Zhao Jiaqi finished speaking and lowered her head to flip through the ledger in her hand. She continued, "Since the Ji family and Qian Lai don't treat commoners as people, then His Highness should directly make them unable to even be people. Let these two families experience what it's like to be bullied by making them the lowest of servants!"
This was simply repaying them in kind. Not taking their dog heads was already an act of extreme mercy.
Pinting clutched the silk handkerchief in her hand. She hadn't thought that far; she merely felt it was a bit inhumane, forgetting about the victims.
After a long silence, seeing that Pinting hadn't spoken, Zhao Jiaqi glanced at her absentminded state. She casually tossed a ledger to her, "Why are you daydreaming all day? Let the men handle the matters in front; we women should just manage the inner chambers. Check these accounts and see if there's anything wrong."
After being lectured a few words by her sister-in-law, she sheepishly chuckled.
As her sister-in-law said, women should do women's work. Those schemes and stratagems in the front should be left to the men to shoulder.
She wouldn't have known if she hadn't looked at the ledger. Once she did, she was startled. She never knew her sister-in-law and brother-in-law had so much money.
Pinting covered her mouth and exclaimed, "Sister-in-law, building the trade city cost over a million taels of silver! When did you and brother earn so much? It's unbelievable."
If this were any other prince, Pinting wouldn't be surprised. But her brother-in-law was a peasant through and through. To have this kind of wealth in his hands was already astonishing.
The key was, she hadn't seen her sister-in-law or brother-in-law doing business to get this money, which made her quite envious!
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and shook her head. This girl was simply too naive. While she didn't personally go out to do business, she had shares in four restaurants.
Every year, the sausages, pickles, and braised meat brought in a considerable income. It accumulated over time.
In addition, when Fan Zehao led troops to battle and recaptured cities, they had also seized a lot of enemy property. This was simply not submitted to the court. Coupled with the money bestowed by the Emperor, all of this added up to construct the trade city.
"Pinting, now that the trade city is built, are you interested in doing business? Setting up your own industry or something!"
"Yes, I want to sell rouge and powder. As far as I know, the rouge in Zongsheng Kingdom isn't as good as ours, and they're also in urgent need of incense!"
Good heavens, this finally opened her floodgates. Pinting poured out all the information she had gathered since childhood to Zhao Jiaqi.
"Sister-in-law, how about we partner up? I'll provide the capital, and you provide the labor. If we make money, we'll split it fifty-fifty, okay?" Pinting asked, her eyes sparkling.
Zhao Jiaqi couldn't understand. She had the capital, and the Emperor had sent several people. Now all that was needed was investment in production. Why did she have to partner with her?
"We have people and money. You'll get the best and largest spot for a shop when the time comes. It's a matter of timing, location, and human harmony. Why would you want to share this piece of meat?"
Pinting raised her delicate eyebrows and quickly said, "Working with sister-in-law makes me feel at ease."
The reason was that simple.
Zhao Jiaqi chuckled. She didn't expect to be her pillar of strength. This was unexpected.
"Alright, it's settled then. Starting tomorrow, let the perfumers begin their formulations. Make preparations in advance to ensure we have some goods stored before the opening. You handle this matter; if you can't manage it, come find me."
With her sister-in-law's promise, she skipped away joyfully and confidently. Back in her own courtyard, she immediately started making arrangements.
Even Granny Xu, who had been forgotten in the General's Mansion, was dispatched by her. She managed to turn a wet nurse into a steward.
The entire prince's mansion was now bustling with activity. The one who was relatively leisurely was Zhao Jiaqi. When she had nothing to do, she would enjoy the breeze and admire the autumn chrysanthemums blooming in the garden.
Occasionally, she had to consider whether to post a notice for businesses to move into the trade city.
For three consecutive days, Fan Zehao finally sorted out the items confiscated from the Ji residence. Gold, silver, jewelry, famous calligraphy and paintings, jade carvings, countless ornaments both large and small. There were even some rough stones that had not been carved.
Golden yellow gold alone amounted to over a hundred thousand taels. Silver in ten-tael ingots totaled over a million taels. Even bank notes reached several hundred thousand taels.
Their wealth was undeniably substantial!
Fan Zehao recorded all the confiscated items and handed them to Zhao Jiaqi, "I've brought back the bank notes. The gold and silver are on the way, escorted by Xiao Ce with elite troops."
He placed a large box in his hand on the table in front of her, signaling her to open it, "A surprise for you!"
A surprise?
Zhao Jiaqi looked as she opened the brocade box. Inside were neatly arranged bank notes, with the smallest denomination being five hundred taels and the largest two thousand taels, all in stacks.
"So much! By estimation, there must be over a hundred thousand!" She didn't count carefully, making a rough guess.
This wasn't a surprise; it was more like a shock.
Fan Zehao leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Three hundred and seventy-eight thousand taels in bank notes. That's enough for you to get into agriculture!"
Zhao Jiaqi was so surprised her mouth hung open. Did she misunderstand her husband? Was he going to keep it all for themselves?
She exclaimed, "Isn't this confiscated property? Are you not afraid of being punished by the Emperor for taking it like this!"
Moreover, there was Xiao Ce, the supervisor. Although confiscating property wasn't a military matter, Xiao Ce was sent by the Emperor. Wasn't he afraid he'd submit a memorial and impeach him?
How could a prince act like this, as if playing house? So willful.
"I am the master of this territory. I pay tribute and taxes to the Emperor every year, not a single bit less. All matters within the territory are handled by me. Do I need to report such a matter as confiscation to the Emperor? You're making a fuss over nothing!"
It was just that this confiscation was a bit harsh, and this family was particularly wealthy. Other than that, there was nothing improper, especially since they were such scoundrels.
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the bank notes, her heart pounding. She didn't dare to use money she hadn't earned with her own hands.
"Without the Emperor's permission, I will not use this money. Submit a memorial to the Emperor, have Xiao Ce deliver it to the Emperor as quickly as possible. I will use it after receiving a clear reply!" Her solemn expression conveyed an unquestionable decision.
Under the heavens, all land belongs to the king. All the people by the shores are the king's subjects.
Even in a fief, they were subjects of the Emperor. How could they be so reckless?
She closed the brocade box and pushed it back to him, keeping it with herself. Worrying about losing it every day would be too troublesome, so she simply entrusted it to him to keep.
Without waiting for him to say anything else, she left, supporting her belly. He looked at the bank notes and sighed helplessly. He took the brocade box to the study and wrote a brief letter to the Emperor, detailing the entire affair and the lack of funds.
If the Emperor truly cared for him, he would give him this money. If not, hehe...
When the trade city opened and made money, not a single tael would go to him.
Xiao Ce returned escorting the boxes containing gold and silver and ordered them to be taken to the storeroom, guarded by soldiers. He then went to report the situation to Fan Zehao.
"Your Highness, the items have all..."
Before Xiao Ce could finish, Fan Zehao, with a dark expression, threw him two pieces of paper and said, "I know. Find a way to deliver this letter to the Emperor! Quickly!"