The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 987: Guests
Chapter 987 Guest of Honor
Yun Poxing nodded, “That’s right. If the court sells the grain at the usual price, the eight big families will have bought the grain before the people can get it. If they sell it at a high price, the eight big families will get the grain for nothing, but the people will not get the benefit. However, if the grain is distributed to the people, it may encourage the people to abandon their farmland.”
The Queen of Xiliang clenched her fists tightly, her heart filled with anger.
Cui Fengnian… Cui Gongxing! With the help of the eight major families… she manipulated the entire Xiliang region. Although Cui Gongxing did not admit it, the Xiliang Empress dared to conclude that she was either from Dayan or from the Great Zhou, in order to bring down Xiliang in this way.
However, these greedy people from the eight major families completely disregarded the interests of their country and family, and only cared about making money for themselves. They did not even consider that Xiliang was on the verge of destruction and only cared about their own interests.
“I will go see Cui Gongxing right away!” The Xiliang Empress said helplessly, “Now we have no choice but to let Cui Gongxing go and let him stabilize the grain prices. We also have to continue to find ways to encourage farming. We must not let others strangle us over grain.”
“In my humble opinion…” The Minister of Revenue suddenly spoke, “I think this is a good thing. When the people know that if they have no grain, the money they earn will become the grain merchants’ money due to the change in grain prices, they will understand the importance of grain and will definitely continue to farm.”
Yun Poxing also nodded and said, “That’s right. Xiliang is in danger right now. Even if Your Majesty suspects that Cui Fengnian was sent by Dayan or Zhou to cause chaos in Xiliang, he didn’t find out earlier. Now we can’t do anything. We can only take our time!”
Take your time…
Among the three countries, Da Zhou, Rongdi and Dayan, which one can allow Xiliang to take its time?
The Queen of Xiliang had never felt so aggrieved in her heart.
Ever since she took this position, she has been determined to restore Xiliang’s former glory. However, these eight major families are like a thorn in her side. They have infiltrated and entrenched forces in all parts of Xiliang and cannot be easily eradicated.
The Queen of Xiliang felt as if she was caught in an invisible net. No matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free, and she could not even fight a real life-and-death battle with the eight major families.
·
In the prison.
Fortunately, the Queen of Xiliang still cherishes their old friendship and takes good care of Bai Jintong.
At least Bai Jintong had been in prison for such a long time, and his clothes were relatively clean and tidy, the bedding in the cell was relatively clean, and his food was not neglected on a daily basis. The jailer also readily gave Bai Jintong any books, pens, and ink he wanted.
Today, Bai Jintong learned from the jailer who brought her food that the price of food had gone up…
Bai Jintong calculated the time and was certain in her heart that her elder sister must have known about her imprisonment and sent someone to Xiliang, and that person had already met Chen Qingsheng.
Given the profit-seeking nature of the eight major families in Xiliang, it is absolutely impossible for them to start raising grain prices at this time just for a woman like Cui Fengnian.
After all, the time has not come when the food reserves of the people of Xiliang have been exhausted. The eight major families have even ignored the country of Xiliang for the sake of their own interests, so how could they allow their own interests to be damaged for her, “Cui Fengnian”?
However, according to Chen Qingsheng’s personality, he would certainly run the shop well. The less information he could get, the more cautious he would be and he would never make such a rash move as raising the price of grain.
Unless… Chen Qingsheng received orders from someone.
Who could it be? Could it be that Mr. Liu is back?
No… Although Mr. Liu is a wise man, he had made an agreement with Bai Jintong before. He was willing to help Bai Jintong go out to the sea for the sake of his uncle Bai Qishan. As Bai Jintong’s guide, he could even let Bai Jintong drive him, but… if Bai Jintong was in danger, the old man would not save him but would just run away. After all, he still had a grandson to raise and he dared not die.
Then it could only be someone sent by the eldest sister, but who could the eldest sister send to directly order Chen Qingsheng? Could it be… the second sister?
Thinking of this, Bai Jintong couldn’t help but worry. The food reserves in the hands of the people of Xiliang have not been completely consumed yet, or… is the elder sister going to send troops to Xiliang now?
Bai Jintong tightened his grip, he should wait a little longer…even waiting another month would be safer.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Bai Jintong, who was sitting at a square table next to a flickering candlelight, picked up the bamboo slips and pretended to read, while glancing towards the cell door.
After a while, the Xiliang Empress dressed in men’s clothes slowly walked out. She stood at the prison door with her hands behind her back, looking at Bai Jintong who was sitting calmly at the black lacquered square table concentrating on reading the bamboo slips. She took a few steps and said, “I didn’t expect that Gong Xing could still concentrate on reading at this time.”
Bai Jintong raised the corner of his lips, stood up and bowed to the Xiliang Empress: “I didn’t know your majesty was coming, I’m sorry for not welcoming you.”
The Queen of Xiliang turned around and signaled the jailer to open the cell door. She walked in from outside the cell, her eyes fell on the bamboo slips on the black lacquered square table. She smiled and picked up the bamboo slips and flipped through them casually, and asked: “Gongxing…Are you still not going to tell me the truth?”
Bai Jintong bowed respectfully to the Xiliang Empress again: “Your Majesty, Gongxing is just a businessman who only knows how to pursue profits. He really doesn’t have as many thoughts as your Majesty said. Gongxing’s background can be checked. Your Majesty must have sent people to Gongxing’s hometown to check it out. Otherwise, I’m afraid you can’t talk to Gongxing here now.”
The Xiliang Empress’s beautiful eyebrows and eyes showed a more intense smile. Under the flickering candlelight, she looked like a flourishing splendour. “You came to Xiliang, mixed with the eight major families, and tied up your interests with the eight major families… You are taking steady steps. It doesn’t seem like you are pursuing profits for yourself, but rather helping the eight major families to pursue profits. This… is not in line with the nature of a businessman!”
“Your Majesty, Gongxing has just arrived and I feel that the eight major families in Xiliang are intertwined. If Gongxing wants to make a profit in Xiliang, then… he must bring in the eight major families in Xiliang. Although in Xiliang… Gongxing gave all the profits to the eight major families, it seems that he worked in vain, but he has connections in Xiliang and can go out to sea in Dazhou, Dayan and Tianfeng Kingdom… to those island countries to do business and make big profits!”
Bai Jintong saw the Xiliang Empress nod, and walked around her, smiling at her and turning around respectfully with small steps, always making sure to face the Xiliang Empress with the most respectful attitude…
“For example, in Xiliang… by now, everyone should know me, Cui Fengnian. Every now and then, the Xiliang Queen summons me to the palace for long talks. This is no secret in Xiliang, and naturally it will not be a secret in other countries. So no matter where Cui Fengnian goes, he will be a guest of honor in that country.”