Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

Chongzhen slowly walked into the second hall of the Military Governor's Mansion. Wang Wan'er and her father Wang Zhiren were waiting anxiously in the hall.

Sunlight, like golden gauze, filtered through the carved window lattices, casting strands of light. Like a wielding brush, the rays meticulously wove a variegated tapestry of light and shadow across the ground. Within this dreamlike interweaving of light and shadow, Wang Wan'er stood silently, like an ethereal figure.

At first glance, her skin was like fine mutton-fat jade, delicate and radiant, as if a thin halo, as thin as a cicada's wing, gently flowed around her, emitting a mesmerizing sheen. Her eyebrows were like smoke, as if carefully painted by the gentlest brushstrokes of a March spring breeze, or as if cast with a mysterious radiance by glittering stars. Her charm was natural, and every line was perfectly defined, exuding a spirit and grace. Her eyes were like a clear, deep pool, or a bottomless autumn pool. When one casually gazed into them, one felt as if they contained a vast Milky Way, with glittering stars twinkling within them. Their depth was boundless, and their fatal attraction could instantly capture one's heart and soul.

Her slender, graceful nose, like a peak of jade, soared in the center of her delicate face, like the finishing touch, adding a touch of nobility and grace to her features. Her cherry-pink lips, like delicate flowers blooming in the spring morning mist, curved slightly upward, framing a faint, almost imperceptible smile, like a gentle spring breeze, caressing the lake of her heart with boundless tenderness, creating layers of intoxicating ripples.

Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall of black satin, a few playful strands cascading down her fair, snow-white cheeks, further accentuating her alluring grace. She wore a moon-white silk dress, the delicate plum blossoms embroidered at the hem seemingly imbued with life, swaying gently in the breeze, a subtle fragrance emanating from it, lingering on the nose, captivating the senses. The pale pink ribbon tied around her waist, like a fluttering butterfly gently perched, perfectly outlined her slender waist, barely slender enough to be held in one hand. She looked like a fairy who had strayed into the mortal world. Her delicate, graceful figure, swaying in the wind, evoked pity, yet feared the slightest disrespect.

The moment Chongzhen saw her, he felt as if the entire world had faded away from its noise and complexity. Even though he had seen countless beauties before, he was deeply shocked by her unparalleled beauty and was momentarily stunned.

Fortunately, Chongzhen was a man of great resolve. After a brief moment of distraction, he quickly recovered. He remembered that she had used makeup to cover her face, but now that she had washed off the dirt and put on new clothes, it was no wonder that the salt merchant was so attracted to her.

Chongzhen's momentary distraction was caught by the sharp-minded Wang Wan'er, which made her even more uneasy. She knew that the man before her was the Ming Emperor. If he took a fancy to her, her fate would no longer be free.

Wang Wan'er's father, Wang Zhiren, was a distant branch of the Wang clan, a claim that was a bit self-serving. His family had worked for the Wang family for generations, and Wang Zhiren currently held the position of shopkeeper at the Wang family business. While they weren't considered wealthy in Yangzhou, their standard of living was much better than that of ordinary people.

Wang Zhiren is a simple, dutiful and honest person. The couple has only one precious daughter, so they naturally love her very much.

Despite her female form, Wang Wan'er possessed a certain masculinity. From a young age, she showed little interest in girlish pursuits like music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework. Instead, she gravitated toward reading and writing, and was particularly passionate about her father's business. Wang Zhiren, doting on his daughter, often had her dress as a boy and study with him, seeing how much she enjoyed it.

Wang Wan'er possessed a remarkable talent for business. She possessed a photographic memory and keen market insight. On several occasions, Wang Zhiren avoided business losses thanks to his daughter's reminders, which impressed him greatly.

Unfortunately, Wang Wan'er was a woman, and according to common sense, she couldn't engage in business. However, unable to resist his daughter's pleas, Wang Zhiren allowed her to accompany him as a man over the years. Until one day, Wang Cong happened to see Wang Wan'er dressed in women's clothing and began to pester her relentlessly.

Although Wang Cong was unmarried, Wang Zhiren knew that his daughter was not qualified to be his wife. The wife of the eldest son of the Wang family had to be from a wealthy or noble family. With Wang Wan'er's status, she could only be a concubine. Given her personality and appearance, she would definitely not be accepted by the wife.

Wang Wan'er is not the kind of woman who is willing to be bound by constraints. Her ideal is to establish her own business and expand it all over the world.

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor!" When Wang Zhiren saw Chongzhen come in, he hurriedly pulled Wang Wan'er to his knees and kowtow.

He was just a commoner and had never seen the emperor before. He was so nervous that he didn't know what to do. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and temples.

"I heard that you and your daughter are both good at business?" Chongzhen calmed down and asked. His eyes lingered on the two of them, with a bit of scrutiny.

