Chapter 39: Drunk Can You Stay for Me?
"I need you to get the revenue information of the shops that submitted the invitations for the past three years. I don't need detailed account details, just a rough amount will be fine. She has to estimate the monthly limit of the shop and then take a medium amount from the approximate range." The more she spoke, the more complicated it became. Luo Yunchu understood it, but he couldn't help but secretly admire her ingenuity.
"I really don't know how you came up with all this." Her confident demeanor enhanced her already pretty face, making Luo Yunchu unable to stop looking at her. His gaze on her became more intense. "Are you so confident?"
"As long as you take care of this part of the Chamber of Commerce for me, I'm confident in the rest."
"That's no problem, of course. The Chamber of Commerce can recruit shops under the name of agents, and the product of this agent is Zhichunli's Yu Lu Cream. However, the Chamber of Commerce cannot facilitate this for you in a private capacity." Luo Yunchu looked a little embarrassed.
Lu Tingwan understood and didn't ask him to take the risk of abusing his position for personal gain. He said generously, "Don't worry about that. I definitely won't ask you to abuse your power for personal gain."
"I will write a letter in Zhichunli's name and submit it to the Chamber of Commerce. All you need to do is raise this case with the Chamber. The Chamber's key officials will assess and vote on the proposal. Once it's deemed feasible, we'll then inform all the major businesses of the selection process. The Chamber of Commerce's handling of this matter is a mutually beneficial move for both the market and you."
Lu Tingwan went on to say, "If this goes through, not only will the Chamber of Commerce be able to clear up the property tax issue, but it will also mark the first achievement of your new chairman, Young Master Luo."
Luo Yunchu smiled with relief, the corners of his lips struggling to lower, "So, Yan Li did this for my own good."
"It's the icing on the cake," Lu Tingwan laughed ostentatiously, "How can you and I be separated?"
Luo Yunchu was even more delighted when he heard this. He put aside his business and said, "Today is the first day of sales for the Jade Dew Cream. The effect is remarkable. You have been busy for a long time. It's time to take a break. Let's go to the mansion tonight. I will have someone make some of your favorite food to celebrate for you. How about it?"
Lu Tingwan looked downstairs and saw that the maids and waiters in the store were doing their jobs in an orderly manner. Feng Xin was in charge of the overall situation and could handle it with ease. Perhaps it was time for her to gain some experience on her own.
Lu Tingwan thought about it and replied, "Okay."
As the evening wore on, the bustle of Zhichunli gradually faded, and Lu Tingwan allowed the staff to leave work early. After Zhichunli closed, Lu Tingwan boarded Luo Yunchu's carriage. Feng Xin went back to the Cheng Mansion first, bringing back the day's account book with her. Lu Tingwan felt safe leaving the accounts in her care.
"You're treating Feng Xin like the shopkeeper." Luo Yunchu seemed to see through her plan. "Are you planning to leave Zhichunli to her when you leave Kyoto in the future?"
Lu Tingwan smiled but said nothing.
Luo Yunchu didn't know how Lu Tingwan had negotiated the terms with Cheng Xianzhi, but from what he saw today, Cheng Xianzhi was wary of him, while Lu Tingwan didn't seem to be controlled by him.
The carriage entered Changqing Street, and the secret sentries who had been lurking outside Zhichun for a long time finally withdrew.
At midnight, Han Zhou was still discussing matters in the study of the Cheng residence when the secret sentry reported that Lu Tingwan had left Zhichunli and gone to Changqing Street. Cheng Xianzhi lowered his head to review the documents submitted by the six ministries.
"After Kong Fan was dismissed, the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue became vacant. Lu Mingqian and the Queen Mother wanted to select someone from the court. Who do you think it would be?"
"I'm afraid there are only two families left who are close to the Queen Mother's followers and have seniority." Han Zhou said.
"Two families?" Cheng Xianzhi knew but did not say anything, as if he wanted Han Zhou to explain the details.
"Jiang Yanli is the Empress Dowager's nephew, and was personally chosen by the Empress Dowager to marry into the Lu family. It's reasonable for him to be a Hanlin Academy scholar and be selected for the six ministries. However, jumping several levels to the position of Vice Minister is bound to be criticized, and it will be difficult for the censors." Han Zhou said, "If Jiang Yanli is appointed as a Doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, and he makes achievements in a year or two, then he can be promoted to Vice Minister in a legitimate way, and no one will complain."
"What about the other one?"
"Your Excellency clearly knows the answer, but why do you still ask Han Zhou?" Han Zhou said with a smile.
"How can I know that you and I are thinking of the same person if you don't tell me?"
"Liu Baiqi of the Liu family, formerly a doctor in the Ministry of War and the elder brother of Mrs. Lu Mingqian, has impeccable qualifications and abilities."
