Chapter 352 Give You a Letter of Submission
Madam Xiao was stunned for a moment, as if she had not expected this opening, but she was stunned for only a moment before she smiled very naturally:
"Just call me Dong'er, sir."
Dong'er...you think you are still a girl, well, although you have taken good care of yourself...Zhao Duan silently complained in his heart as he looked at the female head of the family.
Meeting again, the feeling is indeed very different.
If yesterday he was more like a vassal of a big man, with his brilliance restrained, today his unique inner temperament is revealed.
In this day and age, if you can support a large family as a widow, you must have some unique skills.
"Dong'er..." Zhao Duan chewed on the name, without commenting, and took the initiative to hand her half a roasted orange. "Is Madam Xiao always so sneaky when she goes out?"
Mrs. Xiao was flattered. She picked up the orange and said with a wry smile:
"Beijing is a city with many people and many eyes. Dong'er only came here because she was sewing clothes at the shop in front."
Zhao Duan just remembered that when he came here, he noticed that there were many shops facing the street in front of this private residence.
So, the woman slipped in through the back door of the shop?
This private residence is probably closely related to the Xiao family.
Zhao Duan said "Oh", and seemed not surprised, and asked softly:
"Xu Zudi didn't come along? Or did you think it was unnecessary? You went to all this trouble to find me for a secret meeting, was it to avoid the eyes of Prince Heng? I'm really curious about the relationship between you two."
Madam Xiao was silent for a moment and did not respond immediately.
Zhao Duan opened his hands, warmed himself by the fire, and stared at the beautiful woman with deep eyes:
"I've heard others talk about the story of the female head of the Donghu family who single-handedly supported the family, and I used to admire her. But what I saw yesterday was truly regrettable. So, Madam Xiao, could you please explain clearly what your identity is in seeing me today?"
He has a sharp gaze.
He didn't waste time on small talk and got straight to the point.
Madam Xiao said bitterly, "Is your Excellency always so direct?"
Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"As for me, I'm used to judging people by their appearance. Madam Xiao isn't worth my bother at the moment. The fact that you're willing to come here today is because you've piqued my curiosity.
But my time is limited, so I'll be direct. I believe Madam Xiao feels the same way. After all, if it takes too long to cut clothes, it will arouse suspicion."
Xiao Dong'er was silent.
She raised her hand and gently stroked her hair, and the emerald jade bracelet on her wrist slid down heavily, revealing a bit of charm.
Subconscious movements seem to be adjusting one's mood.
She sat up straighter and said seriously:
"Dong'er's visit today has nothing to do with Prince Heng, but is merely a visit on behalf of the Xiao family. I know that Your Excellency may have some misunderstandings due to yesterday's events. Not only Your Excellency, but many others have expressed dissatisfaction with how I can maintain my position as Patriarch.
I admit that the Hengwang Mansion was indeed a factor, but it wasn't what you think. It was that the Hengwang Mansion was happy to see a widow like me take over as the head of the family."
The speech was quite fluent.
The tone of his voice and demeanor finally revealed some of the competence of a patriarch.
It seems that this is the true appearance of Dayu's first widow.
——Even if you try your best to weaken it, it’s still hard to hide its sharp edges.
"oh?"
Zhao Duan leaned back in the bamboo chair, slightly leaning back, indicating that he was all ears.
Xiao Dong'er picked up the fork skillfully and roasted the rice cake, saying:
"Since ancient times, there can't be two tigers in one mountain. Looking at the Great Yu Dynasty, except for the Huai River Road, which is relatively special, in other areas, whenever the vassal kings are powerful, the local aristocratic families will always be suppressed. Qingzhou Road is no exception. My Xiao family originated in Donghu, and it has accumulated more than a hundred years.
When Prince Heng entered his fiefdom, my Xiao family had already been trying to curry favor with him. At first, everything was peaceful, but gradually, the prince's palace became more powerful and no longer wanted my Xiao family to continue to prosper.
Therefore, when I was fighting with the other families, King Heng preferred that a woman like me be the head of the family, and he did intervene.
Dong'er didn't deny this. After all, in the prince's eyes, a clan headed by a woman is always weaker.
She smiled self-deprecatingly, with sadness in her eyes:
"Since the palace had already intervened, Dong'er was an orphan and a widow, guarding her husband's legacy and the power of such a large clan. It was inevitable that she felt a bit like a dependent, and had to be tolerant.
Perhaps in the eyes of the adults, Dong'er was like a maid yesterday, a plaything for the prince. She was not worthy of the title of female head of the family, but more like a plaything. But please believe that was not my original intention, nor is it evidence that the Xiao family of Donghu is willing to be enslaved. It was just a helpless act. "
Zhao Duan listened with great interest.
What this woman said simply meant that the Xiao family was forced to bow their heads and did not dare to offend King Heng, so they were obedient to the prince in every way.
Instead of being a sincere vassal standing in the camp of King Heng.
"so what?"
Zhao Duan asked, he naturally wouldn't completely believe this statement.
Xiao Dong'er said seriously:
"So, I've requested a private meeting with you today. It's not only to explain what happened yesterday, but also to express my true feelings in person and ask for the title of 'Imperial Merchant'."
When the imperial court is about to open a market, the first batch of merchants will be given special identities to allow them to join this game.
The You family came here for this, which was You Jinhua's family's origin.
Now, with the market opening imminent, even a big family like the Xiao family of Donghu could no longer hold back and took action.
