Tao Wanniang accepted Zhao Zhe's request and escorted him to the entrance of Zhaixing Tower. Looking at his thin figure, four words came to Tao Wanniang's mind: "Deep affection is short-lived!"
Zhao Zhe's forbidden feelings for Xiao Yi could be described as deep, but in his eyes, Xiao Yi was the only one he couldn't harm. He didn't care about the people around Xiao Yi. How innocent those women were!
The secret decree and the pardon were delivered to the Tao family by a secret agent late at night. After checking them, Tao Wanniang put them all into her spatial storage.
Imagine how much wealth she could accumulate if no taxes were levied for ten years!
Tao Wanniang didn't tell anyone about this; she would definitely retire after another ten years.
Lingyunzhou also received a summons from Zhao Zhe and was shocked to hear that Zhao Zhe wanted Xiao Yi to return to the capital to oversee the country.
"His Majesty is unwell; he can be treated by the imperial physicians. Why do you have this idea?"
“Ling Yunzhou, I know my health very well,” Zhao Zhe said with a stern face. “I know you and Xiao Yi are good friends. If anyone is dissatisfied with his return to the capital to oversee the country, you can help him establish his authority. With the two of you assisting the Crown Prince, even if I die, I can die in peace.”
Ling Yunzhou was still shocked. If he valued Xiao Yi so much, why did he demote the Prince Rui's family to Youzhou in the first place?
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is too young..."
"Yes, the Crown Prince is young, so I need someone I can trust to oversee the country. I can trust Xiao Yi and you. Although the Crown Prince's tutor has some objections, with your support, Xiao Yi can stand firm!"
Listening to Zhao Zhe's words, Ling Yunzhou really wanted to know why he had done what he did in the first place if he valued it so much.
However, as Zhao Zhe coughed, the head eunuch shouted for the imperial physician, and Ling Yunzhou was ordered to leave.
With the Emperor gravely ill and the court in turmoil, Lingyunzhou felt a sudden sense of unease, fearing that the world was about to change!
Although Tao Wanniang knew the inside story, as a merchant, she did not get close to the center of power.
As the year drew to a close, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Mighty Escort Agency returned, bringing with him a letter from Xiao Yi.
"Manager Tao, I have not failed you. This is from the Crown Prince of Youzhou."
"Thank you for your trouble, Chief Escort Wu." Tao Wanniang settled the remaining payment and invited Chief Escort Wu to have a meal at Zhaixing Tower.
"No, I need to hurry back to the escort agency. It's almost the New Year, and families should be together!" Wu, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), wiped the weather from his face and said cheerfully.
"Please wait a moment, Chief Escort. Take some pastries back to your family!" Tao Wanniang said politely.
This time, Wu, the head镖师, did not refuse again. After seeing Wu off, Tao Wanniang opened Xiao Yi's letter.
In the letter, Xiao Yi only said that everything was in order at the Star-Picking Tower in Youzhou, and that with the recipes and some seeds sent by Tao Wanniang, the tower would be able to open for business soon.
Throughout the entire piece, he didn't mention a single word about what he had said that day, so Tao Wanniang assumed that he had already let it go.
Tao Wanniang wondered if the Emperor's secret order had reached Youzhou yet. She thought to herself, "Perhaps Xiao Yi will bring Hongzhu back to the capital after the New Year!"
Soon it was the day before New Year's Eve. Tao Wanniang gave the restaurant staff a holiday in advance. Everyone was having a reunion dinner at home on New Year's Eve, so why would the restaurant be open for business?
"Come on, here are some New Year's red envelopes. Everyone has worked hard this year!" Tao Wanniang took the lead and gave red envelopes to everyone, including Luneng.
"Manager Tao, everyone's been waiting for the New Year!" Yang Song led the cheers. "Nobody's as comfortable as our Zhaixing Tower. We even get red envelopes during the New Year."
"That's right, Manager Tao, we are truly fortunate to be able to work at Zhaixing Tower."
"Manager Tao, you are the woman I, Yang Changsheng, admire the most. For the sake of this red envelope, I will work for you again next year!"
"Alright, you've said all the nice things, and the New Year's goods have been distributed to everyone. Everyone should go home early!" Tao Wanniang smiled freely. She would never treat anyone who worked for her unfairly.
It wasn't just at the restaurant; at the estate, Tao Wanniang had Zhang Liang handle it, giving him a red envelope twice the size of last year's, and also bringing exquisite pastries from Zhaixinglou.
Regarding the hot pot restaurant, she also instructed Ling Dahu and Wang Hongyu that although the business had only been open for a few months and they hadn't yet recouped their investment, they should still receive all the money they were entitled to.
The restaurant was closed for the holiday, so Tao Wanniang stayed home on New Year's Eve. The hot pot restaurant was also closed, and the whole family was preparing for the New Year.
Ling Yunzhou arrived uninvited on New Year's Eve.
Tao Wanniang naturally didn't give her a pleasant look.
"I have something to tell you, and I'll leave after I finish." Ling Yunzhou's expression was solemn.
Tao Wanniang's heart sank, and she invited the person into the courtyard. With her arms crossed, she asked seriously, "What happened?"
