The Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce grew larger and larger. Rows of shops occupied nearly 300 meters of Tongtian Street. It was divided into seven auction houses of different sizes. There were also dozens of rice shops and ironware shops. Every day, there was an endless stream of cars coming and going from the Chamber of Commerce. Not only did they sell Tomes of the Heavenly Tomes, weapon embryos, weapons, and other high-grade goods, but they also sold brocades, silk cloths, rice, and other daily necessities. The entire Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce had nearly 50,000 employees. It could be said that the Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce operated at least 10% of the livelihood resources of the people in Lanyan City. Otherwise, the production of Lanyan City alone would not have been able to support millions of people.
In the back hall of the Chamber of Commerce, Lin Muyu and Chu Yao sat upright. Jin Xiaotang, who was dressed in a red dress, was no longer the young girl she used to be. She had grown into a charming and beautiful woman. Jin Xiaotang was already 26 years old. Without cultivating, she had become as mature as an ordinary woman. She had lost some of the playfulness of a young girl, but gained some of the charm that a woman should have.
Holding the account book in her hand, Jin Xiaotang smiled and said, "Brother Yu, look, this is the annual expenditure and income of the Chamber of Commerce. But this is the general account book. There are more than 100 detailed accounts. If you want to check them, I'll take you to see them."
"No need."
Lin Muyu took the account book and said with a smile, "Xiaotang, you sit down too."
"Okay."
Jin Xiaotang sat down in the chair beside him with a smile. She turned sideways and craned her neck to look at the way Lin Muyu flipped through the account book.
"You've worked hard all these years, Xiaotang." Lin Muyu flipped through the book and said, "If it wasn't for your help, the economy of Lingdong Province would not have recovered so quickly, and we would not have been able to contend against the Tianji Empire for so long. You've helped me a lot with the issue of military provisions. Thank you so much."
Jin Xiaotang's eyes turned red. "Brother, you're the only family I have. If you hadn't brought me out of the slums, I don't know what I'd be like now! It's only right for me to do these things for you. Besides, I'm just the shopkeeper of the Chamber of Commerce. You're the owner of the Chamber of Commerce. You have the final say on how the money and provisions should be used. "
"No."
Lin Muyu closed the account book and looked at her, "Xiao Tang, you are the owner of the Purple Flower Merchant Guild. You have been for a long time. This guild should belong to you."
"Huh?" Jin Xiaotang's jaw dropped.
Chu Yao smiled at the side. "Alright, don't check the accounts as soon as you meet. Let's talk about something else. Xiaotang is not young anymore. Do you have any young masters in mind?"
Jin Xiaotang's face instantly turned red.
Lin Muyu smiled cheerfully. "It seems that there must be. Tell me, which family is it? I'll help you find out. If they are willing, I'll be your matchmaker."
"No, I didn't!" Jin Xiaotang stamped her feet, her face red.
Lin Muyu raised her eyebrows and said, "Steward Xu, I'm embarrassed to say it. Tell me, which young master has caught my eye?"
Steward Xu Fu said with a smile, "Lin General, it's Zhu Yan, the son of Zhu Tong, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Young Master Zhu Yan is talented in both literature and martial arts. Moreover, he's a good writer. It's said that he's written a middle-grade Earthly Book not long ago! Young Master Zhu Yan often comes to the Chamber of Commerce to look for weapon embryos and martial arts manuals, so he's familiar with Young Miss. But I don't know what Young Master Zhu Yan thinks. Does he also like Young Miss? "
"Zhu Yan?" Lin Muyu pondered. "Why does this name sound so familiar?"
Chu Yao reminded, "He's one of the members of the National Assembly, and the person he supports is Chief Qin Lian. Yu, you have to be careful."
Lin Muyu was stunned.
Jin Xiaotang hastily said, "There's no need, Brother Ah-Yu. Xiaotang's personal matters can be solved by myself. Brother Ah-Yu doesn't need to trouble himself for me. If Young Master Zhu's matter spoils Brother's matter, then Xiaotang deserves to die ten thousand times over!"
