I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 201 What's best for my husband is naturally the best.
The following day, Dorje and his wife came to visit, and Tang Zhao personally greeted them at the gate.

A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days' absence. After a year apart, Dorje, who previously needed a translator to communicate, could now communicate with Tang Zhao in exaggerated and broken Chongqing dialect.

"My God! This mansion is truly magnificent and breathtakingly beautiful, like a heavenly palace."

"The flowers in this garden are blooming in clusters, vying for attention in their beauty."

. . . .

Tang Zhao responded with a smile.

Dorjee was born into a fallen noble family in Tibet. Although his family had declined, they were still a force to be reckoned with, and his ancestors had been in business for generations, accumulating considerable wealth.

By the time of Dorje's generation, the family business had expanded to three countries. Relying on the simple method of buying low and selling high, Dorje's wealth accumulated rapidly. Last year, the money and reputation earned from just one deal with the Huguang Mirror made Dorje the most popular merchant in Tibet.

Dorjee has always been proud of this.

Therefore, when Dorje stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window of the reception room of the Protector General's Mansion, he had only one thought in his mind: Buy it!

Tang Zhao invited, "Please come in, both of you."

Dorje and his wife struggled to tear their gaze away from the French windows and entered the reception room together to sit down, where a maidservant served them tea.

"This is a pre-rain Longjing tea bestowed by His Majesty this year. Would you two like to try it and see if it suits your taste?"

Dorje and his wife picked up their white porcelain teacups and took a sip of tea. The tea was fresh and mellow, with a slightly bitter taste at first, but it quickly turned into sweetness and had a long-lasting aftertaste.

"Excellent tea!" Dorje tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. "It's truly unforgettable!"

Tang Zhao raised his hand, and a maid stepped forward to fill the cup with tea.

"My husband said that Lord Dorje wishes to see me. May I ask what important matter he has to discuss?"

Dorje sat up straight. "I also wish to purchase a batch of Pot-Light Mirrors from the Princess," he said, pointing to the French windows not far away. "And this treasure, however many the Princess has, Dorje will buy them all!"

Tang Zhao's smile remained unchanged. "I don't have a single one in my hand."

Doggie: . . . .

Dorjee said anxiously, "Princess, are you not satisfied with the price? I can pay 30% more..."

“It’s not about the price,” Tang Zhao interrupted his high-price temptation. “Your Excellency Dorje may not know, but I have already presented the glassmaking recipe to the court. Now, glass is under the control of the court.”

"If Your Excellency Dorje really wishes to purchase the mirror and floor-to-ceiling windows, you may directly discuss this with the officials of the Imperial Glass Bureau."

Dorjee's smile was bitter. Not to mention that the Dayu court didn't have any floor-to-ceiling windows for sale, even if they did, the prices would be prohibitively high.

"Does Your Highness know the price of a single 'Pot-Shaped Mirror' in your dynasty?"

Tang Zhao pretended not to know.

"Five hundred taels!" Dorje exclaimed excitedly, holding up five fingers. "A full five hundred taels! I couldn't even sell a 'Gourd Mirror' for that much in Tibet!"

If the purchase price is equal to the selling price, then how can he make a profit?
He hasn't even factored in the costs of vehicles, personnel, bodyguards, and provisions!
"Besides the Huguang Mirror, Dayu has many other precious items," Tang Zhao said, raising his teacup, "such as tea leaves."

The Tea Horse Trade originally involved trading tea from Chongqing with horses from Tibet and the Turks, and it evolved into other traded goods, driven entirely by the allure of profit.

Tea, a daily necessity for the Tibetans, had long been divided up by the Tibetan nobles and royal family, leaving him with nothing even leftovers.

"Princess," Dorje stood up and performed the Tibetan salute, "I beg Your Highness's understanding; I am deeply grateful."

“Your Excellency Dorje, it is not that I, the princess, am unreasonable, but the laws of the court are in place, and I am helpless.”

