Chapter 121121 Borrowing a Knife to Kill
On the morning of September 20th, all the major shops in the city opened on time at noon as usual.
The waiter was wiping the counter with a rag when a group of men appeared on the street.
They wore the same black round-necked, tight-fitting, narrow-sleeved robes with the word "Supervision" embroidered in white thread on the right chest. They wore long swords at their waists and long boots of the same color. They were all tall and strong, and looked very majestic.
These people formed teams of ten and poured into the street shops.
The guy was startled: "Who are you?"
The leading man showed his token and said, "We are inspectors appointed by the government, and we are here to inspect all the major shops in the city under the orders of the prefect."
The waiter's expression immediately changed. He smiled and bowed, "So it's you, sir. Please come in, sir."
He secretly observed the inspectors' expressions and asked tentatively, "What are you officials inspecting?"
The captain of the inspection team glanced at them coldly, and the waiter fell silent. He stepped aside with a rag in his hand and watched in fear as some inspectors looked through the account books while others went straight to the kitchen.
“The prices are high.”
“The kitchen is messy.”
"The ingredients have a strange smell, and some are rotten."
“…”
Every time the inspector said something, someone would record it in a book.
The cook stiffened his neck and argued, "Your Excellency, we just bought these ingredients this morning. How could there be such a strange smell?"
The inspector ignored it and searched the restaurant thoroughly.
The boss rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing the waiters and cooks all looking pale, his expression grimaced for a moment, but he quickly put on a smile and greeted them warmly: "I didn't know you were coming, Your Excellency. I'm sorry for not coming from afar to welcome you. I'm so sorry."
He took out a banknote, his chubby body blocking the prying eyes outside the restaurant, and whispered in a low voice: "This hundred taels is my invitation to you gentlemen for a drink and entertainment. Sirs, please be kind and show some mercy. I will never do it again."
The captain of the inspection team glanced at the still warm banknotes in his hand and smiled.
Seeing this, the boss felt relieved.
However, before he could completely breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the inspector captain shout loudly: "Remember this again, bribing an inspector is an even more serious crime!"
Boss: “???”
The inspector licked his brush and wrote in a rhythmic voice: "Bribe the inspector!"
Boss: “!!!”
There was laughter coming from outside the restaurant.
"I knew this old guy was dishonest."
"The food at Zuiyuelou is incredibly expensive and terrible. Last time, I ordered a fish, and it had a sour, rancid smell. I told the waiter about it, and he scolded me. I'll remember this for the rest of my life."
"I don't know what's the point of remembering all this. Are the authorities really going to punish them?"
Fortunately, they soon found out the answer.
The inspector took out a piece of red paper that was four inches long and wide like a magic trick. The captain of the inspection team held the seal, dipped it in the ink and stamped it on it.
The seal was removed, and the three huge words "Unqualified" came into view.
The inspector general said sternly, "You have two days to rectify the restaurant. If you fail three times in a row, you will be fined 1,000 taels, and the shop will be closed and taken over by the government."
The boss's eyes went dark and he almost fainted on the spot.
The inspector pasted the red paper on the door of the restaurant to ensure that people passing by could see it, then waved his hand and went straight to the next restaurant.
In just the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, a red paper with the word "qualified" printed on it was posted. The shopkeeper smiled from ear to ear, holding his head high and chest out, like a rooster that had won a battle.
Compared with the Zuiyue Tower next door, the latter seems even more unpresentable and ridiculous.
The boss took one look at the certificate of qualification, then looked at his own certificate of failure, rolled his eyes, and fell straight down.
......
Over the next ten days, similar incidents occurred repeatedly throughout Shaoqing Prefecture.
A rough calculation showed that there were as many as four or five hundred unqualified shops, which made the people of Shaoqing Prefecture very excited.
"Have you noticed that most of those who fail to meet the standards have connections and backers?"
"They're just bullying people by taking advantage of their power. They sell it at such a high price, but it's not a good product."
"Since the establishment of the inspection team, I have saved a lot of money on shopping."
"Hey, what do you think? If I rent a shop and start a business now, will I not have to worry about being retaliated against by those bastards?"
"They have their own problems to deal with, and there are inspection teams that conduct regular and irregular inspections, so how could they dare to cause trouble?"
After this incident, the people who originally wanted to do business went to the government office, rented shops at low prices, and left happily with the lease contracts.
The clerk sighed and said, "The prefect always comes up with many novel ideas."
Previously, none of the 500 shops were rented out. Since the inspection team came into being, more than 200 shops were rented out in just two days.
My colleague remained noncommittal: "I'm actually looking forward to the woolen sweaters that come out of the garment factory."
The clerk smiled and said, "It's October now, the weather is getting colder, and people are afraid of the cold, so there must be a lot of people buying woolen clothes."
It will be another source of income by then, and I will be so busy making money that I can’t hold back.
