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The teahouse erupted in an uproar.
Wei Yunlan pushed open the small window of the private room and looked down. Most of the people below had expressions of shock, just like hers.
That was the wise and intelligent late Emperor’s own son, the Crown Prince!
Someone asked, “Then… did the Emperor agree?”
“The Emperor initially refused, but the Crown Prince claimed he was unworthy of the position, that he would surely bring disaster. As the Crown Prince of Great Yong, this disaster would not only affect himself but the entire empire. He voluntarily renounced his position as Crown Prince, traveled to the disaster-stricken areas to contribute, hoping to atone for his sins and appease the wrath of the heavens.”
“The Emperor repeatedly tried to dissuade him, but to no avail, so he agreed to the Crown Prince’s request. An edict was issued, deposing the Crown Prince and re-appointing him as Prince You, with Tanzhou, Qianzhou, and Yizhou as his fiefdom.”
The storyteller, standing on the stage and speaking eloquently, paused at this point and asked dramatically, “Interestingly, do you know what’s interesting?”
“What?”
“Just as the Emperor issued the edict deposing the Crown Prince, the Earth Dragon’s fury in Suizhou, Hanzhou, and Qizhou completely subsided!”
“…”
Wei Yunlan found the whole thing laughable.
She had always heard of emperors issuing edicts of self-reproach after disasters, but the Crown Prince taking the blame and voluntarily requesting deposition, that was truly unprecedented.
The so-called “subsided Earth Dragon’s fury after the edict was issued” was more like a fig leaf that Emperor Xiaoming was using to cover his own shame.
Looking down from the second-floor private room, Wei Yunlan saw that the faces of the people below were indeed mixed, but none dared to speak out.
Those who could afford to sit in a teahouse and drink tea after the disaster were mostly wealthy citizens or merchants passing through. They were all shrewd individuals.
Since the news from the capital could spread to various provinces so quickly and was even allowed to be widely disseminated in teahouses and bustling markets, it was naturally a move orchestrated by the court. The people dared not speak recklessly. They believed what the court wanted them to believe.
This fig leaf would become a predetermined fact in five or ten years, and no one would remember the doubts of today…
It was clearly the Emperor making the Crown Prince a scapegoat to cover up his own incompetence and ineptitude!
After mentally cursing him for being “shameless,” Wei Yunlan pondered. This had not happened in her previous life.
In her previous life, the Crown Prince remained the Crown Prince until his death and had never left the capital. The disaster that affected Hanzhou, Suizhou, and Qizhou was not widely reported in the capital. It was likely that the court had intentionally suppressed the news at that time.
It was hard to say whether this change was good or bad, but at least the Crown Prince being away from the capital avoided his accidental death in the palace three years later. It also meant that the events of her previous life were not immutable.
Since the Crown Prince’s fate had changed…
Then Mingxuan could also be changed.
She would find Mingxuan, and she would also lead her family to Beiguan safely and live peacefully!
The news from the capital was like a reassurance, rekindling the determination in Wei Yunlan’s anxious heart.
At this moment, Manager Feng, in a sky-blue robe, walked in with a cheerful expression, guided by an assistant.
Seeing Wei Yunlan, he bowed deeply, “Master Yue, thanks to you, our Yuantouju kilns have finally begun construction.”
“Not only that, but we’ll be building a new kiln this year. When you come to Suijiang again next year, Master Yue, you must visit Yuantouju. The porcelain we fire then will be even more exquisite than this year!”
Wei Yunlan stepped aside slightly and bowed back, “Congratulations, Manager Feng.”
They sat facing each other, their maids and assistants guarding outside the private room.
Manager Feng asked, “Master Yue, did you come to see me today for something?”
“Indeed, I have something I’d like to ask you about.”
Wei Yunlan refilled their teacups and gestured for him to take a sip, then continued, “These past two days, I’ve heard that the Liu family in Suizhou has excellent connections, able to reach the capital with their business. As long as you can connect with them, you can earn money back in boxes. Manager Feng, are you familiar with this Liu family?”
Manager Feng paused, his hand holding the teacup. “Master Yue, are you referring to the Liu family whose daughter married into Lord Hong’s household?”
Wei Yunlan nodded, “To be honest with you, Manager Feng, apart from porcelain, I have a batch of other goods in my possession. If I could connect with the Liu family, I would have no worries. Manager Feng, you are a native of Suizhou, do you know of any connections?”
Manager Feng’s brow furrowed slightly, a hint of hesitation on his face.
“If it’s inconvenient, please pretend I didn’t mention it today.” Wei Yunlan smiled politely.
After a moment of silence, Manager Feng gritted his teeth and said, “Master Yue, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help you connect with the Liu family, it’s just that this Liu family… isn’t so easy to deal with.”
His voice lowered as he spoke the latter part, then quietly explained, “Master Yue, you’re not a local of Suizhou. You don’t know the reputation this Liu family has here. It’s not very… flattering.”
Looking at Wei Yunlan, who was upright and somewhat frail, and considering the more than ten thousand taels of silver he had just received, he decided to say a few more words. “Master Yue, let me put it this way: the Liu family is indeed a merchant family, but their methods are not comparable to ordinary merchants like us.”
“They are connected to many influential families in Suizhou, Lianzhou, and Qizhou. With the protection of powerful figures, they’ve always acted domineeringly. It’s fine for long-established local merchants, but for merchants from other provinces, if they get caught in their trap and lose all their capital, they won’t have anywhere to turn for justice.”
“From what Manager Feng said, it seems the Liu family is arrogant and likely engaged in some shady businesses behind the scenes?”
“I don’t know about that.” Manager Feng shook his head. “Some people have also advised me to connect with the Liu family. I’ve interacted with the Liu family’s Manager in Suizhou a couple of times. He came up immediately demanding half of our Yuantouju business.”
“If Master Yue really wants to connect with the Liu family, it’s not difficult. Their manor in Suizhou is on Xuanliang Street nearby. If you pay a few dozen taels of silver, you can meet their Manager. But I still advise you to think twice.”
Manager Feng felt he had done his duty to advise. If this Master Yue was tricked by the Liu family, it wouldn’t be his fault. It was just a pity that Yuantouju would likely lose a good customer.
“Thank you for your heartfelt advice, Manager Feng. Rest assured, I will not reveal what you said today to a third party.”
Wei Yunlan sincerely thanked Manager Feng for his advice, knowing she was destined to disregard his good intentions.
She would definitely go to the Liu family manor on the next street today.
The Wei family had already stayed in Suijiang for a long enough time. They would leave tomorrow, so they didn’t have to worry about being targeted by anyone.
After more than half an hour, the carriage stopped in front of the grand Liu manor.
Wei Yunlan, dressed as a maid, got out of the carriage with Suihe. They followed Manager Wang and stepped forward, handing him a piece of loose silver, “Please inform them for us. Our master would like to request a meeting with your Manager.”