The Lu family has always been in the spotlight because of the emperor's favor. They have to be careful in everything they do to avoid bringing trouble upon themselves.
Especially after returning from the horse farm, Feng Cheng led his troops on an expedition, while Lu Baichuan and Qin Jian remained in the capital.
On the surface, it was said that they were showing consideration for Lu Baichuan and Qin Jian and could wait until Qin Jian's wedding before going to the military camp. But in reality, by the time they had fallen behind and caught up with the main force, their hearts had already been won over by Feng Cheng, so their trip would be of no use.
Everyone said that the Lu family had gone too far and had incurred the emperor's displeasure; they were all waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.
At this time, the Lu family should have kept a low profile, but Jiang Jiuniang didn't care at all. She even started a new business at this critical moment, showing no respect for the nobles. She sold very few products, and the highest bidder won. A small bottle of face oil sold for five thousand taels!
When the product was first launched, everyone was waiting to see it fail, but after three days they realized that the joke was actually on them!
The product made by Jiang Jiuniang this time can only be called a miraculous rejuvenating product. It is applied to the face and taken internally as pills, and the effect is very remarkable.
At first, those people were laughing at Jiang Jiuniang, saying that she would never be able to sell her things. But later, they were the ones who begged and pleaded but still couldn't buy them.
Jiang Jiuniang couldn't help but laugh when she thought about this, and said, "Only in this way can we force some people to take desperate measures!"
Lotus, being a young girl, didn't understand these things in the imperial court. At first, she didn't connect business with those matters, but after hearing Jiang Jiuniang's explanation, she instantly understood.
It turns out that all these things that happened recently were deliberately orchestrated by my aunt.
Seeing Lianhua's shocked expression, Jiang Jiuniang couldn't help but urge her, "We need to be extra careful, especially at times like these. Send more people to keep an eye on things and make sure no one has a chance to take advantage of us."
"Yes, I understand!"
Lotus nodded emphatically, her heart pounding with excitement mixed with a touch of nervousness.
I don't know why, but I always feel a bit excited.
Sure enough, the matter was brought to the imperial court. Even though Feng Cheng had already led his troops away, there were still people in the court who refused to let the Lu family go.
"Your Majesty, Madam Lu's actions constitute malicious price gouging. The city is in complete chaos! If she is not punished, and other merchants follow suit, what will become of us?"
"Madam Lu's behavior is simply outrageous! If you're going to sell something, sell it properly. Why make only a few bottles and deliberately inflate the price? Isn't this treating people like fools?"
"The Lu family has become increasingly lawless thanks to the Emperor's protection. The Emperor must punish them severely!"
...
When the Lu family was favored in the past, these people were angry but wouldn't say anything too harsh. But now that the emperor clearly has a grudge against the Lu family, they have become bolder and can say anything.
Mr. Kang held back for a long time, but finally couldn't help himself and said sarcastically in the crowd, "Oh, so you're barking like a dog in court because you didn't manage to get Dr. Jiang's product. I won't say who broke your guard!"
"Kang Chengzhi! Don't go too far! Don't think I don't know you're in cahoots with the Lu family. You're all a bunch of scoundrels, shameless!"
"Your Majesty, please grant us justice!"
Mr. Kang immediately knelt down and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty is wise! Doctor Jiang's medical skills are superb, benefiting the people. The products he made for the opening of his new store are indeed very effective. My elderly mother is old and, although she doesn't have any major health problems, she suffers from many minor ailments. But after using the products that Doctor Jiang developed this time, she sleeps soundly, feels energetic, and her skin has improved. She looks like she's ten years younger. Doctor Jiang's products are definitely worth the price!"
"You lowly people want things but don't want to spend money, and you even dare to make a scene before the Emperor! How shameless! Your Majesty should stand up for Doctor Jiang!"
The emperor remained silent until Mr. Kang finished speaking, then asked, "Oh? Is it really that effective?"
Mr. Kang exclaimed loudly, "Not a single word of this is false!"
"Since it's so expensive, how can you afford to buy it?"
The emperor sneered, his face full of displeasure.
Mr. Kang was not afraid at all; on the contrary, he was quite proud: "When Dr. Jiang first developed this product, he sent a sample to my home and asked my elderly mother to try it out. Seeing that it was very effective, he then started selling it in the shop."
Upon hearing this, the crowd was momentarily unsure whether to sympathize with him or the emperor; at the same time, many felt a sense of schadenfreude.
Jiang Jiuniang developed such a wonderful product, yet she gave some to the Kang family instead of sending some to the palace to the emperor. Isn't this a slap in the emperor's face?
It's a shame the Emperor treated the Lu family so well before; the Lu family is a bunch of ingrates!
"Oh? Then I'd like to see just how amazing that thing is. Minister Lu, why don't you send me a copy as well?"
The emperor glanced coldly at Lu Baichuan. If looks could hurt, Lu Baichuan would already be riddled with holes.
Lu Baichuan finally stepped forward, his face expressionless, revealing no change in emotion. He said sternly, "Your Majesty, please forgive us. We are currently out of stock and lack the necessary medicinal ingredients, so we simply cannot produce it."
The civil and military officials stared wide-eyed. So they refused?
That's incredibly audacious!
The emperor could not contain his anger and threw the memorial in his hand on the ground.
"Lu Baichuan! Do you even respect me anymore?!"
The emperor was furious, and the court officials were so frightened that they all knelt on the ground.
Lu Baichuan also knelt down, but his voice remained neither humble nor arrogant: "Everything I said is true. The shop was not open today."
The courtiers were sweating profusely. Was this a question of whether or not to open for business?
Everyone knew that a portion was sent to the Kang family in advance, but no one knew that a portion was sent to the palace beforehand. This shows that the Emperor was not as important as the Kang family.
Considering how much the emperor valued the Lu family before, and how they were now being treated like this by ungrateful bastards, not only the emperor, but even some court officials couldn't stand it anymore.
This is going to completely break the emperor's heart!
It seems the Lu family really doesn't want to live anymore!
Thinking about it this way, I felt even more gloating.
They will only have a chance if the Lu family is defeated. If they want to bring down the Lu family, they have to do it now!
The emperor threw a tantrum and left, ordering Lu Baichuan to stay home and think things through before returning to court.
What's most shocking is that the affairs of the military camp were also handed over to other generals, which is equivalent to directly taking away Lu Baichuan's power.
Those people almost burst out laughing when they heard the news; it was even more exciting than the Lunar New Year!
The Lu family brought this upon themselves; they deserved it!
After the court session, Qin Jian kept complaining to Lu Baichuan: "Why did the Emperor suddenly get so angry? Didn't he say it was all gone? Why not just give it back to him after it's all done properly? Why did he take back all your military power?"
Qin Jian spoke confidently and didn't try to lower his voice; everyone around him could hear him.
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