The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1691 - 1685: Don’t Even Think About Repaying with Your Body
The Emperor also felt uncomfortable all over and nodded before getting up.
There are naturally the Emperor’s usual clothes stored in Changchun Palace, where he often stays overnight due to his fondness for the Empress, so the attendants here are accustomed to serving him.
After the Emperor bathed and changed, he came out in a comfortable robe.
The Ninth Prince had already been carried away by the wet nurse, and the Empress welcomed him.
The Emperor glanced around and asked, "Where’s Little Nine?"
The Empress laughed, "I had the wet nurse take him away; otherwise, mealtimes would be anything but peaceful. For some unknown reason, he insists on tasting whenever he sees adults eating. If refused, he’ll glare and throw a tantrum!"
The Emperor was amused and shared a couple of anecdotes about the Ninth Prince with the Empress.
Then he got to the main topic: "Today, I heard in the front hall that Lady Dingguo transferred Hongxiu Tianxiang to the Duke Chengen Mansion?"
The Empress knew the key part had arrived.
Since Wang Yongzhu’s letter reached her, she anticipated this moment but didn’t expect the Emperor to have such patience and wait until today.
With nothing to hide, she relied entirely on the Emperor now and had no reason for concealment.
So she told everything honestly, starting with her personal motives.
She confessed knowing her parents and siblings are ambitious yet inept, arrogant, and superficial.
Previously, due to her suppression and the family’s lack of noble titles, they were relatively honest. Even if there were minor misbehaviors, they weren’t too outrageous.
Now, because of herself and the Ninth Prince, her family was granted the title of Duke Chengen, which was already a great favor. But she knew her family lacked abilities and were easily swayed, so they absolutely could not hold government positions.
However, as her family, she couldn’t let them become officials. So she planned to ensure they enjoy wealth despite shortcomings.
Her original plan was to transfer her share in Hongxiu Tianxiang to the Duke Chengen Mansion, and they only needed to receive annual dividends, which would suffice for the entire family.
Unexpectedly, upon revealing the news to her family, they became conceited and caused embarrassing incidents.
Lady Dingguo likely heard of this and to avoid future troubles, teamed up with several others to half-sell, half-give Hongxiu Tianxiang to the Duke Chengen Mansion.
She feared the Empress would be upset and thus explained the backstory in a letter.
Deep within the palace, the Empress thought she arranged well for her family, thinking they needed only to sit at home and receive money. But her family’s incompetence made it known from miles away.
Upon receiving the letter, she sent someone to investigate and discover the truth.
That’s why she was angry, chastised the Duke Chengen Mansion, and now has Ninth Master Lee’s people manage affairs, while selecting some from the Imperial Estate to learn from previous stewards.
She candidly shared her future plans with the Emperor.
The Empress planned to have selected people from the Imperial Estate manage Hongxiu Tianxiang’s business in the future.
Thirty percent of the profits would go to the Duke Chengen Mansion, twenty percent to the Emperor’s private treasury, twenty percent she would keep, and the remaining thirty percent saved for the Ninth Prince.
The Emperor essentially understood the profits from Hongxiu Tianxiang, and listening to the Empress’s plans, his eyes couldn’t help but brighten.
Although it seemed prosperous times, every year the Ministry of Revenue claimed the treasury was empty, funds for repairing dikes were lacking, military expenses short, always crying poverty.
His private treasury was not flush, often supplementing when the national treasury fell short.
He outwardly appeared to rule the world, wealthy beyond compare.
In truth, only he knew he was perhaps the poorest Emperor since Great Chu’s founding, with the Summer Palace not renovated in years.
To speak of it would sadden listeners and bring tears to those who see!
Thus, hearing about securing a twenty percent profit made him somewhat tempted.
If he secured this income, renovating the Summer Palace could gradually begin.
If trade routes opened smoothly and after two or three years, trade markets and tax revenues improve, things would be more comfortable.
Therefore, the Emperor verbally declined twice.
But who was the Empress? Not the most familiar with the Emperor, but she knew when he was genuinely refusing or being polite.
Insisting on giving it to him, the Emperor reluctantly accepted.
The Emperor felt he gained much today, understanding the relationship between the Empress and Lady Dingguo, and in acquiring a sum for his private treasury truly delighted him.
Originally planning to return after dinner.
Having received silver, he felt awkward departing.
Looking at the Empress, post-childbirth, she seemed to possess increased maternal brilliance, even gentler.
Moreover, she was just as before, without any deception, her attitude towards family, communication with Lady Dingguo, and plans, not hiding her small calculative thoughts.
Additionally, after dinner, when the Empress had Little Nine brought, mother and son’s soft conversations under the lamp were exceedingly warm and touching.
Under the lamp, a lovely wife and young child, even the Emperor’s perpetually stern heart couldn’t resist softening.
Embracing the Empress and child tenderly for half the day, naturally, he stayed overnight.
A night of warmth.
The next day, before the Emperor went to court, he specifically instructed the palace attendants of Changchun Palace not to disturb the Empress, to serve her cautiously.
Before leaving, he glanced at the Ninth Prince before departing in haste.
Later Wang Yongzhu learned that the Empress herself took charge of Hongxiu Tianxiang, no longer letting the Duke Chengen Mansion handle it.
Instead, she provided financial support for their family, which was later developments.
Now this was received with the Empress’s reply, initially apologizing, expressing surprise at causing so much trouble for Wang Yongzhu and the like pleasantries.
The focus followed, agreeing with Wang Yongzhu’s suggestions.
The most crucial formula, plus six months of profits and initial investments, were together converted into fifty thousand silver taels.
They were all silver notes from the Capital City’s largest bank, delivered alongside the letter.
Wang Yongzhu looked at this pile of silver notes without particular thoughts. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Ninth Master Lee couldn’t help but remark, "Our Empress sure is generous!"
Indeed, the initial investments, after these years, had approximately all returned.
Initially, Wang Yongzhu made it clear, even fresh flowers purchased from fields in her and Old Doctor Du’s name had to be paid according to market pricing.
Stores in the Capital City, aside from the initial shop belonging to Ninth Master Lee, others were purchased or leased annually from profits.
The most valuable here was the core formula, along with six months of profits.
Wang Yongzhu laughed and pushed the silver notes to Ninth Master Lee: "Take them!"
Ninth Master Lee would need to form caravans, procure goods, spending needed everywhere.
Though he earned much these years, his operations were large and annual expenditures were considerable too.
Therefore, he accepted the money robustly, without hesitation: "Alright, this counts as investment from you and Imperial Doctor Du. All future profits will pay dividends, and if losses incur, I’ll toil—"
Wang Yongzhu sneered, "If losses accrue, you’ll toil to make money and repay me! Don’t think about offering yourself in marriage or selling yourself to pay debts!"