By late September, all 500 shops had been rented out.
That night, the three sisters sat around the table for dinner.
Du Qingzhu bit her chopsticks and said, "Xiao Ba, Xianyu, I have an idea, but I don't know if it's feasible."
Du Qingtang raised his eyes and pretended to listen attentively.
Du Qingju tilted her head. "What's your idea? Just tell us so we can give you some advice."
Du Qingzhu cleared his throat and said slowly, "Since the opening of Shixiang Pavilion, besides a few signature dishes, snacks have been the best sellers."
"Xianyu set up an inspection team a while ago, and the atmosphere in the shops has been completely changed. More people are renting shops, and almost every day someone comes to ask for snack recipes."
"Luckily, Xianyu reminded me, and I signed a confidentiality agreement with the cooks, so they didn't dare to leak it."
"But this isn't a solution. I've been thinking about it for several days. Since they want to start a snack business, can't Shixiang Pavilion be responsible for making snacks and sauces and let them sell them?"
"But I haven't decided yet whether to share the profits or sell it directly to them."
Du Qingju clapped her hands and said, "It's a good idea. It can not only stop them from spying, but also help Shixiang Pavilion make money."
"I think dividends are better. They are a steady stream that can generate more and longer-term returns."
Du Qingtang raised his eyebrows slightly: "Seventh sister is really good at doing business."
Du Qingzhu chuckled, not being modest, but raising his chin: "Of course, it doesn't matter who I am!"
Du Qingtang pondered for a moment and offered her an idea: "Since that's the case, why don't you build Shixiang Pavilion into a brand? Other shops can wholesale ready-made snacks and sauces from you and sell them in their shops."
"Or they can buy out the ingredients and sauce recipes and run the business themselves under the 'Shi Xiang Ge' brand." Du Qingtang took a sip of his soup. "The former earns less, but it's a long-term deal, while the latter allows for a one-time profit. It all depends on the decision they make."
Du Qingzhu frowned: "Wouldn't that affect the business of Shixiang Pavilion itself?"
Du Qingtang said calmly, "If the reputation of Shixiang Pavilion spreads, the profits it will gain will be far greater than that of just one Shixiang Pavilion."
Du Qingju was worried: "What if someone leaks the secret recipe, or if they run the business poorly and tarnish the 'Shixiang Pavilion' brand?"
Du Qingtang tapped the table with his fingers. "Doing business naturally involves taking risks. We can sign a contract then. If they leak the secret recipe to unrelated people, how much compensation will they bear?"
"As for discrediting Shixiang Pavilion..." Du Qingtang pondered for a moment, "That's easy. We can specify it in the contract. If their actions affect the reputation of Shixiang Pavilion, we can directly revoke the brand authorization and even demand compensation."
Du Qingzhu touched his chin, thinking for a while, and then said, "Let me think about it carefully."
Du Qingtang nodded: "Let's eat first. If there's anything, we can talk about it after dinner."
......
The science classes for the girls’ class are still going on.
Twenty years later, many girls' families knew about the science classes. Some thought it was necessary, while others were ashamed of it and even went to the school to make a scene.
When Du Qingtang heard about this, she did not stop the science class. Instead, she sent yamen runners to guard the school gate. All the troublemakers were thrown into jail and kept for half a month before being released.
In this way, no one would dare to cause trouble in the school even if they were dissatisfied.
Thanks to Du Qingju's popular science education, the girls in the women's class had a deeper understanding of themselves, and several girls came to Du Qingju privately to ask her for help.
In addition, because Du Qingtang increased the penalties for adultery, many women came to the government alone or accompanied by their mothers to file complaints.
They would rather sacrifice their reputation than give up and seek justice for themselves and bring the evildoers to justice.
Du Qingju was so angry that she was shaking all over: "A bunch of things worse than animals, how dare they!"
"Some people aren't human, they just look like humans." Du Qingtang said calmly, "When Chen Dahong is executed in a few days, the presence of these people can serve as a warning to others to a certain extent."
Du Qingju sighed: "Tomorrow when the clinic closes, I'll go to the charity hall to see them."
Du Qingtang comforted him, "The women working in the charity hall are carefully selected, and we will definitely take good care of them."
The next day, Du Qingju went to Xinglin Hall as usual.
After sending away a female patient half an hour ago, Du Qingju was teaching Liang Chuxia acupuncture.
Just as Du Qingju said, Liang Chuxia had a high talent in medicine and she had mastered the medical books in just half a month.
Du Qingju tested her and, seeing that she answered questions fluently, she began to teach her acupuncture.
"Doctor Du."
A soft female voice sounded, and the master and disciple raised their heads almost at the same time.
Zhang Lihua walked into the clinic and said, "Meihua went to work at the garment factory. Now that I'm done with my confinement, I came to you to recuperate."
Seeing that she looked pale but in good spirits, Du Qingju couldn't help but smile and said, "Of course."
