Chapter 144: Imperial Edict

"My admiration for Your Highness is truly like the surging river, endless and continuous."

The second floor of the Yan Commandery Trading Firm.

Zhao Xu sat by the window with his legs crossed, gazing out at the street.

Yang Cheng diligently poured tea for Zhao Xu and served it to him personally.

"The expert who guided Your Highness must surely be a figure like an immortal." Yang Cheng stood at Zhao Xu's side, his face full of smiles.

Zhao Xu lowered his head to take a sip of tea and smiled lightly.

This was an excuse he had made up when he first woke up; he hadn't expected Yang Cheng to still remember it now.

He said, "This is just a small trinket; there will be many more things in the future that will make your jaw drop."

"Hahaha, if that is the case, then this humble official shall wait with bated breath." Yang Cheng cupped his hands, returning to his usual cheerful self.

Not only had the crisis facing the trading firm been easily resolved by Yan Wang.

But now, with the addition of such a product that was certain to sell well, his whole body was suddenly filled with drive again.

While chatting idly with Yang Cheng, a manor servant came up from downstairs.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Edict has arrived."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu felt a surge of joy in his heart.

This meant he could officially take over Shanggu Commandery.

Returning to the manor, he saw a familiar face: Tong San.

It was he who had come to Yan Commandery last time to proclaim the Imperial Edict.

"Your Highness."

Upon meeting, Tong San was all smiles, as enthusiastic as an old friend not seen for many years.

The Silver from last time had fed him very well; seeing Zhao Xu was now as intimate as seeing Silver.

"Oh, how tiring it must be for you to make this trip again, Eunuch." Zhao Xu was equally enthusiastic.

These close ministers beside the Emperor were naturally to be won over whenever possible.

"It is no hardship; to be able to deliver an Imperial Edict to Your Highness is something this humble servant is only too happy to do." Tong San then took out the Imperial Edict and, without proclaiming it, handed it directly into Zhao Xu's hands.

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment, exchanged a glance with Tong San, and both laughed at the same time.

By rights, the procedure of proclaiming the edict could not be skipped.

But some eunuchs, in order to show closeness, would sometimes omit this process.

"Then many thanks, Eunuch." Zhao Xu cupped his hands, then said to Feng'er, "Bring over this Prince's token of appreciation."

"How could I accept this?" Tong San demurred with his mouth, but his eyes revealed a smile of 'a child who can be taught'.

Before long, the servants carried the chests over.

Tong San took a slight look and was even more pleased; this time there was more than last time.

But that was normal, after all, the happy occasion this time was much bigger than the last.

"You have traveled over mountains and rivers, Eunuch; this little bit is nothing." Zhao Xu gave Tong San a step down.

"Since that is the case, this humble servant will not stand on ceremony." Tong San laughed heartily.

At this moment, Zhao Xu unfolded the Imperial Edict and glanced at the contents; the decree inside was indeed granting him Shanggu Commandery.

Besides that, it authorized him to maintain an army of sixty thousand.

Having confirmed this, he breathed a light sigh of relief and handed the Imperial Edict to Chang Wei and Liu Fu, who were waiting to the side.

The two looked at it, their faces full of excitement.

Tong San ordered the Silver to be taken away and then took a letter from his bosom.

"Your Highness,

This is a letter that Imperial Concubine Mi had this humble servant deliver."

"Imperial Concubine Mi." This term made Zhao Xu smile lightly.

No matter what, this woman was his mother in this lifetime.

That she had gone from a Noble Lady to Imperial Concubine Mi overnight and her status in the palace had risen sharply was something he was happy about.

Scanning the contents of the letter, Zhao Xu put it away.

In the letter, Imperial Concubine Mi spoke of her longing for him, exhorted him to govern diligently, and finally mentioned the Empress and the Crown Prince.

It seemed that this time, he had inadvertently dragged Imperial Concubine Mi into the struggles of the imperial court.

