“Sons, I’m disappointed in you.”
The Minister of Household Affairs snapped, “Song Wangyue merely provided the craft, how can she be allowed to ask for such a high price? Besides, the process of making the pills is the same, so why would the price be different? Song Si, you’re clearly taking advantage of the opportunity to benefit your family, you’re letting me down too much.”
Song Si had expected him to say this, and said unhurriedly, “Your Excellency does not know, although the process of making the pills is the same, the method of handling the herbs is different, the more valuable the herbs are, the more troublesome they are to handle. It’s because it’s for the generals at the border to make the pills that my little sister gives that she wants such a small amount, if she gave it to someone else, it would be at least fifty percent.”
“You don’t have to fool me, we have purchased all the pills at the border all these years, and I know how much they cost, if the production cost alone is fifty percent, then the herbs are worthless? Song Si, you are a member of the imperial court and receive an imperial salary, you should always think of the imperial court, not take advantage of the opportunity to make money out of your own family’s pockets.”
“Since Your Excellency is not satisfied, why don’t I call my little sister over and you can talk to her personally.”
“b*****d! Is this the attitude you take when you speak to your superiors? Song Si, don’t think that with someone backing you up, this Shang Shu can’t do anything to you.”
“Song Si wouldn’t dare.”
“I think you dare not!”
The Minister of Household Affairs gave a heavy cold snort.
Song Si stopped speaking.
However, the Minister of Household refused to let him off so much, “You go and talk again, only 10% will be given, there is no way to give more than that.”
Song Si stood still, his attitude was not condescending, “I can’t do it, Your Excellency should send someone else.”
“You ……”
The minister of the household department grabbed the tealight on the table and was about to smash it over, when his hand touched the slightly hot wall of the cup, he sobered up a bit and pressed back his anger, “If this matter is not done properly, I think you don’t need to come to the household department anymore, just go home.”
“If that’s what Your Excellency wants, I’ll do as I’m told.”
Many people stood in the corner of the courtyard listening with their ears erected, and heard the last sentence coming from inside, and looked at each other with blank faces.
And then they heard the door of the Household Minister’s house being opened, and Song Si walked out of it with a bland expression, ignoring their gazes that fell on him, walking unhurriedly back inside his own house, his voice as always, “Younger sister, His Excellency has asked you to come over.”
Song Wan Yue raised her eyebrows, stood up and followed him to the door of the office of the Minister of Household Affairs, Song Si stopped, “Your Excellency, my little sister is coming over.”
The Minister of Household really wanted to smash the tealight in his hand over, but he didn’t dare to do so, taking a few deep breaths, his voice deep, “Come in!”
Song Si opened the door, but Song Wan Yue did not go in, standing in the doorway, her voice clear, “Lord Shang Shu, I have just said that I want 30% of the price, since you do not agree, there is nothing more for us to negotiate, you should ask another person.”
After saying that, he turned around and walked out.
“You ……”
The Minister of Household was so angry that he stood up in a flash of blackness before his eyes and fell back into a sitting position.
Song Si followed Song Wan Yue’s lead and also headed out.
A group of people from the Household Department looked at each other, watching as they walked out of the doors of the Household Department.
Qing’er stood by the carriage and saw Song Wangyue and Song Si coming out and hurriedly reported, “Miss, auntie and Miss Song have come out.”
Xiao Yao was busy lifting the carriage curtain, seeing the two coming out side by side, she guessed that they might have encountered difficulties, she didn’t ask, waiting for the two to come closer and smilingly said, “If both of you are alright, accompany me back to my mother’s house, grandfather said last time that he should let Yue’er come and go and have a look at him, he always feels physically tired some time recently.”
“Good.”
Song Wan Yue got on the carriage and sat down, hugged the little one and put him on her lap, scratching his little nose and making the little one dance and laugh.
Song Si also followed her up and sat opposite her, watching her tease the child.
Song Wangyue made the little one giggle.
The carriage soon arrived at the Ding Guo Gong Mansion.
When the men at the gate saw it, one quickly came up to greet them and the other darted in to report.
When they heard that the little one was coming over, both the Duke of Ding and his wife and Xiao Zheng were at home, and both the Duke of Ding and Xiao Zheng darted outside.
Xiao Zheng was a step behind and watched as his father snatched the little one up and held him in his arms without letting go.
Before he could touch him, he was glared at by Duke Ding, “What time is it that you’re back? Don’t just take the money and not know how to work.”
Xiao Zheng,……
Xiao Yao covered her mouth and laughed, every time she came back with her little one, her father couldn’t grab her grandfather and would be counted.
“Grandfather.”
The little one spoke in a childish voice, “I’ll play with great-grandfather for a while, and then I’ll play with you later.”
Xiao Zheng’s heart softened and he said yes repeatedly.
When Duke Ding deliberately pretended to hum in discontent, the little one immediately wrapped his neck around him and affectionately misled his face a few times, “I miss my great-grandfather so much that I can’t stop dreaming about it at night.”
The Duke of Ding’s heart burst into rage, proudly showing off towards his son, but Xiao Zheng turned his face away from him.
The Duke of Determination drove the little one up to his neck before looking at Song Wan Yue, “When did you arrive?”
“An hour ago, sister-in-law said that you always felt tired and asked me to come over to give you a look.”
“Yes, yes, yes ……”
Xiao Zheng immediately answered, while extending his hand, “You do say that often, don’t get tired again, quickly give me the baby.”
Duke Ding gave him a fierce glare, the sons of other families were all working hard outside, this one in his family was good, he was not doing his job day in and day out, he only knew to stay at home and grab the child from him, “I can hold the child even if I am tired, don’t you think about it.”
Xiao Zheng disappointedly withdrew his hand, thinking that his father was really, since he was sick, he should rest well and stop snatching the child from him.
“You go to the kitchen and order them to cook more dishes, and keep them for dinner in the house tonight.”
Xiao Zheng reluctantly answered and slowly walked towards the kitchen.
At the same time, the Emperor was aware of what was happening in the Household Department.
He was aware of the fact that the Minister of the Household Department had been tripping up Song Si, both explicitly and implicitly, and he was willing to have such a situation, for only when there was infighting among his ministers could he, as emperor, feel at ease.
But apparently this time the Minister of the Household Department had been clever this time, thinking of the news that came from the Third Prince, he put down his memo and looked at Eunuch Zhang, “Zhang De, you go to the Duke of Ding’s residence and tell Song Wan Yue that the Minister of the Household Department is also trying to save the court silver and is a bit anxious, tell her not to take it to heart and to leave first thing in the morning, the sooner she gets to the border the better. “