Although the emperor's plan to build the garden was delayed for a time due to Xiang Nan's efforts to obstruct it, the project was finally launched.

For some reason, He Shen persuaded some Jiangnan salt merchants to jointly contribute and raised five million taels of silver for the emperor.

As a result, new gardens were built in the western suburbs.

The person in charge of the construction was Shang Rong, the governor of Zhili.

Less than two months after the construction of the new garden began, news came out that during the construction of the garden, Shang Rong not only dug up people's ancestral graves, causing widespread resentment among the people, but also misappropriated money by passing off inferior ones as good ones.

Hong Derui, the imperial censor, submitted a memorial to Shang Rong, who found out that during the construction of the garden, he committed the ten major crimes of stealing from others, passing off inferior goods, digging graves privately, and spending extravagantly.

Qianlong sent officials from the Ministry of Punishment, Ministry of Husbandry, and Ministry of Works to investigate. After the investigation, officials from the three ministries reported that Hong Derui's report was untrue and was purely a false accusation.

Qianlong was furious. Not only did Hong Derui be dismissed from his post and demoted to work in the Quyang quarry, but his family members were also demoted as official prostitutes and sold as official slaves. It was really pitiful.

Xiang Nan saw this and knew that Hong Derui was innocent and his daughter Hong Xia was even more pitiful, so he decided to try to rescue them.

…

It just so happened that Hong Derui had just been convicted and the new garden was built.

Qianlong personally named the new garden Wanchun Garden and invited officials to visit it with him.

Before Xiang Nan left, he told Du Xiaoyue, "Xiaoyue, if my husband doesn't come back at noon, you can go to the palace to beg the Queen Mother and tell her that Ji Xiaolan is going to be beheaded."

"Sir, why do you say that?" Du Xiaoyue asked in surprise.

Su Qinglian and Xiangyun were also shocked.

"Hey, I'm going to take a risk today." Xiang Nan sighed and said, "The emperor built the Wanchun Garden, which cost nearly six million taels of silver, accounting for one-sixth of the national treasury's annual revenue. It can buy four million taels of rice.

To provide for 2.5 million people for a year.

Such extravagance and waste are really a shame for the Qing Dynasty and a suffering for the people. Although I tried my best to dissuade him, the emperor simply refused to listen. So I am going to take a risk today and let the emperor admit that he was wrong."

"Sir, are you going to offend Yan Zhijian?" Xiangyun said in shock.

Xiang Nan nodded.

"Sir, Qing Lian admires you for sacrificing your life for justice for the country and the people." Su Qing Lian said with admiration, "If the emperor really hangs his loyal ministers, Qing Lian is willing to accompany you sir."

"Hey, it doesn't have to be like this. The most I can do is be frightened. The emperor is not willing to kill me." Xiang Nan waved his hand, "I tell you in advance to reassure you so that you don't get frightened. Okay, I'm leaving.

Xiaoyue remembers my words."

"Yeah." Du Xiaoyue nodded.

…

Xiang Nan then went to Wanchun Garden with Qianlong, as well as the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.

"My dear friends, today the sky is bright and clear, the wind is gentle, the flowers and willows are accompanying each other, and the green water is rippling. My mood can only be described in two words - happy!" Qianlong looked at the carved beams and painted buildings, the magnificent and ingenious garden, and smiled with satisfaction.

road.

"The emperor is absolutely right. I accompany the emperor in the palace every day, busy with state affairs. Today I had the honor to accompany the emperor to visit this garden, and I immediately felt relaxed and happy.

Just when I didn't know how to describe this feeling, the emperor said it clearly, I am really happy, very happy!" He Shen immediately greeted him and said, "Your Majesty, as you are interested, we have some poems that we are about to present to the Emperor.

To congratulate the prosperity of our family and country, the beauty of our gardens, and your majesty’s wisdom.”

"Okay, okay, I also want to appreciate the literary talents of all of you, my beloved." Qianlong smiled and said, "In that case, let's make a poem with my beloved."

"In this case, my servant is unwilling to give in." He Shen said with a smile, and then glanced at Xiang Nan, "Scholar Ji, you are the most talented person in the world, why don't you come first?"

"Sir, I'm just thinking of something to say, and I'll have it after smoking this cigarette." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "You come first, you come first."

He Shen nodded and then nodded to several ministers.

There are those who were second in the rankings, those who were the top bloomers, those who were in the Hanlin Academy, and those who are illiterate in writing...

In Xiang Nan's opinion, most of the poems he wrote were sour and disgusting.

Seeing that everyone had written poems, He Shen invited Xiang Nan to do it again.

"Excuse me, sir. I still have two puffs left on my cigarette." Xiang Nan said with a smile.

He Shen curled his lips and said, "Your Majesty, for today's events, I specially wrote a poem about Chu and dedicated it to Your Majesty."

"Oh, read it quickly and listen." Qianlong said with a smile.

"Yes." Heshen took a breath and recited energetically, "Sigh, there are gardens so beautiful, floating in the Western Mountains! Wandering around Langui, the green water is whirling, and the wind is so graceful,

Birds stay and fish rest. This country is prosperous and its reputation spreads far and wide..."

…

Xiang Nan really got goosebumps all over his body when he heard his artificial chanting.

"Ah~hahahaha~" He then covered his face and howled, which temporarily disturbed He Shen's poetry.

"Ji Xiaolan, are you crying or laughing?" Qianlong asked doubtfully.

"Mr. Ji, the emperor is asking you a question!" Heshen said unhappily. He was reaching the climax of his chant, but Xiang Nan got it all mixed up. It was really a mess.

"Your Majesty, on such a happy day, there is no reason to cry! I am so happy, so happy." Xiang Nan wiped his tears and said, "Aren't there words in the books about crying with joy and being extremely happy and sad!"

"Definitely, it's unbelievable. I really can't see you crying with joy." Qianlong waved his hands and said, "Okay, have you finished your poem?"

"Report to your Majesty, I'm ready." Xiang Nan quickly stood up and said.

"Then read and listen." Qianlong said immediately.

Xiang Nan nodded and took out an Allegro from his pocket, "Please allow your Majesty to accompaniment with bamboo knots."

"That's right." Qianlong nodded.

Xiang Nan immediately started to play Allegro, crackling, and was quite lively, "Wanchun Garden by the water in the western suburbs, there are mountains, water, and terraces. A terrace has eight pillars, one pillar at a time."

From a distance, you can see thousands of willow trees on the hillside, each one costing one hundred thousand yuan. A lake was dug on the side of the water, and a gold boat floated on the lake. The rockery was originally made of silver, and the peonies cost emerald money. This place was originally the tomb of the ancestors, and the lonely souls and wild ghosts disappeared.

Home..."

In the queue, Shang Rong, the governor of Zhili who was responsible for supervising the construction of Wanchun Garden, was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat and his calves were shaking when he heard Xiang Nan's words.

Qianlong originally thought it was quite interesting, but the more he listened, the more he felt something was wrong.

The willow tree cost 100,000 yuan, the dragon boat cost a gold price, and the peony cost an emerald price. The most terrible thing is that even the cemetery of lonely souls and wild ghosts has appeared.

"Shut up!" Qianlong quickly stopped, "Ji Xiaolan, you always do these disgusting things to me when I am happiest."

"I will die!" Xiang Nan hurriedly kowtowed.

"Humph, it's a big disgrace to the scenery and a huge disappointment! Get off and go back to the palace!" Qianlong said angrily.

Today he came here in good spirits and came back disappointed. He was very disappointed!

Civil and military officials also quickly followed.
Chapter completed!