But this seemed to be an unavoidable problem.

Ever since the mark of Imperial Prince was branded upon him, he was destined to never escape these affairs of the imperial family in his life.

But that was fine too; since the Crown Prince and the Third Prince wanted to use him now.

He would borrow their influence to seek benefits for himself.

This way, his business in the south could be more secure.

"Eunuch Tong, why not stay in Yan Commandery for a few more days this time and experience the local customs of Yan Commandery?"

Tong San was still at his side, and Zhao Xu came back to his senses and said.

"This humble servant would love to spend more time with Your Highness, but I am under imperial orders and cannot disobey; I must set off tomorrow." Tong San wore a look of regret.

At this moment, Zhao Xu suddenly smelled a faint fragrance, and looking at Tong San, he suddenly remembered.

In the palace, eunuchs and palace maids would use incense, because it represented a kind of cleanliness.

Imagine, if they had a smell of sweat when serving the imperial concubines, they might lose favor immediately.

Therefore, they were very particular about making themselves smell fragrant.

Thinking of this, he was greatly amused and said, "Since that is the case, this Prince will not keep you, Eunuch; however, tomorrow morning, this Prince will give you one more treasure."

Tong San's eyes widened slightly, and he cupped his hands again, "Many thanks for Your Highness's great kindness."

That evening, Zhao Xu held a banquet at the Prince's Mansion, hosting Tong San and the Imperial Guard soldiers who had arrived.

At the same time, he had Feng'er urge the central courtyard to work through the night to produce a batch of Perfume.

The next day, he handed four boxes—three large and one small—to Tong San.

"Your Highness, what is this?" Tong San opened his small box and saw five small Porcelain Bottles inside.

"This item is called Perfume, a new commercial product from the Prince's Mansion. You only need to dab a little on your body, and the fragrance will last for about four hours," Zhao Xu said.

Upon hearing this, Tong San immediately revealed an expression of great interest.

He hurriedly opened a Porcelain Bottle and sprinkled the liquid inside onto his clothes; instantly, a fragrance overflowed.

Greedily smelling the scent on his body, Tong San was overjoyed, "Oh my, thank you, Your Highness. This thing is truly wonderful. Such a small bottle can even be carried around; from now on, I will be fragrant wherever I go."

Seeing Tong San's momentary joy, which was like that of a woman as he made an orchid-finger gesture, Zhao Xu felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

He forced a smile, "As long as you like it, Eunuch. Also, this one is for the Imperial Father, this one is for Liang Chief Steward, and please hand this one to my Imperial Concubine mother."

"Leave it to this humble servant." Tong San suddenly felt that the exhaustion from his journey was worth it; this Yan Wang could always surprise people.

After escorting Tong San all the way to the Nan Cheng gate, Tong San and his party departed.

He had used every method available to promote the Perfume; for the rest, he only needed to wait quietly for it to spread.

And now, the problem he had to face was taking over Shanggu Commandery.

Although Shanggu Commandery was already his fief, it was the same as Yan Commandery.

Currently, the first thing he had to face were the Rich Clans of Shanggu Commandery.

According to what he knew, the Shanggu Commandery Governor Gao Yuan was also related to the Yuan Family by marriage.

However, he had married his daughter into the Yuan Family, and it was precisely because of this marital relationship that he was able to become the Commandery Governor of Shanggu Commandery.

For him, he naturally could not tolerate his own fief being controlled by Rich Clans.

These forces, who were single-mindedly acting as lackeys for the Yuan Family, entrenched in his own fief, would make him feel disgusted even while eating.

"Chang Wei, assemble ten thousand troops to accompany this Prince to Shanggu Commandery; Liu Fu, you go as well."

"Yes, Your Highness," the two said in unison.

Now that the Imperial Edict had been issued, it was naturally time to incorporate Shanggu Commandery into the Yan Wang's fief.

There was also Feihu Pass, the gateway to Jinzhou on the west side of Shanggu Commandery.