"You!" Zhao Juan was speechless, her face turning pale and then red.
"I'm certainly not as eloquent as you, but let me tell you, don't get too cocky. Our Zhao family is not something you can compare to now!"
We remember everything you did to me and the Zhao family, and we'll make you pay for it tenfold one day!
Gan Li chuckled as if she'd heard a joke: "Pay back double? Well, let me remind you, some money isn't so easy to earn. Be careful you don't earn it but don't live to spend it!"
Zhao Juan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing Gan Li's pointed remark, but she quickly regained her composure. The Zhao family's saltpeter business was based on their own abilities; although the prices were high, it was all done voluntarily by those people. They weren't forcing anyone to buy or sell, so what was wrong with that?
Thinking of this, Zhao Juan straightened her back and sneered:
"So this is something serious. You're just jealous that the Zhao family has made a lot of money? Let me tell you, that's called skill!"
If you had that kind of ability, why don't you go and earn it yourself? All you do is sit here making sarcastic remarks; you're really pathetic!
Just then, Chen Yaozu walked out of the school.
He spotted Gan Li and Zhao Juan standing together at a glance, and without thinking, rushed to Zhao Juan's side, grabbed her arm, and looked at Gan Li warily, saying:
"Mother, are you alright? Did this woman bully you again?"
Seeing this, Zhao Juan felt a warmth in her heart. She patted Chen Yaozu's head and said softly, "Yaozu, be good. Mother is fine. Don't worry."
After saying that, she gave Ganli a provocative look.
Gan Li found it boring. It was practically an open secret now. She wasn't Chen Yaozu's biological mother. Why would she be jealous or envious over this?
Watching the comical performance of the mother and son, she found it all laughable. Just then, Gan Tian came out, and she took Gan Tian's hand, turned around, got on the oxcart, and urged Gan Mingyi to drive away.
As Zhao Juan watched Gan Li's departing figure, anger surged within her.
"You bitch! Just you wait! One day I'll make you kneel before me and beg for mercy!" Zhao Juan cursed in a low voice.
Seeing this, Chen Yaozu quickly tried to appease her: "Mother, don't be afraid of her. When I grow up, I will definitely teach her a lesson!"
Besides, she's just jealous that our family has made a lot of money. You don't need to get angry with her!
Zhao Juan took a deep breath and thought to herself, "That's right. Once Dad sells all that saltpeter, the Zhao family will become the richest people in Cangxi Town... no, in the entire county!"
She'll kick that bitch out of Cangxi Town then, but let her run wild for a few more days!
Little did she know that Gan Li hadn't yet met her downfall, but the Zhao family was already doomed!
In the distant capital, a storm is quietly brewing.
Since the method of ice making was popularized, the demand for saltpeter in the Great Jing Dynasty has increased significantly, and some astute merchants quickly noticed the business opportunities.
They buy saltpeter at high prices and then resell it at even higher prices. Saltpeter, which wasn't too expensive in the past, is now selling for exorbitant prices!
People originally thought they could use cheap ice to cool off this summer, but they never expected that while ice-making methods would be popularized and ice-making would become easier, they still couldn't afford ice!
What was originally praise for the court turned into complaints, and grievances were everywhere.
Princess Qingyang frowned as she looked at the message brought to her by her subordinates and asked, "Does His Majesty know about this?"
The subordinate weakly replied, "All the officials in the court are only concerned with saying nice things; who really cares about the lives of the common people..."
Even some officials, having inside information, got involved in the matter, hoping to get a share of the profits from the saltpeter.
Princess Qingyang's face was cold and stern, but then she suddenly smiled, a hint of mockery in her eyes.
It may seem that the officials are not paying attention, but in reality, it is not a matter of inaction by those in power.
If she truly wanted to serve the people, her good brother would have anticipated that some people might exploit this law for personal gain when it was enacted, and thus took preventative measures in advance.
It's easy to see that he was only after a hollow reputation. Or perhaps, he didn't want to offend the deeply entrenched power structures in the capital.
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, her subordinates were about to leave when they heard her suddenly speak.
"Go and prepare the carriages and horses; I am going to the palace."
Her subordinates, who had assumed she wouldn't get involved, looked up at her upon hearing this and were startled to see her resolute face.
"Your Highness, this is not a matter for us to interfere in..."
"As the eldest princess of the Great Jing Dynasty, am I to watch the people suffer? If they won't bring it up, I will!"
Princess Qingyang sneered, "I'm not even afraid of death, so why would I be afraid of those parasites! Prepare the sedan chair!"
Seeing that she had made up her mind, her subordinates dared not say anything more and turned to leave.
Before long, a carriage drove out from the eldest princess and sped towards the palace.
The Imperial Study.
The emperor has been in a good mood lately. Because of the hot weather, he specially ordered several huge blocks of ice to be placed in the imperial study, which immediately dispelled the heat and made him feel cool and comfortable.
He sat comfortably on the dragon throne, but looking at the memorials on the table, he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. He was thinking that he should wait a while, go to Consort Li's palace to rest for a while, and then come back to deal with these matters.
Just then, a young eunuch rushed in: "Your Majesty, Princess Qingyang requests an audience, saying she has important matters to discuss with you."
"Tsk." A hint of impatience flashed in the emperor's eyes, but he had no choice but to sit down again and have someone invite the eldest princess in.
As Qingyang entered, he felt a refreshing breeze and couldn't help but sigh:
"It's unbearably hot outside, and I can't stand it for even a moment longer. It's much cooler in your room, Your Majesty."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
