Tianliangyuan

Chapter 90 Anyway, it's not my own money I'm spending.

Emperor Yong'an raised an eyebrow. It was actually the property of that old bastard Xu Han?

"Have they been selling at such low prices all along?"

"No, that's not it. Ever since the imperial court started ordering the repair of houses everywhere and posting notices to spread information about keeping warm, these two cloth shops have started selling various cotton and coarse cloth at reduced prices. Moreover, these two cloth shops do not sell silk; they are probably shops that supply ordinary people."

Your humble servant sent someone to inquire, and the shopkeeper and waiter there said that the imperial court was benevolent, reminding the people in advance to stock up on winter supplies. Their master is an official's relative, so naturally they should do their part, hence the price reduction.

Emperor Yong'an was pleased to hear this.

If there were more ministers like this in the court, he would have so much less to worry about!

"If their shops sell at such low prices, don't the other fabric shops have any objections?"

Gu Dongyang's expression was somewhat complicated. After secretly observing the Emperor's face, he cautiously said, "Your Majesty, no one has any objections."

Emperor Yong'an frowned. Something's not right!

Under normal circumstances, if Xu's shop sells cloth so cheaply and steals all the business, how could other cloth shop owners possibly agree to it?

Isn't this cutting off their source of income?

"Could it be that Marquis Xu threatened them?"

Gu Dongyang quickly explained, "No! Marquis Xu may not even know about this. I have inquired and found that the Marquis's properties are now all managed by his wife and Miss Xu. Marquis Xu himself is a hands-off manager, only concerned with asking for money, and knows nothing else."

Emperor Yong'an was puzzled: "What's going on?"

Gu Dongyang told him about what he had found out about Jiang Ning's large-scale purchase of cotton cloth, and that it was at a high price.

Emperor Yong'an was also bewildered.

What is this operation?

"Are you sure she's Jiang Taifu's granddaughter?"

"Your Majesty, I was initially unsure, but after repeatedly sending people to keep an eye on things, I discovered that the owner behind that cloth shop was the second young lady of the Jiang family. Actually, I was also trying to understand why she wasn't selling the cotton cloth now that winter was approaching, but instead buying it at a high price?"

Emperor Yong'an also wanted to know the reason!

Why do some people do business in the opposite way?

Could it be that they anticipated a snow disaster and took precautions in advance?

Even if there is a snow disaster, once people have bought cotton cloth to make winter clothes, they probably won't buy any more cotton cloth, right?

Emperor Yong'an felt he couldn't understand it.

He could guess that the princes were arranging for people to hoard grain in order to make a big profit and expand their private treasury. But what was Jiang Ning after?

Seeing the Emperor's expression, Gu Dongyang also looked bewildered: "To be honest, Your Majesty, I can't figure it out either, which is why I've been keeping an eye on that cloth shop, fearing they might have some other ulterior motives. But so far, I still can't figure out what they're after."

Emperor Yong'an couldn't figure it out and didn't want to think about it anymore. He just let things be!

It’s not your own money anyway.

Besides, it's just some cotton cloth; it's not as important as grain.

"Your Majesty, the people I sent said that the number of people buying cotton cloth has decreased in the past two days. I estimate that the people around the capital have probably bought most of it."

Emperor Yong'an nodded, after all, cotton cloth was not food, so it wouldn't be consumed so quickly.

Moreover, it's perfectly normal for ordinary people to wear the same clothes for seven or eight years; a cloth shop can't possibly be booming every day.

"Alright, how's the food situation?"

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has made comprehensive preparations regarding food, even for the worst-case scenario. If there are no more than five thousand refugees outside the city, they will be provided with two bowls of porridge a day until spring, without affecting the supply of provisions to the army."

Emperor Yong'an was satisfied. As long as it didn't affect the army, everything would be fine.

But the problem is that the number of refugees is out of control!

"In addition, other necessities should also be prepared so as not to be caught off guard."

"Yes, Wei Chen accepts the order."

Emperor Yong'an had been busy alone in the imperial study for a long time. When he finally had some free time to drink a cup of tea, the image of the second young lady of the Jiang family hoarding large quantities of cotton cloth came to mind again.

So, what exactly does she want to do?

Could it be that he's overthinking things, and this girl from the Jiang family is simply being foolish?

The Anxin Marquis's Residence, Purple Garden.

Xu Zhaozhao sat in front of the fireplace, eating fruit and drinking tea, living a very leisurely life.

"Miss, the oilcloth you ordered is all finished. Do you need to continue?"

Xu Zhaozhao wiped her hands and moved to the couch behind her: "No need. Keep the remaining tung oil for now, just in case. But make sure to instruct people to guard these things well and prevent them from catching fire."

"Yes, ma'am."

Xu Zhaozhao is not short of money now. She just wanted to have a business battle with Jiang Ning, but she didn't expect to make a lot of extra money.

I wonder if Jiang Ning will regret it when she sells all the cotton fabric she has stockpiled at a low price in the future.

"Dingxiang, is Jiang Ning still buying fabric everywhere?"

"Miss, not at the moment. I heard that she is short of money right now and has sold some jewelry and precious items before."

Xu Zhaozhao scoffed: "I thought she was very favored, but the mere tens of thousands of bolts of cotton cloth have revealed her true colors."

Dingxiang smiled and moved the tea and snacks to the small table on the couch: "No matter how much Miss Jiang is favored, she is still an unmarried girl, and she does not have the power to manage the Jiang family. It is already quite remarkable that she was able to buy a few shops to make a living."

Xu Zhaozhao found it amusing; the Jiang family was not a poor family.

"Is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jiang family unwilling to give her a few shops to practice in?"

"They did give it, but it wasn't to the cloth shop. Madam Jiang is cautious, and the Jiang family has already paid out so much money in compensation. Even if the Jiang family is wealthy, it will still be affected to some extent."

Xu Zhaozhao, however, did not think so.

While the Jiang family may appear to be non-competitive and unambitious over the years, they have actually been secretly accumulating wealth and cultivating their own trusted confidants.

And that Imperial Concubine in the palace requires a large sum of money to support her.

Therefore, the Jiang family certainly doesn't lack such money; it's just that some of the money came from illegitimate sources, and the women of the Jiang family may not be aware of it.

After Zisu entered, radiating cold air, she stood at the door for a while before Xu Zhaozhao noticed her and told her to hurry up and warm up in front of the fireplace.

“Miss, I have just learned that someone is secretly investigating Miss Jiang Er.”

Xu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow. Besides her, was there anyone else interested in Jiang Ning?

Do you know who sent them?

"It's unclear at the moment, but I've noticed that it seems there are more than one group investigating her. One group was from the Ministry of Revenue, but I've noticed that they left in the last couple of days, and there are currently two other groups investigating her."

Xu Zhaozhao became very interested.

Just how many people has Jiang Ning offended?

Xu Zhaozhao quickly racked her brains; anyone who could target Jiang Ning was definitely not an ordinary person.

Upon seeing the land, Xu Zhaozhao's eyes lit up: "Is this someone from the Princess Consort of Zhong?"