Wang Shouren is rebellious and eclectic, but he can't escape the limitations of the times.
The emperor of Ming Dynasty, who can take it calmly?
That was Wang Shouren. If it had been anyone else, he would have fled long ago.
Sharing a ride with the Emperor wouldn't be stressful.
"We're entering the city soon, there's no need to change." Li Qing's voice came from outside, "Just prepare the money, I'm going to have a lot of fun."
"……All right."
Wang Shouren touched his increasingly shriveled luggage and felt a little worried. Based on this method, he might not have enough money to buy a betrothal gift when he arrived in Nanchang.
'I am quite wealthy...'
Thinking of his grand words back then, Wang Shouren wanted to slap himself and both of them for their big mouths. Why are you bragging for nothing?
At this time, Zhu Jianshen slowly opened his eyes and said, "Wang Shouren."
"My lord... ah no, the common people are here." Wang Shouren came back to his senses, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty... what are your orders?"
"Don't be nervous, I'm just for fun this time, just think of me as a rich man." Zhu Jianshen smiled and waved his hand, "I heard that your ambition is to be a sage?"
This big mouth...Wang Shouren said sarcastically: "Saints are human beings too."
"You have ambitions," Zhu Jian said with deep praise, and then asked, "What happens after you become a saint?"
"This..." Wang Shouren scratched his head, "I haven't thought about it yet."
"There's no need to think about it. I must serve the imperial court..." Zhu Jianshen was bored and began to recruit talents for the imperial court.
He didn't think Wang Shouren could be a sage. Not everyone could be a sage, otherwise, the sage would have been as cheap as cabbage.
However, after getting along with him these days, he had a certain understanding of this young man. Although he was young, he had a lot of knowledge about classics, history, art of war, Confucianism, and Buddhism. He did not follow the crowd and had his own opinions.
There is no doubt that this is a talent!
In Zhu Jianshen's opinion, Wang Shouren was at least as talented as Wang Hua. He would naturally like such a person.
At Shenshi, the carriage creaked and creaked, and Barabala, accompanied by Zhu Jianshen, finally entered the city...
Now, it's October.
After entering winter, the temperature is getting lower and lower, but now in Hangzhou, it is not too cold for Wang Shouren, especially Zhu Jianshen, who grew up in the capital.
After getting off the carriage, the three of them settled in a luxurious inn.
"Is it better to stay in a hotel?" The waiter greeted me enthusiastically.
The three of them were luxuriously dressed and had an extraordinary temperament. They looked like they were from wealthy families.
Li Qing waved his hand: "Stay in the hotel, come to a private room first, serve all your signature dishes, and bring some jars of the best wine, and boil the bath water first... I have plenty of money."
This appearance of a nouveau riche made the man happy and made Wang Shouren sad.
In less than a month, nearly a thousand taels have been spent. Who can withstand this?
The Wang family was well off, but not rich. His father gave him a total of three thousand taels, of which two thousand five hundred taels were budgeted for betrothal gifts, not his travel expenses.
I have just arrived in Hangzhou, and it is still far away from Nanchang. I have only been working for a thousand taels. If I continue like this, will I still have a lousy wife?
"Ahem, um..." Wang Shouren tugged on Li Qing's sleeve and whispered: "Sir, didn't you say you want to go to Aurous Hill?"
"Ang, what's wrong?"
"In this case, we won't be able to go to Nanchang before the New Year, and we have to celebrate the New Year..." Wang Shouren said sarcastically, "Do we have to total the expenses?"
Li Qing said in surprise: "Aren't you quite wealthy?"
I am quite wealthy, but I never knew you could spend money so much... Wang Shouren cleared his throat and said, "Diligence and frugality are virtues... Okay, I admit, I was bragging before, and my family wealth is also Just average.”
"Is that so..." Li Qing looked embarrassed, "I'm fine, but I can't let him suffer, right?"
Wang Shouren was startled for a moment, gritted his teeth, nodded and said, "Then don't worry."
He was willing to give up, and no one could suffer the king's father. Come to think of it, his father could understand.
The worst thing is, the betrothal gift is a bit shabby, we can just make up for it later...
Jiangnan cuisine is exquisite and delicious, but the portions are not incomparable with those in the north. Moreover, the prices in Hangzhou City are not at all lower than those in the capital, or even slightly higher.
A table of dishes plus Shaoxing's daughter's red cost fifty taels of silver, not including accommodation...
Li Qing and Zhu Jianshen ate and drank happily, and Wang Shouren also ate and drank happily, but after feeling happy, they felt distressed.
No, Li Qing still wants to have fun.
Early the next morning, he proposed to go swimming in the West Lake.
Zhu Jianshen is naturally good at everything. He just comes out to play. If he doesn't play, the point of coming out will be gone.
"Walk."
"Wait a minute." Wang Shouren felt dizzy, "Well, it's winter now, and there's nothing interesting in the West Lake. It's very cold. If you catch a cold... it's better not to go."
"Don't worry, I'm here." Li Qing patted his chest and promised, "You won't catch a cold."
Wang Shouren: "..."
He felt that... his money was not enough to get him to Nanchang.
~
West Lake is deserted in winter.
On the lake, except for Li Qing's small boat, there was nothing else.
In the cabin, there was a stove burning, a hot pot on the stove, two full food boxes of fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, and a good daughter's red wine beside it... It was simply not too enjoyable.
