jdhmnovel Chapter 212 She increasingly felt that Prince Yi was not as bad as the legend said
Chapter 212 She increasingly felt that Prince Yi was not as bad as the legend said
Chu Huanjun picked up the account book on the table and looked at it carefully for a while. The account flow that Huai Ling listed based on the clues collected in recent days was indeed clear - in March last year, Fuxiangzhai did suffer heavy losses for a period of time, but this loss had always been a gray area in the account books handed over by Yun Qing and Yun Shao, and they had made up excuses and covered it up with just a few words.
Chu Huanjun has always only cared about whether the shops run by his subordinates can really provide him with useful information. As for what kind of business they are running, he has never really cared.
Until the end of last year, a batch of incense sent by Fuxiangzhai to western Yunnan was stopped at the customs, and the officers and soldiers found that there were a lot of poisons sealed in ordinary pottery jars among them.
This poison was a banned substance strictly prohibited by the laws of the Chu State. Once discovered, the traffickers would be punished along with their entire clan.
After learning the news that day, Chu Huanjun disguised himself and rushed to the western Yunnan border at full speed. He spent a lot of effort in mediation and finally settled the matter.
If the matter gets out of hand and is brought before the emperor, and someone else takes advantage of the situation, not only will Fuxiangzhai be in trouble, but if they follow the many clues and find out that Chu Huanjun is behind Fuxiangzhai, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Yun Qing has worked under Chu Huanjun for many years. Although he doesn't regard her as a trusted and capable subordinate, he always has the most basic trust in her.
Chu Huanjun knew that she was a businessman with ambitions, so he always turned a blind eye to her running Fuxiangzhai. As long as she didn't get into trouble or cause any trouble, no matter how the business was run, it would be enough to ensure that Fuxiangzhai could survive and serve as an organization for the circulation of intelligence.
But last year, Fuxiangzhai got into such a big mess under her management that Chu Huanjun, who had always turned a blind eye, could not sit idly by.
Although Yun Qing flatly denied that she had nothing to do with the transportation of the poison, there must be someone behind it, and Chu Huanjun could no longer keep her under his command.
Considering the friendship they had built together in the past, he did not simply kill Yun Qing and Yun Shao once and for all. Instead, he let them go out and work on their own, and only asked them not to have anything to do with him in the future.
Chu Huanjun reviewed the items Huai Ling had re-listed, nodded in thought for a moment, snorted coldly, and said with a wry smile, "That girl Yun Qing is truly audacious. To make money, she even dared to take on Wuyan Pavilion's business."
Huai Ling was a bit overwhelmed and asked in confusion, "Your Highness, what exactly is this 'Wuyan Pavilion'? When I went to ask the farmhands at Fuxiangzhai for information, they kept mentioning Wuyan Pavilion. When they listed the accounts, both open and hidden, many of them pointed to Wuyan Pavilion. Is Wuyan Pavilion also the one Your Highness wants to deal with?"
Chu Huanjun sighed and put the account book back on the table. He tapped his finger bones lightly on the edge of the wooden table from time to time, and the worry in his brow gradually gathered.
"Not really...but I can't say for sure."
The tapping of his finger bones on the table stopped, and the worry on Chu Huanjun's face gradually dissipated. It seemed that he was worried about something in his heart just now, but in an instant, he had enlightened himself.
Chu Huanjun raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a calm smile. He said calmly, "We can walk on either side of the avenue, but if they dare to touch my interests, I will show no mercy."
Being naive and ignorant, Huai Ling naturally didn't understand the deeper meaning of Chu Huanjun's words. She simply looked at him with admiration, nodded vigorously in agreement, and echoed, "Your Highness is right. If they can't provoke us, we'll be polite to each other. But if they dare to provoke us, we won't be bullied!"
After she said this, Chu Huanjun was amused.
Huai Ling had previously endured countless grievances with Tao Yao in the Shi residence, accustomed to living with a bent back and head down. Now, working with Chu Huanjun, she had no one to serve her. Her daily tasks were no longer emptying chamber pots, washing clothes, or collecting cow dung. Instead, she learned to do accounting in a bright and clean house. Although Fuxiangzhai's business was slow and there were few assistants, Huai Ling had become the store manager and had some say.
Huai Ling, who had been a lowly servant for half her life, finally tasted the sweetness of being able to hold her chin up high and now has a straighter back.
Huai Ling was filled with gratitude and admiration for Chu Huanjun. First, she felt he was kind, willing to spend a large sum of money to buy her indenture from the Shi family. He didn't enslave her like the Shi family did, but instead arranged for her to work at Fuxiangzhai, allowing her to utilize her skills. Huai Ling felt from the bottom of her heart that Chu Huanjun had given her a second life. Second, she felt he was farsighted, decisive, and reliable, and she admired him from the bottom of her heart.
Huai Ling had heard a lot of rumors about Chu Huanjun in the past, saying how dissolute and cold-blooded he was. Those rumors almost described him as an unforgivable devil. But now that they had been getting along, Huai Ling felt more and more that Prince Yi was not as bad as the legend said.
After looking through the account books, Huai Ling took Chu Huanjun on a tour of Fuxiangzhai. Seeing how neatly Huai Ling had kept Fuxiangzhai in good order, Chu Huanjun couldn't help but nod frequently, a smile of approval on his face.
"I feel very relieved to leave Fuxiangzhai to you."
Chu Huanjun smiled and praised Huai Ling, while taking out a heavy ingot of silver from his purse and placing it in Huai Ling's palm.
"This is an extra reward besides your monthly salary. It's a reward for your hard work in managing Fuxiangzhai during this period." Chu Huanjun smiled softly.
Huai Ling held the silver ingot in both hands, her nose felt sore, and she was so moved that tears streamed down her face.
"Huai Ling has been a servant for half her life, and no master has ever been so kind to her... Huai Ling... has no way to repay her..."
Huai Ling was sobbing, her hands holding the silver trembling as she tried to stuff the silver back into Chu Huanjun's hands.
"Huai Ling cannot accept this money."
Huai Ling wiped away a tear with her hand and stammered, "Huai Ling is now able to work at Fuxiangzhai and share the prince's worries. This is a luxury I never dared to dream of before. The prince saved Huai Ling's life and gave her a new life. This kindness, Huai Ling will never be able to repay in her eight lifetimes... Huai Ling is doing everything she can now just to repay the prince's kindness."
Seeing her crying, even Chu Huanjun was moved and quickly stuffed the silver back into her hand.
"Don't say that. Let's be fair, keep the money."
It was the first time Chu Huanjun had seen someone unwilling to accept money. Huai Ling grabbed the silver and cried even harder, sobbing and saying, "Your Highness, after the Second Young Lady left, I didn't know how to live... It was you who helped me... helped me to cheer up again..."