Under the guidance of the gardener,
The children began to farm.
Originally, the Jia Zhen thought,
After assigning tasks to the children, he should have more time to spend with his wife.
However,
He was a little disappointed, because another uninvited guest came to the door,
The people who came were the maternal families of the princes,
The excuse was that they came to see the children, but their ultimate goal was to win over the Jia family,
To become the princes' help.
The Jia Zhen looked at the gifts sent by the maternal families of the princes,
He put these things together with the gifts brought by the princes before,
He put the gifts of the concubines together and asked the servants to make a gift list,
Looking at the gift list, the Jia Zhen complained in his heart. How did these concubines become His Majesty's concubines,
They didn't know how to read people's expressions at all. The Emperor sent the children over,
He just wanted to cultivate the brotherly love of these children and not let the Crown Prince's tragedy happen again,
Could it be that these concubines really believed the rumors,
The Jia family was helping the Emperor select the Crown Prince.
These people gave gifts,
Of course, Jia Jing knew this very well.
But this matter was caused by the Jia Zhen, so he let the Jia Zhen deal with it. He also knew that the Jia Zhen and the Emperor cooperated to open a shop. If his son could maintain the relationship with the Emperor, as long as he didn't do too much to shock the Emperor, the Jia family could still prosper for decades. For this, the Jia Jing was very gratified.
On the first day of February, Xia Lu went to the court, while the Jia Zhen went to the shop. Today, the Third Princess was holding a poetry conference in her shop, and she had to be present. The Third Princess didn't invite a lot of people, and they were all famous in the capital. Basically, all of them could get a big red sandalwood plate. As for the jade plate, there was only one present today, the Third Princess's sister, the Fifth Princess. The Fifth Princess wasn't as lucky as the Third Princess. At first, she insisted on marrying her maternal cousin, which made the Emperor Emeritus very unhappy. This cousin was not a good person either. Later, the Third Princess went to the Emperor Emeritus and asked him to give the Fifth Princess a Princess Mansion and let her take her son to live in the Princess Mansion.
Under the guidance of the Third Princess, Xia Lu got to know the madams here. The quality of the madams here could be considered to be the best in the capital. They were either the madams of nobles, and their families weren't going downhill, or the madams of powerful officials. Here, it could be considered a proper madam diplomacy.
Xia Lu thought about it. In the original novel, there was basically no mention of the Jia family's mother going out to socialize. The Jia family's mother had experienced the most prosperous period of the Jia family. At that time, the madams who socialized were probably the same. However, later on, the Jia family went downhill. Even if the Jia family's mother went out to socialize again, she probably wouldn't be able to meet those people. Even if she did meet them, her situation was not as good as that group of madams in the past. Presumably, she would be more depressed.
It was understandable. "Countess, don't be busy. Come and sit down," the Third Princess said.
"Yes." Xia Lu came to the Third Princess with a decent smile on her face.
"What do you think of this shop? Are you satisfied? "The Third Princess looked at the other madams.
"It's pretty good, Third Sister. It's hard for you to find such a good shop. Not only is it novel, but it also makes people feel comfortable and relaxed," the Fifth Princess said with a smile. The Third Princess had talked to her a long time ago. Just like in a crosstalk, there had to be a supporting character. At this time, the Fifth Princess was playing the role of supporting character.
"This is the Countess's shop. She lent it to me to entertain you. It officially opened on the 6th of February, so I shamelessly borrowed it to hold this poetry recital. I want to show you how extraordinary this place is," the Third Princess said with a smile.
"Opening on the sixth of February? Then I'll come and support you. This place is very good, "the Fifth Princess said.
"Humph, I'm afraid you won't be able to come. This place requires this kind of sign to come and play. Do you want it?" The Third Princess took out three signs from her bosom. Except for the jade one, the rest were all there.
"You're so particular." The Fifth Princess took the three signs and looked at them in her hand. She said, "Why are these signs different? There's one made of wood, one made of silver, and one made of copper?"
"Guess." The Third Princess was amused.
After the Third Princess finished speaking, the Fifth Princess really pretended to study them. Xia Lu was amused by the Third Princess and the Fifth Princess's acting. If it weren't for the fact that she had to maintain her image, she would have laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. To outsiders, it might not be a big deal, but to her, who knew the inside story, it was very funny.
"Your Highness, is it true that different signs can do different things?" one of the madams asked.