"The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have had numerous transactions in recent years. All matters concerning military pay have gone through Liu Baiqi. Having him concurrently serve as the Minister of Revenue is the best choice right now."
"Han Zhou thinks so too," Cheng Xianzhi said with a calm look, "Since you think Liu Baiqi is the most suitable, then the Queen Mother has even more reason to promote him."
"However, Queen Mother Jiang's ambitions don't stop there."
"What does your Excellency mean?"
"Promote Jiang Yanli to the position of Doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, and then promote Liu Baiqi to concurrently serve as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. When Jiang Haiyi returns to the court and is promoted to a higher rank, Jiang Yanli will be promoted to Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue based on his father's merits."
"The Queen Mother's move is really steady." Han Zhou suddenly realized.
"It's not just stable, the layout is also grand. She also wants the position of Shangshu Province." Cheng Xianzhi said calmly.
"Then why are you so calm, sir? Have you thought of a solution?"
He could have used the property tax case to make a big move, but was tricked by the empress dowager. This time he had to be even more cautious. If the Ministry of Revenue became a place where the empress dowager could have great influence, and if he lost the position of the Secretariat, the six ministries would be in the hands of her Jiang family. It would be wishful thinking for the emperor to try to control them again.
Cheng Xianzhi's eyes lit up, and he said calmly, "Put yourself in a desperate situation and then survive. Enter the game with your own body and take the enemy by surprise."
His deep eyes were filled with coldness, and Han Zhou smiled indifferently. Since he was a great man with a plan, he would not let people down. He did not delve into it. When necessary, Cheng Xianzhi would tell him what to do.
"If I become the Shangshu, the position of the Minister of Revenue will belong to you, Han Zhou." Cheng Xianzhi said firmly.
Han Zhou's heart was moved, and he said with a smile: "Your Excellency is too kind to me.
"The Han family is thrown into prison, Minister Han is wrongly punished, and the entire Han family is in decline. Are you willing to just stay by my side and be an advisor?" Cheng Xianzhi saw his unwillingness.
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have been willing to follow me when I intercepted the prison van outside the city that day."
"Now that my father's injustice has been redressed and the Han family's reputation has been restored, I have no further desires, whether I enter the civil service or not. I simply hope to serve you wholeheartedly and clean up the court, rather than allowing relatives to manipulate power."
Cheng Xianzhi wanted him to enter the government, not only to fulfill his lofty ambitions and redeem himself, but also to secure his position as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. To wrest power from his relatives, the emperor had to gradually erode the Jiang family's sturdy hold on every corner of the court. The Six Ministries were the breakthrough point, and the most crucial one.
"Since the Queen Mother has placed a spy in the mansion, why don't you make good use of this chess piece?" Han Zhou hinted.
Cheng Xianzhi understood and smiled inexplicably. He didn't want to move this chess piece for the time being.
"Luo Yunchu, the new president of the Chamber of Commerce, will have some negotiations with the Ministry of Revenue in the future. He could be useful," Cheng Xianzhi said. "Don't you want to know if Luo Yunchu knows Lu Tingwan's true identity?"
Han Zhou raised his eyebrows and smiled sternly: "Han Zhou understands."
"There's been a lot of commotion in Zhichunli, the Queen Mother won't just ignore it," Cheng Xianzhi said. "Lu Tingwan wants to take advantage of the gap between me and the Queen Mother to make wedding dresses for herself. It's a good idea, but also very ambitious."
Han Zhou didn't see the deeper meaning and waited for him to speak.
"She's both a daughter of the Lu family and a wife of the Cheng family. The Queen Mother values her. She's very good at judging the situation. She wants to gain benefits from me while also keeping the Queen Mother's trust. She was punished by the Queen Mother, and she said it was because of me, but she denied it was because of me." Cheng Xianzhi just found it funny. "She plays hard to get. She knows how to retreat in order to advance. She's a smart person. She can't serve the Queen Mother wholeheartedly, and she won't serve me either."
"But she has a weakness, and her weakness can be manipulated." Beneath that cold face lies a cunning and sinister fox.
"So today in Zhichunli, when the Lord publicly ordered a hundred jars of Yulu Cream, he was deliberately creating a difficult problem for the Second Madam." Han Zhou came back to his senses.
Given Zhichunli's background, it was impossible for him to build up a large inventory in a short period of time and before seeing any results, so he made the order for the hundred jars on purpose. With Cheng Pushe leading the way, those young ladies from official families and shop owners would swarm over like vultures finding rotten meat.
The warehouse in Zhichunli was in urgent need of storage, and he wanted to see how Lu Tingwan would handle it.
"It seems that she was not troubled."
"It seems that the Second Madam is quite capable in juggling between the adults and the Queen Mother." Han Zhou was generous with his praise. He was also enlightened by Zhichun today.
