Chapter 27: Counting Money Jiang Yanli, when did she become the second wife of my mansion...
Cheng Xianzhi was still waiting in Jingzhao Prefecture.
"Aside from the one in Jinhua Palace, Lu Mingqian is the one who wants to make it difficult for me to move forward." A cold look flashed across his deep eyes. "Hindering me? They're simply afraid that I'll investigate further. If I find out, it won't benefit anyone."
"For this case, Jingzhao Prefecture has to submit it to Hanzhang Palace before a decision can be made. As for who is behind it, it depends on how the empress dowager decides to let it go." Han Zhou is well aware of this.
"Empress Dowager," Cheng Xianzhi said calmly, the corners of his lips curled slightly, "Your Majesty naturally wants to keep things quiet, but at this point, even if she's unwilling to give up, she has to find someone to take the blame. The house tax comes from the Ministry of Revenue, and Assistant Minister Kong Fan is doomed."
"The Queen Mother wants to abandon Kong Fan and let him take full responsibility. If Kong Fan doesn't understand, the more than a dozen members of the Kong family, young and old, will never be able to see the autumn scenery of Kyoto again this year." Cheng Xianzhi stood up, as calm as the breeze.
"Seven days. My Lord has promised seven days in Hanzhang Palace. It's just right." Han Zhou stood on his left.
"Thanks to you for reminding me. The Ministry of Revenue's accounts are in deficit. The Minister of Revenue, Kong Fan, is a talented person, but unfortunately, he misused his talents and created what he thought was a watertight accounting system. He wants to make up for the deficit by collecting taxes from property. If he relies solely on property taxes, the attention drawn to them will inevitably arouse suspicion."
"I believe Kong Fan also saw the reason, so he wanted to start from the flower market this year, but something went wrong in the middle." He said in a cold and leisurely voice.
"The person you are talking about is the shopkeeper Jiang from Zhichunli, right?"
"Jiang Yanli cut off his financial resources. If it weren't for the fact that Zhichunli Huanyanshuang made a name for herself in Kyoto and gained face among the officials' wives, Kong Fan would have had to start from other places if he didn't want to make a big deal out of it."
"Jiang Yanli knew full well that the merchants were colluding with the Chamber of Commerce, yet she still dared to snatch the flower farmers' business from them. She must have planned this all along, winning over the families of Kyoto officials to support her, so that no one in the Chamber of Commerce would dare to touch her." Han Zhou had never seen her before, but judging from this incident, she was definitely not an ordinary merchant shopkeeper.
"And this backer is doing it without anyone noticing, and he remains silent." Cheng Xianzhi still had a faint smile on his face.
"If it weren't for Jiang Yanli, Kong Fan wouldn't have set his sights on that batch of old armor," Cheng Xianzhi said. "Old armor and shields can't be used on the battlefield. Even the people in the backyard of Sun Gui's mansion don't use such outdated weapons. He's simply trying to make up for his losses by exchanging silver through unorthodox means, forcing him into a desperate situation."
So there was the incident where Lu Tingwan was ambushed outside the city.
"Prefect Liu should release the people." Han Zhou nodded, waiting for Cheng Xian's order.
"No rush. Wait until tomorrow's court meeting. Jingzhao Prefecture will report to His Majesty that releasing Han Jinzhang is inevitable. Liu Lin can't investigate further," Cheng Xianzhi said. "The Empress Dowager has to suppress it. Liu Lin is stubborn and won't give up. His Majesty will definitely be in a dilemma tomorrow."
"Han Zhou," he said, his mood becoming playful. "Who do you think is the winner in this round?"
"Han Zhou dare not make rash judgments about the emperor's will." Han Zhou showed no emotion.
Cheng Xianzhi stopped joking, lowered his eyes coldly, stood tall and straight, and no longer talked about state affairs with him.
"But I'm curious about one thing," Cheng Xianzhi said to himself, "Who is this Jiang Yanli?"
Cheng Xianzhi vaguely felt that she was a traveling merchant girl, but she was thoughtful, decisive, and loyal.
"You'll know after we meet." Han Zhou said, holding his cheek.
"Let the prefect release him."
