"This guy's luck is unpredictable."
Nanny Fang sighed, "How come the Fourth Madam is pregnant again?"
After saying that, she secretly glanced at Gu Jiu's abdomen.
Yu Ge'er is almost one year old, two years old in terms of age, but there is still no sign of Gu Jiu's second child.
Nanny Fang was worried.
Comparing yourself to others is really frustrating.
Xiao Qin'er is very pregnant.
If she hadn't done it herself last time, the pregnancy wouldn't have been aborted.
This time, she was pregnant again. With the lesson learned last time, she would take good care of the fetus and give birth smoothly.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Everyone's physical condition is different. Some people are easy to conceive, like the Fourth Madam. For others, getting pregnant always takes a lot of effort."
Nanny Fang said, "Now that the Second and Fourth Madams are both pregnant, shouldn't Madam hurry up?"
"Your Highness is not here, and it's useless for me to hold on alone. Besides, Yu Ge'er still thinks so and can't live without someone. If I get pregnant at this time, I won't be able to take care of him. It's not right, it's not right. At least, we have to wait until Yu Ge'er is two or three years old before we talk about having a second child."
"Madam is too stubborn. Now is the perfect time to have children since we are young. When you are older, it will not be so easy to have children."
Gu Jiu was speechless. She was only in her twenties, in the prime of her life.
These days, people are too harsh on women.
It seems that women enter middle-aged and elderly status after they turn 20.
"Don't worry about it, Madam. Whether or not to give birth, and when to give birth, we'll talk about it after His Highness comes back."
Xu Yousi asked to see Gu Jiu, and he asked him to come in.
"Madam, Su Liangyuan in the palace died suddenly last night, and the news only broke today."
"Su Liangyuan?" Gu Jiu thought about it before remembering this person.
Xu Yousi nodded, "It's Su Liangyuan."
Gu Jiu frowned, "Are you sure it was a sudden death?"
"That's what the news says."
"Could it be that she was behind the Queen Mother's stomach upset?"
Gu Jiu was a little confused.
She had an impression of Su Liangyuan.
Five or six years ago, Su Liangyuan was carried into the palace in a sedan chair and became the woman of Prince Ning.
She was very pretty, and few of Prince Ning's women were ugly. However, her presence was a bit low, and she didn't go out much on weekdays.
She would only be seen with her maid during festivals and gatherings at the mansion.
This time Emperor Wende conferred titles on the harem, and she was given the position of Liangyuan, but she was still a woman with a very low sense of presence in the harem.
It is really surprising that this person died suddenly and was related to the Queen Mother's stomach upset.
Gu Jiu asked, "Who is from Su Liangyuan's family?"
Xu Yousi said hurriedly, "I've inquired. Su Liangyuan is from the south. Her family was a small landlord there. Because she offended a prominent local family, her family had to send her away as an apology. Because she was beautiful, she was sent to the capital and eventually entered the palace. I checked the daily records of that year and found that Su Liangyuan was still a virgin when she entered the palace."
Gu Jiu nodded, "What does the palace say?"
"His Majesty ordered the funeral of Su Liangyuan to be arranged, and even sent someone to notify her family. There was nothing else."
"Hasn't the Queen Mother's matter been investigated yet?"
Is it a food incompatibility or an allergic reaction to something I ate? It's a bit unbelievable that there has been no conclusion for such a long time.
Since when has the efficiency of investigating cases in the palace become so low?
Maybe there are four people who say there is no news from the palace.
It is still unclear whether the Empress Dowager's case has been thoroughly investigated.
Gu Jiu waved her hand. "This matter is known to me. You continue to pay attention to the movements in the palace and report any situation in time."
"As you command."
Gu Jiu thought about it but couldn't figure out a name.
Forget it, the water in the palace is too turbid, so she won't get involved.
After a while, the servant reported that Eunuch Deng wanted to see him.
Deng Cunli is here.
Gu Jiu hurriedly said, "Please invite the person in."
Deng Cunli walked into the small study and bowed.
"Sit down and talk."
Deng Cunli sat obediently on the small round stool.
"I came here today to ask Madam, what are you going to do with the Zhu family? Are you going to leave them hanging? It's better to just refuse."
