Chapter 63
The carriage traveled along the stone-paved road leading to the palace, the clatter of the wheels striking Cui Yunshu's heart like a heavy hammer. Sitting inside, her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress, her mind racing as she tried to decipher the Emperor's purpose in summoning them to the palace.
Tang Pu sat opposite her, his expression also somewhat grave. Although he had acted rashly, he knew that being summoned by the emperor so soon after his wedding was no small matter. He glanced at Cui Yunshu and, seeing her calm expression, felt slightly relieved. In his view, as long as there was a "mastermind," no problem was insurmountable.
"Master strategist, do you think His Majesty summoned us to the palace for...?" Tang Pu lowered his voice, his words unfinished, but the meaning was clear. He was worried that the emperor had come for their "great cause."
Cui Yunshu shook her head, her tone certain: "Probably not. Our plan has always been very secretive. Even if His Majesty has some suspicions, he won't make a move so quickly. I guess His Majesty might want to use this palace banquet to give us a warning and also to see our attitude."
She paused, then added, "When we enter the palace later, speak as little as possible and act according to my signals. Remember, no matter what His Majesty says, we must appear respectful and obedient, and we must not reveal the slightest flaw."
Tang Pu nodded, though he was somewhat unconvinced, he knew Cui Yunshu was right. In terms of court intrigue, he was indeed inferior to Cui Yunshu.
The carriage soon arrived at the palace gates. After alighting, led by a eunuch, Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu passed through layers of palace gates and arrived outside the Imperial Study.
"His Majesty is waiting for you two inside. Please come in," the eunuch said respectfully, but his eyes held a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible.
Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to the Imperial Study before entering.
The atmosphere in the imperial study was solemn. Emperor Tang Tai sat on the dragon throne, holding a memorial in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed. Seeing Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu enter, he put down the memorial, his sharp gaze sweeping over the two of them, and said in a calm tone, "You've arrived. Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu said in unison, bowing respectfully before standing to the side.
The emperor remained silent, simply watching them. The imperial study was eerily quiet, save for the occasional soft rustling of incense ash falling from the burner. Cui Yunshu could feel the emperor's gaze, like an invisible net, enveloping her and Tang Pu, making it hard for her to breathe.
After a long while, the emperor slowly spoke: "I heard that your wedding day was a grand affair, and the people of the capital are all talking about it."
Tang Pu quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am able to be where I am today entirely because of Your Majesty's grace."
The emperor smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "Grace? I have indeed bestowed many graces upon you. I've put you in command of the northern border troops and betrothed the four daughters of the Cui family to you. Do you know why I did these things?"
Tang Pu was taken aback, unsure how to respond. He glanced at Cui Yunshu, who nodded slightly, and then said, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and only know to be grateful to Your Majesty, but I do not understand Your Majesty's deeper meaning."
The emperor turned his gaze to Cui Yunshu, his tone tinged with inquiry: "Cui, what about you? You are a clever woman, you should know my deeper meaning, shouldn't you?"
Cui Yunshu's heart tightened, knowing that the emperor was testing her. She composed herself and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty wishes for me and the Prince to be of one mind and one heart, to serve the Great Qin, and to share Your Majesty's burdens."
The emperor nodded, his tone softening: "You're right. The reason I did this is that I hope you can contribute to the Great Qin. Tang Pu, you are brave and skilled in battle, a rare military talent; Cui Shi, you are meticulous and good at management. If the two of you work together, you will surely achieve great things for the Great Qin."
He paused, then changed the subject: "But I also hope you remember the difference between ruler and subject, and to abide by your duties. Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't do what you shouldn't do. I can give you favors, and I can also take them back."
These words were blunt and threatening. Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu were both startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered by your subject, and we will never dare to overstep our bounds in the slightest."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, I didn't mean to give you a hard time. The main reason I summoned you to the palace today is to have you have a simple meal with me. The imperial chefs have developed a few new dishes, so please try them."
With that, the emperor stood up and called out towards the door, "Prepare a banquet!"
Soon, eunuchs and palace maids brought in one exquisite dish after another and placed them on the table. The aroma of food instantly filled the imperial study, but Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu had no appetite whatsoever. They knew that this "simple meal" was far more complicated than it appeared.
After the banquet began, the emperor kept serving food to Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu, and his tone became very gentle, as if he genuinely just wanted to have dinner with them. But Cui Yunshu dared not let her guard down. She knew that the more the emperor acted this way, the more it meant he had ulterior motives.
"Cui, I've heard you're very good at business. You founded Yunjian Pavilion, Jinghuayuan, and Jinxiu Pavilion, didn't you?" the emperor suddenly asked, his gaze falling on Cui Yunshu.
Cui Yunshu put down her chopsticks, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, it is all thanks to my good fortune and the kindness of Your Majesty and the people that my business has been able to develop."
"Good luck?" The emperor smiled. "To have built such a large business in just a few years, spreading throughout the Qin Dynasty, is not just a matter of good luck. You are very capable, and I admire you."
He paused, then said, "I've heard that the Royal Maritime Trading Company's maiden voyage is about to begin? What are your plans for this?"
Cui Yunshu's heart tightened, knowing the emperor was getting to the point. She composed herself and slowly said, "Your Majesty, for the maiden voyage of the Royal Maritime Trading Company, we plan to first visit several small countries around the East China Sea to establish trade relations with them, selling Qin's silk, tea, porcelain, and other goods overseas, while also bringing back spices, jewelry, and other goods from abroad. This will not only increase Qin's tax revenue but also enhance Qin's friendship with other countries overseas."