Zhang Lihua's incision healed well, the catgut had been absorbed, leaving only a long scar.
Du Qingju checked her pulse and said, "You ate a lot of bad things before, which was very harmful to your body. You need to slowly recuperate."
Zhang Lihua was overwhelmed with various emotions, mostly regret.
If she had known this would happen, she would never have agreed to Liu Po's request and drank the medicine that was said to help her get pregnant, thus ruining her health.
However, she does not regret giving birth to her daughter after surviving many dangers.
Now she lives in the Zhang family. Her brother and sister-in-law pity her and treat her very well. Her sister-in-law also helps her take care of her daughter. Her life is hard but comfortable, a hundred times better than living in the Huang family.
Zhang Lihua thought of Huang Li, whom she remarried in mid-year, and shook her head secretly: "Then I'll have to trouble Doctor Du."
In the evening, Du Qingju took Liang Chuxia to the charity hall and bought some snacks that the children liked on the way.
Before Du Qingtang came, the charity hall had been abandoned for many years. Now it has been renovated, and victims such as Chen Wenxiu and abandoned children who were wandering the streets have moved in, adding some popularity to the place.
Liang Chuxia took their pulses and played with them for a while.
Seeing these girls no longer timid, with a look of joy on their faces, Du Qingju felt relieved and went home.
-
It took four months for the bandits to dig up all the wasteland in Shaoqing Prefecture.
They were digging the ground in front, while the farmer hired by Du Qingtang at a high price was trying every means to fertilize the soil in the back.
Today, there are finally results.
Du Qingtang took his men out of the city for a patrol, and when he returned to the government office, he had someone post a notice.
"From now on, every household in Shaoqing Prefecture will be allocated five mu of land. You must bring your registered residence to the government office to claim your land."
"The deadline is October 31st. Those who fail to collect their rights after the deadline will be deemed to have voluntarily given up."
The clerk stood beside the notice wall and read the notice aloud.
There were crowds of people in front of the government office, all of whom were common people who had rushed over after hearing that the government was distributing land.
"If a family can get five mu of land, does that mean that no matter how many people there are in the family, they can all get five mu of land?"
The clerk smiled and nodded. "One person has five mu of land, and ten people also have five mu of land. The prefect said that if you are willing but unable to afford it, you can rent out the land appropriately."
"That's a good idea. I can keep some of the land for farming and get rent every year. It's like killing two birds with one stone."
"My son and daughter-in-law both work in a garment factory. They received their salary at the end of the month and were planning to buy two acres of land. We had the money ready, but we didn't expect the prefect to allocate the land to us first. This saved us a lot of money."
"Last year, my family's land was seized by the landlord. We are about to run out of food, and we have very little money at home. I don't know what to do..." The woman wiped away her tears. "The prefect is our family's savior. From now on, I will pray to him three times a day in front of the Bodhisattva."
"You're just starting now? I've been doing this since the prefect vindicated me two months ago."
"The prefect has allowed my two grandsons to study, and I pray to the Bodhisattva every day, asking the Bodhisattva to bless the prefect with good luck and a long life!"
"You guys are so tight-lipped. I'll ask a Buddha to come back tomorrow."
"And me!"
The clerk listened to the people's unwilling words and grinned from ear to ear.
The prefect is deeply loved by the people, and his subordinates are also proud of it.
......
After this day, the clerk in charge of land distribution had to receive thousands of people every day, not only those in the provincial capital, but also those who came from the four counties under his jurisdiction after hearing the news.
Their pens were so busy that they almost left no trace, and they were so busy that they didn't even have time to eat or drink.
But when they saw the people getting their share of the land and their extremely satisfied smiles on their faces, they felt that all the hard work was worth it, so they gritted their teeth, feeling both pain and happiness.
While distributing the land, the fruit farmers recruited by the government at a high price came in handy.
Du Qingtang enclosed a piece of land outside the west city gate as an orchard, and asked people to purchase melon and fruit seedlings suitable for planting in October and gave them to fruit farmers to plant.
In order to take better care of the melon and fruit seedlings, Du Qingtang had extra houses built in the orchard so that the fruit farmers could live directly in the orchard, and also allowed them to bring their families to live with them.
The fruit farmers were blessed and grateful to Du Qingtang, and they took even better care of the melon and fruit seedlings.
If nothing goes wrong, we will be able to harvest a batch of fruits and vegetables next year.
Part of it was sold in Shaoqing Prefecture and surrounding prefectures, and the rest was made into dried fruits and sold throughout Daxia.
At that time, we can build another dried fruit factory, which can solve the employment and livelihood problems of some people.
When Du Qingtang was returning to the city after inspecting the orchard, he happened to meet a group of people who came to the government office to claim their land.
When they saw Du Qingtang, they stopped to salute and shouted in unison, "How are you, Prefect?"
