The third day of the first lunar month of the Yongle year.
Yang Xuan came to the Duke of Wei's mansion.
Today, the Duke of Wei's mansion is very popular, and there is an endless stream of people coming to pay New Year's greetings.
You know, the current queen Xu Miaoyun is the eldest daughter of Zhongshan King Xu Da.
This second Duke of Wei is the queen's biological brother. Anyone with a discerning eye can see the future of Duke Wei's palace.
Unlike the original history, Xu Huizu was not imprisoned at home by Zhu Di, nor was he reduced in rank.
With his relationship with the queen and his own abilities, Zhu Di has no reason not to use her.
Yang Xuan was welcomed into the Wei Guogong Mansion by the steward, and saw Xu Huizu with a sad face.
He couldn't help but laugh and said: "You're celebrating the New Year, what's wrong with you?"
"Senior brother, it's not like those people outside." Xu Huizu sighed.
He was under a lot of pressure.
Although the current Duke of Wei is extremely noble, as the head of the Duke of Wei, he is walking on thin ice.
He is the queen's biological brother. Once he makes a mistake, it will have a bad impact on Xu Miaoyun.
"Aren't they just people giving gifts? What's the point!" Yang Xuan sat down next to Xu Huizu and said indifferently.
"Senior brother, you should know their purpose." Xu Huizu said.
"Well, isn't it just to curry favor with you, the queen's biological brother?" Yang Xuan said.
"If it were me, no matter who gave the gift, I would accept it all." Yang Xuan added.
"Senior brother, this gift is not easy to accept." Xu Huizu smiled bitterly.
"Why, are you afraid that they will ask you to do something?" Yang Xuan said.
"Yes." Xu Huizu nodded.
"Then it's okay for you to hide like this."
"If it doesn't work once, they will do it again."
"What should we do?"
"This year has been really painful."
"I don't want to be like this in the future."
Xu Huizu looked at his senior brother, hoping that he could give him some advice.
"Simple." Yang Xuan smiled.
Hearing this, Xu Huizu looked at his senior brother with curiosity on his face.
"You accepted all the gifts they gave, and recorded who gave what."
"Then send everything to the palace and give the gift list to His Majesty."
"Nowadays, Ming Dynasty needs money everywhere, and its internal funds are not rich."
"These things can also solve your Majesty's urgent needs."
"At the same time, you can take this opportunity to show your loyalty to His Majesty."
“You kill two birds with one stone, why not!”
After Yang Xuan finished speaking, he picked up the tea cup and took a sip of hot tea.
"Then what if they ask me to do something?" Xu Huizu asked.
"Why do you have such a stupid head?"
"Your senior brother, I have received many gifts in the past, but you have seen who I have done things for."
"Of course, Prince Yiwen doesn't count."
Yang Xuan looked at Xu Huizu, hating that iron could not become steel.
Senior brother, after so many years, why don’t you learn from yourself?
"This... reputation is not good!" Xu Huizu hesitated.
"Then tell them that you have sent the gifts to the palace for them, and His Majesty is very satisfied."
"Just think of yourself as a tool."
"Also, think about which one is more important, reputation or His Majesty's trust."
Yang Xuan educated.
"Brother, I understand!"
"It'll be good if you realize it."
"If you come here a few more times, I believe no one will give you gifts again." Yang Xuan said.
Xu Huizu nodded, and then ordered the butler to go out and collect the gifts.
When he arrived, Yang Xuan stopped the butler and asked him to be more arrogant when accepting the gift, and to show that he was embarrassed to give such a small thing.
In short, the purpose is to make the officials who come to deliver gifts shed more blood.
After all, this is most likely a one-and-done deal.
Yang Xuan understands this deeply.
The butler nodded, smiled and went out to receive the gift.
After a while, the entrance to Wei Guogong's mansion became lively.
And the news that Wei Guogong began to receive gifts quickly spread.
The minds of officials who had been rejected before were once again active.
And this also reached Zhu Di's ears.
His face looked ugly, but considering his wife, he did not call Xu Huizu to the palace immediately, but was prepared to wait and see.
In this way, before the Lantern Festival, people came to the Duke of Wei's mansion every day to give gifts.
When Xu Huizu received the gift, he was shocked at first and then numb later.
These officials are so rich.
Jianwen treated civil servants preferentially, and it seems that these people made a lot of money!
On the last day before the Lantern Festival, Xu Huizu took the compiled list and went to the palace to ask for an audience with Zhu Di.
Xu Huizu's acceptance of the gift was a big deal outside, but Zhu Di issued a hush-hush order in the palace, so it did not reach Xu Miaoyun's ears.
For the sake of his wife, Zhu Di planned to treat Xu Huizu lightly.
Now that he heard Xu Huizu's request to meet him, he also wanted to ask the latter if he liked the gift that others gave him.
Wuying Palace.
"Your Majesty, Xu Huizu, is here to see you!"
Zhu Di did not let Xu Huizu get up, but stared at him for a long time.
"Hui Zu, I have high hopes for you."
"But you disappoint me so much!"
Zhu Di said.
Xu Huizu knew what Zhu Di was talking about.
He then said, "Your Majesty, can you please explain to me?"
"Say it, I'm listening!" Zhu Di said.
Xu Huizu took out several folds from his body and presented them respectfully.
Then he said: "Your Majesty, this is the list of gifts for ministers during the Chinese New Year."
"I haven't touched any of the things. They've all been sealed up."
"Just waiting for His Majesty to send someone to receive it."
This answer was somewhat beyond Zhu Di's expectations, and he stepped forward to take the fold.
Because he had dismissed all the attendants in the palace in advance.
"You get up first!" Zhu Di said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xu Huizu stood up.
Seeing Zhu Di looking at the list, Xu Huizu explained: "I know that today's Ming Dynasty needs money everywhere."
"I also want to do my part for His Majesty."
"Someone just happened to give me a gift."
"I thought, if someone gives you money, it will be in vain if you don't accept it."
"It's just a good time to lend flowers to the Buddha and give them to His Majesty!"
"It also allows the money to be used where it should be used."
After reading the list, Zhu Di felt a surge of anger in his heart.
"Damn these moths!" he said through gritted teeth.
The statistics on the list are very clear. All the gifts combined are worth almost one million taels.
"Huizu, you did a good job, but I misunderstood you." Zhu Di said.
With this list, it will be much easier for him in the future.
"I don't dare. I have accepted the gift after all. Please punish me, Your Majesty!" Xu Huizu said.
"Haha, you are just too humble."
"This is not a big deal, I won't care about it." Zhu Di smiled.
Then another question was asked.
"You gave everything to me, but if these people ask you for help, what will you do?"
…
