"When your steward from the Xu family brought all the rice merchants of the Great Yan to try to raise the price of military rations, he showed no mercy."
The girl smiled, her large, watery eyes curving into crescent moons, and then she said...
"Who do you think instigated the Xu family to raise the price of military rations? I am also a citizen of the Great Yan, as is my father. We can make money anytime. The Xu family really doesn't care about these pittances on military rations."
“My father’s original intention was indeed to let me marry Marshal Xiao to marry into a higher social class. But if it weren’t for someone above instructing us, even if you gave the Xu family three heads, we wouldn’t dare to make a fuss about this matter.”
Cen Ang knew in his heart that the Minister of Revenue was just a pretext. If the current emperor did not speak up, who would dare to spread the news about military rations so openly?
"The ledger contains the accounts of my Xu family's dealings with people in the imperial court over the years. Cen Dongjia, now the Xu family, is like a gecko cutting off its tail, only seeking to protect itself."
Since Xu Zheng took the position of head of the Xu family, he has transformed the Xu family from an ordinary rice merchant into an imperial merchant. This transformation was achieved not only through his methods but also through his keen awareness of potential crises.
From the moment he saw Xiao Lanyi at the brothel, he knew that Jiang Liu would not be able to save him sooner or later.
Now, the Yuwen family of Great Yan would not go against the Grand Marshal guarding the frontier for the sake of a mere Minister of Revenue.
Cen Ang reached out and took out the account book, flipping through it. Xu Qiushui was referring to people in the imperial court, but it was actually just an account book for Jiang Liuye alone. Having the account book alone wasn't enough; witnesses were also needed.
"If we ever meet this official in court, I wonder if the Xu family could come forward as witnesses?" Mother Cen asked, gesturing with the account book at Xu Qiushui.
The girl nodded in agreement.
As the sun reached its zenith, Huo Xiaolong's eyes began to droop as he listened, the little one about to fall asleep in its mother's arms. He Yi nodded to Cen Ang and Xu Qiushui, then took the child home to sleep.
"I was quite surprised when I saw this child. How could there be a kid running around in a brothel?"
The matter was settled, and Xu Qiushui ate the octopus bite by bite with the help of her maid. Cen Ang kept her company and talked. In this way, the Xu family was now tied to the brothel. The matter of the Minister of Revenue alone was not enough; there was more to come. This was a money bag.
"Long'er is the apple of everyone's eye in my brothel. There are always things in this world more important than money, aren't there?"
Xu Qiushui smiled with relief. Yes, there are always some things in the world that are more important than money.
His father, a man who wanted to elevate the Xu family to a high position, chose money over life. The Xu family did this solely to survive.
Unexpectedly, Xu Qiushui ended up staying at the Fengyue Tower. Miss Xu not only had business to attend to, but also wanted to enjoy herself. After applying the plum blossom ointment, she noticed her face had become fairer and smoother, so the young woman insisted that her maidservant give her a full-body treatment, using the plum blossom ointment as well.
Ping'er and Huanlu, the two maids, busied themselves around Xu Qiushui. The two boisterous young women couldn't stop grinning when they left the private room that evening. The young lady was truly wealthy; she had given each of them a ten-tael silver tip and had bought countless silk flowers for the young ladies that day. She had even used ten bottles of plum blossom ointment; if the two maids hadn't been there to stop her, Xu Qiushui would have been completely soaked in it.
“Ah Cen, the Xu family’s account books alone are not enough. Even if there are witnesses and physical evidence, His Majesty will not accept it.”
The two women looked at the account book in front of them, feeling a little desolate. If that incident hadn't happened, the Great Yan would never be like it is now, with corrupt officials running rampant, murdering for money.
"I know."
The willow branches outside were blown into the air, casting their reflections inside and stirring one's thoughts.
"What about the other three families? Can they come forward to testify?" Hua Luan asked.
Cen Ang shook his head
"Not everyone has Xu Zheng's brains, and not everyone holds back when doing things. The other three probably think they're doing great by clinging to the Ministry of Revenue."
"Jiang Liu will also send people."
"If it doesn't work, we'll catch one more person alive and question them. This matter can't be left like this."
This is a dead end; there's no way out, and it's both troublesome and disgusting.
The entire Hou family was terrified by the assassination attempt that day. Only one person was truly happy: Xiaohaijie now ate and lived with Huo Xiaolong every day, and all she had to do was memorize medical books. She no longer had to be chased and checked by Doctor Gu.
Except for Miao Cuifang, all the martial arts masters from Fengyue Tower went to guard the Hou family. It's better to be safe than sorry; who knows when the secret guards will arrive?
"Miss Xu is really rich!" The little girl stared at the pearl pendant on Xu Qiushui's waist and whispered to her friend.
"That's right, you have no idea how much that little girl has spent in the last few days. Doesn't her father beat her for spending money like that?"
Huo Xiaolong no longer carried a chariot; instead, he used a small wooden crossbow, and was studying how to fire it in rapid succession like a machine gun. The little girl thought that three-shot or ten-shot bursts were too lame; she wanted one like a machine gun, rat-a-tat-tat.
“The Xu family are imperial merchants, the richest family in our Great Yan! They’re not short of money,” Hou Xiangxiang said.
"Her dad doesn't beat her!" Huo Xiaolong was a little envious. Her mother beat her, because the time she was beaten with nine cotton pants was a real beating.
Two little girls were chatting with their butts sticking out by the back door when Huo Shuwen happened to pass by and overheard his daughter say something.
"I'm a little envious of her. I wish my dad was as rich as her."
Eagle felt a pang of sadness. He figured he'd never be as wealthy as Xu Zheng in his lifetime. Even though he was now a fifth-rank general, he was still... broke...
If you want to be rich, you have to climb the social ladder and become a corrupt official. Ah Yi won't let him become a corrupt official.
Huo Shuwen was told to accept money from anyone who offered it, since taking it without doing anything wouldn't make him a corrupt official, right? That money would be perfect for buying things for Ayi and their daughter.
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