The emperor looked at Xiao Mochen in shock and asked, "Chen'er, what did you just say? Are you trying to make me happy during the New Year?"
Xiao Mochen replied calmly, "Of course not. My aunt is a very talented person. Moreover, my aunt said that there are not only well salt, but also sea salt, lake salt and rock salt, and the refining process is actually very simple."
Your Majesty, I have already asked my aunt to write down the detailed procedures. I will present them to you as soon as Father opens the seal after the New Year.
"Father will no longer be hampered by the salt tax."
The emperor was overjoyed upon hearing this. He trusted Xiao Mochen, and even more so Lady Mingzhao.
This is truly like someone bringing him a pillow when he's sleepy.
The emperor was so excited that he almost summoned Yan Qingqing to the palace on the spot, but he managed to restrain himself in the end.
He wanted to wait and see the shocked and disappointed faces of the eldest prince and Consort Yu.
Suppressing his joy, the Emperor told Xiao Mochen, "Go and tell Lady Mingzhao that if this matter succeeds, I will promote her to the rank of Lady Mingzhao, a first-grade official. She will no longer need to kneel before me."
Xiao Mochen cursed the emperor in his heart for being stingy. Such a great achievement only resulted in a promotion of one rank. However, the first rank was already the highest rank for imperial consorts in the Great Yan Dynasty. Even if the emperor wanted to promote them two more ranks, he couldn't.
But the fact that she didn't have to kneel before the emperor was probably more appealing to her aunt.
Regardless of what Xiao Mochen was thinking, he still respectfully addressed the emperor, saying, "Father, rest assured, I will certainly convey these words."
However, it's best not to let this matter leak out before Father Emperor issues the seal, otherwise I fear some people might try to take advantage of the salt production, and Aunt might not be able to have a good New Year."
The emperor had the same idea. He looked sharply at Eunuch Xiang and ordered, "Keep the people of Hanlong Palace under control. Anyone who dares to spread even the slightest word will be beaten to death on the spot."
Startled, Eunuch Xiang quickly replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will certainly keep them under control."
This was a major event, and even he, an eunuch, was shocked when he heard about it.
If anyone dares to ruin the Emperor's plans, not only will the Emperor not forgive the servants below, but he himself will not forgive those little brats either.
Sure enough, as soon as Xiao Mochen left Hanlong Palace, people from all walks of life came to inquire about what he had come to do in the palace.
The palace maids and eunuchs in Hanlong Palace all gave the same answer: they had come to wish the Emperor a Happy New Year.
But who comes to pay New Year's visits in the afternoon? And on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they couldn't think of anything important that Xiao Mochen could have done.
So the concubines who had princes and princesses also began to take action.
The emperor hadn't expected his Hanlong Palace to become so lively in the afternoon. Look at his filial children and sensible concubines, all of whom came to wish him a Happy New Year.
As for Yan Qingqing, after Xiao Mochen left, she didn't immediately start writing, but went about her business.
After Xiao Mochen and Ling Ziyuan left, Yan Qingqing realized what salt meant to the Great Yan Dynasty.
Of course, this wasn't because Yan Qingqing was reluctant to part with the salt-making method, but rather because keeping it in her mind was much safer than writing it down on paper.
Yan Qingqing's family didn't have any relatives in the capital to visit, so it was unusually quiet.
Yan Qingqing was happy to have some free time, spending her days chatting with the children except for eating and sleeping.
Recently, Li Xin's mother has been experiencing severe morning sickness, so Yan Qingqing consulted a doctor and has been cooking several dishes for her every day.
Li Xin's mother was deeply moved. She thought that she had hurt Yan Qingqing's feelings and that Yan Qingqing would no longer treat her like her other brothers and sisters. She never expected that her mother would still care about her in the end.
During this time, Li Xinniang also figured out many things. So what if the Wu family looked down on her? So what if she divorced Wu Jingzhi?
She has shares in the embroidery workshop, and with the love and support of her mother, brother, and sister-in-law, she and her children can live well together.
So go to his Wu family, go to his Wu Jingzhi.
After figuring these things out, Li Xinniang felt much more at ease.
Although the morning sickness was unpleasant, my mental state was significantly better.
Yan Qingqing even consulted a doctor, who said that as long as Li Xinniang is no longer stimulated, she will gradually recover.
Yan Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. To be honest, Li Xinniang's problem wasn't serious; she was just a little frightened and depressed.
When you're in a good mood, your spirits will naturally improve.
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, everyone gathered in Yan Qingqing's room to play cards. The doorman came to report that Wu Jing had come to pay his respects earlier.
Li Xiang'an glanced at Li Xin's mother, and seeing that she didn't react in any particular way, he frowned and said, "Didn't I tell you that from now on, no matter who from the Wu family comes to the door, you should all be kicked out? Are you deaf or have you never learned your lesson?"
The gatekeeper stammered, "Young Master Wu, oh no, Young Master Wu said he came with sincerity."
He said he had already planned to separate from the Wu family and live independently.
He only begged that the madam and young lady give him a chance.
Li Xiang'an sneered and said, "Who cares if he only thinks of separating now? Let him leave quickly and don't let him come back again."
The gatekeeper quickly agreed upon hearing this. Actually, he didn't want to be scolded, but Wu Jingzhi was too generous and had begged him. So he went and indeed got scolded.
Before he could even step back, Yan Qingqing said, "Wait, let him in!"
Yuan Huiniang, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Mother, the Wu family bullies my younger sister so much, why did they still let him into the family?"
Yan Qingqing sighed and replied, "When I first learned about Xinniang's experience in the Wu family, I was furious, which is why I ordered people to smash up the Wu family's place."
We won't let Wu Jingzhi into our house.
But now that the New Year is over, whatever the final outcome, there needs to be a solution.
Besides, although Wu Jingzhi failed to protect Xinniang, he ultimately didn't do anything to wrong her.
Another point is that Yan Qingqing is a mother herself, so she can understand a mother's feelings.
She was afraid that Li Xinniang was still angry and wouldn't forgive Wu Jingzhi. If time passed and her anger subsided, she would see the child and want to give him a complete family. It would be better to make a decision now than to reconcile then.
Upon hearing Yan Qingqing's words, the servant naturally rushed out to inform Wu Jingzhi.
Wu Jingzhi was soon taken to Yan Qingqing's courtyard.
He appeared calm on the surface, but he was actually quite flustered inside. Even the servant noticed, because he was walking with his arms and legs moving in unison.
Wu Jingzhi also felt ashamed, but he really couldn't control himself.
Yan Qingqing was no longer the aunt he knew back then, but the real Lady Mingzhao of the Great Yan Dynasty.
It was Lady Mingzhao who dared to smash up the Wu family's property in a fit of anger.
Wu Jingzhi hadn't held out much hope, but he never expected Yan Qingqing to let him in this time.
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