Gu Jiu had known for a long time that Cheng Enbo Zhu Ci wanted to cooperate.
Something happened in the palace recently, and she was busy and had no time to take care of the Zhu family.
Now that the affairs in the palace have come to an end, it is time to sort out matters related to road construction.
Gu Jiu didn't answer but asked, "Do you think I should reject the Zhu family?"
Deng Cunli frowned slightly, "I dare not make the decision on this matter."
"That's all right. You just need to tell me what you think."
Deng Cunli pondered for a moment, "I think if we can't guarantee that the Zhu family will be completely destroyed, we can choose to cooperate with them appropriately, but we must also be wary of that family while cooperating.
After all, the Zhu family has been rooted in the capital for generations, and their business connections are spread all over the world. They are a powerful family. There are many advantages to cooperating with the Zhu family. However, the Zhu family may not be willing to be inferior to others. In the long run, we still have to be cautious.
Gu Jiu nodded. "If we cooperate with the Zhu family, what method do you think is most suitable?"
Deng Cunli looked at Gu Jiu and asked, "Madam, do you not want to accept the money from the Zhu family?"
Gu Jiu laughed. "As you said, I can't guarantee that I can kill the Zhu family with one blow. Appropriate cooperation is fine. In business, there are only eternal interests, no eternal enemies.
However, I'm concerned about the method of cooperation. The Zhu family's money is too much to handle, and I really don't want it. However, as the largest grain merchant in the capital, the Zhu family has extensive grain distribution channels. Consider having them bear the cost of grain and fodder losses.
Our construction team is provided with two meals a day, and the amount of food and fodder required is astronomical. If the Zhu family is willing to accept food and fodder as a stake, or to supply food and fodder to the road construction team at a low price, I am willing to put aside our past grudges and work together.
This is the general policy, you can discuss the specific details of the cooperation. This time, the Zhu family is begging us, you must put pressure on the Zhu family and make them feel the pain before they stop. "
The implication is that they want to extort money from the Zhu family.
The value of grain is not as intuitive as that of silver and money.
What Deng Cunli had to do was to directly suppress the Zhu family’s grain prices.
For example, according to the market price, the Zhu family paid 100,000 taels worth of grain. However, when it came to Gu Jiu, the 100,000 taels of grain was only counted as 50,000 taels, or even only 30,000 taels. It was not even enough to cover the cost.
In this way, it would be easy to make the Zhu family feel the pain.
This is also why Gu Jiu only accepted food and not silver.
The Zhu family could choose not to cooperate, or even choose to sell grain directly to the road construction team.
But if you want to participate in the shares and get dividends, sorry, you have to play by Gu Jiu's rules.
If you are not convinced, you can quit the game.
Gu Jiu was not interested in taking the Zhu family out to play.
As long as the Zhu family chooses to participate in the dividend game, they will have to pay twice or even three or four times more than others for the same shares.
Not reconciled?
It's useless.
Now it is Gu Jiu who sets the rules of the game, and the Zhu family has to hold it in even if they are unwilling.
Deng Cunli received instructions and made an appointment for a meeting with Zhu's father and son.
When Deng Cunli laid out the conditions for cooperation, Cheng Enbo Zhu Ci blew his beard and glared, while Master Zhu jumped up.
"You are going too far."
Deng Cunli said in a cold voice, expressionless, "You can choose not to cooperate."
"You, you are clearly trying to take advantage of our Zhu family and try to manipulate them. Where is Madam Zhao? We need to meet with her."
Deng Cunli was not a man who liked to laugh. He put on a stern face and said in a serious tone, "My wife is of extraordinary status. You can't just see her whenever you want.
Uncle, please say something. If you think this condition is too harsh, then we haven't met yet. When we meet in the market in the future, each will judge on his own merit.
By the way, the Sihai Road and Bridge Trading Company needs a large amount of grain. Your Zhu family can compete for the grain supplier. As long as the price is right and the grain quality is guaranteed, we can exchange the money for the goods."
Deng Cunli was waiting for Cheng Enbo's reply.
