Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 69 Jacquard Secrets! Earning 250,000 taels in three months, Liu Chengming smashed his study in anger.

The sound of porcelain shattering could be heard coming from Liu Chengming's study at Wanghu Tower.

Two hundred thousand taels?!

Liu Chengming's face was ashen, his fingers trembling as he clutched the newly delivered secret report.

"Three months, and a mere newly opened cloth shop made a profit of 200,000 taels? Have you investigated this thoroughly?!"

The scout kneeling on the ground didn't dare to raise his head: "Reporting to the young master, it is absolutely true."

Our people copied a copy of Jinxiufang's three-month financial statements.

Three hundred bolts of the "Flowing Light Brocade" alone were sold, each costing one thousand taels, totaling three hundred thousand taels.

In addition, other fabric garments...

"Enough!" Liu Chengming kicked over the low table in front of him.

Account books were scattered all over the floor.

He stared at those numbers, his chest tightening with tension.

Three hundred thousand taels.

The Liu family has been operating in Jiangnan for so many years...

The largest cloth shop under his name could only earn a maximum of 50,000 taels in three months.

What right does that Night Phoenix have?!

"Anything else?"

His voice was cold.

"The intelligence also said that Jinxiufang has opened branches in Suzhou and Yangzhou, and business is booming. Where did she get so many goods?"

Where did all these weavers come from?

The scout swallowed hard. "Young master, there's something strange about Jinxiufang."

"explain!"

"The loom room in their backyard operates day and night."

But our people sneaked in and saw it; the looms inside…”

The scout lowered his voice, "It's not quite the same as what we use."

Liu Chengming's pupils contracted: "How is it different?"

"They can weave cloth quickly. Ordinary looms can only weave three zhang (approximately 10 meters) of fine cloth per day, but theirs can weave fifteen zhang (approximately 10 meters)."

and……"

The scout pulled a palm-sized piece of cloth from his pocket.

"Look at this."

Liu Chengming took the fabric.

It was a piece of moon-white brocade, seemingly ordinary at first glance, but when turned in the light,

A subtle pattern appeared on the fabric—

It features an extremely exquisite lotus scroll pattern, with clear lines and distinct layers.

"Jacquard brocade?" Liu Chengming's expression changed.

Jacquard weaving is the most advanced technique in Jiangnan weaving.

A jacquard machine capable of weaving intricate patterns.

There are no more than ten such workshops in the entire Jiangnan region, and they are all controlled by a few centuries-old weaving families.

Even for those time-honored brands, it takes half a month to weave a single piece of jacquard brocade.

Jinxiufang has only been open for three months, where did they get the jacquard machines? And how can they produce in large quantities?

"How many of them do they have?" Liu Chengming asked, his voice strained.

"have no idea."

The scout shook his head.

"The loom room is guarded too closely; unfamiliar faces simply cannot get in."

But judging from the quantity they shipped... there must be at least five units.

Wutai Mountain.

Liu Chengming gasped.

Five jacquard looms work day and night, producing hundreds of pieces of jacquard brocade in a month.

A piece of jacquard brocade is worth at least five hundred taels of silver on the market.

One hundred horses cost fifty thousand taels.

This is just jacquard brocade. Add to that shimmering brocade, fine cotton, ready-made garments…

No wonder he could earn 200,000 taels in three months.

"Very well, Ye Huang is quite something." Liu Chengming laughed angrily, "You've really hidden yourself well."

He waved for the scouts to leave, then stood alone amidst the mess, his eyes filled with malice.

Can't wait any longer.

If we wait any longer, she will devour the entire textile business in Jiangnan.

---

Meanwhile, in the secret workshop in the backyard of Qihuang Garden, Yehuang was looking at the machine that had just been debugged.

"Girl, it's done!"

Master Lu was so excited that his beard was trembling.

"Look at this pattern, the fineness—it's even better than what's woven on the jacquard looms used in the palace!"

Ye Huang reached out and touched the half-piece of brocade that had just been woven.

