Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 666: Chapter 325 Concern for the People’s Livelihood_2

Mr. Meng listened to Zhao Yao’s words, and his aged and haggard face showed a confused expression: "What do you mean by real affairs?"

"It’s related to people’s livelihood," Zhao Yao added, "Of course, other aspects must also be tested, but people’s livelihood is the main focus." At this point, Zhao Yao’s face revealed a mocking smile, "Noble family members know nothing about people’s livelihood; they don’t even know how much a dou of rice costs."

Mr. Meng smilingly asked, "Your Highness, do you know how much a dou of rice costs?"

"Of course I do." Although Zhao Yao was a prince, he often went out of the palace to play in various places and frequently bought things outside, so he was well aware of the prices of items outside the palace. Furthermore, every time he bought something, he would specifically ask about the price. Sometimes, he even went to the rice shop to inquire about the price of grain. "In the capital, a dou of rice costs twenty qian, and in Jiangnan, a dou costs eighteen qian." When he was previously visiting Jinling City with his four brothers, he also specifically inquired about the grain prices in Jiangnan from a rice shop.

Mr. Meng did not expect Zhao Yao to actually know. He showed a surprised expression on his face, and then listened as Zhao Yao recounted the prices of various vegetables, cloth, and all sorts of wine in Jinling City, leaving him quite astonished.

Many of the prices Zhao Yao mentioned, Mr. Meng was unaware of. Over the years, he had devoted himself to academic research, and could be said to hear nothing outside the window. He paid little attention to matters outside of studying. However, he was always very concerned about the price of grain.

The chaotic times caused by the previous dynasty left countless people starving without grain. At that time, grain was sold at sky-high prices; even dozens of taels of gold couldn’t necessarily buy a dou of rice. Since then, Mr. Meng had been very keen on grain prices, though he didn’t pay much attention to the prices of other items except for grain.

"Your Highness, how do you know these things?" Mr. Meng did not know the prices of various vegetables, nor the prices of pork, chicken, duck, and goose, but Zhao Yao was well-informed.

Zhao Yao said as a matter of course, "I asked around."

Mr. Meng was shocked in his heart, but at the same time, he felt extremely ashamed. He always wanted to do something for the country and its people, but he didn’t even know such basic things. As someone who had lived for eighty to ninety years, he was not even as knowledgeable as a ten-year-old child.

He suddenly found himself somewhat ridiculous and somewhat hypocritical. If he really cared about people’s livelihood, he couldn’t possibly be ignorant of such matters directly related to the people’s lives. Compared to the Tenth Prince, he truly felt ashamed.

Zhao Yao not only knew the grain prices in the capital and Jiangnan, but was also aware of the prices in many parts of Lingnan. He even knew the grain prices in several countries such as Annan.

Zheng Xilin unconsciously shifted into a teacher’s mode and asked Zhao Yao, "Do you think these prices are expensive or cheap?"

"Not expensive at all. Compared to the most prosperous times of the previous dynasty, you could say it’s very cheap." Zhao Yao had understood the various period prices of the previous dynasty, "Imperial Grandfather and Father Emperor issued decrees to lower grain prices to ensure that the people could afford to buy grain." Nowadays, the grain price had increased a bit, whereas when Imperial Grandfather first established the Great Zhou, a dou of rice was only five or six qian.

"Imperial Grandfather and Father Emperor’s policy of recuperation and rebuilding was correct; now half of the people in Great Zhou can not only have enough to eat but also have surplus grain at home." When Annan Country’s rice is extensively cultivated in Lingnan and Yunnan, as well as in Qiongzhou and other places, even more people will be able to have enough to eat.

"Mr. Meng, please don’t worry about the Imperial Examination anymore." Zhao Yao brought the topic back, "Father Emperor will not allow anyone to undermine the Imperial Examination."

Mr. Meng felt somewhat relieved after hearing this. He no longer talked about the Imperial Examination, but instead mentioned matters concerning himself.

"When I die, bury me immediately, don’t set up a shrine, and don’t let others come to mourn me..." As he spoke, he was a bit breathless, "I don’t like commotion, and I dislike many people wailing in front of my shrine..."

Mr. Meng spoke as if talking about someone else’s matters, with a tone as if it did not concern him. Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao listened quietly.

After talking for a while longer, Mr. Meng finally could not resist the thick drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep.

Zheng Xilin led Zhao Yao to quietly leave the room.

"Third Uncle, do we really have to handle Mr. Meng’s affairs according to his instructions?"

"It’s his wish, after all; fulfilling his wish is preferable, so he can be at peace even after he is gone." Zheng Xilin understood Mr. Meng’s feelings, "He doesn’t want his funeral to become...a battleground for power..."

"Indeed, how many people who come to offer condolences are sincere? Almost all are pretentious."

As they spoke, Tong Xi walked over and whispered a few words to Zhao Yao.

After hearing this, Zhao Yao hurriedly said to Zheng Xilin, "Third Uncle, I need to attend to something and go back to my room first."

"Go ahead."

Zhao Yao hurriedly returned to his room, where the Hidden Guard was already waiting in the shadows.

"Your Highness, we have traced the whereabouts of those people," the Hidden Guard reported, "They have gone to a manor outside Jinling City, which belongs to the Jiang Family of the Cao Group."

Zhao Yao was first taken aback: "The Jiang Family of the Cao Group, the head of the Cao Group?" Then, he raised the corners of his mouth and smiled amusingly, "I didn’t expect the Jiang Family to regard me so highly."

"Your Highness, we have also discovered something else."

"What is it?"

As Zhao Yao’s words fell, a scroll appeared in Tong Xi’s arms.

"Your Highness, everything we discovered is written in this scroll." The first Hidden Guard was not unwilling to report directly to Zhao Yao, but the matters recorded in the scroll were extremely difficult to speak of.

Zhao Yao did not rush to open the scroll but instead asked, "Those people in Jinling won’t be watching me anymore, will they?"

"No, they are waiting for Mr. Meng to die."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao immediately furrowed his brows and, with a somewhat cold expression, asked, "What do they intend to do?"