Du Qingtang tightened the reins: "Have you got the land?"
"I got it. It's five acres of land!"
"Thank you, sir, for distributing the land to us. With the land, we will have no worries about food and drink, and our lives will get better and better!"
Du Qingtang looked at these people.
They all had smiles on their faces, and looked satisfied as if they had drunk oil. Even their steps were light and brisk, and there was no trace of the ragged and bitter appearance they had shown a few months ago.
Du Qingtang slowly smiled: "That's good."
-
On August 12, Liu Dun beat the drum to report the incident, accusing the prefect of Linjiang Prefecture and the left vice-minister of the Dali Temple of embezzling disaster relief silver and grain.
The matter was brought to the Imperial Palace, and the Prime Minister Cao Yuan, for the sake of justice, betrayed his own family and confessed that the person who had actually embezzled the disaster relief silver and grain was Cao Xingcan, the second grandson of the Cao family.
However, Liu Dun insisted on the contents of the original complaint and even swore a poisonous oath for this.
Who would have thought that Cao Yuan would also swear an oath.
Both sides insisted on their own opinions and their words were so convincing that it was difficult to tell who was right and who was wrong.
At this moment, Emperor Qingyuan said in a loud voice, "I suddenly remembered that I sent Minister Shi on a secret inspection tour in June. Calculating the time, he should be arriving at Linjiang Prefecture soon."
"I will immediately send a message to Lord Shi, ordering him to thoroughly investigate this matter. Pingyang Prefecture happens to be next to Linjiang Prefecture, making it convenient for investigation."
Afterwards, he ordered people to imprison Liu Dun and Cao Xingxuan, and wait for Shi Zishan to investigate the matter before making a decision.
Cao Xingxuan was the eldest grandson of the Cao family and an outstanding heir cultivated with the efforts of the entire family. Cao Yuan naturally could not watch him being convicted.
After the morning court session, Cao Yuan ordered his confidants to intercept Shi Zishan by land, sea and air, and to absolutely not let the results of his investigation be transmitted to the capital.
When the time came, he asked someone to forge evidence that Cao Xingcan had embezzled disaster relief silver and grain, and presented it to the emperor in the name of Shi Zishan.
As for Shi Zishan, of course he died "accidentally".
Cao Yuan couldn't do anything to Emperor Qingyuan, but dealing with Shi Zishan was no problem.
Once Shi Zishan dies, his people will be able to take over Shi Zishan's position.
Cao Yuan had a great idea, but unfortunately, despite all his calculations, he still missed a step.
At the morning court session that day, Emperor Qingyuan's usually gentle face was so gloomy that water could drip out of it. He sat high on the dragon throne and threw the memorial in his hand, hitting Cao Yuan on the forehead.
"My dear Lord Cao, you disappoint me so much!"
Warm and sticky blood flowed down his forehead, passed the corners of his eyes, and dripped onto the purple official robe.
Astonished and inquiring glances came from all directions. Cao Yuan's eyebrows twitched, and he calmly knelt on the ground with a shake of his robe, holding his tablet with a puzzled expression: "Your Majesty, I do not know what crime this humble minister has committed. Please explain clearly."
Emperor Qingyuan sneered and said nothing.
Cao Yuan lowered his eyes and fixed them on the blood-stained memorial.
After a moment, he picked up the memorial and slowly opened it.
It is Shi Zishan's memorial.
Cao Yuan's pupils suddenly shrank, and he suppressed the urge to tear the memorial to pieces. He read through it word by word in a self-tortuous manner.
In his memorial, Shi Zishan claimed that the prefect of Linjiang Prefecture had confessed to the crime and confessed that the mastermind behind the embezzlement of disaster relief silver and grain was Cao Xingxuan, the Left Shaoqing of the Dali Temple.
Cao Yuan felt as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt. His vision went dark and his head was buzzing.
Why?
Why did Shi Zishan’s memorial enter Xiajing?
He had clearly set up a tight network to intercept him, so why did Xia Ming still find out the truth?
Since the first month of the year, as the imperial power has been consolidated, Cao Yuan's premonition of losing control has become increasingly strong.
Until this moment, this premonition reached its peak.
A chill rose from the soles of his feet, penetrated into his clothes, seeped into his skin, penetrated into his limbs and bones, flowed rapidly along his veins, and finally converged in his chest. The biting cold made him shiver.
Having held power for decades, Cao Yuan had never been as embarrassed as he was now.
He swallowed the sweet taste in his throat and squeezed out the words from between his teeth: "Your Majesty is wise, this is a false accusation..."
Emperor Qingyuan sneered, and the lone wolf, dormant for years, bared its sharp claws. "Cao Xingxuan embezzled disaster relief funds and grain. The evidence is irrefutable. How can you say he is a frame-up?"
The Fourth Prince's heart trembled, and his tablet slipped and hit the ground with a crisp "bang".
