AEOGA CH87

“This… Commander,” Master Wang said, noticing that other palace servants along the way greeted him as ‘Commander’, and adopted the title himself to inquire, “When His Majesty summoned me, was it because my foolish son committed some offense in the palace?”

Yun Luo said softly, “How could I possibly know His Majesty’s thoughts?”

Hearing this, Master Wang grew even more nervous, his body trembling.

Yun Luo added, seemingly to soothe him: “Master Wang, rest assured. Young Master Wang has helped His Majesty accomplish many grand deeds in the palace; this summons ought to be for a reward.”

Instead of feeling comforted, Master Wang trembled even more violently.

Could that really not be sarcasm? He knew his son’s nature all too well: completely ignorant of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but thoroughly adept at eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling… Well, he had never actually frequented courtesans, but to satisfy his curiosity, he wasn’t above sneaking into brothels. Accomplish grand deeds with a disposition like that? Causing a massive disaster was far more likely!

Yun Luo led Master Wang to the front of the Hall of Supreme Governance and paused: “His Majesty and the Empress are waiting for you inside; I shall not enter.”

Master Wang stared at the tightly closed doors and took a deep breath, stepping inside as if passing through the gates of the underworld.

Inside the hall, Wang Yiming was delivering a financial report to Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao.

Financial reports were delivered every morning, but Xie Chongjin had summoned him again just now. Wang Yiming hadn’t thought much of it, assuming the Emperor merely had further details to ask, and had finished explaining the status of every major industry in detail when the guards opened the doors.

Thinking His Majesty had summoned another minister to discuss state affairs, Wang Yiming was about to rise and excuse himself, but upon seeing the newcomer clearly, he stood up from his chair in shock: “Dad?! Why are you here?”

Xie Chongjin said, “Naturally, because We summoned him.”

Wang Yiming realized it made sense; without an imperial summons, his father couldn’t have entered the palace.

Master Wang performed a proper, formal bow: “This commoner pays respects to Your Majesty and the Empress.”

Xie Chongjin said, “You may rise. Take a seat.”

“Thanking Your Majesty.” Master Wang sat down nervously, feeling utterly restless. Seeing the sovereign ruler for the first time, how could he dare sit comfortably? He felt like answering on his knees instead.

Noticing Master Wang’s unease, Lu Xuechao smiled gently: “There is no need to be tense. His Majesty summoned you for two reasons: first, Yiming misses his family, so His Majesty permitted a palace reunion.”

Wang Yiming, suddenly called out: “…Huh?” He was busy building their commercial empire and hadn’t been missing his father at all.

Of course, he wouldn’t undermine the Empress, so he quickly added: “Ah, yes, I missed you terribly, Dad.”

Overwhelmed by the favor, Master Wang said, “Thanking Your Majesty for your grace.”

No matter how unfamiliar he was with palace protocol, he knew consorts could not see family members whenever they wished. Currently, it was neither the New Year nor a pregnancy, yet His Majesty summoned him into the palace simply because his son missed home; this was truly a monumental favor.

It seemed his son was remarkably favored in the palace.

Xie Chongjin continued: “Second, We have a matter to discuss with the Wang family.”

Master Wang hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty honors this commoner too much. Whatever orders Your Majesty has, simply command them; this commoner will charge through fire and water, sparing no effort even unto death.”

Why would the ruler of a nation use the word “discuss” with him instead of giving a direct command? It was far too high a praise.

“There is no need to lay down your life like that,” Xie Chongjin chuckled. “Is the Wang family willing to become imperial merchants?”

Master Wang froze.

An imperial merchant was an official title in Changli—a position Master Wang had dreamed of holding.

Imperial merchants were responsible for supplying goods reserved for imperial use; once tied to the imperial house, one’s entire status and family elevated in nobility. Even palace servants released after reaching age gained double the prestige simply by having served in the palace.

While ordinary merchants were looked down upon, imperial merchants were envied by all.

Yet such a lucrative post naturally didn’t fall to common folk. Aristocratic clans owned commercial shops, and historically, this title rotated among major noble families, leaving ordinary merchants with no chance. The Wang family had wealth, but lacked power, influence, and connections; money alone couldn’t secure such a position.

