FID – Chapter 295

The old man grunted, “Just be content. Good thing he’s only protective of Miss Liu. If he treats everyone like this, that will really be maddening.

But he’s well-protected. With his temper, he was able to gain this fortune. In the future, I am afraid that Wanjin will go farther than you and I.”

“I hope so.” Unsealed smug pride crept  into the corners of Qian Baihao’s eyes.

Indeed, he was well-protected.

If not, would the King of Nanling be so tolerant of that brat?

In the entire capital, who would dare to point at King Nanling’s nose and scold him, flare up at him, but still end up living well without any worries? Only his brat could do it.

“After drinking this cup of tea, we have to pull ourselves together and prepare for the next steps. That brat really thinks this cooperation is as simple as the surface.”

“Goods management is the second. The priority to deal with our formidable adversary, the Liu family. After a long period soon, our family probably can’t live in peace.”

Did he think that 40% was easy to earn?

They took a bit more, and the next thing they must do was to work like a horse for somebody.

Otherwise, with young Miss Liu’s shrewdness, other people could sign so quickly!

The Qian family side began to run non-stop, inspecting and buying tea plantations. Site selection, new workshop establishment, recruitment, at the same time beware spies planted by rivals planted spies; every link must be foolproof.

Liu Yusheng wasn’t idle either.

She had to prepare a large batch of nourishing tea, launch it into the market to explore the road at the initial stage, and also test the dyeing process with Fu Yuzheng to determine the direction of their offensive. She was so busy that she didn’t even have the time to chat with Feng Qingbai.

At the same time, the movements of this party continued to spread into the palace.

Consort Liu was entertaining guests at Qingning Palace today.

The prime minister, Zuo Shurong, and the current head of the Liu family in the capital, Liu Huai.

“Minister, what do you think about this matter?” Consort Liu asked unhurriedly.

“Recently, King Nanling plucked out a number of spies in the King’s residence, so it is difficult to place people in again.”

“We don’t know what’s going on inside, but some time ago, it’s no secret that King Nanling personally visited the Qian Mansion.”

Minister Zuo dropped his gaze with no visible anger or joy. “He is so open and unguarded that it’s difficult to guess his mind.”

“What else is there to guess? The Qian family and the King Nanling’s palace must be colluding on something.”

“Recently, the Qian family has been moving a lot. I heard people report that they are starting to buy tea mountains and tea plantations.”

“They’re getting ready to compete in business with my Liu family. Isn’t that obvious enough?” Liu Huai was more than sixty years old, unsmiling with deep furrows on his face.

“Make tea? It is not that easy to do. Our Liu family has been in this business for decades to get to today’s scale. The Qian family is only getting involved now, so it’s impossible for them to get a foothold in the capital.”

The woman laughed and was not impressed. “People should know their limitations. Doing things they’re not proficient at will only make them lose their armors in the end.”

“Do not underestimate the Qian family’s action this time. If you treat it dismissively, you’ll likely regret it in the future,” Minister Zuo held a different opinion.

“I heard that the cooperation between the two parties was facilitated by Ruyi County Lady. That little girl should not be underestimated.”

“The fruit wine and medicinal liquor that has been popular in the capital these years is from her. Has the Liu family been able to suppress their limelight for so many years?”

Minister Zuo’s reminder made Consort Liu smile. “Liu Yusheng, she has been everywhere lately. Since she wants to barge in, let’s cut off her way out!”

Until now, she has not been able to explore all of Liu Yusheng’s skills!

The Little Divine Doctor, the wine shop owner, the Ruyi County Lady, the person that King Nanling liked.

In addition to these few known, she discovered nothing else.

Rumors have it that she was a Divine Doctor, but who had seen her skills?

She also cooperated with that good-for-nothing kid of the Qian family to build a winery. For so many years, they didn’t expand and maintained the original scale!

But this woman went to the banquet in the osmanthus grove, so she was a little impressed.

A peasant’s daughter against the prime minister’s granddaughter and a number of noble ladies not only didn’t suffer, but also made Zuo Xuan’s reputation tainted!

She was tactful and scheming.

“In addition to Liu Yusheng, she also has a brother, who is currently studying at the Imperial Academy. He won the provincial examinations and became Elder Yang’s apprentice. After next year’s spring imperial exams, he should set foot on his official career and attend the court.

With the relationship between Liu Yusheng and the King of Nanling, this young master’s future won’t go bad, then we will have another opponent.

It seems that the King of Nanling has been arranging behind the scenes. If we do not step up, the future is unpredictable.”

“It’s really rare that an insignificant peasant girl from a poor family makes Minister Zuo frown. If there’s no way to take something back for our own use, just destroy it. Isn’t this consistent with Minister Zuo’s means?”

Minister Zuo dropped his eyes and lightly replied, “She’s not enough to fear. I’m just afraid that King Nanling will intensify his ploys.

Now that we’ve offended each other openly, both of us will suffer great losses, and neither of us will reap any benefits. Could it be that Consort Liu wants to fish in troubled waters?”

Consort Liu fell silent, and her mood turned irritable.

It was supposed to be an ant that could be easily pinched to death, but in the end it became a fishbone stuck in the throat. If it couldn’t be taken out, one couldn’t swallow!

The people in their boat seemed to be twisted in a rope, but in fact, each had their own thoughts.

No one was willing to take out their real strength, for fear that the first one to sink was himself. That would be too convenient for the people in the same boat!

“In the past, we’ve been pressing forward step by step. Now that the other party has a little action, we became passive and disorganized in our steps. This is not a good phenomenon.

“If we remain in hiding under the circumstances, we can only sink the ship together in the end. I have an idea. We might as well do this…”

The three people came together as one. They listened to Liu Huai whispering something and finally looked at each other. Each nodded.

Two days later, the ministers in the court presented memorials once more and proposed to discuss the selection of imperial consorts.

If the country could not be without a king for a day, the harem couldn’t be without a master for a day.

The emperor was ten years old this year. Although he was young, he has also reached the age of filling the harem. Once the harem was stable, the relationship between the emperor and the courtiers could also be more solid, which was more conducive to the emperor’s governance of the empire. 

Feng Mohan tore up dozens of such memorials in the imperial study room. Finally, when only one was left, he wrote a word of approval. 

He tossed down the brush and walked to the window. Looking outside on a thick night, Feng Mohan smiled to himself.

Selection – Imperial Consorts’ establishment – as his Imperial Uncle said, he could raise them in the harem for a few years until he was 13 or 14 years old. If by then the old witch was still rampant in the harem, he would force him to sleep with them.

What kind of emperor was he? He couldn’t be his own master in everything.

He was just a machine for governing the country and a tool to produce an heir!

He was sick of this life!

If he had a choice, he would rather go back to Xinghua Village with Aunt Liu.

In that simple and quiet village, he could live peacefully until old age.

With the Emperor’s approval, Consort Liu’s side began to prepare for the imperial selection with great fervor.

The imperial decree was posted to the gates of major prefectures in Nanling.