How did such immense wealth fall into my family?

Chapter 49 What a pity to kill me?

"Okay, okay." You're just trying to trick me into telling you, aren't you? I'd love to tell you on my own initiative.

While chasing butterflies, the Duke of Jin asked, "Your grandfather said that you were the one who wanted to save your Uncle Dong?"

"Ah."

"why?"

"Because Uncle Dong is handsome. I've never seen anyone as handsome as Uncle Dong. I must go after him!"

"Okay, how do you know that saying that will make them give you your Uncle Dong?"

While chasing butterflies, the puppy casually remarked, "Because I'm smart. My grandpa says I'm the smartest kid in our family."

No wonder your grandfather neglected you, even though he had his grandson. "Where did you learn all that about disciplining people?"

"From the beggar. The beggar knows a lot. Oh dear! Don't just keep talking, look, the butterflies have all flown away."

"Alright, alright." The Duke of Jin casually grabbed a butterfly and handed it to the little dog, Sheng. "Here you go."

The puppy didn't take it. "I don't want this one, it's not pretty. I want that one, it's pretty." She only saved Dong Laoqi because he was handsome, how could she want an ugly butterfly?

"Alright, alright." Old Dong's bad luck was due to that face, and his good luck was also due to that face.

The Duke of Jin caught several butterflies for the little dog Sheng before leaving.

The little dog thought to itself: No wonder those people could only use that kind of trick; even the Duke of Jin was so serious about a child. Most people, after getting something out of the child, would find an excuse to abandon the child and leave.

The Duke of Jin even found ample reasons to recall Xie Zhenyun.

After thinking for a while, Xiaogou Sheng started playing again. She had to establish the persona of a mischievous boy who loved to run around and play.

Sometimes, it's really hard to distinguish between good and bad in this world. Although Grandpa Chang disrupted her plans and exposed them to the Duke of Jin's watchful eye, he also allowed them into the Duke of Jin's mansion, giving her the freedom to go wherever she wanted.

Time flies, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

On the Lantern Festival, the heir of the Earl of Dingyuan was on patrol with his men when a woman suddenly blocked their way. The woman was wearing a small dog mask and carrying a small dog lantern.

The woman bowed to the Crown Prince of Dingyuan. "Greetings, Your Highness. I would like to ask you to deliver three things to the Emperor."

The heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan immediately gripped the hilt of his sword. "What should I bring?"

The woman took out a wooden plaque and two pieces of paper from her sleeve.

The heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan gave a wink to the person next to him. The person went over to take a look.

After finishing reading, he whispered a few words to the heir of the Earl of Dingyuan.

The heir of the Earl of Dingyuan was secretly delighted. "Come with me."

"No, I have other things to attend to." The woman put the things on the ground and left.

The heir of the Earl of Dingyuan quickly went over and picked up the things.

His men, seeing the woman walking further and further away, asked, "Young Master, should we give chase?"

The heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan thought for a moment. “She probably doesn’t want to be in the limelight. Let’s go and report to the Emperor.”

The Emperor was enjoying the lanterns on the city tower with his concubines and high-ranking officials when the chief eunuch approached with a smile, carrying a wooden plaque and two pieces of paper. "Your Majesty, the owner of the three-cash item has appeared."

"Where is he?" He was losing patience; if the person didn't show up soon, he would tear the shop down.

The chief eunuch chuckled and handed over the items. "The heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan said that a woman asked him to give these to you."

The Emperor looked at the item in his hand. After reading it, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Hahahaha... Bring me paper and pen, I'll personally write the shop name for her."

"Yes."

The concubines and officials on the city wall, as well as the common people below, were all very curious to hear the emperor laughing so loudly.

Their curiosity was quickly satisfied.

The man who bought a large shop for three coins appeared.

Not only did she appear, she also wrote a letter to the emperor. In the letter, she first said that it was a blessing for the people to have such a good emperor. Then she said that she wanted to ask the government to help her rent out her shop.

Half of the rent was donated to the Emperor, and the other half to the soldiers on the frontier.

May His Majesty enjoy good health and may the soldiers achieve great victories.

In addition, she gave the shop a new name. The new name is just two characters: Taiping (太平).

To prove she was the owner of the shop, she split the shop's contract in two, keeping one half for her own collection and using the other half as proof.

After the Emperor finished writing, the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan led his men out of the palace, carrying the shop name written by the Emperor himself and the three items that the woman had entrusted to him to deliver to the Emperor.

The crowd erupted in cheers!

"Long live the Emperor!"

"A resounding victory!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

"A resounding victory!"

……

Meanwhile, the Minister of Revenue was surrounded by wealthy merchants from the capital as soon as he left the palace. The Emperor had entrusted him with the task of renting shops.

"Minister Fan, I'd like to rent that shop. I'll offer 100,000 taels." That shop is no longer just a shop. It's their opportunity to show their filial piety to the Emperor and contribute their modest efforts to the soldiers who defend the country. It's also their talisman to avoid being taken advantage of.

"I'll pay 150,000."

"I'll offer 200,000."

……

In the blink of an eye, the price rose from 100,000 taels to 1 million taels.

Minister Fan: I really wish I could invite that woman to work at the Ministry of Revenue. If she did, he wouldn't have to be chased for money anymore.

"Everyone, please calm down. His Majesty said he knows you all want to do your part for him and for the soldiers on the border. But His Majesty can't let you all go bankrupt; you are all His Majesty's subjects. Let's all do what we can." A little bit of effort going a long way is better than squeezing everyone dry all at once.

After relaying the Emperor's words, Minister Fan looked at Old Master An. "Old Master, you're quite quick on your feet. Old Master, I know you're wealthy, but you can't stop others from doing their part for His Majesty and the soldiers on the border. Here's what you'll do: you give 500,000 taels. The rest can be given to someone else."

other people:
"Yes, yes, Lord Fan, I'll offer 150,000."

"I'll give you 80,000."

"I'll offer 100,000."

"I'll offer 200,000."

……

Finally, the shop was rented out for an exorbitant price of 3.29 million taels of silver for a one-year term.

In the alley across the street, Old Dong looked down at the little girl who wasn't even as tall as his leg. "You really have the heart to do that."

The little dog shrugged. "I can't bear to part with her. I originally wanted to quietly remove my eldest cousin from their conspiracy. But after Grandpa Chang sent us to the Duke of Jin, I thought I should add another layer of protection for us."

"Also, we've been making fun of the Emperor for so long. If he were to dig three feet into the ground to find us, we'd be in big trouble. We need to appease the Emperor before he gets angry."

Originally, she was going to replace the three-copper plaque the night she learned that the Emperor had avenged her, but unexpectedly, Grandpa Chang invited the Duke of Jin over.

Later, she moved into the Duke of Jin's mansion. After moving in, she could no longer sneak out to change the plaque, so she could only do so on days like the Lantern Festival.

The little dog took out a Zhong Kui mask from his bag and put it on. "Let's go see the lanterns."

"If the person behind you is the Emperor, your Vajra Shield will be useless."

"How is it useless? I'm so good at making money, it would be such a waste to kill me. It's better to let me make money for him than to kill me."

That's true. "Let's go see the lights."

(End of this chapter)