Hiss~ Li Xiuzhu is paralyzed. He won't live much longer. Why are you killing him?
No, Huan Huan is not a reckless person and would not kill Li Kuo without any reason.
"Why?"
"He found out about the master and the queen. When he asked someone to arrest you last night, Wang Defa told me first."
"So I killed people."
Li Xiuzhu paused for a moment after hearing the words, and then nodded after being silent.
It was fine before, but something happened now. Someone must have discovered it yesterday, and it couldn't have been when he was around. If someone peeked at his skill, he would definitely have discovered it.
"The maid next to the Queen?"
"Yes, I have already taken care of the people, including arresting your guards."
Sun Jingyang felt numb. This was not allowed to be spent, but it had to be done well.
The three of them came to the imperial study room not far away. Ruan Wenjun couldn't hold back and threw himself into Li Xiuzhu's arms.
Ruan Wenjun paused and fell silent.
"Isn't it great now? When the prince becomes emperor, you will be the most powerful person in the harem."
"Okay, I understand."
He obviously couldn't leave because he had to deal with funeral affairs. After Wu'an Lord Bai Zhan and General Luo Shicheng left, Ruan Wenjun said to Prince Li Chengze: "Prince, you go back and take a bath. You will take over later."
Li Xiuzhu said speechlessly: "Sir Song, you still have to pay for the money that should be paid. The national treasury only collects taxes before winter. Spring has just begun. Are you telling me that you have no money?"
Even though it was hollow, he estimated that a solid sterling silver coffin would weigh about two to three tons.
"The late emperor's funeral cost a total of 850,000 taels, of which the burial items were equivalent to 520,000 taels of silver, the tomb cost 250,000 taels, and the rest of the funeral expenses cost 80,000 taels."
"Well, does your Majesty have a rough budget for money?"
Ruan Wenjun hesitated and asked, "Can't I leave the palace?"
Li Xiuzhu was startled. He didn't expect that it would be his turn to do the work.
Ruan Wenjun was startled, and then she realized the purpose of Huan Huan's visit. Before, she thought that Li Xiuzhu wanted Huan Huan to be the bridge between them.
She blushed a little for a moment, as if she was being sentimental.
The target is 880,000 yuan. It doesn't matter even if the Ministry of Revenue is short of money. Li Kuo has a lot of private money. Even if he builds the Grand Canal, there should be a lot left over.
Bai Zhan and Luo Shicheng were aware of this, but they were also filled with emotion.
When Sun Jingyang heard this, he immediately understood, this is a tribute to the late emperor? The cost is a bit high.
Li Xiuzhu nodded when he heard this, but he already had a rough standard.
Your Majesty is really worried about state affairs.
Li Xiuzhu nodded, he felt relieved that Huanwan was doing things.
Li Xiuzhu frowned when he heard this.
"Yes, empress."
Li Xiuzhu heard this and said, "Then I'll go out first, don't think too much about it, I'll come back to see you later."
Although Sun Jingyang told the truth, eighty-nine of the ten emperors basically had a standard of 500,000 taels, and only a few could earn around a million taels.
She breathed hard, as if this was the only way to relieve the shock she had suffered before.
"My Majesty means to arrange the best for the Emperor as much as possible without extravagance and waste."
After the prince also left, Ruan Wenjun said to the maids and eunuchs on the side: "You should bathe and cleanse your majesty. Make sure to clean it up."
The queen nodded slightly.
After the two of them hugged each other, Sun Jingyang asked, "Do you have any instructions?"
Sure enough, the imperial doctor also spoke at this time: "Your Majesty's death was caused by overwork and heart attack."
Li Xiuzhu patted Ruan Wenjun's back slowly and said softly: "It's okay, it's okay, it's all over."
Li Xiuzhu understood that it was not a big problem.
"Xiuzhu, let you be in charge of your father's funeral. The officials of the Ministry of Rites will cooperate with you."
Li Xiuzhu said: "Not to mention the possibility of being discovered, have you thought about how to face Liuli?"
"Master Sun."
"My lords, it's not that Mr. Song doesn't want to hold a big funeral for His Majesty, but we have no money. Even the repair of the Grand Canal requires money from Your Majesty. Mr. Song can only spend 300,000 taels at most."
"Xiuzhu, come with me. I have a few words to tell you."
"The queen will prepare for the enthronement. When the civil and military officials pay their respects, the prince will ascend the throne."
But thinking about it carefully, it seems to be okay. A small car is only two tons smaller, and a larger pickup truck is four tons.
Li Xiuzhu thought for a while and said: "The Empress said that although Your Majesty has left an edict not to allow extravagance and waste, you should have arrangements, but Your Majesty is a wise king, and the ostentation should be of a higher standard."
"Jun Gong Li."
"Then were the standards of our late emperor higher or lower than those of previous dynasties?"
"Since the cause of His Majesty's death is known, let's bury him in seven days as Your Majesty said, and mourn immediately."
"Um!"
"Yes, Queen Mother!"
Li Xiuzhu followed the palace maid out and came to the main hall, where he met Sun Jingyang, the minister of etiquette.
When Song Lian arrived, he first mourned Li Kuo's death, and then got up to discuss it with them.
But then he thought about it and realized that Ruan Wenjun had something to say to him.
Nm, is this a silver cave? This is four tons of silver.
"Hmm...I'm so scared, I'm so afraid I'll hurt you."
"Of course, this mainly depends on the wealth of the national treasury."
Li Xiuzhu smiled when he heard this.
"There won't be anything found about Li Kuo's death, right?"
"Don't be afraid, so isn't Huanhua staying with you in the palace? You don't think that Huanhua is here to play in the palace, right?"
"Master Song from the Ministry of Revenue will be here soon. Why don't we wait until Master Song comes to talk?"
"What do we do next?"
"The Ai family knows about it. The other ministers can do the rest."
Li Xiuzhu smiled when he heard this.
"Song is also tightening his belt."
"No, I used the method you taught me, master, to stop his heartbeat to death. On the surface, there won't be any problems."
"Do you know the cost of the late emperor's funeral?"
This is too difficult for him, Sun Jingyang.
Sun Jingyang thought for a moment and said: "It should be neither high nor low. We won't talk about the Qin Emperor and the Han Dynasty. After that, every time I am an emperor, the basic cost will be more than 500,000 yuan. If it is extravagant, it will be 1 million yuan."
There are some too.”
Not long after, a voice came to the door and said: "Mother, the Master of the Ministry of Etiquette is here."
Li Xiuzhu was startled when he heard this and immediately understood what Ruan Wenjun meant.
Song Lian heard the words and said righteously: "That's the Duke. You don't know how much money we spend in Dazhou."
"The New Year is approaching, and various departments are asking for money. This family will give some, and that family will give some. In addition to the expenses of the Grand Canal, Song can come up with 300,000, and he has tried his best."
Hiss, isn’t this gap a bit big?
Li Xiuzhu turned to Sun Jingyang and asked: "Master Sun, have any of your majesties died less than 500,000 taels in the past?"