Outside of Fuxiang restaurant was overcrowded with people. Everyone was looking around all over, waiting and searching for the waiter who went out to scout for news.
“What’s the situation?”
“After the two new imperial physicians entered, there were no further movements. This means that…”
“Look! Isn’t that the emperor’s carriage? He’s returning to the palace! What’s the situation in the king’s estate right now?”
Suddenly–
“He’s back, he’s back!!!”
The person in charge of scouting out the news rushed over without taking time to catch his breath. People immediately surrounded him to give him water. That person noisily drank the warm water into his stomach, moistened his throat, and finally said: “It’s a miracle! He’s pregnant!”
The people who bet on the side of imperial tutor Zhao immediately started cheering. They were followed closely by the crowd of others simultaneously expressing their disbelief: “He really is with child? Looks like the mad king is really the person chosen by the mandate of heaven.”
“What are you saying? Do you want to get your head chopped off?”
“Do you think the child in wangfei’s stomach is a god reincarnating on earth?”
“Maybe it’s the god of wealth and war!”
“Which god bestowed this child? I heard in a few days, the emperor will personally bring Ping Wang to the Holy Dragon Temple to give thanks!”
“Zeze, looks like in the end the mad king won in the gamble…”
While this group of people discussed exuberantly, the people who betted on the side of the prime minister all started to sigh and wail: “At the start, I also betted on the side of the imperial tutor. Why did I not stand firm? Why did I end up changing my bet?”
“Oh hush you. I originally wasn’t going to switch. It was all because of you.”
“When you agreed back then, that’s not what you said. You said you also thought the prime minister was more likely to win, you only needed someone to give you a nudge. Didn’t you say you wanted to express gratitude towards me?”
“I originally thought that since the wangfei displayed such godlike qualities at the Tower of Heaven, he definitely wouldn’t start a rumor!”
“Are you a sore loser or something?”
“Who are you calling a sore loser?”
The sound of cups and bowls hit the floor. High tension suddenly formed between the two normally close friends, as if they were about to start a huge fight.
The crowd at Fuxiang restaurant was in complete chaos, chatting nonstop. This situation wasn’t limited to here. It continued to occur at all the other teahouses, liquor stores, and other such places. The news about the ‘miracle’ hit the entire capital like a hurricane. Everyone knew that the big winner of this gamble was Imperial Tutor Zhao’s estate.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“P tfjgv atja Xfcfgji Hlc ybggbkfv wbcfs ogbw atf ygjcmt tberf. Ktlr ygbatfg bo tlr tjr ab vfji klat atf joafgwjat… atja kjrc’a fnfc j rwjii jwbeca bo wbcfs.”
“Don’t forget the branch house’s head madam… “
“General Qin was all fine prior. Why did he end up getting involved?
“Don’t mention it. The imperial tutor’s estate did it on purpose from the start. The Qin family completely got duped!”
“What a mess…”
… …
The gossip on the street wasn’t wrong. Although the empress didn’t care about her sister, she still cared plenty about her father. She sent prime minister Qin all the way home before immediately summoning the imperial physician to see her. Earlier the young physician who examined Song Song’s pulse was in alliance with her. He took a look at prime minister Qin and then went to write prescriptions. The empress anxiously asked: “How is my father?”
Today when Li Xiao suddenly mentioned the poison in the hall, her heart was already extremely frenetic. If the emperor became aware of something, she would need support from the prime minister in the future. Back then the only reason she was able to go head to head with the previous empress when she was only a concubine was all thanks to the prime minister’s presence. She completely didn’t dare to think what would happen if Prime Minister Qin falls.
“He only got too riled up and it damaged his heart. No need to worry, your majesty.”
As the imperial physician picked up the brush to write, the empress’s heart felt somewhat calmer. She said: “Today when you examined Song Song’s pulse, what exactly happened?”
“Reporting to your majesty.” The physician said quietly: “He’s indeed pregnant.”
The empress said, grinding her teeth: “How could this be possible?”
“This official has some ideas.”
“Let’s hear it then!”
“This official used to study medicine under a miracle healer. That healer’s shixiong once experimented with a holy medicine that made birthing possible… but back then, because he delved excessively into unethical studies, used his own teacher’s life to practice, and then was finally chased down by fellow students from the same school. That person fell off a cliff, whether he lived or died became unknown.”
“You suspect that he’s still alive?”
“This is only my guess.”
This imperial physician looked young and promising, and was born with a very intelligent face. His expression carried a few hints of warmth and respect. The empress said with furrowed brows: “The thing today…”
“In that kind of situation, this official really didn’t dare to lie. Any random physician within the city would have been able to give the same diagnosis. Please forgive me!”
