The Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, surprised, and said, "How could such a warm quilt have turned to ashes?"
Hongyu nodded and sighed, "What a pity! I've heard that the cotton supply in the capital is monopolized by Wendong Cotton Shop. Perhaps someone is jealous of this, so... Alas! The marketplace is like a battlefield. What a waste of all that pure white cotton!"
The Emperor pondered for a moment, then his heart leaped with joy. Excellent! He had been wondering what pretext to use to collect taxes from officials and merchants!
The fire came at just the right time.
He embraced Hongyu, holding her close, and whispered, "I suspect there was collusion between officials and merchants, and that the distribution of profits was unfair, so he set the fire to vent his anger."
Judging from the Emperor's words, it seems he intends to take action against officials and merchants.
So, Hongyu wrapped her arms around the emperor's neck and whispered a plan in his ear:
If it involves collusion between officials and businessmen, it must be investigated and prosecuted as well.
[How should we investigate and prosecute them together? Consort Yu, please tell us.]
[For businessmen, they can be ordered to declare their assets; if they conceal anything, all their property will be confiscated.]
As for officials, their assets need to be reassessed, and their land measured as well, with officials ordered to pay taxes. After all, everyone has a responsibility when the country is in trouble.
The Emperor nodded, and was about to summon Eunuch Cai to issue the decree when Eunuch Cai hurriedly came to report: "Your Majesty, someone from the Mu family reports that Aunt Liao was kidnapped by villains last night. She jumped off the carriage and broke her leg. She wishes to request Consort Hua to return."
The Emperor asked in surprise, "Have you caught the villain?"
[Not yet. Princess Yanghua means that the Gu family kidnapped Aunt Liao in order to seize her shop.]
The Emperor was overjoyed and immediately ordered: "Summon Lord He and Prime Minister Kong to the palace for a meeting. Also, send someone to escort Consort Hua out of the palace to visit her mother."
------
Xiuhua sat in the sedan chair, her heart filled with anxiety. Although her mother hadn't treated her well, she couldn't bear to see her mother in trouble, after all, blood is thicker than water.
She lifted the curtain and looked ahead, only to see a sedan chair stopped opposite the Mu family's residence. A veiled woman hurriedly alighted from the sedan chair and was helped into the alley opposite the Mu family's residence by two tall maids.
The area opposite the Mu family's house is now a pile of ruins; it seems that the fire started here last night.
As Xiuhua alighted from the sedan chair, Baihe stepped forward to help her and whispered, "Your Highness, those two maids just now had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and high noses; they looked like Dilraba and Gulnazar, who served Consort Na."
Xiuhua nodded slowly, without saying a word.
Seeing this, Baihe reminded her, "Your Highness, think about it, Consort Na has no relatives or friends in the capital, so why would she come here? Is she colluding with someone and doing something shameful? Perhaps I should send someone back to the palace to report to the Emperor or the Empress."
Xiuhua wasn't one to meddle, so she shook her head and hurriedly entered the Mu family's West Alley Garden.
However, Baihe obeyed Yanghua's orders. In order to help Xiuhua win the emperor's favor and punish Gulinafei, Baihe secretly instructed the nanny to go to Jiaofang Palace to inform her that Consort Na had left the palace without permission and gone to the alley where the fire occurred last night.
Gulnaffee walked along the alley into Anping Flower Tea Shop, paying her respects to Mu Chenyu under the guise of a merchant.
Manager Wan politely declined, saying, "Miss Chenyu has important matters to attend to today and is unable to receive guests. I'm sorry."
Gulnaffee fumbled for a soft, bulging handkerchief and handed it to Manager Wan, saying softly, "Let Miss Chenyu take a look at this first, and then decide whether or not to see me?"
Manager Wan ran to the back room and opened it, only to find it was filled with pure white cotton.
This cotton is simply top-quality; it is not only pure white and flawless, but also soft and light.
Manager Wan hurriedly took the cotton to see Chen Yu.
