Chapter 56: First thing to do is to save your life
Someone passed by outside the teahouse, glanced at Zhao Changning's face casually, then walked around and entered the small restaurant next to it.
It was still early, not yet noon, and there were not many people in the simple restaurant.
When Fang Wenhai saw his entourage return, a familiar smile appeared on his chubby face, particularly kind. "Did you see that woman?"
The attendant nodded. "Yes, there's a skinny guy there, drinking tea with her and waiting."
Fang Wenhai curled his lips and raised his eyebrows, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "He does have some brains. Humph, let's see how capable this female scribe is."
The attendant hesitated and asked, "Sir, should we quickly inform the deputy governor about this?"
Fang Wenhai frowned, very unhappy. "Why tell him? It's bad luck! Isn't this female secretary a favorite of the Emperor? A new official takes office with three fires. Let him fight with the female secretary first to see who is more powerful. We can talk about it later."
Seeing that the master was angry, the attendant immediately shut up.
Zhao Changning and Yunsheng waited in the teahouse for a long time. It was not until noon that An Yi, dressed in shorts and strong and sturdy, came back, sweating profusely.
"Hurry, hurry, have some tea." Yunsheng was busy and served Anyi with envy. "Are you tired? I've cooled it down for you. Drink it quickly."
Zhao Changning waited until Anyi finished his tea before speaking, "Thank you for your hard work. What have you gained?"
Anyi panted for a long time before shaking his head tiredly. "It seems normal. It's very spacious inside, and there's nothing unusual. But there's one thing that's strange. These things are clearly meant to be put into the warehouse, but the manager said they were damaged and told us to unload them right there. And then someone did come and haul them away."
"Damaged?" Zhao Changning frowned. "How could it be damaged right after arriving? Was it broken or soaked in water? What was inside? Did you see it?"
Anyi shook his head. "Those of us who are moving things can't see what's inside. Everything is packed very tightly, and you can't move it. The manager also keeps a close eye on it, not even chatting is allowed."
Zhao Changning nodded, thinking that this didn't reveal any problems. He still needed to find out more about the situation. Although it wasn't as difficult as the matter of the Weaving Bureau, it was still a tough job.
Before he could say anything, a tall man in a scarlet suit, with a smile similar to Fang Wenhai's, came to the teahouse.
"But the Imperial Secretary?" The man bowed and spoke carefully, "Isn't Wan's admission of guilt correct?"
When Zhao Changning heard him call himself Wan, he realized, "Are you Deputy Supervisor Wan Yu?"
Wan Yu's attitude was obviously much more humble. Apart from the fact that his official position was lower than Zhao Changning's, he was more friendly like a businessman.
"Is it really the Nv Shu Ling? I didn't know she had arrived, and I didn't go out to greet her. I hope you will forgive me."
Wan Yu laughed and said, "Why did the Nv Shu Ling come to this warehouse by herself? This place is remote and not easy to walk to."
Zhao Changning was very careful. "I have to obey the emperor's order and do something. Lord Wan, please forgive me. I am a woman and I am not familiar with it."
"No, no, no, thank you for your hard work, Nv Shu Ling." Wan Yu stood up. "Since Nv Shu Ling is here, why don't we go for a walk in the warehouse?"
Zhao Changning smiled and said, "That's great. Thank you so much for your suggestion."
"You're welcome." Wan Yu also greeted.
The two of them were laughing at each other tacitly. While walking, Zhao Changning bought some cakes for Anyi. He was starving after moving goods for the whole morning.
Wan Yu just looked at him with flickering eyes, but did not ask any questions.
It is called a warehouse, but in fact it is just a bunch of slightly simple cargo sheds. Of course, the main office of the Maritime Customs is not here. This place is just a transit point. Since it is imperial tribute, the things here must be registered and stored after being received, and then they must be sent to the palace in batches for handover.
Wan Yu led everyone from front to back. "This side is the tribute from all over Dayong, sent by the imperial merchants. The front area is for perishable items, such as fresh fruits and seasonal fish, for easy transportation. The large area over there is the real place for the imperial tribute. Dayong is the Celestial Empire, with countless vassal states and small countries around it. Every year, the tribute is huge. Years ago, Annan specially sent ten elephants to congratulate the new emperor on his ascension to the throne. The elephants' bodies were like walls, and their legs were as thick as the four pillars of the house..."
He kept gesturing with his hands and feet, and suddenly remembered that Zhao Changning was a court lady in front of the emperor, and he couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.
"The female secretary is well-informed and knowledgeable around the emperor. I am too talkative."
