Phi-Fic Chapter 34 Taking a Slap in the Face
Chapter 34 Taking a Slap in the Face
He watched as Xiao Xizi got closer and closer to him.
Gao Chen raised his hand to gather his strength. Xiao Xizi knew he was going to be slapped, but he still leaned in without dodging.
"Clap~"
With a sharp crack, Xiao Xizi was spun around in place after being whipped.
Then he deliberately pretended to fall to the ground.
"Please spare me, Eunuch Gao! I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong."
Xiao Xizi quickly got up and knelt down in front of Gao Chen to admit his mistake.
Gao Chen snorted coldly and said, "If I see you drinking while on duty again, I will surely take your dog's life."
"I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong."
Then, Gao Chen looked at Xiao Xizi with a look of disgust and said, "Go sober up by yourself."
Xiao Xizi didn't dare to delay. He quickly walked to the water vat, put his head directly into the water, and poured it in several times. After that, he became much more awake.
"Reporting to Eunuch Gao, I've woken up," Xiao Xizi said with a fawning expression.
Gao Chen glanced down at him and said, "His Majesty has begun to suspect that Prince Shou has ill intentions."
"We need to send someone to keep an eye on things now."
"Go and find two accountants to conduct random checks on the accounts of the Prince Shou Racecourse and the restaurant."
"Also, tell that little table to be quick-witted and try to find out information from those princes to see if Prince Shou has any other tricks up his sleeve."
Xiao Xizi quickly cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Gao, I'll do it right away."
After saying that, Xiao Xizi hurriedly left.
After leaving the palace, Xiao Xizi immediately found Xiao Zhuozi and conveyed Gao Chen's orders to him.
Xiao Zhuozi quickly bowed and said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Xi, I'll do it right away."
After saying this, the two parted ways at the racetrack.
After Xiao Xizi walked away, Xiao Zhuo hurriedly went to the study to look for Li Mao.
"Your Highness, I have something important to report."
"come in."
After receiving Li Mao's permission, Xiao Zhuo quickly came in.
"Your Highness, just now Xiao Xizi said that His Majesty is suspicious of Your Highness, so he ordered me to lead two accountants to thoroughly investigate Your Highness's accounts, and at the same time, he wanted me to find out your incriminating information from those princes and the sons of military governors."
Xiao Zhuozi succinctly delivered the message.
Li Mao couldn't help but think to himself.
Sure enough, that old man was doubting me just now.
If these two weaknesses aren't exposed now, this old man will definitely make even bigger moves.
Immediately, Li Mao tossed a money bag to Xiao Zhuozi.
"Five days later, tell that little Xizi that all the princes in the horse farm have deposited money with me in advance, and that this money has already been presented to the Emperor by me."
"After these princes saved up their money, they could eat and drink as they pleased at the birthday banquet. Now I am already in a situation where I cannot make ends meet."
"I obey, little one."
After saying that, Xiao Zhuo hurriedly left the study.
Watching Xiao Zhuozi's departing figure, Li Mao couldn't help but think to himself, "That old bastard, he's planning to kill me first, and then find a way to get Yang Yuhuan."
"Now that false information has been released, Gao Chen will definitely be the first to become restless."
"At the same time, we can take advantage of the fact that income is insufficient to cover expenses to legitimately falsify accounting books. In this way, even if there are a hundred or eighty accountants, they will not be able to find any trace of it."
Then, Li Mao summoned his servant.
The servant, who had been waiting for a long time, bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Li Mao looked at the servant in front of him and said, "Pass on my order: the headquarters of the Prince Shou Banquet should provide relief to impoverished scholars and talented men. At the same time, I order all branches to prepare fresh meals every day to provide relief to the poor families and beggars in the city."
The servant could understand helping down-on-his-luck scholars, but helping the poor and beggars was something he just couldn't understand.
But he won't have too many problems.
He immediately followed Li Mao's instructions and relayed all the orders to the managers of the various restaurants.
The restaurant owner couldn't understand why, but he did as instructed.
Li Mao slowly walked out of the study and stood on the observation deck of the horse farm, gazing at the distant imperial city.
"The old man will die sooner or later. I am only doing this to gain a reputation for benevolence and righteousness so that I can rightfully ascend the throne."
At the same time, in the long run, these beggars and down-on-their-luck scholars are essentially two lines of communication, one overt and one covert.
Even if a scholar falls on hard times, he is still a protégé of some high-ranking officials, and if he happens to find out about it by chance...
That would be the sharp blade aimed at these ministers.
As for beggars, they can see more, and they can even be trained to become assassins.
Not only could they monitor the daily activities of the women in the households of ministers, but they could also rob and assassinate people on the streets.
These seemingly insignificant people often make people lower their guard.
Most importantly, the people of the Tang Dynasty were known for their fierce and unruly nature, and it was perfectly normal for women to show their faces in public.
at the same time.
Upon receiving Li Mao's orders, the restaurant owners all instructed their cooks to quickly prepare some food.
They also spread the word to help the poor and beggars.
At first, the people of Chang'an were just watching the spectacle, thinking it was all fake.
Poor people, in particular, did not believe it.
Nowadays, even millet rice isn't cheap, let alone vegetables.
Ordinary people can't even get enough to eat, so why should they help beggars?
When Wang Fugui heard that no one was coming after the food was set out, he immediately panicked.
This is His Highness Prince Shou's order. If we don't do it well, won't we lose His Highness Prince Shou's protection?
"Someone, quickly find out which families in the neighborhood are poor. If they don't come, we'll just deliver the food to them."
"And those beggars, make them line up."
"I obey, little one."
Other restaurant owners encountered the same problem.
They just couldn't understand why, even though it was said to be free, they still didn't dare to come and eat.
After several restaurant owners colluded with each other, they all did almost the same thing.
There was even a subtle sense of competition among them.
The people of Chang'an even discussed this matter with amusement during their meals.
"Have you heard? His Highness Prince Shou personally ordered all branches of the Prince Shou Banquet to provide relief to the people."
"More than that, the food at headquarters is top-notch, comparable to the banquet for the Prince of Shou, but it's used to help impoverished scholars."
"What use are these people? They should just die. Living them is just a waste of food."
"I must say, the food at the Shouwang Banquet headquarters is truly exceptional. I'm even a little envious of those down-on-their-luck scholars."
"You don't need to be envious, you can just be a beggar, hahaha."
Amidst the laughter and conversation of the crowd, they watched as the restaurant's waiters carried out large buckets of millet rice, which were then distributed to the poor people and beggars who had come to collect their meals.
The long queue attracted more and more people to stop and watch.
They all watched with curiosity, but they all knew that this was an order personally given by His Highness Prince Shou.
But that's not enough; one must spread one's reputation for benevolence and righteousness throughout the world.
Immediately, Li Mao shouted to the servants below the observation platform, "Men, listen to my command."