Chen Yu naturally wanted higher quality cotton, but it wasn't even December yet, and she was almost out of cotton.
At this time, the supply of cotton was a timely help.
So she invited Gulinafi to the back room to discuss the matter.
Gulnaffee entered the back room and saw Chen Yu greeting her at the door. She removed her veil and nodded slightly in greeting.
Shen Yu was shocked. Although she had never met Gulnaff, she could tell her identity just by looking at the blood jade hairpin in Gulnaff's hair.
She quickly bowed and said in a flustered manner, "I was unaware of the arrival of Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine. I have failed to greet you properly and hope Your Highness will forgive me."
“Miss Chenyu, there’s no need for such formalities. I was heartbroken to hear that the Wendong Cotton Shop had caught fire. I thought that my Guli has an inexhaustible supply of cotton, which can be transported to the capital to help the people withstand the cold.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Yu quickly invited Gulinafei to take a seat and closed the door behind her.
She knew that collusion between officials and businessmen was a serious crime. If someone reported her to the Emperor, Gulinafei would not only lose her position as a Noble Consort, but she would also likely be banished to the Cold Palace.
She might have all her property confiscated and be thrown into jail.
Gulinafei, a woman from another ethnic group, was also aware of these things.
After discussing it for a while, Chen Yu brought out paper and pen and placed them in front of Gulinafei, saying, "Let's cooperate according to Your Majesty's wishes. Your Majesty, quickly write a letter to King Guhuai and ask him to send someone to deliver the cotton."
Half an hour later.
After seeing Gulinafei off, Chenyu opened the door to the back hall and saw Yang Hua standing outside, holding a letter, with dozens of guards with swords behind him.
Yang Hua glared angrily at Chen Yu. She had originally planned to burn down Wen Dong Cotton Shop to make Manager Wan suffer a huge loss, but who would have thought that it would be her own family members who blocked the Mu family's path to wealth?
Just now, Lily came to report: Consort Na has entered Anping Flower Tea Shop.
Yang Hua then sent people to secretly monitor Anping Flower Tea Shop, and sure enough, they intercepted Gulinafei's letter.
She has already reported this matter to the Emperor. As long as it is confirmed that Gulinafei and Shenyu are colluding with officials and merchants, the Emperor will never favor Gulinafei as before, and Xiuhua can take the opportunity to rise to power.
As for Chen Yu? She was also furious with hatred.
Shen Yu glanced at Yang Hua, unable to hide her hostility. As soon as she stepped out of the door, Yang Hua waved his hand, and dozens of guards rushed up, forming three human walls to block Shen Yu.
Gulnaffee stepped forward, pointed at Yang Hua, and angrily rebuked her, "I came out for a stroll to clear my head, what is the meaning of this, Princess Yang Hua? How dare you block my way? Get out of here at once, or I will definitely inform the Emperor."
[Haha...] Yang Hua sneered: [The Emperor forbids collusion between officials and merchants. How dare Consort Na, a noble consort of the harem, defy the Emperor's orders and collude with merchants? And I caught her red-handed! I've already sent someone to report to the Emperor. You can all just wait to be punished by him.]
Shen Yu, unconvinced, stepped forward and glared at Yang Hua, retorting: "The Emperor forbids collusion between officials and merchants. Princess Yang Hua, as the wife of a general, knowingly violated this law, not only engaging in commerce but also reaping exorbitant profits. Doesn't this constitute disobeying the imperial decree?"
"You..." Yang Hua raised the letter in his hand, glanced sideways at Chen Yu, and ordered sternly: "Guards! Mu Chen Yu and Consort Na have colluded with officials and merchants for personal gain. There is ample evidence and witnesses. Mu Chen Yu is hereby brought back to the Mu family to await the General's return for personal handling."
After Yang Hua finished speaking, two guards stepped forward and escorted Chen Yu away.
------
Shen Yu was forced to kneel in the Mu family ancestral hall by two guards. Looking up, she saw two old women standing proudly, holding a finger-crushing instrument and an embroidery needle in their hands.
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