Chapter 388 The Heart Won’t Lie

In fact, from the surface, many things Chu Qinghuang did were really incredible.

For example, even if the top three students were outstanding in knowledge, they didn't know much after all. It was too hasty to appoint them as the imperial study room councilors.

Another example is Zhou Shao, the sixth master of the Zhou family, who obviously had an inseparable relationship with Qin Guojiu, but the empress, who always acted coldly, let him go.

Not only that, but she also entrusted him with an important task.

Isn't she worried about endless troubles?

It is said that there is no business without fraud. Why can a person like Zhou Shao get her trust? The sky is high and the emperor is far away. There are many tricks and twists in the business world. Who can guarantee that he will abide by the law and be loyal to the emperor and the country in the future?

Another example is Yun Heng.

Yun Heng originally thought that he would be punished - he had considered the decision of writing an article to complain to the emperor in the palace examination many times, and thought about it countless times. Even if he did not regret it, he had thought about the consequences countless times.

This is a move that challenges the majesty of the emperor. It is a decision that is opportunistic and plays tricks in front of the king. It is extremely risky. It can be said that life and death are unpredictable.

Even if there are difficulties, it is absolutely not in accordance with the rules to file a complaint in the palace examination.

But the queen just lightly exposed it, without even a word of accountability, making him feel like he was dreaming.

Only Chu Qinghuang herself knows the truth.

She is not a fiery eye that can distinguish loyalty and treachery at a glance, nor is she a sharp eye that can tell whether a person is reliable after meeting him once.

She just has one more ability than others.

People can lie with their mouths, but their hearts cannot.

So she knows the loyalty of Prince Rong's family, knows that Wen Zhan can be used, and knows that Zhou Shao is truly surrendering, not just perfunctory for self-protection.

Of course, she also knows Yun Heng's sincere heart that is not afraid of taking risks for the sake of tea farmers.

She is a narrow-minded woman who is vindictive, but to be a tolerant queen, she has her own scale to measure right and wrong. The superficial rules can only restrict people's behavior, but they cannot influence their thoughts.

She will judge whether it is right or wrong, and she doesn't need to care about other people's evaluation.

Of course, only she knows these.

When Zhou Shao asked for an audience, Wen Zhan and Yun Heng had already left, but Chu Xuance was still there.

"I pay my respects to Her Majesty."

Chu Qinghuang said, "No need to be polite."

Zhou Shao was slightly stunned and almost thought he had heard wrongly. The last time he met the emperor, he knelt for half an hour - it should be said that he knelt during the whole process of talking to Chu Qinghuang, and he couldn't even raise his head.

Why is his attitude so good this time?

Zhou Shao figured it out after a little thought. He had been rude to her before, so it was normal for her to punish him. After all, the majesty of the queen should not be offended, and he had murderous intentions towards her.

She didn't wipe out all nine clans of the Zhou family, which was already very kind.

What's the big deal about kneeling for a while?

Today, His Majesty is in a good mood and has no interest in making things difficult for him, but it can also be seen from this that Her Majesty is not a person who likes to bear grudges.

As she said before, revenge should be taken on the spot. Holding a grudge against someone is too tiring and a waste of time.

Zhou Shao thought about it and felt relieved. He thanked her respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chu Qinghuang glanced at him. She only said two words. He could imagine so much?

It seems that it would be more appropriate to let him kneel down to talk next time.

Let's get back to the topic.

"Wuzhou Jiulian Town is the largest tea town in Xiqi. All kinds of famous teas come from Wuzhou." Chu Qinghuang said in a light tone, "How much do you know about Wuzhou?"

Wuzhou?

Zhou Shao frowned slightly: "I have a cousin who is a tea merchant in Wuzhou."

Chu Qinghuang frowned and looked up at him: "Cousin?"

"My uncle's cousin, my mother's nephew." Zhou Shao nodded, "The Zhou family also has teahouses in various places in Xiqi. More than half of the tea is purchased by my cousin, and then resold to the teahouse, making a profit in the middle."

The water should not fall into the fields of outsiders.

The closest relationship in the community of interests is the family, whether in the officialdom or in the business world.

Chu Qinghuang was silent for a long time, and his tone was obviously a little colder: "So, Wuzhou tea merchants monopolized the tea industry and joined forces with the government to lower the price, causing tea farmers to have to sell good tea at a low price. A year of hard work has gone down the drain, and even food and clothing have become a problem. You know these things very well?"

Yes.

Zhou Shao knelt down again: "I know my crime."

"Don't say you don't know about the collusion between officials and businessmen in Wuzhou."

Zhou Shao smiled bitterly.

What is this?

Is it your own fault, or is it your own fault?

If he could have foreseen this, he would have definitely abided by the law and fulfilled his duties while developing his own business. He would rather earn less, at least he could face it calmly, instead of being questioned like this and being speechless.

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