Chapter 179: True Intentions

Chapter 179: True Intentions

In the deep spring of April, with a hundred flowers in full bloom, Qiu's Six Staples' flower dew business reached its peak.

Over the past two months, Qiu Huanian had implemented management reforms at Qiu's Six Staples. The current system operates on a representative council, where managers from various workshops, procurement, warehouses, wholesale sales, and storefronts form the council, meeting every ten days as a rule.

Each manager must report their plans for the next ten days during the meeting, which can only proceed with the approval of the majority. The meeting records are then transcribed and forwarded to Qiu Huanian by a designated clerk.

For matters requiring decision, the committee discusses the issue, and if no consensus is reached, they collectively defer to Qiu Huanian for a final decision.

This approach has greatly reduced Qiu Huanian's workload while strengthening his control over the shops. The managers, with their dispersed powers and mutual supervision, can avoid fraud and embezzlement without stifling their initiative.

The former manager of Qiu's Six Staples, Guan Liu, was sent by the Zhu family to manage the shop. Initially, he was very compliant due to his contract held by Qiu Huanian. Recognizing his capabilities and familiarity with the West Market, Qiu Huanian assigned him to manage Qiu's Six Staples.

However, circumstances change, and so do people. As the business of Qiu's Six Staples in the capital grew, so did Guan Liu's ambitions.

During the late stages of her pregnancy, Qiu Huanian was too preoccupied to oversee the shop. After several probes, Guan Liu began to secretly defy orders, tampering with material prices, falsely reporting warehouse losses, and extorting bribes from merchants traveling north and south, all to enrich himself.

He thought that the small amounts he siphoned off each time would go unnoticed, unaware that the detailed and complex record-keeping system Qiu Huanian had established was designed to prevent such fraud.

After recovering her health, Qiu Huanian found time to audit the records from the past few months and quickly identified the discrepancies.

She reported the matter to the authorities, who discovered that Guan Liu had secretly purchased a small house in the capital and harbored a beautiful young man he had redeemed from a brothel, embezzling more than three hundred taels of silver in total.

Qiu Huanian did not relent to Guan Liu's pleas for mercy and requested the authorities to handle the case according to the law. The officials, not daring to disrespect the Qishu County Princess, quickly resolved the case.

Due to the large amount of embezzlement, Guan Liu was sentenced to fifty strokes of the cane and three years of forced labor. All his ill-gotten gains were sold to compensate Qiu's Six Staples for its losses.

After the verdict, Qiu Huanian called together the newly elected representatives and solemnly addressed them.

"The success of Qiu's Six Staples is due to everyone's hard work. I dare say that whether it's monthly wages or other benefits, this is one of the best places in the entire capital."

"If you want to earn more, you can work hard for incentive bonuses, come up with innovative ideas for rewards, or if you have your own ideas and confidence, you can resign and start your own business. I will not stop you."

"However, if anyone secretly defies orders and enriches themselves at the expense of others, then Guan Liu's fate will be theirs. Unlike other masters who might cover up such scandals, the law is strict, and we will resolve matters in court."

After this incident, the atmosphere at Qiu's Six Staples was thoroughly cleansed. However, Qiu Huanian did not rely solely on deterrence; a reasonable and stable system is the only path to long-term development, hence the representative council system was born.

Du Yunse was very interested in Qiu Huanian's management methods at Qiu's Six Staples. After asking many questions, he combined his own insights and experiences to write a lengthy article, which he privately submitted to the Crown Prince, who greatly appreciated it.

This is part of the new policy reforms, but to raise the banner of reform, it would have to wait until the Crown Prince truly ascends the throne.

The Azure Phoenix Lord's residence recently hosted several poetry and wine gatherings, ostensibly as family banquets, under the name of Jie Tanguang, inviting literary talents from the aristocratic families under Prince Jin.

Originally, Prince Jin had considered Jie Tanguang a discard and selected a new group led by Chi Zihuai. Unexpectedly, the Azure Phoenix Lord brought Jie Tanguang back into the fold.

