Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Sister Wang Is Going to Announce It? Little Swan Is Greatly Shocked!
[Location: Tino City · City Lord’s Mansion]
Marquis York leaned on his cane, feeling his gloomy mood lighten a bit over the past few days.
Lately, he suddenly felt as if he might be getting old.
First, his trusted aides became excessively greedy, almost causing an explosive disaster.
Then, the number of magical beasts lurking in the sewers skyrocketed, which also involved trouble on the prairie.
He started to wonder if he had indulged too much in the pleasures of succubi and foxmen, making his work increasingly overwhelming.
Fortunately, these issues were discovered early.
If the hidden dangers had burst out, that would have been the biggest disaster.
However, it wasn’t without benefits.
The Dragonbone Prairie is the largest meat-producing area in all of Tino City.
These years, it seems the farm owners on the prairie have some crooked ideas, having attempted to manipulate the meat market of the Imperial Capital four times in two consecutive years.
Although Marquis York plays around privately, he surely puts effort into handling state affairs and immediately reprimanded them.
He instantly saw through the farm owners’ intentions.
Controlling the market was fake; accumulating wealth was real.
But accumulating wealth wasn’t their ultimate goal.
Since the esteemed Beatrice took over as Princess Regent, she has promoted key elites in various fields, and some have even been granted titles.
The rise of these emerging nobles has shown enormous benefits to some people.
Don’t look down on farm owners just because they deal daily with livestock.
As long as the beasts aren’t rampaging, these farm owners might earn no less than those emerging nobles.
The more they earn, the more they desire.
Like someone saying they’re busier than the president; the ambitious intentions are obvious to bystanders.
And becoming emerging nobility is the new goal for farm owners.
Actually, wanting to become emerging nobility isn’t a problem; the empire is eager for more people to chase this position.
But there are countless people aiming for the emerging nobility position, so why should it be the farm owners’ turn?
Marquis York couldn’t help recalling his secret efforts to oversee his deputy recruiting personnel for government affairs.
The basics needed for handling state affairs are many, even in talent-rich Tino City; choosing the perfect candidates for the job isn’t easy.
So assuredly, some people’s scores will fall below standards.
If the overall score calculation is about to drop below the line for employment, and they’re about to be eliminated.
That’s when the deputy asks, "Can you work overtime?" Then most of these people will say:
"I can, I’m very diligent at work."
Thus, the City Lord’s Mansion is full of people eager to work overtime.
Now comes the problem, for those farm owners who don’t manage their farms well, don’t consider improving livestock quality or mastering core animal husbandry technology, how can they compete against those with real skills?
Clearly, by spreading money.
Marquis York believes this is a very dangerous sign.
Today you take shortcuts, tomorrow he takes shortcuts, in the end, won’t it become a widespread shortcut-taking?
By then, who will be willing to honestly pursue technological development and national strength?
This would be short-sightedness and unsustainable development.
As a qualified leader, Marquis York doesn’t want to see such happenings.
The emperor seems about ready to pass on the throne this year, and Marquis York is thinking of where to set up targets to clear the path for His Highness.
Who could have thought Second Princess and Prince Louis would directly deliver the targets?
This made him very happy!
Ready-made targets, targets without concern, what more is there to say?
Then hit them hard!
Hit until those with similar intentions become terrified!
The chance to act reasonably and appropriately doesn’t come often.
So, the next day.
Marquis York swiftly provided his answer.
...
That day, Olivia collapsed onto the bed, unwilling to move.
Her frail body had barely been on horseback.
This prairie escape plan, even with a saddle, had left her battered and sore.
Her bottom ached badly, if there hadn’t been too many people on the carriage return, she would’ve long since shouted for Lumi to apply medicine.
But she was really embarrassed.
Because... because how could she speak of such a thing in front of many people.
"Your Highness, responses from both the City Lord’s Mansion and the Secret Guard have arrived."
The head maid bent over to apply medicine to the little swan.
At this moment, it was early morning. A pair of crystal-clear small feet were shaking under the blanket, carrying a stunning texture in the spilled sunlight.
