Chapter 69

In February, the heads of eight commercial firms came together to Biyang City to visit Ye Suijin.Ye Suijin said, "I allow you to enter the market and engage in any trade you wish. Ruiyun Firm gets to choose first, the rest of you can discuss among yourselves. Of the profits earned, 40% for me and 60% for you. The storefronts all belong to me, for rent not for sale. I have two points for you to keep in mind."

Everyone said, "Please go ahead."

Ye Suijin held up her fingers one by one, "First, I want a fair market, not a wicked one. No matter the situation, anyone who hoards goods, inflates prices, manipulates livelihoods, or stirs up public sentiment will be beheaded as a warning to the market."

"Second, do not push out local small businesses. Business cannot be made absolute, money cannot be earned completely. Leave others a way to survive."

These people had been making inquiries along the way before arriving, so they already knew a thing or two about Ye Suijin's way of doing things.

They were not surprised.

On the contrary, that the ruler had a clear mind and quite understood commerce, and was also strong-willed, meant the likelihood of her maintaining long-term stability here was even greater.

This gave these people more confidence.

Moreover, Ye Suijin had received them, merchants, in the main hall. It was known that no matter how wealthy merchants were, when calling on nobles, they would at best be received in a side chamber.

"Discuss the specifics with Jiang Yinyu, then report back to me," she said before taking her leave.

Naturally when she was gone, the merchants felt free to discuss among themselves.

In fact, they had already reached an agreement before coming. Today was just to finalize things face-to-face.

After settling on a plan, Jiang Yinyu prepared to go report to Ye Suijin. But Ruiyun Firm's head held him back, saying, "Let Xiao Ding take over the Nanyang branch from now on, no need for you to manage it anymore. The family's intention is for you to take charge of business here in Biyang. Or do you have other thoughts?"

Jiang Yinyu was startled.

Other thoughts...

What could be considered other thoughts?

The head laughed and waved his hand, "No rush, I'll be staying here for a while. Think it over and get back to me."

Jiang Yinyu thanked him and returned to his own office—yes, Jiang Yinyu already had his own exclusive office at the Governor's residence.

He neatly copied the items just agreed upon from his draft onto a clean sheet, and took it to Ye Suijin's study to report.

There were no unexpected issues. Ye Suijin skimmed it and nodded, "Fine, do it this way."

She said, "You take charge of this matter."

Jiang Yinyu had been responsible for checking and settling the massive accounts for Biyang City's takeover. With him handling it, Mr. Yang was much more relaxed.

Not only was Mr. Yang getting on in years, he was also Ye Suijin's advisor, and should not be bogged down by petty affairs. With a capable person like Jiang Yinyu under him, it was truly reassuring.

It had been Mr. Yang who recruited Jiang Yinyu in the previous life.

Yet neither of them were the flashy sort, so they did not leave much of an impression.

When Mr. Yang visited friends in the capital city in the previous life, Duan Jin later told her that Mr. Yang did not meet with any old comrades from the former Ye family army, but he did go drink at Jiang Yinyu's residence.

When he left, Duan Jin and Jiang Yinyu saw him off together.

"There is one more thing," Ye Suijin said. "Handle the liquidation of the seized assets from the households."

Over ten wealthy families had been raided. Their real estate like houses, land, storefronts naturally went to Ye Suijin. The now vacant commercial rights were given to the firms introduced by Ruiyun. But there were still many liquid assets, clothing, jewelry, objects, fragrances, etc. Aside from those, there were also the original slaves, servants, and the women who had been punished into slavery.

"Turn it all into hard cash," Ye Suijin demanded. "But don't sell cheaply. I can't take that loss."

You're such a powerful military governor, yet you're so shrewd with money!

I had just thought this to myself when I heard Ye Suijin say, "Don't think I'm being petty, I need to feed my troops, I'm poor."

Jiang Yinyu was startled, almost thinking he had uttered his inner thoughts aloud. He quickly assured, "Would never sell cheaply, my lady can rest assured."

But these matters kept him occupied, and there were still many things to handle at the Governor's residence, so he could not spare the effort to take over Ruiyun Firm's Biyang branch.

Seeing his worried look, Ye Suijin added, "You have too much on your plate, can't work for free either. I'll give you an official salary."

Jiang Yinyu: "..."

First an independent office, now an official salary.

Felt like...he had been lured in.

But he was just a hired hand, at Ruiyun Firm before, and still one now under Ye Suijin.

Working for whichever master was still working.

Jiang Yinyu went to tell Ruiyun's head: "I really can't get away. I won't be taking over things here in Biyang."

If he was working for hire anyway, of course he would choose the bigger boss.

Ruiyun's master was also a wealthy merchant, but Ye Suijin ruled over a whole region.

It was different, very different.

Jiang Yinyu made up his mind. With a city as big as Biyang, even if he got through all the current tasks, he could still find things to keep him occupied.

Mr. Yang also got along very well with him.

So he cozied up to Ye Suijin, determined to at least secure a position at the Governor's residence.

