CHAPTER 639: CHAPTER 639: JIANGNAN GRAIN PRICES!

Grain prices in Jiangnan kept rising. The cost of a bushel of rice had gone from 60 coins to 350 coins. Even so, many people still could not afford to buy rice. Grain merchants, meanwhile, watched from the sidelines, waiting for prices to rise further so they could reap a huge profit. They hoarded food, reluctant to sell more.

It was fine for families with grain in reserve, but those without reserves at home and unable to buy rice were forced to flee, seeking a living elsewhere. The once greatly envied Jiangnan had suddenly become a land of frequent floods. People were too busy fleeing to feel any envy.

Upon receiving the disaster report from Jiangnan, the Emperor immediately dispatched officials from the Ministry of Revenue to investigate the disaster situation. Just half a month ago, the officials who had returned from Jiangnan compiled a full report on the disaster conditions there and reported it in detail to the Emperor.

Zhao Junyao read the report, combining it with the information provided by his trusted Imperial Censor, Zhou Lin. He frowned immediately. "According to this, the disaster in Jiangnan is not severe, so why is there such a shortage of grain!"

As for flooding, Jiangnan was a region of rivers and canals; when had it not experienced floods several times a year? Why, then, had it become like this, this year? Zhao Junyao clenched the report, pondering deeply for a long while before he instructed Zhou Lin again, "Go, find out who’s causing trouble behind the scenes! With such a situation, Jiangnan shouldn’t be short of grain at all. There must be someone meddling!"

Zhou Lin clasped his fist and acknowledged the order, then withdrew.

Ten days later, Zhou Lin returned from Jiangnan at full speed and entered the palace again to report. "Your Majesty, forgive my incompetence—I’ve only found some rumors among the people, nothing else, not a single clue!"

Zhao Junyao felt that this was a good starting point and asked, "What are the rumors?"

Zhou Lin replied, "The common people of Jiangnan have heard news from somewhere that our Great Chu Dynasty is about to go to war on the borders! With those few Grassland Tribes in the Northwest! They also say those tribes have strong soldiers and horses and that this war is going to last for an unknown duration. War naturally requires food and horse fodder, and after a while, the Imperial Court is sure to issue orders to buy back grain at high prices! By then, those with extra grain will make a fortune! Such rumors have caused the rich merchants to begin hoarding grain frantically! The common folk, not thinking much beyond the immediate future, sold their grain first to get money! Later..."

All the grain in the hands of the common people was bought up, eventually flowing into the hands of a few wealthy merchants in Jiangnan. Now, those wealthy merchants, taking advantage of the floods and rising grain prices, wanted to sell the same grain back to the people, but the price had increased severalfold. In just over half a year, they had made so much. It had to be said, it was a brilliant scheme.

Zhao Junyao listened and sneered, "Indeed, there is no business without deceit—is it just these few wealthy merchants from Jiangnan? Go investigate! Check on these officials in Jiangnan, one household after another!"

Without the protection of The Government Office, the merchants wouldn’t dare to be so bold. It wasn’t alarming that merchants were cunning and scheming, and it was somewhat understandable for The Government Office to be slightly corrupt. But for officials to collude with merchants and cause such a stir was entirely wrong. They harmed the people, not to mention they treated the distant Emperor in the Capital City like a mere figurehead. So many people had died because of it. Did they really think the Emperor would casually send a few envoys to be fawned over, only for them to leave superficially appeased? How could that be possible? It wasn’t just Zhao Junyao; even those Imperial Censors wouldn’t let it pass!

Zhou Lin acknowledged the order and withdrew. On his way out of the palace, he pondered the entire time. Just who could be so lawless as to profit from a national calamity? Truly impressive! If he, Zhou Lin, were to investigate this, they could only wait for death! With these thoughts, he spurred his horse once more. The horse beneath him neighed loudly as it galloped, carrying him swiftly away in a cloud of dust.

As for the imperial examinations, Zhao Junyao had already handed them over to the Hanlin Academy. The examiners and graders hadn’t been decided upon yet; that would be determined last, so there was no rush for now. What mattered most at the moment was to resolve the grain prices in Jiangnan.

By the time Zhao Junyao finished reviewing documents, it was already evening. Not wanting to go to the Harem, he closed his eyes to rest for a while. Lying on the lounge chair, he mentally reviewed the officials of Jiangnan, one by one. In the end, he circled the names of a few who were particularly suspect. These few are the prime suspects!

With this thought, dinner time arrived. Exhausted from the day, Zhao Junyao wanted to be alone in quiet contemplation and did not summon anyone for the night. After his evening meal, he went out alone to clear his mind, intending to stroll for a while before returning to sleep.

Unexpectedly, by the Taiye Pool, he came upon a woman playing the zither. Her zither-playing skills were extremely adept. The gentle plucking of the strings with her fingertips produced a crisp sound, like that of a babbling spring, flowing from her slender, pale fingers. Reflected in the lake, along with the last traces of the evening glow in the sky, the scene was imbued with lyrical beauty.

Zhao Junyao stopped to listen from a distance, entranced. After the melody finished, he slowly approached. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the image of Qingqing. No longer hesitant, Zhao Junyao walked over and sat beside the woman. As usual, he reached out to gently touch her silky long hair. But just as he stretched out his hand, before it even touched her hair, it stopped. The melody from the woman’s fingertips came to an abrupt halt. After a moment, although the zither music resumed, the sound was decidedly different, now permeated with a hint of panic and disarray.

Zhao Junyao abruptly stood up. "You’re not her, who are you?!"

The instant he asked this question, one of the woman’s zither strings snapped with a POP. The atmosphere instantly fell silent. Zhao Junyao’s gaze turned sharply penetrating. He looked again at the woman before him, dressed exactly like Qingqing, her hair adorned identically. It had to be said, she did resemble Qingqing quite closely when playing the zither with her back to him. But... heh! An imposter was ultimately an imposter.

A sudden realization struck Zhao Junyao. Qingqing... she shouldn’t know how to play the zither, right? She couldn’t even write properly, let alone be skilled in the four arts of the Chinese scholar.

AHEM. Zhao Junyao coughed twice, masking his embarrassment. This was my own fault. Qingqing, I have wronged you!

Unsurprisingly, the woman turned out to be Honored Lady Jiang. To attract the Emperor’s attention, she played the zither in the Imperial Garden every day, her clothes, head ornaments, and even her mannerisms and expressions meticulously emulating Qingqing. This woman was utterly living in someone else’s shadow. She had completely forgotten: how could the Emperor fancy a mere shadow? He had the genuine article!

Therefore, Zhao Junyao showed no kindness toward her. He glared fiercely at Li Shengan and commanded coldly, "Return to the palace!"

Li Shengan was thoroughly frightened and hurried forward to attend. On the way back to the palace, Li Shengan had never felt time pass so fleetingly. If only time could stop at this moment. Don’t go on any longer; who knows what awaits him upon return. The Emperor had visited the Imperial Garden, and yet nobody had cleared the area in advance. This was simply...