The Third Princess smiled and said, "You're right. If you have a sign made of wood, you can bring people here directly. You can do whatever you want without waiting. Moreover, the people you bring can also apply for a sign made of copper. What about a sign made of silver? When you come here, if you're very busy, you'll have to wait. But you can bring people here to play. Finally, if you have a copper sign, you can only come and play by yourself. You can't bring people here. If you're very busy, you'll have to wait. Of course, the more you spend here, the more you can change your sign. Once you have spent a certain amount of money on this wooden sign, you can't change your sign. But there's another service, which is that you can directly invite the girls here to your residence to serve you. "
The Third Princess and Xia Lu had decided on the price tag after discussing it. After all, the wooden brand couldn't be upgraded anymore. So, after spending so much money, it was important to have a special item. Thus, the Third Princess added the price tag.
"There are so many twists and turns in these tokens." The madam here was amused. Looking at the three tokens in Fifth Princess's hand, she thought, "This place is really good. When there are guests in the future, I can bring them here to play. It's also a very honorable thing. In this case, I must get this wooden token."
Seeing that the madams were deep in thought, the Third Princess said, "Madam Countess, look, we came to support you before you officially opened. Shouldn't you give us some convenience? Just give us one of these plates."
Xia Lu hesitated and said, "Since Your Highness has said so, I won't hide it. Today, all the madams here are guests, so I'll give each of them a sign."
"Countess, thank you very much. I like this wooden sign the most. The carving is very delicate," the Third Princess said.
Xia Lu pretended to be helpless and said, "Okay, then I'll give you a wooden sign."
"Countess, you are so generous. We will come often in the future." The Third Princess smiled, like a fox who had stolen fish. Seeing this scene, the other madams couldn't help but be happy.
"However, before giving it to you, I still have to explain. With these signs, when the madams bring their unmarried daughters here, they can only bring their legal wives. But if they bring married madams, they can only bring their legal wives. Please understand," Xia Lu said.
Hearing Xia Lu's words, the madams were even more satisfied. All the madams present were legal wives. They hated concubines the most. After all, this sign was a sign. If there was a vixen in the family crying to their master and asking her to lend the sign to those little vixens once, no matter how good this place was, she would be disgusted. But now, this place only accepted legal wives. Even if those little vixens used tricks, they couldn't come.
"Countess, don't worry. We are all sensible people. We won't make things difficult for you," the other madams said.
"Thank you for your understanding. I'll get someone to hand the sign to you. For convenience, someone will register your information. So, madams, please take good care of the sign. Don't mix it up with the other madams," Xia Lu reminded.
"Countess, don't worry. We understand." The madams expressed their understanding.
After successfully handing out this batch of signs, Xia Lu and Jun Wuxia looked at each other. Jun Wuxia gave Xia Lu a wink, as if to say that she had done a good job. On the opening day of the sixth day of the New Year, these madams would definitely come to support her. After all, only legal wives could come. This was what it meant to show off one's status as a legal wife. No matter what, it was impossible for these madams not to come just because they only served legal wives.
Xia Lu had thought about it long ago. Although mistresses were legal in this era, she felt that it was awkward. Moreover, when there were more women, there would be more conflicts. In modern times, Xia Lu had seen many cases where the legal wife dressed very plainly, but the mistress wore gold and silver. Seeing the mistress coming to her shop ostentatiously while the legal wife swallowed her anger, even if it was making money, she felt uncomfortable.
Xia Lu had the help of Jun Wuxia and Jun Wuxia, so the progress was quite smooth. As for Jia Zhen, it was not so smooth.
"Why did you take the initiative to ask to see zhen today?" Tu Chen looked at Jia Zhen and continued, "Zhen's son came back yesterday and said a lot of hardships he suffered in your fu. You gave each of them a piece of land and they had to farm by themselves. There was no one else to help them. Zhen's concubine came to find zhen yesterday and said a lot of bad things about you."
"In the future, these princes will all be Wangye and will help the Emperor govern the world. If they don't know how to farm, how can they understand the suffering of the people? If they don't understand the suffering of the people, how can they live and work in peace?" Jia Zhen didn't take the complaint of the concubines to heart. Didn't the Emperor just say that it was the concubines who said bad things about him? But it didn't mean that the Emperor thought so. Although he felt sorry for him, the Emperor should agree in his heart.
"That's right. They will all be Wangye in the future. If they don't understand the suffering of the people, how can they let the people live and work in peace? They are just women in the harem with long hair and short knowledge. I'm afraid that the children will suffer. But they are all boys. It's better for them to suffer more. In the future, the people won't suffer." Tu Chen agreed. Even His Highness the Crown Prince was taken to the Imperial Plantation by his father to do farm work.
Jia Zhen nodded. That was true. Boys had to be beaten up when they were growing up. It was like raising a little girl. How could they do that? Would they be able to shoulder the burden of a family in the future?
