You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

After a pause, Li Fu'an continued, "I know you're all here for the 'Imperial Chicken Essence.' But you should also be understanding of me, shouldn't you?"

"As I just mentioned, this treasure is closely guarded in the palace, and the production is extremely limited!"

"Your Majesty's grace has permitted me to dispose of a small amount, but the quantity... is truly limited!"

"Look at all these distinguished guests!"

"There's only so much food, and there's more monks than porridge. We only have two hands and one heart; it wouldn't be good if we favored one over the other."

"Then what do you suggest, Eunuch Li? There has to be a plan!" shouted a chubby merchant with a ruddy face.

"That's right! We've all come with the utmost sincerity!" another official-looking man chimed in.

Li Fu'an was secretly overjoyed, but on his face he wore a more troubled and thoughtful expression.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "How about this?"

"Since everyone wants it, let's follow the rules passed down from our ancestors, which is also the fairest method available in the market..."

"Highest bidder wins!"

"Today, the only 'imperial chicken bouillon' that our family can allocate is... just twenty catties!"

"Divide into twenty portions, one pound per portion!"

"Please make your bids on the spot! The highest bidder wins! Whether it's silver or gold notes, the transaction will be completed immediately!"

"As for the bottom price..."

Li Fu'an held up three fingers and said slowly, "Just as we agreed before, thirty taels of silver per tael."

"One jin is four hundred and eighty liang."

"Let's start with 480 taels, everyone, please!"

Upon hearing this, the courtyard fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a huge uproar!

Four hundred and eighty taels per catty?

Is there still an auction?

The young masters and ladies peeking from outside the door also gasped in surprise. This was far more exciting than the thirty taels per tael they had expected!

This is no longer just about buying; it's more like a contest of wealth and face!

"I'll offer five hundred taels!" someone immediately shouted.

"Five hundred and twenty taels!"

"Five hundred and fifty!"

"Six hundred taels!!"

The bidding was incessant, like a pot of boiling oil.

Excitement, tension, and determination were intertwined on everyone's face.

Standing on the steps, Li Fu'an listened to the ever-increasing numbers, his heart already pounding with laughter, but on the surface he maintained that reserved demeanor of "being forced into a corner" and "acting fairly."

"Six hundred and fifty taels!"

"Seven hundred taels!"

"I'll offer eight hundred!"

"Nine hundred taels! Don't even think about taking it from me!"

"One thousand taels!"

The price soared, quickly breaking through the 1,000 mark. Many of the bidders were sweating profusely; this amount was by no means small, even for them.

But when they think about the immense prestige they'll enjoy in social circles after acquiring this "Imperial Chicken Essence," and its irreplaceable, unparalleled umami flavor, many people still grit their teeth and follow suit with envy.

Finally, when a portly merchant representing the Jiangnan Salt Merchants Association trembled as he shouted out the exorbitant price of "one thousand five hundred taels!", the courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

This price is enough to buy a nice house in Lin'an City!

The sons of officials and wealthy merchants who had previously been determined to win looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally shook their heads helplessly, choosing to give up.

"Fifteen hundred taels! Sold!"

Li Fu'an made the final decision, and the "difficult" expression on his face was almost impossible to hide. He quickly covered the corner of his mouth with a silk handkerchief, afraid of revealing his ecstatic joy.

Although the fat merchant's mouth twitched with pain, he still straightened his chest under the envious, jealous, and shocked gazes of those around him. He immediately signaled his attendants to carry up the heavy wooden box and handed over the gold ingots of good quality on the spot.

After verifying his identity, Li Fu'an carefully took out an exquisite wooden box wrapped in bright yellow silk and sealed with a tape from the inner room and solemnly handed it to the fat merchant.

Those who bought it were overjoyed and left in droves as if they were holding a priceless treasure.

Those who failed to buy a ticket looked dejected and sighed.

"Oh! So close!"

"Fifteen hundred taels...this...this is too cruel!"

"Eunuch Li, when will you have more stock next? Please save some for me!"

Looking at this group of disappointed "gods of wealth," Li Fu'an's small eyes darted around, and he thought to himself: "You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. I can't let people's hearts cool down all at once."

He cleared his throat and put on a sincere smile: "Gentlemen, please calm down, please calm down!"

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, he lowered his voice and said mysteriously:

"We know you were all worried because you didn't manage to buy any."

