Chapter 27: The Empress Dowager’s Birthday (1)
“Even if he finds out, so what? Who told us to be merchants? Merchants naturally put profit first, don’t they?” Jin Junxi said rather shamelessly. In any case, his imperial brother had plenty of money; skimming a little off the top would hardly matter.
Hua Ling laughed. Yes, Jin Junxi was right. They were merchants, and merchants ought to act like merchants. But she did not intend to do that. Hua Ling looked at Jin Junxi and said, “I drew this waterwheel for Mu Yelei. I never planned to ask for money, nor did I plan to rely on it to make money. After all, this is a good thing for the country and the people. Once money gets involved, it becomes too mercenary. Come with me. I’ll show you the thing I drew for you. That one, at least, can help me earn some money.”
As Hua Ling spoke, she headed toward Yinlü Xuan. Jin Junxi followed behind her and said, “I wonder what exactly you drew. I really am looking forward to it.”
“Right now it’s only a rough model. It’ll still need further refinement. As for that, I’ll need your help,” Hua Ling said as she walked. Once she started talking enthusiastically, she completely forgot that she had left Mu Yelei and the others behind, and departed without even saying goodbye.
“I can help too? Now that’s rather interesting,” Jin Junxi replied. By now, he was becoming more and more interested in this thing called a four-piece set.
After entering Yinlü Xuan, Hua Ling strode into the room, picked up the drawings she had left on the table before leaving, turned, and handed them to Jin Junxi behind her. Jin Junxi took them with interest, but as soon as he saw what was drawn on them, he could not help frowning. “What is this? Why can’t I understand it?”
“You’ve never seen it before, so of course you don’t understand. I’ll explain it to you.” Hua Ling took the drawings back and explained the use of a four-piece set to him, then said, “The most important point of a four-piece set is that the patterns and style are all the same. When an entire set is spread out on a bed, one glance gives people a completely different feeling. As for what kind of fabric to use and what kind of patterns to choose, that will be up to you.”
Once Hua Ling explained it like that, Jin Junxi immediately understood. And the more he understood, the happier he became. He nodded and said, “I can guarantee that as soon as this thing is released, it will definitely be very popular.”
“Really? You have that much confidence?” Hua Ling said happily. If that were truly the case, then her purse would be able to swell up nice and early.
“Don’t worry. I still have that much certainty. Just wait to collect the silver!” Jin Junxi said cheerfully, looking at the drawings as though he could not bear to put them down.
“That’s good. If this succeeds, I still have many more good things. When the time comes, I’m sure they’ll make you so happy you won’t be able to close your mouth,” Hua Ling said with a smile. This was nothing—just a small appetizer. Her grand feast was still yet to come.
“Really? Good, good,” Jin Junxi said repeatedly. This time, he had a feeling that he seemed to have dug up a treasure—and a mountain of gold at that.
“In a few days, it will be the Empress Dowager’s birthday. What gift do you plan to give Her Elderly Highness?” Jin Junxi asked casually. For this matter, he had racked his brains and spent quite a bit of effort before managing to obtain a treasure. Every year on the Empress Dowager’s birthday, the thing that attracted the most attention was his birthday gift. Naturally, this year could not be an exception either.
“What does the Empress Dowager’s birthday have to do with me? I’m not going,” Hua Ling said without the slightest concern. It truly had nothing to do with her.
“What did you say? Last year, when the Empress Dowager celebrated her birthday, you weren’t married yet. But now you’re already the Prime Minister’s wife, a first-rank titled madam. How could you not go? Saying something like that could get your head chopped off. It’s disrespectful to the Empress Dowager,” Jin Junxi warned. This was not something to joke about.
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