Zhao Yuan looked solemn. As soon as he spoke, Gu Qinghan and Yang Ning both changed their colors. Gu Qinghan even stood up suddenly and said, "What did you say? The tax silver has been sent?"

Zhao Yuan said seriously: "It has been sent to you at the end of September, and it is Mr. Cheng...Mr. Qi personally arranged it. In order to ensure the safety of the tax and silver, as before, he went to Jingzhou City to find the prefect and transferred more than a dozen soldiers to accompany him."

Yang Ning thought that this matter was getting more and more complicated, so he stood up and asked, "There was no tax silver in the Hou Mansion. Because of this, Sanniang and I came to Jiangling in person to find out what was going on."

"How is this possible?" Zhao Yuan said in shock: "General General Qi was going to escort him personally, but because he couldn't get rid of his own, he sent Xiao Cui to escort him. Xiao Cui has been to the capital and is familiar with the road. After they came back, they also said that the tax silver had been delivered on time and everything went smoothly." He said suspiciously: "Is the third lady and the prince back on this trip because of this batch of tax silver?"

Gu Qinghan stared at Zhao Yuan's eyes. Seeing Zhao Yuan's serious face, she sat down slowly, closed her eyes slightly, pondered for a moment before asking: "I ask you, what is the current tax on the fief's tax at?"

"The third lady knew that when the old Marquis was alive, he set rules. When the Marquis of Jinyi and Marquis, the grain of the land was evaluated first, and then collected at 20% of the harvest." Zhao Yuan said: "And if there is a famine, such as drought or flood, or locust plague, the tax will be reduced. The Marquis is kind and kind, so that the people of the fief live and work in peace and food without worries. Naturally, we will follow the rules set by the Marquis' Mansion."

Yang Ning said: "But as far as we know, the fief of Jinyi Hou had started to increase taxes many years ago, and the increase was not a little bit." He stretched out four fingers, "Now the fief has increased to 40% of the taxes every year. Mr. Zhao, isn't this fake?"

Zhao Yuan was stunned at first, then smiled and said, "I'm sorry, the prince is talking nonsense."

"I don't have time to joke with you." Yang Ning said lightly: "I just ask you if there is any such thing?"

"The prince, 20% of the taxes were decided by the old marquis. Not to mention 40%, the marquis' mansion would charge 30% of the taxes. I would like to advise you and ask for three or four." Zhao Yuan said: "For decades, the people on the fiefs have been used to the favors given by the old marquis. Because of this, the taxes on the fiefs rarely have problems and can be paid in time. However, if the taxes rashly increase, it will inevitably shake the people's hearts and reduce taxes and everyone is happy. However, even a little tax will increase the taxes, and it will make the people feel resentful. Do not increase the taxes easily."

Gu Qinghan said: "Zhao Account Office, haven't you understood that it's not that the Hou Mansion wants to increase taxes, but that you have privately increased taxes."

Zhao Yuan frowned and said, "The third lady means that the marquis's mansion has no orders, and we can increase the tax without authorization?" It showed incredible expression: "This... how is this possible? Third lady, I just ask one question, if we really do this, will we lose our heads?"

"It's good to know." Gu Qinghan sneered: "If you are good at increasing taxes, the Marquis' Mansion will naturally not spare you."

"We all understand this principle, so the third lady thinks we will make such mistakes?" Zhao Yuan sighed: "Fortunately, there are accounts in the account that have been dealing with over the years. The third lady just needs to go to the account to check carefully and you will understand immediately." He smiled bitterly: "The third lady doesn't have to worry about what villains will do. You and the prince suddenly come back, and even if the villain wants to do some tricks, there is no time."

Although he is an accountant, the arrogance of scholars is still there.

Gu Qinghan thought that this account must be read. He was in charge of the affairs of the Hou Mansion and the accounts were one of the most important links. When he came back this time, he naturally had to check the accounts here.

"Since you are an accountant, you should know everyone who comes to pay taxes every year." Yang Ning smiled on his face, "Mr. Zhao, do you know this person Han Yi?"

"Han Yi?" Zhao Yuan thought for a while and immediately said, "Back to the prince, Han Yi is the place of Luwang Village, but this person has a hot temper and pays taxes in other places very quickly. Only Luwang Village pays taxes every year as slow as possible."

"Oh?" Yang Ning smiled faintly, "As you say that, is Luwang Village a thorn?"

"That's not a question. They didn't pay less taxes in the end." Zhao Yuan said: "I heard that this person likes to make friends. Although he is just an ordinary farmhouse, he has many friends outside. With a wide connection, he is braver. When he came to pay taxes last year, he had an argument with the land in another farmhouse, and the two started fighting. Han Yi almost beat the person to death." He said to Gu Qinghan again: "Will the third lady go to the account office now to take a look? It's still early, and General Manager Qi can't come back for a while."

