Chapter 197: One Million Gold Ingots

Inside the Tianqian Pass, rows of proud red plum trees are neatly planted on both sides of the two long streets.

This was a sum of money specially allocated by County Magistrate Sang for the New Year celebrations, and it was transported from a distant place.

Originally, there were still three days before the New Year.

But in order to celebrate the harvest, every household lined up in front of the Su family's door a day in advance to ask for Spring Festival couplets.

Some people couldn't wait to put it on after they got home.

"In the first line, the fragrance of plum blossoms permeates the snow and reflects the red sun. In the second line, the pine rhythm welcomes the new year and invites the moonlight. The horizontal scroll reads: Good health every year."

Mu Ze recited while helping Qing Ning paste the couplets.

She also asked for New Year gifts, "What have you made? I'm not picky, any sachet or purse will do."

Qing Ning pouted, "Who said I was going to give you a gift?"

Hearing her ask this, Mu Ze scratched his head awkwardly, "Don't we have them all?"

Qing Ning was choked by what he said. She put up the couplet, ignored him, and went straight to the next place.

Mu Ze followed him, completely bewildered, muttering, "Why is this little ancestor unhappy again?"

Su Shengsheng and Ning Yu watched the two leave, looked at each other and laughed.

"Miss, what gift have you prepared for the general?"

When asked this by Ning Yu, Su Shengsheng was speechless for a moment.

The mansion had prepared festival gifts for everyone, and Duke Ningguo and his men had delivered them to the mansion early in the morning. She was busy distributing the gifts separately...

I left that person behind...

These days, they are all busy with their own things, and she is so busy that she falls asleep as soon as she gets home.

If the imperial edict had not arrived yet, she would have to pretend for a few days. She would have almost forgotten about it and had to pretend to prepare a gift for the real owner.

As soon as Ning Yu saw Su Shengsheng's expression, she knew that she was definitely not prepared.

She had expected this and immediately took out an exquisitely embroidered lucky bag.

In the past, Su Shengsheng didn’t work as a housewife, and Ning Yu helped her do the embroidery.

Ning Yu felt embarrassed to ask the young lady to show it to others because of her craftsmanship.

"How about I accompany Miss to Lingshan tomorrow to ask for a peace amulet and put it in this blessing bag as a token of my appreciation."

I'm afraid that asking for a peace talisman is fake, and wishing the mother-in-law a happy new year is the real thing, right?

Outsiders may not be able to see the relationship between the two of them for a while.

But Qing Ning and Ning Yu grew up with her, so they could naturally see the clues.

Su Shengsheng casually took a peace locket from the gift box that had just been delivered and put it into the lucky bag.

Anyway, he has everything he needs. Even her dowry will belong to him, so there is no need to move things around.

That peace locket is a waist ornament.

The interlocking reliefs, paired with a Hetian jade peace buckle and topped with a warm jade koi fish pendant, are very vivid and interesting.

Although it was very exquisite, it was obvious that she treated it so casually. Ning Yu sighed rarely.

"Fortunately you reminded me." Su Shengsheng took out two land deeds and two shop documents that had been deeded from his sleeve.

He put them into three red envelopes respectively, and then gave Ning Yu's red envelope first. "Take this first. I'll be busy with all the things to do during the New Year holidays and forget about it."

Ning Yu knew how good the young lady's memory was.

It's obvious that he wants to give them more, but he can't do it in front of others.

"Didn't the young lady just distribute profits to us and Yunxiang? We have plenty of money and don't need this."

Last time, Yunxiang and Yunyi helped her act and were beaten for no reason. Su Shengsheng always remembered it.

Afraid that Yunxiang and Yunyi would not accept it, they changed it to dividends.

Although my aunt has compensated me, dividends are still dividends.

"Just take it if you give it to me." Su Shengsheng forced it into her mouth. "When you find a lover like Qing Ning one day, you'll have someone to rely on."

Ning Yu was speechless after hearing what she said.

"According to the time, Zaiqing should be back." Su Shengsheng looked outside.

Ning Yu couldn't refuse and had to accept it.

