Chapter 335 Bribery

Min Dongsheng had no choice but to turn around, take off his robe, and hand it to the wet nurse with both hands.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

The nanny took the robe with a smile and handed it to Dongqing who was waiting at the door.

"Have some snacks."

Yuanyuan jumped up excitedly, pulled Min Dongsheng and ran to sit down.

Min Dongsheng's embarrassment gradually disappeared when he was interrupted by the two children. He accompanied the two children while eating and asked them what characters they knew and what books they had heard their mother and sisters read.

About a quarter of an hour later, Holly came back.

She still didn't go into the house, but called out "nanny" at the door.

The wet nurse went out to pick it up and handed it to Min Dongsheng.

Min Dongsheng had calmed down. He curiously picked up the corner of the robe and took a look at it. At first glance, he couldn't see the repaired part. He turned it over to the back and took a closer look, then he found a very small knot.

The hairy edges have also been repaired and are not noticeable at all.

I couldn't help but marvel at the excellent craftsmanship.

There is an inexplicable emotion flowing in my heart.

He quickly got dressed and saw Dongqing still standing at the door with his back to the room.

After thinking for a while, he mustered up the courage to walk out: "Thank you, Miss Holly."

Dongqing's back stiffened, and he quickly turned around and bowed. He didn't dare to look at Min Dongsheng, but looked at the place he had just repaired.

"Are you satisfied, sir?"

Min Dongsheng said sincerely: "Satisfied, quite satisfied, I didn't expect Miss Dongqing to have such skillful hands."

Dong Qing was very happy in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She blushed slightly and said, "I'll take my leave."

Min Dongsheng looked at her back and suddenly remembered something: "Miss Holly..."

Holly looked back.

Min Dongsheng smiled and said, "Last time, the young lady was looking for the book 'Miscellaneous Records of the Past', and I found it by accident. I didn't bring it here today, but I will bring it to you tomorrow when I come."

Dongqing's eyes lit up and she nodded shyly: "Thank you, sir."

Min Dongsheng looked at the girl's pretty back, as if a spring breeze was blowing into his heart.

But suddenly a thought came to his mind and his face suddenly darkened.

He is ten years older than others, how could he have such wild thoughts?

…

Gu Huan and the old lady admired the new kesi silk sent by Xianghua Tower.

The old lady exclaimed: "This kind of kesi can completely rival the kesi of Jiangling."

"That's right. This is also thanks to the Pei family's willingness to teach us everything they know. Our kesi silk was even sold back to Bianjing, but it was through the Pei family's shop because they are famous after all."

The old lady looked at her approvingly: "You are really smart."

Gu Huan smiled and said, "We have to make money. I know that the pensions for the fallen soldiers of the Mu family army were all paid by the Mu family themselves, and the court did not give a penny. In addition, there are so many orphans, and the families of the fallen soldiers are all supported by the Mu family. If we really want to recruit soldiers and force our way back to Bianjing, this money is just a drop in the bucket, and we need to think of more ways."

"Child, aren't you afraid?"

"No."

Gu Huan smiled sweetly: "I am considered a dead person. Now that I have Ziyuan and my mother, I am not afraid."

The old lady said with relief: "Ziyuan is so lucky to have met you."

Gu Hua blushed: "I am lucky to have met Ziyuan and mother."

Yun'er walked in quickly and whispered, "Princess, when Xianghua Tower sent the brocade silk just now, it said that Mrs. Li, the wife of the governor of Bazhou Qian, sent someone to say that she was going to order a brocade silk painting to celebrate her stepmother's birthday. It just so happens that she will be at Xianghua Tower at noon today."

Gu Huan's eyes lit up: "Okay."

Xianghualou and all the shops under her name and the Pei family received the news. If any important guests visited, they must report it immediately.

Gu Huan wanted to start with public opinion and the inner house to pave the way for the Mu family army, so she had to keep a close eye on the movements of the families of key people in several states.

During the more than one year that Wang Heng was wandering here, the county governors of Gongzhou and Bazhou had the closest contacts with him.

Akabane and the others provided very clear information about the situation of Mrs. Li, the wife of Qian, the governor of Bazhou County.

Li's father was the father of Li Guitian, the Minister of Works, and Concubine De.

But Li was not a legitimate daughter, but the daughter of the second concubine.

Li Guitian was originally from Bazhong. He came from a poor family and had no foundation. He relied on his own efforts to climb up step by step.

When he was the governor of Bazhou County, his eldest daughter had just been selected into the palace and was named a small beauty, so she could not help the family.

Before the Li family moved to the capital, they relied on the Mu family and helped each other. Therefore, Mu Junyan and Li Guitian had some friendship.

