Merchant's daughter is not a concubine

Chapter 261 For the country and the people
Compared with the other four major countries, Tianshui has less farming, and some food crops have to be purchased from abroad, which stimulates their commercial development and merchant status.The Tianshui Kingdom even holds a business banquet in Qunfang Palace on the evening of July [-] every year. Emperor Wenxuan of Tianshui personally hosts it, and invites business tycoons from Zhanjing and even nearby cities to participate.

The representatives of Zhan Jing are naturally the four giants of the Su family, the Ji family, the Bai family and the Hong family.In addition, there are three luxury merchants participating.

On July [-]th, it was gradually getting dark, and merchants and officials who participated in the business banquet entered the palace one after another.

In Qunfang Palace, the lights are shining brightly. What is rare is that in this scorching summer, there is no heat in the whole palace. Instead, there is a trace of cold air. Coupled with a bowl of iced drinks on the table, it is really comfortable. It's so cool.

"Ah, it's refreshing!" A beautiful girl in plum red gulped down a bowl of sour plum soup.

"That's right, this year's business banquet is really refreshing!" Another girl in yellow giggled, "It's all because of the ice! No matter how much you can use it up!"

A group of girls giggled happily.

"I heard that the ice maker is a little girl named Ning Qing." The girl in plum red clothes said, "She is so powerful, I wonder if she will come to the business meeting tonight?"

"Of course!" A haughty voice hummed: "What's the big deal! Jiarou, Qianqian, this princess tells you that Ning Qing is my emperor's brother's lifesaver, but she is an ugly monster!"

It was Princess Yiyang who spoke.Ever since Shui Jingnian beat Ning Qing for scolding Ning Qing last time, Princess Yiyang hated Ning Qing to the core.How could he not be angry when he saw that this group of noble girls were so indifferent to Ning Qing's appearance.

"It doesn't matter if you're ugly or not. Anyway, with her, we can sleep well!" Princess Jiarou said.

"I don't sweat anymore!" Yi Qianqian said.

"Makeup doesn't melt anymore!"

"Even if we have a small tea party, you can serve all kinds of iced drinks and fruits at will!"

"You don't have to worry about it any more, you can use it as you like! Is there anything more comfortable than this in summer? Sigh!"

The second girl said Qiqi sighed, then looked at each other and smiled, giggling, so pretty.Not only them, but even the ladies sitting with them felt the same way.Although I haven't met Ning Qing yet, I already have a good impression of her!Who told Ning Qing to let them live so comfortably this summer!

"Hmph! A bunch of stupid things!" Princess Yiyang snorted angrily, and said, "Anyway, she's ugly!"

Not only ladies talked about Ning Qing, but men also talked about her, especially businessmen from neighboring cities.But when the merchants talked about Ning Qing, their attitudes were much more dignified than those of the ladies!After all, this is a matter of business and money!
"I heard that someone in Zhanjing sells ice? Is it true?"

"Of course it's true! Such a big deal, could it be the Su family?"

"It's not the Su family! You Leicheng is far away from here, don't you know? I heard that it's a little girl from outside! She appeared in Zhanjing suddenly without warning! Now, Even the Su family and the Shangmeng did not withdraw from her!"

"Whoever took it didn't withdraw it!" A deep angry voice sounded.

Everyone looked around, only to see four wealthy and powerful figures approaching.There are three middle-aged men, only one man in blue clothes is about 20 years old, looks elegant and handsome, and has a noble temperament. It is the three heads of the Ji family, Hong family, and Bai family and Su Feng.

It was the head of the Zhengji family who spoke.Ji's character is the most irritable, and he has long been envious of Ning Qing, a foreign woman who dominates the ice sales market, poisoning people to death, even taking out the ice in the ice cellar to sell her to death, or arresting her directly to force her to produce The secret recipe of ice... and other evil tricks went through his mind again, but because Su Feng was pressing there, he dared not make a move.

Now when the businessmen from outside said that their business alliance took a little girl and did not withdraw, they were angry on the spot: "It's just a little girl!"

"Patriarch Ji's words are wrong!" Su Feng smiled suddenly: "It's not a group fight, there is nothing wrong with it! Business depends on one's own ability! Don't you think so, Miss Ning?"

As he spoke, he looked towards the gate of the courtyard, and saw a very luxurious carriage approaching and stopping at the gate.A delicate but cold voice came from inside: "Yes."

