Chapter 885: Method
Chapter 885 -888: Method
Gu Wenheng looked troubled. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, “I wouldn’t dare hide this from you, Supreme Emperor. The shops under my Madam’s management have all been transferred to others. Only the restaurant and the escort agency remain.”
Hua Shunming suddenly remembered this matter. At that time, he had even asked the Crown Prince to lend a helping hand.
In his heart, his displeasure grew toward Bai Jinglie and the other troublemakers who had forced the Gu family into this predicament.
Otherwise, with Mrs. Gu’s network of shops, he wouldn’t have to worry about finding sales channels for these items.
“I have heard about this. The Emperor also lent you a hand.” Hua Shunming glanced at Gu Wenheng before continuing, “I have long heard that Mrs. Gu possesses the golden touch. I wonder if she has any clever strategies for handling these items?”
“To answer the Supreme Emperor, those are merely exaggerated rumors spread by outsiders,” Gu Wenheng replied. “My Madam conducts business by the book. She was just lucky enough to hold some good recipes in her hands.”
Now, all those recipes had been transferred to the Royal Family, which was why all those shops had been handed over.
Hua Shunming brought a fist to his lips and coughed lightly. “…Mrs. Gu is a woman of great righteousness. She has made significant contributions to the Rong Dynasty and should be rewarded!”
Gu Wenheng hurriedly bowed. “On behalf of my Madam, I thank you for your immense grace! Long live the Supreme Emperor! Long live! Long, long live!”
Hua Shunming was left speechless. Well, now he had to reward her whether he planned to or not…
“Rise,” Hua Shunming said. “Go back and discuss this with your Madam. In my eyes, she possesses more courage and resolution than most. If she can come up with a good plan, I will reward her handsomely.”
Gu Wenheng’s expression turned troubled again. “Supreme Emperor, my family is still observing the mourning period. My Madam is currently back in our hometown fulfilling her filial duties. I fear I have no way to communicate with her for the time being.”
Hua Shunming hadn’t actually paid attention to this detail. “I even made an exception to recall you to your post despite your mourning. Did Mrs. Gu really not follow you to Shangjing?”
He had only mentioned her in passing, thinking that with her many years of business experience, she might have some unique insights.
“With heavy mourning duties, she truly did not dare leave without permission,” Gu Wenheng replied.
“This subordinate will write a letter to her immediately upon returning. If she can help the Holy Emperor out of this predicament, it would be her blessing.
“However, I fear she may be too slow-witted to shoulder such an important task.”
“It’s fine,” Hua Shunming said straightforwardly. “Even if she can’t think of a good idea, I won’t punish her. Otherwise, all the courtiers in this court would be guilty as well.”
Gu Wenheng repeatedly praised the Supreme Emperor’s wisdom, finally managing to pass this hurdle.
As for whether his wife would offer any ideas, that would have to wait until the court officials had thoroughly discussed the matter.
Unless absolutely necessary, he really didn’t want to drag Jin Qianqian into this. It seemed he would have to use his own brain to resolve this issue.
During the morning court session.
Hua Zhang asked the courtiers to brainstorm ways to sell the treasures from the Supreme Emperor’s private treasury within a short period, and without selling them at low prices.
Many courtiers were startled. They had originally planned to wait until the Supreme Emperor offloaded the goods, then send their clan juniors to snap up a few items. They assumed the prices wouldn’t be high, allowing them to accumulate some family wealth for their descendants.
But now, it was as if the Holy Emperor had seen through their schemes by raising this issue in the imperial court. This put them in a passive position.
Because everyone was harboring the intention of picking up cheap bargains, even Hua Zhang had caught wind of their schemes. This made him even more determined not to suffer such a loss.
The courtiers in the hall exchanged dismayed glances, but no one stepped forward to speak.
Seeing them pull this trick again, Hua Zhang called out directly, “Minister of Rites, Minister Liao, how do you think this matter should be handled?”
Liao Weidong looked around for help, only to find everyone avoiding his gaze. He braced himself and said, “To answer the Holy Emperor, this subordinate has no good strategy. This matter requires further deliberation.”
