Chapter 233: Wan Sis~You aren't trying to marry my man, are you~?

Lu Yuan blurted out a sentence, nearly making Gu Qingwan spit blood.

The Great Zhou Dynasty indeed has money; the Ministry of Revenue has already released the financial statements for the first half of this year.

In past years, the Great Zhou Dynasty, after discarding various things, the national treasury increased by at most seventy million in a whole year.

But this year, the revenue for just the first half has reached a terrifying thirty million!

Even at the height of the Great Zhou Dynasty's most prosperous era, such terrifying income has never occurred.

Of course, to be precise, now the Great Zhou Dynasty is a prosperous age!!

No wonder, when Gu Qingwan said she wanted to lay railways in the south, the Minister of Revenue didn't even blink and immediately agreed to take money from the Ministry of Revenue.

But the problem is...

The Great Zhou Dynasty has money, the national treasury has money, the Ministry of Revenue has money, but...

She, Gu Qingwan, doesn't have much money!!

This emperor's money all comes from the inner court.

The emperor also has a money bag, which is the inner court.

But the last time Lu Yuan asked for five hundred thousand, it nearly emptied the inner court.

And now another one million??

This little thing really thinks it's printing money, right?!

Where does he still have any money?!

The repair of the imperial palace, as well as the wages of eunuchs and palace maids, and salaries.

All of these come from inside the inner court.

Gu Qingwan has been worrying lately; where will the money for the inner court come from next month?

This little thing, on the other hand, opens its mouth and demands one million!

If I had one million, I would first repair this imperial palace!

Previously, when I just ascended the throne, this imperial palace was already in ruins, and I never attended to it.

Anyway, I only move about in the Double Splendor Hall and the Grand Harmony Hall.

Now that there's money, Gu Qingwan naturally also wants to repair her own place.

I had just saved up a bit of money, and this little thing took it away; now it's coming again?!

Immediately, Gu Qingwan gritted her teeth and said:

"Sister, where do you still have money?! You just asked for that five hundred thousand a few days ago, and it's already gone!!"

Lu Yuan, with a carefree attitude, led his wife straight up to the Dragon Terrace, sat in his exclusive seat, and raised his eyebrows, saying:

"How can you have no money? Isn't the mine revenue from Little Green Mountain counted as part of the inner court?"

Anyone who understands history knows that the emperor's money is divided into two parts.

One is the Ministry of Revenue; the Ministry of Revenue's money is used for the world, while the inner court's money is used for the emperor.

Simply put, the inner court's money can be used by the emperor at will.

But the Ministry of Revenue's money, if the emperor wants to use it, he must attend to proper affairs; this money must be used for a just cause.

Generally speaking, the emperor is not actually someone who spends and builds recklessly.

Of course, if the emperor really wants to make money, he can do so.

Take the most famous emperor, the Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty; isn't he just trying every way to siphon money into his own inner court?

Well, the accurate term for the Ming Dynasty is the inner treasury, while for the Qing Dynasty it's the Imperial Household Department.

The names differ, but they mean the same thing.

Previously, Gu Qingwan didn't have much money, and Lu Yuan believed it.

But the problem is, the mine revenue from Little Green Mountain, plus the revenue from two other mines, is directly counted as part of the inner court, including things like port earnings.

These are all considered imperial assets.

Gu Qingwan has no money?

It would be strange if she had no money!!

And Gu Qingwan, staring at Lu Yuan, gritted her teeth and said:

"The mine revenue hasn't reached the settlement date yet; it's still more than a month away!!"

Lu Yuan blinked and said:

"Then let's settle it early; first settle the accounts for Little Green Mountain here—I really have no money left."

Looking at Lu Yuan in front of her, Gu Qingwan truly hated him, reaching out with her jade hand to pull his ear.

But seeing Su Liyan smiling brightly beside her, Gu Qingwan held back.

Afterwards, Gu Qingwan gritted her teeth and said:

"Wouldn't that be embarrassing?!"

Where is there an emperor who settles accounts early?!

Such impatient greed is hardly befitting a Son of Heaven!

Lu Yuan then raised his eyebrows and said:

"What's embarrassing about asking for your own money? Anyway, you have to give me money.

If you don't give me money, my side will have to stop, and stopping would leave it unfinished.

Elder sister emperor, you wouldn't want to see a bunch of abandoned buildings appear in the center of Xin Cheng, would you?"

Gu Qingwan: "????"

Looking at Lu Yuan in front of her, Gu Qingwan, having come to her senses, the next second turned her gaze to Su Liyan beside her and said in a coquettish voice:

"Liyan, quickly look at your man—where does he still have the air of a noble? Look at this little rascal; he's clearly just a scoundrel!!"

This sort of thing, Su Liyan couldn't join in, and she knew Gu Qingwan was just joking, so she blinked, pursed her lips, and gave a light laugh, saying:

It's not because Elder Sister Wan is spoiling my man too much, is it?

