amaotonovel Chapter 319: Chain of tricks?
Chapter 319: Chain of tricks?
Early the next morning, an imperial edict sent from Taiji Hall to the Shen family broke the pretended tranquility in the court.
"It is God's destiny, the emperor decreed:
I believe that commerce, the common occupation of the four classes of people, is the exchange of goods and needs. Since their establishment, the Shen family has operated with integrity and honesty. First, they stepped forward to provide relief to the poor and needy during a disaster, and later, during a time of crisis at the border, they donated hundreds of dan of grain. These actions are truly exemplary for merchants.
I hereby grant you a plaque with the words "Good Merchants Helping the World" written by the Emperor, to be hung above the door lintel to commemorate this virtue. "I decree this!"
Before the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict had even left the gate of the Shen Mansion, the news that the Shen family had donated all the grain stored in the Licheng shop to the border army spread like wildfire.
The plaque carried out from the palace was so eye-catching that it was hard not to notice it.
Not knowing how all parties reacted, after Shen Qionghua sent the young eunuch from the palace out, she came back and saw Lin Wanru staring at the imperial plaque in a daze.
Shen Qionghua stepped forward to support her and asked, "What's wrong, mother?"
Lin Wanru seemed to be still in a fog, muttering, "Mother never thought this day would come."
With the plaque of "Good Merchants Helping the World", even though the Shen family is still a merchant, no one dares to bully the Shen family openly.
Even if Hua Jie'er was doing business as a woman, no one dared to say anything.
Husband, did you see it?
This is a plaque specially bestowed by the emperor on the Shen family. It is the honor that Hua Jieer has won for the Shen family.
The family business that you have built with all your hard work will flourish in the hands of Hua Jie'er.
"Haha, sister, mother is so happy that she's silly."
Shen Yi's laughter brought Lin Wanru back to her senses.
Lin Wanru looked at Shen Qionghua and said, "Sister Hua, the Shen family has been supported by you all these years. Thank you for your hard work."
If it weren't for Sister Hua, I'm afraid she and Brother Yi would have been eaten long ago.
"Mom, don't say that. We are a family. Dad died tragically. As the eldest daughter, I naturally have to protect you and Ayi." Shen Qionghua said.
Lin Wanru patted Shen Qionghua's hand and hid the tears from the corners of her eyes.
He told the servant to hang up the plaque.
The vermilion plaque shines particularly brightly in the sunlight.
Lin Wanru originally had a smile on her lips, but when she lowered her head and saw Shen Yi's cheerful expression again, her brows furrowed.
"Ayi, now that your elder sister has earned this honor for the Shen family, if you don't study hard and take the imperial examination, you will have to follow your elder sister and manage the Shen family's business in the future."
"Ah——" Shen Yi couldn't laugh anymore, "Mother, I don't want to..."
"What are you missing? You only have these two options."
"If you dare to join the army without telling me in the future, you will have to step over my dead body to avoid me having to see your father when I am old." Lin Wanru said without giving in.
He is usually kind and easy to talk to, but he is extremely stubborn about this matter.
"Think about it carefully." After saying this, Lin Wanru returned to her yard.
Shen Yi stood there dejectedly.
He looked quite pitiful.
Shen Qionghua pursed her lips and walked forward to touch Shen Yi's head.
Shen Yi raised his head and looked at Shen Qionghua with almond-shaped eyes, "Sister, I really want to learn martial arts and make great achievements on the battlefield in the future."
"Ayi, many things in this world cannot be achieved just by your wishes..."
Shen Yi lowered his head and said nothing.
"However, if you really want it, then try your best to fight for it. Sister will always support you!" Shen Qionghua said.
Shen Yi pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and said, "Sister, I understand. I will fight with Mother to the end!"
Having said that, he ran away.
"Hey--"
Shen Qionghua reached out to grab it, but caught nothing and could only see a back.
That's not what she meant...
Thinking of the mother and son who always argued over each other when talking about martial arts, Shen Qionghua shook her head with a headache.
Forget it, let them be. Time will tell what will happen in the future.
-
Prince An's Mansion.
Xie Qian'an sat at the desk with a gloomy face, listening to the report from the person below, and then threw the teacup next to him to the ground.
"Cough, cough, Shen Qionghua!"
Xie Qian'an clenched his fists and his face turned red with anger.
Xie Qian'an knelt in the snow in the Taiji Hall for several hours yesterday and developed a fever in the evening. He did not retreat until dawn.
I took a short nap in a daze and got this news when I woke up.
"Good... That's really good. This has disrupted my plan." Xie Qian'an said gritting his teeth.
He asked why the Shen family was doing nothing while there was a food shortage at the border, and even the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was very quiet. It turned out that they were waiting for him there.
Although he appeared to be behaving well on the surface, he had secretly prepared a batch of food to be shipped to the border.
Get everything ready and wait for him to get in.
No wonder Shen Qionghua looked so confident yesterday. I'm afraid he had already discussed it with his father yesterday.
Good! This is really a case of losing more than gaining.
He was the one who brought the Shen family to the capital, but now they are no longer a help, but instead have increased Xie Nanyuan's capital.
If it weren't for the Shen family's financial support, Xie Nanyuan would have definitely died in today's game.
Now with this batch of food support, the army will surely be able to hold out until the food and fodder from the court arrives.
Otherwise, if the food and fodder cannot be delivered within more than 20 days, it would be too obvious.
The counselors of Prince An's mansion obviously hadn't expected such a situation. They said, "Your Highness, we can't let our carefully planned layout be ruined like this. Why don't we send someone to deliver this batch of grain to..."
Prince An shook his head and said solemnly, "There is no time to send anyone more. Even if there was time, we can't do it. This batch of grain has already been approved by the emperor."
"If there isn't one, it's fine. But if there is one and it's destroyed, the Emperor will definitely send someone to investigate thoroughly. It's hard to avoid leaks in such a hastily planned plan."
"Besides, Xie Nanyuan is watching the border. If he catches us, wouldn't that mean we'll be handing the evidence over to him?"
"So are we just going to let it go this time?" asked one of the counselors.
"Forget it? Humph!" Xie Qianan sneered, "This is a series of tricks that I have used. If I can dodge one, how can I dodge the second one?"
Even if its power was greatly reduced due to the issue of food and fodder, it would still be enough to give Xie Nanyuan and his gang a hard time, and they might even be able to take the opportunity to get rid of him.
Haha...Shen family, Shen Qionghua, I must see with my own eyes who is capable of sitting in that position.
Chain tricks?
The counselors of Prince An's Mansion looked at each other in confusion.
When Prince An discussed with them, he only mentioned the issue of delaying the supply of food and fodder, but did not mention anything else.
So what would the second plan be?