The empress paused, then said: “You only said the truth. What crimes do you have?”
She withdrew her gaze from the physician, mood somewhat heavy.
The prime minister Qin himself actually didn’t have that much money. His current fortune was completely based on the fact that his two sons have not left the house yet. The Qin family has 2 sons and 2 daughters. The empress was the eldest daughter. According to family rules, although she was first, she has no inheritance rights to the family properties. Therefore Qin Ning was the eldest son. Number 4 Qin An was the second son.
This time they lost quite a lot of money. It’s likely that Qin An’s wife will not be able to take this silently.
Of the entire estate, the person who dared go against the empress was this daughter of Rong Wang. Although Rong Wang was not blood related to Hong Ren, the emperor owed him a debt. After he passed away, he entrusted his only daughter to emperor Hong Ren. Hong Ren treated her like his own daughter. Back then when she married Qin An, it was because the two fell in love with each other and asked the emperor to bestow a marriage degree. Her personality was bold and shrewd. Body well trained in martial arts, she was someone who was reasonable yet unwilling to be taken advantage of.
All these years, the businesses outside were mostly run by her personally.
The empress just finished thinking this when she suddenly heard heavy and swift footsteps from the corridor. It wasn’t Qin Ning. At the entrance, a red dress appeared in her view. As expected, it was Rong Le’s princess, Xu Kou.
As soon as she saw the empress, she opened her mouth and said: “Yo, I was just saying why did all of this courtyard’s gold and silver grow wings and fly away. Turns out it’s because the Mother of Scattered Wealth Nation is here.”
The empress replied angrily: “Father is still sleeping. If you have anything to say, then let’s go out and say it.”
Xu Kou chuckled coldly. Qin An who was following behind her sighed and walked over to stop the empress: “Back then when I lent money to big brother, Ah-Kou already felt it absurd. However, she still listened to me. Now, all of that money flew away… she has a right to be angry.”
The empress said: “This thing is indeed my blunder. I implicated the Qin family… so let her say whatever.”
She got up and walked out. Xu Kou stood in the corridor. When she heard, she laughed coldly: “I already told father before, if Ping Wang dared to spread this kind of rumor, then they will definitely have a plan to deal with the aftermath. When I learned that the imperial tutor’s estate suddenly placed a bet, I wonder if it was done specifically to hoodwink the prime minister’s estate. I provided so many earnest and well-meaning advice to persuade father from falling into the trap, but being the older sister must be great, capable of making father change his mind with just one sentence. As if everything I said from the beginning was just nonsense!”
The empress stayed quiet. Xu Kou, however, did not restrain her anger and turned her head in fury: “What? You have nothing to say? Just look at how the Qin family is now? When do you plan to give up? You’re already the empress. Your son is already the crown prince! You can’t rest unless you hound Li Xiao to death? Is your ambition so big that you can’t just tolerate him?”
The empress finally said: “Your words overstepped.”
“Overstepped?” The corner of Xu Kou’s mouth rose. Her face was full of ridicule: “Just because of your crown prince, the entire family has to follow your lead. Not only do we have to lose a fortune to pave the road for you, but everyone also has to do it like we’re gluttons for punishment. You’ve already thrown away 3rd sister and her son! And now even father has fallen ill… Do you plan to sacrifice your own father’s life like a chess piece too?
“Xu Kou!” The empress’s expression finally changed. However, Xu Kou was completely unafraid. She calmly met the empress’s gaze, and replied even more ferociously: “Who are you trying to scare? Other people don’t know how 3rd sister went insane, but everyone in this family is clear as hell. You don’t even want your own sister, and are probably going to throw away your own father’s life. Why would you care about saving face in front of me, a mere sister-in-law? What kind of things can you not say? Why suppress it? Go ahead. Everyone says that 3rd sister was spoiled rotten, but I rather think that you’re the most ill-mannered one…. In comparison to a snake-like woman such as yourself, even the unreasonable 3rd sister seemed pretty cute.”
The empress squeezed her fingers, her face pinched tightly. Xu Kou continued: “Looks like you plan to allow me to say whatever without rebuttal. Then let me warn you, if you want to use other people, I don’t care. But if you dare to get any ideas about Qin An or my son… I will skin you alive.”
She held her head high and chest out proudly, however, beside her the empress suddenly laughed lightly: “I only used what I gave to Qin An before. Why is sister-in-law so angry?”
