The Idle Man of Zhenguan Intercepts Wu Zetian at the Start

After Changsun Dan finished feeding Red Hare, he saw that Xu Daniu and the other man were still bent over. Wu Xu kept his eyes straight ahead, his face cold and stern. He couldn't help but kick Xu Daniu in the calf.

"The meat is burnt."

Xu Daniu and his companion hurriedly sat down, feeling that the young mistress was not one to smile easily and would probably not be as easy to get along with as the county magistrate in the future.

Fang Yi'ai sat down casually, wolfing down his meat skewers as he asked:

"Liulang, is this beef? It's so hard to find this kind of tender young yellow beef these days."

Changsun Dan was already annoyed by this young man. Last time, he had pushed him onto the dappled horse, almost costing him his life, and now he had been promoted on the spot. Today, the atmosphere was fine, but he had inexplicably brought Wu Zetian along.

"Aren't you afraid of being whipped twenty times by the Imperial Guards?"

Fang Yi'ai chuckled slyly, "I ran into the Wu family girls today and found out they came looking for you. I knew you were at the Zhenbei Camp during the day, so I had no choice but to use the Right Guard Pass to bring them here. You don't need to thank me. Just give me two jars of this Poet Immortal Wine later."

Changsun Dan was taken aback for a moment. He had a good impression of Wu Shun and bowed respectfully: "Changsun Dan greets elder sister. May I ask what brings you here?"

Wu Shun quickly returned the greeting and replied softly, "His Majesty's appointed wedding date is approaching, and Meiniang wanted to...want to ask the county magistrate when he plans to present the betrothal gifts..."

Wu Zetian had never thought highly of Changsun Dan, and since he didn't mention him, she was even less inclined to ask. However, today, after her maternal uncle Yang Gongren returned from his Shixian Wine Shop, he actually gave ten poems that he had copied for two taels of gold to her second maternal uncle Yang Shidao. Her second maternal uncle had always been kind to her and her mother, and he personally came to inquire about the progress of their marriage. He also praised Changsun Dan highly and even urged his mother to approach Changsun Dan to propose marriage.

It was as if the Wu family was begging him to marry her, and with Wu Zetian's temperament, how could she tolerate it! So she went to their door herself and happened to meet Fang Yi'ai, which led to the incident of her visiting the plum garden at night.

Changsun Dan was in a real bind. Emperor Li Er's decree required him to get married at the end of the month, and with only a few days left, if they didn't come tonight, he was afraid he would have completely forgotten about it.

The imperial edict could not be disobeyed, but he didn't understand these things. He turned to Chun Chan and Dong Yao for help.

Dongyao avoided the young master's gaze and lowered her head. Chunchan smiled and said, "The young master is on good terms with Master Yan, who is also a great Confucian scholar well-versed in etiquette. Why not ask him to preside over the young master's wedding?"

When Wu Zetian saw that this dignified county magistrate and master of the Plum Garden still had to consult her maid on matters, her contempt only deepened. She wondered what poems he had written that had even bewitched his uncle, who spoke with icy fervor.

"No need for such trouble. After I marry him, we will not interfere with each other." After saying that, he gave Chun Dong and the other two maids a cold look: "If you want to take two concubines, I will not stop you, but the plum garden's properties, including the winery, will be managed by me."

Fang Yi'ai had a big mouthful of meat in his mouth. Hearing Wu Xu's words, he swallowed half of it but choked back. He looked at Changsun Dan with some embarrassment, wondering if he had caused trouble again.

Changsun Dan was so angry he laughed. Wu Xu really thought he was Wu Zetian after she became empress. Now you don't have the power of life and death, what can you do to me?

However, given her personality, if we don't give her something to do, the plum garden will probably be in chaos in the future. It would be best to let her move in after the county government is built, and also to entrust her with the management of the thousand acres of permanent farmland in the small imperial estate.

However, that's all in the future. Since a marriage is to be arranged, the proper rites and rituals must be followed. If things go wrong, and Li Er becomes suspicious, he's not someone to be trifled with.

He thought for a moment and said tactfully, "Miss Wu is a renowned talented woman. I am currently building a school, so why don't I entrust it to you? Before you came, we were discussing setting up a bookstore, and you can also take over the book sales in the future. However, the winery and papermaking technology will be handled by Chun Chan and Dong Yao. If they get married in the future, I will give them these as part of their dowry!"

Qian Ning and the others all showed envy. They had seen with their own eyes how profitable the distillery was, with gold ingots flying into the counter one after another. As for papermaking and book printing, the future was immeasurable. The little county boy didn't even blink, casually saying he would give them some...

Chun Chan never intended to leave the young master, so whether or not she was given the gift made little difference. But listening to the young master's words, even if the plum garden had a mistress, the economic power was still in her hands. Suddenly, she straightened her back a bit. They had the Empress behind them. It wasn't that they were afraid of Wu Xu, but etiquette was etiquette. Wu Xu's status was there, and she had to be three points lower when she met him.

Dongyao kept her head down. The young master had said several times that if she wanted to marry someone in the future, he would marry her off... Perhaps he was just too young... As for this future mistress, she couldn't be arrogant and ride on the young master's head. Dongyao raised her head, a cold murderous aura appearing on her face. Qianning and the others couldn't help but shiver. She had the same expression when she broke the formation last time.

Wu Xu also gave Dong Yao a cold look. She had seen Chun Chan make a move and knew that these two girls were from the palace, but she hadn't taken them seriously. However, she was somewhat surprised to hear Changsun Dan mention papermaking and book printing. She had heard that his "Poet Immortal Wine" had been snapped up by countless noblemen as soon as it hit the market, and that his poems had caused a sensation throughout Chang'an. She never expected that he could even make paper and print books. Perhaps she had really underestimated him.

Seeing that the plum garden was full of plum blossoms, Wu Shun recalled that night on the Lantern Festival when the county magistrate bought all the plum blossoms from the flower girl's hands, perhaps just hoping that she could buy a pair of shoes. His eyes were gentle, and he thought to himself, "Isn't this the kind of person that Meiniang described as a great hero and a great man?"

Wu Zetian pondered for a long time. Discussing the management of the plum garden business with him at this moment was indeed like building castles in the air; at least she didn't possess those skills. She had no interest in the academy, but the bookstore was the best business for her to accumulate connections and wealth. Compared to the winery, the bookstore was indeed more appealing to her.

"That's fine. Then you can use the bookstore as a dowry for the next few days. If you don't embarrass me, I won't make it difficult for you to explain to His Majesty."

Changsun Dan couldn't help but praise Wu Zetian. She truly deserved to be called the number one female emperor in the world. She was pragmatic yet ambitious, greedy yet extremely good at assessing situations. In terms of intelligence, all the maids in Plum Garden combined probably wouldn't be her match.

Changsun smiled and said, "Pingkangfang is my fiefdom, and the Wu family also lives there. Let's choose that place for our first bookstore. It would be even better if it were next to Yuxianlou. Da Niu, go and take a look tomorrow. If there are any shops that are willing to sell, we should buy them. Since it is a betrothal gift, we can't be too stingy. The first set of printed books, except for those used in the school, can be given to Miss Wu Xu to sell at the bookstore."

Although Pingkangfang is not as prestigious as Dongshi, it is the place where high-ranking officials, nobles, and talented scholars frequent. After all, brothels and music and dance halls are concentrated there, and with the addition of the bookstore, it may become uniquely popular.

Changsun Dan's thoughts coincided with Wu Xu's at this moment, and Wu Xu poured a bowl of wine:

A gentleman's word is as good as his bond.