Zhao Changning listened with great interest. "I remember what Lord Wan said. I remember one year, a country called Java paid tribute of 300 black slaves and 70,000 kilograms of pepper. Even the late emperor thought this gift was very generous."
Ten thousand people nodded repeatedly, feeling proud. "Those small countries pay tribute in order to seek blessings, so they must pick out the best things to send."
Zhao Changning pursed his lips and smiled, "I wonder where our own tribute from Dayong is? Could you take me there to have a look? Lord Wan knows this is our duty."
"Yes, yes, it's my duty. Please come this way, Nv Shu Ling." Wan Yu responded.
Zhao Changning chatted casually, "I remember that during the reign of the previous emperor, the imperial tribute increased little by little due to the increase in the number of people in the harem. I wonder if the number remains the same now?"
Wan Yu's answer was vague. "This matter is under the jurisdiction of Fang Tiju, and I'm not really sure. I'm afraid the female secretary will have to talk to him about it."
Zhao Changning heard the tentative tone in his words, and did not expect that this person would shirk responsibility now. He just smiled and said nothing more.
There are people coming and going in the freight transport area, and horses and ox carts are constantly moving, so naturally the smell is not very good.
Zhao Changning covered her nose, frowned slightly, and looked a little unhappy.
Wan Yu looked at it with secret joy in his heart, it turned out to be a woman, the embroidered pillow had a shiny surface and could not stand any smell.
"Nüshu Ling, why don't we go out? There are too many people here, and it's too much of a hassle. I'm sorry to bother you."
Zhao Changning took advantage of the situation and said, "Then let's go look at the silk and porcelain. Lord Wan, please don't be bothered. I have a job to do."
Wan Yu did not refuse and took her with him.
When they arrived, Anyi's eyes moved. The box he moved in the morning was of this style.
In order to let Zhao Changning see clearly, Wan Yu personally opened a box of silk for Zhao Changning to examine. "Nu Shu Ling, we have sealed these silks. They have unique patterns and colors. A batch has been sent to the palace today..."
He glanced at Anyi but didn't expose her. Instead, he whispered to Zhao Changning, "Of course, the batch sent to the palace must be used as a tribute to someone. Nv Shu Ling, there's naturally a share for you in there. However, it was previously occupied by the Hu Party..."
Zhao Changning suddenly realized and couldn't help laughing in his heart.
No wonder Hu Gou'er could afford to buy such a big mansion and keep so many women. He also had several boxes of treasures. It seemed that he had taken possession of a lot of things.
Of course she would not show it. Like all the eunuchs who were greedy for money, she just exchanged glances with Wan Yu, and both of them smiled knowingly.
"So that's how it is. Lord Wan, please don't blame us. This is our first time doing this mission, so we don't know the ropes very well. I'm really sorry for what we did today."
Seeing her being so understanding, Wan Yu was delighted and waved to a nearby location. A steward who had been following closely behind hurried over and handed over a sandalwood box as long as a small arm.
"You've worked hard, Nüshuling. Today we've hit it off. Wan has a small token of his appreciation. It's not just a token of respect, but you've worked hard to serve the Emperor."
As soon as Zhao Changning saw the box, he guessed what was inside.
Of course she had to refuse, "No, no, no, Master Wan is too polite, I can't accept this."
"Hey, Nvshu Ling, it's not too late to refuse after you take a look." Wan Yu handed the box over with an ambiguous attitude. "Nvshu Ling, serving in front of the emperor is a good job, but it is also inevitable that you will be worried and frightened. You can't let your health be damaged. If you accept it, it will be a token of our love."
Zhao Changning thought that she would eventually integrate into the group, so she just needed to do her own thing well. She didn't want to cause any other trouble, so she took over.
She opened the sandalwood box a little, and a ginseng as thick as a child's arm and brown in color came into view.
She was a little shocked. She had collected a lot of ginseng over the years and had seen some good things, but ginseng like this was really rare.
"What is this?"
Wan Yu chuckled, "Don't be surprised, Nvshu Ling. I've treasured this red ginseng for a long time. It came to Dayong with the Korean envoys. I heard that Nvshu Ling loved ginseng, so I prepared it early. It's just that I never had the chance to see it, so I'm just taking the liberty today."
Zhao Changning couldn't help showing a hint of surprise on his face.
She is a very boring person, but unexpectedly, she can still find a loophole to give gifts. She is really thoughtful.
But the fact that they could easily pull out such a trick to win her over meant that the waters in the Maritime Customs Office were quite deep.
