Mu Wanqing was very sensible and only investigated the Du family's affairs. With the cooperation of Miss Du Er and Jiang Yunfan, she checked all the hundreds of servants in the Du family.
Collect everyone's information, interrogate them in person, and verify relevant information.
This is a very tedious task, but it is a necessary process. Mu Wanqing gave everyone a form and asked them to fill in the relevant information.
It doesn’t matter if you can’t write, just let the officer fill it out for you.
Then let someone check it again and launch the three lines simultaneously.
Time was too tight, so she stayed up all night and her eyes became red.
A red sun rises in the east, full of vitality, and a new day begins.
Mu Wanqing picked out three names and said, "There are problems with these people. Arrest them for interrogation and search their homes."
One is the old woman who cleans the main courtyard, one is the housekeeper's daughter-in-law, and one is the steward in charge of purchasing.
Miss Du had a complicated look on her face. These three people were particularly inconspicuous, but they were able to connect the inner and outer courtyards and maintain contact with the outside world.
However, there was one thing she didn't understand, "How did you know it was them? What's wrong?"
We were all involved, how come she couldn't see it?
Mu Wanqing was silent for a moment, "His eyes were darting around, his expression was panicked, he didn't dare to look at me, there were many flaws in his statement."
Miss Du Er felt that she was inexperienced. "They are all ordinary people. It's normal for them to be afraid of high-ranking officials."
"Fear and guilt are two different things." Mu Wanqing could only say that this depended on experience and could not be taught.
Soon, the results came out.
Hundreds of taels of silver were found on these three people, which did not match their normal income, so there was naturally something wrong.
Under torture, the three men confessed the truth, saying that they were lured into the trap by Bingcao with silver.
In fact, they just thought that Bingcao was ambitious and wanted to climb up the ladder. Since she gave them money, they just did what she said.
Therefore, Bingcao could know all the big and small things in the mansion without going out very often, could contact people outside the mansion, and could get all kinds of strange things.
The most important thing is that Lu’s Business has surfaced.
It is a low-key business, but it is a place frequented by purchasing managers.
The Du family purchased all their daily necessities from this business, and the manager received a considerable kickback from it. This business was recommended by Bingcao.
Jiang Yunfan personally took action, blocked Lu's Trading Company, and captured the head of the trading company who had just hurriedly left the capital.
Following the clues all the way, peeling away the layers of silk, and calmly analyzing the information, he finally found the most crucial clue: the ordinary manager who was allowed out by the daughter-in-law of the old lady of Cheng'en Mansion was the behind-the-scenes boss of Lu's Trading Company.
This has been passed through several hands, and ordinary people cannot find it.
Jiang Yunfan had a very complicated expression. This result was both reasonable and expected.
"Princess Qingping, you don't seem surprised at all?"
"The Queen's family hates me, but they can't get rid of me. They can't sleep every night." Mu Wanqing said the most shocking words calmly, "I just didn't expect that they became smart this time and actually knew how to operate in a roundabout way. They started to slowly lay out the plan a few years ago. This doesn't seem like the style of Duke Cheng'en's family."
There are not many smart people in Cheng'en Mansion.
Jiang Yunfan's heart moved, "You mean, it wasn't done by Cheng Gong En Mansion? Someone deliberately misled us? Let the two families be suspicious of each other, and the fisherman will benefit from the quarrel between the snipe and the clam?"
His mind was open and the more he thought about it, the more he came up with ideas.
"No, I mean, there is a master behind them." Mu Wanqing only looked at the evidence and knew that the Cheng'en Mansion was not innocent. "Haha, Lu's Business actually started in Xiliang, and it is logical for them to be associated with the Du family. If they hadn't checked it carefully, they would have gotten away with it."
Who would check these things for no reason?
"This move is really powerful. It successfully caught my attention."
She directly handed the evidence in her hand to the emperor, and as for the harem, she did not interfere.
It is not good to stretch your hand too far, as it will arouse the emperor's suspicion. Why bother?
She and the emperor get along well with each other because they have the same goals and each sticks to their own bottom line and does not cross it.
They want to work together to create a peaceful and prosperous era and leave their names in history.
Therefore, as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Mu Wanqing was only responsible for promoting economic development and improving people's livelihood. He never interfered in other matters, nor did he form cliques. He only acted within the scope of the Ministry of Revenue.
In return, the emperor blocked all the conspiracies and tricks directed against her.
She doesn't need to waste her time on these internal conflicts, and can focus all her energy and time on making money and seeking benefits for the people.
In the eyes of the emperor, she was very smart, very capable, and very capable. But she loved money like her life, was petty and protective, arrogant and bold, and dared to offend anyone. Except for the Du family, she had no personal relationship with the powerful and never attended any banquets.
The advantages and disadvantages are particularly obvious, so people can use it with confidence.
For Mu Wanqing, as long as the emperor trusts her, protects her, and gives her a platform to display her talents, that is enough.
It's a win-win situation.
Mu Wanqing did not investigate the harem, but she investigated the Du family and herself. She thoroughly checked all the properties under her name and the servants in the mansion.
You know what, we found several problematic ones.
No matter how strict the industry control is, some spies have still infiltrated. Their main purpose is to find out the secret recipe, and their secondary purpose is to cause some sabotage and create trouble for Mu Wanqing.
There are always some people who can't stand others doing well.
However, Mu Wanqing adopted a modern corporate management system, with dedicated people responsible for each area, without any overlap, and the confidentiality measures were extremely good.
