Yangxin Hall
In front of the Jinluan throne, the emperor stood with his hands behind his hands, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, the majesty of the heavenly family was breathtaking and domineering.
Xie Wanzhou was kneeling on the ground, looking as usual, but if she looked carefully, she could see the cold sweat on her forehead.
"I heard that you have something to report?"
The emperor's voice was deep and deep, echoing in the empty hall, making people's hearts sink.
"Yes." Xie Wanzhou replied softly, suppressing his fear.
When the emperor heard this, he became somewhat interested, looked at her leisurely, and said in a deep voice, "Raise your head."
Xie Wanzhou adjusted her breathing to stop her body from shaking, and gently raised her head, revealing her pretty face.
"You are indeed beautiful." The emperor sat back on the throne, looked down at her, and said with a half-smile, "Your mother raised you well. It is her credit that you are able to live the life you have today."
Xie Wanzhou lowered his eyes, not daring to look directly at the man above him, and said with a strong expression, "I know how to be grateful, and I will repay my mother's kindness to the death."
The emperor's eyes were cold and he was not angry, he said, "Since you have the intention, why miss this opportunity."
Xie Wanzhou paused for a moment, and just when he was about to speak, he heard footsteps coming from behind him.
"Your Majesty, my concubine has prepared quail soup for you and brought it to you to try." Empress Zhu walked into the hall with a smile on her face, her expression natural, as if she had just seen Xie Wanzhou, with a look of surprise on her face, "Wan Zhou Why is the girl here?"
Xie Wanzhou turned slightly to the side, saluted and said, "I have seen the Queen, may I be blessed and safe."
When Queen Zhu saw this, she smiled and looked pleased, "Girl Wanzhou is sensible, and Madam Yongchenghou has a considerate little cotton-padded jacket."
The atmosphere in the hall became much livelier due to the arrival of Queen Zhu, and there was no longer the same low pressure just now.
The emperor was silent, his eyes falling on Queen Zhu's hand holding the soup, a hint of darkness flashed in his eyes.
"What has your mother been busy with recently? I haven't seen her for a long time." Queen Zhu stared at the soup in front of her, but she asked Xie Wanzhou.
Xie Wanzhou lowered his eyes and said softly, "My mother has been busy recently, and I don't see her very often."
Queen Zhu sighed and said slowly, "Your mother was not blessed. Her husband died early and her eldest son also died early, leaving you and Xie Li alone."
Queen Zhu handed the soup to the emperor, stood up straight and looked at Xie Wanzhou, and said softly, "Xie Li is a son after all. It is not appropriate to be too close to my mother, so you are the only one left."
"You must take good care of your mother and always be by her side to show your filial piety." Queen Zhu meant something, with an interesting look on her face.
When the emperor heard this, his eyebrows moved, and he raised his eyes to stare at Queen Zhu's side face, his eyes dim.
Xie Wanzhou was not stupid, so he could naturally hear the underlying meaning of Queen Zhu's words.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the emperor's expression that was not kind.
"For the same reason, the ministers are naturally unwilling to marry their pampered daughters to the northwest." Xie Wanzhou was neither humble nor overbearing, and found his own rhythm. "I have a way to break this situation."
After hearing this, the emperor finally looked at her and said solemnly, "You are a girl, how can you do anything?"
Xie Wanzhou pursed her lips and whispered, "Your Majesty, you might as well listen to your daughter."
"Your Majesty, I am somewhat interested in what Wan Zhou said." Queen Zhu stood beside the throne with a light smile on her face.
The emperor glanced at her with a slightly displeased expression, "Since the queen wants to hear it, just tell her."
Xie Wanzhou breathed a sigh of relief and spoke his thoughts calmly, "The northwest has been harassing the Yan border all year round. It seems to be to expand the territory, but in fact it is just to win more things for their country."
"Let me ask, who in this world wants to be in war all his life? Not only does it waste people and money, but if something goes unsatisfactory, both sides will suffer."
Xie Wanzhou pinched his fingers, cheered up and said, "The northwest region is not small, but the people can only rely on animal husbandry to survive. In my opinion, marriage is not as good as business."
"Business?" The emperor raised his eyebrows, stared at Xie Wanzhou's delicate face, and said in a deep voice, "Continue."
Xie Wanzhou bit the soft meat in his cheek and said in a soft voice, "Dayan has plenty of supplies, such as clothes, accessories, grains, oils and seasonings that are common in Beijing. These are rare things in the northwest. On the contrary, we naturally have them in the northwest." Rare things, such as milk and wine..."
"Indeed." Queen Zhu nodded, with a look of approval, "Does the Emperor still remember Concubine Li? When she was pregnant with Xiaoliu, she often ate yogurt dumplings from her hometown. If business was established, then several foreign concubines in the palace could I often visit my hometown to eat.”
The emperor refused to comment, stared at Xie Wanzhou with his lowered eyes, and whispered, "North Korea and China have long discussed the matter of trade between the two countries. Distance is the biggest problem, which has not been resolved so far."
"This matter is not difficult at all. As long as the emperor gives the order to speak widely, then..."
"presumptuous!"
The emperor's roar stunned the two women in the room.
Xie Wanzhou froze and could not react for a moment.
Queen Zhu looked worried and murmured, "Your Majesty..."
The emperor's face was gloomy, and he turned around faster than turning over a book, "It's easy to speak widely! If I listen to your suggestion, by then, all the businessmen will make a lot of money, and corrupt officials will emerge in large numbers. Isn't it my fault?" !”
Xie Wanzhou raised his little face, his eyes determined, "The saying of scholars, farmers, industry and merchants is wrong. Businessmen pay the highest tax, which is more than several times that of farmers. There are also the most rules and regulations. The sons of businessmen can't even participate in the election. How can it be fair? ?”
"You!" The emperor seemed to have not expected Xie Wanzhou to be so bold and glared at him, "You are so presumptuous!"
"Your Majesty, Dayan has only opened thirteen trading houses for foreign trade. The thirteen trading houses have implemented a monopoly. The profits are so great that the leading merchants have already made a lot of money and are as rich as the country."
Xie Wanzhou knelt straight, neither humble nor arrogant, and said loudly, "If the emperor doesn't suppress them anymore, their wings will probably become even harder."
"If the emperor is willing to let go and open up his business, for the sake of money, those businessmen will work hard to solve the distance problem."
Xie Wanzhou blinked and whispered softly, "Just drop a hook and the fish will come by itself."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Xie Wanzhou quietly, unable to tell what he was thinking.
After a long while, the hall was still silent, and you could hear a needle drop.
Queen Zhu moved her peripheral vision slightly, glancing at the emperor's face, guessing what he was thinking.
"very good."
The emperor's voice suddenly sounded, with a hint of appreciation in his tone, "The last time I saw your mother, I thought she was smart. Now that I see you again, there is also a shadow of your mother."
When Xie Wanzhou heard this, he relaxed and the huge stone in his heart was finally put down.
Queen Zhu also raised a smile and breathed a sigh of relief, secretly saying peace in her heart.
The emperor held the spoon, stirred the soup in front of him, and suddenly changed the subject, "It's just... how can you, a girl, have the courage to get involved in politics?"
(End of chapter)
