If people knew I got this frightened by my own husband, it would be me who’s embarrassed.

After taking a few sips of tea to calm down, I finally felt much better.

Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but ask.

"Emperor, what were you thinking just now?"

Zhao Junyao hesitated for a moment, then told her exactly what was on his mind.

Even though Xia Ruqing didn’t know much about economics.

She did know that when a place swindles money like this, it’s bound to encounter problems sooner or later.

The small fry in Jinling City would be devoured.

The biggest fish would fatten up rapidly.

By that time, countless wealth would be in the hands of a few.

Not to mention the cronyism and collusion between officials and merchants.

From what she understood now.

She couldn’t think of anything besides a rebellion that would require such enormous amounts of silver.

"So... are there people planning to rebel?!"

Zhao Junyao’s eyes were sharp.

"You and I are thinking the same thing!"

Even something Qingqing, who hadn’t read much, could understand, how could he not know?

Zhao Junyao clenched his fists and turned to stand by the window with his hands behind his back.

He frowned deeply.

His brain worked quickly, going over the complex relationships among the ministers in the court again.

Thinking carefully about who in the court might be most likely to rebel.

At this moment, Xia Ruqing spoke up.

"If you ask me, you should just start by dealing with those big fish!"

"Although it might alert them, the common people are almost being crushed, and we don’t have much time to waste!"

Zhao Junyao turned to look at her.

"What do you think we should do?"

Xia Ruqing squinted her almond-shaped eyes.

"We’ll tie them up and interrogate them harshly!"

"Ask them where all the swindled silver went?!"

"If they won’t confess, then keep beating them!"

Zhao Junyao was totally baffled by her train of thought, almost laughing and crying at the same time.

"Qingqing, that’s..."

He was about to argue, to tell her they couldn’t arrest people without evidence.

But then he thought, she might actually be right.

At this point, what use is talking about evidence?

Besides, that group had secretly amassed countless wealth and committed many evil deeds.

They brought such suffering to the people, they deserved a good beating.

Thinking it over, he began to feel it was a good idea.

He nodded there and then.

"Your idea is not bad! But it’s not thorough enough!"

"We need at least a pretext to arrest people!"

Xia Ruqing strongly agreed.

"Sir, it’s easy to find a pretext when ’if you want to condemn someone, there’s no shortage of pretexts’!"

After saying that, she gave a mischievous smile, her eyes filled with cunning.

Zhao Junyao found the expression very familiar.

Like it was... from his own face?

He touched his nose and decided not to say more.

...

The next day.

Zhao Junyao personally wrote a secret decree to the Imperial Censor Zhou beside him, appointing him as the officially recognized imperial envoy by the court.

Then Imperial Censor Zhou, in his capacity as imperial envoy.

Invited the heads of Jiangnan’s three major families, Master Lian Long, Old Master Song, and Old Master Rong, to a banquet at the most luxurious restaurant in Jinling City.

The three old foxes were smooth operators.

Even though they had never heard of the so-called Master Zhou Yu, they came diligently.

As soon as they met, they addressed him warmly as Master Zhou this, Master Zhou that, like long-lost brothers.

After all, some were newly promoted by the Emperor.

They had to keep up with the Emperor’s pace and keep up with the times.

If nothing else, just his invitation stamped with the official seal of the court was worth currying favor.

The lavish private room was in the Sky Room No.1, the highest floor of the restaurant.

The exquisitely carved windows, the grand nanmu wine table, a whole table of exquisite and luxurious precious dishes, and a group of female singers performing, along with the female dancers dancing with their graceful movements.

All this indicated that this imperial envoy was generous and extravagant.

Plus, Zhou Yu appeared to be naturally congenial, dragging them to drink and eat meat, making merry.

In no time, he was drunk, carousing with women on either side, revealing his playboy nature.

Seeing this.

The three old foxes exchanged indescribable smiles with each other.

’So extravagant? More than we enjoy, could he be a playboy from a prominent family in the Capital City?’

’A fellow traveler indeed!’

’I think so too, seeing this guy with such a playboy look, he must be easy to deceive!’

’Yes, yes! Let’s cozy up to him, maybe we can use him!’

Having made up their minds, they began a new round of forcing drinks on him.

They flattered and buttered him up while pouring wine into Zhou Yu’s mouth.

When Zhou Yu was drunkenly confused.

They probed every detail of Zhou Yu’s supposed origins.

In fact... it was all a carefully crafted background story by Imperial Censor Zhou.

"My father is an Imperial Guards Commander beside the Emperor, trusted by him!"

"My father said, once he has the chance to make a battle merit, he would surely be rewarded with a title!"

"By then, I’ll be that prestigious Master Prince!"

Old Master Song was a bit puzzled.

"Isn’t the commander by the Emperor’s side surnamed Xu and Xia? I haven’t heard of anyone named Zhou?"

Imperial Censor Zhou, slightly confused, slapped a hand over.

"Nonsense!"

"Isn’t a Deputy Commander also a Commander?"

The three realized, "True, that’s also correct!"

How could someone by the Emperor’s side be so easily investigated by them? They vaguely remembered an official surname Zhou in the court.

Moreover, Zhou Yu’s complete embodiment of the playboy aura was too genuine.

Without years of licentious living, no one could mimic that so convincingly.

Add to that his genuine official seal.

The three pondered carefully and were convinced.

So then.

They dared to drink, dared to eat, and soon enough, everyone was calling each other brothers.

In these times.

Officials loved mingling with wealthy people.

Rich people loved currying favor with officials.

You have power; I have money, we gather together for mutual benefit—isn’t it just wonderful?

It was the normal course of things.

So they weren’t even surprised when this imperial envoy took the initiative to approach them.

In fact, they felt rather proud.

See, even when officials from the capital enter Jinling City, they have to check in with them?

At current prices.

This table’s spread and the services of the female dancers and singers, altogether cost no less than three thousand taels of silver.

Spending three thousand taels of silver on one meal without a blink—what else could he be if not a playboy?

This gentleman indeed was a fellow traveler!

Having figured this out.

They drank heartily.

Soon, everyone was tipsy, holding onto their favorite girl.

Eh?

Something’s not right?

Why so sleepy?

The girls’ faces became blurry, and the hand groping the girl’s chest lost its strength.

What’s going on?

Before they knew it, they had all passed out.

"Ah!"

The female singer let out a sharp scream!

Imperial Censor Zhou, in the quickest motion, drew his sword and pointed it at their throats.

"Shut up!"

His tone was icy, a stark contrast to his earlier behavior.

"If you want to live, keep your mouths shut and get out of here quickly!" Imperial Censor Zhou said coldly.

"Yes, yes, sir, we’ll leave right away!"

With that, they all ran faster than rabbits!