Ignoring Jie Tanguang would make him appear heartless, which is detrimental to maintaining his image; but to manage Jie Tanguang, Prince Jin is uncertain if he is still trustworthy, and balancing the relationship between Jie Tanguang and newcomers like Chi Zihuai is also challenging.

The Azure Phoenix Lord, seemingly unrestrained, has thrown Prince Jin's camp into chaos, while actually seizing the opportunity to gather intelligence, obtaining some interesting information.

In the spacious hall of the imperial villa outside the city, the incense of Ersu Old Bureau was burning, and sunlight filtered through the gauze-covered windows, rippling like water on the bright floor.

The Azure Phoenix Lord sipped on blood-red fine wine while speaking with the Crown Prince.

"Starting about two years ago, the Chi family in Jiangnan has been secretly investigating women aged around sixteen or seventeen who had visited their villa."

"This was revealed by Imperial Academy Director Li Ruicong after drinking. Li Ruicong, a native of Liaozhou, became a new scholar in the imperial examination in the 22nd year of Emperor Yuanhua. He used his wife's family's money to send heavy gifts to the Chi family and joined their faction. His position in the Imperial Academy was arranged by the Chi family, so the information should be credible."

The Imperial Academy Director is an official of the eighth rank, seemingly low, but in the capital, officials are three ranks higher, and the Imperial Academy is a prestigious place. Li Ruicong did not even take the Hanlin Bachelor exam but directly obtained this position with the second-to-last rank, indicating that the Chi family's leader values him quite highly.

"The Chi family's villa, a young woman of sixteen or seventeen?" Jia Hongyuan paused briefly, then retrieved a box from a hidden compartment, filled with letters.

"What are these?"

"Evidence from the notorious Jiangnan corruption case that shook the court," Jia Hongyuan said calmly, as if the case had no connection to him and had never devastated him.

"Did the Emperor give you this evidence?"

"On the day my house arrest was lifted, my father had them delivered."

"The Emperor still has faith in you."

Jia Hongyuan curled his lips. "My father advised me that if you wish to act, it must be done without detection. That the other party could frame me before I realized it is my own failing. The house arrest and the confiscation of the Wu family were lessons for me."

"..." Azure Phoenix Lord took an extra sip of wine.

"Uncle, there's no need for concern. My father's words are wise, and I have taken them to heart."

Jia Hongyuan picked out a few perfectly forged letters from the box. Azure Phoenix Lord said, "I can't follow all these intricate details; just give me the bottom line."

"The Jiangnan case was a rude awakening for me, and it finally made clear why my father had shown such forbearance towards them. Over the years, Great Yu has seemed prosperous and robust outwardly, but the vermin and minions lurking in the shadows have grown formidable and must not be underestimated."

"The Xiangping traffickers case and the real and fake Miss Zhao affair lifted a corner of their curtain, revealing their modus operandi."

Azure Phoenix Lord speculated, "They abduct suitable young children, train them for several years, then return the imposters, and position them where needed."

"Imposters can never be genuine. These spies will always have fatal weaknesses controlled by those behind the scenes, ensuring their loyalty and use."

Jia Hongyuan said, "The advisor of the Central Military Command, a fourth-rank imperial official, responsible for defense intelligence including the capital, with the power to deploy troops. Yet, the wife of such a man is a spy that no one would suspect."

"How many crucial positions across the realm have been covertly usurped?"

Azure Phoenix Lord imagined the scenario and felt a chill down his spine. "What should we do?"

"In the Jiangnan case that ensnared me, they deployed the bulk of their resources. After this evidence was handed to me, I investigated for two years and finally uncovered the mastermind."

"Who is it?"

"It's the Chi clan from Jiangnan."

"But the Jiangnan case was years ago, and the Chi family hadn't yet entered the succession fray at that time, correct?" Azure Phoenix Lord continued, "No, this too is a pretense."

"Precisely, they entered the scene over a decade ago but have always operated in the shadows. This time, they likely felt assured of victory, and with you ousting Jie Tanguang, they seized a rare chance to openly back Prince Jin with Chi Zihuai, stepping into Jie Tanguang's shoes."