"In that case, thanks to Your Majesty's grace, I reckon by the end of the month... the Imperial Kitchen might be able to spare another ten or eight catties..."

Before the words were even finished, the disappointed crowd stirred again, their eyes brimming with renewed hope.

"but!"

Li Fu'an changed the subject, gesturing with both hands: "There are only so many things, but there are tons of people who want them."

"To be fair, let's try a different approach this time."

"Those who want a share at the end of this month can register here today and pay in full upfront!"

"Still at the price of 1,500 taels per catty!"

"Huh? Full payment in advance?" someone exclaimed.

"Yes! Full payment!"

Li Fu'an stated firmly: "We'll draw lots publicly! Whoever gets the goods gets them; it's a clean transaction, no empty promises!"

"How about this way, we won't offend anyone and just rely on luck?"

Some wealthy and extremely eager individuals, after a moment's thought, gritted their teeth and decided to take a gamble, crowding around to register and pay.

The courtyard immediately became a flurry of activity again.

.....

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, in a side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Lu Zuo leaned against the soft couch, his eyes slightly closed.

Bao Xiruo knelt behind him, her slender fingers gently massaging his temples with a skillful and relaxing touch.

"His Majesty."

A eunuch tiptoed in and bowed to report: "The Imperial Kitchen reports that the first batch of MSG has been produced according to the new recipe you bestowed. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Lu Zuo opened his eyes and said calmly, "Bring it here."

A young eunuch hurried forward carrying a white jade box. Lu Zuo opened the box and saw some slightly rough, yellowish crystalline particles inside, which were slightly different from the snow-white MSG he remembered.

He dipped his finger in the mixture and tasted it carefully.

Well, the umami flavor is fairly pure. Although the appearance is a bit lacking and there are many impurities, the core technology has been grasped.

The key point is that this stuff costs more than ten times less than concentrated chicken bouillon made by boiling chicken, pork bones, and shiitake mushrooms!

It is more suitable for large-scale production in the future and for distribution to the general public.

"It's acceptable."

Lu Zuo closed the lid and said softly to Bao Xiruo, "Xiruo, I'll be right back."

After saying this, he got up and went straight to the Imperial Study.

.....

Inside the Imperial Study, Li Qingzhao was engrossed in a pile of account books when she heard that His Majesty had arrived. She quickly got up to greet him.

"No need for such formalities."

Lu Zuo placed the white jade box on her desk: "This is newly made 'MSG.' Calculate the cost per ounce if it were to be mass-produced, after deducting labor costs and losses."

Li Qingzhao opened the jade box, observed it for a moment, and then inquired about the production process and materials used. After pondering for a while, her fingers flew across the abacus:

"Your Majesty, if mass production were to be achieved and the cost diluted, the material cost per ounce of 'MSG' would be..."

"It's probably less than ten coins."

"Ten coins..."

It seems that chicken essence is targeting the high-end luxury market and the wealthy, while MSG can be seen as a strategic resource and a commodity for the general public in the future.

Just then, a eunuch outside the door announced: "Your Majesty, Li Fu'an, the Right Vice Director of the Imperial Kitchen, requests an audience, saying he has important matters to report."

"Announce."

Li Fu'an practically tiptoed in, his face flushed with excitement and elation. He knelt down with a thud as soon as he entered.

"This servant, Li Fu'an, greets Your Majesty!"

"Thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune! This is an extremely joyous occasion!"

"Today...today, following His Majesty's decree, I tentatively released twenty catties of 'Imperial Chicken Essence,' hoping to sell it for ten thousand taels of silver, which would be a stroke of luck. Who...who knew..."

He swallowed hard, trying to calm his breathing, and held up four fingers, his voice suddenly rising: "Those officials and wealthy merchants... they're bidding like madmen!"

"It finally sold for an astronomical price of 1,500 taels per catty!"

"Twenty catties sold for a whopping thirty thousand taels of silver!"

"That's not all..."

He continued, "Those who didn't manage to buy one, I made them pay the full amount in advance and then draw lots to pre-order, and then..."

"Another 15,000 taels of silver was received in advance as a deposit!"

"Today alone, this servant has collected 45,000 taels of silver for Your Majesty!"

'

Upon hearing the figure of "forty-five thousand taels," Lu Zuo's pupils contracted slightly.

He knew chicken bouillon would be in high demand, but he didn't expect it to be this popular!

In a single day, with just twenty catties of seasoning, he amassed a fortune comparable to the annual tax revenue of a top-tier prefecture!

