um... it should have been approved, but it hasn't been sent over yet."

"Let's leave it in the meantime and not issue it."

"Does Your Majesty still find something amiss?"

The Hongzhi Emperor thought for a moment and then said, "Mu Bin!"

"Your subject is here!"

"Send someone to investigate Cheng Zhirong, the magistrate of Wuqing County."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

When he returned to the capital, the Hongzhi Emperor was still thinking about that piece of land.

"Xiao Jing, what are the current land prices in Wuqing County?"

Xiao Jing replied, "Poor-quality land sells for about two taels, while good-quality land can fetch three to five taels."

The Hongzhi Emperor silently thought to himself, "When I bestowed the title of Marquis of Shouning, a few thousand acres would have been enough."

However, because there was really no land available near the capital, they switched to this 200,000-mu saline-alkali land in Wuqing County.

At the time, I felt indebted to my father-in-law's family, but now that the saline-alkali land has been turned into arable land, even if it's considered as poor soil, it's worth a little over two ounces per mu. Over two hundred thousand mu, that's...

Five hundred thousand taels of silver!

Marquis Shouning made a fortune on this deal!

He secretly regretted that if he had known that saline-alkali land could be improved, he wouldn't have given him so much.

Upon returning to the Qianqing Palace, a person walked out towards them.

"Your subject Zhang Heling greets Your Majesty!"

Emperor Hongzhi was stunned, thinking to himself, "This guy really can't resist a bit of rambling."

He nodded in agreement, then asked, "Did the Marquis of Shouning come to the palace to see the Empress?"

Zhang Heling said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I've come to deliver good news to my elder sister. It's getting late, so I should head back!"

"Oh? What's the good news?"

"Actually, it's nothing much, it's just that I've made some money recently."

Zhang Heling had already kept a low profile, but the Hongzhi Emperor saw this and felt very uncomfortable.

That piece of land was given to the Zhang family by himself. Now, the saline-alkali land has been improved and its value has increased more than tenfold. He has also made a fortune in the brick factory business. If this trend continues, he can make a fortune every day.

As the emperor, he lived frugally, constantly tightening his belt and even diverting some of his already meager private funds to the national treasury. What kind of life was that?

Thinking of this, he felt very resentful and said, "As a relative of the emperor, you have received the emperor's favor for generations. Now that the national treasury is tight and money is needed everywhere, shouldn't you do something to help?"

Zhang Heling opened his mouth wide, completely bewildered.

I thought to myself, what does the tight national treasury have to do with me?

All I did was sell a piece of land...

No, I'm so poor I've sold my land, and you want me to show my appreciation?

Seeing Zhang Heling's reaction, the Hongzhi Emperor became even more displeased.

He stood with his hands behind his back and said slowly, "I've come to ask you, how has the court treated your Zhang family?"

Zhang Heling quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty's grace is boundless; I have no way to repay it!"

"Yes, it's good that you know."

The Hongzhi Emperor nodded, then sighed and said, "Look at the current situation. Tianjin and the surrounding area have been severely flooded, and the national treasury is already stretched thin. In order to raise funds for disaster relief, I have even reduced the expenses of the palace again and again, and the Empress has also been cutting back on her own spending..."

He paused here, his gaze falling on Zhang Heling.

Zhang Heling felt a jolt in his heart as he was being stared at, sensing something was amiss.

As expected, the Hongzhi Emperor continued, "You are the emperor's brother-in-law, and your family has received imperial favor for generations. Now that the country is in trouble, shouldn't you share the emperor's burdens and show your support?"

Zhang Heling opened his mouth, his mind racing.

How do you mean it?

You want me to donate money?

He instinctively clutched his chest, feeling his heart tremble.

That piece of saline-alkali land was originally worthless, but it was finally sold a couple of days ago. I couldn't help but go to the palace to tell my sister the good news, but I ran into my stingy brother-in-law.

Not only do you not give me a reward, but you also want to rip me off?

Left with no other choice, Zhang Heling mumbled, "Your Majesty, I...I'm currently short of funds..."

The Hongzhi Emperor raised an eyebrow and said, "I've heard that you've recently made a lot of money on a big business deal?"

Zhang Heling's heart skipped a beat.

The 50,000 taels of silver from the land sale hadn't even warmed their hands yet...

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhang Heling said with a bitter face, "I have indeed earned some money, but... but... my family is also in financial difficulty..."

The Hongzhi Emperor's face darkened: "So, you're saying you're unwilling to share the burdens of the country?"

"No, no, no!" Zhang Heling hurriedly waved his hands. "I am willing! I am willing to donate...five hundred taels of silver!"

After saying this, his heart was bleeding.

That's pure silver, a full five hundred taels!

I've been to brothels for drinks and pleasure many times already!

To everyone's surprise, the Hongzhi Emperor flew into a rage upon hearing this: "Five hundred taels? Marquis of Shouning, you have quite the audacity!"

Zhang Heling was so frightened that he trembled all over and didn't know what to do.

The Hongzhi Emperor, unusually angry, pointed at him and yelled, "I've lowered myself to beg you for a donation, and you offer me five hundred taels to appease a beggar? Do you still consider me your brother-in-law?"