The Emperor nodded, his tone approving: "Your plan is excellent. I hope you can manage the Royal Maritime Trading Company well and contribute to the prosperity of Great Qin. However, I also remind you that overseas trade is fraught with risks, so you must be careful and avoid making any mistakes."
"Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered by your humble servant," Cui Yunshu said respectfully.
Tang Pu, standing to the side, felt somewhat displeased seeing the emperor constantly talking to Cui Yunshu. He felt that he was the Prince of An, a general of the court, and the emperor should be paying more attention to him. He was about to say something when Cui Yunshu stopped him with a look.
Although Tang Pu was resentful, he knew that Cui Yunshu was doing it for his own good, so he had no choice but to swallow his words.
The banquet continued, and the emperor asked some more questions about the military situation in the northern border and the East China Sea Security Company. Tang Pu answered them one by one, prompting Cui Yunshu with her eyes, trying his best to appear respectful and obedient.
After the banquet, the emperor looked at Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu and said in a calm tone, "It's getting late, you should go back now. Remember what I said today, and serve the Great Qin well."
"Your Majesty, we obey your decree and thank you for your grace," Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu said in unison, bowed respectfully, and then turned and left the Imperial Study.
After leaving the palace and getting into the carriage, Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The oppressive atmosphere in the imperial study had made them tense all over.
"Master strategist, what does His Majesty mean by this? Does he want to give us important positions, or is he trying to put us in a bad position?" Tang Pu couldn't help but ask, his tone full of doubt.
Cui Yunshu shook her head, her tone grave: "His Majesty's thoughts are unfathomable. He wants us to serve the Great Qin and utilize our abilities and resources, but he also worries that our power is too great and will threaten his rule. That's why he bestows favors upon us while simultaneously keeping us in awe."
She paused, then continued, "In the days to come, we must be even more cautious. The Royal Maritime Trading Company's maiden voyage must be flawless, leaving His Majesty with no leverage. The reorganization of the East China Sea Security Company must also be accelerated, so that it can quickly become combat-ready. Only when we are strong enough can we gain a foothold in this complex court situation."
Tang Pu nodded, a determined expression on his face: "Rest assured, strategist, I will complete these tasks as soon as possible."
The carriage slowly drove back to the Prince An's residence. As soon as they alighted, the manor's steward rushed over, his face anxious: "Your Highness, Your Highness's Consort, something terrible has happened! News has come from the East Sea that the Royal Maritime Trading Company's fleet encountered pirates while at sea and has been hijacked!"
Upon hearing this, Cui Yunshu and Tang Pu's expressions changed drastically. How could the Royal Maritime Trading Company's fleet suddenly encounter pirates? And on its maiden voyage no less? Could there be some kind of conspiracy involved?
"Is the news true?" Tang Pu grabbed the butler's collar and asked urgently.
The butler nodded quickly: "The news is absolutely true. It was sent back by the East China Sea Security Company. They said that when the fleet was passing near the 'Devil's Fog Zone,' it was attacked by a large number of pirates. Due to the large number of pirates and their fierce firepower, the fleet was outnumbered and was eventually hijacked."
Cui Yunshu's face also turned extremely grim. The area near the "Devil's Fog Zone" was precisely where the British Royal Navy fleet had previously laid an ambush. Could the Royal Maritime Trading Company's fleet have encountered pirates there this time because they were remnants of "Black Shark's" crew? Or was it a deliberate scheme?
"Immediately gather manpower and convene an emergency meeting!" Tang Pu made a decisive decision, his tone firm. "Furthermore, pass on my order to have the Donghai Security Company immediately launch a rescue operation. We must rescue the fleet members and recover the cargo!"
"Yes!" the butler replied hastily, turning and rushing off to carry out the order.
Watching Tang Pu's anxious retreating figure, Cui Yunshu was filled with worry. The Royal Maritime Trading Company's fleet not only carried enormous wealth but was also crucial to her escape plan. If something happened to the fleet, her escape plan would be severely affected.
Moreover, she had a feeling that the hijacking of the fleet this time was not so simple. Someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes. Was it the Second Prince? The Duke of Ying's mansion? Or some other force?
"Master strategist, what should we do now?" Tang Pu walked up to Cui Yunshu and asked anxiously. Although he had already given the order, he was still unsure and could only rely on Cui Yunshu.
Cui Yunshu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down: "First, we need to find out who the pirates who hijacked the fleet are. Are they remnants of 'Black Shark' or some other force? Second, we need to formulate a rescue plan as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the fleet members while minimizing losses. In addition, we also need to secretly investigate whether someone is deliberately planning this incident."
She paused, then continued, "Immediately have someone contact 'Iron Face' of the East China Sea Security Company and have him personally take charge of the rescue. At the same time, have the East China Sea branch of the Cloud Pavilion closely monitor the situation and gather relevant intelligence. I will have someone compile detailed information on the Royal Ocean Trading Company's fleet, including the cargo and crew lists, in order to develop a more detailed rescue plan."
Tang Pu nodded and immediately turned to make arrangements. Cui Yunshu watched his retreating figure, silently praying that the fleet would arrive safely; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
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