I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 176 You are just lusting after her body, you are a slut!

This morning court session ended in a way that was quite bizarre in the eyes of civil and military officials.

Prime Minister Zhao Zhou, who thought he was dead, was not punished.

The Minister of Agriculture Kong Jin, the Minister of Agriculture Dongguo Xianyang and Sang Hongyang were not punished.

Liu Ju was not punished at all, but was forced by Emperor Liu Che to take on the task of participating in the reform of the state-run salt and iron industries.

However, every official attending the meeting was extremely certain of one thing.

This time, Liu Che is going to take real action against the salt and iron merchants who are involved in the official operation of salt and iron. What will happen next is bound to be another bloody storm affecting salt and iron officials across the country...

That afternoon.

Liu Ju had just finished his nap when an old acquaintance arrived at Bowang Garden.

"Tingwei Shi Duzhou, I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Unlike the last time when he accompanied Liu Ju to Puyang in Dongjun to control the flood, this time Du Zhou did not bring the staff of authority, but only brought dozens of infantrymen from the court to follow orders.

"Du Tingwei Shi, long time no see... What does my father mean by this?"

Looking at Du Zhou's standard square face that looked mature and honest, Liu Ju was a little confused.

Although Emperor Liu Che said that if he did not go to the Minister of Agriculture to assist in the reform of the state-run salt and iron industry, he would have to send people to escort him there every day, he still obeyed the order in the end. Why did Emperor Liu Che still send people from the Supreme Court?
"Your Majesty orders me to follow Your Highness in assisting with the reform of the salt and iron industry. From today on, I will obey Your Highness' orders in everything until the reform is completed and then report back to the court."

Du Zhou bowed and replied.

"Didn't I ask you to escort me?"

Liu Ju asked again.

"Your Highness, you are joking. His Majesty ordered me to come here to run errands for Your Highness. How dare I escort Your Highness?"

Du Zhou was stunned for a moment, then quickly smiled and explained his responsibilities this time in a more straightforward way, fearing that Liu Ju would have any misunderstandings.

He had a psychological shadow about Liu Ju.

Recalling the previous time when Liu Ju was "escorted" to Puyang, Dongjun to control the flood, he also brought the emperor's scepter. What was the result?

The staff that seemed to be the emperor's personal presence in the eyes of others was completely useless in front of Liu Ju. It was even worse than a firewood stick.

Not only that, he still couldn't forget the harmless smile on Liu Ju's face when he threatened him.

The emperor is indeed feared.

But the emperor has his own burdens. As long as one works wholeheartedly for the emperor, the emperor will always be clear about rewards and punishments and will not play dirty tricks with a lackey like him.

But Prince Liu Ju was obviously different.

He has no baggage and can use his dirty tricks without any burden.

He can tell you so clearly that he is a villain, he is a scoundrel, and he can arrange things for you in many ways at any time.

But you can't do anything to him because he is the prince.

The most fortunate thing now is that since the "destroying the dike and flooding the fields", he has not become enemies with Liu Ju, and he has also done Liu Ju a few favors through several letters. At present, he has established a little "friendship" with him.

But these things are not without side effects...

Although the emperor never made it clear.

But Du Zhou always felt that the emperor had regarded him as Liu Ju's man, otherwise why would he specially order him, who had already been demoted, to deal with the historian who dared to refuse Liu Ju's marriage proposal, and now why would he specially order him to run errands for Liu Ju?

However, the emperor did not seem to mind, otherwise why would he reinstate him and allow the prince to participate in more state affairs?

Therefore, even if Du Zhou couldn't figure out the connection now, he didn't dare to disobey either party. He just hoped to have a good ending by being caught in the middle.

At the same time, a glimmer of hope arose deep in his heart.

If the emperor and the crown prince do have a deep father-son relationship, and the crown prince will eventually inherit the great cause, then now that he has become the crown prince's own man in advance, is it possible for him to gain the merit of following the emperor in the future?

"In that case, you can follow me to the Great Minister of Agriculture to learn more about the situation later."

Liu Ju nodded.

Of course, he was serious about the reform of the state-owned salt fields.

Although he knew nothing about the country's financial affairs, if he saw any problems, he might be able to provide Sang Hongyang with some immature suggestions based on the knowledge of later generations.

As for the national finances, he also knew that it would do more harm than good for laymen to command professionals, so he did not intend to say much.

What's more, he had great confidence in Sang Hongyang's abilities. As long as he was given enough room to play, he would definitely not disappoint.

As for the current Minister of Agriculture Kong Jin, and another Minister of Agriculture Dongguo Xianyang.

There are not many records about them in history books, only that one of them was a big iron merchant and the other was a big salt merchant.

At this time, Sang Hongyang had not yet been truly valued, so the policy of state-run salt and iron was mainly led by these two people. In the process of establishing the salt and iron management agency, they recruited a large number of big businessmen like them who had previously been engaged in salt and iron business, which eventually led to the current situation of "competing with the people for profits".

As to whether the two of them committed favoritism and fraud, and whether they accepted bribes when appointing and dismissing officials.

There are no detailed records in history books. It only says that the two were dismissed by Emperor Wu of Han on the charge of "poor management" about one or two years ago, and there has been no further record of them since then.

It was only after they were dismissed that Sang Hongyang officially began to take charge of the Grand Minister of Agriculture and fully demonstrated his talents.

"promise."

Du Zhou responded.

