…
This is the second time Wang Yi'an has set foot in the Shanzhuanghui classroom, but his mentality is completely different.
When he first came, he was very confident and thought this would be a rare opportunity. The princess and the Wang family are a couple who need each other and can support each other. The salt industry can bring wealth but not stability, but the royal heirs can. The princess is a woman after all. What woman doesn’t want her husband’s family to be strong and prosperous so that her husband’s family can be prosperous. Can your child achieve a career
But when he came this time, his mind was completely blank.
What does the princess want? Wang Yi'an found that he didn't understand.
"The common people pay their respects to His Highness."
"Get up, please sit down." Ning Wanjun was still sitting at the head of the table, her expression showing neither enthusiasm nor indifference.
But this attitude made Wang Yi'an even more anxious.
As for the dishes on the table, he was not even in the mood to take a look - what he had looked forward to the first time he came there had now become unattractive.
After sitting down, he couldn't wait to ask, "Her Royal Highness the Princess called me...why?"
"Don't you want to eat something first?" Ning Wanjun picked up the chopsticks, "Although these dishes are not rare and luxurious, the taste is carefully prepared."
"Yes, then... I'm welcome." Wang Yi'an had no choice but to respond. Judging from the other party's intentions, it was obvious that she didn't intend to get straight to the point - what on earth was she planning? Did she really know about her connection with Dongsheng Kingdom? Countless questions were rushing through his mind, but he was not qualified to ask.
When the first piece of fish entered his mouth, he couldn't help but be startled.
This fish... has no salty taste.
Did the cook forget to add salt
He tried another dish, but it was still bland.
However, the princess seemed oblivious and still enjoyed her lunch bite by bite.
Wang Yian felt sweat break out on his forehead.
He finally scooped up a spoonful of broth, put it to his mouth and sipped slightly.
There is no smell except a slight oily smell.
He could no longer eat this meal.
Pushing the chair away, Wang Yian took two steps back and knelt down again, "The common people are guilty!"
"Oh?" Ning Wanjun raised her eyebrows, "What's your crime?"
"Maliciously raising the price of salt has made it difficult for the people of Jinxia City to eat salt." He made his final struggle.
But the princess's slow words broke all Wang Yi'an's guard, "It can't be considered malicious, after all, a large part must be separated and sent to the harbor terminal..."
She got it...
The princess really knew it!
Wang Yi'an's head buzzed. Although he had a premonition when the news of the Donghai Gang's hiding place being blocked and the princess's banquet came together, he still had a sense of luck in his heart. Even when faced with a salt-free lunch, he tried to use the salt price issue to find out the other party's intentions.
However, when the princess said the word "harbour" in an understatement, Wang Yi'an felt a chill down his spine and his legs seemed to have lost consciousness.
"This matter... this matter..." He muttered a few words but failed to say a complete sentence. It’s just selling private salt. Not only does it sell to other countries, but it also uses the profits to recruit practitioners from other countries. Once this matter is exposed, even if His Majesty doesn’t take action on him now, there will be a day of reckoning in the future. Shang can be said to be his role model.
Is there any other way to reverse it
Kill the princess here
For a moment, this idea came to Wang Yi'an's mind, but it was quickly dismissed. This is extremely stupid. Not to mention that the princess is a Qi-sensing person. Even if she does, if such a thing happens during a banquet, the Wang family will definitely be executed.
"Let's make a deal." Seeing that Wang Yi'an's momentum was gone, Ning Wanjun didn't intend to act anymore, "First of all, the sale of salt overseas must stop. I don't care what kind of deal you have reached with them, from today on Everything will be considered invalid."
The word deal cheered him up.
It seems that the princess does not intend to inform the emperor about the private salt
His blank thoughts started to work again.
"Your Highness, I can donate half of the proceeds to you—"
"There is no second possibility for this matter." Ning Wanjun interrupted, "If you are unwilling to break up, I will break up with you first. This choice should be easy to make, right?"
Without the support of the Donghai Gang, he would have lost more than half of his control over Jinxia City. This was undoubtedly a tragic loss, but compared to the worst liquidation outcome, at least the Wang family could continue.
As long as you live, you will have opportunities.
"I...will do it."
"A wise choice." Ning Wanjun nodded, "Second, bring the price of salt down. You can work with merchants to sell this part of the salt for private sale, and I can temporarily ignore your previous illegal gains. "
"Yes." This is another loss, but the loss of money is already much more acceptable than the previous point.
"Finally, if Dongsheng Kingdom comes to visit, no matter what news you hear, you must report it to me." Ning Wanjun said solemnly, "I don't want there to be such a rat's nest in Jinxia City again."
Wang Yi'an moistened his dry lips, "As you... wish."
Once the salt trade ends, it will be impossible for him to send people to support him. Even if the princess does not mention the third point, he will not be able to piece together a new Donghai Gang.
"To be honest, these three points are far from commensurate with the crime you committed." Ning Wanjun raised her chin slightly, "Do you know the reason why you can still stand in the hall?"
"Because... Jinxia City still needs me to produce salt."
"Yes, do your job well, so that the Privy Council will not find out about you." She stood up with satisfaction and walked towards the inner door, "I have other things to be busy with, so I won't I'll eat with you. Enjoy it yourself."
Wang Yi'an gritted his teeth and said, "Congratulations to Your Highness!"
…
Returning to his mansion, Wang Yi'an just walked into the study and saw his eldest son Wang Qingzhi already waiting in the room.
"Father, His Highness invited you to go, what did you say?"
Wang Yi'an let out a long sigh and told the whole story about going to the banquet.
"You... aren't going to listen to the princess, are you?" Wang Qingzhi frowned.
"That's all, that's all." Wang Yi'an leaned back in his chair, "This transaction was lost because of the Wang family's bet. Forget my previous plan, Dongsheng Kingdom will just pretend that this will never happen again."
"Father!" Wang Qingzhi raised his voice an octave, "This matter must not be abandoned halfway. Princess Guangping - she is not here to carve out a feudal title. She has ambitions!"
The word ambition was almost shouted by him.
"Can I not know that she is ambitious? So what?" Wang Yi'an was also angry. Now it seems that Xia Fan is really a nail in the Privy Council Palace. Killing the Donghai Gang first, and then ending the illegal salt trade, this is totally unlike what a princess who enjoys the rest of her life would do! What's even more terrible is that the power she used has no connection with the original power of Jinxia City. Whether it is the well-trained servants or the arrest team of the headquarters, they are all newly created in a short period of time. The Wang family's connections and financial resources have no checks and balances on this.
What Ning Wanjun did clearly exceeded the limits of a feudal princess.
It’s just that he didn’t see this clearly earlier!
"At least... the Wang family still holds the right to make and sell salt. And Dongsheng Kingdom... is too far away from my Daqi." Wang Yian rubbed his swollen and painful forehead, "You can go out. I have made a decision on this matter. Just arrange it according to my wishes."
Wang Qingzhi stared at his father for a long time, then slowly lowered his head and said, "Then you have a good rest."
Father, have you ever thought about why you embarked on this path
The salt industry can bring wealth, but it cannot bring stability.
The Wang family now holds the power to negotiate salt, but what about in the future? Since the princess is ambitious, will she watch all the huge benefits flow into the pockets of the Wang family
In Wang Qingzhi's eyes, he felt for the first time that... his father was old.