Xu Kou’s footsteps paused slightly, a suspicion growing in her heart. However, this did not make her any hint of weakness. She even replied in a strange tone: “I didn’t know that 3rd sister’s life was given by you. Wah.. could it be possible that father’s life was also given by big sister? My god, this is so messed up.”
“You….!”
Xu Kou sneered at her in an excessively cute manner, then walked towards Qin An with a serious face. Qin An almost didn’t dare to meet her eyes, and followed behind her quietly after a meaningful glare.
Later, the imperial tutor’s estate transported all of the gold into the king’s estate. Dressed in a cloak, Song Song ran happily into the storeroom. He picked up several of the gold ingots with one hand and said: “This is great. If his highness wants to raise troops in the future, he won’t be lacking money anymore.”
Bai Yan said: “All these gold pieces, the Qin family business is truly great.”
“I know right?”
All of these cases of gold lined up in an orderly fashion was really an attractive view. Song Song was practically unwilling to part with the sight: “I heard that Qin An loved playing around as a merchant even in his youth. Later he married a strong wife who supported him. They really know how to make money.”
“But no matter what, Qin An is fairly young. To suddenly be capable of creating such a big business, seems kind of strange no matter how you think about it.”
Upon first meeting, Bai Yan had a cold face and a cold heart. However, after they became more familiar, the two started conversing more. Song Song instantly stopped what he was doing, feeling a bit perplexed: “Maybe it’s because he’s a genius? Or maybe he just happened to be lucky?”
Song Song admired geniuses, but he was never jealous of them. He didn’t care how much money other families made. He covered the boxes carefully, suddenly holding out a hand: “Here. One for you!”
In his snow white palm laid a small fine gold ingot. Bai Yan was distracted momentarily by its shine. He looked at Song Song, saw his face was earnest, as if he was only sharing half a piece of white bread. Bai Yan instantly took a step back and said: “Even if you gave this to me, I can’t really use it. Wangfei should keep it yourself.”
“Do you have a wife?”
“This one walks through steel and fire. I don’t dare to get involved with any lady.”
Song Song thought for a moment, then walked out holding that gold ingot. His gaze swept all around outside. Although he couldn’t see, he knew that there were many people hidden in the shadows of the estate. They were all agents who pledged their life to serve, all arranged by Li Xiao to protect him. There were many of them, maybe some were still young. However, all of them were brainwashed to become tools loyal and devoted only to their owner.
Just like Bai Yan who was beside him out in the open.
Someday, someone in this group will die for him and he wouldn’t even be aware of this person’s existence.
“When all this stabilizes in the future, I’ll help you find a girl you like and make sure you have a big fat kid.” Song Song turned his head and smiled slightly: “Then you can spend your life as a normal person.”
Bai Yan looked down and said: “I will follow your arrangements.”
Pressing his lips together, Song Song put away the gold piece.
As he walked out, his mood was somewhat heavy. Inattentive, his head suddenly bumped into someone: “Ah—”
Holding his head, he looked up and discovered Li Xiao standing in front of him from who knows when: “What’s the matter? Is there something wrong with the gold count?”
Song Song looked at him for a while, the gloom in his heart gradually vanishing like smoke in thin air. He said: “It’s all right now.”
“?”
“Originally, I thought I lost one, but now… “ He gave Li Xiao a little excited smile: “It came back to me!”
UwU
Money is everything. UwU
tru tru OwO
Ah, guess we know now where the rest of granddaddy Fu’s fortune went. Empress stole it. What a suprise.
It wasn’t really a surprise if anything… They’re the only ones who were capable of stealing since that idiot father of MC is a brother in law.. they deserve to perish
+1
Thank You for the chapter ٩(*ゝڡ◕๑)۶♥
I just caught up with this translation train!!!! I love this book so much!!!!!!!
Thank you very much for the translation 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
I hope the prime minister is as proud of his daughters as madam Song was of her sons 🤭. What a family!
I think what the empress ment is that the capital that Qin Yan (or whoever he is ) used to start his business was given to him by the empress?
And that capital might be the lost property/business of Song²’s grandfather 🤔
SNow we know where the money from the Songsong mother’s family business went. But Xu Kuo didn’t seem to know about this
oooh I didn’t even think of that and now he got his justice because the money became his again karma’s a **** isn’t it love it☺
You gotta ptiy Xu Kuo, getting mixed up with that family of snakes. She was so dashing here with her red dress and unstoppable mouth.
Ugh I’m so frustrated. So the empress killed the Fu family and gave the business to Qin An? How unfortunate that the whole family is rotten.
I’m more pissed off because Fu Xiang was scorned for being a merchant but Qin An can be applauded for being one.