After midnight, the crescent moon is like a sickle, a sharp knife hanging in the sky, and the stars are like tiny beads, dotting the dark curtain.
After Lu Tingwan left Jingzhao Prefecture, Liu Lin asked her to go back and would not tell her much about the case. At least she knew that Han Jinzhang, who was imprisoned, would not be convicted of the crime of possessing weapons and treason.
Then she knew Chunli would not be involved, so she repaid the favor, thinking that she could get out of it completely and no longer be controlled by this evil star.
Thinking of this, her steps became more brisk, and she acted like a young girl who could not hide her joy. In the dim alley, her pretty figure jumped around, sometimes humming a tune, sometimes muttering inaudible words.
Until they turned a corner, the two men standing behind them pressed against the dark night. Han Zhou's voice mixed in with the night, "Sir, is it appropriate for two men like us to follow a woman like this?"
A frown crossed Cheng Xianzhi's eyes. Why didn't he tell her that he had followed her all the way from Jingzhao Prefecture? Now that he was telling her, it made him look like a gangster.
After turning the corner and entering the main road, the two looked at each other and saw Lu Tingwan's figure turning from another alley. There was only one place where the alley led directly to.
Cheng Xianzhi whispered, "Isn't this my home?"
Han Zhou spread his hands, shook his head and said, "Are you here to meet your lover?"
Cheng Xianzhi flashed past a person. Her lover? Wasn't her lover Luo Yunchu? Luo Yunchu lived on Changqing Street, which was not far away.
Immediately afterwards, the two figures entered the back alley, and Lu Tingwan was seen leaning against the back door of Cheng's house, imitating a few partridge calls.
The same sound was heard within half a minute.
After the secret code was given, Feng Xin opened the door from the inside and said in a low voice: "Second Madam is finally back. She was really worried to death."
Lu Tingwan pushed her in and said, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
The back door was locked again.
Han Zhou and Cheng Xianzhi stood under the eaves at the corner of the back door.
A subtle silver moon, hair that seemed even darker than before, a straight figure, Cheng Xianzhi's expression shrouded in an unfathomable calm. For a long moment, beneath that calm and cold face, a chill as ice shone. "Second Madam, the daughter of the Lu family..."
He seemed to understand something and smiled, "Zhichunli, Jiang Yanli, interesting, interesting."
Han Zhou now understood and sighed, "It turns out that the shopkeeper of Zhichunli is actually the second lady of the mansion. This is not something that can be hidden easily."
Cheng Xianzhi said meaningfully, "The Queen Mother is a chess piece that is really hard to figure out."
Jiang Yanli is Lu Tingwan. Cheng Xianzhi learned about this. No matter how exciting the events in Jingzhao Prefecture were today, they were not as interesting as this.
After Han Zhou said goodbye, Cheng Xianzhi entered the mansion through the main gate. Someone from Yingyue Pavilion came to greet him, and Cheng Xianzhi sent Cang Shu to deal with it. He returned to the study and did not check on any official business or rest.
Cangshu came in from behind the screen and advised: "Master, it's late at night. Cangshu has prepared hot water. Please clean yourself before you rest."
Cheng Xianzhi simply asked, "Have the people from Yansheng Hall been active in the past few months?"
Cang Shu was confused. This lord never asked about the people in Yansheng Hall, so why was he asking about it today?
"A few days ago, the master sent flowers to the eldest lady. Yingyue Pavilion couldn't hold them, so they were sent to other courtyards. Butler Zhu also met with the second lady."
"Does that person often walk around the mansion?"
"The Lord has issued an order that the Second Madam no longer needs to go to Yingyue Pavilion to pay respects to the First Madam. She has also been very well behaved and rarely goes in and out of Yansheng Hall. The servants in the mansion have rarely seen the Second Madam."
Cang Zhu carefully observed his expression as he replied, not knowing what his intention was in asking this question so suddenly.
The breeze stirred the osmanthus flowers outside the courtyard, and the fragrance came from the study, around the eaves, and drifted into the inner room through the windows of Yansheng Hall along the wind direction.
Lu Tingwan was in a good mood. After taking a shower, she leaned against the windowsill to enjoy the breeze. The fragrance of osmanthus filled her nose. She smelled the fragrance of the flowers and leisurely admired the moon.