"By the way, what did you come to tell me today?" Tu Chen asked. "Nothing.
It's nothing. Just three things. The first is that in the future, when you send the princes to my house, those people who take care of the princes don't have to go. The princes can come alone. After all, those people have so many rewards from the harem. It's too tiring for them. It's not good for you. It's too wasteful. "Jia Zhen joked.
Tu Chen was silent for a while. He thought, Those women in the harem are really restless. He understood what the Jia Zhen meant. Their family had no intention of fighting for favor. The rewards from the concubines were too excessive. "No problem. Zhen thought you didn't want to teach them anymore. Every time they come back, they express a lot of love for you and your wife. "
"Chen also quite likes these princes. Compared with my family's little brat, they are really sensible. My family's little brat is a naughty child who will go up to the roof and tear down the tiles if he is not beaten for three days. He is especially noisy. Now that there are four stable princes with him, this humble subject feels that it is quite good." Jia Zhen said in his heart: I am just a little worried that these four obedient princes will be influenced by my family's little brat and also go up to the roof and tear down the tiles.
"Then you have to be careful. Maybe my child will be influenced by your three children and also become troublemakers." Tu Chen didn't forget to add salt to the wound.
Jia Zhen wanted to roll his eyes. He continued, "The second thing is, this official is really busy recently. I have to review my homework. This year, this official has to take the imperial examination, teach the three little brats, and be responsible for the opening of the shop. Can you not let those ministers come to visit? This official has to be present every time they come to visit. It's very time-consuming to deal with these people."
Tu Chen was stunned. His gaze turned cold, and then he smiled and said, "Don't worry, there won't be a next time."
"The last thing is, when will the money and people for the shop be received? Can you let the Ministry of Revenue lower the price of buying the land? After all, you also have a stake in it. "Jia Zhen went to take a look at Xiaolan Village. The land was not far from the hot spring palace of the previous dynasty. There was a mountain there. When the time came, people who came to play could also go up the mountain to hunt. There was also a hot spring at the top of the mountain. After a little renovation, one could soak in the hot spring at the top of the mountain and look at the scenery below.
The price of buying two thousand mu of flat land and a mountain was estimated to be ten taels of silver per mu. This was based on the lowest quality paddy field. Buying it would cost twenty thousand taels of silver. Then there was the mountain. The mountain was quite big and tall. The previous dynasty used the mountain as a hunting ground. All the land bought was estimated to be no less than seventy to eighty thousand taels of silver. Seventy to eighty thousand taels of silver was actually not bad. The key was that the later construction needed sufficient funds, so every bit of money saved was a bit.
Jia Zhen also sent people to check out the place that he liked. It was indeed good. The hot spring nearby was not bad, and it was also close to the mountain. It was indeed a good place to hunt. "How about this, I will mention it to the Minister of Revenue. Didn't you take the initiative to return the money before? The Minister of Revenue has an appointment with him. He will do his best to help you. As for the other things, let's wait first. "
"Yes," Jia Zhen said in his heart. Since he wanted to wait, it would be best to wait until after the imperial examinations. However, after the imperial examinations, he would have even less time. At that time, he would have to prepare for the Metropolitan Examinations in February next year. The last one was the Palace Examinations. After the Palace Examinations, he would have to enter the Imperial Court as an official. Where would he find the time? "Then you'd better hurry. While I still have some time now, I can first come up with the plan and then find someone to take care of it. After I start the imperial examinations, I will really have no time."
"We understand." Tu Chen was also helpless. Although he had already seen the money rolling in, the initial investment was indeed a big problem. His private stash really wasn't abundant. Most of it was just some rare treasures.
"Since I've finished speaking, I'll take my leave first." Now that the matter had been resolved, he had to slip away. Tomorrow, he would make a trip to the Ministry of Revenue to establish a relationship with the Minister of Revenue. Right now, the most important thing for him was to bring his wife back.
"Go." Tu Chen let her go. What he wanted to know the most right now was where to get the money. Tu Chen looked at the emperor emeritus.
"Zhang Sheng, come with me to greet the emperor emeritus." He didn't have money, but his imperial father did. When the emperor emeritus had conquered the world, he had stolen a lot of treasure and given some away. Later, he had given all of it to his imperial father. After all, the emperor emeritus only had one son. When his imperial father was on the throne, the world was peaceful. Although there were many troublesome things, at least he wasn't as passive as he was. His imperial father's private treasury was probably not full of silver. Thinking of this, Tu Chen wanted to go live off his father.
"Emperor Emeritus, His Imperial Majesty is here," Zhu Lin said.
