All the members are good people, only the host is a pervert

In the spring of the seventh year of the Qianli period, Lin Ruan submitted a memorial, intending to reform the current salt permit system.

That is to say, the salt system was replaced by the salt ticket system, and the original salt merchant monopoly system was abolished. No matter who you are or how much capital you have, as long as you pay taxes according to the law, you can get a ticket to transport salt for sale.

As a result, many small and medium-sized merchants entered the salt industry, impacting the original large salt merchants, causing them to lose all power and greatly improving the salt policy.

Compared with ticket salt and gang salt, the biggest advantage is that it allows table salt to return to a relatively low price.

As soon as this memorial was submitted, not to mention how much the salt merchants hated Lin Ruan, those salt merchants who listened to her and got the long permits would laugh out loud in their sleep in the middle of the night.

Various tributes flowed into the courtyard of the envoy's residence like water. Lin Ruan readily accepted them and then submitted a memorial, following the emperor's oral order of a 30/70 split, keeping 30% in good faith and making a huge profit.

Naturally, getting rich comes with promotion.

The emperor, who made more money than Lin Ruan, wrote a letter to Lin Ruan, who was 30 years old, and became the second-rank censor-in-chief, in charge of impeaching and correcting officials' mistakes, and his status was second only to the prime minister.

This was the end of his career as an imperial censor, and there was no further promotion possible.

The news of Lin Ruan's promotion to the second-rank Censor-in-Chief spread throughout Yangzhou City like a spring breeze, and Lin Ruan began to prepare to return to the capital with his family.

Xu Jinshu sat next to Lin Ruan, holding his daughter who was less than one year old in his arms, and his four-year-old son sat next to him, smiling contentedly.

After a long and tiring journey, they finally arrived in the capital. The Duke's Mansion had already received the news, and the entire place was decorated with lights and was bustling with activity. As soon as Lin Ruan stepped through the gate of the Duke's Mansion, he heard a burst of laughter and joy.

Naturally, Duke Lin was the first to rush forward, tears in his eyes. He took Lin Ruan's hand and said, "My dear Ruan, your mother has finally waited for you to come back. You have suffered so much in Yangzhou these past few years."

Xu Jinshu: My mother-in-law's sentimental character has remained the same for decades, which can be considered a kind of talent.

Lin Ruan smiled and comforted her, "Mother, everything is fine in Yangzhou. I've even made some achievements. You and Father should be proud of me."

At this time, Xu Jinshu came forward holding the child and saluted respectfully: "Mother, Father, Jinshu is back."

Duke Lin quickly let go of Lin Ruan's hand and looked at the baby in Xu Jinshu's arms. As if afraid of disturbing the child, he whispered, "This must be Sister Qu, right? She's so pretty, and she looks like she was cast in the same mold as Ruan."

Lin Ruan's eldest daughter, Lin Qu, whose full name is Lin Shengtong.

The Duke's wife took Lin Dalang's hand and said with a smile, "Oh, our Dalang has grown so big."

The family walked towards the mansion. Along the way, Lin Ruan saw the familiar scenery and was filled with emotion.

After all, Xu Jinshu is good at managing the household, and the scenery in this mansion has remained the same for several years without changing.

After dinner, the sky gradually darkened. Lin Ruan and Xu Jinshu returned to their room, which was still as cozy as before. Xu Jinshu helped Lin Ruan take off her coat and whispered, "My dear wife, how do you feel about returning to the capital?"

Lin Ruan stretched and said comfortably: "It's still a familiar place, familiar family, it feels really good."

On the second day after returning to Beijing, Lin Ruan was called into the palace by the emperor.

Inside the Yangxin Palace, the emperor was reviewing memorials. Wang Dashi tiptoed in, "Your Majesty, Lord Lin requests an audience."

"Let her in," said the emperor.

"Your Majesty, cousin~ Your most beloved cousin is here~" Lin Ruan bowed hastily and said with a playful smile.

The emperor, who was already middle-aged and somewhat overweight, glared at her and scolded her: "You are already thirty years old, and you are still so unruly in private."

Lin Ruan pretended to be respectful and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I am not in tune with you. I know I am wrong."

The emperor was so angry that he laughed. He threw the memorial to her and said with a smile: "If you make me angry again, I will reject this memorial from Duke Lin."

Lin Ruan opened the letter and saw that Duke Lin wanted to abdicate and let Lin Ruan inherit the position of Duke.

Lin Ruan quickly folded the memorial, held it in both hands, and placed it on the table for the emperor. He said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I am ready."

The emperor was confused and asked, "What have you prepared?"

"I am ready to become the most handsome duke!" Lin Ruan said seriously.

The emperor was so angry that he laughed, and grabbed the memorial on the table and was about to throw it at her: "You are so unruly!"

Lin Ruan was laughing at the door, not wanting to run away.

Emperor: "...Go away, Duke Lin, go and accompany the Empress Dowager, then go back to your Duke's Mansion."

Lin Ruan: "Yes, I'm leaving. I'm leaving for the rest of my life."

The Emperor: "Wang Fuquan, throw this girl out for me."

Wang Dashi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you are only so happy when Lord Lin comes."

The emperor sighed: "Yes, so many years have passed, people have changed, and she is the only one who still retains this innocent heart towards me."

The longer you serve as emperor, the more you understand what it means to be alone.

Only my cousin would write a report to me before doing anything, like a child who has not grown up.

Only with Lin Ruan did she feel that she had a blood relative she could trust, unlike the late emperor.

After coming out of the Empress Dowager's palace, Lin Ruan returned to the Yangxin Palace in a listless state. After paying her respects, she just sat in a chair without saying a word.

The emperor looked at her again and again and couldn't help asking: "What's wrong with you? Did the emperor's grandfather scold you?"

This shouldn't be the case.

Lin Ruan raised her eyes, tears welling in her eyes, and whispered, "The Empress Dowager is old."

The emperor pursed his lips and said comfortingly, "Birth, old age, sickness and death, there is nothing we can do about it."

"Cousin, I must die before you."

emperor:....

She put away her gentle expression and scolded in a deep voice: "Look at what disrespectful words you said!"

Lin Ruan was not afraid at all and said sincerely: "Think about it, the reason why I am so reckless now is because you, cousin, are protecting me. Everyone knows that Lord Lin in the court has the most powerful backing. He is the current emperor."

"I can't change my personality. What if, ahem, I mean what if, no one is there to cover for me, won't I die miserably?"

The emperor sat up straight, took a deep breath, and said with a half-smile: "Don't worry, before I die, I will make sure you are buried with me."

Lin Ruan smiled awkwardly and said, "Long live Your Majesty, I won't live to see that day."

"Fuquan, kick her out!"

"No, no, how can I trouble you, Aunt Fuquan? I will take my leave now. Bye."

After Lin Ruan returned, the Duke's Mansion took a batch of good medicinal materials and sent them to the Empress Dowager's palace.

"This girl still has a conscience." The emperor snorted lightly, his brows softening.