Ji Mingzhu, Liu Xu, and Xi Yu walked along, chatting leisurely, and felt quite relaxed.

As they returned to the banquet hall in the front courtyard, they resumed their gentle and dignified demeanor.

She raised her hand, inviting the guests to take their seats.

Then she returned to Xie Yunzhen’s side.

Uncertain of what they had discussed, she felt the atmosphere was slightly strange.

Ji Mingzhu glanced at Xie Yunzhen, her eyes filled with doubt.

Xie Yunzhen smiled faintly and leaned close to her ear.

In a voice only they could hear, he softly said, "We just talked about parenting tips."

The warm breath brushed against her ear, making Ji Mingzhu feel a bit ticklish.

She subtly distanced herself from Xie Yunzhen, using her gaze to warn him to behave.

Xie Yunzhen raised an eyebrow, "We both have children, what else should we talk about?"

Ji Mingzhu looked helpless; knowing his antics, he surely annoyed the Emperor.

Their interactions were observed by everyone.

People sighed, saying Lord is a true romantic.

For so many years, he neither took concubines nor kept mistresses outside, truly rare.

After all, the late Lord was quite debonair, with countless confidantes.

As the son of the late Lord, Xie Yunzhen’s attitude towards romantic matters was so different.

Whether he was afraid of his wife’s influence or genuinely uninterested in the delicate flowers outside was unknown.

The Emperor knew Xie Yunzhen did it on purpose.

And he successfully upset him.

A feeling of frustration was stuck in his heart, difficult to relieve.

If it weren’t for fear of hurting Ji Mingzhu, he would definitely award some beautiful concubines to Xie Yunzhen.

To see how he could annoy people then!

The Emperor collected his thoughts and turned his gaze to Liu Xu, "I’ve long heard that Lord Lan’s eldest sister-in-law has a sharp business mind. You have been in Yanzhou for a while, surely you’ve understood the situation here. Regarding commerce within and outside the borders, Madam Liu, do you have any insights?"

Liu Xu was able to expand her business greatly, primarily because she knew how to show vulnerability.

By not letting others see her as a threat, she created space for growth and expansion.

Otherwise, her venture would have been crushed from the start, and today’s success would have been impossible.

Facing the Emperor’s question, her first reaction was also to show vulnerability.

Powerful ministers are easily suspected; if she tries too hard to demonstrate her abilities, it might backfire.

Conversely, if the Emperor finds her unthreatening, her, Mingzhu, and the Lord’s situation would be much better.

But showing vulnerability is not simple.

Purely conceding makes one seem unambitious, and there’s the suspicion of feigning ignorance, naturally not attracting sincere partners.

If too reserved, it appears pretentious and aloof.

Liu Xu knew how to strike the right balance.

But now facing the Emperor, misspeaking could cost her life.

Liu Xu felt nervous.

She carefully pondered her words, not daring to speak lightly.

"Hmm?"

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, "Does Madam Liu think I’m unfamiliar with commerce, an outsider, hence unwilling to discuss it with me?"

Liu Xu hastily offered a bow, "This humble woman is dull and lacks great insight, fearing to speak and become a laughingstock, I’m trying to express myself without embarrassing my nephew."

Since the Emperor mentioned Lan Ci, Liu Xu naturally used him as a shield.

Her honesty in this manner made it difficult for the Emperor to hold onto small details, lest it made him appear petty and ungenerous.

"Everyone present today is one of us, Madam Liu can speak freely, whoever spoils the mood, I’ll ensure they’re heavily penalized."

Liu Xu, having spent years in the capital, knew the largest Imperial Merchant, and those in charge under them, anything in the open, she was aware of.

Thus, she could recognize the unfamiliar face among them as the head manager openly linked to the primary Imperial Merchant.

Commerce within and outside the borders is no small matter.

Liu Xu never hoped to monopolize the profits entirely.

If she could drink some soup alongside, she considered it immense fortune.

One must understand that contentment breeds happiness; otherwise, it’s easy for everything to fall apart, ending in nothing gained.

Curtsying, she downplayed the major and emphasized the minor, "If there’s commerce within and outside, Yanzhou City will be bustling, surely there will be no shortage of people needing sustenance, thus I opened Ruyi Residence in Yanzhou."

She then added, "Living in this world requires clothing, food, shelter, and transport, I plan to open some ready-to-wear stores, bringing fabrics and styles popular elsewhere to Yanzhou. What I have, others do not, profiting quickly while competition is still minimal."

Ji Mingzhu and Liu Xu ventured into business together; the cloth shops already extended into Yanzhou, something the Emperor fully understood.

At this moment, Liu Xu did not mention Ji Mingzhu, nor did the Emperor proactively mention her.

Fearing Mingzhu would be anxious, thinking he would make things difficult for her.

His peripheral vision fell on Ji Mingzhu, who nodded slightly, unsure of what she was contemplating.

The Emperor secretly sighed; prior to arriving, he had planned that if commerce opened on both sides, he’d control the salt, tea, and cloth businesses within his grasp.

But upon seeing Ji Mingzhu, he couldn’t bring himself to vie for profits from her hands.

Moreover, if Mingzhu had no proper affairs, wouldn’t it suit some people’s wishes, leaving her circling him and the children all day?

The Emperor loved Zimu; seeing her reminded him of Mingzhu’s childhood.

But this didn’t mean he wanted to see Mingzhu and Xie Yunzhen, with their children, harmoniously as a family of four.

After being taunted by Xie Yunzhen just now, his reluctance intensified.

The Emperor darkly thought, if Mingzhu were busy with serious matters, maybe her relationship with Xie Yunzhen would crumble.

Most men don’t like strong women.

They want women to depend on them; once control is lost, they might seek what they desire from other women.

Just like his harem, several concubines bore a resemblance to Mingzhu.

In this world, it’s not like there’s no one irreplaceable.

Once the first step is taken, many things will change.

Fingers tapping on the table, the Emperor suddenly anticipated the day when Xie Yunzhen and Ji Mingzhu’s relationship would break down, wondering what that would look like?

Just as Liu Xu thought she misspoke, making the Emperor displeased.

The man at the head of the table curled his lips, "Rumors are true, Madam Liu indeed has a business mind, rarity is valuable. If you maintain uniqueness, you might earn not only quick cash but a continuous stream of silver."

Liu Xu sighed quietly in relief, "Thanks to the Emperor’s blessing."

Xi Yu didn’t want Liu Xu to be troubled and found an opportunity to support her, "With the Emperor’s words, now you can rest assured, you won’t fail to make silver."

Liu Xu took the opportunity to comply, flattering, "The Emperor is wise, with the court leading the way, we follow and pick up the lucrative scraps, an immense fortune. When the people of Yanzhou realize the Emperor’s intentions, they will surely be grateful."

The final remark made Xi Yu nervous for Liu Xu.

If the Emperor was petty and felt coerced into a decision, displeased, marking her in memory would be unfortunate.

Laughing it off, "I wonder if I write to my family asking them to open a pharmacy in Yanzhou, whether it would succeed?"