CHAPTER 2036: CHAPTER 2038

"No need to thank me, just make sure he doesn’t cause us any trouble in the future. I just want to live a peaceful life."

She was still worried about the time Mu Shaoling came looking for gold bars, and she and Ye Zi’an didn’t hand over what he was looking for.

Although Ye Zi’an had explained it clearly to Baili Yan, once someone ascends to that position, they become suspicious.

Ye Zi’an knew what she was thinking and said, "Don’t worry. I’ve already explained that matter to my cousin. I figure this generation trusts us, and as for their descendants, that’s in the future. When we get tired of living in the Capital City, we can move to Funan."

"Hmm, I understand."

After Yang Chuxia packed up these things, she had someone take them to the pawnshop the next day, but since there was too much, two pawnshops couldn’t even handle it all.

So, Yang Chuxia had Fugui take people to pawn the items in a different location.

Actually, she thought about holding an auction, but unfortunately, while these things were nice, they weren’t the best, and people in the Capital City likely wouldn’t be interested.

When Fugui returned, Yang Chuxia counted the pawned silver and found it amounted to thirty thousand taels. She suddenly joked that it was no wonder these people liked to throw banquets so much, for birthdays, festivals, or even to admire flowers.

Clearly, this was a chance to receive gifts from subordinates. A banquet table hardly costs much, but people bring so many gifts, and it’s a sure profit.

When Mu Shaoling heard Yang Chuxia had pawned all the items, he suspected she was up to something and came to ask. Upon learning that Yang Chuxia intended to convert the silver to buy grain and fodder, he immediately understood.

So he followed her lead and sold the gifts he received this time, also making several thousand taels of silver, and handed it all over to Yang Chuxia, asking her to handle it for him.

A new trend was sweeping the Capital City in recent days. Many were envious of the few families that had been rewarded, and were secretly looking to make connections. With every new emperor comes new ministers, and those ennobled must be close to the Emperor. Who wouldn’t want to ingratiate themselves?

But recently, people started getting upset. Previously, they thought the Ye Family accepting their gifts was a sign of goodwill, but then they heard Madam Ye had pawned all the things they sent.

Pawning was one thing, but then she used the silver to buy grain.

The grain shops in the Capital City had been cleaned out by her, and she personally visited various households to ask if there was any unsold grain from their estates. If there was, she bought it.

What was she up to?

Before anyone could figure it out, she swiftly purchased all the grain, and finally, under the name of the Empress (Princess Consort Zhuang), transported everything to the battlefield.

"That wretch is really clever, using other people’s money for show, without spending a single coin of her own, donating grain and fodder to the border, borrowing the Empress’s name, and currying favor with the Empress," Mu’s Second Madam cursed quietly at home when she heard the news.

Heaven knows how much she liked the things she gave away, only to find out the recipients didn’t care at all and even sold them.

Baili Yan laughed heartily, though he had some questions.

"Why is Xiaxia using the Empress’s name to donate the grain and fodder?" He wondered why they didn’t just donate it directly to the national treasury.

Ye Zi’an calmly said, "Can’t use your name, can we? Aside from that, the Empress is the most suitable. Donating to the national treasury, well, forget it. Clearly donating seventy thousand taels, but only half ends up with the army. Not to badmouth those in the Ministry of Revenue, but they work so slowly. Who knows when they would get the grain and fodder ready and sent to the west?"