Born a phoenix? The husband I picked up is the young emperor

Chapter 1916

Chapter 1916

In Cen Che's eyes, the princess was just pretending to be smart and capable. She was just a puppet, only eloquent. What did a woman know and what could she accomplish?

As the conversation got excited, Shi Anxia mentioned an important event, "The New Year is coming soon. This is the first New Year since Tiema City returned to my North Wing." Her eyes moved and she smiled, "I think we must hold a decent lantern festival in all the cities in Lingzhou."

Here comes the point, cities! Lantern Festivals! They also have to be "acceptable", which one is not asking for money?

Cen Che understood what was happening when he heard this. The princess was asking for too much, and even 100,000 taels of silver could not satisfy her.

Now that the disaster has not been resolved and food and clothing have become a problem, the princess wants to create an atmosphere of "there is still hope in life" for the people.

Where does the money come from? Aren’t they targeting those merchants who invest on their own?

He finally understood that this was an unexpected disaster! He and his elder brother shouldn't have made an appointment to watch the fun that day, and they had booked a private room next to the fourth son of Zheng.

Isn't this just sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth?

Cen Che was in a state of confusion, feeling that the situation was extremely difficult. Even with 100,000 taels of silver, he still couldn't save the person. What should he do?

He had no choice but to ask sincerely, "Princess, how much silver do you think is needed to prepare a lantern festival of this scale?"

Shi Anxia almost laughed out loud at that moment. This Cen Che was really funny. A dignified prince was blackmailed, but he couldn't say anything, and he had to pretend to be sincere.

She liked Cen Che very much. Since she met this boy, she found that he had a kind of stupidity that was clearer and purer than her stupid father.

This guy has a golden eye on his forehead, which is quite likable.

No wonder Emperor Heng in the previous life chose him to be the emperor in a hurry in order to keep Liang State from being in chaos.

"Well..." Shi Anxia dragged out the last word, fiddling with the floating leaves with the tea lid, and smiled as she instructed Nan Yan, "Go and invite Master Qiu."

In just half a cup of tea, Qiu Zhiyan stepped over the threshold with two rolls of account books, and his blue satin official boots made no sound as they stepped on the blue bricks.

Cen Che stared at Qiu Zhiyan. His white and slender fingers were pinching the blue account book. He was obviously handsome and gentle, but his eyes were so shrewd that it was scary, as if he could draw out a person's soul, press it on the abacus, and skin and dismember it.

His heart skipped a beat and he felt a little nervous.

"I've calculated it." Qiu Zhiyan unfolded the account book, his voice flat and businesslike. "The Lingzhou Eight Cities Lantern Festival, far from being dazzling, was the most shabby of displays..."

The account books unfolded, densely recording the production of lanterns in each city, the manpower consumption of craftsmen and servants, the expenses of lantern shows and theater tours, and other miscellaneous expenses including public security maintenance and road repairs, totaling 498,576 taels.

Cen Che's eyes widened, "Four hundred and ninety-eight thousand five hundred and seventy-six taels?"

That’s five hundred thousand taels!

Just, take a breath.

He counted unconsciously with his fingers. The number seemed staggering, but when he looked closely at each item, he could find no fault with it. Even the oil consumption of each lantern was calculated based on the consumption of three nights.

Cen Che had to admit that this account was really well done. After the war, supplies were in short supply in the border town and prices were already high, so this amount could even be considered frugal.

Shi Anxia pursed her lips, "Master Qiu, please take a seat."

Qiu Zhiyan sat down as instructed.

Shi Anxia then turned to Cen Che, "With Master Xie's knowledge, you should know that this kind of spending is not extravagant..."