After speaking, she picked up the teacup to conceal the Emperor’s expression and gave Wang Yongzhu a aningful look.
Wang Yongzhu knew the Empress was trying to provide an opportunity for her.
She couldn’t disappoint the Empress’s goodwill.
Thus, with a beaming smile, she said, "These days, there have been many matters at ho, which are now sorted out. My uncle has also gotten married, for which I must thank Your Majesty for the generous gift that day. It was a great honor bestowed upon my uncle and aunt. My family and I are imnsely grateful."
"One reason I ca to the palace today is to thank Your Majesty. Secondly, I’m here to bid farewell. Once matters in the Capital City are resolved, I should set off for Chicheng County—"
Having said that, she glanced at the Emperor as if she had more to say.
The Empress understood and casually asked, "Is there anything else you need to finish in Capital City?"
As she spoke, she also looked at the Emperor.
Everyone gazed at the Emperor, including the Ninth Prince, who sat quietly in Wang Yongzhu’s arms, chewing his little fist, also turned to the Emperor.
The Emperor, slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny, felt a bit guilty.
He touched his nose, coughed, and lowered his head to drink tea.
Seeing the Emperor feigning ignorance, Wang Yongzhu coldly chuckled internally but remained smiling: "I’ve handled all other matters, there’s just one thing left, waiting for His Majesty’s decree—"
This completely clarified the situation.
The Emperor could no longer play dumb and had to say, "Regarding the matter ntioned by the Wife of the Heir-Apparent, I am well aware. However, what the Wife of the Heir-Apparent doesn’t know is that reopening a trade route requires countless personnel and resources. Currently, the Imperial Court faces nurous financial demands and lacks the extra manpower and silver coin—"
Although he didn’t finish his sentence, Wang Yongzhu understood.
The Emperor wants to make the horse run without feeding it.
Or ride a white wolf with bare hands!
There might be other reasons, perhaps related to the Qi Family and Qi Le back then, causing caution in his heart.
Wang Yongzhu hurriedly pondered but remained smiling and said, "If the issue is insufficient Imperial Court funds and manpower, I don’t see it as a big problem. As long as His Majesty decrees to open the trade route, I can manage to gather so funds from elsewhere for now. Once the trade route yields profit, it can be repaid with interest to ."
"As for manpower, the world is bustling with people pursuing fa and fortune. If the trade route succeeds, it will benefit the present and future generations. As long as His Majesty decrees, many ambitious individuals will surely participate. Besides, being recorded in future histories would be an unparalleled honor!"
She gently dismissed the Emperor’s excuse.
The Emperor knew the benefits of opening a trade route. He withheld the decree despite the Empress hinting several tis and both Gu Changqing and Qin Bohan privately urging him.
But he hesitated for his own reasons, reasons not to be disclosed to outsiders.
Listening to Wang Yongzhu’s words, he pondered in silence for a while.
After a long ti, he lifted his head and stood up: "Follow !"
He walked towards the side chamber’s study, where he sotis reviewed less important morials.
The Empress recognized the gesture, knowing the Emperor had private matters related to the trade route to discuss with Wang Yongzhu.
She quickly gave Wang Yongzhu a signal and moved to take the Ninth Prince.
The Ninth Prince, now asleep from chewing his fists, could no longer cling to Wang Yongzhu.
The Empress personally took the Ninth Prince, holding him in her arms. The Ninth Prince, adjusting to the new environnt, whimpered twice but settled back into sleep in the comfort of his familiar mother’s embrace.
Wang Yongzhu stood up, adjusted her attire slightly, and followed the Emperor into the study.
At the study entrance, the chamberlain by the Emperor’s side stood guard, and those from Changchun Palace tactfully retreated.
Inside the study, only the Emperor and Chief Steward Su remained.
Seeing Wang Yongzhu enter, the Emperor waved his hand, dismissing Chief Steward Su, who, after bowing, left and closed the door behind him, personally standing guard outside.
The Emperor sat at the desk, his eyes calm and unwavering, looking at Wang Yongzhu.
Wang Yongzhu’s sixth sense instantly sensed a faint killing intent, though it disappeared quickly.
She perford a courtesy and stood aside, waiting for the Emperor to speak.
Yet, the Emperor remained silent, filling the room with a stifling silence.
Wang Yongzhu shifted her weight from left to right foot and back again before the Emperor slowly spoke: "Once the trade route opens, there is a task you and your husband must undertake for !"
Wang Yongzhu’s spirit jolted as she looked up at the Emperor.
Though the Emperor’s face was expressionless, Wang Yongzhu discerned a hint of ruthlessness: "I will decree tomorrow to open the trade route. For the necessary manpower and silver coin, have Song Chongjin present a morial."
"If there are deficits, I can accept your earlier suggestion to temporarily lend you funds, repaid with profit later, or allow you to claim a ten percent share in future market transactions post-opening!"
What a grand gesture!
Though it seed like an illusion, Wang Yongzhu understood that after the trade route opened and the market was established, it would be imnsely profitable.
It was as if the Emperor had given her a golden goose!
Such a significant reward surely ant the task he wanted her and Song Chongjin to handle was extrely troubleso?
Wang Yongzhu wanted to decline, but she knew she and Song Chongjin had no choice.
If they refused, the trade route, even if opened, would be unrelated to them.
In that case, everything they had painstakingly planned for years would benefit others.
Clenching her teeth, Wang Yongzhu spoke: "What task does His Majesty want my husband and to undertake?"
The Emperor spoke slowly and deliberately: "After the trade route opens, when the ti is right, you both must disguise yourselves and enter the Grasslands to find soone!"
Wang Yongzhu’s heart raced as she struggled to maintain her composure: "Who should we find?"
The Emperor’s tone held a trace of lancholy: "Find a woman nad Bi Zhu; if I’m not mistaken, she should be in the Grasslands Royal Capital now."
Wang Yongzhu blinked; who was Bi Zhu?
The Emperor did not explain further but took sothing from his sleeve and tossed it to Wang Yongzhu.
Wang Yongzhu caught it in her hand; it was a small gold dal engraved with the character "Jin".
If Wang Yongzhu rembered correctly, before the Emperor ascended the throne, his title was Jin.
After tossing the gold dal, the Emperor waved his hand: "You may leave now!"
Without further thought, Wang Yongzhu courteously acknowledged, secured the gold dal, and exited.
Upon returning to the Empress’s side, seeing Wang Yongzhu’s calm deanor gave the Empress a sense of relief.
Before she could inquire, the Emperor erged, stating, "I have matters to attend to; I will leave first!"
Then, he hastily departed with his entourage.
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