Chapter 190 Nothing is Hidden
The Crown Prince and Empress Xu chatted in the palace for a short while before the Seventh Prince hurriedly returned to the palace.
Just then, Emperor Xiao Jing finished dealing with state affairs and picked up his teacup to rest for a while.
"Father, your son has arrived. What a coincidence! Father isn't busy right now." The Seventh Prince smiled and helped Wu Youde set out the snacks.
Emperor Xiao Jing was in a good mood when he saw the Seventh Prince arrive.
Whenever his youngest son comes home, he tells him about things happening outside the palace.
What flowers are blooming at Bao'en Temple? Which street has seen new shops open?
Taoyuanxuan has released some new desserts, but they're not selling very well.
Spring Never Ends has brought back some rare tea from Jiangnan, and several families almost came to blows over a tea maid...
In any case, Emperor Xiao Jing could get a general idea of what was happening outside the palace without leaving it.
"You came back from your aunt's again?" Emperor Xiao Jing asked with a smile after eating the pastry that the Seventh Prince fed him.
The seventh prince nodded, but still offered an explanation.
"I went to my maternal grandfather's house yesterday and stayed with my great-grandfather. My great-grandfather is a light sleeper and gets up very early."
I had breakfast at my maternal grandparents' house before going to my aunt's house.
"Just then, I saw that wealthy merchant from Jiangnan giving my aunt a thank-you gift," the Seventh Prince said with a smile.
Emperor Xiao Jing raised an eyebrow.
"Sending a thank-you gift? What, has that person's sister been found?" Emperor Xiao Jing asked.
The seventh prince chuckled and looked around.
Upon seeing this, Wu Youde quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this servant will go and tell the outside that we will dine in the Empress's Palace today."
Tell the Queen's palace to prepare early.
As he spoke, he bowed and walked out of the Hall of Diligent Governance with light steps.
After Wu Youde left, the Seventh Prince leaned close to Emperor Xiao Jing's ear.
"My aunt said she didn't dare let other families know, but the person has been found; it's Concubine Xin from my aunt's household."
But this came from the mouth of an old palace servant in the Empress Dowager's palace; my aunt and the others were afraid of causing trouble.
They were all covered up.
My aunt also said that if the Empress Dowager were to investigate the old palace maid who had been kidnapped from the palace, it would be best to help cover it up.
Emperor Xiao Jing smiled and nodded in agreement.
That's right, that's what his secret guards found out as well.
Both the wealthy merchant from Jiangnan and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion covered up the matter.
"Your mother doesn't know either?" Emperor Xiao Jing continued to ask.
The seventh prince thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"I don't know if Mother knows or not, but my brother, the Crown Prince, probably doesn't know."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xiao Jing realized that he must not have known.
"Alright, since Xiao Qi has spoken up, we'll definitely help cover it up."
"What? The wealthy merchants from Jiangnan sent so many thank-you gifts to your aunt, but didn't leave you a single one?" Emperor Xiao Jing joked.
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince immediately became happy.
"Of course they kept them! My aunt picked out a lot and put them in a separate storeroom."
Father, you have no idea, my aunt set up a special storeroom for me, and it's full of things.
Hehe, and quite a few of them are from your private stash; Auntie keeps them there.
My aunt said that once I establish my own household, I will move all these things over.
"Then I'll be a wealthy prince!"
Emperor Xiao Jing felt more and more sorry for the Seventh Prince as he looked at him, and he couldn't help but stroke the Seventh Prince's neck and say something.
"I left you so many things!"
As for what your mother left behind, I have sealed it all away.
"When you grow up and establish your own household, everything will be yours. You'll be guaranteed to be the richest of all the princes."
The Seventh Prince was so happy that he could barely see.
Aunt is right. There are many benefits to telling the truth to Father!
"Father, my aunt asked me to ask you something, but she doesn't dare to make the decision." The seventh prince leaned closer again.
"Wow! There are things your aunt doesn't dare to decide? Come, tell me, what's your aunt up to this time?" Emperor Xiao Jing was even more amused.
The Seventh Prince thought about what Shangguan Jin had said to him.
"Didn't that wealthy merchant from Jiangnan send a thank-you gift to my aunt before?"
He also wanted to give his aunt something, but she didn't know whether she should accept it or not. "The Seventh Prince said earnestly.
Emperor Xiao Jing was taken aback; something the Duchess of Dingguo dared not accept...
"What did you give as a gift?"
"He set up a caravan to do business in the north, and gave his aunt a 20% share."
The aunt felt that she hadn't helped at all, hadn't contributed any effort or money, and that it wasn't right to just take money.
Also, things are a bit chaotic in the north, and I'm afraid this is something the court won't allow. So, I'd like to ask for your instructions!
My aunt said that as a woman, there are many things she doesn't know, so I mustn't let her get involved in anything she shouldn't. The Seventh Prince said, word by word.
Emperor Xiao Jing breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought it was something serious!
"It's alright, keep it!"
Why wouldn't I accept what the traveling merchants gave me?
I reckon that the reason I gave your aunt 20% is because of your sister who's a merchant and works for the Duke of Dingguo.
"I reckon someone got even more!" Emperor Xiao Jing laughed.
Emperor Xiao Jing was fully aware of these matters.
Which merchant guild didn't have noble backing them?
Moreover, these caravans that trade with the northern regions have to deal with more than just the government offices.
Even the local garrison has to get a share.
However, the north is bitterly cold, and Emperor Xiao Jing was pleased to receive a small share of the Weiyuan Army.
In any case, it can at least improve the lives of the Weiyuan Army.
Like his sworn brother, Marquis Changsheng loved his soldiers like his own children and would never mistreat them.
As for the others who participate in the profit sharing...
The Crown Prince's residence must have been involved too, otherwise why would they have been so eager to help the merchants kidnap the old palace maid from the palace...?
Seeing that Emperor Xiao Jing remained silent and deep in thought, the Seventh Prince knew that he must be thinking about something else.
“Father, then I will tell my aunt that you asked her to keep it.”
Anyway, she doesn't have to do anything, so collecting more money will help her older cousins save more money.
Emperor Xiao Jing then came to his senses and chuckled as he pinched the Seventh Prince's nose.
"You want to take all the good stuff to your aunt's house."
Alright, the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. Go to my private treasury and, in addition to the usual gifts from the palace, pick out a few more.
Pick out several items from your aunt's place and from the Shangguan family.
I'll say it again: those ancient books are not to be touched, but you can do whatever you want with the rest.
Also, there was a palace banquet on Mid-Autumn Festival.
Your aunt is probably going to the palace for a banquet.
"You stay in the palace that day and don't go out!"
The seventh prince thought this was great; he could go and pick things from his father's private treasury again...
He had already figured out what gifts to pick for everyone in his little head.
The more valuable the gifts, the better, such as pearls, jade, white jade, gold...
The more refined the better, especially for the items in my maternal grandfather's mansion. If we can't choose antique books, then it should be calligraphy, paintings, wood carvings, embroidery, and the like...
Also, pick out some more exquisite items for my older cousins...
Anyway, Father didn't say how many to choose. As long as it doesn't exceed ten items, it's just a few...
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