Don't Rush

Upon seeing Guo Jitong, Xiao Lingyan felt that this man might be a pawn planted by the Third Prince in the Ministry of Revenue, and that all his actions were to conceal his true purpose.

He couldn't tell Xiao Lingpu, and since there was no reason to speculate, he didn't want to bring it up with Xiao Lingpu either.

He changed the subject, saying, "Brother, since that iron cabinet is Father's business, why don't we buy a couple to support him?"

To be on the safe side, Xiao Lingyan didn't mention Zhao Ruxi's existence to Xiao Lingpu at all.

Firstly, he didn't want to drag Zhao Ruxi into the struggle for the throne. It was best if Xiao Lingpu didn't know what she had done. He could bring it up with Xiao Lingpu Xiao Lingpu when it came time to reward those who had contributed to the succession. Secondly, he had no way of explaining his relationship with Zhao Ruxi Xiao Lingpu.

"Of course we should support it. Let's send someone to buy them, one for each of us," Xiao Lingpu said.

Buying too many cabinets would only arouse the Emperor's suspicion that they were wealthy. So buying more was out of the question; they could only have one for each person. Since they needed to work in the government office, they couldn't go themselves, otherwise, it would give the Emperor something to nitpick. They had to send someone else instead.

In the Green Plantain Courtyard in Beining, Zhou Chun was asking Zhao Ruxi, "Miss, are we really not going to get involved in the Baoning Pavilion's business?"

Zhao Ruxi waved her hand. "No need."

When Wu Zong mentioned that the Emperor was also a shareholder, Zhao Ruxi decided not to get involved in the business.

People say, "When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up." The Emperor's image is so majestic and imposing that Zhao Ruxi felt as insignificant as a speck of dust before him. So, isn't it only natural that the Emperor should act as her shield?

With her tiny arms and legs, she'd be better off staying invisible.

So she immediately called Shi Chao back, gave him a thorough lecture, packed him up and sent him, along with several shop assistants and the accountant, to the shop in the south of the city. She then went to tell Mr. Song Zhuo the reason behind it all.

She didn't say much, only that the profit margin was too high. Now that the Emperor had also invested, no matter who asked, they should say it was the Emperor's business and not mention anything else.

Upon hearing that the Emperor could be used as a shield, how could Song Zhuo and Shi Chao refuse? This way, no one, including the Crown Prince, princes, and dukes, would dare to interfere, saving them a lot of trouble. Managing the shop would also be much easier for them, so they readily agreed.

Zhao Ruxi felt it was a pity about that shop in the south of the city.

The shop that the Emperor gave her was a two-story building, located in the most prosperous and upscale area of the capital. It was a shop that even those who wanted to buy it with silver notes couldn't get their hands on.

She originally planned to open a jewelry store there.

In her plan, a small shop would suffice for the safes. After all, there wouldn't be much stock to display. The first batch of safes she was making was just one style, differing only in paint color. She would simply need to display four different colored safes in the shop.

Using a two-story building as a shop is a complete waste of resources.

This small building originally belonged to the Emperor. Although the Emperor bestowed it upon her, and others knew that the Emperor had given her a shop, no one except Kang Shilin and Wu Zong knew exactly which shop it was.

Now that we need to use the emperor as a shield, using this shop as a front for opening a safe deposit box shop is the perfect solution.

Of course, there are still flaws, and quite a few at that. If someone with ulterior motives wants to investigate, it would be a matter of minutes for her to be exposed.

She gambled that once everyone heard this was the Emperor's business, they knew they couldn't get involved, so they gave up any thoughts of investigating. Besides, they didn't dare to openly investigate that it was clearly the Emperor's business. Otherwise, if it reached the Emperor's ears, it would be seen as disloyalty towards him, an attempt to investigate him. The Emperor would definitely make a note of that in his little notebook.

And things went just as she had predicted. When people bought safes, they simply sent people to buy them without daring to ask a single question, for fear that the Emperor might misunderstand.

Therefore, Shi Chao and Song Zhuo's jobs were incredibly easy.

The safes were advertised so well that the original few dozen were not enough to meet demand. In just two days, they were all sold out, and the already empty shop was now completely empty.

Shi Chao was extremely anxious and secretly sent two messages to Zhao Ruxi through his shop assistant, urging her to put the goods on display.

Zhao Ruxi, however, remained calm and composed.

There's nothing you can do if you panic.

There are plenty of locks, but making this iron cabinet is a bit slow, mainly because she doesn't have enough manpower. She only lets Blacksmith Li and his three sons make it, while the other blacksmiths make other parts, so the production capacity can't keep up.

"Young lady, why don't we have all the other blacksmiths stop what they're doing and work together to make this iron cabinet?" Zhou Chun suggested.

Zhao Ruxi waved her hand. "No need."

Apart from the two locksmiths and Ge Wu, the other family members, who needed to do other work, did not move into these houses but stayed in their own homes. Zhao Ruxi also gave them a day off every ten days, so the craftsmen naturally went home to visit their families.

Although Zhao Ruxi made the craftsmen sign a confidentiality agreement when they entered the workshop, stating that they would have to pay five thousand taels of silver if they leaked the workshop's secrets.

But now the reputation of the iron cabinet is too great. If any blacksmith can't help but boast that they made the iron cabinet, her secret will be exposed in no time.

It would be much easier to control just Blacksmith Li and his four companions.

Of course, that's not the point.

"It would be such a waste for us to have business here and not do it," Zhou Chun said.

"Wait a minute, let's see how things go."

Just as Zhou Chun was about to ask what was going on, Zhaoming led Wu Zong in.

"Senior brother." Zhao Ruxi stood up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Wu Zong, her expression full of anticipation.

Wu Zong pointed at her and snorted, "You've predicted everything perfectly."

He said, "The Emperor has sent someone to find you twenty blacksmiths. He asked if you need more, and if so, he'll have someone find more."

"That's enough," Zhao Ruxi said. "Do we have a venue yet?"

"No." Wu Zong said expressionlessly, "Why don't you just rent a courtyard in the north of the city? Do you expect the Emperor to provide the courtyard?"

"Okay, I'll have someone rent it right away." Zhao Ruxi smiled, appearing very easy to talk to.

Zhou Chun, who was standing next to him, was dumbfounded.

Does the Emperor really need to find a blacksmith for me? My own daughter is simply... He really didn't know what to say.

"Alright, I've already rented the courtyard for you." Wu Zong was completely impressed with his junior sister.

Business was so good, but the supply of goods couldn't keep up, which made the shareholders anxious. But the junior sister remained calm and said that the locks were easy to handle, it was just that the speed of making the iron cabinets couldn't keep up, and told them not to worry, they could take their time with the business.