Gu Qingwan gave Lu Yuan a sideways glance and said softly:

I'll just get it for you!!

The next second, Gu Qingwan looked toward the senior eunuch below and said:

Send someone to notify the Little Green Mountain side to settle the accounts by the day after tomorrow at the latest.

That senior eunuch immediately nodded and went to convey the order.

After saying that, Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan and glared, saying:

This is the last time, okay? Next time I come, Sis really won't have any money!!

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, blinked, and said:

Isn't there still the port's money? That money is also managed by the inner court, isn't it?

Upon hearing Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan was nearly fuming, and she immediately said in a coquettish voice:

That money is settled only once a year!!!

Oh~~

Like that~

Lu Yuan really didn't know that.

Seeing Gu Qingwan like that, Lu Yuan grinned and said:

Oh come on, I'm not refusing to pay, what's the fuss, really.

Gu Qingwan, however, let out a soft hum and said:

Elder Sister still wants to repair the palace; the courtyard in the northwest corner is about to collapse!!

Lu Yuan blinked and said:

Don't worry, once I get my building up and earn some money, I'll have it repaired for you—I'll not only fix the northwest corner, I'll renovate your entire palace for you.

In response to Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan let out a soft hum and said:

Then forget it, too costly—just fix the northwest corner and that'll be enough.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow and said:

The Great Zhou is in its prime; what's wrong with undertaking some construction projects?

After saying that, Lu Yuan suddenly remembered something and immediately raised an eyebrow, saying:

But coming back to the topic, Sis, you're really too poor, aren't you? Last time I asked you for five hundred thousand, and your inner court has no money??

My own shop brings in over two hundred thousand a month.

As for Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan stared at him and said:

You think everyone's like you, with a pure profit of just twenty coins per garment!!

Back in those years, to ease livelihoods, the port and other industries' taxes were waived whenever possible, so not much revenue could be collected.

Moreover, previously the national treasury's income fell short of its expenses; any little money went to fill the treasury, so where would Sis have any money here?

This year the Great Zhou Dynasty's national treasury actually has money, and Sis did want to save a bit, but you little thing open your mouth and demand five hundred thousand, even a million!!

Seeing Gu Qingwan's expression, Lu Yuan couldn't help but hehehe and laugh loudly.

Gu Qingwan involuntarily gave Lu Yuan a flirtatious roll of the eyes and said:

You still have the nerve to laugh!!

Afterwards, Gu Qingwan got up, walked to Su Liyan's side, linked arms with her, and said in a coquettish voice:

Come on, Liyan, let's go out for a stroll, ignoring this little rascal.

Before Su Liyan could say anything, Gu Qingwan again raised her eyebrows, looked at Lu Yuan, and said:

The memorial on the table, help Sis look at it—this is the interest!!

Hearing that, Lu Yuan pursed his lips and said:

How come it's me again? Isn't this your line of work……

Listening to Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan stared at him with her beautiful eyes and said:

What, you don't want the money anymore, right!?

Lu Yuan pursed his lips, "Fine, forget it."

Just look, anyway, it's not the first or second time Lu Yuan has looked at these.

Just as Gu Qingwan was pulling Su Liyan to leave, Lu Yuan suddenly blinked and said:

Remember to eat the potato.

Gu Qingwan blinked in surprise, didn't speak, and then hurriedly pulled Su Liyan away.

Lu Yuan then directly plopped down onto Gu Qingwan's imperial throne.

As for whether one should avoid suspicion……

Hmm……

Totally unnecessary.

Before, when Lu Yuan did such things, he still had to consider it, but now it's completely unnecessary.

Lu Yuan and Gu Qingwan's relationship has long been extraordinary.

One could say their relationship is merely a layer of window paper.

It's just whoever can't hold back first, whoever pierces it first.

So, helping Gu Qingwan look at the memorial isn't a big deal.

Helping Gu Qingwan ease her work pressure.

Lu Yuan would not have any thoughts of rebellion, because Gu Qingwan also knows that Lu Yuan and Su Liyan……are no longer mortals now.

……

Good younger sister……let's not eat today……

At this moment, in a corner of the imperial palace, Gu Qingwan embraced Su Liyan's arm and begged softly.

These days, it's almost been over a month.

Gu Qingwan has indeed been eating potatoes continuously for a month.

It really made Gu Qingwan eat grass and chicken.

Three meals a day, I really feel like vomiting from eating.

Now seeing this potato, Gu Qingwan feels nauseous.

But at this moment, Su Liyan peeled the skin off a potato in her hand, held it to Gu Qingwan's cherry lips, shook her head and said:

"No, Wanjie, Brother said you have to eat every day, that way cultivation will be faster."

