PNB Chapter 188: Master and Disciple Confrontation
Chapter 188: Master and Disciple Confrontation
Last night, because of jealousy, Xiao Dengzi shouted three times outside the room, "Your Majesty, it's time to go to court." Qi Wushuang replied:
"understood."
Ye Wuwei was lazily lying all over. He kicked Qi Wushuang with his toes and said, "Why don't you get up?"
Qi Wushuang kissed Ye Wuwei hard on the lips: "I'll deal with you tonight."
After Qi Wushuang left, Ye Wuwei was thinking about telling Qi Wushuang the truth today, otherwise he couldn't stand the same thing as last night every day.
Last night, Qi Wushuang acted a little harshly out of jealousy, and Ye Wuyi once suspected that he might do something bad to Qi Wushuang.
Fortunately, Qi Wushuang knew his limits, and Ye Wuwei didn't feel anything except a little discomfort.
Ye Wuwei stayed in bed for a while, then had breakfast and went to find Shui Changqing.
After arriving at the Water Palace, Ye Wuwei took out the jade pendant that Shui Changqing gave him.
Seeing the jade pendant, the gatekeeper said respectfully, "Sir, please follow me."
The feeling of the Water Palace is different from that of the Imperial Palace and Prince Qi's Palace.
The Imperial Palace and Prince Qi's Mansion are magnificent and grand, while the Water Palace is low-key and luxurious, with a beauty that is implicit and hidden.
Seeing Ye Wuwei, Shui Changqing sent everyone else away.
"Master, are you adjusting well in the Shui Clan? Do you need my help?"
“For now, I can handle it.
This was also thanks to Shui Changqing's ability to control the Shui family.
I am now managing the Shui Clan according to his previous methods, and it is going quite smoothly."
"If you need help, just tell me. Even if my ability is limited, I can find someone else."
Shui Changqing looked at Ye Wuwei with a half-smile.
Ye Wuwei quickly changed the subject: "Master, I think the Shui Mansion is quite wealthy."
"They are quite wealthy. Do you know how surprised I was when I first saw the Shui family's accounts?"
"How many?"
"Total assets are over 13 million taels of gold, which is equivalent to hundreds of billions of assets in modern times."
Ye Wuwei smacked his lips in surprise: "Fuck, so much? He's truly rich enough to rival a country."
"Yes, the medicinal materials business is really profitable."
"How much silver is there in that treasury?"
Shui Changqing glanced at Ye Wuwei: "Why? Qi Wushuang won't give you money to spend?"
Ye Wuwei said with a playful smile: "Wushuang is quite poor and worries about money every day."
"You brew wine and make glass for him, so why are you still short of money?"
"You don't know, the treasury's revenue is pitifully small, but its expenditure is enormous. If it weren't for the income from glass and liquor, it wouldn't have lasted until now."
Hearing Ye Wuwei say this, Shui Changqing also sighed:
"This is the disadvantage of the coexistence of aristocratic families and imperial power. The central government's finances are empty."
"I heard that the Shui family owns tens of thousands of acres of medicinal fields in Yuncheng. Do they pay taxes?"
"you guess?"
"You didn't pay taxes, did you?"
“We do pay taxes, but the amount is very low, and the tax rates set by the pharmacies are basically based on the minimum standards.
Therefore, many privately-run pharmacies registered under the Shui family name. Even if they paid a small amount of money to the Shui family, it was more cost-effective than paying taxes to the imperial court.
Hearing Shui Changqing say this, Ye Wuwei sighed: "It seems that the court's tax reform has a long way to go."
"I think we can't start with taxation. We have to first suppress the power of the aristocratic families before discussing fiscal and tax reforms. Otherwise, it will be difficult to move forward."
“I’ve thought of this, but it’s so difficult to suppress the power of the aristocratic families.
Sometimes I even wish a Huang Chao-like figure would suddenly appear and slaughter the aristocratic families, so that Wushuang wouldn't have to deal with them anymore."
Shui Changqing laughed and scolded, "Nonsense again! If Huang Chao really appeared, the world would be in chaos."
"Master, how many troops does the Shui clan have?"
"The Shui clan is different from the Zhuang and Yuwen clans. Apart from their 8,000 guards, they don't have a formal army.
However, the Shui clan has more than 100,000 medicinal farmers and tenants, among whom there are nearly 50,000 young and strong men. They usually provide these 50,000 young and strong men with some simple military training.
If a war really breaks out, these 50,000 young and strong men will be a fighting force that cannot be underestimated."
Ye Wuwei said:
"It seems that the Zhuang and Yuwen families are not necessarily as wealthy as the Shui family. The military expenses of the two families alone are a considerable sum."
"Shui Changqing also thought so before."
After finishing the business, Shui Changqing's expression became serious:
"What's going on between you and Qi Wushuang? Did he force you?"
"It's true that he had bad intentions towards me at the beginning, but he never really forced me.
Later, we got along well. "
"You like him very much?"
Ye Wuwei looked back at Shui Changqing: "Yes, I like him very much."
Shui Changqing pondered for a moment: "I remember he has an engagement with the Chu family, right?"
“He had been engaged to Tai’an a long time ago, but since he confirmed his feelings for me, he made it clear to Tai’an and Chu Fuchi that he would cancel the engagement.
Before returning to Chamdo this time, we made a special trip to Yingdu and formally told the Prince of Chu about the cancellation of the engagement, and the Prince of Chu agreed.
At the banquet the day after tomorrow, Wushuang will announce the cancellation of her engagement with Taian."
"Then what was his reason for breaking off the engagement?"
Ye Wuwei's face was a little hot: "Announce to the public that Wushuang was injured on the battlefield and cannot be treated humanely."
Shui Changqing: ...
After a while, Shui Changqing said, "It seems that he has some genuine feelings for you."
Ye Wuwei looked at the teacup on the table and said:
"I've seen a lot of breakups and reunions in modern times, and coupled with what happened to my mom, I don't really believe relationships can last.
But for some reason, I feel that Wushuang and I can go on forever.”
"Why do you make this judgment?"
“Wushuang is different from others.
He has always been very clear about what he wants and what he doesn't want. He is firm in his will and never compromises, and the same applies to his relationships.
There is never a shortage of men and women around him, but he has never been with anyone else for more than 20 years, which shows that his attitude towards love is to rather be alone than be with the wrong person.
I can't find another royal noble like him.
Let’s not talk about others, let’s talk about Chu Fuchi. Although he has never been married, he has never lacked women.
So I think Wushuang is with me because he really likes me.
And I also have the confidence that Wushuang will always like me."
After listening to Ye Wuwei, Shui Changqing was silent for a long time: "Has he considered the issue of offspring?"
He and Ye Wuwei came from the modern era a thousand years later, and their obsession with offspring was not that strong, but this was the Qi Dynasty, and continuing the family line was the top priority.
Ye Wuwei repeated Qi Wushuang's words about offspring.
“He’s quite open-minded.
But his identity is different after all, so I'm afraid things won't be that easy."
"We are all prepared. If there is any problem, we will face and solve it together."
Ye Wuwei briefly recounted his trip to the north:
"He jumped into the quicksand to save me without hesitation, which shows that in his heart my life is as precious as his.
He wasn't a paranoid or crazy person. After I was injured, he cut the same wound on himself. Although I don't agree with this irrational behavior, it also shows that he wanted me to cherish myself in this way."