Azure Phoenix Lord frowned. "Even knowing it's the Chi family, it's tough to confront them when they're in the shadows. We must first identify their key spies to preempt future issues."

Jia Hongyuan nodded. "The Chi family has exerted great effort to locate a young woman who visited their villa. This is no trivial matter. Perhaps the key lies here. I will confer with Yun Se and others, and I also ask you, Uncle, to keep an eye out for me."

"Moreover, isn't the second prince also probing this matter? Let's feed him some intel to keep his investigation going. Let's keep both the second and third princes occupied."

...

As the conversation drew to a close, Azure Phoenix Lord downed the fine wine in his crystal goblet and rose, shaking his head.

"Is sixteen not here today?"

"He's aiding Wu Shen with the Crown Princess's matters. Several factions are going all out to thwart my consort selection. I must respond earnestly to seem ensnared in this chess match."

"..." Azure Phoenix Lord was silent for a moment before asking, "If you really do this, what will happen to sixteen?"

Jia Hongyuan and Azure Phoenix Lord silently gazed at each other for a long time before he slowly spoke.

"Sixteen's loyalty is commendable, and his accomplishments are significant. After ascending the throne, I will exonerate the Mei Family, seek out their orphans for rewards, and appoint Sixteen as the imperial guard commander, keeping him by my side as always."

Azure Phoenix Lord was taken aback, "I thought you had feelings for Sixteen. I didn't expect you not to plan to marry him."

"Father once vowed to Mother that she would be his only one in this life, but he repeatedly broke his promise. Since I can remember, I have always seen Mother conceal her grievances and pain in front of others."

"As an emperor, with infinite power, everything changes—hearts, feelings, promises. I watched Father gradually become what he is now... but I must take that position."

Jia Hongyuan gave a wry smile. Facing his uncle, who was also raised by Empress Wu, he could finally reveal some of the emotions roaring deep in his heart.

"Rather than repeatedly breaking vows like Father, hurting others and myself, and then making futile attempts to make amends, it's better not to cross the line from the start."

"I do care for Sixteen," Jia Hongyuan paused, "but Sixteen is heartless. Why should I force him to develop feelings, only to break his heart?"

"As long as he stays by my side, that's enough."

Azure Phoenix Lord was at a loss for words, "Why don't you think positively? My brother is my brother, and you are you. As long as you remain steadfast, isn't that enough?"

"I can trust myself, but I cannot trust an emperor."

Azure Phoenix Lord wanted to speak further, but Jia Hongyuan didn't want to continue.

A wave of malice surged within him. Even though he knew he shouldn't, he couldn't help but say, "Uncle is adept at seeing the bright side, so more than ten years ago, even though you already knew that the 'little painter' in the palace had deceived you, and his true identity was Consort Ying's nephew, you still went to meet him and asked if he would run away with you."

"And then, what was Jie Tanguang's response? What did Consort Ying and the Jie Family do?"

Azure Phoenix Lord's hand trembled, and the crystal-clear glass shattered into pieces on the bright floor, scattering a pile of semi-transparent fragments.

He clenched his teeth and snapped, "Fine, I won't pry. Consider it me meddling."

He quickly walked to a spot near the door, paused, and half-turned his head, "I have few close relatives, and only a handful of people truly matter to me. No matter what, I hope you live a happy life."

"..." Jia Hongyuan remained silent, then stood up and bowed slightly in apology, "I overstepped earlier, I apologize."

Azure Phoenix Lord shook his head, "I poked at your sore spot, and you poked at mine. Just like when we were kids, I hit you, and you hit me back. My sister-in-law would come to mediate, saying it was even, and neither of us should hold a grudge."

"You, who are usually so composed, actually got so flustered over it, just like when we were kids. It's not too late now, think it through carefully."

Jia Hongyuan hummed in acknowledgment, but his expression remained resolute. Azure Phoenix Lord sighed and turned to leave.