DLWAV CH42

Over the next few days, good news came one after another.

First, the diplomatic missions from the vassal states arrived in the capital in succession, instantly doubling Great Yang’s treasury.

Next, within a short period of just a year and a half, the price of salt in Great Yang dropped from an average of twenty-seven wen per jin to nine wen per jin. The common people of Great Yang could finally live a life where everyone could afford salt.

Following this, the output of the Zhaoxian Saltworks skyrocketed to one billion jin, and Great Yang’s salt tax revenue subsequently rose to four million taels.

Precisely because of this, although Yuanxi Year 25 was only halfway through, the tax silver collected by the Imperial Court had already exceeded the total annual tax revenue of Yuanxi Year 23.

Furthermore, the first maritime trade fleet dispatched by the court in Yuanxi Year 23 finally returned. They brought back not only the sweet potato seeds that Emperor Yuanxi had been dreaming of but also envoys and merchant fleets from dozens of countries.

At Ao Ruize’s suggestion, the world’s first “International Commodity Exhibition” opened in the 16th-century capital of Great Yang.

When the news spread, countless citizens of the capital, harboring curiosity, flooded into the trade market specially opened by the court for this occasion.

Soon, the goods from those countries were swept clean by the capital’s citizens and merchants from all over.

However, the ones who truly went on a buying frenzy were not the citizens of the capital, but the foreign merchant fleets and the vassal states who had come to pay tribute.

To use their original words: “Heavens, how can there be such soft and comfortable fabric in this world? Buy!”

“Is this green tea? The taste is actually better than our country’s top-grade green tea? Buy!”

…

“These ceramics are so beautiful, buy… what? Not enough money? Can we pre-order? We can pay a deposit first and come back to pick up the goods in three months.”

“Do you have that medicine? The kind you gave us yesterday? That medicine is truly miraculous, even more magical than our country’s divine oil… What? That medicine has been discontinued, and you only have a few bottles left in your hand? Then spare two bottles for me; I am willing to pay ten taels of gold per bottle.”

Ao Ruize was originally gratified that within just half a month, the Great Yang court and major merchants had received orders worth over five million taels. But the next second, he was stunned.

Wasn’t something a bit off?

He saw the Ministry of Revenue official who was reporting this matter to him cover his mouth and clear his throat before continuing, “Crown Prince, this humble official specially tallied the number of merchants who want to purchase… purchase the South Pearls produced by your estate. If you resume production at the estate, we can secure orders for at least another five million taels…”

Ao Ruize: “…”

The story went back half a month. The reason those Great Yang merchants participated in this International Commodity Exhibition was mostly out of respect for Ao Ruize.

They hadn’t expected that the countries these foreign merchants came from were so wealthy, yet so “impoverished”—impoverished to the point that they wanted to buy hundreds of roadside lanterns to take back.

Thus, they quickly went from being aloof to using any means necessary to secure orders.

Then, someone had a sudden idea and gave a bottle of the aphrodisiac to a few foreign merchants.

—Although Ao Ruize had sealed the estate, it didn’t change the fact that a lot of aphrodisiacs and South Pearls had been sold previously.

Later, when the inventory in the buyers’ hands ran low, they simply gritted their teeth, spent money to buy a large batch of second-hand South Pearls, ground them up, and made them into aphrodisiacs.

After all, the effect of that aphrodisiac was superb, with almost no side effects. Every doctor who saw it praised it. How could they not like it?

This led to the price of that aphrodisiac on the market flipping more than five times over.

Those few foreign merchants happened to be older and truly lacked the strength to perform in that department.

So, upon hearing that the medicine given to them could help them “stand up” again, they tried it without hesitation—

The very next day, they couldn’t wait to find that person to buy the aphrodisiac in his possession. He happened to be negotiating business with other foreign merchants at the time, so all the foreign merchants present learned of it… and then, the news spread directly through all the foreign trade teams.

This led to the scene where the Ministry of Revenue official was smuggling his own agenda into the report to Ao Ruize.

The official couldn’t help but say, “Your Highness, that is over five million taels of silver…”

For other orders worth five million taels, they didn’t know how much talking and negotiating it took to secure them.

But with Ao Ruize, he didn’t do anything, and an order for five million taels just fell from the sky.

Most importantly, to fulfill the other orders worth five million taels, those merchants would have to work hard for at least a whole year.

But for Ao Ruize, he only needed to throw some medicinal herbs into the pearl oyster ponds every now and then, and he could sit back and wait for the harvest.

“Your Highness.”

The Ministry of Revenue official said repeatedly, “This subject knows that selling aphrodisiacs and such might hinder the Court’s reputation, but that is gleaming white silver.”

Making money isn’t shabby!