"Your Majesty, I am innocent..."

Zhang Heling looked troubled and explained, "My household expenses are high, it's really..."

"I think you're obsessed with money!"

The Hongzhi Emperor interrupted him, heartbroken, and said, "If it weren't for the Empress, where would your Zhang family have gotten your titles? That land was bestowed upon your Zhang family by me. Now that you've made money, have you forgotten your roots? Do you know that the people in the disaster-stricken areas of Wuqing County are starving? You're sitting on mountains of gold and silver, yet you don't give a single penny! Zhang Heling, do you have any conscience?"

These words were extremely serious.

Zhang Heling's face turned white then green, then green then white again.

He knew that if he couldn't please the emperor today, he might not have a good life in the future.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."

He steeled himself and said, "It was my oversight. I will sell everything I own to raise one thousand taels of silver to donate to the court!"

It really hurt to say those words.

To everyone's surprise, Emperor Hongzhi was not appeased upon hearing this; instead, he became even angrier.

"A thousand taels? Very well, very well indeed! Do you really think I'm a beggar, to beg for a little and then give it to me? Zhang Heling, I'm telling you this now: if you're really this stingy, you don't need to come to the palace anymore! And you shouldn't go to the Empress's place either!"

That's absolutely devastating!

Zhang Heling was able to act with impunity in the capital thanks to the powerful Empress.

If he can't even get into the palace, how can he be the emperor's brother-in-law?

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

Zhang Heling knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! I will donate... I will donate two thousand taels! I truly cannot afford any more!"

The Hongzhi Emperor's face remained gloomy, and he remained silent.

Zhang Heling's heart was bleeding, but he gritted his teeth and said, "Three thousand taels!"

The Hongzhi Emperor slowly raised his hand and then extended five fingers.

Now, Zhang Heling could only grit his teeth and say, "Five thousand taels it is, I'll donate it!"

The Hongzhi Emperor's eyes were icy cold, and he said, enunciating each word clearly, "Fifty thousand taels!"

In his mind, that piece of land had appreciated by at least 500,000 taels, so asking for 50,000 taels wouldn't be too much for him.

However, upon hearing the price of 50,000 taels, Zhang Heling's legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground!

That's too cruel!

This is driving people to their doom!

Thinking about this, he felt a chill of fear.

This emperor's brother-in-law had definitely deployed the Embroidered Uniform Guard around himself.

Otherwise, how could he know so clearly that his land had been sold for 50,000 taels of silver?

Could it be because he sold the land that the emperor had personally bestowed upon him, as punishment?

But that land can't grow any crops, so what's the point of keeping it if we don't sell it...?

Now that things have come to this, if I don't agree, I'll never leave the palace today.

They might even be invited to the imperial prison for questioning...

His face was ashen, and he stammered, "Your subject, your subject, your subject... is willing to donate 50,000 taels of silver to help the court with disaster relief."

The Hongzhi Emperor finally showed a satisfied expression, but then pressed on, asking, "Did you do this voluntarily?"

"I did it willingly..."

Zhang Heling, on the verge of tears, slowly said, "I will have the silver notes sent to the palace tomorrow!"

The Hongzhi Emperor stepped forward and helped him up: "If you had been so sensible earlier, why would you have angered me? Get up!"

Zhang Heling shakily got up, feeling as if all his strength had been drained away.

"Remember your words, if you don't see the silver notes by tomorrow... you'll have to think twice."

"I dare not! I dare not!"

Zhang Heling responded repeatedly, but in his heart he had already cursed that piece of land a thousand times over.

If I had known I wouldn't have kept a single tael of the money from selling it, I would have preferred to let it rot in my hands!

The Hongzhi Emperor waved his hand: "You may leave!"

"Your Majesty, I take my leave!"

Zhang Heling felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He bowed and took his leave, his legs feeling weak as he walked.

As he exited the Meridian Gate, he looked back at the majestic palace walls, clutched his chest, and felt pain in his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.

I'm never coming back again. One trip costs fifty thousand taels of silver...

Back at the manor, his younger brother Zhang Yanling approached and asked, "Big brother, where's the roast chicken you brought me?"

Furious, Zhang Heling slapped Zhang Yanling on the head.

"Eat, eat, eat! All you ever do is eat! You'll eat up this whole family fortune sooner or later!"

Zhang Yanling was stunned by the beating. Touching his aching head, he said, "If you won't give it to me, then don't! Why hit me? I'm going to the palace to tell my sister you bullied me!"

"You're going to the palace again? I'll let you in!"

Without saying a word, Zhang Heling started beating him up again.

Zhang Yanling was beaten until he cried loudly. Finally, he said, "Our family has fallen on hard times. We can only eat plain porridge and pickled vegetables. Forget about roast chicken."

"what?"

Zhang Yanling was crying when he heard there was no roast chicken to eat, and hurriedly asked, "Why? Didn't you just sell a piece of land? Fifty thousand taels of silver, how many roast chickens could that buy?"

Zhang Heling sighed deeply, and said in a tearful voice, "Our house was ransacked..."