Now that His Majesty had offered it, it was a massive stroke of luck for the Wang family, promising a rise in status, fame, and fortune.

Master Wang marveled secretly: for the past year, he had only prayed for his son’s safety in the palace, never expecting the boy to be so capable as to bring such honor to their ancestors.

When one person succeeds, their entire house gains glory. This had to be due to his son’s favor that even the Wang family benefited.

However… Master Wang felt deeply confused. Looking at how peerlessly stunning the Empress was, how on earth had His Majesty taken a liking to his son?

Master Wang was about to kneel in gratitude: “Your Majesty’s vast grace, this commoner—”

“Do not agree so hastily,” Xie Chongjin interjected. “This matter comes with a price, and not a light one.”

Master Wang was puzzled.

“The Wang family possesses world-spanning wealth, with business operations across all four nations. We hear you hold immense assets in Yelang as well,” Xie Chongjin said slowly.

Cold sweat broke out on Master Wang’s forehead, terrified that the Emperor was holding him accountable.

Nations harbored deep ancestral grudges against each other. For instance, Yelang constantly schemed to conquer other realms, and no country liked it; Changli, Xifeng, and Leyang maintained no diplomatic relations with it.

Yet national grudges didn’t stop ordinary citizens from conducting trade. Yelang lacked resources and fertile land, pouring its national treasury into the military while civilian livelihoods were dire, requiring external purchases for grain and cloth. Seizing the business opportunity, the Wang family had thrived like a fish in water doing business there.

His presence in the northern border over the past two years was precisely because it bordered Yelang, separated only by the Wolong Mountain Range, making it an ideal trading hub. Merchant caravans crossed mountains and rivers, carrying goods into the foreign realm to trade.

Though the two nations’ relations were incompatible as fire and water, neither side objected to trade between their populaces. One lacked money, the other lacked goods; each fulfilled its needs without official government cooperation.

This time, the Yelang imperial family had demanded trade primarily for Anesthetic Powder. On the surface, they claimed it was for civilian health, but in reality, it was stockpiled for the military rather than treating common folk. Anesthetic Powder could turn the tide of war and shouldn’t fall into foreign hands. In the eyes of the public, Changli had only agreed to sell it out of dread for Yelang’s military power.

In Master Wang’s eyes, His Majesty surely harbored deep hatred for Yelang.

Bringing up his flourishing business in Yelang at this moment could easily slap him with the charge of treason and conspiring with the enemy; how could he not feel terrified?

Master Wang cupped his hands: “Your Majesty exaggerates; this commoner merely conducts small-scale business…”

“A small-scale business that controls thirty percent of Yelang’s national grain supply?” Xie Chongjin curled his lips into a half-smile. “According to Our scouts, two-tenths of Yelang’s grain is home-grown, five-tenths is imported from Xifeng, and the remaining three-tenths comes from Changli’s Wang family. Aside from grain, the Wang family’s investments in Yelang span every industry. Do you know that Yelang and Changli have been enemies for generations, and war could break out at any moment? Are you planning to let grain grown in Changli feed Yelang’s troops so they can attack Our Changli?”

Faced with this blend of authority and grace, Master Wang was so frightened he dropped to his knees immediately: “This commoner is merely a businessman, utterly loyal to Changli without a traitorous thought! This commoner will immediately sever all business in Yelang and not provide them with a single grain!”

Even though this would inflict heavy losses on the Wang family and potentially shake half of their commercial empire, Master Wang knew where he stood when it came to major principles.

With the nation stands the home; without the nation, there is no home. People said merchants valued profit, yet he was a patriotic man with backbone. Earning money to support his family was fine for ordinary days, but if war erupted, he would never become a traitor selling out his country.

This imperial merchant post… was likely His Majesty’s compensation for the Wang family’s losses.

“We never doubted the Wang family,” Xie Chongjin shook his head. “There is no need to alert the enemy. Conduct regular business as usual—so long as it provides for the basic daily sustenance of their civilians, without starving the common folk. If there are large-scale purchases suspected of stockpiling military rations, you know what to do.”