As long as Ao Ruize increased production by even one-fifth, his income for this year could easily exceed the tax revenue of the entire Great Yang court.

Was Ao Ruize not tempted?

Most importantly—

“Since they dare to order this aphrodisiac on such a large scale, it means there must be many people in their countries who need it…”

“So, Your Highness, if those countries buying aphrodisiacs in bulk don’t feel ashamed, how could they have the nerve to mock our Great Yang?”

Ao Ruize: “…”

Ao Ruize actually felt that what he said made a lot of sense.

And then he couldn’t help but feel a little tempted.

Because the one million-plus taels he had earned before were almost all spent.

If he didn’t get some income soon, he would have to go back to mooching off his wife’s family again.

For this, Ao Ruize specially released the Milk Dumpling again.

It had been several months, but the Milk Dumpling was still angry: “…That’s my wife! How could you have the nerve to lay a hand on him?”

“I think you shouldn’t be called Xiao Ruize anymore. You should change your name to Ao (Howl) Ruize. Ao as in Awooo, because you are a dog! Wuwuwuwu…”

Ao Ruize: “…”

To some extent, the Milk Dumpling had really hit the nail on the head.

But obviously, that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

Ao Ruize forcibly interrupted it and briefly explained the sequence of events.

At the end, as if realizing something, his tone became lighter: “Most importantly, if Zhao Ruize’s reputation is ruined, what does that have to do with me, Ao Ruize?”

Milk Dumpling: “…”

First, it was shocked that Ao Ruize actually admitted he was a dog.

Second, it was shocked that it actually felt Ao Ruize made a lot of sense.

Having thought this through, Ao Ruize immediately locked the Milk Dumpling back up.

Milk Dumpling: “…”

Ahhh, you dog thing!

Ao Ruize then turned to the Ministry of Revenue official. “What you said makes a lot of sense.”

“Then I leave this matter to you to handle.”

“Also, tell the other officials that I will petition the Emperor later to donate one-third of that estate’s income to the Court. Seventy percent of that will serve as a year-end bonus for all serving officials, and thirty percent will serve as a pension for all retired officials.”

“Another one-third of the income will be donated to help the various prefectures and counties build relief homes (Yangjiyuan) to adopt elderly people with no one to support them and homeless children, provided they have not violated the laws of the state.”

To put it plainly, Ao Ruize still felt that the salaries of Great Yang’s officials were too low. If officials couldn’t guarantee their own livelihood, it was easy for corruption to breed.

Therefore, further improving the treatment of officials was imperative.

Of course, this was also to win people’s hearts… and conveniently, if face was to be lost, they would lose it together.

Sure enough, hearing this, the Ministry of Revenue official instantly became excited.

Because even without expanding production, Ao Ruize’s estate could profit over ten million taels annually.

So thirty percent of the income would be three million taels.

One must know that currently, the total annual salary Great Yang paid to serving officials was only 1.1 million taels, and retired officials received no salary.

In other words, with just one sentence from Ao Ruize, from now on, the salaries of all serving officials could be tripled, and they would still have an income to maintain a decent life after retirement.

Not to mention Ao Ruize was also preparing to donate another third of the revenue to build relief homes.

The Ministry of Revenue official immediately bowed deeply. “His Highness the Crown Prince embodies benevolence and righteousness; we subjects are in awe.”

Seeing this, the others immediately bowed down as well.

So, the next day, the estate under Ao Ruize’s name opened its doors to customers once again.

A few days later, the envoys and merchant caravans from these countries left the capital one after another.

Two months later, when the first batch of foreign caravans returned to Great Yang, paid the final balance for their orders as agreed, picked up the goods, and placed even larger orders, all the officials and merchants who had worried they wouldn’t return finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, a grand celebration banquet began.

It was also at this celebration banquet that Ao Ruize received two more pieces of good news.

First, the First Prince’s side consort, Lady Li, gave birth. It was indeed a boy.

Second, when the Imperial Academy of Medicine took the pulse of the harem concubines today, they diagnosed five ladies with pregnancy in one breath.

The civil and military officials present: “…”

Ao Ruize: “…”

Ao Ruize immediately turned to the eunuch Qu Ji at his side. “I recall that I received quite a lot of ginseng and deer antlers recently.”

Eunuch Qu Ji immediately bowed and replied, “Yes.”

Ao Ruize sighed, “Order someone to go back and fetch them all. I want to present them to Imperial Father.”

He finally understood why Emperor Yuanxi had suddenly lost so much weight recently.

Eunuch Qu Ji: “…”

At that time, the First Prince was so happy he could only keep saying “Good, good.”

Under the persuasion of Side Consort Li, he had figured it out.

So what if Zhao Ruize became the Crown Prince?