"Your Majesty, I've been engaged in business since I was young, so I wouldn't claim to be a good person. My daughter may be a girl, but she's been with me in this business since she was young, so she knows a thing or two." Wang Zhiren nervously wiped the sweat from his temples and answered cautiously. His voice trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with awe.

"Your Majesty, although I am a woman, most men cannot compare to me in business." Wang Wan'er said courageously.

She wanted the emperor in front of her to know her skills and abilities. Although she was not sure whether this would be helpful, she understood that if the emperor did not support her business, then she might have to live a dull life like other women, taking care of her husband and children, and would never be able to realize her ideals.

"Oh? Really? How dare you, a woman, say that you are better than men?" Wang Wan'er's courage made Chongzhen's eyes light up. It seemed that this woman was not just beautiful, he said with a smile.

"Wan'er, stop making trouble," Wang Zhiren panicked when he saw his daughter dared to speak like that in front of the emperor, and hurried to stop her.

"Haha, Manager Wang, is what she said true?" Chongzhen was not angry about this matter, but asked with a smile.

"My daughter has loved business since she was young. She has seen some of the world with me over the years and has some talent in this area. However, she has never seen any big scenes. I'm sorry to have embarrassed Your Majesty." Wang Zhiren said after choosing his words.

"What's wrong with women? They just don't let us do it. If I were to do it, I could do it better than them all," Wang Wan'er muttered softly.

"Women hold up half the sky. Who says women are inferior to boys?" Chongzhen came from later generations, an era full of strong women. These concepts were normal to him. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but blurt out.

"Your Majesty, do you think so too?" Wang Wan'er's eyes lit up after hearing Chongzhen's words, and she couldn't help but straighten her body and said.

"Wan'er, how dare you speak to His Majesty like that?" Wang Zhiren was so scared that he broke out in a sweat. How dare they, the common people, be so rude in front of the emperor?

"Okay, we were just busy talking. You and your daughter should get up and sit down to answer the question." Chongzhen said with a smile.

At this time, Wang Chengen, who was standing nearby, ordered two chairs to be brought in. Wang Wan'er sat down gracefully, but Wang Zhiren only half sat on the chair, feeling very uncomfortable, his body tense and he dared not breathe.

"I called you and your daughter here today because, firstly, you and the Wang family have a feud. Now the Wang family is going to be confiscated and exterminated. You can go home with peace of mind. They deserve this fate. It's all their own fault..." Chongzhen said, looking at Wang Zhiren. "Secondly, I know you are the manager of the Wang family. Yan Yingyuan is confiscating the family property and needs an expert accountant. I'm desperately short of talent right now, so I was wondering if you could come over and help..."

"Your Majesty, the Wang family is my old employer. If I go there at this time, wouldn't it be a bit... a bit..." Wang Zhiren wanted to refuse Chongzhen, but was afraid of angering him, and he didn't know what to do for a moment.

In the eyes of the Wang family, people like them, the shopkeepers, are nothing more than slaves. Even family members like Wang Zhiren who have served for generations are not looked up to. The Wang family believes that they are the ones who feed these people and these people owe the Wang family.

"You are a loyal and righteous man," Chongzhen looked at Wang Zhiren. He didn't expect that this honest shopkeeper would dare to say no in front of him. He couldn't help but look up to him a little more.

"Your Majesty, my father has always been loyal and righteous. Although the Wang family has not been kind to us, he has served them for many years. Why don't you let me go in my father's place?" Wang Wan'er hurriedly recommended herself.

"Oh? You also know the art of accounting?" Chongzhen asked, becoming more and more interested in this woman with a later-generation personality.

"The accountant of the Wang family is not as good as me," Wang Wan'er said proudly, raising her head and revealing her elegant swan-like neck.

"Okay, in that case, it's your turn," Chongzhen ordered bluntly, "Daban, take Miss Wan'er to find Yan Yingyuan and Zhu Ge, and tell them that she was sent by me to help him investigate the Wang family!"

"promise!"

"Manager Wang, I have another task for you," Chongzhen said after a moment's thought. "You've been working in the salt industry for many years. Go back and report to me the situation of the Lianghuai salt industry. I want to know how much money the Lianghuai salt industry can make. Can you do it?"

"This... I can do it!" Wang Zhiren thought for a while and replied.

"Okay then." Chongzhen nodded and said, "When you're done, just look for Wang Daban..."

Watching Wang Zhiren and his daughter leave, Wang Chengen said with a smile, "This Miss Wan'er is quite interesting. Your Majesty, your harem now..."

"My dear friend, if the country is not a country, how can we have a family? Don't mention this again!" Chongzhen said seriously.

It’s not that he doesn’t like women, he is also quite attracted to Wang Wan’er, but the situation is critical now, so he has no time to think about these things.