"The letter that just arrived from Qing says he will definitely be back before the New Year."

At this point, Ning Yu hesitated, "That person... also sent a festival gift. The palace steward didn't know about it, so it's already been put in the warehouse..."

Su Shengsheng was very surprised to find that Ning Yu was in such a difficult situation. "Who is it?"

Ning Yu looked at her hesitantly, "Aunt Wei also asked Master Li Xiang to send the festival gifts to the Su Mansion..."

Why didn't she come to see the Su family off when they were in trouble?

Su Shengsheng raised her lips slightly, "When you return the gifts to Uncle Li, remember to return all those things the same way they came."

Ning Yu naturally knew how much the young lady disliked Aunt Wei.

It’s not that he was abandoned just because he was still in his infancy.

Didn’t the young lady help that eccentric young master of the Li family to start a business?

Ultimately, it all comes down to Aunt Wei’s attitude towards the Third Lady.

The third wife was weak in nature. She lived in a foreign land with the Su family and always missed her relatives.

But not a single word came from my dearest sister.

In the past, it was understandable that we were separated by distance and had difficulty traveling.

But this young master of the Li family has sent so many letters.

That Aunt Wei didn't even send a single word.

When they were in the old house and the family was in the most difficult time, the third wife also cried secretly.

Ning Yu knew that the young lady didn't want to have anything to do with this kind of person.

Even though she is the young lady's biological mother...

"Yes." She responded softly without saying anything else.

study

General Han took the letter from Xie Xuan and took a look at it. He was so angry that he swallowed the strawberry in his mouth whole.

"He's such a wicked man. He wants a million gold bars, why doesn't he just go and rob them?"

This was a secret letter sent back from the imperial capital, and it arrived much faster than the eunuch sent by the emperor to announce the decree.

According to the letter, although the emperor did not take action immediately, he had secretly accepted Wang Yongshou's advice and ordered the Su family to raise one million gold ingots within one year to redeem the two saints.

In the letter of accusation against the imperial teacher, it was mentioned that culture can stabilize the country, military power can stabilise the country, and commerce can enrich the people.

Some of them even accused the current emperor of being addicted to feasting and entertainment since he ascended the throne, ignoring the two saints who were abducted by the enemy, and building a new capital, which was indeed an act of great filial piety.

I will always remember what you said in the past.

Not only did he discuss state affairs without authorization, but he also made remarks that humiliated the monarch.

After being exiled, the imperial teacher was still concerned about state affairs, and must have still had the country in his heart.

The national treasury is now empty and a huge sum of money is needed to redeem the two saints.

You said that business can enrich the people, so you must have gained something from business. Since you are concerned about the two saints, I want you to raise funds to redeem them to show your loyalty.

If you don't come out, you are a person with ulterior motives and are disloyal and unjust.

Speaking of the ability of literature to maintain peace in the country, if one cannot come up with the ransom, one can also offer advice on rescuing the two saints.

However, if neither of the two can be achieved, then it will be a false statement. The Su family will be severely punished, all their property will be confiscated, and all men and women in the family will be forced to do hard labor for the rest of their lives without pardon.

The imperial edict has been issued, which states that although the death penalty can be spared with the guarantee of King Xuanming, his family property will be confiscated as a ransom.

"Who dares to announce such shameless words to the world?"

Asking an exiled imperial teacher to raise a ransom of one million gold ingots would be disregarding the emperor's grace, and the Su family would also have to send an envoy to the Northern Rong to negotiate.

Chu Zhao, standing by, had a stern expression on his face. "This is clearly a move aimed at the general's final pardon with the golden medal of immunity from death."

Married women are not included in this list, but if all the men and women in the Su family go to work, how can the princess sit idly by?

Otherwise, that person would respond by saying that the Su family girl is unfaithful and unjust.

Who told the Su family to be unable to do business or literary strategy?

But he is the emperor after all, how can the Su family compare to him?

Even he, the emperor, couldn't do it, but the Su family was able to do it on their own.

This set of rhetoric is clearly directed at the general.

Or was this move intended to test the general?