Chapter 284 New Schemes
Yao Qingling had just been released from prison, and it was during the New Year. The Marquis's mansion was experiencing both a funeral and a celebration, leaving everyone at a loss as to what to do.
Early in the morning, the maids waited in the flower hall for Qingling to make a decision.
Previously, these trivial matters were all handled by the Lady of the Marquis. Although Lady You has been supporting the operation of the mansion these days, she is not the proper mistress after all. When there was no one to rely on, people listened to her. Now that Yao Qingling is here, people naturally have to go to her.
Fortunately, Qingling had been the young mistress of the Duke's mansion for three years, so managing the household was not too difficult for her.
She spent some time making arrangements, and the servants who received the instructions quickly got to work.
Qingling went to see her third aunt and asked You Shi to arrange everything for the upcoming festival.
Zhao'er officially inherited the title, but the child's full moon celebration was not even held. Various things and various reasons delayed this important event.
Qingling plans to hold Zhao'er's full moon celebration before renovating the Marquis's mansion. Her third uncle and aunt will be leaving after the Lantern Festival, so the celebration needs to be held before the Lantern Festival.
On the Lantern Festival, she would also go to the palace to celebrate the festival with the royal family.
However, the Lantern Festival is only a few days away.
Madam You said, “The time is too rushed. Our young marquis has inherited the title, and we should hold a banquet to celebrate. It is also a full moon celebration, so we cannot compromise on the proper etiquette. It would be better to wait until the marquis’s mansion is renovated before holding a grand full moon celebration. It is just that the celebration of inheriting the title should not be delayed.”
"We can't wait six months or a year. Besides, holding a banquet for Zhao'er's promotion is like cooking the food and then inviting people over to eat several days later."
Qingling shook her head, still feeling it was inappropriate: "Zhao'er hasn't had her full-month celebration yet, and we're having the nobility banquet first. It's not good for the child, and I'm afraid I won't be able to control her..."
While the two were discussing the matter, the Censor's wife arrived.
Having grown accustomed to small towns, Lady You felt intimidated by the sight of the high-ranking official's wife. After bowing, she quickly left.
Qingling returned to Mulan Courtyard with the Imperial Censor's wife and ordered the maids to serve tea and snacks.
The Censor's wife had lost some weight. Holding Qingling's hand, she said, "While you were in prison, I was so worried I couldn't eat. I couldn't let Lao Cao scold me. Speaking of which, that Lin Shiyuan is a real scoundrel. How could he treat you like that?"
Qingling handed the tea to the Censor's wife, smiling as she said, "I'm sorry to have startled you, Madam. I'm fine. But Madam, they haven't investigated you, have they?"
The censor's wife was also the owner of Hui Ba Fang, and she maintained relationships with the wives of various families, which aroused suspicion from others.
Even if the Censor's wife didn't say it, Qingling knew that Censor Cao must have been feeling incredibly stifled in the court lately.
His own wife was also involved, so if he scolded anyone, people would say he was showing favoritism and he had to defend his wife.
Some people say that Yao Qingling is cunning; he opened a shop and brought in officials' wives so that someone could take the blame if something went wrong.
The Imperial Censor's wife lost weight, most likely from fright.
The censor's wife waved her hand, took a sip of tea, and wiped her mouth: "Let them investigate if they want. I've done nothing wrong, so I'm not afraid. Do you think I don't know what kind of business you, Madam Yao, are in?"
She paused, then added, "It was my husband, Lao Cao, who got into some trouble."
Imperial Censor Cao had been honest and upright his whole life, and he could scold people with righteous indignation. This was the first time he had ever felt so humiliated.
Qingling nodded: "The Censor-in-Chief dares to speak frankly in court, and has offended many people. I am still very scared after this incident. I am worried that they will take this opportunity to cause trouble and cause the Censor-in-Chief to lose his position."
"So I'm thinking, why don't you withdraw from Hui Ba Fang, Madam? I'll buy back your shares at the original price plus 20%. What do you think?"
The censor's wife glared at her: "Did I say I was afraid? Did Old Cao say he was afraid?"
Qingling: "..."