Everyone looked at the carriage one after another. The foreign merchants and even the nobles were all very curious about this girl who appeared suddenly and mastered the ice thaumaturgy.

A maid walked out of the carriage and stretched out her hand into the carriage, only to see a white and tender catkin protruding from the carriage, with slender jade fingers, and each delicate finger had an attractive pink luster. Thought-provoking!
The purple-bottomed lotus satin embroidered shoes stepped out first, and a stack of gorgeous gold and red skirts flowed down.

The water-woven golden smoked dress stretched across the floor, and the water-blue silk knotted with long tassels stretched around her waist, wrapping her slender waist.Mustard green cloud tulle is worn on the arm, the cloud is loosely tied in a bun, and gold flowing pearl flowers are on the hairpin.The end is gorgeous and compelling, and it is unspeakably expensive.

I also saw her face covered with light veil, only revealing a pair of beautiful and charming big eyes, looking forward, the waves are shimmering, clear and watery, but there is a coolness and coldness in her beauty that no one should get close to.

Everyone gasped when they saw this stunning beauty, even Su Feng looked at Ning Qing secretly in amazement.

It's because every time he sees Ning Qing, Ning Qing wears an old-fashioned and deep attire, but if so, he can see that she is a beauty.If such a gorgeous dress is worn on the upper body, it will be full of clear waves and boundless colors!
"It's said that Miss Ning looks so innocent, it seems to be a misrepresentation!" I don't know which businessman's face is full of surprise, and he can't wait to glue his eyes to Ning Qing.

"You guys are laughing, I have a bruise on my face." Ning Qing glanced at him lightly and entered the door.

These merchants still didn't believe it, and followed step by step until they entered Qunfang Palace.Those noble ladies sitting upright gasped when they saw Ning Qing go up together: "Who is this? So beautiful! It's almost comparable to Concubine Yao!"

When Princess Yiyang heard that there was actually a woman who could compare to her concubine who was the most beautiful woman in Tianshui, she was very upset. She stared at Ning Qing for a long time before she gasped and was furious: "Ning Qing! Yes! You! You ugly bastard!"

"She is Ning Qing! A stunning beauty!" Yi Qianqian said.

"She's ugly! She has injuries on her face! If you don't believe me, just wait and see!" Princess Yiyang nodded at Ning Qing with her sharp chin: "Hey, Ning Qing, you took off your face veil!"

"Princess, why are you so mean!" Princess Jiarou said angrily. "Knowing that someone has a wound on his face, but still exposing the scar!"

"I'm a princess! I just ordered her to take off her veil!" Princess Yiyang snorted coldly.

She is not the only princess here, but she is the most favored among the princesses, and she dare not speak.

Ning Qing's beautiful eyes turned cold.In fact, it's okay to take off this veil, and it doesn't have to attract some violent wind and waves.But this is the first time she has appeared in front of everyone, this veil, she has to stay at that moment to pick it off to be valuable!
"As the saying goes, you don't slap someone in the face when you hit someone, and you don't expose your shortcomings when you scold someone! As a high-ranking princess, the princess is really well-bred! Good manners!" Su Feng laughed suddenly.

"Master Su..." Princess Yiyang was startled, and looked at Su Feng in disbelief.

Princess Yiyang has always liked Su Feng. Concubine Yao wanted to get financial support from the Su family and also thought about marrying her to Su Feng, but Su Feng didn't want her!Moreover, Concubine Yao didn't dare to force her, so she didn't have to go too far. Emperor Wenxuan suspected that she was trying to rebel by wooing the richest businessman in Tianshui!

Anyway, Princess Yiyang was so criticized by her loved one, she was sad, ashamed and angry!She had a straightforward temper, and when she was provoked like this, she couldn't help crying, and was afraid that people would laugh at her, so she covered her face and ran away.

The crowd groaned.

Ning Qing glanced at Su Feng.While shaking the folding fan with white jade bones, Su Feng squinted his sharp eyes and said with a smile: "Miss Ning, you're welcome! This can be considered as compensation for you! Don't blame me for not being sympathetic to jade for a while, for being too ruthless! "

Ning Qing's clear eyes flicked mockingly: "Oh, let's wait and see!" Then she turned and left.

"Guests, please sit this way!" At this moment, several eunuchs came over and led the way with a smile.

