The Zhang brothers came out of Kunning Palace with mixed emotions.
The eunuch Zhang Yong led the way and walked on the way out of the palace.
"Fortunately, our wood, stone and bricks are all sold now, so we don't have to worry about them rotting in our hands."
Zhang Heling expressed sincere emotion.
Through the relationship between sister and husband, I not only save money, but also make money.
Beautiful.
But Zhang Yanling said with a bitter look on her face: "Originally, it could be sold for more than 100,000 taels of silver, but now it's only more than 60,000 taels. We still have to pay for transportation and labor. Brother, we seem to have suffered a big loss."
Zhang Heling scolded: "You are a loser. The total cost of that batch of materials is 40,000 taels? Now I give you 65,000 taels, how dare you say you are a loser? His Majesty knows this..."
Speaking of this, Zhang Heling couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yong in front of him.
And Zhang Yong deliberately walked forward, meaning not to interfere with you guys. You two brothers can say whatever you like, just pretend that no one is around.
"My nephew's side..."
Zhang Yanling made some calculations in her mind, and it seemed that she really had something to gain.
Suddenly he thought of the person who gave them the advice.
Zhang Heling said: "Why should I pay attention to him? Next time I see him, why don't I give him a few gadgets and send him away?"
Just as he was talking, a half-year-old child ran out from the opposite corner and shouted from afar: "Two uncles, have you returned in triumph?"
When the two brothers of the Zhang family saw their eldest nephew coming uninvited, they immediately thought that this was their territory and everyone in the palace was their spy. If their nephew wanted to find him, how could they let them run away?
The two of them couldn't help but have the urge to cover their pockets.
…
…
"Two uncles, you are so inhuman, what can I say about you? You got shabby materials, charged high prices, built the palace and was robbed by others, and you actually want your father to pay for you to build your own temple. , do you still have the face?"
Zhu Houzhao sent his followers away.
Then it seemed like a gentleman was giving lessons to two uncles.
The posture is very similar to that of an official in the East Palace, but the words are more like Zhang Zhou's tone.
Zhang Yanling was furious: "Prince, this idea seems to be yours, right? Do you believe I can tell His Majesty and the Queen?"
"Okay, go ahead and tell me! Second uncle, I'll give you some face! Let's go, whoever doesn't go today will be the grandson!"
After all, Zhu Houzhao is not a three-year-old child. With his shrewd mind and Zhang Zhou's guidance, his understanding ability is better than that of ordinary adults.
Can't these two idiot uncles see the situation clearly now? How dare you threaten me?
As he spoke, he reached out to pull Zhang Yanling.
When Zhang Heling saw this posture, he quickly gave in and said: "Prince, what are you doing? Second brother, you are the same, what are you doing to offend the prince? Please apologize to the prince."
Zhang Yanling could only bow her hands in disgrace, as if admitting her mistake, but said nothing.
"Then it's done, right? How much money did you defraud from your father? Can you tell me the exact amount?"
Zhu Houzhao put his hands on his hips, just waiting to share the spoils.
Zhang Yanling said: "Prince, how much money is there, what does it have to do with you?"
Zhang Heling quickly interrupted his younger brother and said with a smile: "His Royal Highness, didn't we already agree that I will give you a thank you gift when I come next time?"
"What kind of gift do you want to thank me for? You obviously have a share of what you earn, okay? I have shares! Yes, it's shares!"
"If I remember correctly, what I propose to you is sixty-five thousand taels of silver, right? Don't bother forgetting it, add two to one and make five, half for each person!"
Zhu Houzhao used the new words he learned when he opened a bookstore with Zhang Zhou.
The Zhang brothers were shocked.
Zhang Yanling said: "Grand nephew, are you taking the opportunity to blackmail? Get half of it? Why don't you go and rob it?"
"Who wants to steal it? Isn't it right to share half of it when we meet?" Zhu Houzhao was not used to the problems of these two uncles. "If you don't pay, I will go to my father and mother to complain, saying that you used bad materials to pass them off as good materials, and built the family temple with the help of them. , want to sell this batch of junk materials to the imperial court, and also deceive the emperor..."
"Don't, don't!"
Zhang Heling really lost his temper now, and could only say in a pleading tone, "Prince, look, can it be less? We really don't make much."
Zhu Houzhao sneered at first and disdained to look at the two of them. Then he pinched his fingers and asked, "How much is 10%?"