The Censor's wife then said, "Having gone through such a major event, it proves that Hui, from all directions, young and old, is honest and trustworthy, can withstand scrutiny, and is not afraid of investigation. Now that we've overcome this hurdle, are we afraid instead? Is that reasonable?"
"Besides, Qingling, you've become a first-rank noblewoman because of this, a role model for all women. If Hui Bafang reopens, it will definitely be the most successful shop in the entire Shengjing City. If I back out now, wouldn't I be at a huge disadvantage? Aren't you just setting me up?"
Yao Qingling was rendered speechless by the Imperial Censor's wife.
All she could ask was, "Does Imperial Censor Cao have no objections?"
A couple must be of one mind and not have opinions about each other's affairs, otherwise a rift will develop.
The censor and his wife were an enviable couple, and Qingling naturally hoped that they would be happy for the rest of their lives.
The censor's wife suddenly sighed and touched the calluses on her palms.
She said, "To be honest, although my family has officials, they always offend people and get tripped up. It's common for them to have their salaries docked. Although I don't have any elderly people to support, there are many other things in the family that require money."
"Old Cao studied so hard back then that he ruined his health. He also worries a lot, so his body is always on edge. I always want to give him good food and help him recover. But good medicine is so expensive, and without money, how can we help him recover?"
Her voice lowered as she looked out the window and said softly, "The national treasury is empty, and there hasn't been a raise in salaries for a long time. Those officials have ways to make money, but Old Cao is honest and has nothing. These past few years, I've been burdened by the reputation of being an official's wife, so I can't go out and sell tofu at a stall anymore."
“I’ve been thinking of embroidering some things myself and selling them at embroidery shops, but I haven’t learned that kind of fine work, so I can’t do it.”
"Qingling, I'm lucky to have met you and be able to do business with you."
Qingling said, "I understand... I am naturally happy that Madam is willing to continue partnering with me."
The censor's wife smiled, then, as if remembering something, lowered her voice and said, "You're going to the palace to celebrate the Lantern Festival?"
Qingling nodded.
During the Spring Festival, the royal family should have held a banquet for all officials on New Year's Eve. However, due to the investigation of a major corruption case in the palace, this year it was not held as usual and was moved to the Lantern Festival.
The censor's wife said, "My husband, Cao, said that if you can speak with the emperor, remember to ask for an official position."
Qingling asked in confusion, "Government-run?"
The Censor's wife said, "Salt is a state monopoly, while rice, grains, wine, and oil are both state-run and privately-run. However, the scale of private operations is limited. For example, wine requires a license issued by the state..."
As the Censor's wife began to explain, Qingling interrupted her: "I know what you're saying, but what does Censor Cao mean?"
She's just a shop owner; she can't very well become an official and manage those government-run businesses, can she?
Or should we let her become a royal merchant?
Qingling had no interest in becoming a royal merchant.
The Censor's wife said, "Old Cao's idea is for you to expand your rice shop further, to do business with ordinary people, so that everyone can have food to eat."
She then explained in detail the original intention of Imperial Censor Cao in making this suggestion.
"...Old Cao said that if you can accomplish this, you will have accumulated great merit."
After listening to Cao Yushi's insights, Qingling was convinced.
She nodded: "The Imperial Censor is a man of great vision and foresight for the country and its people. Please rest assured, Madam, I will definitely accomplish this."
The censor's wife explained her purpose, sat for a while longer, and then returned home in the afternoon.
After the lady left, Qingling immediately started thinking about the rice shop.
When Huibafang was unsealed, other shops were also unsealed, but the best-performing shops were the rice and oil shops in the four markets managed by Xia Chan.
People flocked in and bought rice and oil at below-market prices, finally saying with satisfaction, "We can finally have a good New Year."
These words shocked Qingling.
She assumed that people would have to eat sparingly during the Lunar New Year because they couldn't buy cheap rice, but she didn't expect that they wouldn't be willing to buy expensive rice at all.
Upon further questioning, she learned that because these rice and oil shops had been shut down, and the investigation in the capital had caused widespread panic, the merchants had taken the opportunity to raise rice prices, making the already struggling people even worse off.
No wonder Imperial Censor Cao gave her that advice.
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