Xie Shu pushed aside the stool and let Yu Chuxi sit down. He then poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him: "My dear, can you tell me something?"
Yu Chuxi pursed his lips slightly, took the tea but did not drink it immediately. He placed his fingers on the cup and rubbed it unconsciously before saying, "Today, Lord Gu sent someone to reissue the salt permit that was lost yesterday to me, and everything went back to normal after that..."
After hearing this, Xie Shu did not feel relieved. If the truth had been revealed so simply, her husband would not have shown this expression.
Yu Chuxi tapped the cup lightly and sighed, "I later sent people to other families to inquire, and only then did I find out that this eunuch Liu asked other salt merchants to donate money to build the palace, but he didn't inform my family."
Xie Shu understood what was going on after hearing this. So that's why. No wonder he felt something was wrong when he heard it just now.
Yesterday they knew that Eunuch Liu asked the salt merchants to donate money. This was not a good thing in itself, and no one would be happy about it. After all, who would be willing to give out a large sum of money for no reason?
But if everyone else has to do this, but there is one lucky person who doesn’t have to do it, what will the others think?
Xie Shu frowned and looked at Lang Jun and said, "Then according to Lang Jun's opinion, if this matter were known to others, what would they do?"
Yu Chuxi said slowly: "Xie Shu, I will tell you the truth. There are five salt merchants in Jinling. Although my Yu family does not have the largest share, it still has 30%. This is already eye-catching, but the Yu family has a deep foundation. Even if someone covets it, they will weigh it and dare not act rashly. Moreover, this business world is like a battlefield. There has always been intrigue and deception, open struggle and secret struggle. When you stab someone, there are others watching you. Therefore, this has become a routine since then. However, over the years, the strength of the major salt merchants has increased and decreased, and the Su family has always wanted to go further. If this matter is leaked, they will definitely unite privately to deal with me..."
Upon hearing this, Xie Shu could almost imagine the scene described by his husband. At the same time, Xie Shu still had a concern. He didn't know whether the idea of asking salt merchants for donations to build the palace was really what the emperor wanted. If it was really the emperor's idea, then what would be the fate of the Yu family, which was the only one that refused to donate?
But this matter has not been concluded yet, and Xie Shu doesn't want to say it now.
At this moment, Yu Chuxi took a sip of tea, a sneer appeared on the corner of his lips and he said: "I will not let this matter go. I don't believe that no one will refuse the silver that is sent to me. However, some silver will be too hot to hold..."
After Yu Chuxi finished speaking, he suddenly glanced at Xie Shu and stopped talking without continuing.
Although Xie Shu didn't know what idea Young Master had come up with, he didn't ask. Instead, he gently comforted Yu Chuxi and said, "Young Master, this matter has not been concluded yet. Don't do anything yet. I want to meet with Eunuch Liu in person."
Yu Chuxi frowned slightly upon hearing this, and said with some concern: "Then Eunuch Liu deliberately targeted you like this. If you really go to see him, you must be careful, and he might become even more successful..."
Xie Shu shook his head and smiled, "I'm not going to meet him at home, but I'm asking him to come to the government office to meet me."
In order to donate money to the palace this time, all the major salt merchants paid a huge amount of money, with each person paying 100,000 taels of silver. Of course, for them, this 100,000 taels was not enough to break their bones, but it was enough to make people feel heartbroken.
However, these salt merchants were all very happy, not only because they knew that this palace was built for the current emperor and it was a bit of an honor for them, but also because they knew that this time the Yu family had somehow offended Eunuch Liu who came to Jiangnan to supervise the southern tour.
This eunuch Liu was unwilling to even meet the person sent by the Yu family, let alone issuing the salt permits for this month.
If the Yu family is no longer a salt merchant, then they will not only be able to get a big share of the market left by the Yu family, but they can also slowly erode the rest of the Yu family's businesses. After all, the salt industry is the main source of income for the wealthy businessmen in Jinling. Without the salt industry as a basic support for huge funds, nothing else can sustain.
