What the Emperor cared about most was the salt production output.
"As long as it's properly managed, the output will definitely not be lower than previous years, and may even be higher." Little Six looked up directly at the imperial countenance—as a prince, he had this privilege. "Provided that no one creates false pretexts to take a share of the profits."
"The salt administration is under my personal supervision. I'd like to see whether their hands can reach faster or my blade can strike faster." The Emperor's gaze swept over the assembled ministers as he laughed coldly. "Now the price of salt has reached one hundred and fifty wen per jin. Common people can't even afford to buy one jin of salt with their monthly earnings. This is truly the greatest absurdity under heaven. If the salt administration succeeds, it will be a blessing for the people. If anyone thinks their neck is harder than others', they're welcome to try."
"We wouldn't dare."
Ministers knelt throughout the hall. The Emperor didn't order them to rise, instead turning to Xiao Liu'er and saying, "Chenggian has rendered meritorious service in presenting the salt method. I bestow upon him one mansion, two hundred palace maids, and appoint him to concurrently manage the salt administration. You must ensure the salt administration operates quickly."
In other words, this meant having Little Six and Hua Bolin from Qingzhou quickly establish salt fields for large-scale salt production. The Emperor understood clearly that if the salt administration was to earn vast sums of silver for the national treasury, only by entrusting it to Little Six could it achieve the greatest effect. Hua Bolin currently possessed the clearest understanding of salt production methods. If someone else were put in charge of the salt administration, who could ensure they would exert their full effort?
He only wanted silver, and didn't care about other matters.
This also suited Little Six's intentions perfectly. Just entering the court, starting with the salt administration was ideal.
Hua Zhi thought similarly. Watching Little Six, who seemed to mature significantly with each trip away, she said, "We all know what the Emperor wants the silver for. Precisely because of this, the matter must not be delayed. The common people cannot afford salt, yet humans will fall ill without it. Ultimately, this damages the very foundation of Daqing."
"Master, rest assured. I dare not be negligent."
Hua Zhi wasn't quite accustomed to this form of address yet. She preferred hearing Little Six call her Sister Hua. Now they were of different generations.
"Master, about your assassination attempt..."
"Don't concern yourself with this matter." Hua Zhi interrupted him. "Let the Third and Fourth Princes fight among themselves. If you rashly join in, you'll only help them break the deadlock. My goal isn't to confront them directly either. Using this opportunity to cut off several of their key supporters is what really matters."
Ultimately, it was all for his sake. Little Six felt somewhat distressed in his heart. No matter how hard he tried to grow up, no matter how diligently he took on responsibilities, he still needed his master to exhaust herself planning for him. Sometimes he truly wished he could grow five, six, seven, or eight years older overnight, so his master wouldn't have to shoulder all this for him.
"General Sun has submitted several memorials regarding the Dried Meat and Crisp Noodles matter. The Emperor rejected them, telling General Sun to find solutions himself, and even delayed issuing military provisions and pay." Hua Zhi rubbed her Hand warmer. "I've accumulated considerable silver now. Since I can't expand my own business on a large scale at the moment, I might as well use it to do something—to help you gain some goodwill among the soldiers."
"How could Father Emperor be so..." Little Six barely swallowed the disrespectful words. The defense of Shou'ai Pass is so crucial—has Father Emperor forgotten Great Ancestor's teachings?Hua Zhi lowered her head with a light laugh. "The Emperor is testing me. By ordering General Sun to devise his own solution—which happens to be me—he puts me in a difficult position. General Sun is your maternal grandfather, and I am your teacher. If I knowingly refuse to assist, he can drive a wedge between us. If I intervene, this single matter could exhaust the wealth the Hua family has accumulated over the past year."
"Master, I won’t listen to him."
"Yet I must still help." Hua Zhi sighed. "The Seven Constellation Bureau has been investigating and is now almost certain that Jin Yang is the hidden stronghold of the Chao Li Tribe. Yan Xi has already laid plans there. Once the situation in Jin Yang unravels, it will cut off the tribe’s financial resources. After years of meticulous preparation, their exposure could spark a war. The Chao Li Tribe is no longer the brute-force group we once knew—they may now have a Wise Man. Meanwhile, our Daqing’s military strength is far from what it used to be. In this push and pull, no one knows whether we will drive them back to their homeland or they will reclaim their former glory. Compared to this, wealth is truly an external concern."
Little Six dared not imagine how formidable the Chao Li Tribe would be with both brute strength and wisdom. He could only focus on the present. "What can I do?"
"This is your task. Making Crisp Noodles and Dried Meat is not difficult. I will lend you personnel. Didn’t the Emperor grant you a residence? Use it to produce in large quantities. I will provide the funds. As for how to distribute the finished products and to whom, that is for you to decide. Also, pay close attention to court affairs—speak less, listen more. Guard the salt tax diligently and prevent anyone from meddling."
"Yes, Master."
Hua Zhi rubbed her temples. "The Seven Constellation Bureau is too capable. Precisely because of their efficiency, court officials feel justified in their incompetence. Even knowing the Chao Li Tribe may return, they feel no urgency with the bureau shielding them. You must observe these issues and ponder solutions in your daily life. It’s likely these will be the challenges you face in the future."
"His Majesty and the courtiers rely too heavily on the Seven Constellation Bureau."
"As long as you’re aware, that’s enough. Go to the study—Chen Qing is waiting for you. He will inform you of recent events in the capital and the current situation."
Little Six nodded. "Please take good care of your health."
"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."
Hua Zhi was never one to take a hit without retaliation. After discarding the first pawn, she calmly revealed the second she had captured.
In the Wei family’s study, Wei Chenze paced anxiously. "Father, you must think of something. If this continues, we won’t be able to stay hidden."
Wei Jing’s face darkened. "Has the messenger we sent returned?"
"Not yet."
"Send another."
"Father…"
"Send another!" Wei Jing snapped. "If they think they can discard the Wei family like a pawn, they’ll have to see if I agree."
Wei Chenze was shocked. "They plan to abandon us?"
Wei Jing closed his eyes, refusing to look at him. Even now, his son failed to grasp the opponent’s intentions—showing no growth at all.
"Master, a letter has arrived for you."
Wei Chenze hurried to the door, took the letter from the steward, and glanced at it. There was no sender’s name on the envelope. "Who delivered it?"
"The gatekeeper said he’d never seen the person before, but judging them to be of unusual status, he brought the letter to me."
Without another word, Wei Chenze handed the letter to his father.Wei Jing stared at the letter, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. After a long pause, he finally opened it, only to find a handful of characters: "A wise man submits to circumstances."
Seeing his father's troubled expression, Wei Chenze leaned over to look and immediately paled. "Is this... his meaning? Then what about our Wei Family? Is he abandoning us? Father, haven't we been working for him? He promised he'd find a way to reinstate you in the Ministry of Personnel..."
Wei Jing collapsed into his seat, his son's words blowing past his ears like wind, not a single character registering in his mind. This empire bore the surname Gu—if he dared implicate the Fourth Prince, the Emperor himself would teach him the true meaning of "submitting to circumstances" long before the prince needed to lift a finger.
PS: Many readers have been asking how much longer until the story concludes. Kongkong can only say we've reached the final stages, though the exact word count is unpredictable—it depends on inspiration. The plot has been progressively building, with earlier threads needing resolution while new foreshadowing continues. You'll eventually discover how even seemingly insignificant earlier details serve a purpose. A quick survey: would you prefer the story to conclude after the Hua family's return when the turmoil settles, or would you like to see the narrative continue beyond that?
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