"One percent is... six thousand five hundred taels, um..."
Zhang Heling wanted to cover his brother's mouth, but found it was too late.
Zhu Houzhao said: "Okay, since you all think this number is appropriate, then take out six thousand five hundred taels. It just so happens that I have to do some business recently and my money is a little tight! Don't you want to give it?"
"Fuck you so big... ugh!"
Zhang Yanling was about to scold him immediately, but Zhang Heling blocked his mouth.
He also gave his younger brother a wink, meaning that no matter how evil-minded this naughty kid was, he still had to endure it.
Endure the calm for a while.
Zhu Houzhao said coldly: "Tell me, do you want to give it or not? I am impatient, so I plan to have a good chat with my father and mother!"
"Here, here!"
Zhang Heling agreed on behalf of his younger brother.
"What you say is unfounded! Liu Jin, I will serve you with pen and ink!"
After Zhu Houzhao gave the order, Liu Jin ran over and handed something to Zhu Houzhao.
The Zhang Heling brothers were dumbfounded after reading the above content. It was actually an IOU, and it actually said six thousand five hundred taels, which meant that Zhu Houzhao had planned this matter long ago.
A question arose in the minds of the two brothers at the same time.
How did this guy calculate the numbers so accurately?
Who is secretly helping this kid?
Looking at Liu Jin next to him, Liu Jin said with an evasive look: "Two uncles, our family doesn't know anything."
"Stop talking nonsense. It's natural to pay back debts. Do you think I don't need to pay you for giving me advice? Sign it!"
Zhang Heling looked at his younger brother with a bitter look on his face.
His original idea was to agree to it first. Anyway, he didn't know when he would see this naughty kid in the future. Maybe he would forget about it later. Six thousand five hundred taels of silver sounds like a lot, but the royal family is rich all over the world, does it care about that little silver?
Besides, where does this naughty kid spend his money?
This kid must have just acted on a whim, and he probably won't remember this happening when he looks back.
But they didn't expect that Zhu Houzhao was really coming with them.
"Sign or not!?"
Zhu Houzhao immediately raised his voice another octave.
Zhang Heling could only pick up the pen handed over by Liu Jin, put it in his mouth and wet it with some saliva, and then he had no choice but to sign his name on it.
"And you!"
Zhu Houzhao stared at his second uncle.
So...
The Zhang brothers signed their names on this IOU.
"Let me tell you, I will send people to your house to collect debts later, but don't even think about defaulting on the debt. If you still want to keep those 65,000 taels safe, then be more sensible. Let's go!"
After saying that, Zhu Houzhao looked like Zhang Zhou when he signed some equity document with him, and even went to dry the ink on the paper.
The jealous little eyes, the careful movements when the little lips blow on the paper...
The Zhang brothers are all thinking.
It seems that this kid has done this kind of bad thing often before, otherwise why would he be so skilled that he can catch it easily?
It's not like they were taught by others.
"Evil man! He's just knocking the bones and sucking out the marrow! Did he run away from the Palace of Hell?"
"Stop talking nonsense, second brother, it's all your fault for getting in that batch of crap! I hope he doesn't remember this when he looks back!"
…
…
The Zhang brothers left in disgrace.
Zhu Houzhao was very proud. For him, he earned 6,500 taels of silver just by talking about it.
I have never felt such a great sense of accomplishment.
He didn't count the amount of silver, he just thought that this amount of silver should be pretty good, about equivalent to one-tenth of a Qingning Palace.
"When I leave the palace in the future, I don't need Zhang Zhou to give me any money. I will have the money to spend."
Zhu Houzhao showed off the IOU in front of Liu Jin.
Liu Jin had a wry smile on his face. He was not very clear about the details of the matter. He probably guessed that it might be related to Zhang Zhou, but Zhu Houzhao ordered him to help write the IOU.
But it only wrote down the figure of the money owed and the debtor, not the process.
Liu Jin was also worried. Hou Ning Hou and Uncle Jianchang wouldn't think that I was the instigator of this thing that I didn't even know about, right?
"Your Highness, what do you want with so much money?"
Liu Jin was smiling bitterly.
Helping the prince do bad things and causing others to misunderstand him will make him worse off.
Zhu Houzhao didn't reply and took Liu Jin back to Wenhua Hall.
"Come, come, come all, I have something to say!" Zhu Houzhao greeted the eunuchs.
