Chapter 536 - 530_1
"Rest assured, My Minister, I do not intend to send someone to supervise the merchant troop. However, the troop is currently too weak and must be strengthened. I plan to supplement it with talents and hands. As for the speaking rights, they will remain in your hands. Those sent will be under Zhao Erhu’s management, following his commands. Anyone who disobeys Zhao Erhu can be dealt with directly by him."
Since Huangfu Jing had decided to get involved, he naturally aimed to go big. Small-time operations weren’t worth it. As for putting the management in the hands of Zhao Erhu instead of Feng Yinan, firstly, it was Zhao Erhu who was actually implementing and handling these matters. Secondly, Feng Yinan was the Princely Heir of Marquis of Zhenbei, and it was impossible for the Emperor to trust him completely. Therefore, it felt safer to entrust the task to Zhao Erhu, a civilian without an official title, to avoid any potential trouble.
From Zhao Erhu’s previous performance, he appeared fully capable of shouldering such a responsibility. The so-called meritocracy mattered to Huangfu Jing, and he didn’t care about Zhao Erhu’s background. As long as Zhao Erhu had the talent and ability, he was willing to grant him an opportunity to soar, a chance that was truly fitting for such a wonderful woman.
Feng Yinan naturally understood the reason behind Huangfu Jing’s actions. He was the Princely Heir of Marquis of Zhenbei, the Empress Dowager’s maternal family. Even though the Marquis of Zhenbei’s household didn’t show any ambition, to prevent the excessive power of the in-laws, Emperors from generation to generation always intended to restrict them. How could the Emperor trust him with finance? Such matters, even if suggested by the Emperor, would have been declined by him. Moreover, his ultimate goal had always been to achieve great things in the Imperial Court. Wealth was only a means to that end, not the main focus. The Emperor must have thought likewise, using wealth to bolster imperial authority. Therefore, leaving things to Zhao Erhu was the most appropriate course of action.
In the end, Huangfu Jing couldn’t suppress his impatience. As soon as Feng Yinan left, he ordered a messenger to rush to Zhao Family Village with an imperial edict, summoning Zhao Erhu to the capital for an audience.
And when Feng Yinan returned from the Imperial Palace, before he could even rejoice in the Emperor’s intention to make significant use of him, he went straight into his study, wrote a letter, and had a trusted aide deliver it personally to Zhao Family Village. It mainly contained details of the matters he had disclosed in front of the Emperor that day, to prevent Zhao Erhu from being unaware and falling into a trap.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Zhao Family Village, Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue were seated at the head of the main hall, looking down at the several people kneeling on the ground. Zhao Erhu’s face was dark as pitch, while Lin Yue felt a surge of melodrama.
Looking down, the ones kneeling were Zhang Qiusheng and his daughter, Zhao Pingshun—the second son of Zhao Wufu’s family who had been temporarily staying in the outer courtyard of Zhao Erhu’s house—and an embroideress Fangcao. With coarse sobs, Fangcao knelt on the ground, her face smeared with humiliation and despair. Zhang Qiusheng and his daughter showed feelings of anger, helplessness, guilt, panic, and fear, respectively. Zhao Pingshun knelt there looking obedient, but his eyes were rolling about, plotting something.