The First Lackey Under The Empress

Madam Xiao was taken aback, seemingly not expecting such an opening, but she only paused for a moment before smiling naturally.

“Just call me Dong’er, Your Excellency,” she said.

Remember the primary website domain name 𝚝 𝚠 𝚔 𝚊 𝚗 . 𝕔 𝕠 𝕞

Dong’er… does she think she's still a maiden? Well, she certainly maintains herself well… Zhao Du’an mused inwardly as he examined the female head of the family.

Meeting her again, his impression was indeed vastly different.

If yesterday she seemed more like an appendage of a powerful figure, her brilliance restrained, today her unique inner qualities were revealed.

In this era, being able to support the facade of a large family as a widow required some unique skills.

“Dong’er…” Zhao Du’an savored the name, noncommittal, and proactively handed her half of the roasted tangerine. “Is Madam Xiao always this secretive when she goes out?”

Madam Xiao was flattered, accepting the tangerine with a wry smile.

“The capital is full of prying eyes. Dong’er only managed to come over by taking advantage of the time she was supposedly using to tailor clothes at the shop in front.”

Zhao Du’an then recalled that he had glimpsed many shops lining the street in front of this private residence when he came.

So, the woman had slipped over from the back door of the shop?

This private residence probably had countless connections with the Xiao family.

Zhao Du’an said “Oh,” as if not surprised, and softly asked:

“Xu Zudi didn’t follow? Or does he think it’s unnecessary? You’ve gone to such lengths to secretly meet with me, is it to avoid the eyes of Hengwang’s heir? I'm really curious, what is the relationship between you two?”

Madam Xiao was silent for a moment, not immediately responding.

Zhao Du’an spread his hands, warming them by the fire, his gaze deeply fixed on the beautiful woman:

“I originally heard others tell the story of the female head of Donghu, single-handedly supporting the family, and I was quite admiring, but what I saw yesterday was truly regrettable. So, Madam Xiao, could you please explain clearly, in what capacity are you meeting me today?”

His gaze was sharp.

Without wasting time on pleasantries, he bluntly went straight to the point.

Madam Xiao said bitterly: “Is Your Excellency always so direct?”

Zhao Du’an shook his head:

“Well, I'm used to treating people differently depending on who they are. Madam Xiao, you're not yet worth me beating around the bush. The reason I agreed to come today is because you have indeed piqued my curiosity.

But my time is limited, so let's be direct. I believe Madam Xiao thinks so too, after all, tailoring clothes for too long will arouse suspicion.”

Xiao Dong’er was silent.

She raised her hand and gently smoothed her cloud-like hair, the emerald jade bracelet on her wrist sliding down heavily, revealing a hint of charm.

The subconscious action seemed to be adjusting her mood.

She sat up slightly, her expression serious:

“Dong’er came today is unrelated to Hengwang’s heir, and only represents the Xiao family's visit. I know that Your Excellency may have some misunderstandings because of yesterday's events. Not only Your Excellency, but many people also have a lot of criticism about how I can sit firmly in the position of the head of the family.

I also admit that there are indeed factors from the Hengwang’s residence, but it is not what Your Excellency thinks. Rather, the Hengwang’s residence is happy to see me, a widow, become the head of the family.”

These words were quite fluent.

The demeanor and tone of her speech finally revealed some of the competence of the head of the family.

It seemed that this was the true appearance of the number one widow of the Great Yu Dynasty—

Even if she tried her best to weaken it, it was still difficult to hide her sharp edges.

“Oh?”

Zhao Du’an leaned back slightly in the bamboo woven chair, indicating that he was listening attentively.

Xiao Dong’er skillfully picked up a fork, roasted rice cakes, and said:

“Since ancient times, two tigers cannot share one mountain. Looking at the Great Yu Dynasty, except for the relatively special Huaishui Road, in other regions, whenever the feudal princes are powerful, the local aristocratic clans will always be suppressed. Qingzhou Road is no exception. My Xiao family originated in Donghu, and has accumulated more than a hundred years.

When Hengwang entered the fief, my Xiao family had already shown weakness and catered to him. At first, we were at peace, but gradually, as the Wangfu became more powerful, they didn't want my Xiao family to continue to prosper.

Therefore, when I competed with the other houses, Hengwang hoped that I, a woman, would be the head of the family, and he did intervene.

Dong’er does not deny this. After all, in the prince's eyes, a clan headed by a woman is always weaker.”

She smiled self-deprecatingly, with a hint of sadness in her eyes:

“The Wangfu has already intervened. At that time, Dong’er was a widow with orphans, guarding her husband's foundation. The power of such a large clan inevitably had some feeling of living under someone else’s roof, with much tolerance.

Perhaps in Your Excellency's eyes, yesterday Dong’er was like a maid, providing entertainment for the heir. She really couldn’t bear the title of female head of the family, and she was more like a plaything, but please believe that this was not my original intention, nor was it evidence that the Donghu Xiao family was willing to be slaves, it was just a helpless move.”

Zhao Du’an listened with interest.

This woman said a lot, but the meaning was nothing more than to show that the Xiao family was forced to bow their heads and did not dare to offend Hengwang, so they were very obedient to the heir.

And it was not a sincere attachment to Hengwang's camp.

“So?”

Zhao Du’an asked, he would naturally not completely believe this statement.

Xiao Dong’er said seriously:

“Therefore, I am privately asking Your Excellency to meet secretly today, not only to explain yesterday, but also to express my feelings in person and ask Your Excellency for the qualification of a 'Royal Merchant'.”

The imperial court was about to open the market, and the first batch would give a special status to some merchants, so that they could join this game.

