99 Return to the capital
"Shen Suqin is back."
Xingwu first year, Yuan day.
Emperor Jingkang's 25-year reign came to an end, and a new emperor ascended the throne, changing the country's name to Xingwu. He then appointed General Xiao Pingchuan as the General Who Guards the North, a high-ranking official of the first rank.
This young general, who had risen to the rank of first-grade official before the age of thirty, caused quite a stir throughout the entire Liang Dynasty.
A little inquiry revealed that he not only controlled the safety of the northern border, but his wife, Shen Suqin, was also the owner of Shenji Zhenhuofang, Xingyuan Restaurant, and Ningyuan Guzongfang.
With money, power, and military strength, which powerful family in the Great Liang dares to challenge its might?
No, there really is.
On a morning court session shrouded in thick fog, an official submitted a memorial accusing Xiao Pingchuan of harboring malicious intentions and requesting Emperor Xingwu to conduct a thorough investigation.
"Investigate? Investigate what?" Emperor Xingwu's voice carried an air of authority even without anger. "Is it to investigate how many Black Flag Army soldiers were killed or wounded in the recent battle? Or is it to investigate how much silver the general's wife, who is a royal merchant, earned for my national treasury?"
"Gentlemen, the Great Liang Dynasty is in dire need of rebuilding, and it is precisely at this time that your efforts are needed. Instead of eyeing other people's pockets, you should think about how to do your own jobs well, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The crowd remained silent, not daring to utter a sound.
Among the court officials, Pei Tingfeng lowered his brows and lowered his eyes, his expression calm, lost in thought.
When Emperor Jingkang was seriously ill, he used the excuse of attending to his illness to send Prime Minister Pei Ruhai to the Western Hills Palace.
Pei Ruhai knew very well that this was the last thing Emperor Jingkang was doing for his son, forcing the Pei family to undergo a generational change and making his family choose between Pei Ruhai and Pei Tingfeng.
Clearly, the Pei family fulfilled Emperor Jingkang's wish and promoted Pei Tingfeng to the position.
Currently, Pei Tingfeng is the youngest Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
"Yang Kan, the Director of the Treasury," Emperor Xingwu began.
Yang Kan stepped forward cautiously.
"Have you seen the memorial impeaching you, my dear minister?"
"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation."
"That means he hasn't seen it before. Someone, read it to him word by word."
A palace servant presented a memorial, which read, "Yang Kan holds a position without performing his duties, forms cliques for personal gain, and ignores the suffering of the people..."
After half a cup of tea, Emperor Xingwu asked him, "Do you have anything to say?"
Yang Kan knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, please have mercy."
Emperor Xingwu: "Then tell me, how much silver is left in my national treasury?"
Yang Kan: "Five...five..."
"Five what?"
"...five, fifty thousand taels."
Emperor Xingwu was so angry he laughed. He found it absurd that the entire Great Liang Kingdom only had 50,000 taels of silver. Even Shen Suqin's workshop earned more than 50,000 taels a day.
He waved his hand, "Drag him away and investigate thoroughly."
Having said that, he glanced listlessly at the assembled officials below and said, "Disperse."
Seven days later, Shen Suqin stood beneath the towering city walls of the capital.
She recalled that winter when she fled the city in a sorry state, surrounded by withered branches, crows, and refugees.
Right now, she held a bright yellow imperial edict in her hand, as well as the key to the Great Liang treasury.
She knew very well that once she stepped into this capital city today, her stage would no longer be limited to Jinzhou, and she would never be able to turn back.
At the same time, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the Ningyuan Laomaoling Firearms Workshop, followed by earth-shaking tremors and repeated earth-shaking.
The artillery has been successfully developed.
Yan Lin hurriedly came down from Laomao Ridge with the blueprints in his hand, got into a carriage, and headed straight for the Shule River.
He didn't trust anyone to deliver the drawings, so he had to make the trip himself.
Before leaving Ningyuan, Shen Suqin instructed that the Black Flag Army must possess invincible firepower, otherwise everyone would die.
Yan Lin understood perfectly well that what she meant was that once the Crown Prince successfully ascended the throne, the Black Flag Army's military power would once again become the target of everyone's attacks; and now, her identity could no longer be concealed either. If the two people who possessed such a great treasure had no ability to protect themselves, they would only be devoured by others.
Therefore, Yan Lin increased the manpower in the firearms workshop and accelerated the research and development of cannons.
These kinds of things are all interconnected; once you put them into practice, they're not that difficult.
Right now, he was being escorted by the elite Black Flag Army, hurrying towards the Shule River. He would be at ease once the blueprints were handed over to Xiao Pingchuan.
On the other side, Su Yubai cautiously considered the assets under his name, consolidating what could be consolidated and keeping a low profile where necessary, intending to lie low for a while and see how things developed.
Although they all knew that Shi Ye wouldn't do anything to them, once they reached that position, they often had no control over their own lives, so they still had to make plans for themselves in advance.
In particular, he summoned Shen Suqin from a great distance.
The privately delivered letter said that the national treasury was starving and he had no money to spend, so he asked Shen Suqin to go and get him some money.
But the imperial edict pushed her into the limelight. How could the keys to the national treasury be given away so easily? Throughout history, have there ever been women who served as officials in the imperial court?
Even a fool could imagine the pressure Shen Suqin would face on this trip.
Yan Lin also asked Xiao Pingchuan this same question on the Shule River.
"Aren't you worried about her? This trip is fraught with danger, with countless eyes watching her."
Xiao Pingchuan put the blueprints into his pocket and said calmly, "I believe in her abilities and her choice. Since she has decided to go, it means she can handle any situation she encounters."
"Yan Lin, you can't treat her like an ordinary woman; she is Shen Suqin."
