A Sovereign and His Minister Discuss Old Affairs (I)

At the same time, Wei Shi was also talking to Gu Yuanshi.

"I never imagined that something so big and so large could taste so good. I didn't even dare to say it before. I thought it definitely wasn't tasty, otherwise how come no one had discovered it before? I never expected it to actually be edible and delicious."

Gu Yuanshi listened to his wife's words, a look of pride on his face.

"How could our daughter be anything less than excellent? I just never imagined that Wanqing would be so knowledgeable about farming."

The Wei Shi was also very pleased.

However, she still had something on her mind today, and after much deliberation, she ultimately didn't say it.

My husband is already too tired; don't add to his burden.

It turned out that today, Wei Shi took her daughter-in-law out to buy things and overheard many people discussing the reforms.

After listening to many voices, Wei Shi roughly understood the prevailing sentiments among the people.

Most ordinary people at the bottom of society benefited from the reforms, and they supported them.

But they couldn't believe it.

The scripture is good, but who knows how it will be recited?

I have high hopes, but I dare not hope for too much.

There was another voice that worried Wei Shi.

Some say that if the reform had failed, Gu Yuanshi would probably no longer be a Grand Secretary and Chief Grand Secretary.

In order to quell the impact of the failed reform, he will likely be pushed forward.

Even if the emperor were to consider past favors and let him off the hook, which of the powerful figures he offended during the reform process would let him go?

Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; once the reforms are implemented, there's no going back.

Wei Shi wanted to tell her husband that since things had already come to this, they should persevere and continue on this path.

She stayed by his side, through thick and thin.

However, she knew that saying these words would only burden her husband, so she swallowed them.

"My lord, the Corn harvest has begun in all the places, hasn't it?" This was the first time Wei Shi had asked about things outside.

Because she knew that this first step was extremely important.

When it comes to this, Gu Yuanshi talks on and on, his eyes brimming with pride.

"The harvest isn't completely finished yet, but the reported yields have all met expectations, and in many cases even exceeded them, which is very encouraging for the people."

The same amount of land yields more grain, which means less hunger this winter.

Whether it's whole grains or refined grains, taste or anything else, nothing is more important than being full.

"I was thinking of having Gu Wanning teach everyone how to make it, but I didn't expect that the people have already figured out many ways to eat it," Gu Yuanshi said. "Even the popcorn that Gu Wanning made a fortune from last winter is now everywhere."

"Yes, I saw the popcorn vendor when I went out. It's a shame that the kid is missing out on making money."

"This is a great act of merit. A little personal loss is nothing. Gu Wanning will never lack money in her life," Gu Yuanshi said meaningfully.

Others may not know, but Gu Yuanshi knows very well that Xu Weibei is good at business and his wealth is so great that even the emperor is envious.

Gu Wanning married him; she couldn't endure hardship.

Chapter 245 The Emperor and His Ministers Discuss Past Events (Part 1)

Gu Wanning was also very happy to know about the Corn harvest.

She felt that although her income had indeed been affected, she was not short of money.

The money she has saved up is enough for her to live a simple and ordinary life.

She has never been fond of extravagance; her only hobby is eating.

How much can one eat?

When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven.

Gu Wanning felt that she had escaped poverty and entered the next stage.

Even after the peanuts were harvested, there was still no news from Xu Weibei.

Gu Wanning didn't know what the Emperor was really up to, but as time went on, she began to panic.

--Your Majesty, please release them quickly!

Winter is almost here. Aren't you afraid that news of Xu Weibei will spread, shaking the Northwest Army and making the Oirat and those small tribes restless?

Gu Wanning tried her best to make Xu Weibei feel valued.

Unexpectedly, the turning point came from Fang Tingxiu.

Zheng Jian's biological father, Zheng Ke, could accept his son's misbehavior outside, but he could not accept his son's tragic death.

He wanted revenge for his son.

However, the Zheng Duke's Residence was weak and had no chance to speak.

Then he found Fang Tingxiu.

Zheng Ke said, "Your mother's surname is also Zheng, and you've made something of yourself by working at the Dali Temple, where you can handle this matter. You should do your part for your cousin."

Fang Tingxiu ignored it.

However, Zheng Ke persisted, using threats and inducements to insist that Fang Tingxiu help him, saying that he had no power base and that if the Zheng Duke's Residence wanted to deal with him, he would have a difficult time in the future and might even have to return to the countryside to farm.

This angered Fang Tingxiu.

Enraged, Fang Tingxiu handed over the things his mother had left him to save his life to the emperor.

That's something that could cost the Zheng Duke's Residence their lives.

When the emperor seized the throne, the Zheng Duke's Residence secretly supported his rival.

The enemy's supporters, back when the emperor went on a killing spree, the Zheng Duke's Residence was so impoverished that no one noticed or mentioned it, and thus it narrowly escaped the calamity.

But things done always leave a trace.

When the evidence was presented to the emperor, he was still furious, even though much time had passed.

The anger he expressed was probably something like, "You, the Zheng Duke's Residence, from top to bottom, eat the king's food, yet you can't find a single person who can share the king's burdens."

That's fine, I won't stoop to your level and will keep you parasites around.

And the result?

You are both incompetent and constantly causing trouble, trying to sow discord between me and the emperor!

How can we tolerate this?

Fortunately, the Emperor is now old and has cultivated his character, no longer possessing the volatile temper of his youth. He showed great mercy and spared the lives of the entire household.

Then, with a single imperial edict, all of them were exiled to the Northwest.

Since the Zheng Duke's Residence was guilty, Xu Weibei's crime of killing Zheng Jian was much lighter. In addition, since Zheng Jian had framed Gu Wanning first, the emperor ultimately decided to punish him by fining him for three years and then releasing him.