Chapter 616 - 394: Just Deserts
Feng Yi received Yun Zhao’s letter. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he read it; she was asking for a reward on someone else’s behalf.
However, he had no intention of altering the current structure of the harem. Feng Xiaoyuan’s rank couldn’t be raised for now, so her merit would go to her father instead.
Feng Bidada had been in the position of Commander for many years. It was about time he moved up.
’Just look at his Zhaozhao,’ he thought. ’So beautiful and kind-hearted. She takes to heart even the smallest favor someone does for her.’
Feng Bidada was completely baffled when he received the edict for his promotion. He had no idea how it had happened, as he hadn’t performed any recent meritorious service. After mulling it over, he suspected it might be related to his daughter, so he had his wife submit a formal request to visit the palace.
Only after seeing her mother did Feng Yunjin understand what had happened, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. She had heard Ming Fei mention it once before, but she was well aware of how difficult promotion was in the harem. The Emperor was not a man given to lust. Without the merit of sharing his bed or bearing an heir, and with her father having performed no great deeds that would reflect on her, a promotion was harder than climbing to heaven.
But now, her father had been promoted.
Feng Yunjin gave her mother a simple explanation but didn’t mention what she had done for Yun Zhao. After all, the business with the Tao Family was something she wouldn’t mention even to her own kin. If word were to accidentally leak, it would invite disaster.
She only said that she had done a task for Ming Fei and that this was a favor Ming Fei had requested on her behalf. Since it was difficult for a concubine to be promoted, the favor had been bestowed upon her father instead.
Mrs. Feng was deeply grateful for Ming Fei’s generosity and left the palace overjoyed.
Feng Yunjin changed her clothes and went to Yaohua Palace. The moment she entered, she performed a deep, formal bow.
Song Yunzhao quickly had Shizhu help her up, saying with a smile, "What is this for? Have you run into some trouble?"
Feng Yunjin looked up at Ming Fei. "Your Highness, my father has been promoted to Director of the Capital."
"This is wonderful news..." Song Yunzhao started to say, but trailed off as she sensed something was amiss. She swallowed the rest of her words and looked back at Feng Yunjin.
Seeing this, Shizhu quietly withdrew. Once outside, she closed the doors behind her and stood guard.
Feng Yunjin’s eyes sparkled as she said with heartfelt joy, "This is all due to Your Highness’s grace. My father was a Commander for so many years and was never able to advance. This promotion is all thanks to you. This concubine thanks you, Your Highness."
Song Yunzhao wasn’t sure what to say. She sighed. "I requested the reward for you, but the result..."
"I am very happy with this result," Feng Yunjin interjected. "How can one of the harem’s concubines be promoted without reason? If Your Highness had broken the rules for my sake, Shouci Palace would surely have made trouble. I am delighted that my family could benefit instead."
Hearing Feng Yunjin’s words, Song Yunzhao smiled. "The Emperor is a man who values propriety. There will be other opportunities in the future."
But as for when that opportunity might arise, no one could say for sure.
There were only a few paths for a concubine’s promotion: earning merit in the Emperor’s bed, giving birth to a child, or having a powerful family. Song Yunzhao couldn’t push Feng Yi toward other women, but if he decided to seek them out himself, that was beyond her control.
For now, Feng Yi showed no such inclination, and Song Yunzhao certainly wasn’t going to serve up the prize from her own bowl to someone else. She could only find other ways to benefit those who followed her.
’Seeing how happy Feng Yunjin is,’ she thought, ’I suppose it’s a happy outcome for all involved.’
Feng Yunjin was truly happy. The higher her father’s official rank, the more comfortable her life in the harem would be. Coupled with the fact that Ming Fei treated her well, no one dared to give her trouble, even though her own rank was not high.
’Even if I hadn’t entered the palace and had married someone else, what would be different?’ she mused. ’I would just be vexed by a husband’s other wives and concubines.’
After expressing her gratitude, Feng Yunjin brought up the matter of Baozhuang Building. "Chief Steward Zhang’s investigation has been very thorough. The Tao Family is indeed counterfeiting Baozhuang Building’s products—even the packaging boxes are nearly identical. Someone unfamiliar with our goods probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Their rouge and fragrance cream are priced much lower than ours, which is why Baozhuang Building’s business in the south has plummeted."
Feng Yunjin produced the ledgers Zhang Maoquan had given her: one account book from the early period of high profits, one from the later period of shrinking revenue, and the secret ledger Yun Zhao had seen before—the one the Ling Family kept for the Tao Family’s counterfeit goods.
The difference in the figures was immediately obvious upon comparison.
"Since our cooperation with the Ling Family has stalled, and with the news we deliberately leaked, quite a few merchants are now eager to take over the Ling Family’s role. Several have made very tempting offers. Would Your Highness care to see them?" Feng Yunjin asked with a smile.
Song Yunzhao’s previous arrangement with the Ling Family was akin to a wholesale model, and the terms were actually quite generous. She had left them a considerable profit margin.
But the Ling Family was clearly not satisfied. They tried to use bad money to drive out the good, allowing counterfeits to seize Baozhuang Building’s market share, which was a tacit violation of their contract. Moreover, they agreed to join forces with the Tao Family against Baozhuang Building. This wasn’t just dishonorable; they had abandoned the basic principles of business ethics.
’If Ling Yunhe hadn’t handed the evidence over to me first, the Ling Family’s fate would be far worse right now.’
This time, with the Tao Family’s scheme exposed, the Empress Dowager and Gu’en Houfu took out their anger on the Tao Family for their incompetence. In turn, the Tao Family could only vent that frustration on the Ling Family.
Just yesterday, Zhang Maoquan had told her that the Ling Family was now struggling with their business in the south, facing obstacles at every turn.
With Gu’en Houfu and the Empress Dowager backing them, it was all too easy for the Tao Family to use the government to make trouble for a merchant family.
The Ling Family was suffering the backlash. They had brought this upon themselves.
Yun Zhao felt no pity for them. ’Once you abandon your moral compass and readily break the rules, you must be prepared for the counterattack.’
"Let’s wait. There’s no rush," Song Yunzhao said, looking at Feng Yunjin. "The Ling Family’s actions were despicable, but Ling Yunhe took the initiative to hand over the evidence. Let’s see how he handles his family. It won’t be too late to decide after we see the outcome."
’I still have a use for the Ling Family, so I can’t just watch them collapse. It all depends on Ling Yunhe’s abilities now.’
’Xie Jinshu previously suggested that Ling Yunhe might take this opportunity to break away from the Ling Family, but I don’t think so. The family is in a precarious state and needs saving. Ling Yunhe’s connection to me is their only hope; they certainly won’t let him leave.’
’As long as Ling Yunhe can be ruthless enough to use this opportunity to take complete control of the Ling Family, I’m not opposed to giving him a helping hand.’
’A win-win situation is the only way to ensure long-term, mutual benefit.’
Song Yunzhao’s prediction was correct. Ling Yunhe was summoned back by his family, ostensibly to force him to save them. Instead, he turned the tables on them, seizing the opportunity to take control of the Ling Family.
Ling Yunhe himself knew very well that while Ming Fei might give him one chance, she certainly wouldn’t give him a second. He had to seize this opportunity.