Chapter 354: A More Suitable Person
Emperor Jingming was immediately dissatisfied and said, "What's that look in your eyes? Am I wrong? Compared to other families, your family is simple and peaceful. Isn't that good?"
Zhao Shen: My mother was murdered, my brother is not my father's son, and my grandmother was a princess of the fallen Nanzhao. She may explode at any time.
What's good about it?
Although he didn't say it, the expression on his face said it all. Emperor Jingming also belatedly remembered the mess at the Changxing Marquisate. He asked with great interest, "Tell me, what exactly does your father think?"
He was really curious. Lord Zhao knew clearly that he was cuckolded and that he was raising someone else's son, but he didn't expose the truth and let the mother and son suffer.
Zhao Shen: "How about you summon him and ask him?"
Emperor Jingming: "I am the emperor, not one of those gossipy women out there who only likes to pry into other people's gossip."
Zhao Shen: "You know that too."
Emperor Jingming felt that Zhao Shen had become a bad person. He was not like this before.
However, he felt that the person in front of him was much better than the unpopular Zhao Shen before.
"You're already teasing me. It seems you're in a good mood. Let's not talk about that anymore. I've suddenly come to the palace this time. Do you think those people will show up?"
Zhao Shen shook his head. "Not necessarily. Just looking at the way Prince Yong planned things, you can tell how cautious he is. You acted unusually, so how could he not guess your intentions?"
Emperor Jingming curled his lips and said, "So what if he guessed it? Since he has such ambition, he should know that nothing is perfect in this world. To succeed, one must always take risks. He didn't dare to seize the opportunity I gave him, so he should just hide his head and tail for the rest of his life."
Zhao Shen smiled and said, "He's the one who should be anxious now. Why are you so anxious? What's important now is Mobei. I think there will be unusual movements in Mobei."
Emperor Jingming said, "I have already sent a message to my uncle to keep a close eye on the movements of Mobei. I am afraid they will not dare to fight and will resort to some unpresentable tricks. They are a bunch of clowns."
"The two princes and one princess from Mobei are in Daxia. Before these people leave, there shouldn't be any movement in the north. However, they have been here for a while, but they are dragging their feet and refusing to have a good conversation. I'm afraid they have some plans."
Emperor Jingming sneered: "They said they wanted a marriage alliance, but I see that neither the two princes nor the princesses have any such intentions. They look at me as if they like me."
Zhao Shen held his forehead with his hand. The emperor's words were becoming more and more rude.
It's not your turn to marry, so why should you be interested in it?
"Of course they don't want to. If they marry the princess, they have to give up the position of principal wife. The people of Mobei value bloodline more than we do."
This is also why the legitimate princess of Mobei is also qualified to inherit the throne.
Because in the eyes of the people in Mobei, she has the noblest bloodline.
"Whatever. I don't want a marriage alliance either. The only suitable person among the royal family right now is the girl from Uncle Lin'an's family. But that girl has been raised like a treasure by Uncle Lin'an's family since she was a child. I'm afraid she won't survive if she goes to Mobei."
Zhao Shen thought that Ji Yunshu was also worried about this, so he said, "Actually, there is someone more suitable."
Emperor Jingming looked at him warily: "Who?"
But he knew that Zhao Shen had never approved of marriage alliance.
Now he has taken the initiative to propose a candidate for marriage. This is abnormal and there must be something wrong.
Zhao Shen: "Didn't you help choose a son-in-law for the one sent to the capital by Prince Yong's Mansion?"
Emperor Jingming looked at Zhao Shen and asked, "Xiao Ting? Did she offend you?"
Zhao Shen: "...If I must say it, I have offended Prince Yong's Mansion, and now they are probably trying to get rid of me as soon as possible. Anyway, judging by the events in Suzhou, Prince Yong is already in collusion with Mobei, so what does it matter whether I marry my daughter there or not?"
The emperor had not considered sending someone from Prince Yong's mansion to marry the princess before, but after hearing what Zhao Shenyi said, he realized that this was indeed a very good idea.
Since the two parties have already colluded, there is no need for another marriage.
On the contrary, he doesn't need to ask the Prince of Lin'an to send his daughter to Mobei.
There are not many people in the royal family who are as free of ambition and loyal to him as the Prince of Lin'an, and he doesn't want to disappoint the other party.
Of course, it would be best if there is no marriage alliance, but now Mobei is obviously delaying time, and they need to take advantage of the situation.
Therefore, there must be a candidate for marriage.
Having solved a problem that had been troubling him, Emperor Jingming felt much better. He waved his hand at Zhao Shen and said, "You can discuss the maritime trade with Qi San yourself. But let me make it clear first: I want a 30% profit."
Zhao Shen said readily, "Okay."
In Ji Yunshu's words, with the emperor as their backer, they can worry less, and this is only the third level of benefit.
Too much money can sometimes be too hot to handle.
When Zhao Shen returned, Ji Yunshu was enjoying the cool air in the yard. When he saw him come back, he went back to the house to have someone serve the meal.
At the same time, he asked Zhao Shen: "What did the emperor ask you to do? I just saw the Third Prince of Qi was still outside."
Zhao Shen said, "Qi San is in charge of the defense of the palace. He probably has a lot of time to spare. The emperor told me something."
Seeing that his face was a little sweaty, Ji Yunshu handed him a handkerchief to wipe his face. "What's the important matter? Why are you so anxious?"
Zhao Shen took it, wiped his face, and said, "As for some trivial matters of this trip, he agreed to the maritime trade and asked for a 30% profit."
"30%?" Ji Yunshu exclaimed, "He doesn't even have to pay for food, clothing, or housing, so why would he need so much money?"
Zhao Shen said with a smile: "Why are you so distressed? It's only 30%."
"What do you mean by only 30%? He's a guy who doesn't do anything, and he takes 30%. If we want to get the same 30%, we have to give away at least 20%. Add in all the other expenses, and we might not even get 30% in the end."
Zhao Shen was essentially a nobleman who had never had to worry about food, clothing, housing, or transportation. He had never lacked money since he was a child, so naturally he had never calculated these things.
After hearing what she said, I felt that 30% was a bit too much: "Then should I go talk to him again?"
Just at this time, Lu Ru brought people to set up the meal.
Zhao Shen saw a lot of fresh vegetables and smiled, "The Queen Mother must have sent them here. These were sent from the imperial farm near the palace. There aren't many in total. The Emperor knew the Queen Mother had a poor appetite lately, so he gave most of them to her. I didn't expect it would be a great bargain for us."
Ji Yunshu didn't know it was like this. He took a breath and said, "Forget it. Considering how filial he is to his aunt, I'll give him 30%."
Anyway, Da Xia is now facing internal and external troubles, and there are many places to spend money. When it comes to spending money, the emperor will have to use his own private treasury to subsidize it.
Zhao Shen smiled and said, "The Emperor has always been very filial to the Empress Dowager. Even when the Empress Dowager and the Queen had conflicts before, it was usually the Queen who tolerated them."
Ji Yunshu said insincerely, "Isn't it normal for a daughter-in-law to give in to her mother-in-law?"
Zhao Shen didn't argue with her: "You are right, it is what I should do."
The two of them finished their meal while chatting and were about to go for a walk outside when they were suddenly informed that Qi Zheng was here to visit.
Ji Yunshu raised his eyes to look at Zhao Shen: "What is he doing here?"
It's already evening, there's no need to be so anxious when discussing maritime trade.
While the two were looking at each other, Qi Zheng had already walked in.
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