The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 285 Call the shots
He Mansion.

The elegant room has carved beams and painted rafters, the floor is covered with soft carpets, and precious and famous utensils are displayed all around. A warm charcoal fire flickers in the middle, and the ambergris on the table exudes a dense aroma.

He Jin sat at the table, concentrating on calculating the accounts.

He Tuo suddenly pushed the door open and walked in, saying, "Today, Mrs. Du has sent a matchmaker to propose marriage. Do you agree?"

"No." He Jin refused without even thinking about it.

He Tuo said, "You are not young anymore. What girl is still unmarried at the age of 20? The Du family is a big family in Helong. They have properties in Hexi and Longyou. You have also met Alang from their family. He is a good man."

He Jin looked up at He Tuo and said, "Grandpa, do you think that the He family can't afford to raise a daughter?"

He Tuo smiled helplessly and said, "Most of the He family's businesses are managed by you. Don't worry, even if you marry him, I will not take back your management rights."

"What about His Royal Highness Shou?" He Jin closed the account book. "The He family has become the largest family on the Silk Road and has shops all over Guanzhong and Jiannan. It is all because of His Royal Highness Shou's support. If I bring my business to other families, what will His Royal Highness Shou do?"

He Tuo said: "His Royal Highness Prince Shou is very righteous, so we should be able to negotiate. If it doesn't work, give him 20% of the profits."

He Jin shook his head and said, "Grandpa, don't you understand yet? His Highness Prince Shou helped the He family grow up. He wants more than just money. He also wants to use us to control the business of the Silk Road. If I get married and the He family's voice is taken away, he will probably abandon us without hesitation."

"But I gave you a chance." He Tuo said with some emotion, "I let you take the lead in all the cooperation with His Royal Highness Shou. Do you really think that I can't handle it myself and that's why I let you go? After His Royal Highness Shou met you, he took two concubines, and you didn't achieve the right result. From the look of you, it seems that you want to become a monk and practice Taoism."

He Jin was indeed just thinking about making money at the beginning, but as she came into contact with Li Ying more, her thoughts changed. Especially after she saw Li Ying taking Wei Xianyi, she felt indescribable sadness in her heart.

But she is a girl after all, and is rather reserved when it comes to emotional matters. In addition, she is smart, beautiful, and a bit arrogant, so she has always kept her emotions deep in her heart.

Now, hearing He Tuo's complaints, he couldn't help but feel a little aggrieved, and retorted: "Your Highness Prince Shou has neither proposed marriage nor expressed any affection to me, what else can I do?"

He Tuo laughed and said, "You finally told the truth. Since you are interested in His Royal Highness Prince Shou, I will go and ask him for marriage. If he is willing, we will all be happy. If not, don't make a mistake. We have done what we should do. If you take away He's voice in the Silk Road, he shouldn't have any complaints."

He Jin didn't expect that her father was lying to her. She blushed and said, "Grandpa, if you want to go, go. But don't blame me for not living up to your expectations and embarrassing you."

"How can your face be as important as your lifelong event?" He Tuo stood up and straightened his clothes. "I will go find His Royal Highness Prince Shou now."

"No need to be so anxious." He Jin stopped He Tuo, "The food and supplies for the Longyou military town have always been a problem. His Royal Highness Prince Shou is now in charge of Longyou and is preparing to take the initiative to attack Tubo. He will definitely send someone to summon you in the next few days."

He Tuo was startled, thought for a moment, turned around and sat down, and said: "Other people become officials to make money, why does His Royal Highness Shou always want to put money into it?"

"From the perspective of justice, it is for the sake of our country and the world. If," He Jin paused and lowered his voice, "from the perspective of profit, just like us businessmen, we always have to invest first in the early stage to reap the benefits in the later stage."

"That's right." He Tuo nodded, "Then I will believe you this time. If His Royal Highness Prince Shou doesn't summon me within three days, I will..."

Before He Tuo finished speaking, there was a knock on the door, followed by a servant's voice: "Alang, His Royal Highness Prince Shou sent someone to look for you."

Hearing this, He Tuo looked at his daughter in shock before replying, "I'll be there right away."

After saying that, he got up and went out.

After a while, he hurried back and said to He Jin, "You are right. His Highness Prince Shou sent someone to ask me to go see him. Do you want to go with him?"

Under normal circumstances, He Jin would have gone with him without a second thought, but today, she knew her father still wanted to discuss her marriage, and it would be so awkward for her to go with him. And if Li Heng refused her in person, how would she cope with it?

However, once some things are on the table, there is no room for maneuver. If Li Heng really refuses, she may not have the chance to see Li Heng again in the future. This may even be their last meeting.

He Jin hesitated for a while and said, "My daughter, please go with Grandpa."

He Tuo knew what his daughter was thinking, and said softly, "Don't worry, Grandpa won't let you suffer any injustice. Come back after you finish the business, and leave the rest to Grandpa."

"Yeah." He Jin nodded.

……

Li Ying's Mansion.

Li Ying and Yang Yuhuan sat at the top, He Tuo and He Jin sat on the left.

Li Heng said politely, "I want to take out some of my property from the He family, and was just about to discuss it with He Jin, but I didn't expect that Mr. He was also in Longyou, so I called him over. Did I disturb him?"

He Tuo glanced at Yang Yuhuan and replied, "Your Highness is too polite. If you have any instructions, please tell me directly. I will do it for you no matter what."

Li Ying said, "I need 30,000 sets of winter clothes, 30,000 sets of winter quilts, and matching tents and warm items. Can you raise them within ten days?"

"One day will do." He Tuo replied respectfully, "Your Highness can send someone to pick it up tomorrow."

Li Heng was a little surprised when he heard this.

Although the He family is wealthy and powerful, how could they possibly prepare all these things at once if they were not prepared in advance?

Li Ying remembered that He Tuo had just glanced at Yang Yuhuan and understood something.

However, he did not point it out, only saying: "Thank you for your help, Mr. He."

"It's what the common people should do." He Tuo replied to Li Ying, then gave He Jin a wink, indicating that He Jin should go out first.

He Jin saw his father's eyes, hesitated for a moment, but did not move.

Before coming, He Jin had thought about how she would escape in a panic, but for some reason, after she entered the room, she suddenly wanted to see with her own eyes what Li Heng's attitude towards her was.

He Tuo was a little confused when he saw He Jin was indifferent, but at this point, he had no room to retreat. He stood up, bowed to Li Heng, and said respectfully: "Your Highness, I have something else to report."

Li Ying said, "Mr. He, please speak."

He Tuo said: "I am from a merchant family, and I am not worthy of Your Highness, but He Jin is sincere to Your Highness, and she is willing to marry Your Highness as a concubine. If Your Highness does not reject me, please accept her."

Li Ying was startled when he heard this and turned to look at He Jin.

He Jin's face turned red, but her eyes were looking straight at Li Ying. Even when she met Li Ying's gaze, she did not dodge.

While Li Heng was in a daze, Yang Yuhuan said, "I will make the decision on your behalf, and your Highness has agreed."

(End of this chapter)