The patrol team's passwords changed from time to time, and anyone who was seen sneaking around would be arrested immediately.
Behind these people are various powerful families. Once Mu Wanqing found out, she sent these spies to the master's house with drums and gongs, and told them all the causes and consequences along the way.
The common people were outraged when they heard this and wanted to steal these secret recipes for their own use, thereby raising the market price and becoming unkind and rich.
These people are so bad.
Someone argued that the prices in the luxury stores opened by Princess Qingping were extremely high, so why didn’t you say anything about her?
Others couldn't help but roll their eyes. First, the price is so high, it's to make money from the rich. Why should you, a poor person, empathize with them? Isn't this crazy?
Secondly, this was the court's industry, not private property. All the money earned went into the national treasury and was used to build roads, schools, and pharmacies to improve people's livelihood. Princess Qingping was working for the court.
Those masterminds behind the scenes were so angry. This was a slap in their faces and too bullying.
But what was the use? Mu Wanqing ignored them. The emperor scolded them in the court, saying that they were eyeing the court's things all day long, harming the public interest for their own benefit, and were so shameless. If they had the ability, they should find a way to make money on their own.
Several officials were also dismissed on the spot.
Since then, I have been much more peaceful.
Mu Wanqing's princess mansion is fine. No new people are allowed in and the management is strict, so there are no loopholes to exploit.
However, the Mu clan has serious problems, and it was discovered that there are many people around them with ulterior motives.
The Mu family members have been flattered and become arrogant recently, which has caused them some troubles, and these people are indispensable.
Mu Wanqing took the opportunity to have a tantrum and poured cold water on everyone in the tribe, scaring them awake.
Those who deserve to be beaten are beaten, those who deserve to be sent to the authorities are sent to the authorities, and those who deserve to examine themselves examine themselves. They have all become much more obedient.
Royal Palace
The emperor looked at the flickering candlelight, his eyes flickering.
After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly said, "Tell me, why is it easy to share adversity but difficult to share prosperity?"
A voice came from the darkness, "Humanity is insatiable."
The emperor was silent for a long time, "But why can't some people do that?"
“People are different.”
The emperor looked into the darkness, "You've been talking too much today."
Wei Shaohui walked out from the darkness, his face full of concern and helplessness, "I am worried about the emperor. I want to comfort him but I don't know how."
The emperor snorted coldly. He was a king and needed comfort? But it was undeniable that he felt a little warm in his heart.
The eunuch outside the door reported, "Your Majesty, the Queen wishes to see you."
The emperor's eyes turned cold, "Let her in."
Wei Shaohui quickly hid in the dark again. The queen came in wearing a purple palace dress, elegant and graceful, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
She knelt down to pay her respects, but the emperor did not call her to stand up. He looked down at her and asked, "Why are you here so late?"
The Queen said respectfully, "The little princess is crying non-stop without anyone to take care of her. I am very worried. I beg the Emperor to have mercy and temporarily hand the little princess over to me to take care of. I will send her back to the Queen Mother when she wakes up."
The emperor's eyebrows were deep and his expression was a little strange. "Can the queen mother wake up?"
The queen said without hesitation, "Of course, the queen mother is the most blessed woman in the world, and she will definitely turn danger into safety."
She was very dignified and virtuous, and had the demeanor of a mother of the country. She spoke softly. "I also pray to God from time to time to let the Queen Mother wake up soon."
Her performance was flawless, the perfect mother of the country, the perfect wife, and the perfect daughter-in-law.
But being too perfect is not right.
The emperor looked at her carefully, as if he didn't recognize her. "Have you ever felt resentful over the years?"
"I dare not. The thunder and lightning are all Your Majesty's grace." The queen felt a little uneasy, but still put on a perfect mask.
"Very good." The emperor turned around and gave an order, "Come here, search the Cheng'en Mansion, and put all the masters and servants in jail. Don't let any of them go."
Like a thunderbolt, the queen's perfect mask collapsed bit by bit. She was angry and anxious, "Your Majesty, I don't know what my family did wrong? What crime did they commit that you are so heartless?"
The emperor said coldly, "You colluded with Xiao Xiteng, betrayed the court's intelligence, and poisoned the Queen Mother and General Du. Your crimes are unforgivable."
Xiao Xiteng is the former King of Jin. He has a list of people who are in collusion with ministers in the court.
This group of people had been replaced before, but Cheng'en Mansion was not on the list.
It’s not that they didn’t participate, but that they kept the most important list in mind.
At critical moments, it is used to drive threats and stab someone to death.
Although Xiao Xiteng is dead, the remnants have not been completely eliminated.
The Queen's face lost all color and she tried desperately to deny it, "No, no, Your Majesty, the Cheng'en Mansion has always been loyal, how could it be possible to do such a treasonous thing? This is a trap, please don't fall into others' calculations and do something that will make your loved ones sad and your enemies happy."
Her eyes were red and tears rolled down. "Is it Mu Wanqing? It must be her. She holds grudges the most. I have offended her. I am willing to kowtow to her and admit my fault. I only ask her to let Cheng En Mansion go."
The emperor was even more disappointed. Mu Wanqing always expressed her dissatisfaction to his face and took revenge on the spot. She never did anything behind others' backs and always did things openly and honestly.
The queen always puts the blame on others and claims she is never wrong.
"You were not like this before. You were gentle, virtuous, generous and tolerant. You never got jealous and always fulfilled your duties as a wife. You never caused me any worries. You changed after becoming the queen. I can't recognize you anymore..."
How did they get to this point?
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