Chapter 73: The Supreme Emperor

73. Chapter 73 Supreme Emperor

Qinyuan Ju.

Yu, together with two accountants, tallied three times and finally compiled the day's revenue.

"Miss, today's total receipts are 158,760 wen!"

"After deducting various expenses, profit is a little over one hundred taels."

"Our shop made money!"

Although constantly watching the shop, watching the flow of customers, watching the cash box fill and be swapped repeatedly, knowing it would certainly make money, the exact amount still kept Yu tangled for a long time.

Now, it's finally solid.

Over a hundred taels of silver!

And that's just one day!

Moreover, strictly speaking, today we only operated a little over half a day.

"Not bad!"

Shen Yunyao never doubts her ability to make money.

"Tomorrow, remember to bring more hands over, so we don't get overwhelmed!"

"Your servant understands!"

Yu promptly agreed.

"By the way, you all worked hard today; go tell them that each person who helped in the shop gets a reward of two hundred wen!"

"Thank you, Miss!"

Yu's face blossomed with a smile; she expressed endless thanks and took her leave.

After Yu left, Cuiyu popped out and said, "Miss, tomorrow, may I also help in the shop?"

A day's work, two hundred wen reward!

Her monthly stipend is only two taels.

"How about, from now on you follow your mother and exclusively help me manage the shop?"

Shen Yunyao immediately replied with a cheerful smile.

Cuiyu heard that, her head feeling like a clapper, and said, "No way!"

"Miss, I have made up my mind; I will follow you this whole life—born as your person, dead as your ghost!"

"You can't discard your servant!"

Cuiyu looked pitifully at Shen Yunyao, looking just like a little creature about to be abandoned by its master.

Shen Yunyao shook her head wordlessly and said, "Then do you still want to help in the shop?"

"No longer!"

"I will stay by the Miss's side, the kind that no one can drive away!"

"So obedient!"

"When your Miss makes money, later I'll raise your monthly stipend!"

"Long live the Miss!"

"Shh, you little brat, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Shen Yunyao quickly shut Cuiyu's mouth, "Such words are not to be said in the future!"

"The term 'Long live' is a phrase exclusive to the one from Qianji Hall."

"That's not right; now in Dayong, two people use that phrase."

"The Supreme Emperor of Changle Palace and Emperor Xihe of Qianji Hall."

"It is said there are not two suns in the sky, nor two rulers of a nation."

"But now in Dayong, two masters have emerged."

"The Supreme Emperor has clearly abdicated to the current emperor, once retreating to Changle Palace and staying out of state affairs. Yet lately he seems unwilling to be idle, frequently contacting court officials."

"That's not a good omen!"

Thinking of the current situation in Jingcheng, Shen Yunyao let out a sigh.

"That old emperor truly—though he himself chose to abdicate, now he jumps out to cause trouble; Emperor Xihe is practically being roasted on a fire."

"Forget it, it's still far from me!"

Shen Yunyao shook her head, pushing these chaotic thoughts aside.

Only, what she didn't know was that the matters she thought were far away had already become very close to her.

……

Changle Palace.

The Supreme Emperor was enjoying the song and dance, accompanied by a stout old man.

"Disperse, disperse!"

Finally, the Supreme Emperor raised his hand and waved.

The old eunuch serving nearby immediately spoke, ordering the beautiful performers and the beautiful musician beside them to withdraw.

The Supreme Emperor then looked at the Duke of Chu beside him and said, "Speak, you old bastard, why are you coming to this idle me?"

"Don't say you're here to drink with me; I don't believe it!"

"Your Majesty, the old minister feels ashamed!"

The Duke of Chu rose to kneel.

"Don't play that trick on me!"

The Supreme Emperor raised his hand, tapped the table, and said, "Sit and speak. If you truly have done something that wronged me, I will consider granting you leniency!"

"Your Majesty, how could this old minister dare do anything that disobeys you!"

"The matter is as follows!"

Regarding the incident where Chu Yingying pushed the Minister of Rites' third Miss Lu Qingfan out of the teahouse, these past few days have been full of bickering.

"Your Majesty, that truly was an accident!"

"You know, Yingying that child has no malicious intent."

"She just got angry!"

"You know, her build is no different from this old minister's, and few people normally look her straight in the eye. Only the Minister of Rites Lu Sheng's third Miss Lu Qingfan, and Li Shanni of the An Guo Hou residence, get along with her, but who could have guessed that those two girls actually used my Yingying as a stepping stone to boost their own fame!"

"After Yingying learned the truth, she got so angry she bumped into someone."

"Who could have thought that Lu Qingfan would be so careless in a collision that she actually fell from the second floor of the teahouse."

"So, you came to see me hoping I will step in and suppress this matter?"

"Your Majesty is flawless!"

The Duke of Chu nodded vigorously.

The Supreme Emperor nodded thoughtfully and said, "That Lu Sheng's third daughter Lu Qingfan, I have also heard people mention, saying she is Jingcheng's foremost talented woman!"

"Is her injury this time serious?"

"Not serious, not serious!"

The Duke of Chu hurriedly spoke, "After I learned the news, I immediately invited Yan Lao Divine Doctor to appear; even the facial wounds will leave no trace."

"Perfect timing, my Little Nineteen should also be getting married!"

With the Supreme Emperor saying that, the Duke of Chu completely relaxed, and the matter was considered settled.

Even if Lu Sheng were again favored by Emperor Xi He, what of it?

The Supreme Emperor intervenes, and even grants your daughter a marriage to a prince; what an honor that is!

……

"Your Majesty, there is another matter!"

After resolving the trouble between my family and the Minister of Rites' residence, the Duke of Chu spoke again, saying, "At that time, the reason Yingying and the others went to the teahouse was to see Xie Zian's little son's fiancée."

"Your Majesty, although the marriage of the Xie Family's young man is a marriage bestowed by you today, this old minister feels that the woman may have some issues."

"First, when she came to Jingcheng, Linlang County almost sparked a Manichaeist rebellion; although it was suppressed, that is not a good omen!"

"When she entered Jingcheng, she caused a dispute between my Yingying and the Minister of Rites' third Miss."

"The old minister worries that this woman may be a disaster star!"

"I have heard that His Highness Huanxi is intimately involved with this woman!"

"Your Majesty, you should still advise His Highness Huanxi, lest he lose the greater for the lesser; regret will come too late!"

The Duke of Chu's speech made the Supreme Emperor's complexion change repeatedly.

"I know about this matter; if you old fool have nothing else, just scram!"

"Yes, the old minister takes his leave!"

The Duke of Chu hurriedly took his leave.

Only after the Duke of Chu left the Chang Le Palace did the Supreme Emperor slowly lift the wine cup before him, sip a small mouthful, then smile broadly and hum a little tune.

"Opening one's mouth shows loyalty, while speaking shows benevolence."

"But inside that belly, it is all scheming and calculation."

"Taa, taa, taa, taa……"