The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Outside the Cining Palace, the cicadas' chirping gradually died down, and the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the vermilion palace walls, reflecting a solemn golden red.

Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the palace he rarely set foot in. Although Queen Mother Li was not his biological mother, as the previous emperor's wife, her power in the court was intertwined and she could even influence the cabinet's decisions.

And today, he must meet this 'Queen Mother' in person.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is worshipping Buddha, can we wait a moment..."

The eunuch in charge of the Cining Palace asked cautiously.

Yi Huawei glanced at him coldly, and the eunuch suddenly fell silent, not daring to say anything more.

"I have come to see my mother, do I still need to wait?"

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable pressure. Before he finished speaking, he had already strode into the palace. The palace maids and eunuchs on both sides knelt down one after another, and no one dared to stop him.

...............

Inside the Cining Palace, the air was filled with sandalwood incense. Empress Dowager Li sat upright on a soft couch, twirling Buddhist beads in her hands with a calm expression.

"How come the emperor has time to come to my place today?"

She raised her eyes, her gaze was calm, yet there was a hidden sharpness in it.

Yi Huawei smiled slightly and bowed: "I have been busy with government affairs and neglected to ask about your well-being. Today I come to apologize to you, the Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother snorted softly, "The Emperor is so busy, how dare I blame him? I just heard that the Emperor is going to take action against the Shanxi merchants recently."

——It’s here as expected!
Yi Huawei sneered in his heart, but his face remained calm: "My mother is well-informed. Shanxi merchants colluded with border generals, embezzled military pay, and evaded millions of taxes. If they are not severely punished, where is the law of the country?"

The Queen Mother paused for a moment, then said slowly, "The Shanxi merchants have been operating for a century, and they have mutually benefited from the imperial court. If we act rashly, I'm afraid the border will be unstable."

"Unstable?"

Yi Huawei's eyes gradually turned cold: "Are you worried about the instability of the border, or are you worried about the financial problems of some people?"

The Queen Mother's expression changed slightly: "What does the Emperor mean by this?"

Yi Huawei paced with his hands behind his back, his tone calm but every word sharp: "Among the eight major Shanxi merchants, the Fan, Wang, and Jin families have close ties with my mother's cousin Li Chongyi. Last year alone, they presented the Li family with 300,000 taels of silver."

"you--!"

The Queen Mother stood up suddenly, and her Buddhist beads fell to the ground with a thud: "Is the Emperor blaming me?"

Yi Huawei was unmoved, he just raised his eyes slightly and said: "Mother, you are worrying too much, I am just stating the facts."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly dropped to freezing point.

The Queen Mother took a deep breath and suppressed her anger: "Emperor, I shouldn't interfere in the affairs of the court. But the matter of the Shanxi merchants involves a lot of people. If we act rashly, I'm afraid it will shock the court and the people.

Yi Huawei said calmly: "Don't worry, mother, I know what to do."

The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes and said, "Has the Emperor forgotten that when the previous Emperor was alive, he also wanted to rectify the commercial tax, but it was ultimately abandoned?"

"The late emperor is the late emperor, and I am I."

Yi Huawei's tone gradually turned cold: "No one can stop me from doing what I want to do."

The Queen Mother sneered: "The Emperor is so arrogant! Does he think that he can do whatever he wants just because he has firmly sat on the throne?"

Yi Huawei suddenly laughed.

The next second—

"boom!"

He flashed and instantly approached the Queen Mother. He struck out with one palm, and the entire rosewood table shattered, with wood chips flying everywhere!
The Queen Mother turned pale with horror and staggered back, but Yi Huawei grabbed her wrist.

"Be careful, mother. Don't fall."

His tone was gentle, but his hands were as strong as an iron clamp, making the Queen Mother unable to move.

The palace maids and eunuchs in the hall were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, trembling.

The Queen Mother turned pale and stared at Yi Huawei: "You... you dared to do this in the Cining Palace?!"

Yi Huawei let go of his hand, took a step back, and said calmly: "Mother, you misunderstood. I was just afraid that you would fall."

After a pause, he continued, "In addition, I have ordered the Jinyiwei to conduct a thorough investigation of the land and shops of my mother's cousin Li Chongyi in Shanxi. If any problems are found..."

He smiled slightly: "Mother, you should understand that my patience is limited."

The Queen Mother finally realized that the young emperor before her was not one of those royal family members who needed to rely on her.

He has extraordinary martial arts skills and ruthless methods, but what's more terrifying is that he doesn't care about the so-called "filial piety" and "etiquette" at all!
After a long silence, the Queen Mother finally sat down slowly and said in a hoarse voice: "What does the Emperor want?"

Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp: "It's very simple."

"First, your mother must not interfere in the affairs of the Shanxi merchants."

"Second, if the Li family returns the ill-gotten gains they have swallowed over the years, I will forgive them for what they have done."

