Chapter Twelve: Offering Bronze and Bestowing Plaques
The morning dew in the mountains had not yet dried, but Liu Bao'er had already washed her face with the cool stream water and carefully tied her disheveled hair into the simplest double buns. Her coarse cloth clothes, though worn, were cleanly starched. She gazed at her reflection in the water—on that still somewhat childish face, her eyes were calm and unfathomable.
It's time.
She calmly took out a key she kept close to her body and gently turned the hidden compartment at the bottom of the memorial tablet. Inside, gold leaf was neatly stacked, its surface shimmering with a warm glow in the morning light. This was the dignity the Dou family bestowed upon their prematurely deceased children, but now it would become the stepping stone for her to knock on the palace gates.
Spring of the twenty-second year of Zhenguan, Chang'an.
An imperial edict shook the court and the country: His Majesty wished to rebuild the Danxiao Palace, but the national treasury was short of copper. The edict clearly stated: those who donated 100 catties of copper would be rewarded with 10 bolts of silk; those who donated 1,000 catties of copper would be granted an official rank and a promotion.
Upon the issuance of this edict, wealthy merchants and noble families sprang into action. However, a thousand catties was no ordinary amount, and only a handful of families could immediately produce such a large quantity of copper.
Just as undercurrents were swirling, a young woman dressed in a worn-out ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) appeared outside the side gate of the Jiangzuojian (Imperial Works Bureau) office. She looked up at the gatekeeper and said, "I am Dou Liushi, a woman who wishes to accumulate merit for my deceased husband, and have come to offer copper."
The constable, seeing her young age, initially intended to drive her away, but stopped when he met her calm eyes. Those eyes were too composed, as if they had already seen through the ways of the world. The constable hesitated for a moment, then finally went inside to announce her arrival.
She was received by Li, the head of the Imperial Workshop. Seeing that the visitor was a young woman not yet of marriageable age, Li frowned slightly: "Young lady, do you wish to offer copper? How much?"
"This woman wishes to offer this item, along with the two thousand catties of copper that she can exchange for it."
Liu Bao'er's voice was clear and steady as she presented the memorial tablet with both hands.
For a moment, Manager Li was taken aback and accepted the memorial tablet. It was indeed made of top-quality Phoebe zhennan wood, with exquisite carvings, but how could it be exchanged for two thousand catties of copper?
"Please, sir, order someone to split this thing in two."
Silence fell over the room. Several clerks looked up, and the bailiffs exchanged bewildered glances. To split open the deceased husband's memorial tablet? What utter disrespect!
Li stared at her for a moment, then finally waved his hand: "Chop."
The craftsman hesitated before raising his axe. The moment the nanmu wood split open, a burst of brilliant golden light shot out—the inner core of the memorial tablet was densely inlaid with gold leaf as thin as a cicada's wing, shimmering and sparkling under the candlelight in the hall, like a divine miracle.
The room erupted in uproar!
Liu Bao'er stepped forward and said loudly, "My late husband, Dou Xiaobao, was deeply loved by the Dou family. This item was originally intended to prevent him from suffering in the afterlife. However, the court now needs copper, and His Majesty is worried. I am grateful for the Emperor's grace and wish to exchange all of this gold foil for copper to donate to the country to help with the construction of the palace!"
Her voice was clear and melodious, echoing in the quiet government office, carrying a composure beyond her years.
Manager Li took a deep breath and immediately ordered someone to take down the gold leaf and weigh it. A full half-pound! At market price, that was enough to exchange for well over two thousand pounds of copper.
"Young lady, you are truly virtuous!" Chief Clerk Li solemnly cupped his hands in greeting. "This humble official will certainly report the truthfully."
"All merit belongs to my deceased husband." Liu Bao'er bowed with her eyes lowered, bestowing all the glory upon the departed.
What she needed was not empty fame, but that this matter must reach the highest levels of government.
Ten days later, at the dilapidated temple in Zhongnan Mountain.
Liu Bao'er was working out a new accounting model on the ground with a twig when she suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching from afar. She calmly looked up and saw palace eunuchs walking briskly towards her, led by a local official.
"The imperial edict says—" The eunuch unfolded the yellow silk, his voice echoing through the mountains.
Liu Bao'er knelt on the bluestone, listening intently. When she heard the words "Bestowed with the imperial calligraphy of the plaque 'Diligent Merchant'" and "Exempt from market taxes for three years," she slowly raised her head.
The sunlight shone brightly on the golden characters on the plaque, so dazzling that it was hard to open one's eyes. She reached out and took the imperial edict, her fingertips touching the cool silk, but a fire ignited in her heart.
Before the eunuch left, Wang De lagged half a step behind and whispered, "His Majesty asked this old servant to pass on a message—'Understanding how to share profits is the only way to ensure long-term success.'"
"Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch." Liu Bao'er bowed slightly.
As the sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, she stood alone in the mountain breeze, the imperial edict in her hand weighing as heavy as a thousand pounds. The outline of Chang'an city was clearly visible in the distance under the spring sun.
She succeeded.
This imperial plaque inscribed with "Diligent Merchant" was her best protection. From this day forward, she was no longer "Lady Dou," who could be manipulated at will, but was now "Diligent Merchant Dou Liu Shi," bestowed the title by imperial decree.
As the sun set, she glanced one last time at the dilapidated temple, then turned and walked toward the main road. The twilight cast a long shadow of hers, and the hidden key in the purse at her waist jingled softly with each step.
Next, it's time to meet that "Jade-Faced Yama".
This time, she carried the talisman bestowed upon her by His Majesty and was going to have a serious talk with him about what "official cooperation" meant.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