At the beginning, You Jinhua's maiden family, the You family, came for this.

Now, as the opening of the market is approaching, the large families like the Donghu Xiao family can finally not help but enter the arena.

“Madam Xiao, your words are interesting. If you want to enter the market, you should go to the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Rites. Why did you come to me?” Zhao Du’an smiled.

The person in charge of the New Deal's market opening was an independent yamen established by the Empress alone, affiliated with the two ministries.

One is responsible for financial accounts, and the other is responsible for market framework rules.

Xiao Dong’er's expression dimmed, and she said bitterly:

“Dong’er has also visited in the past few days, but has been turned away. I had no choice but to ask you for help. Who in the entire capital doesn’t know that Envoy Zhao is so powerful, and the New Deal comes from you…”

Zhao Du’an raised his hand to interrupt her, and said calmly:

“Take back this kind of flattery. I am more curious, Madam Xiao, are you not afraid of offending Hengwang by doing this? Hengwang probably doesn't want to see the Xiao family become a Royal Merchant.”

He found it very interesting.

Yes.

Very interesting!

Regarding the opening of the New Deal market, the people who least wanted it to succeed, apart from the Kuangfu Society, should be the Eight Kings, and then the aristocratic families whose interests were touched.

Now, discerning people can see that once the imperial court successfully opens the market, a group of new nobles will inevitably emerge, while alleviating the imperial court's financial difficulties.

Therefore, the Eight Kings are trying their best to prevent it, but the decree has already been issued from the court. Under the premise of not raising troops to rebel, even Jingwang, the most powerful, has no way to openly hinder the opening of the market.

Therefore, there are only two ways left.

One is that the Eight Kings also join this game and compete with the imperial court for profits.

But first, the imperial court cannot allow the Eight Kings to join this market. Second, within the rules of the game of the imperial court, the benefits that the Eight Kings can obtain are ultimately small.

The second is to secretly make stumbling blocks and try to prevent the market from operating, or operating inefficiently.

When Zhao Du’an formulated the strategy for opening the market, he told the scholars in the Xiuwen Hall that to make the economic flywheel spin as soon as possible, he must use the power of some big merchants and local clans.

Fortunately, many merchants and gentry are also greedy for this piece of meat.

Therefore, the strategy formulated by the imperial court is to select a group of people with strength and brains from those who want to join to become the first batch of Royal Merchants.

It is equivalent to an admission ticket to enter this game.

Xiao Furen's desire to join did not surprise him.

Although the Donghu Xiao family is also considered a force in the Great Yu Dynasty, its wealth mainly relies on merchant teams, rather than the land relied on by the old landlords.

Moreover, Qingzhou itself has a large number of products suitable for sale.

However, the position of the Eight Kings determines that they will inevitably try their best to make stumbling blocks to prevent powerful merchants and large families from joining and adding bricks to the imperial court.

Therefore, it is particularly interesting that Xiao Dong’er, who was still a servant of the heir a moment ago, turned around and wanted to join the imperial court.

“Of course Hengwang doesn’t want to,” Xiao Furen sneered:

“If not, why would the heir have put on that show for Your Excellency yesterday? Why would he have entered the capital with us halfway?”

Zhao Du’an raised his eyelids and said:

“You mean, your Xiao family wants to become a Royal Merchant, but Hengwang is unwilling, so he sent the heir to stop you? Heh, I thought Hengwang would directly persuade Madam Xiao to return to Qingzhou halfway. The rice cakes are going to burn.”

He reminded her.

Xiao Dong’er was caught off guard by this sentence, and hurriedly turned over the roasted rice cakes on the stove, and then exhaled and said:

“Persuading her to return is not very useful, because my Xiao family can send a shopkeeper to the court to move around, it's the same. On the contrary, the heir's trip has strangled my Xiao family's chance to become a Royal Merchant.”

Zhao Du’an was silent.

He understood what the female head of the family meant.

The imperial court will not allow Hengwang, or a suspected vassal acting for Hengwang, to join the market and reap benefits.

Therefore, Xu Zudi made a big show and forcibly entered Beijing with Madam Xiao, just to send a signal to outsiders:

It shows that the Donghu Xiao family is the Wangfu's dog.

In this way, which official would dare to let the Xiao family enter?

Including the game that Xu Zudi made yesterday, one was to vent his anger for Li Lang, the second was to test Zhao Du’an, the newly promoted favorite minister, and the third was to deliberately show the relationship between Hengwang and the Xiao family.

Because of this, the dignified female head of the family personally visited the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, but was repeatedly turned away.

“I am very curious,”

Zhao Du’an changed his sitting posture slightly, he stared quietly at the woman who was personally roasting food for him, the woman who was in charge of the century-old clan:

“Why do you have to risk offending Hengwang and insist on joining the Royal Merchant? Eating this piece of meat? Your Xiao family has accumulated for hundreds of years, do you have to care about this little money?”

Xiao Dong’er shook her head. At this moment, the woman wearing a dark horse-faced skirt and delicate hair had an extremely serious expression:

“The Xiao family can not earn this money, as long as you allow the Xiao family to enter the market, we can not earn a copper plate, and completely give the profits to the imperial court, or give my Xiao family's share to you as a tribute. We only ask for the status of a Royal Merchant!”

Zhao Du’an said calmly: “I need a reason.”

Xiao Dong’er did not hesitate:

“The Donghu Xiao family is willing to dedicate the entire clan to His Majesty, to the imperial court, and to the Great Yu!”

“If one day, Hengwang rebels, the Xiao family will only follow the lead of the current Emperor!”

—

ps: This kind of dialogue chapter should be very easy to write, but I don’t know why it is always particularly difficult to write. .