"The Emperor is here!"

"The empress is here! The imperial concubine is here! The princes are here!"

At this time, a series of alarms sounded outside.Everyone immediately knelt down: "See the emperor! See the queen, noble concubine and princes!"

"Hehe, get up!" A gentle chuckle sounded from above.

Ning Qing looked up, and saw a middle-aged man with a slightly round face, eyes smiling like crescent moons, but with heroic features sitting on the first seat.Judging from his appearance, he is a peaceful and smiling person.

"Sit down!" Emperor Wenxuan said, and everyone sat down one by one.

The royal relatives sit at the front, the officials are in the middle, and the business representatives sit at the bottom.Because the business representatives are all men, only Ning Qing is a woman, and she is so beautiful that people notice her existence at a glance.

Rao Wenxuan, an emperor who has gone through thousands of flowers, was secretly amazed when he saw such stunning beauty: "This is..."

"Father, this is Ning'er, Ning Qing!" Shui Jingnian said with a smile, "She is my savior! She is the one who sells ice in Zhanjing!"

"Hey, it's her!" Emperor Wenxuan chuckled. "Miss Ning, what a skill!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compliment," Ning Qing said.

"Let's start the banquet!" Emperor Wenxuan said.

After drinking for three rounds, serve cold fruits and iced desserts after the meal.

Princess Jiarou ate three iced desserts in one bite, and said to Emperor Wenxuan with a smile, "Uncle Huang, it's really cool this summer, and it's all thanks to Miss Ning."

Princess Jiarou is the daughter of Emperor Wenxuan's direct sister, and the most beloved niece of Emperor Wenxuan, who loves her so much that other princesses lean back.Although Princess Jiarou has no friendship with Ning Qing, she has a good impression of Ning Qing from the beginning, and Princess Yiyang bullies Ning Qing, she can't see it, and now she speaks good things about Ning Qing in front of Emperor Wenxuan.

"That's right, we girls like to be cool, so we don't have to be sweaty." Her little follower, Yi Qianqian, said hastily.

Shui Jingnian was very happy: "Sure enough, the two of you know the goods!"

Sitting next to Shui Jingnian, Shui Jingdong sneered with his lips against the wine glass, and narrowed his sharp eagle eyes.Well, there is a good show to watch!

Su Feng smiled and said: "Your Majesty, look, Miss Ning has really done something great!"

"That's not it." Ji Patriarch said: "Even if we have an ice cellar at home, it's not easy to store some ice in summer, and we usually save it. Now that we have Miss Ning, we can use it however we want. "

Concubine Yao frowned, she always had a bad feeling, but she couldn't tell what was wrong.

"That's right, Miss Ning is indeed remarkable." Emperor Wenxuan still smiled, but the smile on his face was a little unnatural.

"This ice-making skill is really unheard of by the grassroots. If you don't have it, it's a great thing to improve people's livelihood!" Su Feng said with a smile: "But this, the grassroots think it's inappropriate."

The surrounding subjects were surprised for a while, and they couldn't help talking about it.

"Why not?" Emperor Wenxuan said.

"Because in a few years, the whole of Tianshui will probably get used to Miss Ning's ice-making skills. But if one day, Miss Ning's family dominates and drives up prices, it will easily cause complaints from the subjects. It can cause unnecessary riots!" Su Feng said.

Su Feng's statement is actually far-fetched and exaggerated. Although people's ice-making will indeed become a part of people's livelihood, it is not essential, such as food and salt.

But now all the businessmen in Tianshui are envious of Ningqing's ice-making independent market. When he said this, everyone quickly agreed.

"That's right! In business, there is competition to make progress. Besides, this is something that changes people's livelihood!"

Emperor Wenxuan naturally knew that these businessmen were dissatisfied with Ning Qing's monopoly, and Su Feng was the richest man in Tianshui and his pocketbook, so he naturally wanted to help Su Feng!Moreover, he really didn't want a skill that could affect people's livelihood to be in the hands of one person.

Emperor Wenxuan was about to speak when Ning Qing's crisp voice sounded: "Then, according to Young Master Su's opinion, what should be done properly?"

Facing his plundering, she was still so calm.Su Feng couldn't help being secretly surprised.But that was nothing more than surprise!He didn't think she could fight back!Because he is robbing and plundering!She has to hand it in if she doesn't!