The fabric features an extremely intricate "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" design.

The birds are all in different poses, and the phoenix spreads its wings as if about to take flight, with every feather clearly visible.

"And the speed?" she asked.

"Ten times faster than an old-fashioned jacquard machine!"

Master Lu's voice was trembling.

"An old-fashioned machine can only weave a maximum of three feet of such intricate patterns per day."

Our loom can weave three zhang (approximately 1.5 meters) a day!

ten times.

Ye Huang nodded.

The blueprints she provided were an improved version combining modern jacquard looms and ancient techniques.

A more sophisticated heddle-lifting device was used, which can control thousands of warp threads at the same time, making it much faster.

"How many are there now?" she asked.

"Including this one, there are eight in total."

Master Lu said,

"As you instructed, they were distributed in three locations: four in the garden, two in the manor outside the city, and two hidden in the backyard of the Suzhou branch."

"Where are the craftsmen?"

"They all signed a contract that would last forever."

Master Lu lowered his voice.

"The wages are three times the market rate, and the whole family is settled in the village with someone watching over them."

They all knew the gravity of the situation, and no one dared to speak of it.

Ye Huang was satisfied.

Technological barriers are her greatest asset in this era.

While others take three years to weave one bolt of fabric, she can weave ten bolts in a month.

Others sell a bolt of silk for 500 taels, but she sells it for 300 taels, and still makes a fortune.

"Miss." Jinshu came in from outside, holding a letter in her hand, "A letter from Master in the capital."

Ye Huang took it and opened it.

The letter was written by Shen Anbang, using the same code that the father and daughter had agreed upon.

"My dear Qingqing: It is as if we are meeting in person after reading this letter."

My father has contacted seventeen of his former subordinates, all of whom are working in the Six Ministries. Although their positions are not high, they can provide information.

Three of them were willing to openly serve as "advisors" to Jinxiufang, which could shield them from some open and covert attacks.

Furthermore, Liu Chengzong has been frequently summoning officials from the Ministry of Revenue recently, seemingly to audit taxes in Jiangnan. I need to prepare accordingly.

After reading the letter, Ye Huang held it up to the candle flame and burned it.

The firelight cast shadows on her face, creating a play of light and shadow.

"Miss, what did the master say?" Jinshu asked softly.

"Father found us some 'protective charms'."

Ye Huang said calmly,

"With connections in the court, it won't be so easy for Liu Chengming to use the power of the government in the future."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Have Qian Sihai prepare three generous gifts and send them to the residences of those three officials in the capital. There's no need to hide anything; just send them openly and honestly."

Jinshu's eyes lit up: "What does the young lady want...?"

"Yes." Ye Huang smiled.

"I want everyone to know that Jinxiufang also has connections in the imperial court."

Just then, Mo Shisan rushed in, his face beaming with joy: "Miss, the accounts are settled."

He placed a thick ledger on the table.

"Jinxiufang's net profit for the past three months, including its Hangzhou flagship store and branches in Suzhou and Yangzhou—"

He paused, then raised his voice.

"Two hundred and seventeen thousand taels."

"What about Tingfeng Tower?"

"In the past three months, Tingfeng Tower has earned a total of 53,000 taels of silver from intelligence trading, helping merchants investigate their rivals, and investigating secrets for officials."

In total, it amounted to 270,000 taels.

Three months.

Jinshu covered her mouth, her eyes wide open.

She knew the girl was capable, but... earning 270,000 taels in three months?

This is more than the Shen family's annual income during its heyday!

Ye Huang, however, showed no surprise.

She opened the ledger and looked at it page by page.

Lustrous brocade, jacquard brocade, improved fine cotton fabric, custom-made clothing... each item is incredibly profitable.

Especially ready-to-wear customization.

She introduced the modern concept of "haute couture," where a dress with intricate embroidery could sell for thousands of taels of silver.

The wives and daughters of wealthy merchants in Jiangnan almost fought tooth and nail to get a "limited edition" spot.

