Lu Xunguang wasn't in a hurry to speak. Instead, he turned to Princess Yongning and Li Ying, looking ashamed.
"Your Majesty, I'm just a blunt fellow. I simply built this fish therapy pool as per the princess's order to relieve Your Majesty's fatigue. As for how to run this fish therapy center, forgive my stupidity. I'm really confused..."
He cast a pleading look at Li Ying. Princess Yongning also said, "Father, Miss Li has analyzed everything clearly. She knows all about the business of this fish therapy center. Why not let her report to you?"
The emperor scoffed dismissively.
"Lord Lu is a red - topped merchant personally appointed by me. If even you don't understand the business of this fish therapy center, I'm afraid all the merchants in the world are good - for - nothing fools."
Didn't he know that Lu Xunguang was deliberately trying to gain some favor for Li Ying in front of him?
However, this Miss Li was honest and decent. She knew not to be arrogant with the emperor's favor. She attached herself to Lu Xunguang and Princess Yongning, abided by the rites, and worked diligently. She had also offered advice several times to relieve the people's hardships and share the emperor's worries. Now, she had even gone out of her way to please him. She was quite obedient.
Moreover, Lu Xunguang's actions today finally showed that although he wouldn't marry Princess Yongning, he was willing to be used by her and follow her lead.
Princess Yongning was a woman. Even if she married a son - in - law, she was still a princess of the state. She was interested in business. Just like the grand princess, she intended to put all the business income into the state treasury to share the emperor's worries. It was all beneficial and without any harm. Naturally, the emperor was satisfied.
Feeling content, the emperor didn't want to make things difficult for them. He looked at Li Ying amiably, waiting for her to speak.
Li Ying gracefully curtsied and said confidently, "Your Majesty, the 'fish therapy center' I've planned is different from the ordinary ones."
If men wanted to relieve their fatigue, there were plenty of brothels in the cities. There were charming women who could sing, play the zither, and massage their shoulders and backs.
However, lingering in such places would inevitably harm one's body with wine and women, making one listless.
As for the female guests, there were hardly any places for entertainment. Although there were maids and servants in the mansion to massage them, they didn't know the acupuncture points and just massaged randomly, often achieving little with great effort.
"I was thinking of dividing this fish therapy center into two areas for male and female guests. When male guests take a bath, only servants will be there to guide and serve them. For female guests, maids will be arranged."
These servants and maids will be uniformly trained by the supervisor. They should remember the locations of all the acupuncture points thoroughly and then massage the guests.
After the guests take a bath and cleanse themselves, they can relieve their fatigue with fish therapy. Then, they can choose different foot - bath programs according to their preferences.
They can use milk and flower petals or traditional Chinese medicine conditioning packs to soak their feet and relieve stress. After that, they can choose the masseurs they like.
Male guests will be served by male masseurs, and female guests by female masseurs, so as to avoid any dirty and improper things happening secretly in this foot - bath city.
Guests can freely choose the food and drinks during the massage. Tea and snacks are all included in the ticket price of this foot - bath city. All the food will, of course, be arranged by Li Ying herself.
There will be steamed buns, dumplings, osmanthus cakes, crispy cakes, or staple foods like rice noodles, noodles, fried rice, and small cakes. They can help themselves.
In the main hall, there will also be storytelling and singing shows for entertainment. After a sumptuous meal, guests can go to the private rooms they've reserved in advance to rest.
Ordinary people with little money don't care about so many rules and formalities. They can just sleep in the partitions in the main hall fully dressed and have a good night's sleep.
In this way, the money from guests staying overnight will all go into Princess Yongning's pocket and enrich the state treasury.
Hearing this, the emperor immediately showed approval.
This business should take good care of the female relatives of the noble officials in the capital. It was obviously inappropriate to let Lu Xunguang, a man, take care of it.
It would be most appropriate for Princess Yongning to take charge.
He was very satisfied. He nodded to Princess Yongning and said, "Yongning, since you have this intention, I'll approve your proposal. I'll leave the business of this fish therapy center to you."
Princess Yongning gracefully curtsied and thanked him, "Please rest assured, Father. Yongning will surely live up to your trust!"
The emperor left after enjoying himself. Before leaving, he still couldn't help sizing up Li Ying and Lu Xunguang thoughtfully.
"Since you two get along well with Yongning, you should go all out and assist Yongning well. Don't disappoint me."
He left gracefully. Princess Yongning followed closely behind. Soon, only Li Ying and Lu Xunguang were left beside the fish therapy pool.
They glanced at each other and both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Given the emperor's temper, if Lu Xunguang didn't want to marry the princess, the emperor would never watch idly as the Lu family's vast wealth didn't go into the state treasury.
A man is not guilty, but his wealth is. Suspecting that Lu Xunguang's achievements were too great and might overshadow the emperor, it was only a matter of time before the emperor found an excuse to punish him.
After much thought, the only solution for Li Ying and Lu Xunguang was to resign voluntarily.
Giving up all the glory, wealth, and power of the Lu family and just keeping an empty name was the way to protect themselves.
They were already tired of the intrigues and opportunism in the capital. They were extremely annoyed. They discussed this idea of retiring early with the big boss and Lord Yan in private. The two elders had no objections.
However, the Lu family's huge business couldn't be closed down overnight.
After years of hard work, it had to be entrusted to a suitable person.
Although Princess Yongning was just a woman, she had great ambition.
As a noble princess, she had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch to Li Ying several times. After much thought and careful consideration, they finally decided that it was the best strategy to hand over the Lu family's business to Princess Yongning.
On the way, Princess Yongning tried her best to show her decisive and capable side in front of the emperor. She gradually took over the various businesses managed by Lu Xunguang. Once she became a trusted confidant of the emperor, Lu Xunguang could retreat behind the scenes and go to the fishing village with Li Ying to live a simple life.
Princess Yongning promised that she would never treat them badly in the future. As long as she still held the financial power in the capital, she would never let the Lu and Li families be wronged. Their descendants could also live in peace.
Li Ying didn't ask for much. She just wanted to live a stable life. Lu Xunguang just wanted to be with his beloved one. They almost agreed without hesitation.
From then on, Princess Yongning could gain the emperor's favor. She didn't have to worry about being sent to marry a foreign prince every day. She could live in peace.
In this way, both sides could get what they wanted.
After all the careful planning along the way, now, it seemed that the emperor had finally approved Princess Yongning's business. Li Ying and Lu Xunguang smiled at each other.
It was almost there.
The dragon boat would reach the fishing village in the southern border in just a few days.
By then, the carefree days belonging to them would also be coming soon.
For now, as long as they could please this supreme emperor, make him forget the past grievances, and grant them marriage, there would be no more worries.
As for how to deal with it, Li Ying had already made up her mind and was confident.