The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 1037 - 236: The Nation’s Husband

Chapter 1037: Chapter 236: The Nation’s Husband

After carefully examining both the front and back, Pei Qin found the silver note was real—a silver note worth ten thousand taels. She couldn’t help but click her tongue in admiration, "So much silver—it’s more than I’ve earned from several years of hard work!" Apart from her fixed assets, she didn’t even know how much she owned.

Lu Hai brought in the clothes she had changed out of, "Return it?"

Pei Qin looked at her with a strange expression, "Why return it! This was given to me! Ten thousand taels! It’s not easy for me to get so much silver all at once!"

All she did was stretch out her hand, and that was it. No, she didn’t even stretch out her hand; she just walked around a bit. Lu Hai’s mouth twitched slightly, "...You’re not short on money."

"Who says I’m not short on money! I am a poor ghost now!" Pei Qin rolled her eyes at her and carefully stowed the silver note away, then soaked in the bath, pondering, "When and who slipped me this silver note?" After the morning court session, a bunch of civilian and military chancellors surrounded her with congratulations, several old chaps patted her like patting their own sons, showing affection—did they stuff money in her hand while feigning love and kindness!?

Lu Hai felt she should either go back to leading troops in battle or just stay at home and listen to Mo Heng obediently. Otherwise, after this critical moment, those in the official circles could devour her.

After finishing her bath and changing her clothes, Pei Qin emerged feeling warmly refreshed. The hot evening breeze was comfortable. Ready to eat, she only smeared black on her face, leaving her hands clean. She walked over with excitement, holding the ten thousand taels silver note, and light on her feet, "Emperor! Look, look! Someone stuffed me ten thousand taels! I’ve suddenly become so rich!"

Shi Su, who was on his way to serve the meal, stumbled, almost falling over.

Shi Rui also couldn’t help but smile as he stared at Pei Qin in astonishment. This General Protectorate... Was she truly naive? Or was it an act of naivety?

Emperor Chu Wen was also taken aback. He had anticipated letting her out but had never imagined she would brazenly flaunt the bribes she received, and that too, right in front of him as if afraid that others wouldn’t find out.

Pei Qin flaunted the silver note, "Emperor, look! This single note is worth ten thousand taels, I haven’t even seen one before! Being an official really makes earning money easy! I just took a walk and someone stuffed me so much money! And it’s all from one person!"

Emperor Chu Wen squinted his eyes, "That’s quite a lot. Did you bring it here so that I can charge you with the crime of accepting a bribe?"

"No, not at all! Emperor! I just brought it to show you—to show everyone—a lot of money!" Pei Qin laughed proudly.

"Beloved Officer Pei, what do you plan to do with this money?" Emperor Chu Wen asked coolly.

Pei Qin’s smile froze; she quickly resorted to flattery, "Half upon meeting! Emperor! Aren’t we just looking to set up the Mortar Barracks and Manufacturing Bureau without enough funds? Here comes the money!"

Emperor Chu Wen nodded, "Sounds almost reasonable."

"So, I’ve decided!" Pei Qin suddenly looked resolute.

Emperor Chu Wen raised an eyebrow to see how she would handle this bribe-taking situation.

"I’ve decided, I’ll go out for another walk tomorrow. No, I’ll go out for a walk every day! That way, I can collect a bit more!" Pei Qin said, nodding approvingly of her own idea.

Emperor Chu Wen’s face darkened, "So you plan to repeat this bribe-taking several more times?"

Pei Qin looked at him, "Emperor! You’ll get a share too! We split it evenly! Or... you take sixty, I take forty?"

Seeing her eyes gleaming brightly, Emperor Chu Wen saw the cunning and shrewdness behind her disruptive actions. Thinking about the practically empty state coffers, he snorted.

"Then, how about... you take thirty, I take seventy?" Pei Qin offered reluctantly, sensing his dissatisfaction.

"Twenty-eight split!" Emperor Chu Wen said coldly.

Obviously, in this twenty-eight split, Pei Qin got twenty, and he got eighty.

Pei Qin nearly spat blood in his face, "Emperor! I won’t settle for twenty!"

Emperor Chu Wen’s eyes flashed with amusement, "Hmm, seems you are indeed a bit simple."

Pei Qin glared at him accusingly, Emperor, you insult me!

Shi Rui’s insides were in knots. General Pei was spouting nonsense, yet the Emperor seemed to enjoy it. He indulged her nonsense and even joined in. That was bribe money! Bribery! And the two of them, sovereign and subject, were actually bargaining over how to divide it, ignoring whether they should investigate who was offering the bribe and for what purpose. They had taken so much money from someone—what if that person came back for it...

Shi Su came in with the imperial meal.

Although the split was twenty-eight, Pei Qin had managed to get herself twenty thousand taels, enough to slowly start working on the Mortar Barracks and Manufacturing Bureau. If she went out for another stroll tomorrow, maybe there would be even more. In a good mood, Pei Qin took a seat at the table, picked up her chopsticks, lifted her bowl, and got ready to eat.