Duoti, the pioneering general of Wu Yun Country, had been bribed by the Chu State.
Now he had become one of the 108 conquerable characters in the elite map of Jing Country?
Xiao Yunzhou was once again shaken by the inner voice of the fairy's daughter.
"Your Majesty?" Jiang Li, the Minister of Revenue, reported the drafted loan policy, only to see the emperor's stern expression. His heart sank, "Is there anything wrong?"
Xiao Yunzhou took a breath and held up the memorial about the loan again, waving it in front of the fairy's daughter. Seeing that the fairy had no comments, he nodded to Jiang Li, "Yes, proceed with it promptly."
"You did well this time." Xiao Yunzhou did not stint on praise.
After all, this was a memorial that even the fairy's inner voice did not criticize.
"Jiang Li, you used your brain this time. I'm gratified. Keep it up."
The Minister of Revenue Jiang, with dark circles under his eyes, beamed instantly.
Xiao Yunzhou waved his hand, letting him go and handle it, while pondering himself.
How to conquer Duoti?
"Wei Zheng, go summon the Duke Zhengguo and a few other veteran generals. I have something to ask them."
Duoti was a military leader, so Xiao Yunzhou planned to inquire about methods to conquer him from the generals of Jing Country.
Thinking about it, Xiao Yunzhou looked down at the daughter in his arms and saw that Chu Chu was already yawning sleepily. His heart ached instantly, and he hurried to put her back on the small bed in the imperial study.
"Have my palanquin take the Third Princess back to Concubine Liu's quarters."
"..." Wei Zheng let out a startled sound, "Your Majesty, that's improper!"
Xiao Yunzhou glared at him, "Shut up. No one will know if you don't spread it!"
Wei Zheng trembled in fear. The emperor was truly doting on the Third Princess.
With such a daughter, Concubine Liu could surpass even the empress.
Wei Zheng understood whose side he should be on in the future.
*
In Kunning Palace.
The Eldest Prince had finally recovered from smallpox and returned to Kunning Palace to see his mother, the empress. But he found the palace maids distressed.
"What happened?" The Eldest Prince did not understand.
Soon, the chief eunuch of Kunning Palace leaned in and whispered to him.
"Your Highness, don't ask the empress about it. She's upset."
The Eldest Prince was taken aback and listened carefully.
"Today, His Majesty commended Concubine Liu and ordered the Ministry of Rites to send all the necessary items for her promotion to a concubine of higher rank to the Donghua Palace."
"It's all because she created something that His Majesty praised endlessly, similar to the leaf game."
The Eldest Prince's eyes widened. He knew it was the Great Wealth game.
That game was vastly different from the leaf game!
The Eldest Prince shook his head disapprovingly at the chief eunuch Zhou Anda. "You haven't tried this game, so don't jump to conclusions."
Zhou Anda was stunned.
"Is the empress upset because of this?" The Eldest Prince did not understand. "Concubine Liu's promotion had been decided long ago. It was even the empress who advised the emperor about it. Now that the emperor is pleased, he's urging the Ministry of Rites to complete the formalities. What's the problem?"
"The Ministry of Rites has been dragging its feet, not only disrespecting the emperor and Concubine Liu but also the empress who proposed her promotion."
"..." The chief eunuch of Kunning Palace felt a lump in his throat as he looked deeply at the Eldest Prince's shoulders.
The Eldest Prince had been taught too properly by the empress.
He saw things too superficially.
What he said would anger the empress to death.
"Your Highness, this servant hasn't finished speaking." The chief eunuch thought of reporting this but also wanted the Eldest Prince to see the true face of Concubine Liu and the Fifth Prince.
"His Majesty doesn't know what kind of potion Concubine Liu has fed him..."
"Our empress wanted to advise His Majesty not to be obsessed with the Great Wealth game, but His Majesty said that game inspired him to come up with some financial policy..."
The Eldest Prince's eyes widened.
So his father had been contemplating policy while playing with his subjects overnight.
He just learned this.