The crowd's focus shifted from Cao Yuan to the Fourth Prince.
The fourth prince hurriedly picked up the tablet, lowered his brows and eyes, and acted very respectfully, but his heart was in a mess.
Why was the matter of the disaster relief silver and grain still exposed?
Didn’t grandpa already send people to intercept him?
If his cousin is convicted, will he be implicated?
Emperor Qingyuan glanced at the Fourth Prince lightly, then returned to Cao Yuan. His cold gaze almost solidified into substance, like two mountains pressing down on Cao Yuan's shoulders.
"Cao Xingxuan colluded with the prefect of Linjiang Prefecture to embezzle disaster relief funds. His crime is unforgivable. He must be beheaded immediately. No delay is allowed!"
"Liu Dun, a minor official in Linjiang Prefecture, is commendable for his courage. As an exception, he is promoted to the rank of Fifth Rank Yuanwailang and will serve in the Ministry of Works effective immediately."
"Also, Cao Yuan punished Sun Wufang by confining himself to his own house for two months to reflect on his mistakes."
"Lord Cao, do you have any objections?"
Two months was enough time for Emperor Qingyuan to purge the court and eliminate Cao's party.
Cao Yuan's heart was bleeding, but in front of everyone, he couldn't say anything to protest.
He closed his eyes tightly and pounded his head on the ground: "Your Majesty is wise. I will obey your command."
On that day, Cao's eldest grandson was beheaded at Caishikou.
The Four Princes' and Cao's factions were in a panic, and they left their posts in a hurry to find their respective masters.
However, the Fourth Prince's Mansion and the Duke Cheng'en's Mansion were both closed to visitors, so they could only wander around outside like headless flies.
......
"Your Majesty, His Highness has gone to Yufu Palace."
After the morning court session, Emperor Qingyuan returned to the imperial study. He had just dealt with a few memorials when Fu Rui reported this.
Emperor Qingyuan paused his writing brush for a moment, but said nothing.
An hour passed in a flash.
After Emperor Qingyuan finished processing the memorials that piled up yesterday, he casually asked, "Is Sister Rong still in Yufu Palace?"
Fu Rui pursed his lips and said softly, "Your Majesty, His Highness has already left the palace."
The red pen trembled, and a streak of bright red dripped onto the memorial.
Emperor Qingyuan glanced at it and saw that it was a memorial pleading for Cao Yuan. He closed it and threw it into the wastepaper basket.
After a long while, Fu Rui only heard a soft sigh: "I know."
......
The next day, in the Golden Palace.
Emperor Qingyuan was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and sitting upright on the dragon throne with a sharp gaze and a majestic demeanor.
"I dreamt of the late emperor last night, and recalled his deep concern for me. I woke with a sense of loss."
"I wish to go to the Imperial Mausoleum to accompany the late emperor, but I am too busy with government affairs to spare the time. Fourth Brother is my legitimate son and holds a noble status, so you will go to the Imperial Mausoleum to perform filial duties on my behalf."
The Fourth Prince suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Cao Xingxuan was executed yesterday. He did not watch the execution, but he repeatedly dreamed at night that he was chopped into two pieces by the guillotine and was groaning and wailing in a pool of blood.
After waking up in fright, I couldn't fall asleep again until dawn.
Although I am sleepy now, I have no desire to fall asleep. My mind is full of scenes from my dream.
Emperor Qingyuan's words struck him like lightning. The blood drained from his face and his body trembled. "Father..."
My cousin is dead, why are you still taking your anger out on me?
You have already confined my grandfather to my house, and you are unwilling to let your own son go?
Besides being panic-stricken, I also felt a bit of resentment.
The Fourth Prince wants to say, I am your legitimate son, but I have never enjoyed your love since I was a child.
Father, is your heart made of iron?
No!
No!
Once upon a time, my father also cared for and loved someone in every way.
It's just that that person is not him.
The Fourth Prince suddenly felt a strong sense of irony. He swallowed the question that was about to come out of his mouth, then knelt down and kowtowed firmly, "Yes, your son will obey your father's command."
......
That afternoon, the Fourth Prince set out for the imperial mausoleum.
In addition to the palace maids and eunuchs who served him personally, there were also several imperial guards accompanying him.
"Bang!"
The ceramic ornament fell to the ground and shattered into pieces in an instant.
Empress Cao's chest heaved rapidly, and her well-maintained face was distorted with anger, with wrinkles appearing all over it.
"How dare Xia Ming?"
"How dare he send the fourth child to guard the imperial mausoleum?"
Queen Cao grabbed the glass and smashed it to pieces with a bang.
Fragments flew and scratched the maid's cheek.
The palace maid trembled, lowered her head and dared not move.
The nanny was anxious and helpless, so she advised gently, "Your Majesty, please keep your voice down. Be careful, there are ears."
Empress Cao sneered, her eyes filled with disgust. "He confined my father and expelled my son. Can't I even say anything?"
