In the Yangxin Palace, the emperor looked at the smiling Mu Wanqing, and then at Du Shaoxuan whose eyes were wandering.
"Tell me, what's going on?"
He didn't even know about the so-called list of traitors, and there was no Minister of Revenue among the accomplices confessed by the former Prince of Jin.
What is going on?
Du Shaoxuan cleared his throat and said, "I don't have that thing. If I had, I would have given it to you a long time ago."
The two of them looked at Mu Wanqing at the same time. Mu Wanqing was not affected at all and smiled even more brightly. "It's like this. He wanted to steal my workshop and secret recipe, and he also wanted to accuse me of various crimes. I got angry and accused him of crimes too..."
It was a common practice to accuse each other of something bad, and she didn't feel guilty at all. "Who knows, one of them might turn out to be the real one."
The emperor knew her character well. She was not someone who would take the initiative to cause trouble, but she would hold a grudge against anyone who dared to provoke her.
"How do you know it's true?"
Mu Wanqing said naturally, "From micro-expressions."
"What micro-expression?" The emperor didn't understand.
"That's it..." Mu Wanqing was about to answer truthfully, but she changed her mind at the last minute. No king would like a minister who could read his expression. Who would want to be transparent? The king hadn't reacted yet. When he did, it would be a big trouble.
"He was terrified for a moment, the kind of shock that comes from having his true identity exposed. Logically, if he had a clear conscience, he would only feel angry and disdainful."
She made an angry and disdainful expression in front of the emperor, which was very clever.
Emperor: ...Is this possible? It sounds reasonable, but there is no evidence.
"Aren't you afraid of making a mistake? How will you save your face then?"
He was quite satisfied with Mu Wanqing. She had filled up the national treasury in just a few months. Although some of the money was confiscated from the Prince Jin's Mansion, that was also her ability.
Watching the empty treasury being filled with silver is a joy that ordinary people cannot imagine.
Besides, the three workshops she set up were money-making machines that could bring in huge sums of money at any time.
With money, he can do a lot of things.
Just for this reason, he would protect Mu Wanqing to the death.
Of course, I can't tell her, lest she gets too proud and does something naughty.
Mu Wanqing said with a smile, "My eyes are very sharp. How about we make a bet?"
Du Shaoxuan joined in the fun, "I bet on Wanqing to win, she won't make a mistake, Your Majesty, what do you want to bet on?"
The emperor's mouth twitched. Who bet with them? The guy who talked to himself, young people, are just reckless.
However, she is much cuter than those cunning old foxes.
"What does Princess Qingping want?"
Mu Wanqing's eyes rolled around, "The position of the Minister of Revenue, I am fed up with having an incompetent and jealous boss who only knows how to take advantage of others."
The emperor looked puzzled, "How dare you think so."
Mu Wanqing was used to being in charge and making the rules. She was tired of being checked and balanced everywhere in the Ministry of Revenue. "I'll tell you what I want. If you think it's inappropriate, I won't force you. At worst, I can find another way."
She told the emperor her true thoughts very frankly, which made him very satisfied. He wished that every minister could be like this.
The emperor looked left and right and couldn't help asking, "Really not on purpose?"
"How could that be possible? You can always trust my character." Mu Wanqing complained for herself repeatedly, "I never frame others, and I don't bother to do so. I'd just do it with real weapons, that would be more satisfying."
Du Shaoxuan even came out to join in the fun, "Your Majesty, I dare to vouch for her with my life. She is not the kind of person who fights for power and profit. What she cares about is how to display her talents and leave a strong and colorful mark in this era."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, "Leave a name in history?"
Mu Wanqing nodded confidently, "Which emperor or general wouldn't want to? Right?"
The emperor could not deny this, as any king with a bit of ambition would want to leave his name in history.
He waved his hand. "Go ahead and don't cause any more trouble."
Mu Wanqing looked confused, "I don't cause trouble, what should I do if trouble comes to me?"
The emperor looked at his ministers who loved to stir up trouble and felt a little heartbroken. "Let's go."
"I will take my leave now."
"I'll take my leave." The two spoke at the same time and smiled at each other.
The emperor finds it offensive to watch, haha, I hate showing off affection the most.