As she handed the box to Yunsheng, she smiled and said, "How can I be so embarrassed?"
Wan Yu felt contempt in his heart, but still had a smile on his face.
"Oh, Lord Wan," Zhao Changning said, as if remembering his mission. "You must be aware that the Emperor is reducing expenses for the benefit of the people. You see, the items that can be shipped out of the sea must be silk and porcelain. You cannot change them without authorization."
Wan Yu smiled confidently, "Don't worry, Nv Shu Ling, I will definitely select a batch carefully for you, and I will definitely not let you fail in your mission."
He said this, eager to leave. "Let's go eat first. Since you're here, how can I not show my hospitality? We've also got Yangtze River shad sent from the Jianghuai River. Has your daughter ever tasted this delicacy?"
Zhao Changning had tasted it before and didn't think it was very delicious. It was not much different from other fish, but she couldn't refuse it at the moment. In addition, Wan Yu's cute look made her a little curious.
"Thanks to Master Wan, I'm really having a feast today."
Wan Yu burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Nv Shu Ling is so polite. Please come this way, please come this way. The carriage is waiting."
Zhao Changning was wondering where he was going, but it turned out to be an inconspicuous little house in a small village two miles away from the warehouse.
She looked back and saw Anyi's tall figure, feeling relieved. Fortunately, she brought Anyi with her today. If she had only brought Yunsheng, she really wouldn't have dared to enter the house.
Unexpectedly, the outside of the house looked ordinary, even simple, after all, the roof was covered with thatch. But the inside of the house was no less luxurious than the previous emperor's bedroom.
Complete sets of nanmu tables and chairs can be seen everywhere. They are simple and exquisite, with delicate carvings, and are even better than the imperial desk in the Qinzheng Hall.
Zhao Changning saw that the food was already on the table, and it seemed that this person was quite confident that he could "take him down".
Wan Yu had already begun introducing Zhao Changning. "Does the Nushu Ling know how rare this shad is? It's not easy to bring it as tribute. It has to travel 300 miles a day, be chilled, sealed in wicker baskets specially made for shad, and then sent to Yujing by express horses. It's so delicious that even the late emperor praised its exquisite taste."
He beckoned Zhao Changning to sit down, "Sit down quickly, Nvshu Ling. In all of Yujing, only the shad here is the most delicious. Nvshu Ling, please try some..."
Zhao Changning looked at the skinny fish on the porcelain plate and wondered how much it would cost to buy such a fish.
It is true that a horse gallops across the red dust and the concubine smiles, but no one knows that it is the lychees coming.
She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. She immediately knew the difference and was filled with emotion. However, she still looked up and smiled, "It's really delicious. It melts in my mouth. I'm really lucky today."
Wan Yu laughed proudly and arrogantly.
The meal was a great success for both the host and the guests, and Zhao Changning was sent out just like that, having refused many gifts.
Yunsheng burped and said, "Aunt, the food here is indeed better than that in the palace."
Zhao Changning couldn't help but look back and said lightly: "Yes."
Eat better than the emperor.
Anyi frowned, "Aunt, are you just going to leave like that? It's obvious at first glance that this guy is not a good person."
"So what do you want?" Zhao Changning lowered the carriage curtain and said gently, "In Yujing, a few steps away might bring you to a high-ranking official of the third rank or higher, and ten steps away might bring you to a royal relative. Besides, even though Wan Yu's position may not seem high, it's a lucrative one. This Wan surnamed figure is probably no ordinary person, and who knows who's behind it? In short, we must be careful and prioritize our lives."
She looked at the red ginseng, frowned, and closed her eyes in deep thought.
The meal was almost over at 3 p.m., which showed that it was a grand banquet. I wonder what they talked about and what the emperor meant.
Fang Wenhai watched Zhao Changning's carriage gradually disappear, his eyes filled with gloom. He snorted coldly, "It seems he's just another money-grubbing guy, huh."
He sighed, sat down again, and soon began to sip his tea and hum a tune leisurely.
Suddenly the door was pushed open and Wan Yu walked in with a bad look on his face.
He also sighed and said earnestly, "Master Fang, my Master Fang, why didn't you tell me in advance that this woman was coming?"
Fang Wenhai didn't even look at Wan Yu, and snorted coldly: "What do you mean? Can I see you? Besides, she was sent by the emperor. She doesn't have to say hello to me wherever she goes, let alone you..."
He said this with a bit of displeasure, "Sometimes I can't figure out, am I the Supervisor of the Maritime Customs, or are you my superior?"