Mu Junyan defeated the Jiang family, and Li Guitian also contributed secretly.

After the Jiang family was defeated, the queen's family became the only one in power and began to reorganize the harem, wanting to control the princes in order to defend her son's position as crown prince.

Li Guitian knew very well that he did not have a century-old prestigious family to back him up, and he could not protect Concubine De and the Fourth Prince at all, so he had to choose a side.

This is also the important reason why Concubine De secretly sent the fourth prince to the Mu family army.

But Li Guitian also had the shortcomings of a man. He was extremely partial to his beautiful second aunt, who was the biological mother of the illegitimate Li.

The dowry of a concubine's daughter also rose accordingly, and was quite generous.

Lord Qian was originally Li Guitian's subordinate. In order to get promoted, he was naturally willing to marry her, a concubine's daughter, as his wife.

Because Li Guitian's daughter who entered the palace was pregnant, he got a lucrative job in the Ministry of Works when he came to Beijing to serve as an official, and he recommended this son-in-law.

His son-in-law was also quite talented and performed well in the annual official evaluation, so he became the governor of Bazhou County.

But later, the second concubine died suddenly of illness. In order to protect Concubine De's reputation, the stepmother reshaped the family tradition and managed the backyard strictly.

He no longer cared for this concubine's daughter.

The court was in turmoil and Li Guitian had no time to take care of these things.

A daughter who is married off is like water spilled, and she is a basin of dirty water in the eyes of her stepmother, who will definitely not help her.

Unable to get any help, after Lord Qian got close to Wang Heng, he gradually began to dislike his illegitimate wife and was ready to favor his concubine over his wife.

When Gu Huan heard that she came to order expensive kesi silk, she naturally guessed that she wanted to please her stepmother and gain support from her natal family so that her husband would not dare to look down on her.

"Mom, I'm going to the store to check it out."

"Go ahead."

The old lady never stopped Gu Huan from doing things.

Gu Huan changed into a newly made brocade skirt and went to Xianghua Tower.

Li was looking at the patterns on kesi silk and her eyes lit up when she saw a three-foot by six-foot kesi silk hanging on the wall.

"How much silver is this painting for the Queen Mother's birthday?"

The maid smiled and said, "Madam, you have a good eye. This painting was made by our inheritor of Kesi. It is the treasure of our shop and it is quite old. If Madam wants it, three thousand gold will be enough."

"Three thousand gold is fine?"

Li couldn't help but cried out, "Why don't you go and rob them? A painting by a famous teacher is only worth one or two thousand gold coins."

"Madam, you don't know that kesi is different from painting. The labor and effort required to make the two are totally incomparable."

A clear and gentle voice was heard.

Li turned around and was almost blinded by the visitor's gorgeous brocade skirt.

Gu Huan was accompanied by the shopkeeper of Xianghualou.

The shopkeeper spoke first: "Madam Li, this is Princess Yong."

Li was shocked and bowed to her quickly: "Greetings, Princess."

Gu Huan hurriedly supported Li: "Madam Qian, hello."

Li was surprised: "Princess, do you recognize me?"

Gu Huan smiled and said, "You are the most beloved daughter of the Minister of Industry. I naturally know that."

Being lifted up like this, Li was delighted.

She hurriedly said, "When I came to Juzhou, I should have handed in my visiting card to see the princess first, but I was afraid of being rude, so I didn't dare to go. Please forgive me, princess."

Gu Huan smiled and said, "Mrs. Qian is too polite. Do you want to choose the kesi for yourself?"

Li was embarrassed to complain about the price in front of her: "It's my mother's birthday, and I want to give her an expensive gift. I heard that you can customize kesi silk, so I thought of choosing a suitable one."

Gu Huan pointed at the treasure sent by the Pei family and said, "This was made by the sixth-generation heir of the Kesi family. It is the treasure of this store."

"Kesi craftsmanship is complex and difficult to produce, requiring craftsmen to have superb skills and rich experience. If a single thread is wrong during the production process, it is likely that the energy spent for the entire month will be wasted. Moreover, the craftsman needs Li to nod in agreement.

"I have seen this painting of the Queen Mother's birthday celebration in the palace. It was given by the Pei family on the Queen Mother's birthday. It seems to have been made by this sixth-generation heir."

Gu Huan turned around and looked at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper nodded hurriedly: "That's right. When the Pei family was selected as the imperial merchant that year, the Pei family made a special painting for the Empress Dowager."

Li's eyes lit up.

If I send a birthday painting of the same style as the one the Empress Dowager gave me, my stepmother will definitely be proud and will look at me differently, right?

“It is indeed precious.”

Li was short of money, but he wanted the best.

Of course Gu Huan knew what she was thinking.