As soon as they left, the emperor summoned the leader of the Wuyi Guard.
Mu Wanqing and Du Shaoxuan walked side by side in the imperial garden. It was winter, the trees were bare, and the flowers and plants had withered.
Snowflakes are floating and falling, and the light snow means a good harvest.
Mu Wanqing gently caught a snowflake and said, "New Year is coming soon. Time flies so fast."
Du Shaoxuan looked at her beautiful profile, full of joy, "We can celebrate the New Year together this year. On the first day of the New Year, we will go to Daguo Temple to burn incense, and then go shopping in Temple Street."
In Xiliang, they are all in high positions of power and have large families. They have more social engagements during the New Year, so they don't have time to run around together.
But this year, there are not so many things to do in Beijing, and I can spend a quiet Spring Festival.
"Okay, I haven't had a good time shopping yet." Mu Wanqing's whole mind was focused on building a workshop and opening a store, so she had no time to go shopping.
“There must be a lot of delicious food.”
Du Shaoxuan's mind moved, "How about we open a snack street in Beijing?"
When he was in Xiliang, he could often eat various snacks, but it was not so convenient in the capital.
Ah, I’m craving for braised food. There is also braised food in Beijing, but the taste is not as good.
Mu Wanqing arranged all the family members to manage the workshop in Qingping Village, leaving them no time to do anything else.
The capital city is different from Xiliang. The environment is much more complicated and there are many dignitaries. I don’t know how many dignitaries will be hit by a brick.
In this case, it is better not to make the stall too big.
The most important things are the workshops and top luxury stores. If you have done it well, would you still worry about not having money?
She owns 10% of the shares, but the 2,000 Qingping soldiers are all supported by her. She also gives an extra bonus to the children of the clan to ensure that they live a comfortable life.
The various expenses of the County Lady's Mansion are also very expensive, so we still have to increase revenue.
Next year, we will develop Qingpingzhuang and plant cotton and corn. Then we can set up a cotton workshop and hand it over to the clan members to manage. It will be considered private property.
She doesn't care about how much money she makes, just balancing the income and expenditure. Her mind is working very fast.
"Do you have a farm in the capital?"
Du Shaoxuan nodded slightly, "The late emperor awarded me a farm when I was eighteen, but I have never been there."
Mu Wanqing: ...
"Nothing else?"
Du Shaoxuan thought seriously for a few seconds, "There are several stores at home, which are managed by the housekeeper. There are tens of thousands of profits every year. If you want, I will give it to you."
The Du family's situation is special. They are basically stationed in Xiliang and occasionally return to Beijing to report for work. They do not have many industries in the capital.
Mu Wanqing shook her head. "I just have some ideas for now, but they are not mature yet."
Du Shaoxuan's eyes sparkled, and he was as supportive as ever, "Your idea must be the best. I'll be waiting."
Mu Wanqing raised the corner of her mouth, "Let's wait and see the situation, there's no rush."
Du Shaoxuan suddenly said, "I want to eat braised beef and beef sauce."
This was what Mu Wanqing made for him when they first met. Now it has become his favorite and he never forgets it.
Nothing anyone else cooks tastes as good as what she cooks.
Mu Wanqing also felt like eating, but everything in the capital was inconvenient, and she couldn’t eat lamb and beef casually.
"Go find out if there's any beef and I'll cook it for you."
Du Shaoxuan smiled, "Okay."
The two were chatting happily when a palace maid appeared out of nowhere and bowed. "Greetings to the King of Xiliang, and Princess Qingping. Concubine Xi invites you."
Her finger pointed to the pavilion on the rockery not far away. Several palace maids were surrounding a gorgeous woman, who was Concubine Xi.
Du Shaoxuan frowned slightly and refused firmly, "No, it's not convenient for us, the outsiders, to meet with the concubines. It's against the rules."
He only recognized three people in the palace: the Queen Mother, the Emperor, and the eldest prince.
He had almost no contact with his concubines and was very careful to avoid suspicion.
As for the two little princesses raised in the harem, he had no chance to see them.
The palace maid looked unhappy, but who cared about her?