Mammy was speechless.
She also didn't expect that His Majesty would be so heartless, sentencing the eldest son to be beheaded and also attacking the Prime Minister and the Fourth Prince.
"Queen Mother, calm down. After a while, when Father has calmed down, I will go to the Imperial Court to plead for my fourth brother to come back."
Empress Cao looked up. The Fifth Prince walked around the mess on the ground and walked up to her. He took out a handkerchief and wrapped the scratch on her fingertip.
"Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. Earlier, Wu Guangwu and his son-in-law embezzled a million taels of silver, but didn't your father just pick it up high and put it down gently?"
"If you ask me, Fourth Brother's decision to focus on disaster relief silver and grain is really a bit excessive this time."
"The Emperor has always valued the people, and my grandfather used Yuanzhong as a scapegoat, and Fourth Brother didn't stop him. The two mistakes combined, and that's why the Emperor got angry at Fourth Brother."
Empress Cao's expression eased slightly, and she leaned back on the couch without saying a word.
The fifth prince walked around behind her and massaged her shoulders. "Don't worry, mother. Let me do my job well. Once I've accomplished some meritorious deeds, I'll ask father to bring my fourth brother back."
Empress Cao snorted with an ambiguous tone, "Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. The second son died, and Concubine Rong fainted several times from crying, but your father didn't react at all."
Not to mention crying, not even a trace of sadness was revealed.
The Fifth Prince paused his grip on the shoulder, unable to refute.
After the second prince died, his father restored his status as a prince and buried him in the imperial mausoleum.
During that time, they, the sons, all saw their father's attitude.
Although he looked extremely distressed on the surface, anyone who knew Emperor Qingyuan knew that his grief was only superficial.
His heart was extremely cold, as if the person lying in the coffin was not his son, but a stranger.
The Fifth Prince suppressed his thoughts and comforted Empress Cao: "Please relax and don't get too angry. Although Fourth Brother was sent to the Imperial Mausoleum, looking at the court, Fourth Brother still has the best chance of success."
The eldest prince's biological mother was a palace maid who passed away many years ago. The prince's wife was the legitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official chosen for him by Empress Cao.
The second prince is dead.
The third prince was adopted.
The Sixth Prince is the son of Concubine Mei. The highest official in his mother's family is only a fourth-rank official. Concubine Mei was promoted to the position of concubine because of her contribution to childbirth.
Needless to say, the seventh prince's biological mother, Concubine Shu, was the concubine's daughter of a seventh-rank county magistrate and was chosen into the palace because of her beauty.
Empress Cao was thinking in her mind, her expression slightly relaxed.
Come to think of it, it is indeed the fourth one...
No!
wrong!
Empress Cao sat up straight abruptly. The Fifth Prince, taking advantage of the opportunity, gave her a puzzled look. "What's wrong, Mother?"
Empress Cao remained silent, her expression filled with confusion. It took her a long time before she regained her voice: "First it was the second son, then the third son, and now the fourth son. One after another, it seems like they are paving the way for someone."
The fifth prince narrowed his eyes. "The eldest is reckless and unfit to be a king. The sixth has no ambition and spends his days indulging in nature. The seventh is as dumb as a pig and can't even complete the tasks assigned to him by our father. How can he be qualified to be crown prince or king?"
Empress Cao paced back and forth. "From what I know about your father, he's definitely not one to care about old feelings. Yet, a while ago, he suddenly showed such fondness for that bitch Qi."
She paused, her deep eyes filled with inexplicable cunning. "So is it possible that he did this on purpose, to guide the Fourth Brother to eliminate the Second Brother?"
The fifth prince opened his mouth, but the image of his father's indifference when the second prince died appeared before his eyes, and he could not utter a word to refute.
The fourth brother originally regarded the throne as something in his pocket. He was deep and reserved, never showing his emotions. Everyone who saw him would praise him for being a good candidate to be the crown prince.
But ever since Wu Guangwu "committed suicide out of fear of punishment", my father's attitude towards my fourth brother has become worse day by day. He has become irritable and his emotions are all revealed on his face.
Because of this, when the emperor named Qi as Rongfei, the fourth brother could not sit still and asked the grandfather to deal with the second brother.
If all this is really directed by the Emperor, using a knife to kill someone...
Even the Fifth Prince, who regarded human life as worthless and fed human flesh to his pets all day long, couldn't help but shiver at this moment, and his hands and feet were cold.
Is this their father?
Is this the emperor who is rich and powerful and holds the power of life and death?
"If that's true, then who is Father paving the way for?" The Fifth Prince frowned. "Over the years, I've never seen him treat anyone specially."
A figure appeared before Empress Cao's eyes, but she quickly erased the name from her mind and said in a deep voice, "No matter who it is, the most urgent thing right now is to get your fourth brother back as soon as possible."