"Mrs. Xiao, what you said is interesting. If you want to enter the market, you should go to the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Rites. Why did you find me here?" Zhao Duan said with a smile.
The independent government office established by the Empress's order and affiliated with the two ministries was in charge of the new policy and market opening affairs.
One is responsible for financial accounts, and the other is responsible for formulating market framework rules.
Xiao Dong'er's expression darkened, and she said bitterly:
"Dong'er has visited you in the past few days, but was always turned away. I have no choice but to come to you for help. Everyone in the capital knows that Envoy Zhao is very powerful, and all the new policies come from you..."
Zhao Duan raised his hand to interrupt her and said calmly:
"Take back your flattery. I'm actually more curious: Madam Xiao, aren't you afraid of offending Prince Heng by doing this? Prince Heng probably doesn't want to see the Xiao family become a member of the Imperial Merchants."
He found it very interesting.
Yes.
Very interesting!
Apart from the Kuangfu Society, the ones who are most reluctant for the new policy to succeed are the Eight Kings, and then the aristocratic families whose interests are affected.
By now, anyone with a discerning eye could see that once the imperial court successfully opened the market, a group of new elites would inevitably emerge, and the court’s financial difficulties would be alleviated.
Therefore, the Eighth Prince tried his best to stop it, but the decree had already been issued from the court. Without raising an army to rebel, even the most powerful Prince Jing could not openly hinder the opening of the market.
Therefore, there are only two paths left.
One possibility is that the Eight Kings themselves join the game and compete with the imperial court for profit.
But firstly, the imperial court would never allow the Eight Princes to join this market. Secondly, within the imperial court's rules of the game, the profits the Eight Princes could reap would ultimately be a small fraction.
The second way is to create obstacles secretly and try to make the market not function properly or function inefficiently.
When Zhao Duan formulated the strategy for opening the market, he told the scholars in Xiuwenguan that if they wanted to get the economic flywheel turning as quickly as possible, they would have to rely on the power of some big businessmen and local clans.
Coincidentally, many merchants and nobles also coveted this piece of meat.
Therefore, the strategy formulated by the imperial court was to select some capable and intelligent people from those who wanted to join to become the first batch of imperial merchants.
It is equivalent to the ticket to enter this game.
He was not surprised that Mrs. Xiao wanted to join.
Although the Xiao family of Donghu was considered a powerful force in the Dayu Dynasty, their wealth mainly came from caravans, rather than the land that the old landlords relied on.
Moreover, Qingzhou is a place with a large amount of products suitable for sale.
However, the Eight Kings' positions determined that they would do their utmost to create obstacles and prevent powerful merchants and wealthy families from joining and contributing to the court.
Therefore, it is particularly interesting that Xiao Dong'er, who was a servant of the prince one moment, suddenly turned around and wanted to join the court.
"Of course Prince Heng doesn't want that," Madam Xiao said with a sneer.
"If not for this, why would the prince have put on that show for you yesterday? And why would he have come with us to the capital halfway?"
Zhao Duan raised his eyelids and said:
"You mean, your Xiao family wants to become an imperial merchant, but Prince Heng doesn't want to, so he sent the prince to stop you? Haha, I thought Prince Heng would just persuade Madam Xiao to return to Qingzhou halfway. The rice cakes are going to be mushy."
He reminded.
Xiao Dong'er was caught off guard by this remark. She hurriedly turned over the baked rice cake on the stove, then exhaled and said:
"Persuading him to return is of little use, because my Xiao family can easily send another treasurer to the court. It will be the same. On the contrary, the prince's visit has killed my Xiao family's chance to join the imperial merchants."
Zhao Duan was silent.
He understood what the female head of the family meant.
The imperial court would not agree to King Heng, or his vassals who were suspected of working for King Heng, joining the market and making profits.
Therefore, Xu Zudi made a big show of forcing his way to the capital with Madam Xiao, just to send a signal to outsiders:
It means that the Xiao family of Donghu is the dogs of the palace.
In this case, which official would dare to let the Xiao family in?
Including the scheme that Xu Zudi set up yesterday, one was to vent Li Lang's anger, the second was to test Zhao Duan, the new favorite, and the third was to deliberately show the relationship between Prince Heng and the Xiao family.
It was for this reason that this lady of the house personally visited the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, but was repeatedly turned away.
"I'm curious,"
Zhao Duan shifted his sitting position slightly, staring intently at the woman who had been in charge of a century-old clan and who had roasted food for him with her bare hands.
"Why do you insist on risking the sins of King Heng and joining the Imperial Merchants? To eat this piece of meat? Your Xiao family has accumulated a hundred years of wealth, but do you really have to be obsessed with this little money?"
Xiao Dong'er shook her head. At this moment, the woman in the dark horse-faced skirt and with delicate hair had a very serious expression:
"The Xiao family doesn't have to make this money. As long as you allow the Xiao family to enter the market, we can not make a single penny and give all the profits to the court, or give our Xiao family's share as a filial gift to you. We only ask for the status of an imperial merchant!"
Zhao Duan said calmly: "I need a reason."
Xiao Dong'er did not hesitate:
"The Xiao family of Donghu is willing to serve His Majesty, the imperial court, and Dayu with all our strength!"
"If one day, Prince Heng rebels, the Xiao family will only follow the orders of His Majesty!"
——
P.S.: This kind of dialogue chapter should be very easy to write, but for some reason it is always so difficult to write.
(End of this chapter)
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