sbdcsierra Chapter 317 Exploitation
Chapter 317 Exploitation
After gossiping for a while, Lin Mengyu hurriedly returned to the manor and told Lu Bingyang about Liu Yuechu's attitude.
Lu Bingyang could only tell Prince Chun the truth, claiming that he had no say in the matter, since he was not the owner of the horse farm, but merely a worker.
Prince Chun was not angry.
They then went to select fur coats and calligraphy and paintings from the merchant's shop.
Liu Muchi also rushed to the Princess's mansion to see his second sister, and Wang Fu also hurried over.
"...The master offered a high price for his calligraphy and paintings, but we haven't sold a single piece in two or three years. Are you really not going to sell them?" His eyes lit up when he heard the amount of silver.
"How much?"
"One hundred thousand taels."
"buy what?"
Map of the Southwest Frontier.
"..." Liu Yuechu stared blankly at Wang Fu, "That's the Liu family's priceless treasure. Do you think you'll even be alive to spend the money after you sell it?"
Wang Fu hurriedly replied, "No, His Highness Prince Chun's people said they only want to make a copy of the western work, and the original will still be kept by the Liu family."
"Heh." Liu Yuechu snorted coldly, "Then why don't you make a copy and sell it to him? You wouldn't have to be a servile steward in the Liu family, and you could rise to prominence in an instant!"
Wang Fu immediately shrank back. Although he loved money, he didn't really have that ambition. "I am a member of the Liu family, and I have been with the Liu family my whole life. If I do that, I will be letting down my master and my master..."
"Then swallow those words and never mention them again." Liu Yuechu was very puzzled. Why did Prince Chun suddenly set his sights on the Liu family's business?
Is he unhappy that Yuan Cuo became a live-in son-in-law? Does he want to put up a good fight? But Yuan Cuo isn't his biological son. Didn't he come back to the capital to cause trouble? Yet he's willing to spend 100,000 taels of silver. No wonder Princess Chen calls him a lunatic.
Wang Fu was scolded and had no choice but to go back home.
Prince Chun's men couldn't influence any of the Liu family's business deals, so they had no choice but to report back to Prince Chun's residence.
At this moment, Prince Chun was playing chess with someone.
This person was neither the crown prince nor any high-ranking official or prince, but Wei Gongming.
Even when the servants approached, they dared not disturb them, but they were quite surprised by the situation on the chessboard.
Prince Chun's chess skills were genuine, but he never expected that this inconspicuous county magistrate would actually be able to take the challenge.
Prince Chun made a move, then smiled faintly, "Either we fight through fire and water, or we admit defeat. Magistrate Wei, you've run into a problem."
Without hesitation, Wei Gongming went straight for it, saying, "Your Highness has also encountered the same problem, but I do not have Your Highness's crazy courage. Such a game of chess is a once-in-a-century event."
Prince Chun stopped playing chess and looked at the servants beside him.
The servants quickly reported the Liu family's refusal, saying, "The Liu family is very resistant. This Madam Liu is no ordinary woman; she didn't even flinch when she heard about the 100,000 taels."
Prince Chun's smile deepened as he looked at Wei Gongming, "It seems Magistrate Wei knows this Lady Liu very well and guessed that she would definitely not agree."
Wei Gongming remained silent, embarrassed.
That was his wife in his past life, how could he not understand her? But in this life, she has changed so much, as if she has been reborn as a completely different person.
He observed quietly for a long time before acknowledging that she no longer had feelings for him.
Without her, he is nothing.
“It would be better if we met in person. Princess Chen’s residence is an impregnable fortress; neither Princess Chen nor Imperial Censor Chen are easy targets.” Wei Gongming spoke respectfully, his inherent unwillingness to admit defeat making no attempt to conceal it.
Prince Chun pondered for a moment, then asked, "So, according to your opinion, how should we get her to leave the Princess's residence?"
"I am just an ordinary official, and I really don't have such great abilities," Wei Gongming said. "If I were to offer a suggestion, I would hope that Your Highness would consider another approach, such as seeking out the Third Prince." He then mentioned Qin Muyan.
"He has already left the capital to take over the fine mines." Prince Chun was indeed helpless against Emperor Qi Xiao's move.
After all, he was just a prince, not an emperor.
The Emperor Qi Xiao could not offer such a large reward as a lure, and this move by the Emperor Qi Xiao also pulled back the Third Prince, who had been eager to try his luck.
“Although His Highness has left, Consort Yu is still here, and His Highness’s younger sister is still here as well,” Wei Gongming said. “Moreover, although His Majesty sent the Third Prince to Huai Prefecture, Huai Prefecture is not only home to the Third Prince, but also to Governor-General Chen.”
"As for whether the Crown Prince will consolidate power over the court officials after the Third Prince leaves, we can only wait and see."
……
Wei Gongming's words were extremely arrogant.
The old eunuch beside Prince Chun looked at him thoughtfully.
Prince Chun stared intently at him and asked the final question, "And you? What do you ask for?"
One has aspirations as a person, and even more so as to be an official.
For wealth, for power, or for both?
Wei Gongming pondered for a moment before speaking, “I want to be a pillar of the state and assist a wise ruler. I am confident that I can make Qi the leader of the seven kingdoms. I am just tired of being trampled on by a bunch of stupid and mediocre people. They are not worthy of that position at all.”
This was indeed what he was thinking.
In his previous life, he was paved with gold and silver, and his journey was smooth sailing. Upon careful consideration, he realized that he had spent too much time scheming and consolidating his foundation. In fact, he did not have a masterpiece like Yuan Cuo, which made him famous all over the world.
In this life, he is determined to make his name in history.
This was his grand ambition.
Prince Chun laughed heartily, “But I have no intention of seizing the throne. You have probably followed the wrong person.”
“But Your Highness has the desire to select a successor for the Great Qi.” Wei Gongming said directly, “This humble official is willing to be your right-hand man and hopes that Your Highness will give me a chance.”
Prince Chun stopped there, changed the subject, played another game of chess with Wei Gongming, and then had his servants escort him out of the mansion.
The old eunuch, hunched over like a hunchbacked beggar, his face wrinkled like a withered orange, remarked of Wei Gongming, "This man is very dangerous."
“Such a wavering attitude, no wonder Liu Yuechu would rather take in a live-in son-in-law than him.” Prince Chun’s smile faded, full of disdain. “But I can use this man. After all, the bow is already drawn, and I’m not afraid of having too many poisoned arrows.”
The old eunuch remained silent. Prince Chun fiddled with his fingers a few times, beginning to calculate the day Yuan Cuo would receive the imperial edict and set off to return.
"Do you think he looks a lot like Yu'er?" When he mentioned the name "Yu'er," his tone was as gentle as the willow branches in spring.
"It's a blessing if a woman who cheats, deceives, and swindles you doesn't seem like her," the old eunuch retorted directly, showing no regard for his status as Prince Chun's master.
Prince Chun seemed to be used to this and didn't mind at all. "She's just a woman. She was forcibly taken into the palace. Could she refuse?"
"She should commit suicide to preserve her chastity."
"You old fogey, you don't understand what love between men and women is at all."
Prince Chun smiled and made a sarcastic remark.
"However, we can also give the suggestion that Wei Gongming mentioned a try."
"Women are the easiest to manipulate..."