Chapter 235 Giving Gifts
The government affairs were quickly discussed and several ministers took their leave.

Minister of Revenue Cui Chaoyong did not leave. He looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated: "I have an unwelcome request, and I would like to consult Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianwu looked at Cui Chaoyong in surprise and said, "My dear Cui, please tell me now."

Cui Chaoyong pointed to the cup he had just drunk tea from and said, "I just drank this tea, it tastes great, sweet after the first sip, and the tea aroma also has the fragrance of orchids. It is really a rare good tea!"

"I would like to ask Your Majesty, where can I buy this kind of tea?"

"I love tea so much that I want to ask my servants to buy some for me so that I can enjoy a sip when I feel tired."

Emperor Tianwu smiled instantly: "You mean this tea? It's mine..."

Swallowing the word "daughter-in-law", Emperor Tianwu turned a corner.

"It was given to me by the Crown Prince as a gift. I'll go back and ask where I can buy it and then have someone tell you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Cui Chaoyong kowtowed again before standing up to say goodbye.

After leaving the imperial study, the other five ministers glared at Cui Chaoyong!

The Minister of Justice snorted: "Old Cui, you are the one who is highlighted, right?"

The Minister of Industry was also unhappy: "We all don't like drinking tea, only you like drinking tea?"

The Minister of Rites was a good man, and he quickly criticized Cui Chaoyong: "Oh, Lord Cui, this move of yours makes us look ignorant."

"When you buy some good tea, please give us some!"

"Otherwise we won't forgive you!"

Cui Chaoyong hurriedly bowed his hands, looking apologetic: "Sorry, sorry! Cui didn't think it through just now."

"sure!"

The six ministers parted unhappily, but after returning home, they asked their wives to go to the Liulifang to buy something.

First pick out a glass cup of the same style as your Majesty’s, then pick out those that you can afford and buy a few.

Using it when entertaining guests can be considered as an explanation to His Majesty, and it will also save face for the family.

In the warm room of the Eastern Palace, Fu Chenan received a message from the Emperor and was stunned for a moment: Do the ministers want to buy some tea?
He didn't ask Miss Xiao about this.

But he couldn't ask at this time, because Xiao Yingchun had just gone to the plum blossom viewing banquet wearing the clothes made for her overnight by the Weaving Department.

In the carriage, the wife of Marquis Ningyuan took Xiao Yingchun's hand and explained the situation in the Duke of Min's Mansion in a low voice.

"Their family is used to extravagance, so they built a large plum garden. At this time of year, the plum blossoms begin to bloom, and their family holds a plum blossom viewing banquet every year..."

This kind of banquet has two purposes. On the one hand, it is for men to flatter each other and get information from each other, so that people of the same trade can seek benefits and avoid harm.

On the other hand, the ladies would flatter each other and gather information, working hard for the future of the men in their families, while also building a platform for their children's marriages.

Xiao Yingchun knew that the Ningyuan Marquisate and the Fu family secretly admired and recognized each other, so she did not shy away from asking, "I heard that they have two young ladies waiting to get married?"

The wife of Ningyuan Hou was slightly surprised, then smiled: "I didn't expect you to know this, then I will tell you what I know..."

What the wife of Ningyuan Hou said was almost the same as what Fu Chenan asked people to find out, but she seemed to have a deeper understanding of human nature.

"After you go in, don't eat anything else. Just follow me. Don't let others call you away without my reminder..."

Xiao Yingchun: "Okay. Thank you, ma'am."

Lady Ningyuanhou smiled kindly and dotingly, patting her hands: "I should thank you!"

She also heard from Ao Guangchun that many of the things for the Fu family army were supplied by Miss Xiao.

Clothes, shoes, medicine, iron buckets, food, lard, tofu dregs...

This is not a secret in the Fu family army, everyone knows it.

The entire Fu family army is grateful to Xiao Yingchun!
If it weren't for Xiao Yingchun, they wouldn't know how many of them would have fallen because of injuries, illness, lack of food and clothing. When she was young, she also followed Ningyuan Hou to fight in the war, and she knew very well what it meant to have these things in the army.

Because he had so many good things, his silly son could suffer less.

It was also because of these things of hers that the Fu family army was able to conquer the world so smoothly this time.

It is reasonable for the Fu family father and son to value her.

As the two were talking, the carriage arrived at the gate of Duke Min's mansion.

The wife of Ningyuan Hou pulled Xiao Yingchun forward, and the steward at the door immediately went inside to report.

When Lady Minguo heard that Lady Ningyuanhou had personally brought Xiao Yingchun in, she was also stunned.

"Doesn't she usually stay at home?"

The nanny behind him whispered, "Young Master Ao from the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion is serving as a general in the Fu Family Army! I guess the Crown Prince asked her to take Miss Xiao with her, right?"

Lady Minguo frowned slightly: "This is a bit troublesome..."

When Ningyuan Hou's wife was young, she had a hot temper and was very explosive.

Although I seldom go out in recent years, one's temper cannot be changed. If things get out of hand soon, I'm afraid there will be some trouble.

While talking, the two of them quickly went to the door to answer it.

"Mrs. Zhan, I haven't seen you for a long time..."

"Mrs. Qin invited me, and I thought it's been a while since we last met, so I came... I hope I didn't disturb you, didn't I?"

"No, no! Please, please, please..."

Lady Minguo invited people to go inside while keeping her eyes on Xiao Yingchun.

This dress, made of pale pink brocade, was exquisite, with small round pearls sewn on the edges...

It's obvious that it was made in-house.

Even their family couldn't get such a well-made dress, so how could this Miss Xiao have one? !
It must be the work of the prince.

Unexpectedly, this person is really favored by the Crown Prince!

"This is Miss Xiao, the owner of Liulifang, right?"

"Now, the four shops in Liulifang are making a fortune every day! We are so envious..."

This statement sounds reasonable at first, but it is a trap if you think about it carefully: Doesn't this mean that all the money earned by the four stores went into Xiao Yingchun's pocket? !
Xiao Yingchun smiled faintly and nodded: "Those four shops are all opened by the court. I am only responsible for supplying goods."

Lady Minguogong's smile froze: Wouldn't that mean I'm envious of the shops in the imperial court that make a fortune every day?
She didn't dare.

So Lady Minguo changed her words: "We are envious of Miss Xiao for being able to supply goods to the shop opened by the imperial court! Ordinary people don't have this qualification."

Xiao Yingchun smiled sincerely: "If Madam has a way to get something of the same quality and style, I think the court would be willing to sell it in the shop."

Lady of the Duke of Minguo: ...Where can I get something of the same quality and style? !
Okay, we’ve run out of things to talk about.

Madam Ningyuan held back her laughter and patted Xiao Yingchun's hand: "Madam Qin was just joking with you! Did you take it seriously?"

Xiao Yingchun also smiled: "I thought Madam Qin wanted to discuss business with me."

As they spoke, two maids following behind the wife of Ningyuan Marquis handed over gifts.

The wife of Ningyuan Hou gave a sandalwood Buddha statue as a proper gift.

What Xiao Yingchun gave was a seemingly ordinary glass cup of the same type as the emperor's.

(End of this chapter)