In the Liu family's living room, the chief manager Zeng Hai looked pitifully at Qi Yun, who looked equally embarrassed.
"Mrs. Protector, please take pity on us. Don't embarrass us. Your Majesty is really anxious to summon Duke Ding. Please tell me where Duke Ding has gone."
"I haven't been to court for several months. Whether I am resting at home or going to a distant place, there must be a place!"
Qi Yun was a chaste lady of the first rank who was awarded by Li Zheng personally to protect the country. Although Li Zheng had passed away, her wife's title was still here. Even Zeng Hai, the general manager of the palace, did not dare to show off in front of Qi Yun.
Otherwise, once the news gets out and the imperial censor puts it on the line, and he is accused of despising the late emperor, his position as chief internal officer will be over.
Zeng Hai knew better than anyone else that the high eunuchs in the palace who were respectful to him were eager to replace him and take his place.
Since I am not an ancestor, I can give up my position as chief steward without any regrets to keep vigil for the late emperor.
How many years have my ancestors sat there, and how long have I sat there? I have not enjoyed this prestigious position enough, so how can I take advantage of others?
Therefore, even if Young Master Liu was not around, Zeng Hai could only smile happily in front of Qi Yun.
His Majesty has a crush on Duke Dingguo. How can others not know that Zeng Hai, as the personal general manager, could not know.
I haven't been kicked in the head by a donkey, so why can't I think of going against others?
Even if the Duke's side is not concerned, the First-Rank Protector's Lady cannot be looked down upon by a mere fourth-grade Internal Controller.
Qi Yun looked at Zeng Hai helplessly: "General manager, it's not that I want to embarrass you. I really don't know where Lord Dao has gone."
"A few months ago, my husband changed his clothes, picked up his luggage and went out. No one else knows where he went except my husband!"
"My wife dares to ask, what happened when Your Majesty is so anxious to summon your husband? After you tell my wife, I will immediately arrange for someone to find my husband and tell him the reason!"
"Only when you know that the matter is urgent, your husband will rush back as quickly as possible!"
Zeng Hai hesitated for a moment, looking at the maids standing around Qi Yun with hesitant expressions on their faces.
Qi Yun immediately understood and waved to several maids: "You guys step back first!"
"Yes, young lady!"
After the maids left, Zeng Hai sighed.
"Now that the matter has come to an end, we won't hide it from Madam Protector!"
"Now the spring tax is about to be collected from the national treasury. The Ministry of Revenue has already been ordered to start issuing notices to various prefectures. Within three months, all prefectures and counties in Dalong Prefecture must pay the tax to the national treasury!
"
"But it's been two months now, and there are still more than 30 prefectures and more than 170 states and counties that have not yet fully handed over the tax revenue. There is a big vacancy in the national treasury that needs to be filled."
"All the officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs have been dispatched, but so far only seven prefectures have paid their taxes!"
"Your Majesty and the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs are very worried!"
"You must know that the north is about to leave, and large quantities of money and food are flowing out like water. Once there is a problem with the national treasury, the entire dragon will be in turmoil."
"The Ministry of Husbandry and the Ministry of War are under the name of Duke Dingguo, the auxiliary minister. If such a major incident occurs in the Ministry of Husbandry, it is beyond the scope of Jiang Shangshu's handling. Duke Dingguo must come forward."
"The remaining four auxiliary ministers, Your Majesty Shangshu, want to temporarily supervise the affairs of the household department on behalf of Ding Guogong, but except for Ding Guogong, Jiang Shangshu does not recognize the other four auxiliary ministers!"
"Jiang Shangshu doesn't dare to refuse His Majesty's decree, but His Majesty has just ascended the throne and has never encountered such a major event! He doesn't know how to deal with it perfectly!"
"I tried several ways, but Jiang Shangshu persuaded me to go back with good reason!"
"The orders of the other four auxiliary ministers have all been put aside by Jiang Shangshu. Your Majesty has no good choice but to summon Duke Ding to the court!"
"Mrs. Protector of the Country, we are not being alarmist. Once the taxes cannot be paid in full on time, the Northern Expedition will have problems with payment of money, insufficient supply of food and grass, and difficulty in supporting the future!"