He was destined to be heirless—

This meant that in the future, Zhao Ruize could only adopt his (the First Prince’s) son to inherit the throne.

So even if he couldn’t become Emperor, he could just wait until his son became Emperor and then have his son name him the Retired Emperor (Taishang Huang).

At that time, he could still legitimately call himself Zhen (We/I, the Emperor), and the throne would still belong to their family.

Even when Zhao Ruize got old and couldn’t get out of bed, wouldn’t their family be able to torture him however they wanted?

At that time, he would definitely vent all his pent-up anger viciously.

Thinking of this, the First Prince couldn’t help but reach out and hold Side Consort Li’s hand on the birthing bed, saying excitedly, “This time, your contribution is the greatest, the greatest!”

Hearing this, Side Consort Li forced a difficult smile. “This is all what this concubine should do.”

One can imagine how red with envy the First Prince’s primary consort’s eyes were standing nearby.

Because the First Prince had long promised to have Side Consort Li’s child adopted by Zhao Ruize. Now, they naturally couldn’t easily change the candidate.

In other words, barring any accidents, the one who would inherit Zhao Ruize’s throne in the future would be Side Consort Li’s son.

Why?

Clearly, she was the First Prince’s original wife, and her son was the legitimate eldest son. Yet in the end, a son of a concubine was going to step on their heads.

How could she be reconciled to this!

Seeing this scene, Side Consort Li couldn’t help but reveal a trace of smugness.

This was the main reason she had tried so hard to persuade the First Prince to endure.

Because if the First Prince really rebelled in a fit of anger…

If he failed, their whole family would die. Even if he succeeded, the biggest beneficiary would almost certainly be the First Prince’s Consort and her son, since they were the legitimate wife and son.

So in the future, the First Prince would most likely pass the throne to the legitimate son.

But if the First Prince laid low now, and waited for her son to be adopted by the Crown Prince and inherit the throne, then the biggest beneficiaries would be her and her son.

Even a fool knew which to choose.

But just then, their steward suddenly rushed in, gasping for breath. “Your Highness, Your Highness, bad news…”

Hearing this, the First Prince’s expression froze instantly.

Because past experience told him that every time the steward rushed in saying this phrase, he was about to suffer bad luck.

Then he heard the steward say, “Your Highness, news has come from the palace… it says… it says that five more ladies in the harem have become pregnant…”

The First Prince immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He thought something terrible had happened.

So what if concubines in the harem were pregnant again?

Like he said before, even if those concubines could successfully give birth, Emperor Yuanxi was already so old; where would he find the energy to groom another prince to replace them?

But a second later, he realized something.

—Times had changed. They had already been replaced by Zhao Ruize.

So at this time, if Emperor Yuanxi had other children, it meant…

At the same time, the steward blurted out the rest of the news: “…The Emperor immediately recalled the Crown Prince to the palace, and after celebrating lavishly, happily proposed that the Crown Prince name the unborn princes and princesses.”

“The Crown Prince named them Zhao Ruicheng, Zhao Ruizhang, Zhao Ruizuo…”

Zhao Ruicheng? What is being inherited (Cheng)?

Zhao Ruizhang? Zhao Ruizuo?

Zhang refers to a ceremonial jade scepter used by the Son of Heaven during sacrifices.

Zuo needs no explanation; it refers to the throne and imperial destiny.

So Emperor Yuanxi and Zhao Ruize’s intentions were already self-evident.

—They never thought about adopting his son.

They prepared to directly install a Crown Imperial Younger Brother in the future.

Side Consort Li felt her vision go black.

The First Prince’s eyes instantly turned red!

“Emperor Yuanxi, Zhao Ruize, you bully people too far—”

Just then, a commotion came from outside.

‘Make way’, ‘If you block this Prince again, this Prince will beat you too’…

Immediately after, the door was kicked open.

The person who came was none other than the Fourth Prince. His eyes were equally red.

Clearly, he had also received the news from the palace.

He screamed hysterically, “Big Brother! Both the face and the lining of us brothers have been stripped off and trampled into the mud! Are you going to continue being a cowardly turtle hiding in its shell?”

Hearing this, the First Prince’s eyes became even redder.

No, he didn’t want to endure anymore, because he had had enough too.

He would rather die standing than live kneeling.

Besides, who would win and who would lose was not yet certain.

Don’t forget, he still had a trump card he hadn’t used yet.

Thinking of this, he abruptly retracted his wandering thoughts and looked at the Fourth Prince.

A ruthless light instantly rose in both their eyes.

So, that night, Xia Jingyao, who had already fallen asleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

He raised his head, looked at Ao Ruize who was sleeping soundly beside him, and slowly placed his right hand onto that neck which was completely defenseless against him—a neck he had sucked and bitten he didn’t know how many times in the past…

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