"His Majesty's time is drawing near, and Xiao Yi has already secretly entered the capital," Ling Yunzhou said. "There will be some unrest in the near future, so be careful."
"What does the turmoil in the court have to do with me, a mere merchant's wife?" Tao Wanniang retorted.
“Your past relationship with the Prince Rui’s mansion might become a bargaining chip for someone with ulterior motives to blackmail Xiao Yi; and... our relationship!” Ling Yunzhou said solemnly, “I know you don’t like having anything to do with me, but I’m also afraid that something might really happen to you, so I’ve asked Ling Feng and Chen Yan to protect you!”
"They're all acquaintances," Tao Wan's mother thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright then, where are they? If they don't have family during the New Year, they can come and have New Year's Eve dinner with us!"
Ling Yunzhou glanced at Tao Wanniang with a wistful look. She treated the guards better than she treated him.
However, there was no point in dwelling on it, so he stopped trying to force things.
"The end of the year is a time when everyone relaxes, and I will try my best not to let others scheme against you." After Ling Yunzhou finished speaking, he sighed inwardly when he saw the brightly lit living room and the cheerful laughter inside.
"Thank you for reminding me." Having nothing else to say, Tao Wanniang gave him the order to leave: "You should go back now. It's New Year's Eve, time for a family reunion dinner."
"Okay, I'm leaving!" Ling Yunzhou left briskly. "Ling Feng and Chen Yan will be here shortly."
The thing Ling Yunzhou was worried about didn't happen. On the contrary, Ling Feng and Chen Yan, who were already acquainted, stayed at the Tao family's house for half a month.
During this period, the emperor was to be buried in the capital, and no weddings or celebrations were to take place in the capital for seven days. Merchants were also forbidden from drinking and making merry. Tao Wan Niang simply allowed everyone to rest until the day before the Lantern Festival.
It was three months later when I saw Xiao Yi again.
Xiao Yi brought the young emperor to the Star-Picking Tower for a meal.
"Sister Tao, it's been a long time!" Xiao Yi's temperament had also undergone a dramatic change. If he was gentle and refined before, he now seemed rather aloof.
"This humble woman greets the Regent and His Majesty."
"So you're the Tao Wan Niang who was granted immunity from death and exempted from taxes for ten years by the late emperor?" The young emperor looked Tao Wan Niang up and down, but then smiled and said, "The late emperor said that you have made great contributions to the livelihood of the people of Dayue. I have also checked the records, and you have indeed done a lot. Do you have any requests? I can grant them to you!"
Tao Wanniang was taken aback and looked up, only to see Xiao Yi's kind eyes.
Suddenly, she felt a little relieved. Xiao Yi was still the same Xiao Yi as before!
"This humble woman did it unintentionally. If we were to say who deserves the most credit, it would be Lord Shi Tianbao of the Ministry of Revenue." Tao Wanniang has already received more than enough.
"You seem quite content. Fine. Xiao Yi, you said there are things here that you can't get in the palace, right?"
"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case. Manager Tao, please bring out some good dishes!" Xiao Yi said.
Tao Wanniang immediately accepted the order and withdrew, only to encounter Cheng Feng at the door.
"Sister Tao, don't be nervous. The young master said he is still himself, but he will need to avoid suspicion for a long time to come," Cheng Feng comforted Tao Wanniang.
Tao Wanniang nodded. She saw kindness in Xiao Yi's eyes and was willing to believe that Xiao Yi was still the same Xiao Yi as before.
"Is it just the two of you who came back this time?" Tao Wanniang couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, the late emperor issued a secret order to summon me urgently. Fearing that something might go wrong, the Crown Prince brought me and some guards back to the capital. Once things are stable here, we'll invite the Crown Princess over. As for the Prince and Princess, the Princess has high hopes for the Star-Picking Tower in Youzhou, so I doubt she'll be back for the next three to five years."
Cheng Feng accompanied Tao Wan's mother all the way to the kitchen, talking the whole way.
Tao Wanniang was relieved to hear that Xiao Yi and Hongzhu had a deep affection for each other, thinking that this was a good thing.
She did not wish to tell anyone about the Emperor's secret decree, and in the days to come, she would simply remain an observer.
In the spring, Shi Tianbao had already replanted potatoes, rice, and tomatoes, and he would occasionally run to Tao Wanniang's restaurant to inquire about matters.
As the crops in the fields were harvested and the restaurant business stabilized, Tao Wanniang had more and more free time.
The court, though not entirely peaceful, is relatively stable. Her secret decree is no longer needed. She can now relinquish control of the restaurant, and she can confidently entrust the new product development department to Tang Ruyue. At the estate, with Steward Lin in charge, the crops are thriving. At home, her eldest grandson has finally gone to school, and although her youngest granddaughter is fussy, she has eventually been appeased.
It's time to go out and explore. Tao Wanniang wants to visit Sifang City and then Lingnan. She wants to see the world. Anyway, she's not short of money. If any new species appear in the future, she can just say that they were found in Lingnan.
With a single thought, Tao Wanniang left a note and departed. With no one watching, she could roam freely across the land. Wealthy beyond measure, with a short arrow at her sleeve and a revolver at her waist, she carried no baggage—truly a life of carefree ease!
(The Finale)
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