"Lord Liu, what's … wrong?"
Li Yi looked at the bump on County Magistrate Liu's forehead and asked in surprise.
Of course, Liu Dayou couldn't say that he bumped into it when he was dozing off. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I accidentally bumped into it …"
If he bumped into it accidentally, there would be no reason to be embarrassed. When Li Yi was in Qing 'an Prefecture, he heard that Lord Liu and his concubine had a lot of fun in the bedroom. He might have hurt himself by playing some new tricks last night. He looked at him strangely and said, "Although you're having fun, Lord Liu, you have to be careful …"
MIngzhu looked at them and asked, "What are you talking about?"
County Magistrate Liu was also puzzled, but he didn't continue on this topic. He raised his head and asked, "What can I do for Your Highness and Marquis?"
Li Yi was not used to his words. He waved his hand and said, "We're old friends. You don't have to be so polite, County Magistrate Liu."
How could he, Liu Dayou, be friends with the emperor's close officials and the princess? County Magistrate Liu was nervous, but he couldn't help but feel happy.
Although the Eldest Princess was a woman, she wielded more authority than any of the princes. She was also an influential figure in the royal court. As for County Marquis Li, he was able to influence the political situation. To a certain extent, it could be said that he was able to rise from an insignificant county magistrate of Anxi to a magistrate of the capital.
Li Yi didn't say much to him. He took a sip of tea and asked directly, "How many rich merchants do you know in the capital?"
"Rich merchants?" Although he didn't know why Li Yi asked this question, County Magistrate Liu answered honestly, "Although I haven't been in the capital for long, I know many famous country gentlemen and rich merchants near the capital."
With many years of experience as a county magistrate, Liu Dayou knew clearly that if he wanted to make achievements in his jurisdiction, he had to build a good relationship with the local tyrants first.
The capital was different from Anxi County. There were too many local tyrants here, and all of them were pythons. He couldn't get close to those high-ranking officials and nobles, but he had gotten to know quite a few of the smaller tycoons and magnates over the past year.
"That's easy." Li Yi nodded, looked at County Magistrate Liu and said, "There's something I need to ask Lord Liu to do. I'll be very busy these days …"
County Magistrate Liu smiled and said, "It's my honor to work for Marquis and Her Highness."
He had been with Li Yi for a long time, so he wouldn't refuse these things.
After a while, County Magistrate Liu paced back and forth in the county government office alone, his face full of excitement.
If the Marquis and the Princess had any good things, they would always think of him first. If this matter was completed, how great a merit would it be?
If this went on, he, Li, Princess Yi, Magistrate Dayou, Li, and MIngzhu, MIngzhu, Li, Li, Yi, and asked.
Li Li Li Magistrate Yi with his hands., and said, Magistrate Li, "Yi. Li, Li, Li Magistrate Dayou." Lu, Li, Yi, Li, "
Li Yi put his hands behind his head and said lazily, "How can I know if I don't try?"
Li Yi had no way of explaining this to her. He was also using the experiences of his predecessors to do things. History was always shockingly similar. Many things would not change with the passage of time. Some principles were applicable to the entire universe.
Li MIngzhu looked at him. "What are we going to do now?"
"Go home for dinner."
Li Yi stretched himself. "Shouning is also here. Do you want to join us?"
…
What happened in the court had always been the focus of the insightful people in the capital.
And the establishment of the academy was not limited to these insightful people. Because it was closely related to the common people, more people participated in it.
They were always paying attention to the progress of this matter.
Among them, there were many powerful people who could get the news from the Ministry of Rites.
For example, which officials donated money, how much they donated, who was stingy, and why the officials of the Ministry of Rites were refused at the door, and so on. It was very detailed …
Of course, there would occasionally be some messy things mixed in with this information.
For example, an official from the Ministry of Revenue only donated 100 taels of silver to the academy. His son spent a lot of money on the top girl of a brothel that night …
Another deputy director of the Ministry of Works who donated 50 taels of silver married a concubine the day before yesterday. He held a banquet at home. It was said that the food and wine ordered from Drunken Moon Restaurant cost 100 taels of silver per table. Even if he only ordered 20 tables, it would still cost more than 1,000 taels of silver.
Not to mention the fact that his concubine was a famous courtesan in the capital. The amount of money used to redeem her was clearly marked. The strings of numbers were written there, causing many people to suck in a breath of cold air when they saw it …
Another example was a stingy official who refused the people of the Ministry of Rites outside the door. He spent thousands of taels of silver to buy a precious painting and took turns to invite friends to admire it …
Thus, people discovered some things.
There was money for prostitution, money for taking concubines, money for buying paintings, money for treating people to meals, but no money for donating money to the academy.
In this day and age, there was no such thing as moral blackmail. Some people only felt that these officials were a bit rich and heartless. However, they did not violate the law, so others did not have the right to criticize them.
However, this kind of knowledgeable people was, after all, a minority. In this world, most people were ordinary people who had not been educated and only had a shallow sense of right and wrong.
Rich people only cared about their own pleasures and did not care about the lives of the common people. Officials who did not make decisions for the people deserved to be scolded!
Of course, they did not dare to scold them openly. No one knew how much spittle they secretly spat at those rich and powerful families.
In a private room of a teahouse in the capital.
An elegant middle-aged man looked at the man opposite him and said with a smile, "Sir Wu, that concubine of yours is famous in the capital for her skills in bed. Can your body withstand it?"
"Sir Wei does not need to worry about this matter." The man who was drinking tea glanced at him and said, "Your son is willing to spend a thousand taels of gold for a prostitute. This kind of demeanor is probably comparable to that of Sir Wei in the past."
The elegant middle-aged man waved his hand and said, "I have already taught that unfilial son a lesson. A thousand taels of silver is a pity. Add another two thousand taels and you can buy that mountain dwelling painting of Yan Gong. Don't you think so, Sir Qi?"
A man next to him glanced at him and said lightly, "You don't have to be cynical. I am willing to spend three thousand taels of silver to buy a painting than to donate thirty taels of silver to them. There is no law in the Jing Kingdom that states that I must donate …"
The elegant middle-aged man sighed and said, "But the people outside don't think so …"
Because of these things, the reputation of the people present was somewhat affected. As officials, they cherished their reputation very much. They gathered today because of the events that happened in the past two days.
"Hmph, just a bunch of stupid people!" Sir Wu snorted and said, "When this matter is over, no one will talk about it anymore. I want to see how long she can hold on without money!"
Even on such an occasion, he still did not dare to call her name directly.
"She is still a woman after all …"
"She is going against all the aristocratic families. Even His Majesty …"
"Haha, let's just wait and see. It should be soon. If she can't raise the money, this matter can only be put aside. Let's see how she will explain to His Majesty and the officials!"
Laughter could be heard from the crowd, and the slightly tense atmosphere finally relaxed.
"Tell your master." A street away from the teahouse, County Magistrate Liu looked at the inquiring servant and said with a smile, "Tell him that the capital magistrate Liu Dayou has come to visit."
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