After all, he was already someone with an independent office.

The head had not expected him to make a decision after just one meeting with Ye Suijin. He waved his hand, "No matter, I'll arrange someone else."

But he quickly added, "The family had already considered this situation. Don't worry, focus on working for Lady Ye. Your salary will be paid according to a head manager's level, we're still one family."

The Nanyang branch was just a mid-sized firm, yet this was raising his salary by a whole rank.

Ruiyun's master understood people. Merchants were the best at investing.

Jiang Yinyu accepted it with a smile.

Even more certain he had made the right choice.

On Qiu Sheng's second visit to the rivermouth, he sensed the changes.

The mob's appearance was much better than before, quite orderly now.

Zhao Jingwen did have some capability after all.

This time he brought another letter from Ye Suijin.

To put Zhao Jingwen's heart at ease, Ye Suijin had endured the corniness this time and used rather stirring words. Encouraging him to strive and build his business outside.

"Women often find themselves confined to the inner chambers, bearing and raising children, managing household affairs. In life, we see only as far as the courtyard walls. Fortunately, sir, you were born a man. The world is vast with no place you cannot go, no deed you cannot accomplish."

After writing this, she could not help but sigh.

In the previous life, although she did not need to bear children, managing the imperial harem could also be called "managing household affairs". And her life ultimately ended confined within four walls.

As she wrote, she inadvertently bared her true thoughts. This was exactly what she had envied Zhao Jingwen for in her past life.

When Pei Lian's matter happened, someone had said,

"What a pity Suijin is a daughter, otherwise she could have married Pei Lian herself."

If she had been a man, she could have married Pei Lian herself and allied with Pei Ze.

Then Zhao Jingwen would not have benefited from it.

Things would have gone in a completely different direction afterwards.

Zhao Jingwen was deeply moved by the letter—

The lady understands me.

The lady still cares for me after all.

Her status is above mine, so she has to act aloof with me normally, just for show to others.

After all, so many people in the Ye family are watching her.

She is protecting me!

Striking at the soft spot in one's heart was Zhao Jingwen's innate talent. Ye Suijin's later cultivation also resulted in some minor accomplishments.

Zhao Jingwen's heart grew increasingly warm—

She and I are indeed husband and wife, of one body.

The others in the Ye family will always be outsiders to her.

Who in this world could be as intimate as she and I? Not even father or brothers could achieve this, only a husband.

So once a woman marries, she would definitely side with her husband wholeheartedly.

"Tell her not to worry. I'm staying right here, guarding the rivermouth well, waiting for her to come," Zhao Jingwen said. "Stay a few days, take a good look around, and report back to her in detail."

Recently he had been training the troops and gradually gaining insights. What Ye Suijin had taught him on paper before, and he observed at Ye Family Fort, were starting to be applied in reality.

Once he has this army trained and returns the hundred Ye troops to Ye Manor, his own people will be clearly separated from those of Ye Manor. The men of Ye Manor will not be able to take away his power.

Qiu Sheng stayed behind to deliver everyone's letters from home, then of course resumed contact with Er Bao.

Er Bao said, "Nothing to report. The young master has been training his troops and has made good progress."

He said, "The young master has some skills."

Qiu Sheng gave Er Bao a look, but Er Bao was still oblivious.

If a mission is divided into segments, then each person involved only has limited information, so their understanding is incomplete.

Er Bao's assigned task was to act as eyes. If anything unusual happened, he could abandon everything and report directly to Ye Suijin.

Just what constituted an "unusual happening," Er Bao had no idea, because nothing unusual had actually occurred. Everything that happened was normal.

And if nothing unusual occurred, he didn't need to do anything.

So it was easy for him, like Zhao Jingwen, to interpret Ye Suijin's orders as a wife caring about her husband and having someone secretly keep an eye on him.

But the information Qiu Sheng received was different than Er Bao's.

Qiu Sheng already understood very clearly that there must be some problem between Ye Suijin and Zhao Jingwen. Although he didn't know exactly what it was, when carrying out his mission he could not arbitrarily regard the mission target "Zhao Jingwen" as Ye Suijin's husband.

Because there was a huge discrepancy between a husband and a mission target.

After staying there for several days, Qiu Sheng returned to Deng Prefecture, then went to Tang Prefecture. In Biyang he saw Ye Suijin and reported back on the situation at River Mouth.

Ye Suijin was satisfied. "Very good, it's best if he stays there peacefully."

It was abundantly clear that her wish was for the young master not to come back. But Qiu Sheng knew this was certainly different from what Zhao Jingwen thought.

He considered for a moment, then decided to bring up Er Bao.

"Er Bao had quite a lot of praise for the young master." He truthfully recounted this situation. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Er Bao himself might not have noticed, but Qiu Sheng noticed―compared to the last time he was at River Mouth, this time Er Bao was clearly more inclined toward Zhao Jingwen.

The study was quiet for a time.

After a moment, Ye Suijin gave a gentle laugh.

"Not surprising, given who he is."