The purchasing power and the frenzied luxury goods market in Lin'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, truly exceeded his expectations...

Li Qingzhao, who was standing to the side, stared wide-eyed at Li Fu'an kneeling on the ground in disbelief, then at Lu Zuo, whose expression was slightly surprised. She was deeply shocked.

Forty-five thousand taels?

This……

This is simply turning lead into gold!

Lu Zuo looked at Li Fu'an, who was lying on the ground, unable to contain his excitement, and his eyes showed even more admiration.

This kid is not only efficient, but his money-making skills are also beyond expectation.

Get up.

Lu Zuo's voice was calm, yet tinged with approval: "You handled this matter very well."

"Of the 45,000 taels that came in today, you shall take 500 taels as a reward from me for your hard work."

"In addition, I will provide another thousand taels to manage your affairs and cover your expenses. You can decide how to spend it as you see fit, as long as the accounts are clear."

Five hundred taels!

There is also one thousand taels of undistributed activity funds!

Upon hearing this, Li Fu'an was terrified, so overjoyed he almost fainted.

Five hundred taels of silver—he had never touched so much money in his entire life!

He immediately kowtowed three times, his voice choked with emotion, "This servant...this servant thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace!"

"This servant will serve Your Majesty to the death!"

"Um."

Lu Zuo nodded slightly, then changed the subject, pointing to the white jade box on the table: "This thing is called 'MSG,' a new flavor enhancer that I have created. Its effects are similar to chicken essence, but its cost is thirty times lower."

Li Fu'an carefully stepped forward to examine the yellowish granules, and after hearing Lu Zuo briefly explain the cost, he immediately understood.

He was an extremely intelligent person and immediately understood the key to it.

Chicken bouillon is a royal delicacy, a symbol of prestige and status.

And this MSG is the real substance, the source of endless wealth!

His eyes darted around, and an even bolder, more cunning plan instantly took shape in his mind. He took a half-step closer, lowered his voice, and said with a mixture of probing and excitement:

"Your Majesty, I have a humble suggestion..."

"This 'MSG' is not only His Majesty's secret recipe, but also inexpensive to produce; it's truly a treasure trove bestowed by heaven!"

"Your Majesty, I have a humble suggestion..."

"This 'MSG' is not only His Majesty's secret recipe, but also inexpensive to produce; it's truly a treasure trove bestowed by heaven!"

"But the 'Imperial Chicken Essence' is currently enjoying great popularity and is in high demand. If we were to launch this cheap 'MSG' prematurely, it would likely impact the market for chicken essence, which would be counterproductive."

He observed Lu Zuo's expression and continued, "In my humble opinion, perhaps..."

"Let's suppress this 'MSG' for now and prevent it from entering the market."

"Instead, strike while the iron is hot and hype up the name of 'Imperial Chicken Essence' even more, so that wealthy households and gentry throughout Lin'an and even Jiangnan will consider it an honor to use and hoard this product!"

"Then......"

"I will secretly set up a business guild, without using the royal name, but under the identity of a common merchant."

"They use MSG as the main ingredient, with a small amount of real chicken essence added, but claim it to be a 'second-grade chicken essence' that they have managed to 'imitate'."

"It has some effects, but it is not as good as the real imperial product."

"Set the price of this 'imitation chicken essence' at..."

"Yes, let's set it at 800 taels per catty!"

"Almost half the price of premium quality, but still an exorbitant price that's unimaginable for most people!"

"For wealthy families who yearn for imperial delicacies but cannot obtain them, or who are reluctant to part with 1,500 taels of silver but desperately crave this 'respectability' and 'deliciousness,' this is the perfect choice!"

"Moreover, because it is a 'copycat,' the production volume can be 'larger,' satisfying the needs of more people."

"In this way, the premium products uphold the prestige and price of top-tier goods, while the 'replicas' can amass enormous wealth from the lower tiers..."

"A double win, Your Majesty! Profits pouring in from both sides!"

Lu Zuo was both surprised and delighted as he listened to Li Fu'an's almost spontaneously formed and complete "luxury goods tiered marketing" and "counterfeit premium" strategy.

This kid is a real genius!

They developed strategies for brand premium, product line differentiation, and capturing different consumer groups without any formal training.

They have mastered the economics of luxury goods and the operations in the gray areas.

