Chapter 870 - 870: Use Money to Save Their Lives
ranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
How could Old Master Bai not understand this logic? However, they had no way out. “It’s impossible for the aristocratic families to become enemies with Princess Shaoyi for our sake. I think that the Han family is already busy dealing with the aftermath so that they can cut ties with us as much as possible. When they’re implicated in the future, we can cut the Gordian knot and escape as soon as possible.”
It was impossible to escape unscathed, but the aristocratic families had a deep foundation. As long as their vitality was not damaged, they could be safe.
Old Master Bai continued, “If we continue to serve the land-owning class, we will definitely die. There’s still a chance of survival if we join King Yue Fei.”
Madam Bai looked exhausted. “We businessmen are all gamblers. Since you want to bet on King Yue Fei, let’s bet on him. If you want to do it like the Xie family, do it quickly. Donate 70% of our family’s assets to King Yue Fei as military funds. In addition to the medicinal herbs needed to avoid the plague, donate a batch of commonly used medicinal herbs in the army to the You army. In the future, the You army will buy medicinal herbs from our family at a 30% discount. At the same time, increase the supply of medicinal herbs.”
To put it bluntly, they were using money to save their lives.
They hoped that King Yue Fei would give their family a way out on account of their “sincerity.”
Old Master Bai looked conflicted. The Bai family’s assets had also been painstakingly earned by their family for generations. Now that they were going to be donated just like that, he couldn’t make a decision for a moment.
Madam Bai also understood this. “As long as the Bai family’s foundation is still there and the family business can still be earned, the more money we use to buy our lives, the better. Besides, with the Xie family in front, we have to imitate them.”
Otherwise, it would seem insincere. Wouldn’t it be a loss?
“Even if we donate, there’s a huge difference between doing so early and late. We have the advantage of territory and can know all the movements of Xiangping immediately. We have the initiative, so this is also our chance to express our stance to Princess Shaoyi.”
“You’re right. It’s better to do this sooner rather than later. When you return from the Dragon Phoenix Temple, we’ll go look for Military Advisor Huang and discuss the donation.” Old Master Bai looked like he was struggling. Finally, he gritted his teeth, and a ruthless look appeared in his eyes. “In that case, we might as well go all out and hand over the evidence in our hands that’s disadvantageous to the Han family to Princess Shaoyi.”
Since the Xie Residence had donated their assets, a noble had to step forward to respond. Only then could they shake the hearts of the other nobles and distance themselves from the relationship between the nobles and the landowning families.
The Bai Residence was the first to step forward and join King Yue Fei. The more they helped him, the more valuable they would be. It was very likely that they would be seen by others. After the Bai Residence joined King Yue Fei, King Yue Fei would not make things difficult for the Bai Residence. The other nobles would also fight to join him.
This way, the Yue Fei’s Residence might be able to protect them.
Madam Bai frowned. “When you pull out a radish, some dirt comes up with it. The evidence in our hands regarding the Han family is all related to our family. In that case…”
Weren’t the stakes too high?
If King Yue Fei kicked them to the curb once they had outlived their usefulness… The Bai Residence would be finished.
Old Master Bai said, “That depends on whether King Yue Fei is willing to give our family a way out. I’ve thought about it carefully. Although the Bai Residence has been helping a villain do evil for many years, at least on the surface, we haven’t made things difficult for the You army. The medicinal herbs supplied to the You army can’t be said to be of top quality, but they’re not inferior. We won’t give them short weight too. Although our family has participated in forcing King Li of Zhou to death, we’ve only waved the flag and secretly given some support. We haven’t participated directly. I see that King Yue Fei’s actions are not that ruthless. The reputation of Princess Shaoyi’s kindness can’t be faked…”
The foundation of the Bai Residence was in Xiangping City. Under the eyes of the vassal lords and state capitals, they naturally had to be more cautious. At the very least, on the surface, they could not easily offend others.
In addition, in the past, King Li of Zhou was extremely famous in the Liaodong area. If they openly made things difficult for the You army, it would be equivalent to making things difficult for the millions of local commoners.
Unexpectedly, this had become their family’s only straw to clutch at.
… .
The next day, Yu Youyao got up before dawn.
Nanny Xu had specially chosen a set of clothes for her. She was wearing a round-collared long dress that was ochre-colored, a large reddish-black sleeved shirt, and a purple ceremonial robe. The Great Zhou Dynasty valued gold, purple, and red, but black was still a color that only nobles could wear.
Only the royal family could bestow a purple ceremonial robe. Yu Youyao was a first-grade Saint Venerable Princess. She was given a jade crown and a ceremonial robe. It was decorated with ruyi patterns and had golden embroidery at the edges. There were seven phoenixes on her chest, with two phoenixes facing each other. There were cranes, bats, and other bird patterns, as well as lotus flowers, lingzhi, peonies, and so on.
Purple was used as the background, and the embroidery was golden. Green, red, and blue were used for the phoenixes. These three colors were also used for the flower and bird patterns. Then, all kinds of pearls and jade treasures were inlaid.
It was heavy, but beautiful.
Nanny Xu picked out a crown and fixed it in her bun. The crown was inlaid with red gems and pearls.
Yu Youyao looked at herself in the glass mirror. She was glowing with jewelry. She quickly said, “I’m only going to the temple to offer incense and pay respects to the Medicine Buddha. There’s no need to dress up so well.”
The imposing manner from her entire body could almost compare to her imperial order.
Nanny Xu said, “This is the first time you’ve appeared in public since you arrived in the North. You should show off the etiquette through what you’re wearing, in case others neglect you because of your status as the daughter of an external minister. Besides, you’re here to pray for the tens of thousands of commoners. The more solemn your performance is, the more important it will be to others.”
As the saying went, fine clothes opened all doors!
This was not very accurate, but it was undeniable that this was indeed a benchmark for a person. The noble families were respected in the North, and most people had never seen the world. By showing off the dignity of a princess, she could intimidate everyone.
Yu Youyao had also considered this, but she said, “After all, I’m mourning.”
Only when one often felt close to their family would they have all kinds of scruples. Nanny Xu smiled. “According to Confucian thought, heaven, the earth, the king, one’s parents, and one’s teachers should be respected in that order. The king is higher than one’s parents. You’ve been conferred the title of princess. The etiquette between the Matriarch and her subjects still needs to be observed. This trip is for the sake of the ruler and the people. There’s no need to be wary.”
A dignified first-grade Saint Venerable Princess appeared publicly. If she did not have any attire that represented her status, it would not be appropriate.
The purple robe looked the best with yellow and red. She had also considered that Yu Youyao was mourning, so she had matched it with a long skirt that was ochre-colored and a dark color that was between red and black.
Although it wasn’t bright enough, it was stable and noble, making her look grand.
After putting on her clothes, Yu Youyao got into the carriage. Accompanying her were Madam Yao and some of the guards in the Yu Garden. It was still dawn, and the group set off majestically for the Dragon Phoenix Temple.
The Dragon Phoenix Temple was surrounded by trees and was located in the wilderness.
When the carriage reached the foot of the mountain, Yu Youyao alighted.
She stood at the foot of the mountain and looked at the winding mountain path that led up to the mountainside. A red-walled and green-tiled building was vaguely visible in the forest.
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