Chapter 270 Fool
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Jiang Yu lowered her eyes slightly. She had anticipated that the emperor would choose this option. She wondered how this current emperor had developed such a stingy nature.
However, this is still better than a decadent and unrestrained emperor.
Looking up, Jiang Yu saw the Eighth Prince's somewhat aggrieved face. She slightly raised the corners of her lips. The Emperor was using the Eighth Prince as a target; his stupidity was probably one of the reasons, knowing he wasn't cut out to be an emperor.
It's just unknown whether his stupidity was deliberately instilled by the emperor, or whether he was truly incorrigible. Considering Prince An's situation, Jiang Yu felt that the current emperor was exceptionally ruthless towards his son.
After discussing the details of investing in other money shops with the emperor, Jiang Yu left the imperial study. The weather was lovely today, even the wind was gentle. With the first month of the lunar calendar over, spring was drawing ever closer, and people's moods naturally improved.
"The Duke of Chu"
A voice sounded behind her, and Jiang Yu stopped and turned around. She saw the Eighth Prince walking towards her with his chin raised and his nostrils particularly prominent, making him look quite ridiculous.
When he approached, Jiang Yu bowed to him, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Eighth Prince stood there, looking down at Jiang Yu, who was bowing deeply to him, and felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. Ever since this man arrived in the capital, the Qingshan Marquis's mansion and his mother had not had a good time. Naturally, his own life had not been very pleasant either.
Now he has finally become the Crown Prince, and he will become the Emperor in the future. As long as the Duke of Chu's mansion wants to continue in the capital, they will have to kneel before him.
He lowered his eyes, watching the Duke of Chu bow to him with his back bent, a smirk playing on his lips. As long as he didn't tell her to rise, she had to keep bowing; this was the privilege granted to him by his status as Crown Prince.
Jiang Yu knew that the Eighth Prince was making things difficult for her, but she wasn't angry at all. Not far from the Imperial Study, the newly appointed Crown Prince was making things difficult for his ministers for no reason. It wasn't her who should be embarrassed, nor was it her who should be angry.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but Jiang Yu's back was starting to ache, before she heard the Eighth Prince's arrogant voice, "Duke of Chu, you may dispense with the formalities."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Jiang Yu stood up properly, as if she wasn't the one who had just been made difficult.
The Eighth Prince was very dissatisfied with her attitude. His smug expression turned gloomy, and he said, "Duke of Chu didn't expect me to be made Crown Prince, did he?"
Jiang Yu looked at him with a respectful and serious attitude, "The Crown Prince is intelligent and wise and has the Emperor's trust. It is only natural that he was made Crown Prince."
The Eighth Prince was taken aback, not expecting her to say such a thing. The hatred between the Duke of Chu's mansion, the Earl of Qingshan's mansion, and her mother was extraordinary. However, considering that he was now the Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor, even if Jiang Yu hated the Earl of Qingshan's mansion, she would still have to be subservient to him.
Thinking of this, he snorted with pleasure, "The Duke of Chu is indeed pragmatic."
Jiang Yu replied respectfully, "Your Highness is wise and virtuous; everything I have said is true."
The Eighth Prince was delighted to hear this, and his eyes and lips were filled with pleasure. However, he still said, "Duke of Chu, don't think that just because you say a few nice words, I will forget what you did to the Earl of Qingshan's mansion."
"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation," Jiang Yu replied immediately.
"Hmph." The Eighth Prince snorted heavily again, then strode past Jiang Yu with his head held high. Jiang Yu watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on her lips. Dealing with this Crown Prince didn't require her to lift a finger.
Therefore, she did not confront him directly.
She looked up at the azure sky and strode towards the palace gate.
Imperial Study
"Not long after His Highness the Crown Prince left the Imperial Study, he summoned the Duke of Chu..."
Zhao Fuquan reported to the emperor in a low voice what had happened between Jiang Yu and the Eighth Prince. The emperor's face grew increasingly gloomy as he listened, and finally, in anger, he threw his brush aside and snorted coldly, "Fool."
Zhao Fuquan lowered his head, not daring to speak. The fool the emperor was referring to was naturally the newly appointed crown prince. The Duke of Chu was someone the emperor currently trusted, and Zhao Fuquan, as a newly appointed crown prince, had not yet secured his position. Even if he had a great grudge against the Duke of Chu, he had to make peace with him on the surface and show his magnanimity as the crown prince.
He, on the contrary, openly used such despicable means to make things difficult for the Duke of Chu, not far from the Imperial Study. What else could he be but a fool? However, as a servant, he could only listen to what the Emperor said, but he could not show any reaction, not even his expression.
...
After returning to the Zhongshu Sheng government office, Jiang Yu summoned Ling Yaoying, the head of Baoyuan Money Shop, and told him about the imperial court's investment in Baoyuan Money Shop.
"...From now on, the imperial court will hold 70% of the shares in Baoyuan Bank, and your Ling family will hold 30%."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yaoying's face contorted with discomfort, as if he had swallowed a bitter pill. He frowned, gathering his thoughts for a moment, before cautiously asking Jiang Yu, "Thirty percent... isn't that too little?"
Jiang Yu picked up her cup and took a sip of tea. "If Patriarch Ling doesn't agree, then forget it."
"No!" Ling Yaoying hurriedly said with a bitter face, "Thirty percent is fine, then... then thirty percent."
He knew perfectly well that if he didn't agree, Baoyuan Money Shop would definitely go bankrupt, and he might end up with a mountain of debt. He was now filled with regret; he shouldn't have been so greedy and tried to take advantage of the imperial court.
“Okay, since you agree, let’s sign the contract.” Jiang Yu took out the prepared contract and handed it to Ling Yaoying. “Take a look at it carefully.”
Ling Yaoying took the contract with a wry smile, read it clause by clause, and seeing that there were no problems, picked up a pen, signed his name, and pressed his fingerprint on it. Jiang Yu took the contract and checked it over, then called Li Zhengze and Lu Tianzong over and instructed them to arrange the takeover of Baoyuan Money Shop.
After they left, Jiang Yu called Kou Bin and Jing Yingyu over and instructed them to notify the owners of the other money shops to come to the Zhongshu Province government office the day after tomorrow.
Upon hearing this, Kou Bin and Jing Yingyu knew something big was about to happen. They exchanged a glance, and Kou Bin asked Jiang Yu why she had summoned those business owners. Jiang Yu didn't hide anything and showed them two contracts.
"Will they agree to this?" Jing Yingyu couldn't help but ask after reading it.
The imperial court is investing without contributing a single penny, yet it wants a 55% stake – this is blatant robbery!
“If they disagree, Baoyuan Money Shop serves as a cautionary tale.” Jiang Yu looked at them seriously and said, “An important industry like money shops must be kept in the hands of the imperial court.”
Kou Bin and Jing Yingyu seemed to understand her words, but neither of them asked further. Everything Jiang Yu was doing now was approved by the emperor; as mere secretaries, it was best for them to simply obey orders.
The two left Jiang Yu's study and found a quiet corner to talk.
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