Chapter 168 2/3

The Shen family in Jiang’an Province sends large sums of silver to him every year, but he doesn’t pay much attention to the Shen family.

The Shen family is just a merchant.

“Your Excellency, Governor Zhang has sent a book written by a Dusan named Qiongdu Sanren for you,” the head of the Shen family said respectfully.

He had seen Lu Qingxi once before, and this was the second time he had seen this eunuch who could replace the emperor in reviewing memorials.

And just like before, this eunuch brought him great pressure.

Lu Qingxi was somewhat stunned when he heard the head of the Shen family’s words.

Governor Zhang actually asked the head of the Shen family to bring something to him?

Others might not know, but he was very clear about it, wasn’t he? He had no relationship with Governor Zhang at all!

When he bragged to others that Governor Zhang was his man, didn’t he imagine Governor Zhang’s awkward look?

In this situation, what could Governor Zhang bring to him? Could it be to make trouble for him?

With these thoughts in mind, Lu Qingxi quickly grasped another key point.

The book by Qiongdu Sanren.

The “Record of Injustice” previously written by Qiongdu Sanren had helped him a lot, so what did he write this time?

“Bring it here,” Lu Qingxi said.

The head of the Shen family hurriedly presented Qiongdu Sanren’s manuscript.

It wasn’t even bound… Lu Qingxi felt a bit disdainful, but after reading it, he was somewhat surprised— the writing was quite good.

He hadn’t read many books himself, but after seeing various good calligraphy and paintings with the emperor, he still had some appreciation.

Lu Qingxi began to read the book in his hands, and as soon as he read the beginning, his expression became serious.

Before Li Qingzhi wrote the book, he had already thought of giving this book to Lu Qingxi, so the beginning of the book was about the county town where Lu Qingxi lived.

Lu Qingxi was very clear about what his hometown was like.

And Li Qingzhi, by digging out the memories of the original owner, began the book with that place.

Lu Qingxi was attracted by the familiarity brought by a few words.

At the same time, he also realized something— Qiongdu Sanren’s “Record of Fleeing from Famine” was about the flood in Yuxi Prefecture six years ago!

What did he want to do? Seek justice for the people of Yuxi Prefecture?

The people of Yuxi Prefecture were indeed unjustly treated.

Six years ago, before the emperor allowed him to review memorials, he handled political affairs himself.

Many things happened in Daqi that year, and the court was also unstable… when the flood occurred in Yuxi Prefecture, the emperor was seriously ill, and the situation was very bad. The imperial physicians even thought he might not survive.

Probably because of this, King Jin acted recklessly and even embezzled the relief funds.

After realizing that something was wrong, it was already too late for King Jin to correct his actions.

But… fearing to agitate the emperor, and too many people involved at the time… this matter was eventually swept under the rug.

Now… Qiongdu Sanren brought up this matter again?

There were many manuscripts, and Lu Qingxi couldn’t finish reading them for a while. Without finishing reading them, he didn’t dare to make a decision…

Lu Qingxi said, “You can go back first, and we’ll take our time to read this book.”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” the head of the Shen family left.

After he left, Lu Qingxi immediately began to read the book in his hands.

Because of the “Record of Injustice” before, Lu Qingxi shed tears in front of the emperor… but those tears were mostly just a show.

He didn’t feel it necessary to cry.

He himself was quite miserable, almost starving to death at a young age, and then being castrated, with his family nowhere to be found, leaving him with no relatives and descendants.

So… why feel sad for others?

But this book was different.

This book wrote about his hometown.

When he left his hometown, he was still a child… he actually missed the days with his parents, and also missed his hometown.

Although Li Qingzhi wrote about Lu Qingxi’s familiar hometown, to avoid angering Lu Qingxi, there was not a single person surnamed Lu in the book.

But… when Lu Qingxi was young, his family was extremely poor, and the people mentioned in the book were actually in a situation similar to his family’s.

Lu Qingxi didn’t cry out loud, but his eyes were already moist.

After becoming prosperous, he couldn’t find his family, but he always felt that his family was still alive, like his younger brother, who might be working as a tenant farmer in someone else’s home.

Like his younger sister… as long as she grew up, she would definitely get married and maybe already had children.

But even if they were alive before, could they survive after being swept away by the flood?

Lu Qingxi read the book for a whole day.

He first finished reading this book, and then read the “Water Control Strategy”.

This Qiongdu Sanren was too clever.

He knew that just knowing the miserable situation of the common people couldn’t cause much trouble for King Jin, so… he focused on writing about Li Zhao, the magistrate of Yu County.

Li Zhao, as the magistrate of Yu County, did nothing wrong himself and had always provided relief for the disaster, but he was suddenly beheaded.

What would the officials in the court feel when they saw this situation?

Lu Qingxi didn’t know who Qiongdu Sanren was, but he knew that this person definitely had a grudge against King Jin.

Anyone who witnessed the flood back then, who didn’t have a grudge against King Jin?

The person sent to his house, his fellow villager, Muchen Zhu, didn’t he hate King Jin very much?

Tomorrow, he would hand this book to the emperor and shed some tears again about what happened six years ago.

In addition… he needed to print this book as soon as possible! Let Muchen Zhu spread more news about this.

He believed that Muchen Zhu would handle things well.

After thinking this way, Lu Qingxi summoned his subordinates and asked them to send some rewards to the head of the Shen family, and then asked the head of the Shen family to come and see him early the next morning.

He planned to see the head of the Shen family, learn some information from him, and then go to see the emperor.

There was a curfew in the capital, and people were not allowed to move around at will at night, especially on the streets near the palace.

But with the token given by Lu Qingxi, he could naturally move freely.

So on this day, the head of the Shen family had already gone to bed, but was called up again, and then learned that Lu Qingxi had given him rewards.

He went to see the rewards, and knew that he would have good luck this time!

The head of the Shen family was too excited to sleep all night, and early the next morning, he went to

 Lu Qingxi’s mansion.

At the gate of Lu’s mansion, the head of the Shen family met Shopkeeper Mu.

Shopkeeper Mu, had risen to prominence in recent years. The head of the Shen family hadn’t seen her before, but had heard of her.

Shopkeeper Mu, had already known about the head of the Shen family’s arrival in the capital.

The two sides greeted each other with smiles and went in to see Lu Qingxi together.

Lu Qingxi was already awake. He let the two of them in, but didn’t pay attention to Shopkeeper Mu, and instead asked the head of the Shen family, “How did you get this book in the end?”

The head of the Shen family immediately said, “Your Excellency, this was given by Governor Zhang…”

He explained how Governor Zhang had found someone to print the book and happened to find the Shen family, and then he quickly printed the book.

“You’ve already printed the book? What does it look like?” Lu Qingxi asked. It better not be poorly printed!

The head of the Shen family immediately took out a set of books for Lu Qingxi: “Your Excellency, these are carefully printed books by us, a total of ten thousand sets, with five thousand sets brought to the capital.”

The head of the Shen family had spared no expense, and the books were printed very finely, with good quality paper for the covers.

Lu Qingxi was very satisfied after looking at them, and then remembered something else. He asked the head of the Shen family, “Tell me in detail about your meeting with Governor Zhang.”

The head of the Shen family didn’t understand, but still recounted the situation that day, including asking Governor Zhang if there was anything to bring, and Governor Zhang saying there wasn’t.