“Li Laifu, you speak.” Hua Zhang shot him a glance and directly called on the next person.
“To answer the Holy Emperor, this subordinate believes we could summon the Imperial Merchants and divide the goods to sell to them at a set price. For the sake of the country and the people, these Imperial Merchants would surely be willing to pay a high price.”
Gu Wenheng tilted his head and glanced at him. He really hadn’t expected this man to be so ruthless, immediately thinking of using his power to suppress others the moment he opened his mouth.
Hua Zhang gave him a profound look. “Does anyone else have a different opinion?”
The crowd fell silent…
Hua Zhang called on a few more officials, but they only offered impractical or groundless ideas, causing a surge of irritation in his heart.
He now somewhat understood his royal father. On normal days, these people would fight tooth and nail over petty profits, but now that they were actually needed, they all shirked their responsibilities.
Turning his head to look at the perpetually silent Gu Wenheng, Hua Zhang ultimately refrained from asking him.
Gu Wenheng thought to himself, “I’m just here as a bystander today…”
An entire hour of court discussions ended hastily just like that.
Hua Zhang did not let everyone leave; instead, he ordered several Chiefs of Staff to stay behind.
Hua Zhang said, “If there truly are no other solutions, we will do as Li Laifu suggested and summon wealthy merchants from all over the world. Which of you will handle this matter?”
This was a lucrative assignment. Liao Weidong’s eyes lit up. “This subordinate is willing to share the Holy Emperor’s burdens.”
Except for Gu Wenheng and Yu Ligao, who remained still, everyone else stepped forward to volunteer.
Hua Zhang then looked at Gu Wenheng. “Gu Aiqing, you haven’t said a word in court today. Do you have a different perspective?”
“Holy Emperor, this subordinate does have a plan,” Gu Wenheng said. “However, this matter requires the approval of both the Holy Emperor and the Supreme Emperor.”
Seeing him keep them in suspense at a time like this, the other officials frowned.
So, while they had been discussing in the court for so long, this man had just been watching the show from the sidelines!
Gu Wenheng looked at the officials and said, “Speaking of which, it was you gentlemen who just gave this official a flash of inspiration. Whether it works or not, it’s still up to the Holy Emperor and the Supreme Emperor to decide.”
“Oh?” Hua Zhang was suddenly interested. “Let’s hear it first, Gu Aiqing.”
“This matter still needs the permission of the Supreme Emperor and the Holy Emperor…” Gu Wenheng began.
…
On the right side of the Noon Gate, a large group of craftsmen was working around the clock. The passing commoners were very puzzled. Why were they rebuilding the wall at the majestic entrance to the palace?
Wasn’t this incongruous structure destroying the majesty of the Imperial Palace?
However, their confusion didn’t last long. A translucent glass structure slowly appeared in everyone’s line of sight.
These days, whenever people had free time, they would wander over to take a look, wanting to figure out exactly what the palace was up to.
This row of glass rooms, stretching for a thousand meters, occupied the right side of the Meridian Gate. It was strangely fascinating to look at a building constructed from so much expensive glass.
In merely five days, with the combined efforts of carpenters and masons, the glass house was completed.
A group of palace maids and eunuchs was busy cleaning inside, while a team of guards dragged out long strips of red cloth to wrap around the structure.
“What exactly is this for?” everyone wondered in their hearts. They didn’t dare make a racket at the palace gates, so they could only whisper questions to the people beside them. Unfortunately, no one had any answers for them.
Under the cover of night, Gu Wenheng led a group of guards to place a series of treasures inside. He also had people write down the unique features of each treasure.
Now, all the pieces were in place; they were only waiting for the opportune moment.
Gu Wenheng hurried into the Imperial Palace with his detailed plan. The ruler and his minister discussed it in the study for a long time. It was only when the morning court bell rang that they walked together toward Qingzheng Hall.
The fact that Gu Wenheng had spent the night in the Imperial Palace had long been discovered by the spies of various families. The moment he entered the hall, he was met with many subtle glances.