"No, that's a different matter."
Lin Muyu waved her hand and said, "It's rare for Xiaotang to take a fancy to a man after so many years, and I'm not young anymore. It's not good for me to be alone. Let me talk to him. Sister Chu Yao, if there's nothing important in the Department of Spiritual Medicine, please accompany me to the Assistant Minister's Mansion and see what this Zhu Yan is like. If he's good, I believe there won't be any problems when we propose a marriage for Xiaotang."
"Mm." Chu Yao readily agreed.
She was so nervous that her whole body was trembling, and she couldn't say a word.
Lin Muyu stood up, put her hand on her shoulder, and asked with a smile, "I'll only ask you one thing. Do you like Zhu Yan?"
"Mm …" Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's.
"Then there's no problem. I'll be back soon. Xiaotang, wait for me."
"Oh …"
…
Outside the door of the Chamber of Commerce, Bai Yin was waiting with dozens of cavalrymen from the Longdan Army Camp. They were Lin Muyu's guards, and every one of them was very strong. In fact, they were as elite as the Imperial Guards in Ze Tian Palace.
Lin Muyu mounted her horse and led Chu Yao and the others straight to the Assistant Minister's Mansion.
The Ministry of Revenue was located in a row of prosperous mansions. The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of all the wealth in the empire, so they naturally had no lack of money. The mansions of the Minister and Assistant Minister were as luxurious as the Divine Marquis's mansions, and Zhu Tong's mansion was located in the middle of the complex. When Lin Muyu and the others arrived, the four guards outside the door were stunned. One of them had seen Lin Muyu before, and he hurriedly knelt down and said, "His Highness Prince Qin has come …"
"I'm no longer Prince Qin."
"Then … I wonder why Lin General is here …"
"I want to see Lord Zhu Tong."
"Oh, Lin General, please wait in the side hall. I will go and inform Lord Zhu Tong right away."
"Mm, thank you."
"Lin General is too polite. You are too humble."
Not long after Lin Muyu, Chu Yao, Bai Yin, and the others entered the side hall, a man dressed in court attire arrived. It was the Assistant Minister of Revenue, Zhu Tong. Actually, Lin Muyu would see Zhu Tong at every court meeting, but she did not have a deep impression of him. After all, there were only one Minister and three Assistant Ministers in the Ministry of Revenue, and there were a total of 18 Assistant Ministers in six ministries. It was impossible to recognize each and every one of them. On the contrary, Zhu Tong knew Lin Muyu very well. He knelt down on one knee and greeted, "Your subordinate Zhu Tong greets Lin General!"
"Lord Zhu Tong, please rise. There is no need to be so polite." Lin Muyu went straight to the point and said, "I am here to see your son, Zhu Ying. I wonder if he is here?"
Zhu Tong was startled, "Why does Lin General want to see my son?"
"Don't be nervous, I just want to see this talented and handsome man of the Empire."
"Oh … my son is here … Someone, call Zhu Ying here and tell him that Lin General wants to see him!"
"Yes!"
Not long after, a young man in a white brocade robe stepped into the hall with a long sword at his waist. It was Zhu Ying.
Lin Muyu took a closer look. Indeed, he was handsome, elegant, and had an extraordinary appearance. There was a faint aura between his brows, and it was the kind of unruly temperament that belonged to a young hero. Young people should indeed be like this.
Zhu Ying cupped his fists and bowed, "Zhu Ying greets Lin General!"
"No need to be so polite, you may rise."
"Thank you, Lin General!"
"I heard that Zhu Ying is well-versed in the Heavenly Book. I wonder if it is true?"
Zhu Ying smiled slightly, held the sword in his hand horizontally, and said, "Lin General, please take a look, this sword was originally a high-grade artifact embryo, I have already engraved it into a middle-grade Heavenly Book!"
As he spoke, the long sword was unsheathed, and there was a faint golden light flowing on the blade. It was indeed an Earthly Book.
