Accidentally dressed as an empress

Su Qing drove the carriage, carrying Yunxiu and Zhong Yi to the Xu Mansion, and stopped at the gate of the Xu Mansion. The Zhong Mansion and Xu Mansion were separated by only a wall. Su Qing got off the carriage and went to the door to find the servant to pass on the message, "Your Highness wishes to see Master Xu."

The servant said, "Your Highness, please move to the grain market. Lord Xu is waiting there."

Su Qing came back and said to Yunxiu, "Lord Xu is at the Grain Market."

Yunxiu thought to herself, it seems Xu Ling is a man of action, having been waiting at the Grain Market Department early. She said to Su Qing, "Then let's go to the Grain Market Department."

Su Qing drove to the entrance of the Grain Market. The place was unremarkable, with not even a single person on duty. The Grain Market was located on the outskirts of the East Market. From the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary inn.

The Grain Market Bureau was not only responsible for stabilizing grain prices, but also for mediating disputes between the two markets and collecting market taxes.

As the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Xu Ling was responsible for managing land taxes, market taxes, and the national treasury. Since the position of Prime Minister no longer existed, Her Majesty the Empress divided the power of the Prime Minister between two positions. If the Minister of the Imperial Household was the Minister of Internal Affairs, then the Grand Minister of Agriculture was the Minister of External Affairs.

At the Grain Market Office, Xu Ling had summoned all the prominent merchants in Lingyun City, large and small, to a meal together, set up in the open air. It was chilly, with a light rain falling, and it was clear that this was a Hongmen Banquet, and the meal was not to be enjoyed in peace.

The system showed Yunxiu the situation in the grain market. Yunxiu didn't rush to get off the carriage. She sat there and thought for a moment before saying to Zhong Yi, "Take my jade pendant and go invite the garrison troops. Zhong Lu should be among them. If you can find her, that would be the best. If not, invite as many as you can. Listen to me smashing the cup as a signal."

Even the most articulate merchant would be afraid of encountering an army. Zhong Yi quickly grasped His Highness's meaning and nodded, "I understand. I will certainly live up to Your Highness's trust."

Yunxiu said to Su Qing outside, "Su Qing, you drive the car and take Zhong Fushi to the city gate to find the garrison and protect him."

Summon the garrison troops to provide a double insurance. To deal with those stingy people, of course, you have to use courtesy first and then force.

Yunxiu got off the carriage and went to the banquet alone. Alas, she didn't have a sword. The raindrops hit her face, bringing a sense of tragedy.

Pushing open the door, I walked into the Grain Market. The open space in the yard was filled with five large tables, seating about forty people.

Among them, Ren Li was prominently listed, and she even winked at her in a very unsteady manner.

promising.

Yunxiu's mouth curled up slightly.

Xu Ling, dressed in a purple official robe and looking about forty years old, walked to the door to greet her, "Your Highness, I have been waiting for you."

What's going on? Is Xu Ling trying to intimidate her?

Could it be that Xu Ling was unhappy because he had interrupted the emperor and increased the workload of the Minister of Agriculture?

That couldn't be right. Xu Ling had no objection in the palace at the time. After the court session, she and Xu Ling separated and did not leave the palace together. They had not agreed to come to the grain market together.

Yun Xiu's thoughts raced through her mind, but she managed a faint smile. "On the way, I went to the Neishi Mansion to ask Lord Li to help settle the displaced victims in the city. That delayed me for a while. This is my fault. I will apologize to Lord Xu and everyone else, and I will drink three cups as punishment."

Ren Li applauded, "Your Highness is such a straightforward person!"

"Your Highness thinks highly of me."

"How can we afford to receive a toast from His Highness?"

Yunxiu took the wine glass from the nearest table, tilted his head back, drank one glass, then another, and finally drank three glasses in one breath.

He drank quickly and felt a little tipsy for a while.

No matter how much you drink now, you will make these Pi Xiu, who only take in and never give out, spit it out later.

When Xu Ling saw His Highness drinking three cups as punishment, the knot in his heart was slightly relieved.

Regarding the issue of purchasing grain, the eldest princess took the lead in proposing a solution in the Yunji Palace. She spent most of the day writing on a bamboo book, but it was of no use.

If this matter is done well, it will be the responsibility of the Grand Prince; if it fails, it will be the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture. Because the Grand Prince is about to go on a diplomatic mission to the State of Chu and cannot participate in the follow-up, anyway, even if Xu Ling contributes manpower and effort, it is very likely that she will not get any benefits.

In the end, there is no merit, it's all just hard work. But hard work is still work.

Yunxiu raised his wine glass and said to Xu Ling, "It is all thanks to Lord Xu that so many great businessmen have gathered here. I want to toast Lord Xu first."

Xu Ling clinked glasses with a smile, "Your Highness has worked hard. This banquet was prepared entirely for Your Highness."

Yunxiu downed a cup of yellow soup and then tugged at Xu Ling's sleeve in a familiar manner. "Master Xu, I saw that many victims had lost their homes, so I came up with a good idea. It will benefit the people," Yunxiu said, holding up the wine glass and smiling at everyone, "and it will also benefit everyone here."

"Does anyone have a house that was burned down?"

Ren Li quickly answered, "Yes."

"You only need to donate a little food, and you can hire those disaster victims to build houses for everyone. Why not do it?"

Upon hearing this, a merchant asked directly, "I wonder how much is the one point you are talking about?"

Yun Xiu said righteously, "Everyone, Lingyun City has suffered such a great disaster. You and I can do our best to help the people of Lingyun City. This is a great merit. How can you be so petty?"

"Your Highness, if you say that, we don't like it. Are you asking us small merchants to take over the food supply for the disaster victims for free?"

Yunxiu said, "Several major families have already opened porridge shops and will also help the victims. With such exemplary deeds before them, don't you all want to emulate them?"

"We can't get together, we can't get together. The aristocratic family has been blessed for generations, and their financial resources are beyond our reach."

"Yeah, we're just doing business to earn some hard-earned money, how can we compare?"

"To be honest, I don't have any extra food at home."

"That's right. This year isn't a famine year, so not many people are stockpiling food."

"So, you all don't want to do this?" Yunxiu threw the wine glass up heavily, and there was silence all around.

Yunxiu smiled and said, "Oops, I didn't hold it firmly."

Why hasn’t Zhong Yi come in yet?

Yunxiu stared at Ren Li, who didn't understand why, so he just followed suit and smashed the cup. "Your Highness, the sound of this cup smashing is so clear and beautiful. Your Highness, you smashed it well."

Yunxiu really wanted to roll her eyes at Ren Li and let her experience it herself.

Just at this moment, the door opened with a bang, and a large group of garrison soldiers armed with swords rushed in.