"All the millions of soldiers of my dragon heading north will be in crisis!"
"It can be said that this matter has reached the point where it concerns the national system!"
"His Majesty has discussed with the other four auxiliary ministers and the six ministers' imperial study room, and has planned to use the emergency treasury of various state governments to fill the hole in the national treasury first!"
"You know, during the ten years that the late emperor was in power, I, Dalong, only activated the emergency treasury twice. Now that His Majesty has just taken the throne, he has to make emergency plans. If the word spreads, His Majesty's reputation among the people will be greatly affected!"
"That's why Your Majesty is so anxious to summon Duke Dingguo to the palace!"
"Let's see if Duke Dingguo can deal with the tax issue!"
"The most important thing is to find out why these thirty-plus governments have not paid their taxes and what happened!"
"Although Jiang Shangshu is dealing with this matter now, he can't leave at all. He can't do anything in the world with his hands!"
"If Duke Dingguo doesn't come to court, there will be chaos in the court!"
After listening to Zeng Hai's words, Qi Yun also knew that the matter had reached an extremely urgent situation.
But it's not that she doesn't want to tell Zeng Hai where her husband is, it's that she really doesn't know where her husband is.
The general direction is only known to be in the grassland, and herding sheep and horses has already explained the general direction of Yun Xiaoxi.
But the grassland is so big, how can Qi Yun know where her husband has gone?
"General Manager, is there something wrong with the food supply in various state capitals, resulting in the inability to pay all the taxes on time?"
"His Majesty and Jiang Shangshu considered this issue at first, but the memorials in various state capitals all mentioned the harvest situation. Since it is a bumper harvest, it shouldn't be impossible to pay taxes!"
"The Ouchi guards are already on the way to investigate, and there should be results within two days!"
Qi Yun pondered for a moment: "Could it be that officials in various state governments concealed the food situation in order to highlight their political achievements?"
"This possibility cannot be ruled out. The matter of going north is still under the secret discussion of several important ministers, and the news has not been spread. After all, officials in various state capitals do not know that His Majesty intends to go north this year, let alone the tax payment.
urgent!"
"If we really show off our political achievements, insult His Majesty's youth, and conceal our production output, we will be in big trouble!"
"It's useless to confiscate his family and exterminate his clan. We can't delay the military affairs!"
Qi Yun'e frowned and looked at Zeng Hai: "General manager, if I understand this, I will immediately send someone to find my husband, inform him of this matter, and ask him to return to the capital as soon as possible!"
Zeng Hai looked at Qi Yun disappointedly: "Is it true that Duke Dingguo is no longer in the mansion?"
Qi Yun nodded solemnly: "I'm really not here. The situation is serious. I don't dare to joke about it even if I have many brains!"
"Okay, let's go back and report to Your Majesty first to see if we can hold it in for the time being!"
"Mrs. Youlao, please immediately inform Duke Ding to return the court! Let's take our leave first!"
"My wife is sending me to the chief steward"
"Madam, stay and say goodbye!"
Qi Yun looked at Zeng Hai's leaving figure and seemed to think of something, her eyes lit up: "The chief manager, wait a minute!"
Zeng Hai turned around quickly and looked at Qi Yun expectantly: "Madam, have you thought of where Duke Dingguo is going?"
"No, I remembered that my husband left a bag of tips when he left, saying that he would open the bag if anything happens!"
Zeng Hai looked at Qi Yun in surprise: "That's great, Mrs. Lao, please bring me the tips!"
"Wait a moment, Chief Manager, the woman will go get it right now!"
After a while, Qi Yun trotted out with a piece of rice paper in her hand.
"There is a way. My husband said that once there is a change in taxation, we can capture field birds from various places to verify whether the memorials from various state governments are true, whether they can demonstrate political achievements and whitewash peace!"
"As long as the Golden Palace inspects the birds, the truth will be clear!"
Zeng Hai looked at Qi Yun blankly, with a sad expression on his face: "What's the test?"
Qi Yun was startled, glared at Zeng Hai, and threw the rice paper to Zeng Hai.
"Submit it to His Majesty and he will understand!"