They don’t care whether the husband of the young master of the Yu family is a disciple of some great Confucian scholar. At this moment, even if the king of heaven came, it would be useless.
So after the major salt merchants returned, they had their subordinates fully prepared and competed to seize the Yu family's base. However, the next day, they were all dumbfounded. How come the people of the Yu family were still doing business well as usual, as if nothing had happened? When they asked, they found out that the Yu family had also obtained the salt permit!
At this moment, all the major salt merchants were in an uproar.
This is a huge sum of money - one hundred thousand taels of silver!
Why doesn't the Yu family have to pay anything? Not only do they try their best to please Eunuch Liu, but they also have to give him everything!
These salt merchants certainly did not dare to ask Lord Gu for an explanation, nor did they dare to ask Eunuch Liu for it back, so they all set their sights on the Yu family, with the Su family being the most active among them.
The Su family used to be Huizhou merchants. Ever since the Daqing salt law was changed to paying silver, salt merchants from all over the northwest region came to the Huaiyang area to settle down and do business.
The Su family was once a giant among the Huizhou merchants, but after arriving in Jinling, they could only rank below a few other families. How aggrieved must they feel?
Fortunately, the Su family has a good relationship with the government. After a while, they turned into a government-run business. Now their power in Jinling is growing stronger and stronger. All they need is someone to make way for them...
Originally, the Su family did not want to confront the Yu family. If the Yu family was in charge of Yu Wanchun, they would not have to worry. They had taken a great advantage from Yu Wanchun before, but it happened to fall into the hands of Yu Chuxi.
Of course, now they don’t have to put in any effort, it’s like a pillow has fallen for them just when they were sleepy.
The Su family acted very quickly. Within a few days, they had discussed with all the major salt merchants when to take action and how to divide the Yu family afterwards.
Just as the Yu family was under pressure these days, Xie Shu also received a reply from the government office, saying that Eunuch Liu would come today to deal with the matter of the guard.
This was Xie Shu's second visit to this yamen. When he arrived, Eunuch Liu had not come yet. The prefect Wan Linming also had other matters to attend to today. Only the clerk named Li Ming was there to make him a cup of tea.
Xie Shu recognized him and asked, "Brother Li, please tell me something. Did you find out anything about the thief who followed my servant?"
Li Ming's eyes moved slightly, and he obviously knew something, but he did not speak directly, but just smiled and said: "It is not convenient for me to talk about this matter, and it has not been finalized yet."
But Li Ming looked at him and let out some hints: "After all, this matter is related to this eunuch Liu, so we still have to see what he wants. But I don't think this eunuch Liu wants to protect it."
After hearing this, Xie Shu understood what was going on. After thanking Li Ming, he continued to wait for him in the living room.
After a while after the appointed time, Eunuch Liu finally arrived.
Although this eunuch Liu came to the yamen to do business, he was quite pompous, with several majestic guards following behind him. He was wearing the formal uniform of a fifth-rank eunuch, a Qin Liang jade python robe, which was a rare item among palace products.
Eunuch Liu glanced at Xie Shu with his narrow eyes, and asked in an unintelligible tone, "Are you Xie Shu?"
Xie Shu was neither humble nor arrogant, and said calmly: "That's right, I am Xie Shu, I have met Eunuch Liu."
Eunuch Liu looked him up and down for a few times before dismissing everyone. He suddenly revealed a proud smile and said, "Before coming to Jinling, I heard that Mr. Jiang had accepted a talented disciple. Today, I see that he is indeed worthy of his reputation. When I was in the capital, I admired Mr. Jiang's noble character. It's a pity that the inner court was not in the same place before, so I have never had the chance to meet him. It's a pity."