A look of arrogance flashed across Su Feng's eyes, and he tilted his delicate chin slightly, and said with a smile: "We just hope that Miss Ning will sign a document with our business alliance, and we will run the ice shop together and restrict each other! Spread the ice shop all over the whole city." , to benefit the people."

This is to rob others of their ice-making skills!Concubine Yao was furious, and her blood rushed to her heart!

"Your Majesty!" Ning Qing suddenly stood up and knelt down in the middle of the main hall: "Young Master Su is right. Ice-making skills are something that affects people's livelihood. How can I hold them in the hands of a little girl like me! But, since It is for the benefit of the people all over the world, how can it be held in the hands of merchants! Your majesty, my little girl is willing to offer her ice-making skills and announce her ice-making skills to the world!"

"What?" The people in the hall, not only Su Feng, but even the officials and royal relatives were all shocked!
Concubine Yao was so angry that she wanted to vomit blood again!Ice making in summer is a daily success!She was about to give it up!Also announced to the world!If there is no ice-making skills, what is the value of Ning Qing!What else can I rely on to eat!
Su Feng and the others were also caught off guard by Ning Qing!Qing Yi's face suddenly sank!To take away her ice-making skills!He saved his face, but he didn't expect that she would make it public!

"Miss Ning really cares about the world! Good, good!" Emperor Wenxuan's eyes lit up, and he burst out laughing with excitement.

Originally, these businessmen were fighting back and forth. He deliberately favored Su Feng and helped the Su family take away Ning Qing's ice-making skills!After all, the Su family is the richest man in Tianshui, and Ning Qing is just a little girl with only one skill!Who is lighter and who is more important, it is obvious to see!

In the end, it was the Su family who benefited from the fight.

But now it's different!Ning Qing is willing to disclose her ice-making skills to the public!Since this is a good thing about people's livelihood!Emperor Wen Xuan is a good emperor!He naturally hopes to see these things that are beneficial to the people.

"Ah! Miss Ning is really a good woman for the country and the people!" Princess Jiarou was very happy: "Since Miss Ning wants to disclose her ice-making skills, can you show us how this ice is made?"

"What's so difficult about it." Ning Qing smiled and said, "Your Majesty, is it okay?"

"Of course! Get ready!" Emperor Wenxuan was very happy.

"Bring in my things." Ning Qing told Huiping.

Hui Ping immediately went to get it from the carriage, and after a while, brought two pots, one big and one small, and the small one was a copper plate with excellent heat conduction.

When Su Feng saw that Ning Qing only had crystal white saltpeter in his hand, his brows twitched.

I saw Ning Qing pouring water into the large pan, and then pouring water into the small basin, which was placed in the middle of the large basin, and then poured all the saltpeter in his hand into the large basin. Slowly it froze.

Seeing Ning Qing's actions, Su Feng was so angry that he wanted to spit out blood!
Back then, he tried thousands of times but failed to produce clean and non-toxic ice!It turned out that she had been misleading him!
She first dug several kinds of unnecessary materials on the mountain, making him think that all the village materials she used to make ice were!

He always thought that the reason why his ice was poisonous was because the ratio of the materials was not right!Continue to study the ratio of materials!I never thought about the problem of two basins of water!Unexpectedly, it was because what people wanted was clean water in a small basin!Outside, people don't want poisonous ice at all!They simply took him in the wrong direction!

Su Feng was so angry that he almost spat out a mouthful of blood!
"Ah, it really turned into ice!" Princess Jiarou said happily! "So this kind of stone is used! There are many such stones on the mountain! We can also make ice by ourselves in the future!"

Emperor Wenxuan nodded happily. He really admired Ning Qing. Such a little girl in her teens was willing to give up the income she used to make ends meet for the sake of the country and the people!

"Father, Ning Qing is doing this for the country and the people, shouldn't she be rewarded!" Shui Jingnian said. "She has no family here, only herself! Although I can help her, many times the far water cannot save the near fire."

Emperor Wenxuan nodded.He thought of Ning Qing as a little girl, without family support, and now being hated by the Su family and others. The future is really difficult, so he decided to give Ning Qing an identity!
"Ning Qing has a heart of blueness and kindness, with great righteousness in her heart, and for the sake of the country and the people, I specially bestow the title of Princess Qianting."

(End of this chapter)