"Why is he here now? He came at the right time. Let him in for a game of chess," the emperor emeritus said.
"Yes." Zhu Lin went out and called Tu Chen in.
"Greetings to Imperial Father." Tu Chen knelt down when he saw the emperor emeritus.
"Rise and sit. You came at the right time. Let's play a game of chess." The chessboard was already set. They were just waiting for the emperor to sit down.
Tu Chen said yes and stood up. When he saw Grand Concubine Zhen beside the emperor emeritus, he asked, "Imperial Concubine Zhen is also here?" Tu Chen nodded at Grand Concubine Zhen as a greeting. After all, he was the emperor now. He didn't need to pay respects to Grand Concubine Zhen anymore. Tu Chen looked at Grand Concubine Zhen and thought that this woman was quite capable. After so many years, she still managed to win his imperial father's favor. Because of Duke Rongguo's death, his imperial father had neglected Grand Concubine Zhen and her son for a long time. Who would have thought that he would summon Grand Concubine Zhen to serve him again?
"I heard from the empress emeritus yesterday that Emperor Emeritus woke up early and coughed twice. His old illness must have flared up again. Emperor Emeritus doesn't like to take medicine, so I made some rock candy and pear water and brought it over," Grand Concubine Zhen said softly.
"Alright, you've been busy for so long just for a bowl of sugar water. Go back and rest first. I'll play two games with the emperor. I'll go to your place tomorrow," the emperor emeritus said.
"Yes, then this concubine will take her leave first." Grand Concubine Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, her efforts during this period of time had paid off. Although the emperor emeritus still blamed Little Six for the death of the Jia Daishan, she understood him better. How could those young girls compare to her? What the emperor emeritus liked to eat, what he liked to wear, and what his habits were when he was angry. She knew all of this very well.
"Mm, go ahead." The emperor emeritus and the emperor emeritus had already started playing chess.
"Imperial Concubine Zhen is different from before." The emperor put down a black piece and said.
"Hmph, she just felt a sense of crisis. Don't worry about her. She's just a woman." The emperor emeritus admitted that it was quite easy to be with this woman. She could tell what he liked and didn't like at a glance. She wasn't like those young girls who were delicate but hard to coax. Moreover, they didn't know their limits.
Just a woman? He didn't dare to look down on this woman. Now that Grand Concubine Zhen had regained the emperor's favor, it was likely that Zhongshun would come out soon. It seemed that the court would soon be restless again.
"I heard from your Imperial Mother that the mother of those children went to her yesterday to complain tearfully. She said that the children went to Ningguo Province to farm. They are all of noble birth and are still so young, but they have to do such a thing. It seems that there isn't a single part of their hands that is unharmed when they come back," the emperor emeritus said.
"Harem women have long hair and short knowledge. Today, the Jia Zhen entered the palace. He said that the children will all be princes in the future. If they don't understand the suffering of the people, how can they make the people live and work in peace and contentment? If they want to wear the crown, they must bear the weight. If they want to enjoy the glory, they must bear the pain. As members of the imperial family, they will have to lead the country in the future. If they don't suffer a little now, how can they lead the country in the future?" Tu Chen said firmly.
"The Jia Zhen is right. Harem women, forget it. It's your own business anyway. Don't let those ignorant women interfere," the emperor emeritus said.
"Imperial Father, don't worry. This son will take care of it," Tu Chen said.
"That's good." The emperor emeritus nodded. He thought of the crown prince again. If it was the crown prince, what would happen today?
"Imperial Father, this son came today for another matter." Tu Chen was a bit embarrassed.
"What is it?" The emperor emeritus played chess absentmindedly.
"This son and the Jia Zhen want to open a shop together …" Tu Chen told the emperor everything about the shop.
"This shop is not bad. Is it already open?" After all, the Retired Emperor had been the Emperor for so many years. He knew that after the shop was opened, all the shops in the capital, except for the brothels, would be snatched up. The land in Xiaolan Village would also be in high demand because of this shop. Now, the land near Yunxi Terrace and the Hot Spring Palace was worth thousands of gold taels.
"Not yet. Isn't this son embarrassed that this son is short of money?" Tu Chen was a bit embarrassed. After all, as the ruler of a country, it was really embarrassing to have to borrow money from his father.
The Retired Emperor glared at the Emperor. He didn't have the concept of competing with the people. The shops opened by the Emperor were just snatching the business of those shops that ate, drank, and played. They didn't snatch the proper business. The shops that had the Emperor's participation were better for those second generations. At least, they wouldn't secretly have crooked thoughts. After all, the Emperor also needed money. He couldn't use the money in the national treasury. "Useless."
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