This approach preserves the prestige and exorbitant profits of "Imperial Chicken Essence" while leveraging low-cost MSG to tap into a larger secondary market and maximize profits.

He's a real talent, an exceptionally talented person!

Looking into Li Fu'an's expectant yet slightly apprehensive eyes, he finally couldn't help but laugh, a laugh filled with undisguised admiration.

"good!"

"Li Fu'an, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

"I will do as you say."

"The secret formation of a chamber of commerce to operate this 'imitation chicken essence' business must be kept secret, and the accounts must be clear and independent."

"You can draw the necessary manpower and capital from the internal treasury, or allocate a portion of today's sales revenue as start-up capital."

He stood up, walked over to Li Fu'an, and patted him on the shoulder: "Do a good job and do this well."

"Once this matter is accomplished, I will bestow further rewards upon you."

"This servant...this servant obeys the decree! Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty! This servant will serve you with utmost loyalty and sacrifice!"

Li Fu'an was so excited that his face turned red, and he felt that his whole body was full of inexhaustible energy and boundless loyalty.

He kowtowed again, then backed away, almost running, and left the imperial study, his back view radiating high spirits.

The Imperial Study returned to silence, leaving only Lu Zuo and Li Qingzhao, who had not yet fully recovered from the series of astonishing figures and schemes.

Lu Zuo felt extremely happy.

With funding sources secured, talent available, and strength growing daily, everything is progressing in a positive direction.

He turned to look at Li Qingzhao beside him, and saw that her pretty face still had a look of shock and disbelief, her pink lips were slightly parted, and her beautiful eyes were wide open.

They seem to still be processing the "45,000 taels" and that absurd "imitation" plan.

She looked less aloof and capable than when handling government affairs, and more charming and adorable.

A surge of warmth, accompanied by joy and a sense of accomplishment, welled up in her heart. Lu Zuo suddenly stepped forward, and amidst Li Qingzhao's soft gasp, he slipped one hand under her knees and the other around her slender waist, easily lifting the talented secretary into his arms.

"Oh, Your Majesty!"

Caught off guard, Li Qingzhao gasped and instinctively reached out to wrap her arms around Lu Zuo's neck, her warm, soft body instantly filling her embrace.

She looked up and met Lu Zuo's deep, smiling, yet undeniably aggressive eyes. Two intoxicating blushes instantly rose to her cheeks, and her heart pounded like a drum.

"Secretary Li, you've worked hard on the accounts today."

Lu Zuo lowered his head and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe:

"I... will reward you handsomely."

……

Several days later, in the Qin residence, in the study.

As dusk approached, candles were lit in the study.

Qin Hui, dressed in casual clothes, sat behind a rosewood desk, leisurely sipping a fine cup of Longtuan tea.

The tea was clear and fragrant, but a lingering gloom hung over his brow.

"Prime Minister."

The trusted old steward appeared at the study door and lowered his voice: "A monk has come from outside the manor. He claims to be from the Great Wheel Temple in the Great Snow Mountain of the Western Regions, with the Dharma name 'Urdo.' He says he has important business to discuss with the Prime Minister."

Qin Hui paused slightly in his teacup, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Daisetsuzan Dairinji Temple?

People of Tantric Buddhism?

Sure enough, they sent people from the north!

He pondered for a moment, then whispered, "Have him enter through the west side gate and lead him directly to the 'Quiet Room.' Be careful along the way so that no one sees us."

"Yes." The old butler acknowledged the order and quietly withdrew.

About an incense stick's time later, a hidden door on the inside of the study was gently pushed open, and the old steward bowed and led a monk in.

The monk was tall, almost reaching the lintel, and wore a heavy crimson robe with a colorful kasaya over it.

He wore a tall rooster-comb hat, had a bronze face, high cheekbones, and deep-set eyes. His eyes gleamed with a sharp light as they opened and closed, and his gaze carried a fierceness and wildness that was quite different from that of monks from the Central Plains.

What is most striking are his hands hanging at his sides, with large knuckles, short and thick fingers, and a dark complexion, as if they were cast from refined iron.

Upon entering the study, he did not immediately bow, but instead first glanced around with sharp, eagle-like eyes, scrutinizing Qin Hui, before finally fixing his gaze on the seated man.

"Amitabha."

The monk raised one hand to his chest in a strange Buddhist gesture, his voice low and hoarse, with a heavy foreign accent: "This humble monk, Urdo, has come south to see Prime Minister Qin on the orders of my lord."