Chapter 85
Shen Yanzhi chuckled softly and let her do whatever she wanted: "Madam, even a mountain of swords and a sea of fire is a smooth journey. This little injury is nothing."
"Slippery tongue," Song Qingyuan grumbled, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up. She carefully bandaged him, then sat down across from him, her expression growing serious. "The Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner... Father, this move was truly ruthless and accurate."
"Yes." Shen Yanzhi stretched his arms, his eyes darkening. "He handed the world's purse to me. It was both a test and a bait. He wanted to see if I would be blinded by power; he also wanted to see how many hungry wolves this piece of fat meat would attract."
Song Qingyuan nodded: "The King of Qi and the King of Wei are probably unable to sit still any longer.
Especially the Prince of Qi, whose mother is a noble concubine and whose maternal family is the Minister of War. He has always been arrogant and domineering. Now that you have stolen such a big spotlight this time, I am afraid he will be the first to jump out."
"A clown, nothing to be afraid of." Shen Yanzhi was unconcerned. "I'm more worried about the King of Wei. He's always been a secretive person, smiling but hiding a knife. When people bite, they're the most painful."
"When an enemy comes, we will fight him; when water comes, we will block it with earth." Song Qingyuan poured him a cup of tea. "No matter what tricks they use, we will respond accordingly. But there is one thing I find a little funny."
"Oh? What's going on?"
Song Qingyuan's eyes flashed with a cunning look: "I was in the imperial study today. Did you see the face of the Minister of Revenue? That expression was as if he had swallowed a fly.
I bet he's in his mansion right now, cursing Li Song while flipping through the mining and purification methods I gave him overnight, fearing he'll mess up and be held accountable by His Majesty."
Shen Yanzhi was amused by her vivid description, and the heavy atmosphere in the study suddenly became much more relaxed.
"You just like to find joy in hardship." He held her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. "But he should be anxious. I've arranged the first caravan for the salt from Sky Realm, and it should arrive in the capital in ten days at the earliest.
By then, the price of salt in the capital will change dramatically."
Song Qingyuan's eyes lit up: "So fast?"
"Of course." Shen Yanzhi's eyes were filled with the confidence of a mastermind, "The good show has just begun."
Ten days later, in the capital.
The early morning East Market was still shrouded in mist, but long lines had already formed in front of the largest official salt shops. The crowds were bustling and talking, their faces etched with excitement and anticipation.
"Have you heard? Today is the day the 'snow salt' that Princess Yan discovered goes on sale!"
"How could I not have heard of it? They say the salt is as white as snowflakes, without a single bitter taste, and is something only gods can eat!"
"What's the big deal about what the gods eat? The key is the price! The notice says it's only 30% more expensive than the black, astringent coarse salt we used to eat! That's pure kindness!"
"That's right! Princess Yan is truly a living Bodhisattva! In the past, those salt merchants raised the price of salt to an exorbitant level. We ordinary people had to carefully consider the amount of salt we put in when cooking. Now, thanks to the princess, we can now eat good salt!"
In the crowd, a man in shorts boasted to those around him, spit flying: "Let me tell you, my third uncle's second cousin works in the Prince of Yan's palace. He said that the princess herself brought this salt back for us from the 'Sky Realm' in the Qilian Mountains! That place is where only the gods in heaven can go!"
These words immediately caused exclamations and gasps, and raised Song Qingyuan's image in the hearts of the people to several levels, almost on par with the gods in the temple.
The shop door creaked open, and the shopkeeper emerged, his face beaming. He bowed to the crowd, "Fellow villagers, please be quiet, be quiet! By order of His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan and Lady Protector of the Nation, we are selling 'Sky Realm' snow salt today. Each household is limited to five kilograms. The price is fair, and everyone is fair!"
As soon as the words fell, the crowd erupted in excitement. Bags of pure white salt were brought out, and the people rushed to hand over copper coins. When they personally took the heavy bags of salt and saw the crystal clear salt grains inside, the joy on their faces was unconcealable.
A white-haired old woman, with trembling hands, opened the salt bag, pinched a small handful and put it in her mouth. Then tears streamed down her face, "It's salty, it's really salty... I've lived for sixty years and have never seen such clean salt... Your Highness the Prince of Yan and the Princess are truly great benefactors to us ordinary people!"
This scene was seen by people in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse not far away.
Sitting in the private room were two young men in luxurious clothes. They were Shen Chongming, the Prince of Qi, and Shen Chongyuan, the Prince of Wei.
King Qi Shen Chongming looked at the people downstairs praising Shen Yanzhi and his wife, and his face turned ashen with anger. The teacup in his hand creaked as he squeezed it.
"This is too much! This is really too much!" He slammed his fist on the table, sending tea flying everywhere. "A woman just got lucky and discovered a salt lake, and my father made her a First-Rank Protector of the Nation Lady! And the Seventh Sister was directly appointed Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner! How come they get all the good things in the world!"
Across from him, Wei Wang Shen Chongyuan appeared much calmer. He slowly blew away the foam from his teacup and said softly, "Fourth Brother, why are you so angry? The Seventh Brother is currently in the limelight and has the support of the people. It would be unwise for us to confront him head-on now."
"Then what do you say we should do? Are we just going to watch him control the state purse strings and ascend to that throne?" The King of Qi was furious. "My mother is a noble concubine. In terms of birth and seniority, how is she inferior to him?"
The King of Wei put down his teacup, a subtle glint in his eyes. "Fourth brother, have you ever thought about why our father established the position of 'Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner'?"
The King of Qi was stunned: "Why else? Because he favors the Seventh Prince!"
"No." The King of Wei shook his head, his voice lowered. "Father is just 'raising poison.' He pushed the Seventh Brother to the highest position just to see what methods we brothers would use to pull him down.
Whoever has the more clever tactics, whoever has the last laugh, will be the true heir in my father's heart."
The King of Qi seemed to understand what he heard, but the words "raising poisonous insects" made him feel a chill in his heart.
The King of Wei continued, "Seventh Brother may seem to be in a good position now, but he's actually sitting on the edge of a volcano. The Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner is in charge of all the salt and iron in the world. The intricacies and conflicts of interest involved are unfathomable.
He wanted to ensure that all people in the world could eat affordable salt, but had he ever considered whether the wealthy families who had made huge profits from salt and iron for generations would give up?
King Qi's eyes lit up: "You mean..."
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