The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1686 - 1680: Since We’re Doing a Favor, Let’s Make It Big

Chapter 1686: Chapter 1680: Since We’re Doing a Favor, Let’s Make It Big

Chicheng County.

At the entrance of the County Yamen, a group of people were already geared up and ready to depart.

In the backyard, Song Chongjin was advising Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang, saying that this time he would be away for at least half a month.

If it were up to him, he would naturally want to take Wang Yongzhu with him, but firstly, since this time there were people sent by the Emperor accompanying him, having a woman like Wang Yongzhu along would be somewhat inconvenient.

Secondly, someone needed to oversee Chicheng County, and leaving Wang Yongzhu behind made Song Chongjin feel more at ease than anyone else.

Therefore, even though Song Chongjin was reluctant, he had to endure it.

Only when there was no longer any time to delay did Wang Yongzhu send him off, and he mounted his horse and galloped away.

After seeing off Song Chongjin, Wang Yongzhu instructed to lock the door between the Yamen and the backyard immediately.

Jian Huaifeng and the guards living in the front courtyard of the Yamen would have to make a big detour every day to get to the backyard.

The meals prepared in the backyard were also to be delivered to the front, preferring a detour rather than opening that small door for convenience.

As for the county’s affairs, they were naturally overseen by Jian Huaifeng, along with Wan Jinliang and Quan Xiangsheng, so Wang Yongzhu need not worry.

Only if there were urgent, unresolved matters that Jian Huaifeng and the others couldn’t handle would they come to the backyard to seek Wang Yongzhu’s guidance.

Generally, they were accustomed to handling everyday governmental affairs, and had their routines.

Wang Yongzhu would only bring people to patrol the marketplace daily, and most merchants who frequented the place knew the prowess of the Magistrate’s Lady, Wang Yongzhu. Seeing her, nobody dared harbor any ill intentions.

After a few days, Ninth Master Lee arrived at Chicheng County.

His first stop, without even freshening up, still travel-worn, was to see Wang Yongzhu.

Upon hearing that Song Chongjin had gone to the frontier to make initial contact with people from the grasslands, he regretted not having arrived sooner; otherwise, he might have gone along.

Wang Yongzhu comforted him, saying that this was just an initial contact, and there would be plenty more meetings in the future if he wanted to witness them. What was the hurry?

Only then did Ninth Master Lee relent.

Since Song Chongjin was not home, it was inappropriate for him to linger for long, so he had to avoid any suspicion.

Moreover, since he wasn’t leaving Chicheng County anytime soon, he had plenty of time and was naturally not in a rush.

After presenting the gifts he brought, he straightforwardly took his leave to attend to the residence he had purchased.

Wang Yongzhu naturally did not keep him, and ensured he was seen out.

The next day, Ninth Master Lee hosted a banquet at the largest tavern, inviting Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu to the feast.

In the finest private room, Ninth Master Lee, along with a few trusted aides, was waiting early on.

Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu arrived around lunchtime, and were first served tea and snacks.

After exchanging pleasantries and sitting down, they began discussing serious matters.

This time, Ninth Master Lee had dealt with everything in the Capital City before coming, and he had handed over Hongxiu Tianxiang to people from the Empress smoothly.

Moreover, Ninth Master Lee also had a plan this time; he was thinking about withdrawing from Hongxiu Tianxiang.

Although Hongxiu Tianxiang was currently very profitable, too many eyes were on it. His focus naturally needed to be on the trade route once it opened; he probably wouldn’t return to the Capital City for several years.

This also involved the Empress as she had a stake in it. From what he knew about the people sent by the Empress to take over, he feared that without him in the middle, Hongxiu Tianxiang would have nothing to do with them after a few years.

Instead of facing embarrassment in the future, it would be better to make a graceful exit now, do the Empress a favor, and directly withdraw his shares from Hongxiu Tianxiang, letting it become the Empress’s personal property.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yongzhu glanced at Ninth Master Lee and guessed, "The people sent by the Empress, could they be her maternal family?"

Ninth Master Lee nodded with a wry smile.

If that weren’t the case, why would he think of withdrawing directly?

If it were the Empress’s subordinates, it wouldn’t be an issue, but these were members of her maternal family.

Others might not know, but he did.

The Empress’s maternal family was not particularly prominent; they were just an ordinary official family that gained some prestige by association after the Empress entered the palace.

Especially after the Empress was crowned, her father was granted the title of Duke of Chengen, and the entire family now strutted about.

Although the Empress did not particularly favor her maternal family, it was still a matter of shared honor and disgrace, especially in terms of appearances, they couldn’t be too harsh with her family.

Thus in official positions, apart from her father being titled Duke of Chengen, none of the Empress’s maternal relatives, including her brother, were granted any titles.

There had to be some compensation in other areas since officialdom was not an option, at least giving them some benefits.

Therefore, allowing them to manage Hongxiu Tianxiang also let them earn some benefits, quieting the maternal family’s complaints.

Ninth Master Lee saw clearly that if Hongxiu Tianxiang were handed over to the Empress’s maternal family, and if they did nothing but wait for the year-end profits, that would be fine.

But unfortunately, they were all arrogant and before even taking over, they were already acting as if it were their own family business, meddling around and moving the precious cosmetics to their own homes.

What would happen once he left?

That’s why he had this idea, and he also wanted to remind Wang Yongzhu and Old Doctor Du to withdraw as well to avoid becoming scapegoats if anything happened in the future.

Wang Yongzhu furrowed her brow, having not expected the Empress’s maternal family to be so incompetent.

Very well, letting go of Hongxiu Tianxiang would not be an issue, as external relationships could not surpass familial ones. If anything did happen, could they really expect the Empress to not protect her family but them instead?

Thus, she nodded, "Let’s go with your plan! Since we’re doing a favor, let’s make it substantial! Leave them with nothing to say! After the handover, don’t take any of the income! Give it all to the Empress! This matter should be handled quickly; write to sort it out swiftly. Customers in the Capital City should also know that henceforth, Hongxiu Tianxiang will be the capital of the Empress’s family and shall have no ties with us!"

After thinking for a moment, she continued, "I’ll write a letter to my master explaining the situation, and they will surely have no objections. I’ll also write to the Empress to make it clear! In the Capital City and outside of Jing County and Qingzhou Prefecture, no matter how many branches of Hongxiu Tianxiang they open, we won’t interfere. But her maternal family cannot enter Qingzhou Prefecture! The branches in Jing County and Qingzhou Prefecture will still source products from my master after changing their names."

"As for the Capital City, let my master sell the recipe to them! This way, whatever problems arise in the future, they cannot implicate us!" Wang Yongzhu quickly made a decisive plan.

Ninth Master Lee nodded, "Your considerations are wise, even if we withdraw, if we don’t offer up the recipe, the Empress’s family likely will not give up!"

Wang Yongzhu sneered, "Before returning, I passed through Jing County and knew that a batch of cosmetics was just sent to the Capital City. This shipment is worth a fortune. By now, it should have arrived in the Capital. I don’t mind giving them away freely, but to also want the recipe for nothing? Such greed!"

"You need not worry about this! If the Empress is so foolish as to fall out with us over such a small amount, then there’s no need for future dealings! You don’t need to handle this; just wait for my letter to reach the Capital and see how the Empress responds. Then have your people in the Capital handle the matter cleanly!"