The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Mrs. Xiao was momentarily taken aback, seemingly not expecting this opening, but her daze lasted only an instant before she naturally beamed a smile:

"Lord, just call me Donger."

Donger... do you still think you're a young girl, well, although you do maintain yourself quite well... While Zhao Douan scrutinized this female family head, he secretly ridiculed her in his mind.

Seeing her again, his impression had indeed changed dramatically.

If yesterday she seemed more like a major figure's subordinate, her brilliance restrained, today her unique temperament was truly revealed.

In this era, to uphold a big family's facade just by being a widow, one must possess some extraordinary skills.

"Donger..." Zhao Douan chewed over this address, noncommittally, and took the initiative to pass her a roasted half-orange, "Mrs. Xiao, do you always sneak out like this?"

Mrs. Xiao, flattered, took the orange, and with a bitter smile said:

"With so many people and eyes in the Capital, Donger just took the opportunity while the front shop was cutting fabric to make this trip."

Only then did Zhao Douan remember, having glimpsed on his arrival, that in front of this private residence, there were indeed many storefronts.

So, had the lady sneaked through the back door of one of these storefronts?

This private residence must also be intricately linked with the Xiao family.

Zhao Douan uttered an "oh," seemingly unsurprised, and quietly asked:

"Xu Zudi didn't follow you? Or did he think it unnecessary? You went to such lengths to have this secret meeting with this official to avoid the eyes of Prince Heng's princely heir? I'm quite curious about what exactly is the relationship between you two."

Mrs. Xiao fell silent for a moment, not responding immediately.

Zhao Douan spread his hands in front of the fire, staring intently at the beautiful woman:

"I had originally heard others speak of the female family head of East Lake who single-handedly supported her family, and I had quite admired that, but what I saw yesterday truly filled me with regret. So, Mrs. Xiao, can you clarify, in what capacity have you come to see me today?"

His gaze was sharp.

He wasted no time in pleasantries, straightforwardly addressing the heart of the matter.

Mrs. Xiao bitterly said, "Are you always this direct, Lord?"

Zhao Douan shook his head:

"Well, I'm used to sizing people up, Mrs. Xiao; you're not yet worth beating around the bush for, in this official's eyes. You came here today because you really piqued this official's curiosity.

But my time is limited, so let's be direct, I believe Mrs. Xiao thinks the same, especially since taking too long to cut fabric would arouse suspicion."

Mrs. Xiao was silent.

She gently stroked her cloud-like hair, a heavy jade bracelet on her wrist sliding down, revealing a touch of seductiveness.

An unconscious gesture, seemingly adjusting her emotions.

She sat up slightly, and seriously said:

"Donger came today unrelated to Prince Heng's princely heir, merely representing the Xiao family on a visit. I know that after yesterday's event, you might have some misunderstandings, not just you, many have questioned how I can firmly hold the position of family head.

I admit that the involvement of Prince Heng's mansion is a factor, but it's not as you think. To Prince Heng's mansion, having a widow as the family head is something they are happy to see."

This speech was quite smooth.

Her demeanor and tone finally demonstrated some of the decisiveness of a family head.

It seemed, at this moment, the true visage of the first widow of Great Yu was revealed

— even though she tried to downplay it, she still couldn't hide her sharp edges.

"Oh?"

Zhao Douan leaned back in his bamboo-woven chair, slightly reclined, signaling he was all ears.

Donger skillfully picked up a fork, roasting rice cake, and continued:

"Since ancient times, two tigers cannot share one mountain, looking over the Great Yu Dynasty, aside from the Huai River being special, in other regions, wherever a vassal king's power is strong, the local scholarly families are always suppressed, Qingzhou Rode is no exception. The Xiao family, originating from East Lake, has also accumulated a history of over a hundred years.

When Prince Heng was initially enfeoffed here, our Xiao family had already been showing weakness and compliance, initially, it was peaceful, but gradually, as the Royal Mansion's power grew, they also did not wish for the Xiao family to continue thriving.

Thus, during my struggle with several other branches, Prince Heng preferred a woman like me to be the family head and indeed intervened.

I acknowledge this, as in the eyes of the prince, a clan headed by a woman always seems weaker."

She smiled self-deprecatingly, a hint of sadness in her eyes:

"Since the Royal Mansion intervened, Donger, being a widow and mother at that time, managing my husband's legacy and the immense authority of the clan, inevitably felt like living under someone else's roof, and endured much.

Perhaps in your eyes, Lord, seeing Donger yesterday, like a maid at the disposal of the princely heir, unfit to bear the name of a female family head, seemed more like a plaything. But please believe that was not my intention nor the submissive evidence of the East Lake Xiao family, just a helpless move."

Zhao Douan listened with great interest.

This woman spoke at length, essentially explaining that the Xiao family was coerced to bow down, not daring to offend Prince Heng, thus being overly accommodating to the princely heir.

And not sincerely, standing as a vassal in Prince Heng's camp.

"So, what then?"

Zhao Douan asked, naturally not entirely believing this narrative.

Donger replied seriously:

"Therefore, my private request for a secret meeting with the Lord today is not only to explain yesterday but also to express my intentions in person and to seek a 'Royal Trader' qualification from the Lord."

The court was opening the market, the first batch would grant a special status to some merchants, allowing them to join this game.

Initially, You Jinhua's mother's family, the You family, had come for this.