Marquis Cheng'en Zhu Ci let out a long sigh and said slowly, "This condition is indeed quite harsh. It means that our Zhu family has to pay three or four times more silver than others, but we get the same amount of shares."
Deng Cunli shook his head. "That's not how it works. Grain is grain, and silver is silver. But if you can't accept it, then we can't discuss it. I'm busy at home, so I'll take my leave first."
"Wait."
Zhu Ci, the Earl of Cheng'en, stopped Deng Cunli and said, "Eunuch Deng, why are you so anxious? Can't you give me some time to think it over? This is a matter of great importance. I hope you can give me more time."
Deng Cunli didn't move a muscle. He said he was leaving, but he was just pretending to leave to put pressure on the Zhu family.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, his face still serious. "We've chosen an auspicious day. Five days from now, construction of the cement road from the capital to Luozhou will begin simultaneously in both the capital and Luozhou. Time is tight, and there's a lot of preparation to do. Please forgive me, my dear uncle, but I can only give you half an hour to consider it."
Cheng'enbo Zhu Ci frowned slightly and nodded to indicate that he understood.
Mr. Zhu is very old and still very impatient.
"Father, this condition is too harsh. Others can recoup their investment in three to five years. It will take us ten to twenty years to do so. We can't do this deal."
Zhu Ci, the Marquis of Cheng'en, looked at his eldest son and asked, "Do you really think this deal is impossible?"
Master Zhu nodded heavily, repeatedly emphasizing, "You can't do that."
Cheng En Bo Zhu Ci sighed, "Have you ever thought about what will happen to our Zhu family if we reject this opportunity?"
Master Zhu was speechless.
After a long while, he finally found his tongue and said, "Didn't father say there was another way?"
Cheng Enbo held his cane, his mind in a state of uncertainty.
"Unless it is absolutely necessary, I will not take any risks."
To cooperate with Gu Jiu, you have to pay three or four times more than others.
But the price of choosing to cooperate with the emperor is more than three or four times.
Cheng'enbo Zhu Ci has seen too much.
Emperor Kaiyao reigned for thirty-eight years. In the early years, many families that were once so prosperous were now gone, with only a few elderly people still remembering those families.
To cooperate with the emperor is like trying to get the skin of a tiger.
The risk is simply too great.
Cheng Enbo Zhu Ci sighed heavily.
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was no longer cloudy and hesitant, but firm.
He said to Deng Cunli, "I can agree to the terms of cooperation you offer. But I also have one condition."
"Uncle, please speak."
"I want to meet with Madam Zhao. I have something to tell her in person."
Deng Cunli looked hesitant and said, "My wife is very busy and I'm afraid she doesn't have time to see you, my uncle."
Zhu Ci, the Earl of Cheng'en, said, "It doesn't matter. Eunuch Deng only needs to convey my words to Madam Zhao. Whether she agrees to meet or not, I will sign and pledge to cover all the food and fodder needed during the road construction."
Seeing the other party's straightforwardness, Deng Cunli nodded and said, "Okay, I will convey the uncle's request to my wife. However, I cannot guarantee that my wife will definitely meet with the uncle."
"I understand. I'm truly sorry to have to ask Eunuch Deng to deliver this message. I've already ordered a banquet to be prepared at Tianyue Tower. I hope Eunuch Deng will do me the honor."
Deng Cunli refused to do the honor.
"I'm busy at home, so I won't have dinner. I'll treat you to tea someday if I have the chance."
Cheng'enbo Zhu Ci did not try to keep Deng Cunli, but personally escorted him out.
It has to be said that after experiencing the blow last year, Cheng Enbo Zhu Ci has been keeping a low profile since he came out this year.
However, the more such a person is, the more terrifying he is.
If you can endure things that ordinary people cannot endure, you will naturally be able to achieve great ambitions and great careers.
However, Deng Cunli thought that none of Zhu Ci's sons were as good as Cheng Enbo.
Only Master Zhu was slightly stronger, but he was only able to maintain the business.
By guarding the Zhu family's assets, as long as you don't commit suicide and avoid natural disasters or man-made disasters, you can guarantee a life of wealth and glory.
As for the third generation, it’s hard to say.
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