Chapter 327 Husband and Wife Comparison

Gu Huan said with a smile: "You are wrong. You are not slaves, but female guards. If you are capable of making military achievements in the future, you can become female generals."

The dark and strong woman opened her eyes wide, but did not dare to speak louder, for fear of shocking the delicate and beautiful princess away.

She asked in a low voice: "Princess, can this servant really be a female general?"

Gu Huan smiled and said, "Wrong again, it's not a slave."

Hei Niu stuck out her tongue and said, "Yes, Princess, I was wrong."

Gu Huan smiled and pointed at Zhou Zhilan: "Of course you can. Sister Zhilan was once a female general who fought on the battlefield. She is also your instructor. I say it again, you are not slaves, not slaves who sell their bodies, but guards."

The women were ecstatic.

One of the girls with very short hair suddenly said, "It doesn't matter if you are a slave, as long as you follow the princess."

Gu Huan took a special look at her hair, it seemed like it was cut like this by someone.

A woman's hair is as important as her chastity. The girl must have been bullied.

Seeing the princess looking at her hair, she was so scared that she quickly covered her hair with her hands, with a panicked look on her face: "Head, hair grows very quickly."

Gu Huan walked forward, took her hand away, and said softly, "Yes, the hair will grow again, so it's okay."

The girl's eyes turned red, and she nodded vigorously. Suddenly, she knelt on the ground and started crying: "Princess, can you allow me to stay in the palace tonight? I have no family and I don't need to go home."

Zhou Zhilan came over and helped her up: "You can stay at my house first."

The girl bowed and cried, "Thank you very much, Instructor Zhou."

Zhou Zhilan waved to the other women and said, "Okay, you guys should go home now. See you at the palace tomorrow."

Gu Huan took out a silk handkerchief and wiped the girl's tears: "Okay, let's go back home with Instructor Zhou first."

The girl replied tremblingly: "Yes."

When Gu Huan returned to the palace, she saw a large number of tall horses in front of the gate, pedaling excitedly, and the steward of the palace's stables was counting them.

She couldn't help but ask the guard beside her in astonishment.

"Where did it come from?"

The guard saluted and said, "Your Highness, Dali has sent 5,000 war horses. Your Highness has ordered me to send 50 horses to your Highness."

Gu Huan was very happy: "That's great, he really gave me whatever I wanted."

Every female guard must be good at riding and shooting.

She was thinking of buying thirty horses for the female guards.

"Dali sent so many horses. Were they bought by the Mu family army?"

"Yes, Princess. We are recruiting soldiers and now the new army camp has 5,000 soldiers."

Gu Huan nodded: "Very good."

Mu Junyan also started to take action, and Gu Huan became more motivated about what she was doing.

She will definitely be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mu Junyan and accomplish great things together.

Gu Huan and Zhou Zhilan entered the palace, and a maid came up to greet them when she saw them come in.

"Princess, the owner of Pei's Xuanhualou is here."

Gu Huan smiled: "Are you here to send me your dividend money?"

The maid followed her and replied with a smile: "Yes, I gave her a thousand taels and many gifts this month."

Gu Hua smacked her lips: "Why are there so many?"

"I don't know. The shopkeeper brought the account book and also said he wanted to see the queen to report something in person. He is waiting in the Lotus Hall now. Sister Dongqing is counting the money."

When Gu Huan walked into the Lotus Hall, Shopkeeper Pei hurried over to pay his respects.

The shopkeeper of Juzhou Xuanhualou is a direct descendant of the Pei family and now manages the Pei family's entire business in southern Xinjiang.

Gu Huan has invested in all these industries. Every month, the manager would bring the account books to the princess for verification and pay the monthly dividends.

"Please don't be polite, Shopkeeper Pei. You've worked hard."

Gu Huan asked him to sit down and the maids brought tea and snacks.

Shopkeeper Pei handed over the account book respectfully with both hands before sitting down: "Princess, please take a look."

Gu Huan handed the account book to Zhou Zhilan. She never liked reading these things.

Zhou Zhilan flipped through it and said, "Wow, I made a lot of money from the ready-made clothes last month."

Shopkeeper Pei smiled and said, "Yes, last month's dividends were not only earned from the Southern Xinjiang clothing shop, but also from reselling the fine kesi silk made here back to the various states in the Central Plains. This is quite a lot."

Zhou Zhilan handed the account book to Dong Qing: "Try to learn from it."

Dongqing took it and flipped through it carefully page by page, asking questions when he didn't understand.

Gu Huan looked at Shopkeeper Pei, who was grinning so hard that his teeth were showing, and asked, "What good news did Shopkeeper Pei have that made you so happy?"

"No, it's just that the Mu family army ordered a large amount of military supplies and food, and gave them all to our Pei family."

Gu Huan was not surprised. The food and fodder were sent ahead before the troops moved.

