The products in these three stores were novel and exquisite, hitting the consumers' preferences. With the emperor personally endorsing them, they naturally became an instant hit.
Countless young men and wealthy businessmen came over waving banknotes, but when they arrived they found they had to queue.
Cutting in line? Come on, it's not allowed.
Even if you wait in line for a long time until it’s your turn, you may not be able to buy what you want.
The watches are limited edition, and each watch has a number, which is tied to your identity and a customer file is created.
Some popular models are simply not available, even if you pay more.
The more this was the case, the more the powerful and wealthy flocked to it, and a rose gold pocket watch was sold for as much as one hundred thousand.
It was just before the Chinese New Year, and people not only bought them for their own use, but also bought them as gifts for others. In a short period of time, sales soared.
As for skin care products, perfumes, rouge, lipstick, shower gel and shampoo, women rush to buy them and all who have used them say they are good.
As for lipstick, get one in each color, a dozen perfumes, and ten sets of skin care products.
They not only wiped their faces, but also their whole bodies. After using it for a period of time, there were obvious changes, and their skin became delicate and smooth, like a peeled egg.
These ladies and rich girls are not short of money and they pay great attention to skin care. As long as it is effective, they will spend any amount of money without blinking an eye.
The sales of toy houses are also very good. Some of the novel toys are even loved by adults, let alone children.
The soft and cute cartoon dolls are eye-catching and loved by everyone.
There are also those educational toys, which almost everyone has. When people have no worries about food and clothing, the cultivation of offspring is the top priority, and no one wants their children to lose at the starting line.
Buy it, you must buy it, maybe you can be as smart as Princess Qingping.
You still have to have dreams.
Although they spoke ill of Mu Wanqing openly or secretly, they all knew in their hearts that Mu Wanqing was a real talent with great abilities.
If their descendants were half as smart as she was, they would all be able to die with a smile on their face.
A month later, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue stared at the account books in a daze, unable to believe their eyes.
Is this a dream?
The Minister of Revenue looked at the lively girl in front of him with an extremely complicated expression, "Princess Qingping, please explain."
Mu Wanqing casually pointed to an account book and said, "These are the things that were confiscated from Prince Jin's Mansion. They were sold at the Ganzhou Auction House, and the price went up."
She pointed to several account books next to her and said, "I used most of the money to build three workshops and open a store, and a small part to build the Royal Technical School."
Finally, she took a red-covered account book to the very center.
"This month's profits are all here, check the accounts."
What she said was simple and clear enough, but everyone was still confused.
Mu Wanqing thought they couldn't understand it, so she patted her forehead and said, "Oh, right, these are Arabic numerals, 123 corresponds to one two three..."
These are two systems. She gave a brief introduction. Everyone present was smart. Could one have passed the exam step by step without being smart?
They understood it quickly, and their eyes were filled with astonishment. This system was much simpler than the one they were using now.
Well, it's easy to be caught if you cook the books.
The Minister of Revenue took the red account book in front of him and turned to the last page with numbers.
Not everyone can understand Arabic numerals, but the final balance is recorded using both Arabic numerals and Chinese capital amount numerals.
Everyone counted it and found it was an eight-digit number, a profit of 20 million taels, or ten years of taxes for the Great Qi Dynasty.
In other words, this is silver that will go into the national treasury, real silver.
In just a few months, Mu Wanqing filled the national treasury by herself. This is her strength, so powerful that it is terrifying.
When this move was made, the scene fell into complete silence.
I heard that she had a talent for making money, but seeing it with my own eyes was a huge shock.
The Minister of Revenue shouted, "What are you standing there for? Check the accounts, check them carefully."
Everyone looked at each other and started working at the same time.
He checked over and over again, as if he would not give up until he found the problem.
Mu Wanqing sat there leisurely, drinking tea and eating snacks. She looked so comfortable. Would she be afraid of checking the account book she took out?
She doesn't covet this little money.
After an unknown amount of time, the Minister of Revenue looked at Mu Wanqing with a strange expression. "This is only 80% of the profit."
