Chapter 407 - I beg you to be human
Chapter 407: I beg you to be human
After entering the study, Secondary Consort Hua relayed Shi Qingluo’s words.
King Jin was a little surprised. “I didn’t expect her to be so forthright today. Not only did she give you the recipe for the paper modification, but she also gave you the recipe for food.”
“I’m humbly taking advantage of your identity, Your Highness,” Secondary Consort Hua chuckled.
“Shi Qingluo is a smart person. I saw the formula to improve the process to make paper, and she used my hands to present it to Your Highness.”
Why would Shi Qingluo agree to this? It was definitely not because of her, but because of King Jin who was behind her.
King Jin played with Secondary Consort Hua’s hand. “My dear consort, you’re really smart.
“Tomorrow, I will go with you to the teahouse.”
He could bring the old Taoist priest there.
Secondary Consort Hua had no objections. “Your Highness,” she asked, ” are we going to take this prescription for free or do we have to pay a price? ”
King Jin raised his brows. “Do you think this world has free meals? ”
Secondary Consort Hua shook her head. “Of course not.”
King Jin laughed. “So Shi Qingluo won’t give it to us for free. Let’s go and see what she wants tomorrow.”
Only then did Secondary Consort Hua understand. “No wonder you wanted to go along tomorrow to talk about the price, Your Highness.
“With you coming along, I can be rest assured about the matter,” she said with a smile.
The two of them chatted for a while before Secondary Consort Hua left.
At the deputy governor’s office.
After tao liu returned to the mansion, she went to Xiao Yuanshi’s courtyard.
At this moment, Xiao Yuanshi was practicing writing in his study room, which had become a compulsory routine for him every day.
He only put down his pen when he saw Liu Ru return.
“Did you encounter anything today?”
He was relieved to see Liu Ru come back safe and sound.
Even though he had sent many people to protect her, he was still afraid that Shi Qingluo would find trouble with her.
Tao Liu walked over and said with a smile, “Nope. Everything went smoothly when I went to King Jin’s residence today.”
“Did anything happen to Shi Qingluo?” Xiao Yuanshi asked after some thought.
He always felt that no matter where his bad daughter-in-law went, it would be abnormal if nothing happened.
Tao Liu didn’t hide anything and told him what he had heard.
Xiao Yuanshi was shocked. “You mean Shi Qingluo came up with a money-making idea for Secondary Consort Hua? ”
Tao Liu nodded. “Yes, they did. They still have plans to continue their discussion at the teahouse tomorrow. ”
She also admired Shi Qingluo for being able to think of so many ways to make money.
Xiao Yuanshi frowned, “What is she trying to do? ”
Previously, when King Jin had given them money, Shi Qingluo and her husband had rejected him.
That meant that they probably did not want to have any relationship with King Jin.
However, she took the initiative to attend the banquet and even gave an idea to King Jin’s secondary consort in public. He could not understand this.
Although Liu Ru had been trained before, her vision was limited, so she didn’t quite understand what Xiao Yuanshi was saying.
She thought for a while and said, “From Shi Qingluo’s style of doing things, it seems that she is quite willing to get close to Secondary Consort Hua.”
Xiao Yuanshi’s frown deepened. “Alright, I understand.”
He reached out and touched Liu Ru’s stomach. “You must be tired today. go back to the yard and rest. ”
Liu Ru nodded tactfully. “Alright.”
Xiao Yuanshi sat in his study room and thought for a long time, but he was still very confused. Could it be that Shi Qingluo wanted to seek refuge with King Jin?
In the end, he couldn’t resist and sent someone to Shi Qingluo’s courtyard to invite her over.
When Xiao Yuanshi’s personal aide came over, Shi Qingluo was chatting with Xi Rong.
She was not surprised to hear that Xiao Hanzheng’s scumbag father wanted to see her.
After notifying Xi Rong, she followed that personal attendant to Xiao Yuanshi’s courtyard.
Xiao Yuanshi was not in the study room, but was sitting on a stone bench in the yard.
