Chapter 1641: Chapter 1641: Grinding Teeth
Hou Residence, Zhulan received the invitation handed over by Qi Clan, "Your family is hosting a flower banquet, how come you delivered the invitation personally?"
"I have nothing to do while staying at home and haven’t seen you for a while, so I decided to come personally."
Zhulan pointed at the invitation, "Why suddenly hold a flower banquet?"
Qi Clan smiled, "Isn’t it because Princess Zhenyue is getting married, the Princess has only seen her future prince consort once, Consort Ran wants the Princess to know him better, so there’s the flower banquet."
Zhulan’s eyes lit up, "Then I must attend personally."
Qi Clan was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "Alright."
Afterward, Zhulan shared her experiences at sea with Qi Clan, envy showing in Qi Clan’s eyes; her husband would never take her on trips, married to him for years, she always stayed in the confines of the back courtyard.
In the afternoon at the Palace, Zhou Shuren brought the organized account books into the government hall and met Gu Sheng.
With official matters to discuss, Gu Sheng stepped back, and the Emperor took the account books, "Marquis Zhou, you’ve worked hard."
Zhou Shuren, "Not hard at all, I also want to conclude quickly. This is organized, please have a look, Emperor."
The Emperor’s aura was very oppressive, though he showed no anger, the more it was thus, the more terrifying it was. The Emperor touched the account books, "Good, very good."
Zhou Shuren, "Emperor, don’t let this upset your health."
The Emperor was furious. How he valued the Navy; over the years, anything they wanted, they got. And the result?
The Emperor pressed down his anger, "I await the end of family confiscations to settle accounts together."
Zhou Shuren coughed, "This time the treasury has money."
Indeed, after tallying the total accounts, the officials who accepted bribes amounted to a staggering amount of over a million Silver Coins, quite a substantial sum.
The Emperor’s heart was moved, "I think."
Zhou Shuren hastily interrupted, "No, you don’t think."
The Emperor glared in anger, "I haven’t yet said how to arrange the million taels of Silver."
Zhou Shuren remained unmoved, "You don’t want to arrange."
The Emperor chuckled in anger, "With Silver at your command, using it is quite a struggle."
Zhou Shuren, "Without my meticulous calculations, the Emperor would’ve long been worried about Silver."
Emperor, "..."
The monarch and minister argued over Silver, their voices reaching outside the study room. Gu Sheng glanced at the composed eunuch Zhang Gonggong, who sensed but didn’t explain; the attendants serving the government hall were long accustomed.
It was Gu Sheng’s first summons to the Palace by the Emperor, excited and open-minded. The Emperor tested him, this close proximity was a first, also a first witnessing the Emperor’s attitude towards Marquis Zhou.
Listen, the Emperor laughed aloud. Even on a day with awful moods, faced with Marquis Zhou, despite his obstinacy, the Emperor never grew angry, instead brightening in spirits.
Eunuch Zhang also heard the laughter and visibly relaxed, the attendants of the government hall suffering these recent days. The Emperor was not one to punish thoughtlessly, yet they feared his presence.
An hour later, Zhou Shuren left the government hall, with the Emperor also permitting Gu Sheng to depart together.
Zhou Shuren sensed Gu Sheng’s tension, hands behind his back, "Are you afraid of this Marquis?"
The initially silent walk was interrupted suddenly, a startling voice for tense Gu Sheng. Upon realizing, he said: "Not afraid, I have reverence for Marquis Zhou."
Zhou Shuren halted, scrutinizing Gu Sheng, indeed handsome. Thinking of his past, forget it, after all these years, his sense of his own looks had blurred, thinking on the modern age, Zhou Shuren lost the will for conversation.
Gu Sheng was somewhat puzzled, seeing Marquis Zhou stride away, his concerns rose, assuming he upset Marquis Zhou somewhere, yet unable to discern how.
Outside the Palace gates, Zhou Shuren spoke before boarding the Ministry of Revenue’s carriage, "Listen more, speak less; work earnestly."
Gu Sheng watched the Ministry of Revenue’s carriage depart, his lips curled; Marquis Zhou advised him.
Time flew, the crackdown on families was grand, carriage after carriage hauled Silver into the treasury. Corrupt officials wouldn’t save silver notes; they even exchanged bribed silver notes for Silver to store, making the spectacle of Silver quite striking.
With counting concluded, the Ministry of Revenue registered everything, the Emperor’s decree arrived. In the capital, cleaning the bloodstains from beheadings took ages without full removal, evident by the number of heads.
Family members were exiled, the capital’s officials became as silent as chickens, not daring to breathe heavily; since ascending the throne, this was the Emperor’s first such severe action.
That day, the Ministry of Revenue handled antique paintings, Zhulan was interested in paintings, this batch comprised treasures, auctioned off.
The day arrived, Zhulan brought Yu Die and Yu Wen along. At the venue, Zhulan immediately saw Chang Xhong and the fourth Prince.
Zhulan asked, "Do you have Silver to participate in the auction?"
Chang Xhong fancied treasures truly, yet lamented over inadequate Silver, "Son is accompanying the fourth Prince."
The fourth Prince touched his purse sorrowfully, a smile directed at An He, "Cousin."
Yu Wen, "...No Silver."
Regret filled the fourth Prince’s eyes; last time crying ’cousin’ gained him a painting for free. Alas, why wasn’t Magistrate An He his real sister!
Quite a crowd gathered today; the Ministry of Revenue had professionals appraise; each antique and painting explained very clearly, their purpose simple, high bidder wins.
Of course, sometimes status mattered; for instance, once the Wens’ eldest son spoke, those unwilling to offend the Wens would drop out from bidding, and sometimes it’s all a matter of compromise, leaving this round for the next withdrawal.
Truly none were reckless to bid blindly for dead items, even with familial feuds, no disruption of prices occurred, unless wishing not to stay longer in the capital.
Indeed, the Ministry of Revenue’s auction involvement mattered; who didn’t know the Crown Prince studied there, causing embarrassment should the Emperor hear.
Zhulan acquired an ancient book for Shuren, a painting for herself then stopped.
Suddenly Yu Wen spoke up, "One thousand taels."
Zhulan was surprised, "Do you like this painting?"
Yu Wen had a title; she wasn’t just a young lady of the Hou Residence; even young, Yu Wen’s actions felt right, after she bid, Li Family’s eldest son liked it, adding price, Yu Wen added once more, making Li eldest son quit; finally one thousand one hundred taels for the painting.
Yu Wen secured the painting, "Granddaughter likes it."
Zhulan chuckled inwardly, then witnessed her granddaughter acquire one more piece, Yu Wen was restrained, stopping at two, others noting that Magistrate An He had Silver, without attracting much more attention.
The fourth Prince got what he wanted, tugged at Chang Xhong’s sleeve, "An He indeed has Silver."
Look at An He’s casual tone, as if the spending wasn’t two thousand five hundred taels!
Chang Xhong was speechless, "You’re a Prince, act grander."
The fourth Prince pinched his empty purse, "No Silver in hand, how to be grand?"
Chang Xhong, "!!"
Such penny-pinching, the Emperor’s legitimate second son wouldn’t lack Silver this exaggerated!
Zhulan didn’t stay long, taking her granddaughter out. By chance, she met the fourth one, "Why have you come?"
Chang Zhi, "I came to see what mother bids on."
Zhulan mentioned her purchases and added Yu Wen got two paintings, Chang Zhi probed, "Daughter bid for father?"
Yu Wen, "One painting for father."
Chang Zhi gritted his teeth, "..."