If this matter fails, it will take root in the emperor's heart, which will backfire on the family and the loss will outweigh the gain.
There is no need to take this risk. Her surname is Zhang, and she has to plan for the Zhang family.
Huo Xi could understand her aunt's concerns. But she had been planning for many years. After visiting her grandfather in Shangyong a few years ago, she even wanted to help her grandfather's family escape the crime.
No matter how difficult the conditions were these years, her grandmother and aunt would make clothes for her and Nian'er every year and send them to her. When she got married, her grandfather also spent all his money on people traveling thousands of miles to send her a dowry...
Shangyong was an inaccessible place, and her maternal grandparents were old. Thinking of them staying there, Huo Xi couldn't sleep at night. Every time she went back to visit her mother's grave, she felt ashamed to see her.
"Auntie, look at this, this is the white sugar rock sugar I told you about."
Concubine Zhang looked into the jar and was surprised. There was white sugar and sugar like ice cubes.
"If this sugar melts in water, the water won't be colored, right?"
"No. You can't tell without taking a taste."
Concubine Zhang took some and put it into her mouth, tried it, and nodded, "Did you buy it from a foreigner? What's the price?"
"White sugar costs two taels of silver per catty. Rock sugar costs three taels of silver per catty."
"So expensive?" Concubine Zhang's eyes widened.
Huo Xi felt a little sorry for hiding this from her.
This price was the price she had originally sold it to, and she replied: "Yes, they shipped it all the way, and it took more than a year on the sea to get to us. It's normal to sell it more expensive."
"How did you learn about this secret technique?"
"My aunt also knows that I understand Yi language. I helped that Ban man and bought it from him. If he doesn't sell it to me, he won't be able to keep this sugar-making method after returning to China."
Concubine Zhang understood.
Presumably, the merchants in the extravaganza have the same status as the merchants in the imperial court. Such secret methods that can make a lot of money cannot be kept when oppressed by powerful people.
I made some calculations in my mind, and the more I calculated, the more frightened I became.
If this secret method is handed over to the imperial court, and the imperial court arranges for its production, and then uses the current sea trade to transport it to foreign countries, how much wealth will be added to the national treasury!
Wouldn't it be convenient for Guan He to be taken out on the ship when the time comes?
Concubine Zhang thinks this can be done.
"You said your grandfather also led the family to grow high-yielding crops?"
This time Huo Xi didn't hide it from her, "Yes. This matter is my selfish intention. My mother died young because my grandfather's family was convicted..."
Concubine Zhang patted her hand and said, "Your grandmother did something wrong."
"It's all over. Grandma also considers the family."
"Good boy, that's good if you think so. Don't blame your grandmother, it's not easy for her either."
"Don't worry, aunt. Everything is fate. I don't blame grandma."
Huo Xi didn't talk about it anymore, only saying: "Because I wanted to exonerate my grandfather's family, I started planning a few years ago. After I got high-yielding seeds from overseas, I asked someone to bring them to the southwest for my grandfather to plant and see.
Look, I didn’t expect that most of those seeds were not acclimated to the soil, and after my grandfather and uncle had carefully taken care of them over the years, they finally turned out.”
Show the concubine what you brought.
There were pumpkins, upland rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and some edible vegetables. Since they were too far away from the capital, they could not be sent, so they only sent seeds. My grandfather wrote down in detail how to cultivate and maintain them.
"
He handed the thick cultivation and care manual to the imperial concubine to read.
Concubine Zhang took it in her hand and looked through it, and couldn't help but sigh, "The only person who can write down the planting of crops in such detail is your grandfather, the Imperial Academy. Look, you can write a book about it."
An Imperial College official is just teaching and educating people in the highest institution of the imperial court. What crime can he commit?
He sighed and said, "My aunt thinks that with these two things, it can be done. It's just that the emperor's heart is unpredictable, and my aunt can't say for sure." Everything depends on the emperor's will.
Emperor Yongkang, an old minister of the previous dynasty, was really unhappy.
"Let's do this. My aunt will ask someone to present your sugar-making method to the emperor first. If the emperor summons you, you can mention your grandfather again."
"Yes, I listen to my aunt."
"Someone is coming..."
Concubine Zhang asked the chief eunuch of Zhongcui Palace to present herself to the emperor, and gave him a few more instructions. Seeing that he understood everything, she let him go.
Huo Xi also rewarded him with a thick purse. He was very happy and said, "Don't worry, Madam Prince, I will handle this matter well." He turned around and left.
"This matter depends on the emperor's will. There is no rush. Let's go and see what Xiao Yu'er is doing."
The two of them walked towards the Royal Garden.
"This child is growing up so fast. I haven't seen him for a while. He walks steadily and speaks fluently. He has a small mouth, which is the time for fun." Concubine Zhang said with a smile on her lips and a light in her eyes. It's about to overflow.
Huo Xi felt a little distressed after seeing it.
"When the weather gets warmer next year, I will send him to the palace to stay with his aunt for a few days."
Concubine Zhang's eyes were astonishingly bright: "Really? Don't make your aunt happy."
"As long as my aunt doesn't dislike him."
"How can you dislike him? It's too late for my aunt to love him!" She was so excited that she took a step forward, "Xiao Yu'er, my aunt is here to see you!"
The mother and son accompanied the imperial concubine and had fun in the imperial garden.
Several empresses who came to the garden to relax were also attracted. They are all poor people. Who didn't expect to give birth to an imperial heir when they entered the palace? Every woman who gets married wants to have children by her side.
Who wouldn't like such a sweet dumpling?
They all came together to play together.
The little Yu'er was coaxed by one empress and then that empress. He was so happy that he accepted a bagful of gifts.
The emperor never summoned Huo Xi to ask questions. Huo Xi was a little disappointed.
"Don't worry, if the emperor doesn't summon you, my aunt will go to the emperor to intercede." Concubine Zhang comforted her, "Let's go, little fishermen are hungry, let's go have lunch."
The maids and eunuchs of Zhongcui Palace had just laid out the food, and just as the three of them were about to eat, the emperor arrived.
Huo Xi hurriedly took Xiao Yu'er to salute.
The little fisher didn't understand. He raised his head and looked at the emperor openly, his big eyes flashing.
"Is this the son of that boy Mu Bin?"
"Yes. Your Majesty, do you think he looks like his father?" Concubine Zhang waited on the Emperor to sit down and said with a smile.
"Like, they are almost carved from the same mold."
"Xiao Yu'er thinks so too." Xiao Yu'er wasn't afraid of him and even started talking to him.
Emperor Yongkang raised his eyebrows: "Huh? Do you still know what you look like? How do you know you look like your father?"
Xiao Yuer tilted his head, as if the person in front of him was not very smart, "I have a mirror at home, such a big mirror!"
He gestured with his little hands. He had such a big mirror at home, "You can see people clearly! My mother and Fan Ren bought it. Don't you have one at home?"
"Hahaha……"
Yongkang laughed happily, stretched out his hand to beckon him closer, and touched his little head, "Did you see in the mirror that you and your father look alike?"
Xiao Yuer nodded, "I also heard what others said. Many people say so."
Emperor Yongkang looked at the baby in front of him and despised his stupid child. He was in a much better mood these days because of the ministers who opposed the move of the capital. His chaotic mind also became clearer.
After teasing him for a while, he was taken away.
Looking at Huo Xi: "Do you want to dedicate this secret method to the court?"