Chapter 61: Wei Liangqing Courts Trouble

The Huitong Trading Company opened with great fanfare—upstairs and downstairs packed with people, and firecrackers crackling for a full two hours.

But not a single customer came; from start to finish, it was only Wei Liangqing scattering silver.

By evening, Wei Liangqing sat in the money shop clicking away at an abacus, his face never once looking pleased.

Little came in today, but plenty went out—at this rate, this money shop wouldn't last much longer.

"Well, well? Master Wei doesn't look too happy, does he?"

Suddenly, a dark figure strolled in slowly, speaking in a strange, mocking tone.

Wei Liangqing's face changed. He looked up, then scrambled to his feet: "Eunuch Feng."

Feng Zhu, having left the palace and no longer at Zhu Xu's side, carried himself with an air of superiority—quite the look of a treacherous villain.

He looked at Wei Liangqing, smiling slyly in a shrill voice: "Master Wei, you've had quite a bellyful of anger today, haven't you?"

Wei Liangqing naturally knew today's affair couldn't be hidden from Feng Zhu, and said with a stiff face: "Eunuch Feng, rest assured, this humble one will make the company prosper as soon as—"

"Aiy, aiy," Feng Zhu waved a hand, saying: "I didn't come today to hear your promises—I came to get revenge for you."

Wei Liangqing was taken aback: "Revenge?"

Feng Zhu sat down in Wei Liangqing's original chair, flipped through the account books, and let out a scornful laugh: "You fuss over this paltry silver. If it were a hundred times more, wouldn't you be run ragged?"

'A hundred times more?'

Wei Liangqing didn't quite grasp Feng Zhu's meaning and stood to the side, muttering wordlessly.

Feng Zhu casually closed the book and said with a chuckle: "Alright, no more riddles. I'll tell you plainly—the treasury is empty, and the court wants to confiscate the assets of lawbreaking wealthy merchants and great households in the capital to fill the Liaodong military pay."

Wei Liangqing was stunned at first, then overjoyed: "Eunuch Feng, when did this happen? Why didn't I know?"

Feng Zhu chuckled, sizing up Wei Liangqing: "Master Wei, surely you don't still think you're the Master Wei you were when Eunuch Wei was in power?"

Wei Liangqing's expression turned awkward, his face twitching as he said: "Please enlighten me, Eunuch Feng."

Feng Zhu had naturally come to deliver a message. He cleared his throat and said with some arrogance: "The Ministry of Revenue is acting with utmost secrecy this time, but it won't stay hidden long—likely within these few days. The noble one has already found a way to strike the Huitong Trading Company off the list. When the time comes, you think of a way to find some familiar Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot agents to stand guard here, so nothing goes wrong."

Wei Liangqing's chest heaved as he recalled the humiliations of these past days, and he gritted his teeth: "Yes, Eunuch."

Feng Zhu looked at his expression and grinned: "This is your chance for revenge. When the time comes, the whole capital will be in chaos, and only our Huitong Trading Company will stand alone in glory. Then—repay grudges and settle scores as you see fit."

Wei Liangqing was sharp-minded and understood at once. His face lit up with surprise and delight as he clasped his fists and bowed: "Thank you, Eunuch. This humble one knows what to do. Please convey to the noble one—this time I'll do it beautifully!"

"Good, then." Feng Zhu nodded with a smile, discussed the details at length with Wei Liangqing, and only then took his leave.

The next day.

"Boss, Wei Liangqing is here."

At the Mysterious Inn, the gatekeeper reported to Yang Huaizhong.

Yang Huaizhong stood by the window, looking down at Wei Liangqing waiting at the door with a pitiful look on his face. His expression held both faint mockery and a frown.

He turned and closed the window, then addressed the assembled shopkeepers in the room with a feigned sigh: "We sent our silver a bit too early."

"That's what I said—Wei Liangqing is a drowned dog; we should have beaten him while he was down."

"I'll go down right now and make him spit out those fifty thousand taels!"

"Don't be rash—he still knows about our warehouse outside the city."

"Right, right. Fine then—you all leave first, and I'll go demand the silver. If he dares not give it, I'll break his legs!"

The group debated noisily in the room, paying no heed to Wei Liangqing still standing at the door.

Yang Huaizhong was deliberately giving him the cold shoulder to vent his pent-up anger. The silver already given naturally couldn't be reclaimed. After pondering for a long while, he waved a hand to quiet the crowd: "Set this aside for now. Go down and tell him I've gone out on business."

"Yes." The gatekeeper acknowledged and turned to leave.

The gatekeeper walked out and said to Wei Liangqing with great deference: "Master Wei, our boss has gone out on business and isn't in. Please return."

Wei Liangqing glanced up at the upper floor—never mind that he'd already heard the voices; if the man truly weren't in, why would you need to go inside and ask for half a day?

He sneered inwardly, nursing his resentment: 'Fine, just you wait. In a few days, I won't be so easy to deal with.'

"Very well, I'll come call again another day."

Wei Liangqing said with a smile on his face, as if not the least bit angry, then turned and left briskly.

Wei Liangqing soon arrived at the pawnshop and said to the clerk at the counter with practiced familiarity: "Call your boss out—I have business with him."

The clerk started at the sight of Wei Liangqing and said: "Master Wei, our boss isn't in."

Wei Liangqing frowned, deliberately showing displeasure: "Less nonsense—I just saw him go in. Call him out at once."

The clerk didn't know how to hide his thoughts and instinctively turned to look behind him.

Sure enough, Qiu Yuehou was frantically waving his hands at him. Only then did the clerk turn back to Wei Liangqing: "Master Wei, our boss really isn't in."

Wei Liangqing sneered inwardly, thinking: 'You put on an act today—tomorrow I'll put on one for you.'

He deliberately shouted in feigned anger: "Qiu, you dare swindle me? Just you wait—I won't let you off!" With that, he stormed off in a huff.

Qiu Yuehou walked to the counter, watched Wei Liangqing's retreating figure, spat, and cursed: "Filthy dog—you've eaten so much of my silver and I haven't even settled accounts with you, yet you dare throw your weight around with me? In a few days when Master Yang comes over, I'll make sure he pays you a visit!"

Wei Liangqing was now courting trouble with a very cheerful mindset. He wasn't afraid of the trouble being too big—only of it not being big enough. The bigger it was, the more blood he could drain from these people later, and so the happier he was doing it.

Wei Liangqing was happy, but the palace was in an uproar.

Zhu Xu hurried toward Kunning Palace at a jog, asking urgently: "What exactly happened? How could she suddenly faint when she was fine?"

Cao Huachun, equally worried, jogged alongside Zhu Xu: "Not known yet. Word came from Lady Wu's side—apparently the imperial physician and His Majesty have already gone."

Zhu Xu could sense it too—maids and eunuchs were rushing to and fro along the way, looking as if the sky were falling.

In all his years in the palace, Zhu Xu had never seen such a commotion. But if Her Majesty the Empress was carrying a boy, he would be the legitimate imperial son—the legitimate eldest son—and highly likely the future Crown Prince and Emperor. No wonder these people were on edge.

When he reached Kunning Palace, not only Emperor Zhu Youxiao was there—the consorts of the harem had nearly all gathered as well.

Zhu Xu hurriedly paid his respects. Zhu Youxiao, sitting by the Empress's bedside, waved a hand when he saw him: "Enough of that—come over."

Zhu Xu walked over with a trembling, fearful demeanor, standing at Zhu Youxiao's side, looking at Empress Zhang lying on the bed.

Her face was pale, her lips parched. She lay on the bed, eyes tightly shut, occasionally furrowing her brow—clearly in great pain.