A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1180: There Must Be a Huge Conspiracy Behind This

Xia Ruqing detailed the surprisingly high prices prevalent in Jinling City. She voiced her complaints, stating, "A simple twisted silk bracelet is being sold for twenty taels of silver! With that amount, I could craft four or five myself!" Although Zhao Junyao found her focus on such matters somewhat trivial, her description nonetheless highlighted an anomaly. "Is it truly that exorbitant?" he questioned. "Indeed it is!" Xia Ruqing affirmed, continuing her grievances as she meticulously picked the bones from her fish. "Last night, I merely had some snacks and spent over ten taels! It's outrageously expensive! Even with Jinling City's prosperity, it shouldn't be this way..." Given her current standing, Xia Ruqing felt hesitant to speak too candidly. However, Zhao Junyao began to pay serious attention, his brow furrowing in thought. Seeing his pensive state, Xia Ruqing ceased speaking and returned to her meal. After their dinner concluded, Zhao Junyao summoned Li Shengan. He inquired about the previous night's expenses and the inn's daily rates, as well as the general cost of goods in the area. To his astonishment, he learned that the inn they were using, catering to both people and horses, incurred costs exceeding a thousand taels daily. This figure was shocking, as the most opulent Taihe Building in the Capital City cost merely a little over a thousand taels. That a moderately sized, seemingly ordinary inn in Jinling City would demand such a sum, despite them having booked the entire establishment which consisted of only a few rooms, struck Zhao Junyao as deeply suspicious. He immediately dispatched an Imperial Censor to investigate the situation. ... Two days later, the Imperial Censor returned with the findings. "Your Highness," the censor reported, "the prices in Jinling City are drastically different from elsewhere, approximately six times that of the Capital. A steamed bun that costs one wen in the Capital is sold for six wen here! A dou of rice, which is twenty wen in the Capital, is priced at one hundred and twenty wen here!" Zhao Junyao's pupils dilated. "Six wen?! One hundred and twenty wen?" While these figures might seem small individually, food represents a fundamental necessity for the populace, and such inflated prices for rice and grain directly impact basic survival. Without affordable staples, the people cannot thrive, and this could easily incite unrest, potentially destabilizing the entire administration – a prospect he desperately wished to avoid. Zhao Junyao grasped the gravity of the crisis and, with a stern expression, issued his command: "Investigate! Conduct a thorough investigation for me! Why are prices nationwide so similar, yet Jinling City is so exceptionally distinct?! Furthermore, ascertain if other regions are experiencing similar anomalies!" "Yes, Your Highness!" The Imperial Censor acknowledged the order and withdrew. ... Over the subsequent half-month, Zhao Junyao concurrently monitored the progress of the Wei River levee reconstruction and the fluctuating grain prices. Fortunately, the levee situation had stabilized, with water levels remaining steady and conditions favorable. This allowed him to direct his full attention back to the price surge in Jinling City. The Imperial Censor concluded their investigation, revealing that aside from Jinling City, several neighboring towns were also experiencing significantly higher prices compared to other areas! Zhao Junyao sat at his desk, his gaze cold and fixed upon the map before him. "These regions... do they share any commonalities?" A subtle sense of conspiracy began to form in Zhao Junyao's mind. Xia Ruqing arrived with a bowl of chilled lotus seed soup. Noticing his prolonged stare at the map, she inquired, "What are you contemplating, Your Highness?" She then added, "By the way, Your Highness, with these rising costs, who ultimately benefits?" Zhao Junyao accepted the bowl of soup, taking a sip as he replied nonchalantly, "Naturally, it is the most affluent local merchants who reap the rewards! Once their businesses reach a certain scale, they gain the power to influence market trends and dictate all prevailing rules! They can control a city's prices, making them several times higher than elsewhere! Subsequently, they procure goods from outside and sell them to the city's inhabitants. The immense profits generated from this..." Xia Ruqing understood. In essence, the marketplace operates as a pecking order, where the strong prey on the weak. Those at the apex of this hierarchy invariably seize the greatest wealth. Given Jiangnan's immense prosperity, if these colossal merchants and wealthy traders employed such tactics, their riches would surely rival those of nations. Xia Ruqing dared not delve deeper into the implications but comprehended the reason behind the Emperor's somber demeanor. The involvement of such vast capital suggested a significant underlying conspiracy.

It appears... the tranquil court is on the verge of another upheaval.

’Could another rebellion be brewing?’

Xia Ruqing offered a silent prayer.

While she couldn’t control such events, her deepest wish was for the people to be spared further suffering.

The previous uprising had resulted in the brutal annihilation of two cities.

The sheer horror of it was beyond description, a tragedy no one desired to witness again.

...

Now, regarding the three prominent families of Jiangnan.

These were merchant magnates and traders whose fortunes were amassed since the era of the Late Emperor.

The collective wealth of these three clans could rival that of entire nations.

However, given their involvement in commerce,

they operated without resorting to theft or plunder, and despite their immense riches, the Emperor held no direct sway over them.

Furthermore, families operating at such a lucrative level of business were far from foolish.

Firstly:

They meticulously maintained an impeccable public image, making it impossible to find fault. Their enterprises were widely recognized and praised by the populace as fair and trustworthy, leaving no stain of impropriety.

Secondly:

These exceedingly prosperous merchant families cultivated significant ties with government officials, a symbiotic relationship often referred to as the mutual protection of the elite and the business world.

Such arrangements were quite common; after all, anyone in a similar position would find it difficult to avoid such entanglements! Some individuals only act once their bellies are full!

As long as these dealings did not spiral into excess, Zhao Junyao generally maintained a hands-off approach.

But in the present circumstances...

With this particular matter coming to light!

His gaze suddenly intensified.

This was an offense warranting absolutely no leniency; discovery meant a capital crime, leading to the ruin of nine generations of the implicated family!

Zhao Junyao tapped lightly on the table with one hand, the edges of his lips curling into a smile that resembled that of an Asura from the deepest hell.

’To think that my journey to Jiangnan would reel in such a significant catch!’

Xia Ruqing, unable to fathom the depths of his thoughts,

feeling a touch of ennui, sat to the side and penned a letter to her family, assuring them of her safety.

Upon completing her correspondence, she was about to inquire if he required an additional page for her letter.

At that precise moment, her eyes fell upon Zhao Junyao's chilling, Asura-like smile.

Startled, her hand trembled, causing the letter to slip from her grasp and flutter to the ground, her legs feeling as though they might give way.

"Empe... Your Highness! You..."

Zhao Junyao, jolted back to the present, subdued the icy aura surrounding him as he turned his attention to her.

"What is it?"

He swiftly rose and supported her wavering form.

"What troubles you? Are you experiencing any discomfort?"

Xia Ruqing blinked, looking at the husband before her, whose expression had returned to its prior gentle and doting tenderness, her disbelief palpable.

"You... you frightened me earlier!"

Zhao Junyao let out a hearty laugh.

"You startled me just now as well!"

Xia Ruqing felt a profound sense of unease and quickly extricated herself from his embrace, regaining her footing.

"It's nothing, I am quite alright!"

She resolved internally:

’Next time, when His Majesty is occupied with official matters, I must absolutely refrain from entering!’

’Otherwise, I might just be scared into a heart condition, won’t I?!’

"Are you certain you are well? Should we summon the Imperial Physician?"

"No, no!" Xia Ruqing vehemently shook her head.