It was inappropriate for him to meet his daughter-in-law who had cut ties with him in the study room alone.
If it was in the courtyard, where the guards and servants were watching, it would not matter.
After Shi Qingluo arrived, she took the initiative to sit opposite this scumbag father.
She took the initiative to ask, “Is there something that you want to see me for, deputy governor? ”
Xiao Yuanshi told his personal attendant to bring his men further away and not let anyone hear their conversation.
“I do have something to discuss with you,” he said to Shi Qingluo.
Shi Qingluo laughed. “If there’s anything, just get straight to the point.”
Xiao Yuanshi did not beat around the bush.
“You helped Secondary Consort Hua come up with a money-making idea? ”
Shi Qingluo nodded. “That’s right.”
Xiao Yuanshi frowned and asked, “Let’s not talk about the recipe first, that’s not important. Do you understand the impact of modifying paper and reducing its cost and selling price?”
“What do you think will happen?” Shi Qingluo asked.
“First of all, King Jin can benefit a lot from this,” Xiao Yuanshi said honestly.
Daliang had placed great emphasis on nurturing civil officials since the founding of the dynasty, so there were many students everywhere, and paper consumption was huge.
If paper produced by King Jin’s residence was of the same quality but was cheaper than the other shops, as long as one wasn’t a fool, one would definitely buy it from King Jin’s residence.
This would also allow King Jin’s residence to amass a fortune.
Secondly, when the price of paper was lowered, King Jin would definitely get people to spread the word that he was doing this for the sake of the students.
This would be very beneficial to his reputation.
In any case, he would definitely be able to gain the favor of many students.
Shi Qingluo nodded. “You’re right. But what does that have anything to do with this?
“It’s always a good thing to let more people be able to afford education. It’ll help many poor and small families save a lot of money every year.”
Xiao Yuanshi asked himself, does this girl really not understand, or is she just pretending?
“Then have you thought about what would happen if this matter reached the emperor’s ears?
“Aren’t you going to spare a thought for Zheng’er?”
Shi Qingluo raised an eyebrow. “Ex-father-in-law, I really couldn’t tell that there’s actually a time when you’re concerned about your son.
“Are you planning something?”
Xiao Yuanshi wondered, is this a human language?
Why couldn’t he show some concern for his son?
Of course, the reason why he looked for Shi Qingluo today was because he didn’t want her to ruin his plans.
He had complicated feelings about his son, Xiao Hanzheng.
On one hand, he did not want Xiao Hanzheng to go down the wrong path, but on the other hand, he did not want Xiao Hanzheng to go too far in his career.
If one day Xiao Hanzheng went further and stood higher than him, it would mean that he had made a big mistake.
If he wanted to survive in Northern City, he had to find his opportunity.
If Xiao Hanzheng and his wife had some tensions with King Jin, and if Shi Qingluo fought against King Jin, this would be an opportunity for him.
Who would’ve thought that Shi Qingluo wouldn’t act according to common sense?
He sneered. “I just don’t want you to go astray. What other motives could I have?”
“What do you mean by going astray?” Shi Qingluo asked with a smile.
Xiao Yuanshi found that this bad daughter-in-law was really too difficult to deal with. After talking for a long time, he still didn’t figure out her intention.
“Don’t take things too simply,” he said earnestly.
“It’s a good thing that you want to do good for the poor students, but you have to see who you’re doing it for.”
“You’re giving ideas to King Jin to earn money. For his fame and fortune, will the emperor be happy?
“When the time comes, he’ll end up blaming you and Zheng’er. I just want to remind you to think twice before you act.”
“Are you trying to advise us not to board King Jin’s ship?” Shi Qingluo said playfully.
Xiao Yuanshi nodded, “Of course.”
“But I heard that you accepted 50,000 taels of silver from King Jin’s residence. Does that mean you’re on his boat?” Shi Qingluo suddenly asked.
Xiao Yuanshi sighed, I beg you, please be a human.
She poked where it hurt.
His bad daughter-in-law was really not a good person.