To accomplish such a big thing, military supplies must be prepared in advance.

"Very good. The prince will be relieved if the military supply orders are handed over to you."

Shopkeeper Pei nodded and said, "Your Highness, Princess, rest assured. All the food that the Pei family has prepared is new food. In fact, the Pei family had anticipated this a long time ago and began to expand the pre-collection of new food last year. In addition, all the food received in the second half of last year was not sold and was left for the Mu family army."

Gu Huan looked at him deeply.

Shopkeeper Pei quickly said, "I have something important to discuss with the princess."

"Sister, please step back first."

Zhou Zhilan took the remaining account books and took Dongqing and the others out.

Gu Huan smiled and looked at Shopkeeper Pei: "So mysterious?"

Shopkeeper Pei took out a letter from his bosom and handed it over with both hands.

There was nothing written on the envelope.

Gu Huan opened it and took a look: "Hey, why is it written by Pei Yi? Why did his letter go through so much trouble to get to me?"

As the letter unfolded, Gu Huan's expression became more serious the more he read it.

In the letter, Pei Yi said that the situation in Bianjing was unstable, the emperor's life or death was unknown, the crown prince was cowardly and incompetent, and the queen was ambitious. He hoped that Prince Yong would come forward to support a wise monarch and keep Daliang peaceful forever.

Finally, he said that the Pei family was willing to be loyal to King Yong and follow his lead.

After reading it, he closed it and thought for a moment: "Is this what your Patriarch Pei meant?"

"Yes. The eldest son has already discussed it with the head of the family. The Pei family has 200 shops of various sizes in Daliang. The wives of the dignitaries in various states are almost all guests of our rouge shop, ready-made clothing shop, and fabric shop. They can all serve as the princess's eyes and ears."

Gu Huan's heart skipped a beat.

What Mu Junyan wants to do involves life and death, and if he is not careful, he will be doomed.

She didn't dare to trust anyone easily.

Gu Huan said calmly, "What is the Pei family talking about? We are just staying in Southern Xinjiang, why do we need spies?"

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Pei knew that Gu Huan didn't believe him.

He immediately stood up, lifted his robe and knelt on one knee, whispering: "Princess, the patriarch originally wanted to come to Juzhou in person to show the loyalty and determination of the Pei family, but because the prince and the princess supported the Pei family before, the Pei family has now become a thorn in the eyes of some people. The patriarch is worried that if he comes in person, it will cause criticism and cause obstacles before things start. Therefore, the patriarch came here with a small heart."

After that, he took out a thin wooden box the size of his palm from his arms and presented it with both hands.

"Princess, the Pei family pledges all of its wealth to King Yong. Please trust the Pei family."

Gu Huan was shocked, but she didn't show it on her face. She took the box, opened it, and was horrified.

"What does this... mean?"

"This is the title deed of the Pei family's main property. I'm handing it over to you, Your Majesty, to show the Pei family's sincerity."

Gu Huan quickly closed it and stuffed it back to him: "You can't take this. Stand up and talk."

Shopkeeper Pei wanted to express himself, but Gu Huan waved her hand and said, "You stand up and speak first."

Although she was a princess, she was not used to others kneeling to her, let alone the old shopkeeper who was much older than her.

Shopkeeper Pei stood up helplessly.

Gu Huan sighed: "We won't take this step unless it is absolutely necessary."

Shopkeeper Pei nodded, "We understand. Princess, you are very smart, so you naturally understand why the Pei family is so alone. If Prince Yong doesn't do this, our Pei family will be swallowed up one day. Now the imperial merchants are about to start the new year's assessment and selection. The people on the Queen's side are ready to make a move. Our eldest son is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in the court, and many things are beyond his control. Our family head just wants to ask Prince Yong to take our Pei family with him if he has this idea. We will definitely support the princess with all our strength, just like we supported the princess's southern expedition that year."

Shopkeeper Pei met Gu Huan's direct gaze and spoke frankly.

"The Pei family has actually lived and died together with the Mu family army since that year."

Gu Huan knew the Pei family's thoughts very well, because she was the one who supported the Pei family. After Mu Junyan left the court, someone would definitely want to take down the business occupied by the Pei family. If the Pei family wanted to prosper for a long time, it would be right for them to rely on Mu Junyan.

Gu Huan nodded slowly: "Okay. Let me think about it, and then I'll discuss it with you in detail."

Shopkeeper Pei's eyes lit up, and he bowed, "Yes, I'm waiting for the princess's order."

Gu Huan watched Manager Pei leave and was unable to calm down for a long time.

She never expected that the Pei family had seen through the thoughts of the Mu family army. What about those people in Bian Jing?

What about the Queen’s secret investigation of spies in southern Xinjiang?

Now she and Mu Junyan are openly recruiting soldiers and horses, and the mines have been taken back...

Can’t wait any longer!

"Dongqing, I want to see Mr. Min."