From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 510: Chapter 512: Humiliation

Gu Yuanshui stopped and looked at him. "Lejia, you’re actually one of the smarter ones among your brothers. It’s just a shame you haven’t put it to good use."

Gu Lejia said, "What about Fourth Uncle, then? He was making a fuss about going to Lu City before. Don’t you think he had other ideas in mind?"

"Heh. See? You’re only brave when dealing with your own family.

Fourth Uncle wanted to go to Lu City, and yes, he had his own little scheme. He wanted to rely on your Seventh Uncle to earn some silver. I dare to say that out loud. Do you?

Of all the children in the family, you’re the one making the most noise. When it comes down to it, it’s all about this secret tofu recipe.

Do you really think you can build a business empire just by getting your hands on the recipe?"

Gu Lejia lowered his head and said nothing.

Gu Yuanshui continued, "With your wife always thinking of her own family’s interests in everything she does, do you think we could even hold on to this tofu recipe?

Don’t bother saying anything. Let me guess what you’re thinking. You’re about to say that you can keep it a secret from your wife, just like your father and the rest of us can, right?"

Gu Lejia stubbornly replied, "I wasn’t thinking that."

"It doesn’t matter what you were thinking. In any case, this tofu recipe won’t be passed down to your generation for at least another ten or twenty years."

The brothers had already discussed it long ago. This was something that couldn’t be kept secret forever.

Knowing that outsiders would eventually find out, they naturally wanted to build up more of a family fortune for themselves first.

"I hear your wife and her brothers have started writing to each other again recently, is that right?

Take your uncle’s advice: until you and she have a child, it’s best to be on your guard."

After saying his piece, Gu Yuanshui patted him on the shoulder and left with his hands behind his back.

Gu Lejia didn’t go straight back. He stood outside for half the night instead.

&

Naturally, nothing about Jin Qianqian’s venture into sea trade could be hidden from Hua Shunming.

At that moment, he had just finished reading a secret report and was lost in thought.

He didn’t know about previous dynasties, but he recalled that during the late Emperor’s reign, several major merchant guilds had joined forces to attempt something similar.

Perhaps it was because they didn’t have nautical charts, or maybe they encountered storms along the way, but just as one might expect, the ships that set out never returned.

It was because of that enormous loss that those merchants gave up the idea.

He had always known there were foreign merchant ships in the port, but those people were cunning, hiding everything away. It was said that some had even come knocking with huge sums of silver taels, seeking guidance, but infuriatingly, those foreigners were impervious to both hard and soft tactics.

"Le San, how do you think this Gu family couple can be so audacious?"

Le San replied, "...This servant does not know."

"True. You’re a eunuch. How could you possibly understand?

Tell me, do you think they’ll succeed this time?"

Le San said, "...This servant does not know." ’For a eunuch who doesn’t understand anything, Holy Emperor, your question is rather redundant.’

"How dull. Prepare the procession to the harem. Let’s see what new tricks the Empress has come up with today."

Le San: "..." ’The Holy Emperor seems to be visiting the Empress quite frequently lately. If this continues, those officials in the court will probably start spreading rumors again about the Empress being domineering and monopolizing the Emperor’s favor.’

As soon as Hua Shunming arrived at the rear garden, he saw the Empress sitting there, leisurely sipping fine tea and watching the young ladies from various noble houses dance gracefully.

"She certainly knows how to enjoy life more than We do." Hua Shunming was envious at that moment. He was working himself to death grading memorials, while she, as the Empress, was here enjoying music and dance.

Le San: "..." ’Her Majesty will surely say in a moment that this is all for the sake of raising proper princesses.’

"We welcome the Holy Emperor!" The moment Le San’s voice fell, the ongoing performance stopped.

Empress Zhou quickly led the group of concubines over to pay their respects.

"All of you may rise. Empress, what are you busy with here?"

Empress Zhou replied, "Your Majesty, with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, this servant had them practice their talents. This way, the ministers can see that I am truly dedicated to raising the future princesses.

In the future, they may have to represent the honor of our Rong Dynasty. We cannot allow them to disgrace Your Majesty."

Hua Shunming led the Empress to the main seat. "You have worked hard, Empress. Look how you’ve gotten thinner recently from helping Our beloved ministers raise their precious daughters."

The concubines: "..." ’Is the Holy Emperor blind? The Empress’s face has gotten rounder! We’re the ones who are tired and thin.’

Empress Zhou lifted a sleeve to cover her smile. "Your Majesty, it is the other sisters who are truly exhausted.

To turn these young ladies into proper women of the Imperial Family, they have been teaching everything from zither and chess to calligraphy and painting these past days.

If this continues, Your Majesty might end up with several new adopted daughters who are accomplished in both arts and academics."

The young ladies from the various houses: "..." ’Can we refuse? Of course not. If we didn’t learn well, not only would a pile of palace rules await us, but we wouldn’t even be able to rest at night, having to go to the various palaces to serve. To think that we, the pampered and beloved legitimate daughters of our houses, would be willing to perform such lowly, servile tasks. So, no matter how unwilling we feel, we have to study hard under the tutelage of the concubines.’

Hua Shunming glanced around and said to the concubines below, "Our beloved consorts have all worked hard. We and the Empress will not forget your contributions. Empress, you must give them some rewards later."

Empress Zhou: "..." ’This is probably the stingiest Emperor in history. He talks about rewards, but why doesn’t he produce them himself? Why push it onto me?’

"This servant obeys," Empress Zhou said, standing to perform a Fuli. "Since Your Majesty is here, would you like to see the results of their studies from this period?"

Hua Shunming said, "Continue!"

The music and dance resumed, but Hua Shunming began whispering into Empress Zhou’s ear right in front of all the concubines.

"Does the Empress think this venture is feasible?"

"This servant does not know. Your Majesty is also aware that this servant was previously at the border with my late father. After coming to the capital, I entered the harem. I know very little about matters of sea trade."

"But General Zhou invested one hundred thousand taels of silver."

"That’s impossible," Empress Zhou said, her eyes widening.

"Oh? And how does the Empress know it’s impossible?"

Empress Zhou lowered her gaze, and when she looked up again, her eyes were brimming with tears. "Before I entered the palace, my elder brother had already handed over all the family’s savings to me. The most he has on hand right now is the income from his Tian Zhuangs over the last year or two, and he might not even have that."

Hua Shunming frowned. ’Did my men not investigate thoroughly? The report clearly stated that General Zhou invested one hundred thousand taels of silver.’

"Then perhaps the information was mistaken," Hua Shunming said, his eyes fixed on the performance below. He had deliberately come here today to reveal this information as a way of sending a message: that every move in Lu City was under his control.

How could Empress Zhou not understand? He was trying to use her to make the Zhou family behave themselves and not challenge the Emperor’s bottom line.

But the thought that the Emperor had people watching her brother soured Empress Zhou’s mood completely.

She kept a smile on her face, but underneath, her nails were digging so deeply into her palms they nearly drew blood.

"Your Majesty, what do you think of the young ladies’ performance? Do you think it could win first place at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?"

Having already stopped, the young ladies from the various houses who were waiting at the side all lowered their heads to hide their emotions.

In their eyes, the Empress’s words were meant to humiliate them, comparing them to the palace’s professional dancers.