"Princess, can you take me with you on this business?"
The emperor, who had drunk two glasses of red wine, asked Gao Zhijun.
"No, Father! This business of yours must be used to maintain the expenses of the clinic."
Gao Zhijun refused.
The clinic had to spend 40,000 to 50,000 taels of silver every month, which Gao Zhijun found difficult.
Prices in the capital were skyrocketing, medicinal materials were expensive, and there were so many people needing medical treatment that she really couldn't afford it.
She had originally intended to maintain her business by selling rouge, but there were too many rouge shops in the capital, and she didn't have a workshop, so she relied on shipping from Taizhou. Distant water can't quench a nearby fire, and she couldn't help the capital's medical clinics at all.
"Clinic expenses? Is the clinic business very bad?"
The Emperor asked curiously. Everyone had witnessed Princess Xiangyun's medical skills, so it was impossible for her business to be bad.
"Father, my sister's clinic provides free medical care to the people. We don't charge for consultations or medicine. Furthermore, the herbal medicine in the capital is expensive, and we have to pay the doctors and medicine boys monthly wages. We simply can't make ends meet."
The prince explained.
He admired his sister's righteous act, but he couldn't do it.
"What? All free? How much money does it cost per month?"
The emperor asked in shock.
He thought the princess only waived consultation fees, but still charged for medicine. Now he heard that she was treating common people for free. How much money would she have to spend?
If it were him, he probably wouldn't be able to do this.
"It'll cost about 40,000 to 50,000 taels of silver per month. With the income from the wine, it won't be a problem to run the clinic."
Gao Zhijun said truthfully.
"I am ashamed to have let a woman like you do this. I allocate one thousand taels of gold to the clinic every month. This is my humble contribution!"
After hearing this, the emperor realized that Princess Xiangyun was doing her best to support the people.
He felt ashamed of himself for not being able to do such a great thing.
"Thank you, Father!"
Gao Zhijun thanked him immediately.
With the emperor's 1,000 taels of gold every month, her pressure was reduced.
Outside the princess's mansion, tables were set up on both sides of the street, and people from the capital came early in the morning to find seats. Those who couldn't get a seat had to wait until those who were eating got up before they could sit down.
Gao Zhijun instructed housekeeper Murong to ensure there were ten dishes, as the number "ten" represents good luck and prosperity. She also instructed the cook to ensure the portions were generous and that the people would be well fed.
Whether the people were sitting down to eat or standing and waiting, they all praised Gao Zhijun and Huo Jinqian, saying that they were a perfect match made in heaven.
An hour later, the emperor had eaten and drunk his fill and left with the empress dowager, the concubine dowager and the queen.
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess stayed to help Gao Zhijun and see the guests off.
The wife of the Marquis of Anyang had been searching for an opportunity to drug Gao Zhijun at the Princess's residence, so that her son and the Princess would be fait accompli. This way, in front of all the court officials, the Princess would have to marry even if she wanted to. She had no chance to fulfill her wish, so she could only wait anxiously.
Of course, Anyang Hou's wife couldn't find an opportunity. She was arranged to stay in the courtyard where the Sun family lived, far away from Gao Zhijun. This was Gao Zhijun's intention.
Marquis Anyang had already met Huo Jinqian. If he wanted to recognize Huo Jinqian, he would definitely find a way to find Huo Jinqian. Anyway, she had already created an opportunity for him. Whether he could seize it or not was his business.
"Yunxi, why are you here? Didn't I tell you never to return to the capital? If the emperor knew you faked your death, it would be deceiving the emperor, a crime punishable by the death of all your clans."
When the Marquis of Huaiyang saw his 'dead' concubine in the princess's mansion, he asked in shock and fear.
The emperor is currently in the princess's residence. If he knew that Gu Yunxi's death was faked, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor and his entire family would be executed.
"What are you afraid of? We are no longer related. Even if the emperor wants to punish me, it has nothing to do with the Marquis, and it will not implicate the Marquis's mansion."
Gu Yunxi said indifferently.
This man is so heartless. I gave birth to a daughter for him, but he is so heartless.
"That's better! You haven't told me why you're here. And where's Qiu Jue? Isn't she back in the capital too?"
The Marquis of Huaiyang looked at the elegant and noble lady before him, dressed in silk and satin, with maids following her, looking like a mistress of a household. There was no trace of her former self.
Back then, she was dressed in coarse cloth, with a pair of calloused hands, rough and dark. Her face was covered in rough wrinkles, and her skin was dark and gloomy. She was only in her twenties, but she looked like an old woman, and there was no desire to look at her at all. So after sleeping with her once, the Marquis of Huaiyang never wanted her again.
Marquis Huaiyang forgot that he had never cared about her, never bought her cosmetics, never given her any supplements, and had to work before dawn every day until dusk. How could she become beautiful?
No one is born ugly, it depends on whether you are willing to buy cosmetics and dress up.
"Why I'm here has nothing to do with you. We're no longer related, so there's no need to report to you. As for Jue'er, you don't deserve to know."
Gu Yunying didn't want to continue talking to him, she wanted to go back to her room to rest.
"How dare you, a common woman, speak to the Marquis like that? Are you courting death?"
The wife of the Marquis of Huaiyang said angrily.
This bitch, she had been gone for over ten years, why did she come back? If this wasn't the princess's residence and the emperor wasn't here, she would have torn her face off long ago.
Just now she saw the Marquis's shock and surprise, which meant that the Marquis had become interested in her.
It is undeniable that this bitch has become different, more graceful and elegant than her, the mistress of the house.
"Madam Hou is so powerful that she even dares to insult, beat, and kill this princess's grandmother. This is the rule of the Marquis' Mansion."
Gao Zhijun's voice came from behind, her tone filled with anger.
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