Recently, Qin Yuan has been busy dealing with Mrs. Xu’s funeral, and hasn’t asked about pepper prices. Upon hearing, she smiled and said, "Who would have thought Prince Qi is so capable. By Mid-Autumn, the price of pepper might be well below thirty taels of silver per jin."

Shen Changle asked eagerly, "Should we purchase now?"

Qin Yuan asked curiously, "Why do you say that?"

Shen Changle did not hide anything, "I’m worried others might take this opportunity to buy up since the master has said to pull back all the released threads, I’ve been watching the market movements, and some people from the Yelv Clan have been frequently asking for prices recently."

The Yelv Clan should have their own trade routes in the Northern Border. If the price of pepper is too low, they might stockpile and resell elsewhere.

Qin Yuan thought, and said, "Keep a close watch, report anything quickly, any expenses can just be recorded in the accounts."

Shen Changle hurriedly waved his hand, "No need, it won’t be much."

Qin Yuan said seriously, "Your business operations are different from others. Whether running back-end operations or sending people to watch, you will inevitably spend some small money on connections. Even without money, walking a few more steps wears shoes, not to mention entertaining with snacks and tea alike. Money is needed everywhere in the Capital City; if I were stingy with this small money, I’d be undeserving of your dedication."

Shen Changle felt grateful, yet was at a loss for words, secretly resolving to achieve greatness to repay his master’s trust.

Matters were almost discussed, but Shen Changle still needed to find Sixth Master Gu to discuss woodcut illustrations.

After he left, Hong Ye asked urgently, lowering her voice, "Miss, can the price of pepper fall below thirty taels of silver per jin?"

Qin Yuan closed her eyes in thought and replied slowly, "I think it could... after all, it’s not yet Mid-Autumn, Prince Qi said we would know before the festival, and if it’s nearly time, he would send someone with a message."

Hong Ye gasped exaggeratedly, "My goodness, won’t those who bought at high prices feel their hearts bleeding?"

Qin Yuan responded softly.

Hong Ye sighed again, "When we decided to buy, it was fifty taels of silver."

Cui Ming said, "Perhaps heaven is helping us, preventing unnecessary expenses. I wonder how much Sixth Lady Gu lost."

Hong Ye replied, "Didn’t Miss say that as long as we hold off on selling, it will rise again, just less profitable."

Cui Ming chuckled lightly.

"What to say about you, at this point, they probably are urgently selling off, and I fear no one will take over. How can they think of holding on? Sixth Master is going to sue them; how can they explain without extracting something? Miss thinks there’s going to be a big rise, but they also need to think the same way."

Hong Ye sighed and laughed.

Qin Yuan opened her eyes, resting her chin in her hand, sighed slowly, "If you hadn’t mentioned, I’d almost forgotten. Those housekeeper mothers in the manor, seeing the funeral preparation, Sixth brother going to sue the Xu family, probably wouldn’t dare make a fuss. They might be cursing harshly in their hearts, but I wonder if I’ve been cursed... no wonder my ears have been hot these days, sneezing."

Hong Ye first disagreed.

"What does this have to do with the Miss?"

Qin Yuan said helplessly, "After all, it started because of me... I was the one who began to stockpile pepper..."

Cui Ming said, "When people are resentful and refuse to accept fate, they always need someone to blame. Too unwilling to blame themselves, they pull someone else to blame."

Hong Ye pouted and said, "Then shouldn’t they blame Nanny Zhao more?"

With no one to blame after death, Nanny Zhao is still alive, she was part of pulling people in at the start.

Qin Yuan said, "Who knows what they’re thinking?"

She thought for a moment and said, "Nanny Zhao, that side, it was Sixth Master who spoke to her, I wonder how this silver was accounted for."

Half of the housekeeper mothers in the manor got caught up, there really ought to be some explanation.

Otherwise, secret grudges might be held against the master.

Hong Ye said, "Why don’t you let them decide for themselves, whether to hold on until the price rises or exchange for silver according to the market price, though even with that there’s still going to be cursing. What if it rises in the future? Even if it does rise later, they still curse now when it dropped like this, buying high and losing so much, still cursing."

In the end, there will be cursing no matter what.

Qin Yuan said, "...This matter... sigh..."

Cui Ming laughed, "Rarely seen the Miss also having difficulty deciding."

Qin Yuan said, "I want to be generous, but fear encouraging their mindset, it was clearly agreed this is self-accounting. If not generous, with matters inside and outside the manor, it’s not good to let the subordinates grow other thoughts over this small silver, creating disturbances."

Sixth Master Gu handling this will mostly heed the advice of Marquis Gu and her.

Sooner or later, must be considered.

Hong Ye said, "Indeed a bit challenging."

"Challenging what?"

The voice of Marquis Gu sounded.

Startled, Hong Ye quickly stood behind Qin Yuan, while Cui Ming went to instruct the little maid to add water and brew tea.

Qin Yuan smiled, "You are always so elusive, look at how you’ve scared Hong Ye, why home so early today?"

As she spoke, she went up to receive Marquis Gu’s official hat.

Marquis Gu glanced at Hong Ye casually, dismissively, "She’s normally so ferocious, why is she scared of me now?"

Hong Ye quickly said, "This servant is always cautious and attentive in service, this servant will go to check the small kitchen now."

Before finishing her words, she had already scooted sideways to the door.

Qin Yuan found it curious, whispered, "Did you say something behind her back for her to react this way seeing you?"

Marquis Gu chuckled and said, "Nothing of the sort."

Qin Yuan looked at him suspiciously.

Marquis Gu stretched his arm leisurely, "Wife, help me change clothes."

Cui Ming pursed her lips into a gentle laugh and stepped out.

Qin Yuan asked, "Was it pleasant working with the six departments today?"

Gu Jinghui nodded, a sharp smile glinting at the corner of his eyes, relaxed as Qin Yuan attended to him.

"Used Mr. Songshan’s method, challenged the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, gave a bit of a show of force. After noon, the Minister sent several to help with work, other officials from different departments no longer acted as perfunctory and lazy as initially."

Qin Yuan smiled gently, "Seems you didn’t know what showing a lesson meant when in the camp. Even when prisoners are first brought to the government office, they get a punishment stick."

"Certainly know, but I’m a military general, apart from asking for things, seldom dealt with civil servants, can’t handle scholarly ways."

Marquis Gu rushed through changing clothes, drank a cup of tea, and said, "I need to go to Mr. Songshan for advice again, could the small kitchen prepare some dishes favored by southerners and send over?"

This is to dine with Mr. Songshan.

Qin Yuan laughed, "Understood, Hong Ye already knows what Mr. Songshan likes to eat by heart, you just focus on your matters, return tonight, there are things I need to discuss with you."