Looking at Zhu Ying's complacent look, Chu Yao could not help but laugh, "Young Master Zhu, please put away your weapon. You should know that Lin General is also a Heavenly Book expert, and he can already engrave low-grade Heavenly Book!"
"Ah?"
Zhu Ying had a look of disbelief.
Lin Muyu was not interested in letting him see it, and just asked with a smile, "Young Master Zhu Ying has an extraordinary appearance, but I don't know how strong you are. Have you verified your strength in the Holy Temple?"
"Yes."
Zhu Ying nodded and said, "I have just verified it in the Holy Temple three days ago, and my cultivation base is at the first level of the Heavenly Realm at level 62."
As he spoke, Zhu Ying suddenly raised his palm, and suddenly a great fighting spirit enshrouded it, and said, "Lin General, do you need any other proof?"
"There's no need."
Lin Muyu smiled happily, "It's not easy to have such a cultivation base at such a young age. How old are you, Young Master Zhu Ying?"
"I'm 28 years old this year."
"Oh … it's really the time when you're young and vigorous." Lin Muyu laughed, thinking that she was actually 35 years old. Although she did not look old, her mind was as still as a cold pool, and she could no longer show off like Zhu Ying. She could not help but sigh in her heart. Time really made people grow old, and she did not know if it was a good thing.
Zhu Ying cupped his fists and said with a smile, "I know that Lin General is a God State Strong, and his strength is unfathomable. If I can get some advice from Lin General, it will be my life's blessing!"
"Advice?" Lin Muyu shook her head and smiled, "Forget it, I really don't know what I can give you. You practice hard, and you will definitely become a great person in the future."
Zhu Ying was stunned, "Why?"
Chu Yao was a little displeased, and said, "Yu is a God King, and you are just a Heavenly Master. Yu doesn't know how to teach you at all, and what he knows is impossible for you to understand with your current cultivation base. Do you understand?"
Zhu Ying was stunned.
Zhu Tong hurriedly said, "I see, thank you, Great Deacon Chu Yao, for your advice. Also, Lin General, please stay in my house tonight, and I will hold a banquet to entertain you. It's rare for Lin General to come, and your presence brings light to my humble dwelling … "
"No need, thank you, Lord Zhu Tong, for your kindness."
Lin Muyu looked straight at Zhu Ying and said, "I actually came here today for one thing. Young Master Zhu Ying, you should know Jin Xiaotang of the Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce, right?"
"Yes, I do."
"Although Jin Xiaotang is not related to me by blood, I have always treated her as my younger sister. What do you think of her, Young Master Zhu Ying?"
"Miss Xiaotang is smart and virtuous, and she is also the owner of the Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce. She has an endless stream of suitors, so she is naturally one of the top beauties in Lanyan City. But why does Lin General ask this?"
Lin Muyu smiled brightly, "It's nothing, Xiaotang likes you, so I came to ask. If Young Master also likes Xiaotang, why don't we get married, and I will personally propose marriage. What do you think?"
Zhu Tong was overjoyed, "Really … really? Ah Mo, hurry up and kneel down to express your gratitude, our Zhu family is really blessed … "
Zhu Ying hurriedly knelt down, "Thank … thank you, Lin General, for the marriage. I admire Miss Xiaotang very much, this … this is not a matter of a day or two."
"That's good, but I have a condition."
"Oh? What condition? "
"Zhu Ying, you must withdraw from the Congress, and you must not mix with the people of the Congress, otherwise I cannot entrust Xiaotang to you."
"Why?" Zhu Ying was stunned.
Lin Muyu said lightly, "I don't want to fight with you in the future, if so, I will feel guilty to Xiaotang."
Zhu Tong hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, Lin General, my son will submit a letter of withdrawal from the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow, please rest assured, Lin General!"
Zhu Tong, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was still the one who understood the current situation. Although the Congress was in the limelight for the time being, an official of his rank was well aware that the future of the empire was still in the hands of Qin Yin, Lin Muyu, Feng Jixing, and Tang Xiaoxi. As for the others, they were just foils. No matter how glorious the Congress was, it was destined to fall one day.
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