"Qian Sihai has mastered the art of the 'membership system'."

Ye Huang closed the ledger.

"Tell Qian Sihai to give him a bonus at the end of the year, which will be 10% of the profits."

One-tenth is more than 20,000 taels.

Mo Shisan was shocked: "Miss, isn't this... too much?"

"not much."

Yehuang said,

"Those who can make money for me deserve what they deserve."

"You too, you'll get half a percent from Tingfeng Tower."

Mo Shisan's eyes welled up with tears, and he knelt down: "This subordinate... thanks you, Miss!"

"Get up." Ye Huang helped him up. "It's what you deserve, no need to thank me."

She walked to the window and looked at Bao'er, who was learning to walk in the yard.

The little guy was wobbling, and Jinshu was protecting him from falling.

"Bao'er," Ye Huang said softly, "the empire that your mother has built for you has grown even thicker."

---

That night, Liu Chengming received an urgent letter from the capital.

It was written by his father, Liu Chengzong.

Only two sentences:

"His Majesty has become suspicious of the taxes levied in Jiangnan. The accounts must be cleaned up immediately."

Furthermore, there may be people in the imperial court behind Jinxiufang; do not make any further moves.

Liu Chengming gripped the letter, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

A person from the imperial court?

What kind of powerful backer did Ye Huang, a "widow who returned from overseas," have in the imperial court?

unless……

He suddenly remembered that three months ago, before Xiao Jue left Hangzhou, he had visited Qihuang Garden.

Xiao Jue.

Zhenbei Palace.

Liu Chengming's eyes sharpened.

"Someone come here!"

The guard pushed open the door and came in.

"Investigate." Liu Chengming's voice was icy.

"What exactly is the relationship between Cha Yehuang and Xiao Jue?"

Also, where did they get the blueprints for those new looms from Cha Jinxiufang?

"Young master, the loom room is too heavily guarded; our men can't get in..."

"Can't get in?" Liu Chengming sneered. "Then let them come out on their own."

He walked to his desk, picked up his pen, and wrote a letter.

"Deliver this letter to Li Heihu of the Grand Canal Gang."

He handed the letter to the guard.

"Tell him that as long as he can get Jinxiufang's goods to 'run into some kind of accident' on the canal,"

Next year, all of the Liu family's canal transport business will be given to him.

The guard took the letter and hesitated, saying, "Young Master, Li Heihu said he was ill last time, I'm afraid it's..."

"Illness?" Liu Chengming smiled.

"Tell him that if he takes this job, his illness will be cured immediately. If he doesn't..."

He didn't finish speaking.

But the guard understood.

"Understood!"

After the guards left, Liu Chengming sat back down in his chair.

He gazed at the night view of West Lake outside the window, his eyes as cold and venomous as a snake's.

Night Phoenix.

You caused me to lose 200,000 taels of my smuggled salt business and also stole the profits from my Jiangnan textile factory.

Now, even people in the central government are starting to speak up for you.

well.

Let's see if your loom is faster, or my knife is faster.

---

In the Phoenix Garden, Ye Huang suddenly shivered.

She looked up at the sky.

The moon is bright and the stars are few; it's a fine day.

But for some reason, I felt uneasy.

"Girl, what's wrong?" Jinshu asked.

"It's nothing," Ye Huang shook her head. "I'm probably just tired."

She picked up the sleeping baby and gently patted his back.

The little one snuggled against her and fell into a deeper sleep.

"Bao'er," Ye Huang whispered, "Mother seems to have... angered a poisonous snake."

But so what?

Even the most venomous snake is still just a snake.

She is destined to be a phoenix.

---

[Next Chapter Preview: Liu Chengming colludes with the Grand Canal Gang to rob goods! Eighteen cartloads of cloth from Jinxiufang sink into the Grand Canal! Ye Huang retaliates with lightning speed, turning the Jiangnan Grand Canal transport system upside down overnight!]