dognovel Chapter 79 Ah Li, have mercy on me!
Chapter 79 Ah Li, have mercy on me!
"The 23rd." Gu Chang'an answered quickly, his voice hoarse, as he remembered it clearly.
"How is the process of urging local governments to pay taxes going smoothly?"
"Fortunately, I was urging some wealthy prefectures, and they were able to pay," Gu Chang'an answered honestly.
"What about the slightly poorer areas?"
“We can’t rush them, otherwise they’ll only exploit the people even more,” Gu Chang’an said with a sigh.
“Our dynasty’s tax system is unreasonable. Ordinary people have no land but have to pay taxes, while gentry and officials have a lot of land but do not have to pay taxes. If this continues, the people will suffer greatly, and the country’s strength will inevitably decline more rapidly. We must change it.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Li sighed inwardly. His Majesty was obsessed with alchemy, and the princes and crown princes were busy with factional struggles. The one who truly cared about the country and its people was this cruel official and his lackey, as everyone called him.
How ironic.
When Gu Chang'an heard that she didn't speak, he asked again, "Does A-Li believe that I can reform this court?"
"Of course I believe you," Shen Li said firmly.
Because Gu Chang'an had done it in his previous life, he offended many powerful and influential people, which resulted in a bad reputation after his death.
After all, the pen is in the hands of these people. If they criticize Gu Chang'an with words and writings, then he is an unpardonable chief minister and a treacherous minister who controls the court.
The common people knew in their hearts that this was probably not the case, but they couldn't put it into words.
When Gu Chang'an heard that A Li believed him, he felt that he had gained everything, and his eyes shone brightly even in the dark.
"Ah Li, how about I come back earlier tomorrow and take you to Zuixianlou to eat some of your favorite dishes?"
"It would be better to have the chef from Zuixianlou cook it and deliver it to your home. Don't cook it too early, otherwise you'll have to cook it at night if you don't finish your official duties." Shen Li knew him all too well.
He was by no means the type to neglect official duties; if he couldn't finish his work during the day, he would work through the night.
His body couldn't withstand this kind of strain any longer.
Gu Chang'an laughed somewhat embarrassedly, realizing that he really was that kind of person.
"I'll take care of the meals. You just need to come back and eat with me." Shen Li didn't want him to work too hard.
"Then thank you very much, Ah Li."
"We can already talk about thanks between us. If you keep thanking me like this, I might just sleep with you!" Shen Li threatened him seriously.
"Please, Ah Li, have mercy on me," Gu Chang'an pleaded softly.
If you tease him a little more, he won't be able to sleep all night. Although he doesn't really want to sleep, it's just not the right time yet.
Shen Li woke up very early the next morning, but not as early as Gu Chang'an. When she got into bed, she found that the blankets were already cold.
"Being an official is really tiring," Shen Li sighed. "It's better to be a farmer, working in the fields when busy and fishing on the lake when free. You can have rice and fish to eat and enjoy life."
In her previous life, she wanted to live in seclusion but failed. In this life, she must earn a peaceful future for herself. Only after she has avenged her great grudge and the court is stable will she leave this cannibalistic capital.
"Miss, are you up?" Lian Qiao asked from the outer room upon hearing the voice.
Shen Li looked at the barely bright sky, turned over, facing the inside of the bed, and said in a muffled voice, "No."
The forsythia and peony outside exchanged a smile. Their young lady was becoming more and more mischievous, but they wanted to see her like this, doing whatever she wanted and being happy.
As evening approached, the aroma of the food prepared by the chefs at Zuixianlou wafted out. Shen Li ate a little first and then stopped eating.
"Miss, shall we wait for the master to return?"
"No need to wait." Shen Li got up, washed her hands, and said, "Prepare the car, we'll go pick him up and take him home."
"Miss, isn't it a bit inappropriate to go out so late?" Lian Qiao asked with some concern, looking at the darkening sky.