Master Wang nodded repeatedly: “This commoner understands.”

He marveled inwardly at His Majesty’s kindness in caring for the enemy nation’s civilians, yet couldn’t help asking: “But Your Majesty, what if Yelang seizes grain from its own citizens to supply their military?”

One shouldn’t be overly merciful toward enemies.

Xie Chongjin answered, “Gaining grain while losing the people’s hearts—is that not ideal?”

Master Wang: “…Your Majesty’s wisdom is brilliant.”

He hesitated a moment before adding: “However, with my strength alone, I fear I cannot turn the overall situation.”

He was merely a businessman; even with a large operation, he couldn’t form a monopoly or control Yelang’s economic lifeline.

The outcome depended heavily on Xifeng, the major grain producer. As for other industries, various new powerhouses had emerged recently—such as Huaman Pavilion, Jiangyan Pharmacy, Jinxiu Workshop, coarse-grain flatbreads, and Hanxiang Pavilion… These brands were wildly popular and blooming everywhere, making the Wang family’s assets far less dominant than before.

Lu Xuechao said, “With father and son united, your combined strength will surely cut through metal.”

Master Wang: “???”

What did this have to do with his son?

Wang Yiming cleared his throat and said proudly, “Dad, you don’t know, but your son is incredibly capable now. I’ll explain to you in private later, lest you lose your composure before His Majesty.”

Master Wang: “…”

Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao had naturally taken Master Wang’s concerns into account and made preparations long ago.

Yelang’s land was even more barren than Changli’s. While Changli had large tracts of wasteland due to its vast territory, it also possessed fertile regions like Jiangnan. Yelang’s territory was almost entirely barren, yet instead of reclaiming land or developing agriculture, it constantly plotted to expand its territory and conquer foreign fertile lands.

Such a nation would certainly lack abundant grain reserves. Military rations were paramount in war, and Changli controlled three-tenths of Yelang’s supply. With Xifeng’s Empress Regnant in power, Xifeng dared not break ties with Yelang openly, which was why Changli chose to help Helian Yu ascend the throne. Once Helian Yu seized power, they would cut off the remaining five-tenths from Xifeng. Lacking eight-tenths of its grain, how could Yelang fight a war?

Before troops move, provisions must go first. Even before war began, Xie Chongjin had already devised a plan to cut off Yelang’s escape routes.

While Master Wang maintained a calm exterior, stormy waves crashed through his heart.

Changli and Yelang were ancient enemies, but a hundred years had passed since their last major conflict. Aside from minor skirmishes along the border, most citizens lived in a peaceful era.

Now His Majesty had personally declared that war could break out at any moment; peace under heaven was truly coming to an end.

Master Wang said firmly, “If war truly breaks out, the Wang family will donate wealth and grain to serve the nation.”

Xie Chongjin nodded: “We thank you on behalf of Changli.”

In his past life, Wang Yiming had died tragically in the palace, driving Master Wang to harbor deep resentment, turn a blind eye to national crisis, and become a traitorous merchant reviled by thousands.

Of course, back then, no one actually reviled him—the one reviled by tens of thousands was the fatuous monarch Xie Chongjin, who had ruined Changli with his own hands.

Now, those same hands that had once destroyed Changli were working desperately to hold up its sky.

As the conversation concluded and Master Wang was about to take his leave, Lu Xuechao suddenly asked: “Head of the Wang family, while in the northern border, have you heard the name Dugu Ye?”

Master Wang froze: “Empress… why do you ask of this?”

“Local officials reported that Dugu Ye has turned to banditry around the Wolong Mountain region in the northern border, leading mountain folk to rob passing merchants, forcibly abduct men, oppress the populace, and commit countless atrocities. When the local government sent delegates to negotiate, none returned. For such blatant contempt toward the imperial court, We are currently discussing with His Majesty to send troops to suppress them.”

Master Wang revealed an expression of anger: “Utter nonsense! That dog of an official is distorting black and white!”

Lu Xuechao said, “Tell Us more.”

He naturally knew that the official’s report was far from the truth.

Dugu Ye was also one of the plot consorts.