The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 582 Righteous Characters
Aunt Tang shook her head.

Lian Hengruo said, "Auntie will definitely think that because Aunt Tong and I have a marriage alliance, she is trying to get benefits from us. But has Auntie ever thought that the Lu family is related to Aunt Tong by marriage? What is our 20,000 taels of silver in the eyes of the Lu family? Aunt Tong is willing to give us this opportunity to spend money, and it is a sure-fire way to make money. She is truly loyal."

Aunt Tang looked regretful and said, "I misunderstood."

Then he clapped his hands and said self-deprecatingly, "That's why I can only be someone's concubine. My vision is not as good as yours, Ruo'er."

Tong Huaqiong did indeed intend to give some of the profits to Aunt Tang.

But she didn't give it away for nothing; she made Aunt Tang pay after she had analyzed the pros and cons.

It's highly likely that Prefect Yao and Lian Heng could get together. The Prefect's wife could do other businesses, but if she got involved in the military supplies business, it would bring trouble to Prefect Yao. Not only would Prefect Yao disagree, but the Yao family of Shengjing would not allow it either.

Now that Tong Huaqiong has joined the fray, the best way for her to tighten this relationship is to bring Aunt Tang into the game.

Aunt Tang only needs to pay the money; the cotton picking, weaving workshop, and transportation of supplies will all be handled by Tong Huaqiong. In this way, Lian Hengruo will not only avoid any risk but also get a share of the profits.

Moreover, Tong Huaqiong had another selfish motive: if there were any problems later, she couldn't be easily blamed. As long as Lian Heng was around, the problem wouldn't fall on her.

Tong Huaqiong thought this was paving the way for her and her son's future, and also a way of repaying Prefect Yao for his protection.

Old Master Lu did not return to the prefectural city with Prefect Yao.

He harbored a prejudice against Prefect Yao, and Tong Huaqiong estimated that this prejudice would only be resolved after he attended Prefect Yao's wedding banquet.

Grandpa Lu and Lu Zhaozhao stayed behind to discuss something with Tong Huaqiong.

“Mother-in-law, in the summer you had Dashu tell me that this winter would be extremely cold, and that I should stock up on charcoal,” Old Master Lu said. “But the weather doesn’t look like a mild winter at all.”

It's already late autumn, and the temperature is the same as usual, with no indication of any approaching extreme cold weather.

However, Grandpa Lu respected Tong Huaqiong very much, always feeling that a country woman who could run a business so successfully in such a short time must have some extraordinary abilities.

In addition, his grandson had just entered officialdom and was at the time to accumulate political capital. If they really encountered extremely cold weather, he could stockpile a large amount of charcoal to save the people, which would surely bring good reputation to his grandson as he entered officialdom.

Therefore, when Gu Dashu sent a message instructing him to stockpile charcoal, he did so, not only stockpiling charcoal but also a large amount of cotton.

The Lu family is a large and powerful family, and they have accumulated these funds that cannot be shaken. However, with winter approaching and no signs of the so-called extreme cold weather, they couldn't help but ask Tong Huaqiong about it.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Grandpa, believe me, in two months, in two months, we will experience extremely cold weather."

Seeing that Tong Huaqiong wasn't joking, Old Master Lu asked, "Have you told Magistrate Liu and Prefect Yao?"

Tong Huaqiong shook her head. She dared not take the risk. This kind of extremely cold weather, which existed in Tong Dajiao's memories of her previous life, had not yet arrived. She was afraid that if she took the initiative to tell Prefect Yao, it would arouse his suspicion and lead him to investigate her background.

To be honest, Tong Huaqiong wasn't sure either. After all, many things had changed since she put herself in Tong Dajiao's body, and who knew if the weather would change as well?

She asked the Lu family to stockpile charcoal, knowing that the Lu family had the financial resources and that even without extremely cold weather, Old Master Lu wouldn't blame her.

Just like now, Grandpa Lu didn't ask her how she knew the extreme cold would arrive in two months, but instead asked her if she had told Prefect Yao, which shows Grandpa Lu's trust in her.