Hearing Eunuch Liu's words that were almost a gesture of goodwill, Xie Shu did not relax at all because of the other party's change in attitude. This Eunuch Liu's attitude was confusing, and it seemed that he was not the same kind of person as the Third Prince behind him. But Xie Shu knew one thing, that was that this person was definitely not a good person. As for the admiration he spoke of, it was just passing by. With the teacher's personality, he would most likely scorn these words.
Therefore, Xie Shu did not respond, and did not even bother to say anything like introducing him.
Eunuch Liu's eyes darkened slightly. It was the first time he had seen such an unkind person. He was now a fifth-rank official and an imperial envoy. Even Gu Zhong and Lin Wanming, who were one level higher than him, were polite to him. But who was this Xie Shu?
Although he became Jiang Hong's disciple, it was only a matter of a few days. Moreover, Xie Shu should have something to ask of him at this moment.
However, when Eunuch Liu saw Xie Shu's cold expression and unique temperament, he began to think again. The reason why this person was accepted by Jiang Hong was that he was also somewhat extraordinary. In addition, Eunuch Liu had seen his paintings before and appreciated his talent, so Eunuch Liu just said with a colder face: "Then let's talk about official business now. You now know that Zhou Ming is from our family, but this matter has nothing to do with our family. However, we don't mind revealing some inside information to you."
Xie Shu didn't change his expression when he heard this. He just looked up at Eunuch Liu and smiled slightly, saying, "Eunuch Liu, I already know the reason for this matter. I will naturally not blame Eunuch Liu."
Eunuch Liu did not expect Xie Shu to react so calmly, and even claimed that he knew the reason. But most people knew that it was the prince who did it, and he could still remain so calm.
Therefore, Eunuch Liu's eyes narrowed, and he looked as if he didn't believe it.
Suddenly, Eunuch Liu said with an unhappy look on his face: "So, our family is still too nosy, but you are very patient. Seeing your husband being forced step by step, you still have the leisure to come here to ask for a cup of tea."
Xie Shu saw the other party suddenly attack, but he was not afraid at all. He looked directly into the other party's eyes and said: "Eunuch Liu, I came here this time to remind you of something. You know, what Jiangnan does today will be a sword hanging over his neck in the future."
As soon as these words came out, Eunuch Liu's heart skipped a beat, and then he flew into a rage. He smashed the cup in his hand and said coldly: "Xie Shu, you are so bold! How dare you talk so jokingly in front of me!"
At this time, the people outside heard the noise and came in one after another, staring at Xie Shu with eager eyes.
But Xie Shu remained calm and said to Eunuch Liu with a smile: "Eunuch Liu must know whether this is a joke or not."
From the attitude of Eunuch Liu just now, Xie Shu could tell that this man was not on the same page with the Third Prince Shao Zhen. But if that was the case, how could Gu Zhong and Eunuch Liu reach such an agreement on building the temporary palace?
In addition to the fact that the two of them had common interests, it also showed that they had reached an agreement. However, this agreement was reached in private, not by the emperor's order. Otherwise, Gu Zhong could have taken part in the battle himself. After all, building a palace for the emperor was also a merit. However, they were unwilling to let out even a hint of the news.
But Eunuch Liu was far away in the capital, how could he discuss it with Gu Zhong so quickly? Unless there was someone behind them, Xie Shu guessed that this person was the third prince Shao Zhen! Only Shao Zhen could persuade both Gu Zhong and Eunuch Liu at the same time.
Eunuch Liu must have been aware that conspiring with the Third Prince was equivalent to handing a handle to the other party. Doing so would indeed make Eunuch Liu more valued by the Third Prince. But since the teacher had once told him about the Third Prince's character, Eunuch Liu must have known it. So, didn't Eunuch Liu have any other ideas in his mind?
This is the breakthrough point!
Eunuch Liu stared at him intently, his eyes changed several times, and finally he waved his hand and asked everyone to leave.
After everyone left, Eunuch Liu said in a cold voice: "Xie Shu, if you don't tell us what's right and wrong today, don't even think about going back."
The author has something to say:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
