After giving up being the wife of a powerful official, Ling Yunlu became a concubine

The first one who managed the trees signed up.

"Uncle Zhong, these two days are the time to eat elm seeds. Please arrange for someone so that my wife can pick the elm seeds."

The contractor couldn't wait to urge Zhongbo.

"Tomorrow morning, put the things you want to sell in a basket and wait at the back door. I will arrange for someone to register."

The person who managed the bamboo forest also squeezed in, "Uncle Zhong, we want to contract the bamboo forest."

"By the way, can we also break off the bamboo shoots and sell them together?"

After getting Zhongbo's nod, those who had registered their names hurried back.

While the weather is good, quickly pick more bamboo shoots.

Several people have just reserved bamboo baskets and are rushing back to weave them.

Some people contracted the lotus pond, some contracted the fish, and some contracted the flowers... It was just like a vegetable market, bustling with people.

After everyone left, Zhong Bo couldn't help wiping his sweat.

The mansion hasn't been this lively for a long time.

Everyone usually handles their own affairs step by step, and those who can slack off do so.

Now, everyone wishes they could have three heads and six arms so they can take on more tasks.

In the past, I worked so hard but only received a monthly salary. Now, if I do my job well, I can get extra money. Who wouldn’t want such a good thing?

Everyone is racking their brains to think about how to do their part well and create greater benefits.

There are no more people playing cards, slacking off, drinking and making trouble, or gossiping for no reason.

Those who plant flowers are planting flowers, those who plant lotus roots are planting lotus roots, and those who prune trees are pruning trees. Everyone is as busy as a little bee.

Even the grooms in the stable were busy breeding the horses.

A foal can also be sold for a good price.

These days, the maids around Shen Yunjin walked in a floating manner.

When the servants in the mansion saw them, they all came over to try to get close to them.

Put a flower in this one and some snacks in that one.

There are even people who want to match them up!

As a result, they didn't dare to walk around in the yard.

Yuzhi didn't come back until it was time for dinner.

"There are five shops in the mansion. Except for the blacksmith shop, the rest are rented out to tenants."

"One is a produce store, one sells cloth, one is a wine shop, and one is a ready-made clothing store."

These are all shops with average profits, no wonder the rental income is not high.

“Are they all prepared to renew their contracts?”

"I went to ask the shopkeeper, and all other shops have renewed their contracts, but the owner of the wine shop wants to withdraw."

"He said his wife was in poor health, and the couple were old, so they wanted to return to their hometown to retire."

Yuzhi paused, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"But what's wrong?" Shen Yunjin asked.

"Master, do you remember the grain and oil shop in your dowry?"

"The grain and oil shop on West Street? Of course I remember it. I even forced it from my stepmother. What's wrong?"

"That agricultural product store is also on West Street, not far from the grain and oil store."

West Street is the place with the most peddlers.

It is also the place with the highest concentration of agricultural products sold in Beijing.

There is also a large cattle market there.

"The agricultural product store saw that the grain and oil store was doing a booming business, so it deliberately sold the same products at a low price as the grain and oil store in an attempt to stir up trouble."

"When I went there, I happened to see the shopkeeper robbing the customers of the grain and oil shop."

"The tenant of that shop seems to be named Cao?"

"Yes, and the rent we rented it to him was very cheap, only forty taels a month."

"I asked similar shops nearby, and they all charge eighty or ninety taels of silver."

"That shopkeeper Cao keeps saying that his shop belongs to the King of Qi, and if people don't buy things, they will be scolded."

Shen Yunjin pondered in silence.

"Master, Uncle Zhong is here." Jinzhi led Uncle Zhong in.

"My lady, this is the roster of the contract system that I have compiled."

Zhongbo handed the account book in his hand to Jinzhi.

"Uncle Zhong, sit down. Hongliu, serve the tea." Shen Yunjin ordered.

Zhong Bo fell halfway down in anxiety.

"Thank you for your hard work these past few days, Uncle Zhong. There are a few things I don't understand, and I would like to ask you for your advice."

"To answer your Majesty, everything is what I should do. Please feel free to ask me, I will tell you everything I know."

Zhong Bo is an elder in the mansion and he has watched the King of Qi grow up.

In the past, no one loved the King of Qi, and the Prince of Qi’s mansion was also deserted.

Even after the Prince of Qi married a princess, the Prince of Qi's mansion was not very popular.

Now, with Concubine Shen as the housekeeper, the entire Prince Qi's Mansion has become different.

It was as if a spring suddenly emerged from a pool of stagnant water, exuding vitality.

He was happy for the prince from the bottom of his heart.

"The shop owner Cao on West Street has a history with the prince?"

Zhong Bo narrowed his eyes and thought about it.

"To answer your Majesty's question, that Shopkeeper Cao and the prince are not old friends."

"Then why is the rent so much lower than other shops? Moreover, Shopkeeper Cao claims that his shop is opened by a prince?"

Uncle Zhong lowered his head and recalled it carefully again.

"I now remember that the shopkeeper Cao was the one who was instigated by the Second Prince."

"This shop was awarded to the prince by the emperor when he came of age.

The previous tenant had committed a crime and had to move out. After the prince took over the house and was about to rent it out, he met the second prince.

Then the second prince recommended Manager Cao, who offered to pay him 40 taels of silver every month.

The prince didn't know much about the market, and with the second prince guaranteeing him, the prince agreed. "

No wonder that man dared to insult the guests. It turned out that he had the support of the Second Prince.

But, isn't that right?

Since Shopkeeper Cao was acquainted with the Second Prince, why didn't he say that the shop was opened by the Second Prince?

“Uncle Zhong, since Manager Cao is familiar with the Second Prince, why is he using the prince’s name?

Wouldn't it be more awe-inspiring for others to use the Second Prince's name?"

Yuzhi stood aside and narrated in detail what she had seen today.

"I will send someone to investigate immediately." The more Zhong Bo listened, the uglier his expression became.

He didn't even notice it for so many years. It was really a dereliction of duty.

"I have one more thing to ask..."

Shen Yunjin hesitated for a moment, thought about it, and finally asked.

"There are several fixed expenses every month, but there is no indication of where they go. I want to know what's going on."

Zhong Bo was stunned for a few seconds. He thought that since the King of Qi had ordered him to hand over the account book to the concubine, he had no intention of hiding it.

"In the autumn of the year before last, the prince started buying a lot of orphans, and now all of them are in the prince's farm.

This money is for them.”

Shen Yunjin didn't believe it. It was several thousand taels a month. How many people would it take to spend it?

Zhong Bo stammered, "The money was mainly spent on making weapons."

Shen Yunjin widened his eyes!

Is Xiao Minshen gathering private soldiers?

He wants to rebel?!