My Emperor Father Can Read Minds
Chapter 31

Emperor Wei certainly wanted to make money, but as an emperor, it was not appropriate to compete with the people for profit.

After all, the entire world belonged to his Wei family. If the royal family also got involved in business, how could there be any room left for other merchants? What would happen to the common people then?

Emperor Wei did indeed want to make glass affordable for the common people.

Glass wasn’t like steel; it didn’t cost much to make. When it came down to it, it was pretty much the same as ordinary ceramic glaze. The reason people were excited about it was just the novelty.

For glass to circulate in the markets of Great Wei, the price had to be kept low—about ten, twenty, or thirty wen would be appropriate.

If it were any more expensive, following the route of high-end goods and selling to the nobility, then the craftsmanship would need to be especially fine, like palace-made products.

Such items could only be sold to the aristocratic families of Great Wei and Great Liang.

Because he was so focused on making money, Emperor Wei kept thinking about this matter even after court was dismissed.

He was wondering who he should assign to this task.

There were few in the Six Ministries who were truly loyal to him!

Besides, most of the officials in the court came from noble families. Knowing that the emperor would “exploit” them for money, would they not take some action once they found out?

Emperor Wei wanted to make a quiet fortune.

Of course, there were loyal subjects, but they were all rigid, serious old scholars. Whenever they spoke, it was always about royal dignity, morals, and rites.

If they found out that he was going to engage in business to sell glass, not only would they not support him, but the first thing they would probably do would be to advise him to abandon the idea…

As for morals and rites, Emperor Wei didn’t care about those. What mattered to him was money!

It was the little money that could fill the national treasury!

In recent years, there had been droughts, locust plagues, and floods within Great Wei’s borders. To relieve the disasters, the treasury had long since become depleted.

If there were more disasters in the future, issuing a self-punishment edict would be the least of his concerns. He feared that the treasury would be empty and he wouldn’t be able to provide for the people.

Emperor Wei had been pondering who to assign to the task from the time court was dismissed until he finished reviewing the memorials.

Li Cheng, noticing his distracted state, could not help but ask, “Your Majesty, is something troubling you? Perhaps I can share the burden with you?”

“Ah.”

Emperor Wei sighed, put down his brush, and looked up, his expression slightly troubled. “Li Cheng, tell me, why is it so difficult to find someone to do this job?”

There were few loyal subjects, and yet he couldn’t just replace them all.

He really envied Emperor Taizu.

The founding emperor, at the peak of power, could dismiss generals with a drink, and not a single official would dare to say anything. When he wanted to eliminate rivals and kill ministers, no official dared to oppose him… He envied him to death.

Envy aside, Emperor Wei was simply envious.

After all, due to his nature, Emperor Wei wasn’t the kind of emperor who was suspicious or had a strong need for control. Most of the time, he was tolerant and gentle.

Li Cheng, being the chief eunuch at the Emperor’s side, couldn’t just treat these complaints as mere grumbling.

[Could it be that His Majesty is dissatisfied with the ministers? That shouldn’t be the case, didn’t he seem pleased in court today? Perhaps he is dissatisfied with the princes, especially the Ninth Prince, who is the youngest but also the most well-behaved and capable. In comparison to the more restless Eldest Prince… I can understand his frustration.]

Emperor Wei: …

This eunuch’s thoughts are many.

Li Cheng laughed and said, “The whole world belongs to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty wants to use someone, just use them. Great Wei is full of talent; why would Your Majesty have trouble finding someone useful?”

“Is that so? Then tell me, who can I use?”

This was an unexpected reply from the Emperor.

Li Cheng didn’t expect the Emperor to actually respond, since it had just been a flattering remark!

Li Cheng hesitated, looking troubled. “I… I’m just a servant, how could I be of any help? I don’t understand court matters, Your Majesty is just joking.”

Emperor Wei snorted lightly.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, then picked up his brush to continue reviewing the memorials.

After reviewing two, the Emperor suddenly raised his head. “What time is it now?”

“Your Majesty, it is almost noon.”

The Emperor nodded. “Ah, then the princes are about to finish their lessons. Go and bring the Ninth Prince to me.”

When Li Cheng went to fetch Wei Yu, he was with the Fourth and Eighth Princes.

After finishing school in the morning, Wei Yu had planned to rest with his Eighth Brother.

But as soon as they stepped out, they saw their Fourth Brother waiting outside.

Wei Yu actually envied his Fourth Brother quite a bit.

With their mother supporting him, he had lived a carefree life, without worries about food or clothing, and without having to worry about anything. While they all lacked their father’s love, their starting points were the same, but the children who were wrapped in maternal love ended up growing up with a different carefree attitude.

When he was younger, Wei Yu had been “bullied” by his Fourth Brother.

It wasn’t that his Fourth Brother was intentionally bullying him, but rather that his Fourth Brother hadn’t even realized that his actions were actually bullying his younger brother.

Because that was just how the Fourth Prince’s life had been.

What seemed normal to the Fourth Prince as a child was a luxury for Wei Yu, who had no one to rely on.

Of course, if Wei Yu had been a real child growing up under such clear contrast with his Fourth Brother, he would have either grown up insecure and timid, or he would have become cynical and resentful.

But unfortunately…

Wei Yu was not like that.

When they were younger, those moments that others thought were his Fourth Brother “bullying” him—Wei Yu had never taken them to heart. In fact, when he looked at his Fourth Brother, it was basically like looking at a walking giant cake!

As long as his Fourth Brother came over to play, he could definitely swindle some food or toys out of him!

When he was little, Wei Yu couldn’t wait for his Fourth Brother to come find him!

But—

Maybe his Fourth Brother had finally grown up and realized all the “wrongdoings” he had committed toward his younger brother over the years. Whatever the reason, after Wei Yu turned eight, his Fourth Brother rarely came looking for him anymore.

So now, suddenly seeing the Fourth Prince waiting outside the study courtyard—especially when he said he was there to see him—Wei Yu was genuinely surprised.

“Fourth Brother, what do you want with me?”

In a hurry to get back for lunch, Wei Yu didn’t have time for small talk, so he went straight to the point.

The Fourth Prince knew what time it was too, so he didn’t beat around the bush. He smiled and said, “We’ve been brothers for years. What, as your elder brother, I can’t come to catch up with you? Come, let’s go to your palace. I just wanted to talk to you two about the matter of establishing your own households.”

Because of what happened when they were young, the Eighth Prince didn’t like the Fourth Prince very much.

But when it came to the topic of establishing their own households, he was willing to listen.

The three of them headed toward the western quarters. Along the way, the Fourth Prince kept talking to Wei Yu and the Eighth Prince about how to arrange and furnish their future residences.

Wei Yu and the Eighth Prince listened with great interest, occasionally offering their own thoughts and suggestions.

However, just when the Fourth Prince felt the conversation was going well and wanted to bring up the morning court session—specifically to mention the topic of glass—Eunuch Li Cheng arrived with others in tow.