The size was not large, but the proportions were perfect, especially the nails evenly lined like amber, becoming increasingly clear and bright after being applied with a glossy medication.
Perhaps the medicine effects were spreading, as the little swan’s voice sounded a bit muddled:
"What was the result?"
Lumi held a jade-like orb in her hand, moving it over the little swan’s body.
There was always a difference between muddled and clear; Lumi mastered another skillful technique.
The jade gently or firmly pressed down, causing the little swan’s neck to slightly arch, letting out a sound of effort mixed with shame.
But after the pain passed, amidst the cold medication and hot skin, her furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
The warmth of the sun outside could not suppress the thriving autumn colors.
Inside was the same.
After confirming the medication’s effectiveness, Lumi whispered:
"Several of those farm owners were identified by Marquis York with dozens of charges."
"Including but not limited to flooding the local market with inferior meat, maliciously inflating prices after gaining control of meat product pricing, and mixing diseased animals into the goods."
The little swan muttered:
"If Old York doesn’t make a move, it’s surprising; once he moves, he shows no mercy."
"Those farm owners must be having a hard time now."
Lumi nodded: "The most serious ones have already begun bankruptcy liquidation."
"What about the Black Water Commerce Association?"
"Reportedly, when discovered, they were found hanging from a streetlight, it’s a suicide."
The little swan was surprised: "The kind of suicide with 24 stabs in the back?"
Lumi said: "No, the clean kind."
The little swan shook her head: "Knowing this, wouldn’t one act differently in the past? I remember the assets on Dragonbone Prairie are quite rich."
"Should I ask Sister Wang for some money to buy a few farms?"
The little swan felt that lately, things with the bewildering country collision were increasingly going poorly.
Even worse, many of the troubles were caused by herself.
Thinking of this, she almost ground her silver teeth to pieces.
"Damn it, might I really need to feed pigs? Should I buy myself a farm first?"
Lumi watched Olivia constantly grinding her teeth, and said, somewhat inexplicably:
"Your thoughts align with His Highness Louis."
"What?"
The little swan fell into a stupor.
Then quickly reacted: "Did he pay money to buy it?"
The head maid nodded:
"Yes, and he bought it using Caesar’s identity. Those farm owners urgently needed money to smooth things over and avoid the guillotine. His Highness Louis took this chance to severely lower the price."
"Plus, the farm owners already knew about the Book of the Dead causing issues—if this really gets big, they wouldn’t even have a chance to plead."
"His Highness’s cash flow... is a bit too abundant. To enable money turnover, the farm owners urgently sold off a large number of farms and livestock."
Olivia immediately jumped up, bumped into her swollen backside, and let out a ghostly cry, then said bitterly:
"They really gave away such quality assets just like that?"
"The shipping volume was too large; few forces had such liquidity. The news lagged a bit. His Highness Louis, in a few years, could double his investment."
Olivia was stunned: "Does that mean, even when I come of age, the funds I can access might not be more than his?!"
Holding her numb backside, she lamented: "This shouldn’t be, clearly I was the one who swayed the people, I led the main force."
"Wasn’t I supposed to be far ahead?"
"Why is it him who’s eating well again this time?"
The little swan felt a bit broken.
But thinking that she was getting used to feeling broken lately, it didn’t seem so bad.
At this moment, Lumi said again:
"Princess Beatrice has been busy with her official duties lately and plans to publicly announce the engagement ceremony with His Highness Louis earlier than expected."
The little swan’s eyes gradually grew dazed, ultimately turning vacant.
"This can’t be!"
In her past life, nothing like this happened; until Sister Wang was assassinated, they never announced anything widely, let alone had an engagement ceremony.
Wait...
The little swan broke out in a cold sweat.
Could it be her interference that allowed the bewildering country to shine, genuinely attracting Sister Wang’s favor?
"Is it I who brought Sister Wang and the bewildering country closer?"
I only wanted to break up the couple, how did I become the matchmaker for them?
Big mess!