As they were talking, a figure hurriedly walked by in the courtyard. "Doctor Yi?"

Seeing this beautiful figure, Du Zhou was immediately surprised and bowed to her.

"It's you?"

Yi Shuo stopped walking upon hearing the voice, frowned and looked at Du Zhou, then looked as if he recognized him and returned the greeting, "Why are you in Bowang Garden?"

"Do you know?"

Liu Ju felt a little puzzled. Why did these two people know each other and what was their relationship?
"Your Highness, forgive me."

Du Zhou just realized that he had behaved inappropriately and quickly apologized.
"When I was in Nanyang, Doctor Yi's brother Yi Zong was young and promising. He was my immediate superior. If he hadn't recommended me to Zhang Tang, the then Minister of Justice, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"Therefore, Yi Zong was very kind to me. Later, when Yi Zong met with misfortune, he asked me to take care of Doctor Yi before he was executed."

"I naturally did not dare to disobey my benefactor's request, so I went to see Doctor Yi several times. I also heard that Doctor Yi was still unmarried, so I hoped to marry Doctor Yi as my wife, so that it would be more convenient to take care of him."

"It's a pity that Doctor Yi is so devoted to medicine that he has no intention of getting married. He also refuses to accept money or property from me, so I have to give up on this matter."

"Later, Doctor Yi simply moved into the palace. I couldn't see him anymore, and we had less and less contact. I could only ask people to inquire about Doctor Yi's news from time to time. I felt relieved when I learned that Doctor Yi was safe and sound."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ju looked at Yi Shuo again. He really didn't know this history.

All we know is that Du Zhou was the ancestor of the great poet Du Fu of later generations, and that he was later appointed as the Chief Justice and the Imperial Censor. He was one of the few cruel officials who had a good end. His descendants also became high-ranking officials one after another, and his family continued to be a noble family throughout the Western Han Dynasty.

Then Liu Ju asked quietly:
"Doctor Yi, you later decided to live in the palace. Was it because this person was harassing you?"

"..."

Yi Shuo was stunned.

Du Zhou's face changed drastically, and he quickly explained:

"Your Highness has misunderstood. I just want to complete the benefactor's request. I have no intention of harassing you, and I dare not do anything indecent to Doctor Yi. Please understand your Highness."

"You were just trying to fulfill your benefactor's request. You were just coveting her body. You are such a slut!"

Liu Ju refused to give in.

"Your behavior can be defined as repaying kindness with enmity. Even though Yi has shown you great kindness, you still want to sleep with his sister. You are so shameless!"

"I am innocent, Your Highness. I really didn't do that!"

Du Zhou was completely panicked. Seeing that he could not explain clearly to Liu Ju, he frowned and asked Yi Shuo for help.

"Doctor Yi, please speak a fair word for me."

"Although I have proposed to marry you, it was only once. After I learned that you had no intention of getting married, I never mentioned it again, let alone harassing you. At most, I would come to ask about your well-being every two months. Please bear witness for me!"

"Pfft!"

Yi Shuo finally couldn't help laughing.

"Your Highness, please do not be surprised. Du Zhou has indeed never harassed me. I moved into the palace later because there was an eighth child in the palace who had a bad pregnancy and needed clinical care. Therefore, I stayed in the palace for a while longer. It has nothing to do with Du Zhou."

"Thank you, Doctor Yi, for not resigning and proving my innocence."

Du Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief, secretly wiped the sweat from his temples, and bowed repeatedly to express his gratitude.

He didn't know the relationship between Liu Ju and Yi Shuo, and seeing Yi Shuo now appearing openly in the Prince's Mansion, how could he not be afraid?
As long as it is related to the royal family, it is definitely not something a small figure like him can get involved in. If he gets involved accidentally, he will end up in disgrace.

What's more, this person was Liu Ju, who frightened him...

"Since Doctor Yi has said so, I will not pursue this matter."

Hearing this, Liu Ju nodded slightly.
"Doctor Yi, although you have no relatives or friends now, you are a member of my Prince's Mansion. If someone bullies you, just tell me and I will take care of it for you. You don't have to worry about anything."

"Yishuo thanks Your Highness."

Yi Shuo bowed slightly in thanks.

"Okay, Du Tingwei Shi, Guo Zhen should have prepared the car, and we should set off."

As Liu Ju spoke, he led Du Zhou out, chattering non-stop as he walked.
"I have never been to the Grand Minister of Agriculture. I wonder if there is anything new there."

"By the way, send some people to keep an eye on Kong Jin and Dongguo Xianyang, especially the private letters they send out. If you can intercept them, intercept them. It doesn't matter if he is a minister or not. Anyway, he is not as senior as me..."

Du Zhou followed behind him with his back hunched, nodding continuously.

Yi Shuo stood there, looking at the two people's gradually leaving backs, and gradually became absent-minded. He unconsciously raised his hand and gently bit his nails.

After a long time.

"Doctor Yi, what are you looking at?"

Suddenly, a slightly old voice came from behind. It was Ji Ping, the Prince's Secretary.

"No, it's nothing!"

Yi Shuo was startled as if she had seen a ghost. Her pretty face turned red in an instant for some reason. She turned around and hurried away as if she was escaping.

Ji Ping was left alone, stroking his wrinkled face in confusion:

"Although I have aged a bit and have a few black spots on my face recently, I think I look kind and gentle. I shouldn't be that scary, right?"

(End of this chapter)