The court had not ordered a lockdown, but the common people seemed to have sensed the impending danger and had already shut their doors.
The streets were filled with Xuanjia Army and Shence Camp soldiers coming and going. Upon seeing them, they saluted and hurried past.
Lu Qingwan watched in bewilderment, "What's going on? Didn't they say everything was under control? Why are they still so busy? The people are too scared to even come out. How can this be allowed?"
As she mumbled, a troop of Xuanjia Army soldiers ran towards them from the opposite direction.
Li Jin decisively went to inquire and returned shortly after, "Your Highness, Your Highness, there are no stragglers. Prime Minister Wen recorded everything Feng Qingheng did and had it posted everywhere in the streets. He also instructed the people to report any grievances to Jingzhao Prefecture. Han Guang, the Minister of Justice, has agreed to personally handle the cases. If he cannot resolve them, he will refer them to Your Highnesses. This morning, many citizens went to Jingzhao Prefecture to file complaints, but someone secretly caused trouble, attempting to stop them. The Xuanjia Army is helping to maintain order!"
Lu Qingwan refused to naively believe Li Jin's explanation. "Prime Minister Wen wants the people to report their grievances, and they just go? When did the people of the capital become so bold?" If these people were truly so daring, how could Yue Yuanting's forced tax collection have been kept so secret, with no one daring to speak up?
Li Jin scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, "Prince Nan and the Minister of Revenue, Chen Jianzhang, are also at Jingzhao Prefecture. They told the citizens that Your Highnesses have returned to save them. Not only will they drive the Northern Wei cavalry out of Daqian, but they will also return all the taxes that Yue Yuanting previously levied under false pretenses. Besides the normal taxes for the court, not one extra copper coin will be collected."
Although Li Jin said this to Lu Qingwan, his eyes were fixed on Si Fengwu.
Lu Qingwan suddenly understood, "The Minister of Revenue wouldn't dare make such a decision on his own, right? Is this another of Your Highness's contingency plans?" Her face was already small, and wrapped by the hood of her cloak, she appeared even tinier.
Si Fengwu nodded indulgently, "Didn't Chen Jianzhang say that the treasury accumulated by my imperial brother is still sufficient for Daqian? And we have confiscated the assets of Yue Yuanting and Feng Qingheng, so we have enough to repay the people. Even if it's just for the taxes owed to the court, we won't collect more than a single copper coin."
Lu Qingwan puffed out her cheeks and gave him a thumbs up. "No matter how much you talk, it's not as practical as real money. This should keep the capital quiet for a while." Si Fengwu was pleased to see Lu Qingwan so supportive of his actions.
However, he added, "If you only refund taxes to the people of the capital, won't the people in other regions be unhappy? If this gets out, it could cause a major uproar." Envy arises not from poverty but from inequality, a common human trait. Moreover, the people of the capital already lived much better lives than those in the border regions. It would be strange indeed if the people elsewhere felt balanced by such preferential treatment.
Tang Xiao chuckled upon hearing this. "Your Highness, please rest assured. His Highness has already issued a decree to the entire realm. The court will send people to thoroughly investigate the tax situation in various regions. After verification, any taxes collected within a year that exceed the normal tax revenue of the court will be refunded. Besides the capital, the northwest will be the first to implement this. Marshal Shao has already begun taking action, and I believe we will see results soon."
Everything she had thought of, Si Fengwu was already putting into motion. It was a strange feeling. Lu Qingwan pondered it carefully and found she didn't dislike it. In fact, she was even starting to experience the joy of being a 'hamster,' a term for someone who lives a leisurely life.
The imperial palace was not far from the Regent's Mansion. As they ambled along, they spotted an uninvited guest outside the mansion gates.
"Minister Chi, why have you come?" Lu Qingwan, standing on the carriage shaft, had not yet alighted.
Si Fengwu jumped down from the side, then scooped her into his arms, landing her gently. He said to Chi Yunshen, "Let's talk inside."
Chi Yunshen silently bowed and followed them into the mansion. The mansion was still the same mansion. Thanks to Si Fengming, Lu Qingwan felt no unfamiliarity upon returning to this side of the mansion.
Worried that Lu Qingwan might be tired again, Si Fengwu took her directly to the main courtyard. "We can talk here. The Princess Consort is tired and needs to rest early."
The way he said it was like he was ushering them out. Lu Qingwan shot him a disgruntled glare. Chi Yunshen, however, remained composed. Undeterred by the indirect dismissal, he calmly stated, "Your Subject, Chi Yunshen, requests Your Highnesses' permission to be solely responsible for the liquidation matters. I pledge my life that no matter the obstacles, I will thoroughly eliminate Feng Qingheng and his remnants, leaving no one to wreak havoc on the new dynasty."
Chi Yunshen, a Grand Scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion and the current Left Censor-in-Chief, held a third-rank official position. If it weren't for his father also being in the Grand Secretariat, his talent alone would have qualified him for enfeoffment and grand ministerial titles. For such a capable and astute person to so rashly propose this matter was remarkable. The liquidation was a lucrative post, a coveted prize in everyone's eyes, yet no one dared to openly express their desire for it, fearing their greed would be exposed. He was the first to openly recommend himself in such a manner.
Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan exchanged a glance, unable to conceal their astonishment. "Minister Chi, do you know what you are saying?"
Chi Yunshen knelt down with a thud. "I know what I am saying, and I know what Your Highnesses are suspecting." He then raised his head, his eyes bloodshot as he fixed his gaze on them. "Do Your Highnesses know that of my entire Chi family, only my son remains completely whole?" As he spoke, he lifted his sleeve, revealing two hands with grotesquely twisted fingers.
Lu Qingwan leaped up, "Who did this?" With her medical skills, she could tell at a glance that Chi Yunshen's fingers had been deliberately broken and then forcibly set. They had healed in their twisted positions before the restraints were removed. No one knew the suffering Chi Yunshen endured during this process.
Chi Yunshen did not answer. He said hoarsely, "The suffering I endured is nothing. My daughter's torment, you two already know. My father's back was forcibly carved with the word 'traitor.' My mother and wife, unable to bear the humiliation, committed suicide at home. My father and I kept this secret, waiting for Your Highnesses to return so we could avenge this great enmity. I implore Your Highnesses not to ask further, but to let me handle the liquidation. Afterward, I am willing to forfeit my life to quell the public anger and repay Your Highnesses' great kindness."
No one knew what great disaster had befallen the Chi family to make a gentleman like Chi Yunshen speak only of revenge. However, how could Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan truly ignore such a matter? They both understood Chi Yunshen's reservations and therefore did not pry into his wounds. Si Fengwu merely said, "The liquidation can be entrusted to you. As for what the Chi family suffered, since you are unwilling to speak of it, I will not ask. I only wish to know, who came to see you before the incident?"