C31

No one knew what Feng Jingye had told him, but Feng Linche had ordered for all the rich and distinguished merchants with annual profits exceeding one hundred thousand to be taxed by fifty percent.

Hearing the news that was brought back by the chef who went out to purchase ginger, Bai Zheng who was cooking lard in the kitchen just smiled faintly, she was not surprised at all.

With Great Zhou at such a stage, Feng Linche had already planned for those wealthy merchants for a long time, but he had no excuse. Now that his Soong Family had offered two hundred thousand gold, how could Feng Linche, who had already tasted the sweetness, endure?

"But Miss," the cook asked, looking at the ginger in the basket, "what do you need so many herbs for?"

In this era, people only put ginger into medicine and did not know how to cook.

Bai Zheng looked at the lard that was almost ready in the pot and laughed: "I'll make you guys something nice to eat."

Although he still could not find seasonings like garlic and pepper, but he had already found enough to make a few delicious dishes.

Just as Bai Zheng was thinking about what to cook first, Bai Fu found the kitchen and when he saw her, she immediately shouted: "Young miss, the fifth hall is down.

Feng Jingyi? Bai Zheng was a little surprised.

Looking at her smelly body, she immediately told the cook to remember to bring the lard, and then left the kitchen to change her clothes.

When Bai Zheng walked into the hall, she had finished her second cup of tea.

"Greetings to the Fifth Prince. I've made him wait for a long time." Bai Zheng immediately bowed.

Feng Jingyi smiled as he stood up, "It's only natural for women to need time to dress themselves. Miss Bai need not be so courteous. " With that said, he used his eyes to signal the attendant who was standing at the side bowing.

The servant and the others carried a black box and carefully placed it on the ground.

Bai Zheng looked at Feng Jingyi suspiciously, but Feng Jingyi did not keep him in suspense and walked forward to open the box.

Without any warning, a crate full of shining yellow gold appeared in front of Bai Zheng. Under the shine of the sunlight, it shone with a dazzling light.

Seeing that Bai Zheng's eyes revealed slight surprise, Feng Jingyi laughed and said: "This is twenty thousand taels of silver that Minister Su sent over a few days ago. I feel that the silver is too much and heavy so I changed it all into gold. they were specially sent to the Miss Bai. "

Bai Zheng's eyes moved, reflecting the golden light.

She laughed lightly: "Your Highness is still as polite as before. That day, when Bai Zheng offended you, she already stated that the twenty thousand was used by Bai Zheng to apologize. Your Highness, it seems that you still do not want to forgive Bai Zheng?"

Feng Jingyi hurriedly said: "About the matter that happened that day, just treat it as me having an interaction with the Miss Bai. This twenty thousand gold was originally given to me by the Miss Bai, how can I take it for myself? "

Bai Zheng was too lazy to push him around, she thought for a while and said: "If that's not the case, why not? Although Bai Zheng bluffed the money, it is still in the name of the Fifth Prince. I will take half of the twenty thousand, Your Highness does not want to reject me anymore. "

Feng Jingyi wanted to say more, but he felt that if he were to continue as she said, he wouldn't be as decisive as his, so he nodded: "Alright."

As if he remembered something, he continued: "Miss Bai, I have come today with important news for you."

Bai Zheng raised her eyebrows, "What news?"

Feng Jingyi returned to his chair, and indicated for Bai Zheng to sit as well. Then he said: "Today, during the morning assembly, Prince proposed your marriage to Royal Father. and that there was no intention to continue the marriage between and her, so Royal Father gave you permission to cancel the engagement. "

Bai Zheng heard this and laughed, but did not say anything.

Feng Jingyi continued: "In this matter, Prince has already tried his best to protect the face of both palaces. But who would have thought that Imperial Physician Liu Yunyu would at this moment actually impeach Young Master Chu, which was why you insisted on annulling the engagement. "

"Liu Yunyu?" Bai Zheng frowned.

"Liu Yunyu is an old friend of Minister Su. Recently, I have been extremely close to the Third Elder Brother. " Feng Jingyi explained.

Bai Zheng squinted her eyes, "It seems that Prince has gotten His Majesty's green eyes because of the paper making technique, Third Prince can't hold back anymore."

Feng Jingyi nodded his head, "Third Elder Brother will naturally not let go of this chance to step over his mother's clan."

It could be said that Chu Feng had coincidentally bumped into Feng Jingxuan's spear this time. The matter of increasing the taxes was originally proposed by Feng Jingye, he must have long prepared everything beforehand. However, Feng Jingxuan was caught unprepared.

Which prince would not collude with one or two wealthy merchants, after all, these wealthy merchants were severely injured, so the prince behind them was naturally no better.

What's more, most of the princes had rich assets, but on the surface, they were only overseen by others. They were the first to be hurt when it came to increasing taxes.

Wouldn't Feng Jingxuan hated the person who suggested this to the point that his teeth itched?

Under these circumstances, even if he was unable to deal with Feng Jingye for a while, he could still easily punish Chu Feng who he had bumped into.

However, Bai Zheng did not care about Chu Feng's reputation, as long as it could be successfully annulled, it was not important.

Feng Jingyi sighed: "Hearing that, Royal Father was enraged, and reprimanded Prime Minister Chu for his ill intentions. Fortunately, the people from the crown prince's bloodline tried their best to plead for mercy, and so they managed to suppress their anger. "

Bai Zheng lowered her eyes: "So the Fifth Prince is telling me that I won't be able to break off the engagement?"

Feng Jingyi shook his head, he was thirsty, and took a sip of the tea on the table, and said.

"In the course of the Imperial Physician's complaints against the Young Master Chu, he also mentioned Old General Bai Qiying. He said that this Old General Bai, who has worked hard his entire life for the Great Zhou, had only proposed marriage for his own little granddaughter, yet he had actually asked for a dissolute young master like the Young Master Chu. "

It was as if he thought of the Imperial Physician Liu Yunyu's excellent performance back then, Feng Jingyi's face formed a ridiculing smile.

"When Royal Father thinks of Old General Bai, he is even more disgusted with Prime Minister Chu. Royal Father is straightforward too, your marriage has become like this, he is now in the underworld, I'm afraid he will have to face the Old General speechlessly."

Mentioning Bai Qiying, Bai Zheng realized that his impression of this grandfather wasn't very deep.

When he went there, Bai Zheng was only five or six years old.

He only vaguely remembered this grandfather's spirited appearance. When he saw her, he would pick her up and stab her with his beard, and he even specially made wooden swords for her and her younger brothers.

Speaking of which, this grandfather of his was indeed the only one out of his father's family who truly loved his family.

Suddenly recalling the past, Bai Zheng was a little dazed.

After a long while, she finally asked in a faint voice, "Then what does Your Majesty want to do?"

Feng Jingyi looked at her as if he was carefully observing her reaction.

"Royal Father has said that since Young Master Chu is not allowed to appear on the stage, then this marriage will not be decided. In order to live up to his expectations for the old general in the future, and even more so for the former subordinates of the old general, as well as his current cold heart and General Mansion, he will … "

Feng Jingyi purposely paused for a moment, seeing how Bai Zheng was paying attention to him, he did not have any sort of reaction. He could not help but continue: "Royal Father intends to personally choose a good son-in-law for you."