Mu Wanqing nodded nonchalantly, "Yes, one percent went into the emperor's private treasury, and one percent is my hard work fee. This was agreed upon in advance and the contract was signed. If you don't believe it, go to the palace and ask the emperor."
Is there any need to ask? This kind of thing cannot be made up. It is not worth it to lie that can be exposed at any time.
The officials felt like a bottle of seasoning had been overturned, with all kinds of feelings in their hearts.
She was jealous of the emperor's preference for Mu Wanqing, envious of Mu Wanqing's ability to turn stone into gold, and jealous of her for making so much money.
A 10% profit is more than 2 million, which is more than they can earn in their entire life.
The Minister of Revenue said coldly, "One million hard work fees? Working for the country and the court also requires hard work fees? Doesn't Princess Qingping's conscience hurt?"
"Why does it hurt? I earned this with my own ability." Mu Wanqing asked confidently, "Sir Shangshu has such a high level of thinking, why do you still take a salary? Why do you still accept the gold, silver, jewelry and antiques presented by the people?"
She had long disliked him, and he took the lead in ostracizing her, throwing her aside and not letting her interfere in government affairs. "You are taciturn, strict with others, and lenient with yourself."
The Minister of Revenue was so angry that his face turned red. "This is nonsense, not a word is true. I am your boss, do you still want an excellent evaluation in your year-end evaluation?"
This is definitely a threat.
Originally, Mu Wanqing was too lazy to go against him, but when he mentioned this, she got mad.
"I am a person who is not afraid of power. Even if you threaten me with the year-end evaluation, don't even think about taking a penny from my pocket. I will not pay tribute to you. Forget about it."
These words were too harsh to hear, and they were a slap in the face of the Minister of Revenue, completely breaking off the relationship between them.
Everyone was stunned. She was so brave and dared to say anything.
But then again, Lord Shangshu is indeed a bit ungentlemanly. Being jealous and envious is one thing, but it becomes embarrassing when you bring it to the table.
The Minister of Revenue was so angry that he was shaking all over, and his eyes seemed to be filled with poison, but Mu Wanqing was not afraid. She looked at him smiling and said, "Be angry, be angry, it would be best if he gets a stroke because of it."
For a moment, the atmosphere was tense and the subordinates dared not say a word.
Logically speaking, they should help the boss of the Ministry of Revenue, but Mu Wanqing is so scary because her backer is the emperor.
Moreover, she holds the technical secrets of three workshops and a technical school, each of which is a trump card.
Finally, it was the Right Assistant Minister who tried to smooth things over. "Ahem, Princess Qingping, I heard that officials in Xiliang have very good benefits. Is that true?"
Mu Wanqing smiled slightly, "Of course, I personally formulated every benefit. For example, an eighth-rank official can get a salary of 100 to 200 taels a year, free work meals with both meat and vegetables, free housing, and rice, flour, oil, salt, sugar, and cloth all year round, which is enough for a family."
"Everything is fine in Beijing, except that it's hard to have a hot meal in the middle of winter."
Everyone looked at each other, feeling very jealous. The benefits were really great. Even those fifth-rank officials like them didn't have such a good life.
The anger in the Ministry of Revenue Shangshu's heart had not yet been vented, and he said indifferently, "Princess Qingping misses Xiliang so much. Is it because she misses the prestige of being the only one in power? Or is it because she misses the joy of competing with the people for profit without anyone to control her?"
Mu Wanqing's expression was very subtle, as if she was smiling but not laughing, "I miss the simple folk customs over there and the atmosphere where everyone works together to seek welfare for the people, rather than fighting for power and profit."
She hit back fiercely, and all she did was type the name of the power-hungry Minister of Revenue on the public screen.
"As for competing with the people for profits? Wrong. We have painstakingly planned and researched cash crops to boost Xiliang's economy and people's livelihood, so that the people can have enough food and clothing and live a relatively affluent life."
She just stabbed back, "Sir Shangshu, you hold a high position, what great achievements have you made? Tell us so that we can admire you."
There were gasps, and a fight was about to start.
The Minister of Revenue gave Mu Wanqing a cold look. He dared to stab his boss in public. Was there anything she wouldn't dare to do?