Hearing Su Liyan's words, Gu Qingwan slightly pursed her lips and said:

"But……I followed Lu Yuan's method, and it simply doesn't work……"

Su Liyan blinked and then said:

"Because we just started, it's only been a month, there definitely won't be much effect yet, come on, sister, open your mouth, take a bite."

Su Liyan was coaxing her like a child taking medicine.

Gu Qingwan felt helpless, but eventually opened her mouth, took a small bite, forced herself to swallow a piece and said:

"How long have you two been like this?"

Su Liyan blinked and said:

"Hmm~~We've been two or three months, sister, you haven't seen that I can take things from a distance, right? This is the effect of persevering."

"Come on, sister, ah~take another bite~"

Su Liyan didn't tell the truth.

Putting it in her own man's words……

It's just that Wanjie's talent……is not particularly good.

There's been no effect all along.

This potato is a heavenly treasure planted by her own man, it's extremely precious.

But even if we feed her like this day and night, Gu Qingwan still hasn't made any progress.

Even as a Golden Core Stage cultivator, Su Liyan could feel that the potato's refined spiritual power, upon entering Gu Qingwan's body, would instantly dissipate.

Gu Qingwan's body cannot retain this spiritual power.

Over the past month, Su Liyan personally taught Gu Qingwan how to cultivate, but it still didn't work.

In a month's time, Gu Qingwan has only just reached the third stage of the breath-nurturing technique.

Su Liyan has no way to deal with this, nor does Lu Yuan.

All they can do is coax Gu Qingwan into eating potatoes every day.

As for why they don't tell Gu Qingwan the true situation of Lu Yuan and Su Liyan now,

It can't be said.

Saying it would deal too heavy a blow to Gu Qingwan's enthusiasm.

Of course, this was at the beginning; now, Su Liyan thinks she can also talk about it.

After all, Wanjie now feels a bit discouraged about this.

If they tell their true situation with their own man, maybe it could encourage Wanjie.

At this moment, after Su Liyan coaxed Gu Qingwan into eating another bite,

Gu Qingwan really couldn't take it anymore.

This potato, Gu Qingwan can certainly feel its extraordinary effect; not mentioning anything else, just this one potato makes her not hungry for several days.

But not being hungry, she's still forced to eat three meals of potatoes a day.

Gu Qingwan really feels nauseous just smelling it.

No matter how Su Liyan coaxes, Gu Qingwan simply can't eat it.

Seeing Gu Qingwan resist so much, Su Liyan blinked, tilted her head slightly, and said mysteriously:

"Wanjie, do you know what my situation is now?"

Huh?

Gu Qingwan stared, then looked at Su Liyan with a strange expression.

As for potatoes, cultivation and such, Gu Qingwan knows about them.

But she doesn't know much.

And all of it came from listening to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan said eating potatoes can cultivate immortality, and Gu Qingwan believed him.

She kept eating it, but there was no significant reaction.

As for other things, Gu Qingwan didn't ask much, anyway Lu Yuan wouldn't harm her.

Moreover, Gu Qingwan indeed saw Su Liyan make a memorial float, among other miraculous things.

When Gu Qingwan was curious, Su Liyan's body suddenly floated up, that is, she flew.

This scene really frightened Gu Qingwan.

Looking at Su Liyan with a stunned expression, she stammered:

"Sis……sister……when did you learn to fly？？"

Su Liyan landed, looked at Gu Qingwan and blinked, then said:

"I forgot the exact time, but that's not important; what matters is, Elder Sister Wan, do you know what realm I, as an immortal, am currently in?"

Gu Qingwan stared in disbelief and shook her head.

Su Liyan then pursed her lips and smiled, saying:

"It's the fourth stage; my husband says it's called the Golden Core realm. Of course, that's not important either; what matters is… the lifespan of a Golden Core cultivator is three thousand years."

Three… three thousand years?

Gu Qingwan stared at Su Liyan in disbelief; this… the Great Zhou Dynasty hasn't even existed for three thousand years…

Before Gu Qingwan could react, Su Liyan pursed her lips, looked at Gu Qingwan, and said:

"So, Elder Sister Wan, I can live for three thousand years~

"My older brother can also live for several thousand years~

"Elder Sister Wan, you don't want to marry my husband, do you~

"Just live a few decades, then…"

Before Su Liyan could finish speaking, Gu Qingwan had already stuffed the half potato in Su Liyan's hand into her mouth, skin and all.

At that moment, with something in her mouth, Gu Qingwan's cheeks puffed out like a hamster's, her exquisite face flushed with a rosy tint, looking utterly adorable.

At that moment, Gu Qingwan, cheeks flushed, muttered while chewing the potato:

"Just eat, sis; why say such embarrassing things~

Thanks to XX Auntie Old Brother for the 100 book coin reward, thank you so much~

Those two characters up front can't be read, huh~

From now on, all instances of the character 'year' will be read as 'diaò'.

(End of chapter)