Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 852: Chapter 17: Business Partnership (Part 2)

Compared to the salt merchants, the common people are more willing to trust the court. They have heard that the new salt was made by Prince Han himself, all for the benefit of the common people, so they can afford and have access to good salt.

This isn’t the first time Prince Han has made something good for the commoners. Previously, he had made many good things, like the Quyuan Plow, which the court distributed for free.

This time, Prince Han made such delicious new salt, and the court is selling it at the lowest price to them. The court wouldn’t harm the common people, but the salt merchants would.

Although the new salt sold by the court is slightly more expensive than the salt currently sold by the merchants, it is much cheaper compared to the salt previously sold by the merchants. They would rather spend a few hundred more coins to buy the court’s new salt than buy the salt from the merchants. They will never let the merchants gloat, nor let them make a comeback.

The salt merchants, seeing that no matter how much they lower their prices, the common people won’t buy from them, are thoroughly anxious. Yet, they can’t think of a good way to deal with the court’s new salt for the time being.

The salt merchants in Qilu could only watch helplessly as the court’s new salt sold better and better, while the salt in their hands remained unsold.

Besides Qilu, new salt is also being sold in other places.

After eating the court’s new salt, the common people are no longer willing to eat the tasteless old salt sold by the merchants.

Before the New Year, besides the stabilized salt prices in Qilu, the salt prices in other prefectures have also completely stabilized.

The emperor is very pleased with this, but the salt merchants are red-eyed with anxiety.

Upon learning that the new salt was made by Prince Han, the salt merchants are filled with hatred for him. To the merchants, the new salt made by Prince Han has almost cut off their financial path.

Many salt merchants sent people to Lingnan to assassinate Prince Han, but unfortunately, not a single attempt succeeded. Not only did they fail to kill Prince Han, but they lost their own lives instead.

The Dragon Guards sent by the emperor to protect Zhao Yao are not to be trifled with. They are special hidden guards personally trained by the emperor with significant effort.

Each of the Dragon Guards is highly skilled in martial arts and possesses extraordinary abilities. With them by Zhao Yao’s side, not even spirits, demons, or monsters could harm him in the slightest.

Zhao Yao is unaware that the inland salt merchants sent people to assassinate him. Once he knew that the court had already made new salt and began selling it in many places, stabilizing salt prices in several regions, he no longer paid attention to the matters of the new salt. He is currently busy sending the latest batch of glass and mirrors to the capital.

This batch of glass products is very large and each item is exquisitely crafted. Zhao Yao splits this batch into several shares and sends them to the capital, with one portion delivered to the Imperial Palace for the emperor. Even the portion for the emperor must be divided into several parts. The largest part of the emperor’s share goes to the emperor himself. The rest is for Lady Liang, Princess Consort Li, Noble Princess Consort Ying, and, of course, the Empress and Noble Princess Consort Rong.

Zhao Yao sends some glass and mirrors to Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong because he wants to do business with them.

Zhao Yao also sends several boxes of glass products and mirrors to Prince Chu and Prince Wei. Of course, he also sends some to Prince Dai and Prince Jing to thank them for providing financial aid to him in the past. Before Zhao Yao came to Lingnan, although Prince Dai and Prince Jing had no choice but to give him some money, they still did. As a younger brother, he should thank them for their financial help at the time.

As for the court officials, Zhao Yao does not send them any glass or mirrors. As a prince suddenly sending gifts to court officials, it would be hard not to raise suspicion.

This batch of glass and mirrors was personally sent back to the capital by Liang Run. Upon returning, he is tasked with starting the glass and mirror business in the capital.

By the time Liang Run arrives in the capital, it is already late. It is not appropriate for him to enter the palace to present the glass and mirrors, so he first goes to Prince Chu Mansion.

Upon learning that Liang Run seeks an audience, Prince Chu immediately dispatches Wei Mian to invite him in.

Upon seeing Prince Chu, Liang Run first allows him to inspect the boxes of items sent by Zhao Yao, but Prince Chu doesn’t immediately check them. Instead, he first asks about Zhao Yao’s well-being in Swamp Prefecture.

That Prince Chu first inquires about Zhao Yao’s situation touches Liang Run. He briefly updates him on what Zhao Yao has been busy with recently.

Upon learning that Zhao Yao is faring well in Swamp Prefecture, Prince Chu feels much more at ease.

"Prince Chu, Prince Han said he’s doing well in Swamp Prefecture, so you need not worry about him."

Despite not seeing Zhao Yao in person to confirm his well-being, Prince Chu can’t help but worry about him.