Now, with the market about to open, large families like the Xiao family from East Lake could no longer resist getting involved.

"Mrs. Xiao makes an amusing remark. If you wish to enter the market, you should visit the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Rites, not come to me," Zhao Douan said with a smile.

The office in charge of the new market regulations had been established by the Empress herself, independent but affiliated with both ministries.

One was responsible for financial accounts, the other for setting market structure and regulations.

Xiao Donger's expression darkened, and she said bitterly:

"Donger has also visited these days but was turned away at the door. I had no choice but to come to you, as everyone in the Capital knows, Lord Zhao, that your Divine Skills are vast and the new policies originate from you…"

Zhao Douan raised his hand to interrupt her, saying calmly:

"Retract such flattery. I am more curious, Mrs. Xiao, are you not afraid of offending Prince Heng? He would presumably not like to see the Xiao family become imperial merchants."

He found it rather amusing.

Yes.

Very amusing!

The most unwilling to see the success of the new market, aside from the Kuangfu Society, must be the Eight Princes, followed by those aristocratic families whose interests were affected.

By now, it was clear to anyone with eyes, should the court successfully open the market, a new class of elite is bound to emerge, simultaneously alleviating the financial difficulties of the court.

Thus, the Eight Princes were determined to obstruct this, but since the policy had been decreed from the court, even Prince Jing, with his significant influence, could not openly hinder the market under the pretext of not staging a rebellion.

So, there remained only two options.

One was for the Eight Princes to join the game themselves, competing with the court for profits.

But firstly, the court would never allow the Eight Princes into the market. Secondly, under the court's game rules, the profit the Eight Princes could gain was limited.

The second option was to secretly cause trouble, attempting to ensure the market could not operate or operated inefficiently.

Zhao Douan, who initially devised the market opening strategy, had discussed with the scholars from the Xiuwen Pavilion that to get the economic wheel spinning quickly, they must leverage the power of major businessmen and local great families.

Naturally, many merchants and scholarly families were also coveting this opportunity.

Thus, the court's strategy was to select a portion of those willing and capable, those with brains to be the first batch of imperial merchants.

It was, effectively, the entry ticket to this game.

Mrs. Xiao's desire to join was not a surprise to him.

Although the Xiao family from East Lake was also a force in the Great Yu Dynasty, their wealth primarily came from the merchant team, not from the land, like traditional landlords.

Furthermore, the Qingzhou area was rich in products suitable for trade.

But the position of the Eight Princes decided that they would vigorously create obstacles, preventing capable merchants and great families from joining and supporting the court.

Therefore, Xiao Donger, who was previously serving the Princely Heir, abruptly turned around and came running to participate in the court, which seemed particularly amusing.

"Of course, Prince Heng wouldn't hope so," Mrs. Xiao said with a sneer:

"If not so, would the Princely Heir have staged that drama for your excellency yesterday? Or would he coincidentally travel to the Capital with us?"

Zhao Douan raised his eyelids and said:

"You mean, your Xiao family wishes to become imperial merchants, but Prince Heng is unwilling, so he sent the Princely Heir to obstruct you? Ha, I thought Prince Heng would directly convince Mrs. Xiao to return to Qingzhou halfway through. The rice cake is burning."

He gave a reminder.

Caught off guard by this, Xiao Donger hastily flipped the year cake roasting on the stove before exhaling and saying:

"Persuading us to return wouldn't be effective because my Xiao family could simply send another shopkeeper to move around in the court. On the contrary, the Princely Heir coming along strapped our chances to become imperial merchants into a straitjacket."

Zhao Douan remained silent.

He understood the meaning of this female family head.

The court would not agree to Prince Heng or any suspected affiliates of Prince Heng joining the market to reap benefits.

So, Xu Zudi making a big show of traveling to the Capital with Mrs. Xiao was sending a signal to outsiders:

Indicating that the Xiao family from East Lake was a dog of the royal mansion.

With this image, which official would dare to allow the Xiao family a spot?

Including the trap set by Xu Zudi yesterday, which was to vent his annoyance on Li Lang, test the newly Favored Minister Zhao Douan, and thirdly, deliberately display the connection of Prince Heng with the Xiao family.

This was why this eminent female head of the family, personally visiting the government offices of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, only to be repeatedly denied entry.

"I am very curious,"

Zhao Douan slightly shifted his sitting posture, gazing intently at the woman who had been roasting food for him, who controlled a century-old great family:

"Why do you insist, at the risk of incurring the wrath of Prince Heng, on joining the imperial merchants to partake in this wealth? With centuries of accumulation, does your Xiao family really hinge on this bit of wealth?"

Xiao Donger shook her head, and in this moment, dressed in her dark horse-faced skirt with detailed hairups, her expression was stern:

"The Xiao family doesn't need to earn this money if you just permit us to enter the market. We would not take a single copper coin and would rather give the profits to the court or offer our share to you as a tribute. We only seek the status of an imperial merchant!"

Zhao Douan calmly said, "I need a reason."

Without hesitation, Xiao Donger responded:

"The Xiao family from East Lake is willing to devote our whole clan to Your Majesty, to the court, to the Great Yu faithfully!"

"If one day, Prince Heng rebels, the Xiao family will only look to the current Your Majesty as our leader!"

—

ps: This kind of dialogue-heavy chapter should be easy to write, but somehow it always proves particularly challenging.