Do you really think that you can show off your power just because you have the emperor as your backer? Young people are just too impulsive.
"I don't like people who are arrogant because of their talent or achievements."
Mu Wanqing's smile was bright and dazzling, as hot as the sun, but the words she spoke were cold.
"Oh, I hate those incompetent people who just sit there doing nothing and taking advantage of their seniority."
Sparks flew, and the two sides competed against each other without giving in.
The Minister of Revenue was furious. "I give you three days to hand over all the recipes and all the workshops to the Ministry of Revenue."
Without these, she is nothing. So what if she can make money? She is not the only one in the world who can only make money.
Those imperial merchants are all experts in this field, so just pick a few of them.
Besides, they originally planned to use her as a tool, so whatever good things she produced would only be a favor to others.
He was so impressive, but Mu Wanqing didn't buy it. "Why?"
She had long anticipated that this day would come and had planned for it from the very beginning. She asked the emperor for a royal farm and built a workshop inside to isolate herself from any news from the outside world. Every step she took was to guard against these people.
No matter what, technology is king.
The Minister of Revenue is best at picking peaches and taking other people's credit as his own. "Just because these industries are funded by the court, is there anything wrong with taking them back to the court?"
Mu Wanqing was extremely disdainful. She knew their plan very well. "If you want to rob something, tell the emperor first."
Since she had clearly robbed him, she naturally wouldn't give him any face.
The Minister of Revenue was furious, "Don't use the emperor to pressure me, I am just doing my job, and I am right no matter what I say."
"You have never known the rules, so I will teach you. All land under heaven belongs to the emperor. That is to say, everything belongs to the emperor and the court." Note (1)
He shouted, "If you dare to disobey orders, you are trying to rebel."
He exerted pressure from a superior position, wishing he could immediately accuse Mu Wanqing of a crime.
"Rebellion?" Mu Wanqing narrowed her eyes dangerously. An idea flashed through her mind, and she said casually, "You are the one who contacted Xiao Xiteng privately and was driven by him."
All the officials were stunned and couldn't believe their ears. Xiao Xiteng? Isn't that the former King of Jin?
The Minister of Revenue still had a hint of pride on his face, but his pupils trembled violently and his expression changed involuntarily.
But he recovered in an instant and shouted angrily, "Mu Wanqing, do you know what crime it is to slander a high-ranking official of our dynasty? What crime is it to commit treason? You are accusing me with empty words. I will never coexist with you until death."
His expression changed in the blink of an eye, but Mu Wanqing saw it all. Oh, it seemed like there was something.
"Princess Qingping, there are some things you can't say casually." The right assistant minister jumped out, "If there really was something, how could the minister sit here peacefully? He would have been arrested long ago."
"Yes, yes, that's right." Others echoed.
Mu Wanqing smiled, "Sir Shangshu, you don't think Xiao Xiteng has no tricks, do you? You really don't know that contact list? The one who searched the Jin Palace was the Du family army."
She said it with great certainty, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, "I wonder what the crime is for contacting the rebels and providing help privately? Is it considered a crime of rebellion?"
Like a basin of cold water poured over his head, the Minister of Revenue felt the chill rising from the soles of his feet and spreading rapidly. "I am loyal, the emperor knows it, and you can't frame me with just a few words..."
Before he could finish, Mu Wanqing ordered the servants, "Go, invite the Wuyi Guards over."
Everyone changed color when they heard the news. Those who had firmly believed in the Minister of Revenue were shaken. They dared to ask the Wuyi Guard for help, which showed that they had solid evidence.
Mu Wanqing pressed on, "Sir Shangshu, the innocent are innocent, and the turbid are turbid. As long as the Wuyiwei investigates and says there is nothing wrong with you, I will kneel down and admit my fault, and hand over all the workshops to you, and let you deal with them as you wish. How do you think?"
The Minister of Revenue's lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't retreat at this time. If he retreated, he would fall into the abyss. "Okay, it's settled."
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Note (1) “Under all heaven, all land belongs to the king” comes from the Book of Songs, Xiaoya
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