A group of regular servants from the East Palace lined up in front of Zhu Houzhao. Even if there were many people taking turns to take turns, there were still more than thirty people standing in front of Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao said: "In this way, I have made some money. The leader will be given fifty taels, and the person who works with low hands will be given ten taels. Calculate how many people there are in total, and record it in my account later. When the money arrives, I will pay you. For you guys!"
A group of waiters looked at each other.
The prince still has money and hair?
Who gives it?
Gu Dayong asked: "Your Highness, where did you get the money?"
"You don't need to worry about it now, but if someone dares to take advantage of this palace and sends you to collect the debt, you will have to work hard at that time!"
"..."
Everyone present continued to be stunned.
"I'm going to rest!"
"Your Royal Highness, your telescope..."
"Please clean it up for me. If someone breaks it, you will have to pay for it with your head! Later, I will use it to make plans with my father!"
…
When the prince returned to the inner palace, Gu Dayong and other talents surrounded Liu Jin.
"Eunuch Liu, what happened?"
Previously, only Liu Jin accompanied him to share the spoils with the Zhang brothers, and no one else knew what happened.
Now we can only find Liu Jin to find out.
"You don't know, how can our family know about it? But this matter must not be leaked. If anyone leaks it, the money will be confiscated, and you won't even be able to save your head!"
Liu Jin did not have the highest status in the East Palace, but because he used to play with the prince, he was deeply loved by the young prince.
When it comes to status in the palace, it's not about who has a higher official position and who is more powerful, but who is more favored and who is more powerful.
Therefore, in the East Palace system, Liu Jin is vaguely headed, but in fact all the eunuchs are dissatisfied with each other. Who knows who the prince will favor tomorrow?
"Then...that's it?"
"that's all!"
Liu Jin said, "Shut up after taking the money! This is a reward from the prince, don't be ignorant of current affairs!"
Liu Jin had to say this.
As one of the entourage who went to the Zhangjia Warehouse that day, Liu Jin had been called to talk by Xiao Jing before, and he was ordered to keep the events of that day secret.
So he could only guess that the prince might be using this matter to blackmail the Zhang brothers. As for the specific details, he didn't know.
"Fifty taels of silver, that's a lot!"
All the eunuchs were a little happy, but they were afraid that they would not be able to fulfill their promise.
Liu Jinxin said that it must be the trick of the boy named Zhang. He is quite good at getting things done, but he actually thought of bribing the chief attendant of the East Palace? Fortunately, I didn't tell them that Zhang Zhou was planning this behind the scenes, otherwise it would be bad for them to accept Zhang's favor!
Think again.
A smile appeared on Liu Jin's face.
Fifty taels of silver...
Really fragrant.
…
…
In the Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Youtang is meeting Xiao Jing.
"real?"
It is not easy to hide some things from Zhu Youtang, especially what happened in the palace.
Xiao Jing said with a bitter face: "It's true. Shouning Hou and Jian Changbo also signed an IOU of 6,500 taels of silver to the prince."
"puff……"
Zhu Youtang choked on his own saliva when he heard this.
Dai Yi on the side asked: "Could someone give the prince some advice?"
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Do you still have to ask? It must have been Bingkuan's idea, otherwise why did the prince go to block Heling and Yanling as soon as he left? What the prince did... is a bit of a loss to me. I don’t support it...haha. I have no worries!"
He said he didn't support it.
But my heart is very happy.
This incident not only solved the problem of harmony between his husband and wife, but also adhered to the principle of not using scrap materials in Qingning Palace. More importantly, it saved money for the court.
Let my son have a good experience in the social practice class, so that his son can gradually master the city and planning necessary for a king...
Of course, these are the conclusions that Zhu Youtang came to because he had great respect for Zhang Zhou and tried his best to make things as smooth as possible.
If someone else instigated the prince to do this kind of thing, the conclusion is open to question.
"Your Majesty, after the prince returned to Wenhua Palace, he also said that each person in the East Palace would be given at least ten taels of silver, and each of the eunuchs in charge would be given fifty taels."
"Very good, I can win people's hearts!"
"Then, Your Majesty, let's talk about officials' involvement in impeaching the Zhou family for enriching their own pockets..."
"Do you still need me to teach you about this kind of thing? Reject it! Who participated in the impeachment? I will look for him later to settle the score!"
(End of chapter)