Yan Lin was a little annoyed: "I know, but what kind of place is the capital? It's a place that eats people up without spitting out the bones. No matter how powerful she is, she can't fight against so many people. What if something really happens? The sky is high and the road is far. You won't even have time to save her."
"So what do you want me to do? Tie her up with a rope and keep her by my side? She's not that kind of person. She's an eagle; she has her own sky. She has to fly, or she won't survive. As for the risks, what doesn't involve risks?"
Yan Lin took a deep breath. "Now I finally understand why she chose you?"
Xiao Pingchuan himself was also very curious about this question.
Why do you think so?
"Because you believe in her."
Xiao Pingchuan laughed: "I thought it was because of my face."
"Alright, let's get down to business. You should have received the cotton-padded coats by now, right? This year's cotton harvest wasn't very large, and making cotton-padded coats consumes a lot of cotton, so you can only get a maximum of six thousand coats. This is what Su Yubai asked me to tell you."
"I understand, please thank him for me."
"No need to thank me, he's just using someone else's flowers to present to Buddha," Yan Lin said. "The firearms battalion is working hard on research and development, so just let me know if you need anything. After all, I don't go to the battlefield, and I'm not the one using the weapons, so there's bound to be some bias."
"good."
"Okay, that's settled then. I have to go back now."
"Okay, I've arranged a personal bodyguard for you. Don't wander off, and be careful."
Yan Lin waved his hand.
Meanwhile, at the Pei residence in the capital.
Shen Suqiu held the hot tea, her eyes lowered, lost in thought.
Pei Tingfeng paced back and forth anxiously, saying, "Father's passing was sudden, and there were many things at home that he didn't have time to explain, not to mention matters in the court. Now, many of Father's old acquaintances are watching and waiting; they are not willing to trust me as much as they trusted Father."
“That’s only right, you’re still young,” Shen Suqiu said. “Besides, I think you shouldn’t follow in your uncle’s footsteps, you should walk your own path.”
"The path I should take?"
"Yes, walk the path you believe is right."
Shen Suqiu spent so many years at the Imperial Academy, and her studies were not in vain. She also had a heart for the country and its people, but alas, she was just a woman.
But I heard that today, that woman entered the city because His Majesty summoned her.
If she can enter the court, does that mean she can too? Shen Suqiu wondered.
"Shen Suqin is back," she said calmly.
"I know."
"Do you know why His Majesty summoned her?"
Pei Tingfeng calmed down and said, "At the court meeting, Yang Kan said that the national treasury only had 50,000 taels of silver."
"How much?" Shen Suqiu wondered if she had misheard.
"fifty thousand."
"Is he insane?"
Pei Tingfeng shook his head: "They've probably gone completely mad. So I guess His Majesty brought Shen Suqin back to make money for the national treasury. After all, her businesses are all over the entire Daliang, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she makes a fortune every day."
Shen Suqiu sighed, "Da Liang isn't just about her being capable."
Pei Tingfeng looked at her and comforted her after a while, "If she, a woman, can enter the court, then it means you will have a great opportunity to show your talents. Be patient."
"I hope so."
In the depths of winter of the first year of Xingwu, various forces were stirring with activity. All the powerful families were like beasts lurking underground, their scarlet eyes peeking out as they watched the new emperor, who was eager to make his move, and also the uninvited guest who was about to enter the court.
They all still remember the blood that stained the long street from the city gate all the way to the palace walls; that stench still lingers in their hearts today, unsettled and anxious.
There lies a deep-seated hatred that drove a loved one to his death, even though the culprit has long since turned to dust.
But they knew that the woman had come with a menacing attitude and harbored malicious intent.
At this moment, Shen Suqin's carriage was entering through the open gate of the capital city. On both sides of the carriage was a line of black iron cavalry. The plain white gauze curtains on the carriage fluttered in the wind, standing out against the dark background.
"Who is it? How could they enter the city through the middle gate?"
"Royal relatives, of course."
"That's really impressive."
The people along the way were talking about it, while Shen Suqin was taking a nap in the car with her eyes half-closed.
"Madam, would you like to stay at the General's Mansion directly?"
The one asking the questions was Xu Youcai, who had been assigned to protect Shen Suqin.
Shen Suqin lifted the carriage curtain and asked him, "I remember Yuanxiang and Aunt Jiang are living in the General's Mansion in the capital?"
"Yes, Madam. However, the General has instructed that if Madam is not pleased, they may still be sent back to Ningyuan."
"No need, let's go straight back to the General's Mansion."
"yes."
Inside the General's Mansion, Yuanxiang and Aunt Jiang had just learned that the General's wife was going to return to the capital to live alone.
Since arriving in the capital, the two had lived a secluded life and had almost no contact with the outside world, so they were unaware of why Shen Suqin had been sent back to the capital.
"Did you have a fight with the general?" Aunt Jiang asked.
Yuanxiang didn't say anything.
"I think it's highly likely. Look at any woman, she's so assertive and unwilling to suffer any loss. Men, after all, prefer women who are submissive and humble. It wouldn't be surprising if she were divorced."
After saying that, Aunt Jiang poked Yuanxiang's forehead and said, "See? No matter how capable a woman is, it's useless. She'll still be kicked away by a man sooner or later. Since she's back this time, Ningyuan is vacant. I'll find a way to get the general to take you back. That way, you'll have a chance."
Aunt Jiang continued talking.
Yuanxiang didn't hear a word. Instead, she looked up at the square of sky cut off by the courtyard wall, pondering how to climb out.
"Alright, stop daydreaming. Judging by the time, they should be here soon. Go and tidy up the room," Aunt Jiang urged Yuanxiang.
There were only the two of them and a gatekeeper in the general's mansion in the capital; the number of people was very small.
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