vrcanaries Chapter 164 Gao Xian: Choosing Between the Throne and the Beauty
Chapter 164 Gao Xian: Choosing Between the Throne and the Beauty
Xiaohe quickly lifted the curtain and came in.
"Miss, Zizhu is not here. The young master sent him on an errand, and we don't know when he will return to the manor."
"Understood." Qin Jiuwei nodded slightly and instructed, "When he returns, have him come to see me immediately."
After handling a few more matters at Qinglan Courtyard, Qin Jiuwei then headed towards the main courtyard.
She hadn't forgotten what she said last night.
Today, she and Xu Liuer will learn how to manage the household from the Lady of the Marquis.
When Qin Jiuwei arrived at the main courtyard.
Xu Liuer was sitting next to the Lady Hou, and the two were talking about something, appearing very intimate.
This made Qin Jiuwei, who had just arrived, seem more like an outsider.
Qin Jiuwei didn't care at all.
After all, they are mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, so this is quite normal.
If you're going to be unhappy every day over these trivial things, you might as well not live at all.
She bowed slightly and greeted the Lady of the Marquis with a respectful bow.
"The daughter-in-law has met her mother-in-law."
Lady Hou nodded slightly, showing no remorse.
When Xu Liuer saw Qin Jiuwei arrive, she immediately stood up and bowed to her.
"Liu'er greets her elder sister-in-law and pays her respects."
Qin Jiu smiled slightly, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for such formalities. We're all family."
She was always kind to others, so naturally she wouldn't make things difficult for Xu Liuer.
And to be honest, Qin Jiuwei had a pretty good impression of her.
After the two women were seated, Lady Hou gave each of them an account book.
She let the two of them watch first, while she would occasionally explain things to them from the side.
Lady Hou had no intention of teaching Qin Jiuwei how to manage the household.
He also speaks in a secretive manner.
She only wanted to teach Xu Liuer properly after Qin Jiuwei left.
Qin Jiuwei sensed her thoughts and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.
Compared to the account books of Qinglan Courtyard, the account books of the Marquis's Mansion are indeed more complex and harder to understand.
If she had never been to the palace in her previous life, she certainly wouldn't understand it now.
But now, no ledger can stump her.
Lady Hou picked up her teacup and glanced sideways at Qin Jiuwei.
Seeing how intently she was looking at it, he smiled slightly.
Managing an entire mansion is completely different from managing a single courtyard.
Does Qin Jiuwei think she can manage the Marquis's Mansion just because she can manage Qinglan Courtyard?
That's a bit too naive.
She'll embarrass herself someday!
Xu Liuer flipped through the account book, her brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.
What, what is all this...?
It was like reading a book written in a foreign language to her.
"We've reviewed the ledgers pretty well, haven't we? There's one more thing we need to discuss today."
Upon hearing this, Xu Liuer immediately raised her head.
Great! Finally, I don't have to look at the ledgers anymore!
"The Marquis's mansion is planning to buy a fleet of ships to go to sea, but I'm not sure which one to choose. Now that you're here, please give me some advice," the Marquis's wife said gently.
Lady Hou had never participated in such a high-risk undertaking as sailing a fleet before.
In her view, as long as she could maintain the existing wealth and status, it would be enough for the descendants of the Marquis's family to enjoy for generations.
However, some time ago, the Li family's fleet returned and earned a full ten thousand taels of silver!
The initial investment was only two thousand taels of silver.
Two thousand taels were exchanged for ten thousand taels, a fivefold increase.
This made Lady Hou extremely envious.
The decision was made immediately: the Marquis's mansion would also buy a caravan! They wanted to earn even more than the Li mansion!
He completely outshone Mrs. Li in the circle of wealthy women!
Upon hearing about the fleet, Qin Jiuwei raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Jin Dynasty's overseas trade flourished, and many powerful and wealthy people purchased fleets.
They transported silk, porcelain, tea, and other goods overseas, and brought back rare and precious goods such as spices and jewelry, making a fortune by reselling them.
"There are two caravans in total, one is Li Feng's fleet and the other is Yang Cunxing's fleet. Both of them are the leaders of their respective fleets."
Lady Hou said, "This Li Feng is nearly forty years old. He is very experienced and rarely gets into trouble, but he has never made any big money."
"This Yang Cunxing is younger, only twenty-five years old now."
Mentioning him, Madam Hou frowned. "He sometimes makes money and sometimes loses money. Sometimes he loses everything, and sometimes he can make his money three or four times over."
