Quick, female general, I traveled through time to save my father

Chapter 370: The Mother of the Bomen Raises Her Stepson 37

Sirong's business has been going smoothly recently and there is nothing special that requires her to worry about.

In addition to providing some novel designs to clothing stores and jewelry shops every month, the products made are quite popular among the circles of noble ladies.

As for the rouge shop and the glass shop, they already had mature business methods. She only needed to inquire about them occasionally, and the specific affairs were left to a few old shopkeepers to handle.

Shen Tang personally checks the accounts every month to ensure that every account is clear.

As for the eldest princess, her thoughts were like the nine-turn exquisite lamp in her palace. It looked transparent, but in fact it was layered with layers. No one could tell which deity was reflected inside.

Sirong visited her several times under the pretext of sending her rouge and powder to test her opinion.

The eldest princess always smiled as she held the gold enamel cup, saying that the newly arrived Longjing tea before the rain was good, but then she asked the nanny to reward Sirong with a box of South Sea pearls.

How could this be called admiring pearls? It was clearly using pearls as door bolts, blocking out important conversations.

Once, Sirong deliberately mentioned the deficit caused by the Third Prince in the Ministry of Revenue.

The eldest princess was playing with a green-feathered parrot sent as tribute from the Western Regions. She chuckled and said, "The children are just playing around."

But the parrot suddenly learned the phrase "bite off more than you can chew," startling the maid who was serving it so much that she almost knocked over the tea tray. The eldest princess wasn't upset, but instead fed the parrot a pine nut herself. Do you think this was a lesson for the bird, or for the person?

After all, His Highness has a clear mind.

Back then, she was able to bet on the right person in the bloody battle for the throne. How could she not see the quality of these nephews now?

But the old emperor treated her very well. The ten thousand mu of Tangmu County outside the capital alone was enough for her to live on for ten lifetimes. Her husband was considerate and her son was filial.

Regardless, whether it was her brother or her nephew sitting on the throne, for her it was just the difference between her being the "eldest princess" and becoming the "grand eldest princess".

Sirong knew in her heart that no matter how kindly the princess smiled on the surface, she was more sober than anyone else in her heart.

The reason she was able to take the right position in the fight for the throne was not luck, but her real vision and means.

Now she is indifferent to the princes, not necessarily because she really looks down on them, but perhaps she just doesn't want to place a bet too early.

After all, the old emperor is still alive and the situation is unclear. Making a statement too early may only bring trouble to oneself.

As for the Empress's thoughts, the eldest princess might have some, but after weighing the pros and cons, she felt that it was not worth it.

However, the princes can fight each other, and as their aunt, she may not help anyone, but she still has to protect the livelihoods of the people.

"The silkworm farmers in Jiangnan are likely to revolt this year." Si Rong took off her cloak, revealing a scroll of account books. "The Third Prince's people have increased the silk tax by 30% compared to previous years."

The princess suddenly smiled, and with her nails painted with rouge, she tapped the figure of "three hundred thousand taels." "I remember that the salt tax audited last month was exactly this short?"

Although the third prince and the heroine have met, their relationship has progressed rapidly.

However, the heroine no longer has the support of her powerful confidants in this life, so she still has less bargaining chips to compete with the Third Prince and his brothers.

Now that they are short of money, they have started to target the common people.

On the day of the Autumnal Equinox, the imperial court suddenly issued a new decree.

At the Double Ninth Festival banquet, the eldest princess drunkenly smashed a jade pot and clamored to use her own Tangmu County to subsidize silkworm farmers. The old emperor was troubled by this and approved the request for a 30% tax cut on the spot.

No one noticed that the silk shop under Sirong's name quietly received thirty ships of raw silk.

What’s even more interesting is that all these silks were recorded as “used by the Princess for disaster relief” in the accounts. Even when people from the Ministry of Revenue came to check, they saw charity granary documents stamped with the phoenix seal.

Before the Winter Solstice Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony, the eldest princess sent a food box with a piece of gold-sprinkled paper inside. Sirong peeled back the candied plums to reveal the tiny calligraphy underneath: "The Salt and Iron Envoy will be replaced tomorrow."

That night, the entire set of Jun kiln tea sets was smashed in the Third Prince's house.

The markings they had just made on the smuggled salt ships were all confiscated publicly by the new Salt and Iron Commissioner. The dark patterns on these sails were exactly the same as those on the tea chests Sirong had sold to merchants from the Western Regions last year.

The lanterns of the Lantern Festival lit up the whole city like day. Sirong and the eldest princess were facing a fishing lantern in a dark room.

"You really want to touch the military pay?"

"The winter clothes of the soldiers in the northern border are all stuffed with willow catkins." The princess stroked the document just delivered by the Ministry of War. "It just so happens that I have a farm that specializes in producing cotton."

Later historical records recorded: During the Jinghe period, the eldest princess was kind and generous, and the merchant Si was public-spirited and righteous.

But no one knows that behind those good policies that benefit the country and the people, there are always wisps of tea fragrance and the sound of abacus.

In the study of the Third Prince's residence, the counselor whispered, "Your Highness, regarding the Northern Frontier military pay issue, the Ministry of Revenue has suddenly changed the person in charge, and all the people we had placed in charge have been purged."

"Investigate." The Third Prince tapped the table with his fingertips. "Who's behind this?"

The counselor hesitated: "On the surface, it seems that the eldest princess is pushing it, but..."

"But what?"

"But the hidden markings on the sails of those confiscated smuggled salt ships are very similar to the cargo handled by the Si's Trading Company last year."

The third prince's eyes suddenly turned cold.

It would have been fine if he had suffered repeated failures in his political achievements, but his two good brothers were also busy.

The Crown Prince was ordered to inspect military camps in various places and preside over the five-year border defense mobilization. On the surface, it was a routine matter, but everyone knew that the old emperor was paving the way for him.

As for the second and fifth sons, they had received some guidance from some expert, but they changed their previous attitude of fighting for power and profit. They stayed around the old emperor all day long, either playing chess and drinking tea with him, or reciting poems and books, acting out the drama of a loving father and a filial son.

"Your Highness, this cannot continue," the counselor whispered. "The Crown Prince's prestige in the army is growing, and the Second and Fifth Princes have won the Emperor's favor. If this continues..."

The Third Prince pinched his knuckles until they turned white, and sneered, "They really know how to pick the right time."

Sirong stood under the porch, gently fiddling with a crabapple tree with her fingertips, and the petals fell.

"The Third Prince is anxious." She said softly.

The maid beside her handed over a piece of paper and whispered, "Young lady, this is a letter from the Second Prince's residence, inviting you to enjoy the flowers tomorrow."

Sirong curled the corners of her lips slightly, took the letter, and lightly stroked the gold-plated lines with her fingertips.

"It seems that someone can't sit still anymore."

In the imperial garden, the old emperor was playing chess with the second prince, while the fifth prince was making tea on the side. The aroma of tea wafted in the air, and the scene was harmonious and joyful.

"Father, I have recently read the Zizhi Tongjian and have gained a lot of insights." The Second Prince put down his son and said gently, "Governing a country is like playing chess. You must be cautious and not rush into things too quickly."

The old emperor stroked his beard and smiled, "I am very pleased that you have such understanding."

The Fifth Prince handed over a cup of tea at the right moment and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please try it. This is the method I just learned to make tea."

The old emperor took it and smiled even more deeply.

Not far away, the third prince stood in the shadows with a sinister look in his eyes.