Today is a sunny day. Under the refraction of the sun, the lake water is sparkling. Although we have missed the best time to visit the West Lake, it has a unique taste.
The sky is blue, the lake is clear, and the scenery is really beautiful...
After eating and drinking for a while, the three of them felt warm and went out of the cabin to enjoy the scenery of the West Lake.
Zhu Jianshen was sitting on the bow of the boat. As far as he could see, it was vast and empty. It was no longer the palace with palaces everywhere.
The ultimate broadening of his field of vision made his heart broaden, making him feel happy and light-hearted.
"There is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. I am not deceiving you! In such a season, there is still such scenery. How happy would it be to go boating and pick lotus flowers in spring and autumn?" Zhu Jianshen sighed softly: "I have been doing this for more than twenty years. It is a pity that the emperor, who is young, has never experienced the great rivers and mountains..."
At the age of 40, it was his first time to come to Jiangnan. Only now did he realize how beautiful the Ming Dynasty was...
Li Qing smiled and said: "There are many good places. This time, we have had enough fun. There is nothing to regret. We will come back to enjoy them in the spring and autumn."
"Well, okay!" Zhu Jianshen laughed heartily.
I stayed in Hangzhou for more than half a month, spending thousands of taels on accommodation, renting a boat, and eating and drinking every day.
Wang Shouren is all numb. Looking at the situation, let alone going to Nanchang, all the money will be spent before the Chinese New Year.
Li Qing is simply a spendthrift!
~
At the beginning of winter, the three of them came to Jinling.
At this time, Wang Shouren only had seven 100-tael silver notes left.
It's no longer possible. We can't do anything without a showdown... Wang Shouren looked serious and said to Li Qing, "Sir, I only have seven hundred taels left. We can't spend any more money."
"It doesn't matter, money won't be a problem when we get to Jinling." Li Qing patted his chest and said, "I have quite a lot of money, and we can't spend it all."
Hearing this, Wang Shouren breathed a sigh of relief and asked in surprise: "Are you from Jinling?"
"Isn't it similar?"
"Not really," Wang Shouren shook his head, "When I was in the capital before, seeing how resistant you were to freezing, I thought you were a native of the capital." gòйЪ.ōΓg
"There's nothing wrong with me. I just have good health and can withstand frostbite." Li Qing smiled and then said, "Now that you're here, I'll take care of the rest of the expenses."
"What are you two muttering about?" Zhu Jianshen came over.
"It's nothing," Li Qing asked with a smile, "You're already here, how many days will you stay at the house?"
Zhu Jianshen pondered for a while, then nodded and said, "It's not impossible."
His sister still lives in the Yongqing Marquis Mansion. It would be unreasonable for him not to go and take a look when he comes to Jinling.
"Okay, let's go then..."
~
Looking at the four gilded characters 'Yongqinghou Mansion' on the door plaque, Wang Shouren was shocked:
"Are you a descendant of Marquis Yongqing?"
The name of Marquis Yongqing is still very famous. Although Wang Shouren is not an official, his father, who is dedicated to pursuing an official career, is very familiar with it. He often mentions and talks about Marquis Yongqing's deeds.
In conjunction, Wang Shouren also had a certain understanding of Marquis Yongqing.
Wang Shouren never expected that the money-spending demon in front of him was...hiss, that's not right!
He suddenly realized that something was wrong. Marquis Yongqing was also called Li Qing. How could a junior have the same name as an elder?
"Uh..." Li Qing ignored this and said: "I just have a close relationship with the godson of Marquis Yongqing, and he happens to have the same name as Marquis Yongqing."
"Is that so..." Wang Shouren was doubtful, but did not doubt Li Qing's true identity.
Don't blame him for being stupid, no one else would have been able to connect the two Li Qing together.
'Dang-dang-dang...' Li Qing knocked on the door. After a moment, the boy opened the door, "Who are you...?"
"We are looking for Mrs. Li." Li Qing said, "My surname is Li...well, I have an old relationship with Mrs. Li."
Li Hong was away from home all year round, and he only had Zhu Wanqing as his head wife, so there were not many servants in the house. After Zhu Wanqing took over, for the sake of safety, she would change the servants every time Uncle Li came back.
Seeing that the three of them were all of extraordinary temperament, the boy said, "Wait a moment." Then he turned around and reported.
Not long after, Zhu Wanqing came with the boy.
When she saw Li Qing, she was overjoyed at first, and then found that the emperor's eldest brother was also following him. She was immediately shocked. As for Wang Shouren, she didn't pay much attention.
"Big, big..."
"Aren't you going to invite us in?" Zhu Jianshen said with a smile.
"Please, please, please come in quickly." Zhu Wanqing was a little excited, and quickly invited the three of them into the house, and said to the boy on the side, "Go and tell the butler to prepare sumptuous dishes."
"Yes, Madam." Seeing that Madam valued her guests so much, the young man did not dare to neglect and got busy.
Both relatives came, Zhu Wanqing was very happy, and whispered: "Uncle Li, how can you..."
Suddenly she realized there was Wang Shouren beside her, so she changed her words and said, "Why did you invite the emperor here too?"
"not welcome?"
"In that case, it's not too late for my niece to be happy."
Wang Shouren had met Zhu Wanqing, but he always felt strange. These three people...
There seems to be an unknown but very close relationship.