Since he wants to enter the East Palace and ascend to the supreme position, the court is the fourth brother's battlefield.
Instead of the cold, desolate and eerie imperial mausoleum.
-
The winter in Shaoqing Prefecture is very long, and the temperature often drops rapidly as early as October.
The air from the day before still held the remnants of summer's heat, but today it was freezing cold, with a biting northerly wind.
That morning, Du Qingtang added a piece of clothing to his official robes. After reporting for duty, he called Zhou Tongzhi and said, "Tell the garment factory to prepare them so they can be put on sale."
At the prefect's command, the huge garment factory quickly began to operate.
It has been more than a month since the shop opened. Thousands of women skilled in tailoring have been working day and night to crochet wool sweaters and trousers, and have produced 40,000 sets so far.
Zhou Tongzhi ordered male workers to load 10,000 sets of woolen sweaters and trousers onto ox carts, selected 500 soldiers from the government, and personally delivered them to Loushan Pass.
When he arrived at the military camp, Pei Yuchun, the general of Loushan Pass, met him in person.
After exchanging greetings, Zhou Tong understood Ming's intention: "The prefect has built a clothing factory. These clothes are all made of wool. They are very warm to wear and have excellent cold protection."
"The prefect has specially ordered Zhou to deliver 10,000 sets to the soldiers defending the country."
Zhou Tongzhi paused and said nonchalantly, "I just hope you won't mind when we officially release the wool sweaters. I'll probably have to publicize this news.
The prefect said that this is a serious marketing method.
The soldiers at Loushan Pass no longer suffered from the cold, and woolen coats and trousers could sell better with this gimmick.
Pei Yuchun couldn't help but laugh, his green eyes rippled. "No problem, please ask Master Zhou to thank Master Du on my behalf."
This is her.
Everything we do is done with a strong purpose.
Be rational and calm, and make decisive decisions boldly.
Zhou Tongzhi naturally agreed with all his words.
After Zhou Tongzhi left, Pei Yuchun ordered his men to distribute woolen coats and trousers to the soldiers who were defending the front line.
They stood in the yellow sand and biting cold wind for twelve hours a day. When it was the coldest, their skin became red, swollen and ulcerated, and they could not even walk.
Pei Yuchun gently stroked the soft and thick woolen clothes, hoping that after wearing them, the soldiers would suffer less.
Woolen coats and trousers were quickly distributed to the soldiers. They rubbed their frozen hands and quickly put on new clothes.
"It's so soft, like lying in cotton."
"Have you ever worn cotton?"
Cotton was expensive, and people from poor families like theirs simply couldn't afford it, so they usually stuffed their clothes with reed or willow fluff in winter.
"Even if you haven't eaten pork, have you seen a pig run?"
The soldiers held their spears and stood solemnly in the cold wind.
Before long, they opened their eyes wide in surprise.
"It's much warmer than before."
"I'm already wearing two more layers than you guys, and now I'm actually sweating."
"Me too, it feels like summer has arrived."
"This woolen sweater is really a good thing. If everyone could wear it, they wouldn't freeze to death."
The soldiers who were originally somewhat excited suddenly became depressed.
"This is very good. We also want to thank Commander Du. She sent it to us."
"Commander Du is such a good man. He still remembers us after all this time."
The soldiers grinned and were in high spirits. The cold winter that had been like a murderous ghost in previous years was not so scary anymore.
......
On the tenth day of October, Fumin Garment Factory officially opened.
Du Qingtang personally unveiled the Fumin Garment Shop in Shaoqing Prefecture, and she also personally received the guests on the first day.
Out of their 120% respect and trust for the prefect, anyone in Shaoqing Prefecture who had a little extra money rushed to show their support.
"This woolen sweater is really thick. It will definitely keep you warm when you wear it."
“The key is that it’s not expensive.”
"It's just that white doesn't hold up well to dirt, so you can only wear it inside."
"I have to wear it inside. I can't bear to wear it outside. Wouldn't it be a shame if it got scratched?"
There are also wealthy people making clothes in the surrounding prefectures. The shops were taken out from wealthy families and merchants. The shops are large, spacious and grand enough.
The workers at Fumin Clothing Factory were common people from Shaoqing Prefecture, who went there voluntarily to earn money.
On the opening day, after the firecrackers were set off, the waiter, wearing a woolen coat and woolen trousers, stood at the door, waving them and shouting.
"Selling woolen sweaters and woolen trousers!"
"These are super warm woolen sweaters and trousers. Even the military commanders at Loushan Pass are wearing them. What are you still hesitating about? Why don't you buy a set and take it home!"
"Buy woolen sweaters and woolen pants to give you a warm winter like spring!"
The guy shouted very hard, and passers-by were attracted.
"Is it really warm?"
"Even the military commanders at Loushan Pass wear them, so they must be very warm."
"This winter is colder than last year. My mother is old, so I should buy her a set."
