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Yu Youyao’s gaze darkened. If there was oppression, there would be resistance. Liancheng was just a catalyst. As long as things went smoothly in Liancheng, with her reputation in the North, the retail investors in the other areas of the three northeastern provinces would move when they heard the news. They would join one after another and become a force to resist the local silkworm nobles.

She had a merchant ship and the You army as her backing. She had already controlled most of the channels in the silkworm industry in the North.

At that time, when she established a silkworm business association, she would be able to control most of the silkworm business in the three northeastern provinces. The market price would be decided by her. The demand would come from the gentry.

The next day, the county magistrate of the Liancheng County Office, Lord Li, came to the courier station to ask to see Princess Shaoyi.

Princesses also had to be divided into ranks.

Yu Youyao’s title was that of the first-grade Saint Venerable Princess Yi. According to her status, this was a title that only the legitimate oldest daughter of the crown prince could receive.

Her status was second only to the legitimate princess. Even a princess who was born of a concubine had a weaker status.

Currently, there was only one princess of legitimate birth in the palace, Princess Liyang. Although Princess Shaoyi was a princess, she could enjoy the etiquette of a legitimate princess.

Liancheng was a county-level city, and the county magistrate in the county office was a seventh-grade official. After Lord Li received Princess Shaoyi’s business card, he felt some fear and trepidation. He tossed and turned for the entire night without closing his eyes, wondering if Princess Shaoyi was still in Quanzhou recuperating. Why was she in the North?

Princess Shaoyi’s reputation as a living Bodhisattva had almost spread throughout the Great Zhou. The food that the refugees ate was planted by and promoted by Princess Shaoyi.

The medicine that the refugees had taken when they were sick was also donated by Princess Shaoyi. There were many scholars in the Great Zhou Dynasty who wrote poems to praise Princess Shaoyi for her kindness.

With such a reputation, she would be a Buddha no matter where she went.

Furthermore!

Recently, Lord Li had also vaguely heard some rumors. It seemed that King Yue Fei admired Princess Shaoyi’s kindness.

The refugees were all arranged by King Yue Fei. Rumors spread from the refugees outside the city. King Yue Fei even personally went to the Imperial Court to seek credit for Princess Shaoyi.

Less than two days after Princess Shaoyi came to the North, King Yue Fei also came. When he heard that King Yue Fei had arrived in Liancheng, he did not even enter the city gate and rushed all the way to the dock.

He felt that this rumor was most likely not groundless.

Yu Youyao met Lord Li in the main hall of the small courtyard.

“Greetings, Princess Shaoyi.” As soon as she entered the courtyard, Lord Li quickly lowered his head and knelt.

With his lowered eyes, he could only see the tips of Princess Shaoyi’s shoes. There was a big southern pearl embroidered on them. It was bright and round.

The size of the southern pearl was a rule that only applied to first-rate princesses.

Eastern pearls and and southern pearls could only be worn by officials above the fifth-grade.

There were also strict rules regarding the size of the eastern and southern pearls based on one’s grade. The best eastern and southern pearls could only be worn by the noble ladies of the royal family.

Yu Youyao was the daughter of an external minister and had never liked to show off her imperial family’s noble title. However, since she had been conferred a noble title, she should follow the rules regarding her daily necessities. It would not be good to neglect etiquette.

Yu Youyao accepted Lord Li’s bow steadily. “Don’t be so polite!”

“Thank you, Princess.” Lord Li quickly stood up, his head still lowered as he looked at the ground.

“Lord Li, sit down and talk!” The four families of Liancheng were brazenly bullying the individual silkworm farmers and monopolizing the silkworm business. It was also very related to the local government.

Of course, the nobles of the North did not even take the You army seriously, so they were naturally not afraid of a mere seventh-grade county official. She did not expect Lord Li to resist the four families.

What she needed was Lord Li’s attitude.

From the looks of it, 30% of what she had planned had already happened.

Lord Li quickly thanked her before being led by the maidservant to the position on Princess Shaoyi’s left.

A maidservant came over to serve tea. Using the excuse of drinking tea, he quietly observed Princess Shaoyi a few times. She looked to be twelve or thirteen years old, but she was filial. She was only wearing an extremely elegant set of ash and no jewelry. Sitting upright on a chair, she exuded a reverent and noble aura.

At this moment, footsteps came from outside the door.

Lord Li’s expression changed. As the county magistrate of Liancheng, he was no stranger to such footsteps. This was the sound of the official boots worn by the soldiers in the government office.

Indeed!

Yin Huaixi lifted the curtain and entered. His gaze swept across the room. Lord Li couldn’t sit still anymore and knelt on the ground. “Greetings, King Yue Fei.”

Yin Huaixi said calmly, “Since you’re the princess’s guest, there’s no need to be so polite.”

Lord Li heaved a sigh of relief and thanked him humbly. Only then did he get up obediently and sit at his previous seat.

King Yue Fei came and went as he pleased in the small courtyard where Princess Shaoyi lived. It was obvious that the two of them had a close relationship. Those rumors were most likely true.

Yu Youyao looked at Yin Huaixi in surprise. “Why are you here?”

“I happen to be free today, so I plan to bring you to Liancheng for a walk.” Yin Huaixi glanced at Lord Li and said casually, “Since you have a guest, we’ll go another day.”

Yu Youyao nodded. “I have two manors in Liancheng that raise silkworms. I was just about to take some time out to take a look. However, there are many refugees gathered outside the city, so it’s not appropriate for me to go rashly. If you’re free, you can come with me.”

However, Yin Huaixi couldn’t ask for more. “When you set the time, get someone to inform me.”

Yu Youyao smiled and agreed.

Lord Li felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

King Yue Fei had come to Liancheng to patrol the disaster. Almost all the famous families in Liancheng had sent invitations, wanting to hold a banquet to entertain him. King Yue Fei rejected them on the grounds that he was busy with work.

However, King Yue Fei, who was “busy with work”, had time to accompany Princess Shaoyi and let her “delegate”.

He was not a fool.

As soon as Princess Shaoyi spoke, she mentioned the manor where she raised silkworms. Her words were directed at King Yue Fei, but they were deliberately for him to hear.

Meanwhile, King Yue Fei’s arrival was not a coincidence. It was very likely that he was “supporting” Princess Shaoyi, although he felt that with Princess Shaoyi’s current status and reputation, there was no need for King Yue Fei to do this.

Indeed!

King Yue Fei changed the topic and said, “You don’t mind me being present when you discuss matters with Lord Li, right?”

“King Yue Fei, please do as you please.” Yu Youyao shook her head and changed the topic. “The matter we discussed today is originally related to King Yue Fei. It’s fine for him to listen.”

Lord Li’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat. It wasn’t the first or second time that the four families had taken control of the business of Liancheng and some of the surrounding small counties. Although he was from Liancheng County, the four families were deeply rooted and had people in the court. Thus, it was inevitable that the people would bully the officials. He couldn’t control them even if he wanted to. If Princess Shaoyi wanted to take a share of the loot, wouldn’t that be making things difficult for him?

Yu Youyao looked at Lord Li and smiled. “Most areas in the North have suffered from drought, and as many as two to three million people have fled. Liancheng is one of the few areas in the North that is less affected by the drought. Lord Li has contributed to the management of the place.”