Gu Qinghan nodded slightly and said, "Lead the way!"

Zhao Yuan led the way, Yang Ning followed Gu Qinghan and arrived at a small yard. When he entered the house, he saw wooden frames on both sides, and the wooden frames were filled with various accounts. There was also a Xiao Si in the house, who was the accountant assistant.

Yang Ning was really not patient when facing the mountain of accounts. After seeing Gu Qinghan sitting down, Zhao Yuan had already brought up a bunch of accounts and placed them on the table. He thought that it would not be completed in a short while to check the accounts. He left the yard and wandered around. Gu Qinghan also knew that he was not good at such detailed accounts, so he went out to stroll.

There were many courtyards. After Yang Ning walked around for a long time, he found that this old house was larger than what he thought. Although it was far less than the grand scale of the Jinyi Hou Mansion in the capital, this house was rare in this small place.

After all, the old house is an old house. Although I have found that many places have been repaired, it still looks a bit simple and old overall. Many walls look a bit old. He has heard Gu Qinghan mention that the history of this old house is not short. The old Marquis lived in this old house when he was young. By this calculation, this old house has a century of history.

No matter how much a century-old house is repaired, it is still a bit dusk. What's more, after Qi's family and his family entered Beijing, there were not many people in this huge old house, and now it seems even more deserted.

Yang Ning followed the path in the house for a long time and suddenly saw a wall not far away. It was different from other places I had seen before. The wall of this wall was covered with vines, and the vines were very lush, almost wrapping the entire wall in it.

Yang Ning was surprised and thought that although the old house was small, there were still people to take care of it. He would also take care of the places he should take care of on weekdays. At least what he saw before was obviously someone to take care of it from time to time. Some people often prune the flowers, plants and trees in the house, but this place seemed very abnormal. The vines had already blocked the courtyard wall and no one had pruned it.

He couldn't help but walk over, and saw that the path leading to the courtyard wall was covered with thick moss. It seemed that no one had walked here before. Moreover, there were lush weeds on both sides of the path. In late autumn, the grass and trees withered, appearing withered and lonely.

After walking a short distance, the withered vines and weeds in front blocked the way, but through the gaps in the vines, I saw an arch in front. The door was closed and the two door knockers were locked together by iron locks. The iron lock was already rusty, and the arch had already lost its color, making it look extremely old.

Yang Ning was wondering why the yard was so deserted, but he heard a cough coming from behind. He turned around and found that Wei Tong was standing not far away, looking at him.

Yang Ning thought to himself that you, an old guy, had no sound when you walked, and you were like a ghost. You were not afraid of scaring people, but your expression was calm. He pointed to the locked arch behind the vines and asked, "Who lived in the yard before? No one was allowed to take care of it. The vines were about to reach the yard, and people couldn't get in."

Wei Tong didn't come close, but just waved to Yang Ning, "Criminal, it's not a good place, you...you should come first."

Seeing Wei Tong’s strangeness, Yang Ning frowned and said, “It’s not a good place? What does this mean?” Seeing that Wei Tong had no intention of walking over, and he couldn’t get past the front, he turned around and walked back. Only then did he realize that the single door and single family of the yard were quite far away from the other yards.

When Yang Ning approached Wei Tong, he lowered his voice and said, "Crown Prince, you have prepared the meal. Do you want to go and have some first?"

"Don't change the topic." Yang Ning turned around and pointed to the yard, "What do you mean by saying that's not a good place?"

Wei Tong's eyes showed a hint of fear and whispered: "Criminal, this...is an ominous place. Not only now, but also when the old marquis is here, it has been locked. The old marquis has ordered that no one is allowed to approach this yard, let alone enter the yard."

"Ah?" Yang Ning was stunned and said strangely: "Why? Why is there an ominous place here?"

"Prince, please don't ask too much." Wei Tong took two steps back, "Prince, please go for a meal." He avoided his eyes and did not dare to look at the yard.

Yang Ning looked back and didn't know if Wei Tong's words had worked. Although it was blue sky and sun, when I looked at the yard again, there was a gloomy atmosphere. The old house was already a little cold and cold. Now that such a strange yard appeared, Yang Ning felt a little cunning, but he still looked down and said, "How can you evasively? I asked you something, what are you doing to cover up? Why don't you say it quickly."

Wei Tong naturally did not dare to disobey Yang Ning, so he could only say: "Criminal, there... there is haunted!"

A gust of breeze blew, and it was quiet all over. Yang Ning felt that the gust of wind seemed a little cold, and frowned and said, "I don't say anything about the strange powers and magic. What a haunted mansion? How can there be ghosts in a good house? Don't talk nonsense."
Chapter completed!