Xiao Lanhua arrived in the capital in broad daylight on a grand horse. The people along the roadside had already learned of the imperial concubine's triumphant return and specially lined both sides of the street to welcome her.
"Our Imperial Concubine of Great Yan is truly remarkable."
"That's what you call managing everything inside and outside the home. I've heard that the Empress is also a top figure in the harem!"
"Wait a minute, isn't the Empress the most powerful person in the palace?"
"The Empress is unwell, have you forgotten?"
The female general paid no attention to these gossips, accepting the flowers and handkerchiefs without hesitation, but her eyes were fixed on the gossip around her.
Why was the Eighth Prince chasing after a girl? The girl even went into a brothel, and Xiao Lanhua craned her neck to watch.
"May Your Highness be blessed with good health and longevity. His Majesty has specially ordered me to come and escort Your Highness back to the palace."
Lu Kai stood outside the palace gate, with a row of palace maids behind him holding the imperial concubine's robes and crown.
"Your Majesty, please get into the sedan chair."
The emperor actually came too, but he was reminiscing about the past in the pavilion behind the palace gate.
He must have been quite tired of keeping those thoughts hidden in his heart.
——The Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion
Huo Xiaolong sat at the head of the table to entertain He Qingzhu. It had been a year since they last met. As before, Aunt He was followed by Wang Buyou. The two of them had been swaying and had not yet gotten married.
"Now I can't call you Long'er anymore, I have to call you Your Highness."
"Back then, I was so tiny. Time really flies."
Looking at Huo Xiaolong and the two young girls beside him, He Qingzhu couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
"Aunt He, how confident are you about the outcome with the Imperial Merchants this time?"
He Qingzhu didn't care, but Wang Buyou listened intently.
Over the years, the two of them have had no problem hugging and cuddling, but his sweetheart was obsessed with the idea that her father had forced her to marry because she was a girl.
Feeling that her daughter was inferior to her son, He Qingzhu insisted on showing her father what was good for her.
It is because of me that the He family has achieved its current glory.
They all had no faith in you, but you proved them wrong.
He Qingzhu was one, as were the women in those brothels, and all those in the border town who were affected.
"Thirty percent."
“I’m not going to argue anymore, you have 60%!” Wang Buyou hurriedly said.
It wasn't that he lacked ambition; he just really wanted to wake up every morning to see He Qingzhu.
His parents moved to Pingyang County with Wang Buyou, which shows how deep Wang's obsession was.
"And what about the rest?" Huo Xiaolong asked.
Qingzhu pushed a letter towards her and then said...
"Qiu Shui is on her way. This is her first time selecting royal merchants, and she intends to participate."
"The last one is the Ning family, who are related to the current Empress and Minister of Rites."
The girl carefully read the letter, then frowned.
"If he has no connection with the Ning family, that's fine. But if he does, then it's hard to say."
"How so?"
"The Emperor will not allow the influence of maternal relatives to become too great. The Minister of Rites is far too glamorous, having both money and power."
He Qingzhu didn't understand the intricacies of officialdom, nor did she know the current emperor's character, but she still diligently memorized them.
Aunt He's relationship with them must be kept secret, otherwise it will end up the same way.
With the prince having such a good relationship with the imperial merchants, how could any emperor sleep well?
There are only two things to consider when selecting a royal merchant: financial resources and the head of the family's eloquence in management and allocation.
If the Great Yan were to face calamity and the national treasury were truly depleted, it would be the imperial merchants who would step in.
Imperial merchants were those with royal connections. They were not only exempt from taxes, but also had the authority to build ships and conduct maritime trade, selling everything from military provisions and tea to salt and silk.
Wang Buyou and He Qingzhu were escorted out of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion under the cover of night.
When Huo Xiaolong was first crowned a king, Wang Buyou was still somewhat taken aback.
How did that bouncy little girl from back then become a prince?
“This time, I don’t want you to give in to me,” He Qingzhu, who was walking in front, suddenly said.
"I don't care about being a royal merchant or not..."
"Wang Buyou".
The woman stopped and called his name.
"I'm here, you can speak."
"Whether the He family is selected as a royal merchant or not, I will marry you."
The man's eyes widened, as if the surprise had come too suddenly.
"I've held you back all these years."
He Qingzhu believed that if it weren't for her, Wang Buyou would now have both a son and a daughter.
Young Master Wang is still Young Master Wang; somewhat excited, he stepped forward and hugged He Qingzhu.
"What do you mean by delaying things? I just love you the way you are."
She was different, very different. Even though all the women in the brothel were outstanding, in his heart and eyes, He Qingzhu was the best.
"Does this count as you proposing to me?"
Young Master Wang released the woman and twisted his body.
"Oh dear, I'm so embarrassed."
"..."
Seeing him run away shyly, He Qingzhu quickly followed after him.
"Are all men in the border town this shy?" said the Eighteenth Assassin from Zhanchen Tower who was following behind.
"It seems so. We've been together for several years now, and it looks like that when we're at home."
For the first two years, the group of assassins were quite happy. They did nothing but practice their skills every day and then went out to spend money. The women went to brothels to enjoy themselves, and the men shamelessly followed them.
But this kind of life is too boring and uncomfortable.
So Liu Xiaohua and Eleven begged Huo Xiaolong to find them some work.
Isn't this just a re-employment for assassins from Zhanchenlou?
They were now lying prone on the rooftop with the secret guards.
Eunuch Wang was highly skilled in martial arts. He knew where the secret guards were, what they looked like, and how they were trained.
But when the old man saw Zhang's mother tapping the wooden basin, he couldn't help but break down.
"Grandpa, what are you looking at? Stop looking and come eat!"
The three little girls all called him Grandpa, Hou Xiangxiang said to Grandpa Wang while holding her chopsticks.
"Yes, Grandpa, the pickled cabbage won't taste good when it gets cold."
Long'er picked out a large bone and placed it in the bowl in front of the old man's seat.
The old man looked up at the guard slowly sliding down the tree without saying a word, his eyes fixed on him as he disappeared into the kitchen.
Then the assassins from Zhanchen Tower jumped down. Their lightness skills were better, so they didn't need to climb trees, which was too uncool.
One by one, the guards and assassins jumped down, some of them pushing and shoving each other while muttering to themselves.
"Hurry up and leave, or you won't have any food to eat later."
Who's cooking today?
"It must be Zhang's mother."
"Then hurry up and run!"
Pointing at the disappearing figures, Eunuch Wang was speechless for a long time.
Whose bodyguards and assassins are like this?
He wasn't this carefree when he was the head of the flower room in the palace.
What is this?
The old man slowly sat down next to Long'er and tentatively asked a question.
"Long'er, do you need your grandpa to train your bodyguards?"
Will this work?
Can this really protect the master from killing?
Can't you just go eat halfway through your work?
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