【Quick Wear】My Years as a Mother-in-law

Chapter 196 The Queen Mother who picked up the bargain is very upset 42

"You are setting up a private punishment..."

Before he finished speaking, the young man started to exert force again, grabbing Yao Deyi's head and hitting it more than ten times.

Now Yao Deyi was really scared. He could feel that these people didn't care about his life at all. He was not a man of great integrity. As a local tyrant in Yunlai County, he had accumulated a lot of wealth and could not bear any pain.

"It's the county's landowners. They don't want to sell their land or implement the new policy. It's all their fault. I just took a little money..."

This guy actually started looking for someone to take the blame. Lin Hong kept his expression unchanged and listened quietly. If he thought something was wrong, he would have someone beat him up, until Yao Deyi told the truth.

Yun Xi arrived in Yunlai County on May 20th and rested in the inn for half a day. The confessions of the two county magistrates were placed on her desk.

"Hmph! Corruption, how audacious! Send my imperial decree to both sides. All those involved in the case shall be beheaded, their heads sent to the nine frontiers, their property confiscated, and the three clans exiled to Qidian, Nanming. The soldiers accompanying the new government officials..." Yun Xi paused, closed her eyes, and said, "For dereliction of duty, all property will be confiscated, and you will leave my army. For three generations, you will not be allowed to take the imperial examinations or hold official positions."

Is it too light? Xiu'er glanced at Yunxi in confusion, but still said, "I'll go and tell her right away."

Lin Hong was not surprised to hear this order. The death of the new policy officials was the result of a conspiracy between the landlords and gentry and the county magistrate of Yunlai County. The Empress Dowager probably did this to let other places see the consequences of resisting the court.

"Niu Dan, bring your men and follow me!"

In less than three days, all the people involved in the case in Yunlai County and Mengyuan County were arrested. Blood flowed in pools at Caishikou, and the people watching the executions changed one after another. After three whole days, the butcher's knife was even chipped.

The people only applauded the death of the county magistrate.

Yun Xi found it interesting and ordered, "Xiu'er, take Chen'er out for a walk to see what the county magistrate's reputation is like. Yun Yi, take four people with you to protect Lian Chen."

Lian Chen blinked his big eyes and looked at Yun Xi, "Isn't the Imperial Grandmother going?"

"I won't go. I've been exhausted these past few days." Yun Xi rubbed her forehead. "You guys go, see more of life, and don't be like your father, saying an egg costs five taels of silver. That's really stupid."

Lian Cheng: I was hurt.

Lian Chen smiled and said, "Grandmother, I know. An egg costs five to three cents. It's expensive in winter, but cheaper in the other three seasons."

"It's good to know."

Xiu'er tactfully pulled Lian Chen downstairs. The entire inn was booked by Yun Xi. It was very quiet inside the inn, but very lively outside. However, when they walked out of the street, the liveliness was gone, leaving only desolation.

"Aunt Xiu, why is it so poor here?"

Xiu'er had no idea about this. Seeing a staggering old woman pulling a ragged little kid past quickly, she quickly approached with the prince. Seeing the woman's pale and thin appearance, she was slightly startled. Then she smiled and said, "Old sister, where are you going?"

The old woman was so frightened by the sight of so many people that she stepped back slightly, not knowing what to do. The little kid next to her jumped behind her, buried his head and didn't dare to come out to look.

Lian Chen blinked his distinct black and white eyes and asked, "Are you not full?"

As they were talking, the stomachs of the two people opposite them growled, and the old woman and the child became even more embarrassed.

"Aunt Xiu, give them the candied haws I just bought."

Xiu'er nodded and handed over the rice noodle rolls. "My master gave me these as a reward. You can eat them first. If you can please my master, there will be additional rewards."

"Really?" The old woman was stunned as if she couldn't believe there would be such a kind person. She took the food and wolfed it down with her child, finishing it quickly and drinking up all the juice in the bamboo bowl.

I felt much better with food in my stomach.

During this time, Lian Chen had already walked the entire street and returned.

Puzzled, he asked the old woman, "Why is there no one here? Is there no one living here?"

The old woman explained softly, "No, everyone went out to the beach. Some went out to sea and some went to catch seafood. Niuniu and I forgot to bring anything, so we came back."

Lian Chen asked innocently, "The beach? If you can go to the beach, why are you so hungry? You can eat seafood."

The old woman shook her head and pushed open the door of her house. Xiu'er looked out and saw that apart from the densely packed green vegetables in the yard, there was nothing else, not even a piece of firewood. The door to the main room was missing. Xiu'er, who had excellent eyesight, saw the empty main room...

Xiu'er blurted out, "Why is your family so poor?" Lian Chen was also shocked.

The old woman smiled bitterly and answered Lian Chen first, "Young Master, it's not that we can't eat seafood. We can't eat seafood for a long time. The most important thing is that the seafood we get is not enough to pay the tax, so how can we dare to eat it?"

"And this old sister, our family is poor. To pay the taxes, we've sold everything we could, but it's still not enough. If we still can't raise the money for the autumn taxes this autumn, we'll have no choice but to give up our house and move to the countryside."

Xiu'er was shocked. "How could this be? I remember that you were hit by a tsunami before. The court not only exempted you from taxes for three years, but also sent you disaster relief funds. Even if it's not much, you can still make a living..."

The old woman's eyes darkened. "Life was indeed good a few years ago. This house was given to us by the imperial court. After the tsunami, many people died, and many houses were ownerless. The previous county magistrate provided disaster relief through work, hiring the surviving people to convert these houses into stone houses with raised foundations to withstand tsunamis and heavy rains. We homeless people worked to earn money and food, and were allocated houses and exempted from taxes. Life gradually improved, but ever since the previous county magistrate was transferred, things have changed."

"The current County Magistrate, Yao, has been collecting taxes like crazy since his arrival. The grain tax is 50%. We who live in the city are taxed on everything we do. Even if we eat meat at home, we're charged a meat tax. To pay the tax, we've sold everything we can. I even grow vegetables in my fields to pay the tax. Some families have even mortgaged their houses. I haven't had a proper meal in two years..."

As she spoke, the old woman burst into tears. "And Niuniu, my daughter, is obviously ten years old, but she looks no different from a five-year-old child."

Lian Chen was so shocked he didn't know what to say. His teacher always said his father was a wise ruler, who killed corrupt officials, guarded the borders, and governed the country with integrity. Yet, there were still people here suffering like this...

Moreover, the two people who clearly looked like grandmother and grandson were actually mother and daughter. They were forced to this point by the world.

Little Lian Chen felt like his worldview collapsed.

Xiu'er gnashed her teeth and said, "Don't worry. The court has already implemented a new policy. From now on, you only have to pay five kilograms of grain for every acre of land. The official who implemented the new policy here was killed. The court was furious and sent people to investigate. That official has already been beheaded!"

"New Deal? What is the New Deal?"