"third--"

Yi Huawei leaned forward slightly and whispered, "Mother, please focus on worshipping Buddha in the future, and don't worry about the affairs of the court."

The Queen Mother's pupils suddenly shrank: "You want me to completely withdraw from the court?"

Yi Huawei stood up and said calmly, "My mother is old now, it's time for her to enjoy her retirement."

The hall was dead silent.

After a long while, the Queen Mother finally closed her eyes and sighed, "...Okay, I promise you."

Yi Huawei raised his lips slightly: "Mother is wise."

After bowing, Yi Huawei turned and walked out of the palace. He paused at the door and said, "By the way, if your mother misses my cousin, I can arrange for Li Chongyi to go to Nanjing to retire."

After saying this, he strode away.

Inside the palace, the Queen Mother clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

Walking out of the Cining Palace, Yi Huawei looked up at the darkening sky, with a cold light in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, what's next...?"

Wang Chengen beside him asked in a low voice.

Yi Huawei smiled coldly: "Replace all the people in Cining Palace with our people."

Wang Chengen understood: "I understand."

Yi Huawei stepped forward, and the night wind blew his dragon robe, making a rustling sound.

………………

Fan family mansion in Taiyuan, Shanxi.

The bluestone-paved corridor glowed coldly in the night, and the copper bells on the eaves rang automatically without wind, making a sporadic and suppressed sound. Inside the high wall, the halo of the lanterns was cut by the heavy dark clouds, casting mottled shadows on the blue bricks and gray tiles.

In the main hall, the heads of the four families, Fan, Wang, Jin, and Chang, sat together at the sandalwood eight-immortal table. The other four families were unable to attend because they were either far away or waiting to see which way the wind would blow.

The candlelight in the hall flickered, casting the shadows of the people on the carved screen. As the candle tears dripped, the shadows twisted and swayed. Fan Yongdou, wearing a dark blue brocade robe, sat in the main seat, stroking the secret letter in his hand repeatedly. This tycoon who controlled the northern trade network frowned at this moment, and his eyes swept over the people like a hawk.

"The imperial edict has already reached Taiyuan Prefecture."

Fan Yongdou broke the silence, his voice hoarse, every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his throat: "We want the eight family heads to set out to the capital to meet the emperor within three days."

Chang Weimeng slammed the teacup in his hand on the table, causing the tea in the cup to splash out. His face trembled with the movement: "Go to Beijing? If you go to Beijing, can you come back alive?"

The voice echoed in the hall like thunder, carrying undisguised anger and fear.

Wang Dengku narrowed his eyes and tapped the tabletop with his right index finger. The thin businessman, wearing a moon-white silk shirt, looked gentle and elegant, but his eyes flashed with a shrewd and calculating light: "Wang Gelao said that if we pay the taxes owed over the years, we can get a lighter sentence."

Jin Liangyu was wearing a royal blue brocade robe, with a mutton-fat jade pendant hanging around his waist. His demeanor revealed a bit of nobility. Upon hearing this, he sneered and snapped the folding fan in his hand shut:

"Tax refund? Which of the accounts for the transportation of grain and salaries at the border over the years is clean? If we really investigate, we will all lose our heads!"

Fan Yongdou slammed the secret letter on the table. His voice was as cold as ice, and there was a murderous aura in his words: "The court is going to take action against us."

The hall fell into a dead silence, with only the crackling sound of the candle wicks being particularly piercing in the silence. Everyone's eyes wandered between each other, each of them thinking about their own little tricks.

Chang Wei was the first to break the silence. He stood up suddenly, and his wide sleeves swept across the table, shaking the teacup slightly: "We hold the lifeline of food and wages for the border in our hands. If the court dares to touch us, the border troops will be the first to disagree!"

Wang Dengku nodded slightly, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his fingertips gently turned the jade ring in his hand: "I have sent someone to contact Datong General Jiang Ge, and he agreed to send troops to 'escort' us to Beijing."

Jin Liangyu frowned and tapped his palm with the folding fan in his hand: "Jiang Ge? This man is extremely greedy and has a huge appetite. I'm afraid he will be difficult to deal with."

"Anything that can be solved with money is not a problem."

Wang Dengku spoke calmly, as if he was talking about a trivial matter: "Hasn't he taken enough from us over the years? If we fail, his source of income will also be cut off."

Fan Yongdou narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the secret letter on the table. After a moment of silence, he said, "Jiang Ge's soldiers are trustworthy, but he alone is not enough. If the court is determined to move against us, the border troops may not dare to resist openly."

"What do you think, Brother Fan?"

Chang Wei sat down again, leaned forward, and stared at Fan Yongdou.

Fan Yongdou slowly stood up and walked to the window, with his back to the crowd. It was dark outside the window, with only a few lanterns swaying in the wind, stretching his shadow very long.

"Two paths."

His voice came from the darkness, with a barely perceptible hint of cruelty.

"First, delay."