"Wait a minute, Princess Qingping is a woman, she doesn't have to be so shy..."
Mu Wanqing couldn't help but laugh, "Are you stupid? It's one thing for men and women to avoid taboos, and it's another to prevent collusion between the former dynasty and the harem. Don't come to me, I want to be a lone minister, don't try to seduce me."
A lone minister only listens to the emperor, does not form a clique, and does not collude with any party. This is the emperor's favorite minister.
In truth, she wasn't that loyal, she just didn't want to deal with these idiots and waste her time.
Everyone wants to take advantage of her, but don't they see if anyone has the smart enough to handle it?
Maid: ...
Mu Wanqing walked past her slowly, not afraid of offending anyone at all.
Du Shaoxuan saw several red plum blossoms in full bloom, ran over quickly, picked for a while, plucked a bud, and handed it to Mu Wanqing eagerly.
"For you."
Mu Wanqing was silent for a few seconds, then she took it, sniffed it, and said in a nonchalant manner, "I want to drink plum blossom porridge and fried plum blossoms. Let's pick some more to take back."
Du Shaoxuan was a little disappointed, but he quickly cheered up, climbed up the tree swiftly, and forced the tree to bloom.
Soon there was a big bag, and Mu Wanqing shouted from under the tree, "That's enough, don't pluck all the plum blossoms."
A slightly annoyed voice came from behind, "Princess Qingping."
Mu Wanqing didn't look back, just pretending not to hear, "Come down quickly, these are enough for us to have a meal, save some for next time."
Good guy, still thinking about next time.
Seeing that the two ignored her, Concubine Xi felt ashamed and annoyed. "These are flowers from the palace. You can pick them just because you want to. Have you got the owner's consent?"
Du Shaoxuan jumped lightly and landed steadily on the ground. "This flower is quite fresh. Let's go back and cook it. By the way, is plum blossom cake made of this?"
He grew up in the palace, what has he not done? What's wrong with picking some flowers? Would the emperor punish them for such a trivial matter?
There is such a snack in the Mu family’s snack street. Du Shaoxuan has eaten it before, but he prefers the spicy one.
"Plum blossom cake is just shaped like a plum blossom. The raw materials are wheat, red beans and brown sugar." Mu Wanqing said, and she felt like eating it. "However, we can make a real plum blossom cake."
Du Shaoxuan chuckled, "It's a happy decision."
You can eat anything with her.
The two of them were talking to themselves and didn't even glance at Concubine Xi.
Concubine Xi was almost going crazy. Du Shaoxuan was notoriously difficult to deal with and was like a bully in the palace. Now here came the unruly Mu Wanqing.
When these two get together, they'll drive people crazy.
She pretended to be concerned and asked, "Princess Qingping, how did you offend people again? Do you know how many people hate you? They want to tear you into pieces."
Mu Wanqing didn't even turn her head back, "Hate it if you want, the sky won't fall."
Concubine Xi intended to win over Mu Wanqing, but her attitude was very irritating.
She pinched her nose and endured it again and again, "You...don't you want to find a backer?"
Mu Wanqing raised her eyebrows. Oh, the concubine changed her strategy? "I have a backer. It's the emperor."
Concubine Xi looked earnest and sincere in her advice, as if it was all for your own good.
"Although the emperor is very good, he cannot be arbitrary. The emperor has never had the final say in the court. He sometimes has to listen to the opinions of the court officials. He can protect you for a while, but he cannot protect you forever."
Mu Wanqing finally turned around and looked at her, with an inexplicable expression, "So, you are trying to steal the emperor's girl?"
Concubine Xi was very jealous of her ability to easily earn 20 million, so she put aside their past grudges and wanted to win her over.
Who would complain about having too much money?
She said seriously, "This is a sign of concern for the ministers. How can it be considered poaching?"
Mu Wanqing looked behind her suddenly, "Ah, Your Majesty, you are here."
Concubine Xi's face changed drastically, she trembled, and forced herself to calm down, "Don't joke, the emperor is in the Yangxin Palace."
She had already found out the emperor's whereabouts.
Mu Wanqing smiled and waved, "Then look back."
Her indecent look made Concubine Xi undecided and she didn't dare to look back...
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