Feng Hongfu closed his eyes. "Master's idea is good. Let's do it this way from now on!"
Ye Panjiu nodded, "I will come to collect the money once a month from now on. If I don't come, just leave it there. I'm entrusting Jinxiu Pavilion to you two. Don't let me down again."
Feng Hongfu bowed deeply, "Thank you, sir. On behalf of my family, I also thank you for your mercy today!"
Ma Jiang also bowed sincerely, saying, "I will never forget this kindness. If there is anything I, Ma Jiang, can do to help you in the future, I will do my duty without hesitation!"
Ye Panjiu smiled and said, "Okay, I've got it."
After saying that, she walked out of the Golden Delight Pavilion.
It's not easy for such a large restaurant to stay open for seven or eight years. If it can continue to operate for a long time, that would be a good thing.
As we left the Golden Delight Pavilion, dusk was falling.
Ye Panjiu rode her horse back, wondering how her three shops were doing.
Su Yan should have arrived in the capital by now, right?
On the way back to Beijing from Shuzhou, it started to snow heavily.
Su Yan kept moving, his black hair covered with snowflakes.
Yan Yu, who was dressed in black, also turned completely white.
They finally arrived at the Su residence just before the second quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM).
Su Yan immediately changed out of his wet clothes, soaked them in hot water for a while, and then prepared to go to the morning court.
The Su residence had few servants, only three young men.
Yan Yu carried the food box and drove the carriage for Su Yan. "My lord, this is all hot. Please eat some on the way."
"good."
It was his usual meat porridge with flatbread, accompanied by three side dishes.
It just doesn't taste as good as what we had at the Ye family's.
He is eating alone in the carriage now, simply to avoid being hungry.
But not in the Ye family.
He ate very quickly, as time was short.
Soon the carriage arrived at the gate. Su Yan drank some hot tea, got off the carriage, and walked quickly toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Wherever he goes, he is surrounded by many ministers.
They all offered their congratulations on the New Year, subtly trying to glean something from him.
Su Yan replied in unison, "Everyone, let's celebrate the new year."
The morning court session was peaceful, but Chu Li was anxious inside. Under Emperor Liang Qing's gaze, he dared not utter a single word.
"This year's warm winter may lead to drought and flooding in the south. The Ministry of Works must pay close attention to matters such as dredging waterways for flood control."
The Minister of Works inwardly groaned, but had no choice but to accept the assignment.
Water conservancy is like a bottomless pit. A lot of money is allocated, but accidents happen every year. Every time an accident happens, his official hat is in jeopardy.
After the court session, Li Gao invited Su Yan to the Imperial Study.
Su Yan followed him and asked, "Eunuch Li, how is the palace this year?"
Li Gao lagged behind him by a small half-step. "On New Year's Eve, Consort Wang and Consort Shen had a rather heated argument. The Emperor is very unhappy today."
Su Yan frowned and said nothing more.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Study, Ning Xuan looked at him and said, "You're back."
Su Yan knelt respectfully and said, "May Your Majesty be well."
Ning Xuan said calmly, "Rise. This is the memorial Chu Li submitted to me yesterday."
Su Yan stood up, picked up the document, and quickly began to read it.
He knew some of the contents, but there were other things that were truly chilling.
"What a pity that Yangzhou only knows the Wang family and not the Emperor!" Ning Xuan picked up another memorial and threw it in front of Su Yan.
The Wang family's ancestors fought alongside the founding emperor of the Great Liang Dynasty to establish their rule. After several generations, they had become deeply entrenched and were undoubtedly the foremost family.
Yangzhou was the ancestral home of the Wang family, and the prefect of Yangzhou and the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner had always been members of the Wang family.
Even in the army, the Wang family held many official positions.
Even when Wang Hezhi participated in the theft of the treasury and failed to properly manage his subordinates, he was only sentenced to exile.
Although it was called exile, once they arrived in the north, they were still a force that no one dared to provoke.
Su Yan didn't speak, picked up the document and quickly began to read it.
[The mild winter in the north has prevented livestock from freezing to death in both the Western Xia and Liao dynasties; horses are strong and sheep are fat. The Liao dynasty has already sent a marriage proposal to the Western Xia princess, with the wedding expected at the end of the first lunar month.]
Ning Xuan sighed deeply, "Internal troubles have not been eliminated, and external threats have arisen."
Su Yan's mind raced. "Your Majesty, this is both a crisis and an opportunity. If the marriage alliance is successful, Great Liang will be in danger. But if we can use this opportunity to sow discord between the two sides and arouse suspicion, it will be Great Liang's chance."
Ning Xuan pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you think?"
Su Yan replied urgently, "We must immediately dispatch a special envoy to propose marriage to the Western Xia princess. Western Xia is in decline, and the Liao Dynasty is ambitious; this is an unequal partnership. On the other hand, the Great Liang has coexisted peacefully with Western Xia for decades with very few border clashes. Furthermore, if Your Majesty's proposal is delayed for a while, the Liao Dynasty will surely become suspicious."
Ning Xuan urgently said to Li Gao, "Summon Lin Yuanyao and Chu Li to see me immediately!"
Li Gao, carrying his whisk, walked away quickly.
Su Yan then spoke up, “Your Majesty, the troops stationed in Dali and Xixia have not seen bloodshed for a long time, so let’s borrow the troops from the Liao to train them.”
Ning Xuan frowned. "It's good, but military action costs a fortune. If the Liao Dynasty sends troops directly, the national treasury won't last long."
Su Yan bowed and replied, "The Wang family must be eliminated, and it must be done quickly, but there must be absolutely no word of it. Yangzhou's granaries and canal transport are all money-making machines. Furthermore, Prince Duan is weak, and I fear the Wang family might cause trouble."
Yangzhou has always been one of the wealthiest places in Daliang, but its annual tax revenue is not high. Most of the money ends up in the hands of the Wang family and local officials.
Ning Xuan remained silent for a long time.
Su Yan stopped short of making a point.
The incense in the imperial study burned quietly, its smoke swirling upwards.
After discussing matters for most of the day, as night fell, Su Yan finally emerged from the Imperial Study.
Minister of War Lin Yuanyao walked hurriedly, as he had important business to attend to.
Chu Li frowned, wanting to ask about Su Yanwang's family.
Su Yan gave him a look and walked away.
Chu Li looked into that gaze, just like the one His Majesty had given him during the morning court session.
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