Beijing.
Duke Zhao's Mansion.
After the sixth prince Lin Cong left the palace, he was the first to come to Zhao Guogong's house, and discussed the cultural meeting with Zhao Guogong's eldest son Zhao Jiashan in the garden.
Zhao Jiashan is sixteen or seventeen years old. He has a handsome appearance, rich clothes and a very good temperament.
"How about it? How much money will you pay for this literary party? The lottery should also be prepared!"
Lin Cong asked.
"Your Highness, haven't we discussed it a long time ago? Each of our eight princes will pay one hundred thousand taels of silver, and the lottery will be selected calligraphy and cultural treasures from each family."
Zhao Jiashan was a little confused. This matter had been discussed long ago.
The money they paid was also obtained from their father's father, and the reason was also to select their staff.
The Duke's title is a hereditary title. In the future, when they inherit the Duke's title, they will also provide advice to His Majesty in the court.
Therefore, it is urgent to cultivate talented and capable literati to serve as staff.
"One hundred thousand?"
Lin Cong sneered and said, "Are you sending beggars? Each of your families will give you one million taels of silver!"
call out!
The young Duke Zhao Jiashan stood up suddenly, trembling all over, and said: "Your Highness, are you kidding me?"
"It's just a literary party. It only requires a venue, drinks, a banquet with the oiran lady from the Red Sleeves Square to entertain, and invitations to the Eight Great Talents, as well as bachelors from the Academy and the Holy Academy. It costs some money, but it costs less than twenty in total. Ten thousand taels of silver."
"The remaining hundreds of thousands of taels of silver can also be used as lottery prizes. One million...even my Zhao family doesn't have such a big fortune."
Zhao Jiashan was breathing rapidly. He felt that Lin Cong was here to cut the leeks of his old Zhao family.
"madness!"
Lin Cong glanced sideways at Zhao Jiashan. They already had a good relationship, but they didn't have that many rules. He sneered and said, "I would like to ask you, my father is here in person at the cultural conference. How much is his appearance fee worth?"
"Then at least..."
Buzz!
Zhao Jiashan's head was buzzing, his mouth was dry, and his whole body was trembling with excitement: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty will come to our cultural gathering in person?"
Lin Cong nodded with a smile and said: "Well, I mentioned you guys deliberately. Think about it, if my father comes in person during the cultural gathering, how much will the reputation of your prince's palace be improved? I don't need to say more, right? "
Zhao Jiashan breathed rapidly and nodded repeatedly: "I understand, I understand. His Majesty has been alienated from our government over the years. My father has fallen out of favor these years and has been depressed... If this cultural gathering can be more grand, Your Majesty You can also sense his thoughts.”
"Let's go and ask my father for some money!"
Lin Cong pretended to be confused and said, "Didn't you say that your Zhao family doesn't have even one million yuan?"
"Ahem~Why does Your Highness care about such details?"
Zhao Jiashan coughed twice in embarrassment, and then went with Lin Cong to find the old Duke Zhao Ding.
The old Duke Zhao Ding is over sixty years old. He has a son in his old age and lives a leisurely life. He is currently sitting on a wicker chair in the courtyard.
The chair rocked.
In his dream, he seemed to have returned to the scene more than 20 years ago, when he rode a war horse and followed His Majesty to the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons to slay demons and to kill demons in the North.
A gust of cold wind blew by, and he shivered all over. Thinking of His Majesty's alienation from him over the years, he was frightened and woke up. He couldn't help crying.
"father!"
"father!"
At this moment, Zhao Jiashan walked in with the sixth prince Lin Cong and shouted excitedly.
Hearing the voice of his precious son, Zhao Ding quickly wiped away his tears without leaving a trace and turned his head to look.
"Sixth Prince!"
Oh my God!
Your Majesty finally remembered him? He actually asked the Sixth Prince to come to the Duke's Mansion to visit him.
The emperor’s grace is mighty!
God bless Dayan!
With a cry in his voice, Zhao Ding hurriedly knelt down towards the little prince Lin Cong, who was only a little over 1.5 meters tall, and said, "Old minister, I pay my respects to Your Highness. May you be a thousand years old!"
"Why did the old man give such a big gift?"
Lin Cong didn't need to make a big salute, but he had no intention of stopping it. After Zhao Ding finished the salute, he said: "My old master is very old, so don't make a big salute next time."
"Old minister, you can't break the etiquette..." Zhao Ding was completely moved by Lin Cong's words.
Wipe away tears quietly.
"father!"
Zhao Jiashan didn't waste any time and said to the old man as if he was taking credit: "My son, come here and get some money from you to hold a literary party with His Highness the Sixth Prince."
"well!"
Zhao Ding looked at Zhao Jiashan with relief and said, "Dad thought you were lying to me before, but now that the Sixth Prince is here, I believe it!"
He shouted towards the outside of the courtyard and said: "Laifu, give the prince one hundred thousand taels of silver and use gold tickets..."
Zhao Jiashan quickly interrupted: "Dad, listen to what I've said, one hundred thousand taels doesn't count anymore."
"How about hundreds of thousands?"
Zhao Ding was in a good mood. His Highness the Sixth Prince's visit made him feel like he was bathing in the emperor's favor. There was nothing wrong with spending more money.
"It's not hundreds of thousands..."
"Ten thousand?"
"One million taels!" Zhao Jiashan said.
puff!
The old man almost spit out a mouthful of blood, his face turned red, and he turned his head left and right, as if he was looking for something like a branch.
Seeing that there were no suitable branches, he simply took off his shoes and beat Zhao Jiashan, cursing: "You little bastard, your father has been frugal and frugal for most of his life. If the entire family has one million taels of silver, it would be better for you." , If you don’t learn well at a young age, will you become a loser?”
"You not only ruined the family, but also led His Highness into mischief. I will beat you to death today!"
Zhao Jiashan was so frightened that he was scared to death. He turned around and hid behind the sixth prince Lin Cong. The old man said: "Your Highness, give way and let me beat this traitor to death right now..."
"Old Duke has misunderstood Jiashan."
Lin Cong looked at the old Duke with a smile and said, "I asked Jiashan to prepare one million taels of silver. Not only did he provide one million taels, but the other seven princes of the Duke's mansion also received so much."
"ah?"
The old Duke Zhao Ding's face turned pale, Your Highness, what does this mean? Are the fines due to house confiscation coming?
He thought to himself that he had never done anything harmful to nature in his life!
Lin Cong was worried that he would scare the old prince to death, so he explained: "This cultural gathering is not a small matter. My father will be at the cultural gathering in person. When the news spreads, many courtiers and officials will also go there. …”
"Old Duke, do you think a hundred thousand taels of silver can accomplish something like this?"
"Besides, there is a lot of money, and my father also knows in his heart who is truly loyal to the emperor. In addition, the courtiers and officials know that it is your country's government that pays for the cultural gathering. Your Majesty is here in person, which shows your status in His Majesty's heart."
"Old Duke, do you think this million is too little?"
It's just a few Mingzhou poems. How big a deal is it?
After hearing Lin Cong's words, the old Duke Zhao Ding asked in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty will come to the cultural gathering in person?"
"I asked my father for permission!"
As Lin Cong spoke, he clasped his fists in the direction of the palace and said loudly: "His Majesty said: Choose an auspicious day and let the princes of the Duke's Palace take care of it and handle it well. If I am free, I will come in person. "