Feng Xin called out softly in this comfortable atmosphere, "Second Madam, I've calculated all the accounts for Zhichun this month and have converted 70% of the silver into banknotes. You can deposit them at the bank tomorrow."
"Feng Xin is so capable." Lu Tingwan stretched his limbs and turned around. His black hair was loose, half tied with a plain white hairband, like a pouring Milky Way. His pajamas were hanging like a ball of mist.
She took the account book and asked, "Has Luo Yunchu's 30% interest been paid out?"
"Don't worry, Madam. It has already been set aside. It also includes the cash flow needed for the shop next month. These are all untouched silver." Feng Xin handed over a stack of banknotes with both hands.
Lu Tingwan took it and sat down casually on the ground. She picked up the red veil from the clothes hanger and used it as a cushion. She carefully counted the banknotes in her hand.
"Second Madam, Zhichunli is doing well. In just three months, it's already earned enough to equal the annual revenue of an ordinary shop."
Lu Tingwan's face lit up with joy, and he took out a silver note and gave it to Feng Xin.
Feng Xin stood there in fear and said in a tepid tone, "Second Madam, what's going on?"
"This is your bonus for learning accounting this month." Lu Tingwan grabbed her hand and told her to put it away carefully. "You deserve it."
Feng Xin didn't dare to accept it, as that banknote could cover her monthly salary for several years.
"Feng Xin dared not. Madam taught me business and abacus. It should be Feng Xin who paid for your tuition."
"Silly Fengxin, just keep it if I tell you to." Lu Tingwan simply stuffed it into her arms.
She sat back on the red veil and said, "From now on, flower farmers can safely supply flowers to Zhichunli without worrying about merchants. Zhichunli will also reach a higher level."
"This silver note is my recognition of your ability, Feng Xin. You deserve it."
Lu Tingwan's words made people feel comfortable and at ease. "Thank you, Second Madam, for your cultivation. Feng Xin would be disrespectful to refuse."
Lu Tingwan was concentrating on counting the money.
"Feng Xin, if you have a lot of money in the future, what do you want to do?"
"Well... I'll find a good family to marry into, and I'll have this silver as a dowry."
"You made money, but you only think about getting married?" Lu Tingwan frowned, puzzled and a little disappointed.
"Then what else can we do?" Feng Xin was confused.
"You're already an accountant now, but haven't you ever thought about starting a small business or something else?"
Feng Xin thought about it carefully. "Actually, Feng Xin has no relatives left in this world. If I leave you, my lady, I'll be left alone and have no place to go. I have no choice but to marry. Otherwise, how about Feng Xin always stay with you?"
"Follow me forever?" Lu Tingwan glanced sideways. "If you're willing, I'd be happy to do so. Although making money is important, life is long. If you really meet someone you truly cherish in the future, you can marry them. I'll prepare a generous dowry for you then."
"Second Madam..." Feng Xin was embarrassed by her teasing, "Feng Xin won't talk to you anymore."
"Alright Fengxin, I'm just teasing you. The moon is beautiful tonight. Let's go to the courtyard to admire the moon later. You prepare some food."
“…”
The two of them were immersed in joy, their laughter faintly emanating from them. A figure quietly entered Yansheng Hall, interrupted by an untimely voice from behind the screen.
The uninvited guest's figure overshadowed the jade-carved screen depicting lakes and mountains. His voice was like a gentle breeze, bringing with it the coolness of summer. "Jiang Yanli, when did you become the second wife of Cheng Xianzhi?"
This voice! Why is it so familiar?
Lu Tingwan was horrified and suddenly raised his eyes to follow the voice. A moon-like shadow faded into his sight like mist. His eyebrows and eyes suppressed his arrogance, making people afraid to approach him.
Lu Tingwan saw the outline clearly, his thin lips almost opened, but no sound came out of his throat.
Cheng Xianzhi glanced at the furnishings in the room, his eyes casually looking at the place where she sat on the floor. It looked like a red veil. It was a little white, obviously because it was often used as a cushion, which is why it has become so worn. His sword-like brows gradually frowned.
"Han? Han Jinzhang?"
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