Wan Yu's expression froze, then he put on a smile. "Lord Fang, my dear brother, I'm just worried she might do something wrong. The Maritime Customs Office has always been peaceful, and now a female scribe suddenly shows up and interferes. Do you think anything good can come of this?"
Fang Wenhai muttered something, then said, "I don't know if her coming is a good thing, but your coming is not a good thing anyway. If it's nothing, don't disturb me while I'm drinking tea."
There was a flash of impatience in Wan Yu's eyes, but facing this rough guy, he could only reason with him.
"Master Fang, think about it carefully. This matter was accomplished because the Emperor knew how to use people wisely and Zhao Changning was capable. What do we have? Nothing. We can't accomplish it. Humph, that's just God's will. We can take this opportunity to kick her out. What's the point of a woman getting involved? It's just nonsense."
Fang Wenhai didn't reply, but sang a song leisurely. He simply closed his eyes and basked in the sun comfortably.
Wan Yu looked at him lying like a piece of fat bacon, and there was a flash of disgust in his eyes, but he still felt uneasy. After all, that woman was by the emperor's side. Could a mere red ginseng make her shut up?
But she refused to take any of the things stuffed in the back. Could it be that she looked down on them? After all, compared to red ginseng, those things were no match for a single ginseng root. It seemed this woman had a big appetite.
No, we need to find more people to lobby and get her out of here. If no one takes on this task, it will naturally be left unresolved.
If it really doesn't work, the worst that can happen is to kill her. Does the emperor need a woman by his side?
Wan Yu thought it over, turned around and ran out.
After returning to the palace, seeing that it was still early, Zhao Changning rushed to the Qinzheng Hall as soon as possible.
An He was wearing a bitter face, and seeing her aunt coming back was like seeing a life-saving straw. "Aunt, the emperor is in a bad mood right now. The concubines of Yonghe Palace have been punished to face the wall and reflect on their mistakes again. This time, even the little princess has been sent to Kunning Palace."
Zhao Changning wasn't surprised at all. He asked, "Are you scolding her for her extravagance?"
An He's eyes lit up, "Aunt is very clever."
Zhao Changning smiled and shook her head. It seemed that the queen was much stronger and smarter than she thought.
When we entered the main hall, the emperor was painting. Perhaps he was in a restless mood, as there was a pile of torn paper scraps at his feet.
There were only a few rays of afterglow by the window, and there was no temperature. The stove in the hall had gone out, and the cold seemed to come out of nowhere and slowly spread throughout the house.
She first lit the stove again, then poured the emperor a cup of hot tea, and finally squatted down to pick up the scraps of paper at the emperor's feet.
The emperor saw that she had been busy since she came in, and asked impatiently: "What are you doing picking this up?"
Zhao Changning held up the paper in his hand. "These papers are all blank. I picked them up and gave them to the palace maids in the inner study. They spend a lot of money on paper."
The emperor's expression was already bad, and he frowned even more when he heard this. "The paper in the inner study is only half the price."
Zhao Changning pursed his lips and smiled, "Your Majesty, they are just palace servants, not masters."
In fact, up to now, all the paper for the inner study hall was bought by her, but there is no need to tell the emperor about this.
The emperor remained silent, put down his pen, and sighed, "You are right. We should have been in this difficult time together. Even you understand this."
But some people just don't understand and want to make things difficult for him.
Zhao Changning did not mention Yonghe Palace at all, but instead talked about interesting things outside the palace.
"...The emperor should have tasted it. The extremely fresh shad is indeed delicious. I have never eaten such delicious fish..." She always spoke gently and softly, without any haste. An ordinary thing, when it came out of her mouth, always made people want to listen.
The emperor was obviously not surprised by this. "Those bastards really know how to enjoy themselves."
Zhao Changning observed the emperor's attitude and realized that he was not angry. She thought he knew what was going on. Then the matter would be easier to handle, and she wouldn't have to think about it in circles.
The emperor saw that she still had a smile on her lips, which was quite rare. He couldn't help but ask her, "What's wrong? Is there anything else you haven't told me?"
Zhao Changning went to the side hall and took out the red ginseng. "Your Majesty, please take a look at this."
After reading it, the emperor didn't speak for a long time.
"Good, very good. This means there is no rift between the ruler and his subjects." He spoke in a gloomy tone, looking at Zhao Changning with a gentle gaze. "Other people would run away if they encountered this situation. Why are you telling me all this? Are you really not afraid of death?"
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The author has something to say: Changning: I really won’t say anything, you are unhappy again [milk tea][spread hands][spread hands]
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