Gu Ci looked up and glanced at Tang Zhao.

Tang Zhao sat up straight and blinked rapidly.

Dorjee's grief was greater than despair. "Although I have no glass, I still possess a treasure that is no less valuable than glass."

Dorjee raised his head, his eyes filled with hope.

Spring Breeze stepped forward and presented two wooden bottles.

"What is this?" Dorje picked up the wooden bottle and examined it from head to toe.

"Floral Dew," Tang Zhao took out a miniature perfume bottle from his pouch at his waist, removed the wooden cap and gently pressed it down, and the mist mixed with the delicate fragrance of gardenia slowly diffused.

"It smells so good!" Dorje's wife exclaimed with delight.

Dorjee gently pressed the button, just like Tang Zhao had done, and the mist sprayed straight into his face. Even before the mist arrived, the rich fragrance of lilies filled the air.

Compared to that, the sachet he wore at his waist was simply cumbersome and useless.

"Lord Dorje, is this floral dew to your liking?"

Dorjee nodded repeatedly, "That's amazing!"

Tibet is cold, and people often burn cow, sheep, and horse dung for heating, which has a strong smell. In addition, water is scarce. Even the women of the royal family and nobility can only bathe once every ten days or half a month, and the men bathe even less often.

Even some men from ancient and remote tribes consider the strong odor on their bodies as a badge of honor for men.

However, it is human nature to seek fragrance and avoid foul smells, and no amount of beautification can change that.

When the first Tibetan king visited the emperor of the previous dynasty, he was ridiculed and mocked by the emperor and his ministers because of his unpleasant body odor. After returning to his country, the first king resented the humiliation of the previous dynasty but admired the culture of the Central Plains. Therefore, he imitated and learned everything about Tibetan life, including clothing, food, housing and transportation, and integrated it with Tibetan culture and customs.

Wearing a sachet is one such practice, serving two purposes: firstly, it can signify one's status, and secondly, it can mask body odor.

Dorjee believed that this floral dew would become an indispensable item for Tibetan nobles, following tea.

"May I ask, Princess, what is the value of this treasure?"

"A bottle costs one thousand taels on the market," Tang Zhao offered a special price to his major clients. "However, since you are a friend and relative of my wife and me, I will naturally give you a special price."

Tang Zhao held up his thumb and forefinger. "Eight hundred taels a bottle."

Dorje slammed his fist on the table excitedly, "I want three thousand bottles!" Then, he asked cautiously, "Do you have any in stock?"

“You’ll have to wait. Hua Lu Fang is located in Jiangnan, and it takes time to source the goods. I’ll trouble you to wait,” Tang Zhao said shamelessly. “But you’ll need to pay a deposit first.”

“No problem! I don’t mind waiting as long as it takes!” Dorje readily agreed. “I can pay half the price, how about we stick to the old rule of half horses and half jewelry?”

"Excellent!" Tang Zhao clapped his hands and laughed. "Guards, quickly prepare wine and dishes. This princess is going to entertain our distinguished guests!"

The banquet was set up under the grapevines in the back garden. Clusters of round, purple grapes hung among the slightly yellow and green leaves. Tang Zhao tasted them all, then picked the largest and sweetest bunch by hand, washed them, and prepared them as a snack with his drinks.

"We've had a pleasant chat, let's share some fine wine," Tang Zhao said, personally filling the wine cups. "I'd like to offer you both a toast."

Dorje and his wife quickly picked up their glass wine cups, saying, "We dare not, we dare not."

The three of them politely tilted their heads back and drank the wine in one gulp.

Gu Ci slowly took a sip, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Although the liquor was strong, its aroma was quite different from what he usually drank.

Tang Zhao pretended to be drunk, casually leaned back, half of his shoulder resting on Gu Ci, tilted his head, and his smiling lips were almost touching Gu Ci's ear.

"What is given to my husband is naturally the best."

Gu Ci's heart skipped a beat, and he silently extended his left arm to wrap around Tang Zhao's back.