"It's not appropriate for others to be here with you guys around," Shen Li joked.
Peony immediately chimed in, "Miss is right. No one, no matter who they are, should be allowed to get close to you in front of us."
Lian Qiao was both amused and exasperated. This child was too easily persuaded. She was still a little worried, but she couldn't resist her mistress's insistence, so she could only go and prepare the carriage.
By the time they arrived at the Ministry of Revenue from the Gu residence, it was already completely dark. The soldiers at the gate went to inform them, but Shen Li did not get out of the carriage and simply waited.
Gu Chang'an was looking at the account books and was not happy to be disturbed, but he did not show it and waited for Chunsheng to speak.
"Sir, Madam has come to fetch you. She's in the carriage in front of the gate. She said you should come over after you're done."
"Ah Li?" Gu Chang'an asked in surprise, having already thrown down the account books. He then said, "Take these back to the manor. I'll be going now."
"Sir, please slow down, sir, please put on your cloak." Chun Sheng grabbed the cloak and realized he couldn't catch up with the man anymore. The man, who usually walked steadily, now seemed to have grown an extra pair of legs, and took a few steps out of the study.
Shen Li's carriage was pulled by three horses. The interior was spacious, and four luminous pearls were embedded in the ceiling, making the interior as bright as day, even though it was shaded. She hugged the heater and read by the light.
However, it seemed like they had only stopped for a short while when they heard people bowing outside. Then the carriage slammed shut, the curtain was lifted, and Gu Chang'an walked in.
"Ah Li, why are you here? It's late and the dew is heavy, be careful not to catch a cold." Gu Chang'an looked at her with concern, but hesitated to take her hand because his hands were cold.
"You're the one who's freezing, why did you come out without even wearing a cloak?" Shen Li handed him the hand warmer, which was originally for Gu Chang'an. She didn't feel cold and didn't need such a thing.
Gu Chang'an accepted it after he could not refuse, and only after the carriage left did he lower his voice and ask her, "Did you come to see me for something?"
"Can't I come pick you up if there's nothing wrong?" Shen Li snorted at her.
"Ah Li, it's getting cold outside. If you want me to go back sooner, just send someone to deliver a message. Don't come in person." Gu Chang'an still felt sorry for her.
Seeing that he was serious, Shen Li casually agreed.
"I haven't seen you play the flute for years, why did you bring it out today?" Gu Chang'an stroked the flute, thinking to himself that it was indeed a very good piece of material.
The things the Shen family brought out were truly astonishing. And looking at her, dressed in white with a green flute, her aura was cool and aloof; she was truly like a fairy descended to earth, utterly otherworldly.
His Ah Li has really grown up and become even more beautiful.
“Oh, I…” Shen Li stopped after saying only two words. It was already close to curfew, and there were very few pedestrians on the street, but she could hear the sound of many people stepping on the tiles around her.
The sound was so soft that the people around the carriage hadn't even reacted yet.
"Be on guard." Shen Li opened the small window of the carriage and whispered to Lian Qiao, "Someone is approaching."
Lianqiao and Shaoyao, standing on either side, had both heard Shen Li's words and drew their weapons while the other guards were still half-believing.
Peony is a long whip hanging at the waist, while forsythia is a soft sword drawn from the waistband.
"Do as Madam says." Although Gu Chang'an couldn't hear anything, he reacted faster and immediately gave the order.
"Clang clang clang!" More than twenty guards drew their swords at the same time.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh".
At the same time, a whooshing sound rang out as dozens of arrows shot from the rooftops on both sides of the street, accurately targeting the carriage.
The guard was glad he had drawn his sword first; otherwise, he wouldn't have had time to stop them.
The first batch of arrows was blocked. A few arrows that were not blocked hit the carriage and fell off, some even bending at the tip.
The assassins had clearly heard the sound of metal clashing against metal, and they finally understood why this not-so-large carriage required three horses.
This is a high-quality iron carriage.
It's likely that the person in the car came prepared.