Tong Huaqiong shook her head: "No. As you know, old man, we farmers rely on the weather for our livelihood. Which village doesn't have someone who can predict the weather? If you ask me how I can be so sure that there will be extremely cold weather, I don't have a specific answer. So why would Prefect Yao believe me?"

It's only because Prefect Yao was magnanimous that she didn't spread rumors.

After a long silence, Old Master Lu said, "I will write to Zhaoyang and ask him to consider this matter."

In other words, Lu Zhaoyang will be asked to remind Prefect Yao. After all, if Ningcheng really experiences extremely cold weather, Prefect Yao will have to take on the responsibility of controlling the price of charcoal, resettling displaced people, and reminding people to reinforce their houses for warmth.

Mentioning Lu Zhaoyang, Old Master Lu lowered his voice and said to Tong Huaqiong, "Zhaoyang has now been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue for training."

He looked worried after he finished speaking.

Tong Huaqiong looked surprised: "Isn't Zhaoyang a compiler at the Hanlin Academy?"

The compilers were specifically tasked with drafting imperial edicts for the emperor, and were no different from the emperor's personal secretaries. Any newly appointed scholar who could obtain this position was a favorite of the emperor.

When news of Lu Zhaoyang's whereabouts arrived, Gu Jingzhe excitedly explained to Tong Huaqiong that the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet in this dynasty were all selected from the Hanlin Academy, and that being a Grand Secretary meant becoming the highest-ranking official.

Lu Zhaoyang, who came from a merchant background, had a brilliant career.

Why was he taken to the Ministry of Revenue so quickly?
Tong Huaqiong couldn't understand why the emperor's favorite had suddenly fallen from grace.

Indeed, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; you should know that when this ruler becomes ruthless, he will even kill his own son.

Just then, Master Huang walked over and overheard the conversation. He said, "It's said that the princess has taken a liking to Zhaoyang. Zhaoyang is already married, and the princess demanded that Zhaoyang divorce my Jingshan. Zhaoyang publicly rebuked him, and the princess, relentless, sent her secret guards to assassinate Jingshan. Fortunately, Zhaoyang discovered the plot and submitted a memorial exposing the matter to the entire court, severely offending the princess. No matter how much the emperor likes him, he can't stop the princess from being his own daughter."

Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but sigh. No matter how rich the Lu family was, in the eyes of the truly powerful and wealthy, they were nothing more than poor people. How dare a mere newly appointed top scholar disrespect the princess? If not you, then who will be punished?

Master Huang was initially delighted to have a son-in-law who was a top scholar, but the princess coveted him.

If Lu Zhaoyang hadn't been so upright and devoted to Huang Jingshan, he probably would have strangled his wife with a white silk ribbon long ago and gone off to climb the social ladder.

"Zhaoyang has suffered all this because of Jingshan," sighed Master Huang.
Old Master Lu said, "What you said, my dear in-law, is truly hurtful. No one would do something like divorcing their wife to climb the social ladder."

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, "That's not necessarily true. In my previous life, Gu Jingzhe went to climb the social ladder."

It is clear that Lu Zhaoyang was a righteous person from beginning to end.

After all, not everyone dares to refuse a princess's offer.

Wait, where did Lu Zhaoyang go?

Household Department.

Tong Huaqiong's heart skipped a beat.

Now that the northern deserts are frequently invading the border, Dasheng has already mobilized troops there. Su Chengmin analyzed that the two countries will inevitably break out into a fierce war sooner or later.

Based on the current troop deployment, Su Chengmin predicted that war would break out this winter.

News of the impending border war even reached Yanguan Town. Merchants from the border closed their shops and said they were going to bring their families over to avoid the devastation of war. Some merchants who had just returned from the border said that Dasheng and Mobei had already assembled their armies and were in a standoff, and war was imminent.

Under these circumstances, no merchant dares to do business at the border.

As the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach."

Winter warm cotton clothing is considered food and fodder.

The Ministry of Revenue was responsible for preparing grain and provisions.