Xu Liu'er pondered for a moment, but still couldn't make up her mind.
He opened his mouth, then quickly closed it again.
"Choose Yang Cunxing," Qin Jiuwei suddenly said without hesitation.
Lady Hou and Xu Liu'er immediately turned to look at her, their voices filled with doubt.
"why?"
Royal study room.
Eunuch Li reported in detail about Chen Xiuming's attempt to assassinate Jiang Yunzhu in the street yesterday.
Gao Xian frowned as he listened, and finally uttered three words.
"He's crazy?"
Shen Xingjian was promoted to general of the Imperial Guard precisely because of his exceptional martial arts skills.
Chen Xiuming actually wanted to assassinate him in front of him.
What do you think?
Eunuch Li looked at Gao Xian and smiled, "This servant doesn't know, perhaps..."
Before he could finish speaking, Gao Xian suddenly interrupted him coldly, glaring at him.
"I think you've gone mad too."
When Eunuch Li was suddenly scolded, he was stunned.
ah? me?
Gao Xian's voice was merciless, "You have to bother me with such trivial matters? Are you out of your mind?"
“Your Majesty, it was you who gave the order to make Young Master Chen kneel in the marketplace as punishment.” Eunuch Li was also quite aggrieved. “Now that he has broken the law, he must be punished according to the law, so naturally we must ask for your opinion.”
The emperor's decree is greater than heaven's will, let alone the law.
Eunuch Li continued, "Should we make him kneel for a full month first, and then punish him according to the law, or should we punish him directly according to the law?"
"Punish him directly according to the law; don't bother me with such a trivial matter!"
Seeing that the emperor was in a bad mood, Eunuch Li tactfully withdrew.
The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment.
Gao Xian's gaze fell on a scroll painting next to him.
He reached out, took it, and opened it.
This is a landscape painting, with towering mountains and distinct layers created by the varying shades of ink.
It was the painting Qin Jiuwei made at the autumn banquet that day.
Gao Xian gently stroked the painting with his fingertips, tenderly and affectionately.
A stunningly beautiful figure and those lovely peach blossom eyes began to appear in my mind.
Gao Xian's eyebrows began to twitch uncontrollably.
He then abruptly closed the scroll in front of him.
He slumped onto the dragon throne, pressing his slender fingers against his brow.
He has lost his composure far too many times lately because of Qin Jiuwei.
This can't go on any longer.
It's ridiculous to be so preoccupied with a woman.
What's even more ridiculous is that the woman was already married, and the man who married her was his best friend!
Gao Xian fiddled with the jade prayer beads with some irritation.
If he were to actually take Qin Jiuwei into the harem while sitting in this position, no one would dare to say anything.
But... what about Aoi?
Given Qingkui's personality, by then, he would have lost her forever.
Qingkui and Jiuwei...
He can't let go of either of these women now; he likes both of them.
But if you really can only choose one.
Gao Xian still wants to maintain the status quo.
It wasn't just because he deeply loved Qingkui, but also because of Xie Yanli.
Xie Yanli and he grew up together.
Of all the officials in the court, he trusted Xie Yanli the only one.
The court is currently unstable, the King of Qi intends to rebel, and the prince of an enemy state has entered the capital.
He cannot afford to lose Xie Yanli, a loyal and capable minister, at this time.
He was the emperor, not a leisurely and wealthy prince.
It's already quite willful of him to favor Qingkui so much.
If he continues to act recklessly, he might not even be able to hold onto the throne...
Choose the throne or the beauty?
Gao Xian tightened his grip on the prayer beads, his dark, cold eyes snapping upwards.
Choose the throne!
"Put this painting away, somewhere I can't see it," he ordered coldly.
The young eunuch nodded, immediately bowed, and took the painting away.
Just then, Eunuch Li respectfully reported, "Consort Qin has brought some pastries she made herself."
Gao Xian didn't even raise his eyebrows. "Send it back to her."
Now that I've decided to stop thinking about Qin Jiuwei, I need to stay away from everything related to her!
Qingwu Palace.
Seeing the pastries that had been returned to me.
Qin Le'an: ?
Why has the Emperor suddenly stopped eating the pastries she makes?
I always accepted them before!
Qin Le'an was extremely annoyed.
What's going on?
Hou House.
"Sister-in-law, why did you choose Yang Cunxing?" Xu Liuer asked in confusion.
And my sister-in-law spoke with such certainty.
Qin Jiuwei curled her lips slightly.
Because she knew him...