Fan Yongdou turned around and glanced at everyone: "We will delay our entry into Beijing under the pretext of raising tax money, and at the same time manage the relationship between the court and China, so that the cabinet and the empress dowager can put pressure on the emperor to give in."

"Second—"

He paused, his eyes turned cold: "If the imperial court really wants to fight to the death, we will cut off the food and money at the border, causing chaos in the nine important towns! Then, let's see how the emperor will end it!"

Everyone had different expressions upon hearing this.

Chang Wei nodded thoughtfully, Jin Liangyu frowned and fell into deep thought, while Wang Dengku smiled and seemed to be thinking about something.

Just as everyone was silent, Wang Dengku suddenly chuckled, breaking the solemn atmosphere. He slowly stood up and walked to the center of the hall, the jade ring in his hand glowing green under the candlelight.

"Brother Fan, there is actually a third way."

Fan Yongdou's eyes shone, and he looked at Wang Dengku with a sharp gaze: "Oh?"

Wang Dengku lowered his voice, approached the crowd, and showed a sinister smile on his face: "The emperor is young and full of energy, and he doesn't know his limits."

He paused, a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes: "If he suddenly gets sick in the capital and dies suddenly..."

Fan Yongdou's pupils suddenly contracted, and his body leaned forward slightly: "You mean--"

Wang Dengku nodded meaningfully, with a cunning light in his eyes: "The imperial physician in the palace also has our people."

His voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, but in the silent hall, it sounded like thunder.

Jin Liangyu's face suddenly changed, and the folding fan in his hand fell to the ground with a bang: "You are crazy! Assassinating the emperor is a heinous crime that will kill all of your clan!"

Chang Wei's eyes lit up and he licked his lips: "Although this plan is risky, if it succeeds, we can rest assured."

Fan Yongdou fell into deep thought, frowning, pacing back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back. Under the candlelight, his shadow kept swaying on the wall, just like his confused thoughts at the moment.

"This matter is of great importance and cannot afford any mistakes. We must take a long-term view."

Fan Yongdou stopped and looked at everyone: "Besides...your method may not work. I heard that the new emperor studied martial arts at Mount Hua before ascending the throne. His martial arts have reached the level of a god, and ordinary poisons have no effect on him."

Wang Dengku smiled slightly, took out a small celadon bottle from his sleeve and gently placed it on the sandalwood table.

The bottle is plain white without any decoration, and the mouth of the bottle is sealed with red wax.

"This substance is called 'Soul-breaking Powder'. It is colorless and tasteless and dissolves as soon as it enters water." Wang Dengku tapped the bottle with his fingertips: "Only three drops are needed. Within half a minute, even a god will die without a doubt."

Jin Liangyu stared at the porcelain bottle, cold sweat oozing from his forehead: "Where did this come from?"

"Secret medicine from the Western Regions."

Wang Dengku sneered: "The sudden death of the Tatar Khan was due to this thing."

Fan Yongdou frowned and said, "The emperor has eunuchs who test poison for food and drink, how could he have given him the drug?"

Wang Dengku took out a piece of paper from his pocket and pushed it in front of everyone:

"Zhou Ji, the Right Court Judge of the Imperial Hospital, is a distant relative of my Wang family. And... Li Dequan, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Kitchen, was sent to the palace by my Wang family twenty years ago."

Chang Wei's eyes flashed: "Li Dequan? The eunuch who is in charge of the emperor's tea?"

Wang Dengku nodded: "This man is greedy for money and likes gambling. He owes 30,000 taels of gambling debt and is worried about where to pay it back."

Everyone's eyes changed when they looked at Wang Dengku, and the hall fell silent again. Only the candlelight swayed in the wind, stretching everyone's shadows longer and shorter.

“The risks are huge, but the rewards are huge.”

Wang Dengku glanced at the hesitant people and sneered, "If the new emperor is established, we will be the emperor's followers. Why should we worry about our wealth and honor?"

Jin Liangyu pondered for a moment and said, "This matter needs to be considered in the long run. The most urgent task right now is to deal with the matter of entering Beijing first."

Fan Yongdou nodded: "Brother Jin is right. Brother Wang's suggestion... can be used as a backup."

He looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Tomorrow the four of us will set out for the capital, escorted by Jiang Ge's soldiers along the way. I have sent someone to notify the other four families, asking them to quickly meet up in Taiyuan."

"After entering Beijing, we will act separately."

He continued:

"Brother Wang, contact old friends in the court. Brother Chang, take care of the Jinyiwei and the inner court. Brother Jin, be responsible for raising money for the 'tax refund'. Remember, make sure the accounts are done well and never let the court catch you!"

The three of them nodded in unison.

Fan Yongdou lowered his voice again: "In addition, each family should immediately destroy important account books and secret letters, and transfer property secretly. If things cannot be done..."

He paused, a look of determination flashed in his eyes: "Let the border be in chaos!"

(End of this chapter)