"Then guess what other tricks she has up her sleeve." Cheng Xianzhi asked with anticipation, still wanting more.
"It's rare for someone to play tricks under the adults' noses. The adults seem to be in the mood."
Cheng Xianzhi was just there to watch the show, and he still had some patience to deal with it. If he lost his patience, it would not be difficult to close down a small shop.
***
The fine wine and delicious food at the Luo Mansion made the night even more alluring. Lu Tingwan drank some wine. As there was a happy event today, he was in a good mood and drank a few more glasses.
Her little face flushed red, and the aroma of wine lingered between her teeth when she exhaled. Luo Yunchu ordered his servants to prepare a sobering soup for her.
Lu Tingwan was still holding a wine glass, drinking with Yue, and kept muttering to himself: "One day, I, Jiang Yanli, will also be able to stand in the business market of Kyoto and plan strategies!"
Perhaps because he had drunk too much, his words were arrogant, uninhibited and free-spirited. "Mother, Yanli is very satisfied with himself right now. You can rest in peace in your grave."
Luo Yunchu dismissed the others and stayed behind alone. The autumn night was chilly and she had been drinking, so the dress she was wearing was too thin to keep her warm.
Luo Yunchu took off his robe and put it on her, then sat down beside her.
Lu Tingwan reeked of alcohol and looked at Luo Yunchu with a silly smile. Luo Yunchu was very sober, and the feelings he had suppressed for a long time were stirring under the influence of the moonlight and alcohol. Lu Tingwan didn't know that she was being treated as a prey, and she exuded a captivating charm.
"Luo Yunchu..." Lu Tingwan's fingertips slid across the cup, and her body leaned over unsteadily. Luo Yunchu sat closer and let her lean on him.
Her every smile and frown, every word she said seemed like temptation to Luo Yunchu. The affection hidden deep in his heart broke free at this moment. He tried to reach out and put his arm around Lu Tingwan's thin shoulders, pressing them against his heart. Lu Tingwan was enveloped by the warmth, and comfort spread throughout her body. When he raised his eyes, he saw the handsome and beautiful figure gradually approaching, and his warm breath fanned Lu Tingwan.
Just when their lips were close, Lu Tingwan suddenly woke up and turned her head away. Her mind was confused and she was not conscious, but for some reason she subconsciously wanted to avoid Luo Yunchu's kiss.
But the two of them were close to each other, and Lu Tingwan was held in his arms. She seemed to have avoided it, but she felt something soft against her cheek. It was Luo Yunchu's kiss falling on her face.
The drunkenness she had originally felt was sobering a little, and she could feel the sudden beating heart of the man in front of her, and the lips against her cheek were warm and soft. This was the first time she had been so close to someone. At the age of seventeen, she had never experienced anything between men and women, but as a young girl in love, she was both afraid and pretending to be curious.
She was driven by the feeling, yet frozen in place, unsure how to react.
Seeing that she no longer resisted, Luo Yunchu wanted to get closer. Being hugged like this, she suddenly felt her limbs go weak and the wine cup in her hand accidentally fell to the ground.
With a loud "clang", the clear sound woke her up from her warm fragrance, and the drunkenness seemed to dissipate into the night along with the symphony.
Suddenly, she pushed Luo Yunchu away and stepped back with her hands. Luo Yunchu's attempt to lean over failed, and the feelings were cut off, but the lust in his eyes remained.
"Yanli?" He called softly, "Did I scare you?"
Lu Tingwan's shoulders trembled, then slowly relaxed, lowering his eyes to stare at the hem of Luo Yunchu's clothes.
"I... well, it's late at night, I have to go back..."
Luo Yunchu moved forward. Lu Tingwan noticed him approaching again and said defensively, "Thank you for the wine tonight. I have to go back..."
"Please stay, Yanli," Luo Yunchu said earnestly, "Can you stay for me?"
Facing his passion, Lu Tingwan's throat moved and she pondered for a long time. Luo Yunchu saw that she was silent and thought she agreed.
He embraced her again and leaned over her. Lu Tingwan was now fully awake. She pushed him away and struggled, lifting her skirt and standing up. "If I don't go back to the mansion, something bad will happen. Yunchu, I can't stay until I get the divorce papers."
Luo Yunchu smiled bitterly. Yes, she was still the concubine of the powerful Cheng Pushe. If he insisted on keeping her and made her embarrassed, how would he cope with it?
The blood-red at the corners of his eyes gradually faded, and his tone became calmer. "I'm sorry, it's me. I was too impatient."
Lu Tingwan smiled faintly and pretended to be calm and soothing, "I know, it's the drunkenness that's causing the trouble. Yunchu, go to sleep."
After that, she left in a hurry.
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