The passerby asked many questions, and the waiter answered them one by one. At the end, he said, "We are opening at a low price today, but we will return to the original price tomorrow. If you miss this opportunity, you will never see this store again."
When everyone heard this, they hesitated for a moment and then walked into Fumin Garment Factory.
......
Xiuyi Pavilion is the largest garment shop in Jingdong Prefecture.
Whenever the weather turns cooler, Xiuyi Pavilion welcomes a large number of customers who come to buy cotton robes and jackets.
In September this year, the owner of Xiuyi Pavilion had cotton robes and jackets made for them, and they were put up for sale in the shop as soon as October arrived.
The boss is stroking his beard with joy, knowing he will make a fortune again this year!
However, by October, there were very few customers coming to buy.
The boss was dumbfounded: "What's going on? Is it because the weather hasn't cooled down enough yet?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the waiter hesitate to speak, and the boss shouted, "Hurry up and tell me!"
The waiter had no choice but to tell the truth: "A new Fumin Clothing Shop has opened in the east of the city. Their woolen sweaters and trousers are very popular. Not only are they very warm, but they also don't feel as bulky as cotton-padded jackets and gowns."
What the guy didn't say was that he also bought two sets for his parents. His parents said they were very comfortable to wear, which made him very excited.
"Great! How dare you steal the business from Xiuyi Pavilion!"
The boss rushed to Fumin Garment Factory in a rage, ready to cause trouble for the other party.
Then he bought a set of woolen sweaters and woolen trousers.
Guy: “…???”
The boss stiffened his neck and said, "I want to see if this thing is really as good as the legend says!"
Half an hour after putting it on——
"It's a bit hot."
The old boss's face flushed, and he took off his woolen sweater as if no one was around: "Let's check the origins of this Fumin Clothing Company."
The clerk went and came back soon: "I found out that it was a garment factory built by the Shaoqing government, and they came to Jingdong Prefecture to sell it."
The boss slammed the table in anger: "How shameless the Shaoqing Mansion is! How dare they steal my business!"
In his anger, he discovered a business opportunity.
"In that case, don't blame me for being rude!"
The boss found out that the wool used in Shaoqing Garment Factory came from herdsmen in Heyang County, so he took a horse carriage to Heyang County the next day.
After several twists and turns and asking many people, we finally found a group of herdsmen in the afternoon.
The boss didn't waste any words and went straight to the point: "I want to buy wool from you."
The herdsman gently stroked the head of the sheepdog lying on the grass, his dark red face revealing a simple and honest look: "How much do you want?"
The boss waved his hand and said, "Buy as many as you can!"
The herder asked, “What do you want to do with the wool?”
The boss did not hide it: "Of course, it's woolen sweaters and woolen trousers."
The shepherd, who was originally happy that someone was buying wool, suddenly changed his expression and glared.
"You also make woolen sweaters and woolen trousers?"
"Aren't you from Shaoqing Mansion?"
"Are you trying to steal business from the prefect?"
The boss was stunned: "What did you say?"
The herdsman repeated the questions he had just asked.
The boss thought this person was a fool. How could he not understand what people were saying?
"Of course I'm not from Shaoqing Prefecture."
"Who said that only your prefect can make woolen sweaters and trousers?"
If Heyang County wasn't the only one producing wool in abundance, the boss really wouldn't want to deal with this fool, for fear of being infected and having his IQ lowered.
"Of course—no!"
The herder shouted loudly, "We only sell wool to the prefect! Get out of here!"
He slapped the sheepdog's head and shouted fiercely, "Fugui, bite him!"
Boss Sun Fugui: “???”
No, how can it be called wealth?
However, before he could question it, the sheepdog had already bared its sharp white teeth and pounced on him.
The owner screamed in fright, and ended up stepping on sheep dung and stumbling and falling.
"Woof!"
The sharp canine teeth were about to bite him, and the boss had no time to stand up, so he crawled forward using all four limbs.
"Ahhhhhhhhh don't come over here!!!"
Du Qingtang had no important business today. Thinking of the garrison commander Wan who was far away in Heyang County, he rode over to see the progress of the government troops' attack on the tribe.
On the way, they happened to meet the county magistrate Guan who was herding sheep, so Du Qingtang took him with him.
"Nowadays, everyone is very active in saving money. They can save about ten kilograms a month. With more money, they will have more money and no longer have to suffer from hunger and cold."
"Now those tribes have been beaten to a pulp by Guard Wan and his troops. They will never steal our lambs again."
"Heyang County is what it is today thanks to..."
"Woof!"
“Help! Aaaaaaahhhh!!!”
"Don't bite me, don't bite me!!!"
Du Qingtang looked in the direction of the sound and saw a nimble sheepdog chasing a man in a brocade robe.
The man cried and screamed as he was chased by the sheepdog and crawled all over the ground.
Du Qingtang: “…”
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