The Eldest Prince felt ashamed. Previously, like his sixth brother, he had thought his father was simply indulging in the game like them.
"The empress remonstrated but was reprimanded by His Majesty, who said he would transfer the management of the harem to Concubine Liu and Consort Min."
The chief eunuch spoke angrily.
The empress's status had dropped, and consequently, the servants of Kunning Palace had lost their former status.
"In my opinion, Concubine Liu must have used some sorcery. How could His Majesty gain insight into state affairs from that game..."
The Eldest Prince was still listening attentively, but hearing this, his brows furrowed deeply.
The more he heard, the more it sounded wrong. This was highly disrespectful to his father the emperor!
The Eldest Prince looked at the chief eunuch in shock.
Not to mention this was just a serving eunuch on the empress's side, even Wei Zheng, who attended to the emperor, would never dare speak ill of the emperor behind his back!
How bold, was this audacity granted by the empress?
"Silence!" The Eldest Prince's expression changed.
The chief eunuch was startled.
"How dare you comment on my father the emperor?" The Eldest Prince looked extremely displeased.
If Concubine Liu had used sorcery, then what did that make his father who followed her?
The Eldest Prince truly did not expect the chief eunuch on his mother's side to be so bold. The other day, even his fifth brother had joined him in covering the mouth of their sixth brother, who was ranting that their father was no longer himself.
The three princes, him, the fifth, and the sixth, had all done so.
Yet the people of Kunning Palace dared to utter such outrageous words, criticizing the emperor and his consort behind their backs? This was far too bold!
If the emperor heard this, how would he view them and Kunning Palace?
The Eldest Prince's face was solemn as he left Zhou Anda and strode into the empress's bedchamber. "Mother, your son has come to pay his respects."
As the empress turned, she noticed her son's unusual demeanor. "Cheng Quan, you've heard about the harem? Don't worry, your father is only letting me rest for now. After some time, I will manage the harem again..."
But before she could finish, the Eldest Prince interrupted her.
"Mother, it's a good thing that Father has temporarily relieved you of managing the harem."
The empress was dumbfounded. "...What did you say?"
The Eldest Prince's expression was grave yet relieved. "Mother, take this opportunity to rectify the people of Kunning Palace first."
"Moreover, with some free time, Mother should also try playing the Great Wealth game."
"How can you claim to be the head of the harem or the mother of the nation if you're not familiar with our country's current policies?"
The Eldest Prince felt that compared to his fifth brother, he had lost.
Not only was it his own problem.
There were many other factors, such as the differences between the Liu Family and the Tong Family...
The Eldest Prince frowned and turned to leave after speaking.
The empress Tong turned pale and swayed.
"Cheng Quan, stop right there—"
"Mother, please rest first. Your son needs to study the Ministry of Revenue's latest loan policies."
"..."
*
Loan services, under the strong promotion of Duke Jing Shangshu and the cabinet, were implemented within just a couple of days at the Jing Country's Jingguo Qianheng money house!
At the same time, the grocery stores in the capital also started selling a board game called 'Who is the Tycoon?'
"What is a loan?"
"They lend us money, but the interest is so high!"
"Why would they lend us money?"
The commoners checking the imperial bulletin were once again surprised.
There are so many novel things in Jing Country these days.
The explanatory official standing in front of the imperial bulletin immediately gave a detailed explanation to the commoners and merchants, and then unanimously recommended, "If you still don't understand, you can try playing a new board game just launched by the Ministry of Revenue - 'Who is the Tycoon?', and you'll know after playing it!"
"!"
"!?"
Xiao Chuchu, who came out of the palace with her mother to enjoy the lively scene without minding the fuss, suddenly became excited.
[A game for all!]
But just for that momentary excitement, the little Xiao Chuchu in her down jacket shrank her neck a bit.
[Brrr, it's still a bit cold.]
[Ah, now that I have a down jacket, I kind of miss heating pads and insulated cups.]
Old Master Liu, who was about to ask his daughter if the rumor about her managing the palace affairs was true, paused in his steps.