jdhmnovel Chapter 178: How much money is there in January and February?
Chapter 178: How much money is there in January and February?
"Your Majesty." Duke Zhou knelt down again: "My humble servant Yunxi has met with misfortune, and must not enter the Dali Temple again." He turned his head and stared at the Prince Zhu who made the suggestion with a bad look: "No matter what, Yunxi once had a relationship with the Prince, and there is no need to kill her even if you don't like her now. Prince Zhu, there is no need to be so vicious."
Zhu Yanxiao ignored him and just stood quietly aside waiting for Emperor Huaisheng to speak.
Young Master Xie Wangan lowered his head, frowning calmly, but laughing in his heart: Weekend Ning knelt twice today, and he couldn't get any benefit from Ziyuan at all.
The other gentlemen are also old foxes in the officialdom. How could they not see that the Duke of Jing'an has offended Prince Zhu and is using an open conspiracy to seduce himself in front of Your Majesty.
Emperor Huai Sheng waved his hand and said, "Lord Zhou, please stand up. I do not approve of your proposal." He then said to Zhu Yanxiao, "Ziyuan, now that this matter has been thoroughly investigated, we have given an explanation to the Duke's Mansion. The murderer is dead, and the case is closed."
In the imperial study, the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. Is this... the end?
"Your Majesty, I beg you to..."
Weekend Ning stepped forward and wanted to say something else, but Emperor Huai Sheng interrupted him, his majesty was unquestionable.
"Lord Zhou, I have already made a decision. This matter cannot be brought up again."
Young Master Xie looked at Zhou Mining and saw that he was shaking his head slightly at Duke Zhou, which seemed imperceptible to him.
"I obey your command." Duke Zhou bowed.
"Ziyuan, you have done a great job in solving this case. What reward do you want?"
"Your Majesty, I do have something I would like to ask for your grace."
"Oh, tell me about it." Emperor Huaisheng raised his eyebrows in surprise. He thought his nephew would refuse, but he didn't expect that he would have a request.
"After thirty days, envoys from the three countries will come. The Empress will hold a chrysanthemum-viewing banquet in the palace to entertain the envoys and their families. This banquet is originally for your Majesty's family, and no outsiders are allowed to attend. I beg your Majesty to allow Ziyuan to attend. Ziyuan is also your Majesty's nephew, so it doesn't break the ancestral rules."
Emperor Huai Sheng was a little confused at first. Why did he want to attend the chrysanthemum viewing banquet? Then he suddenly remembered that he had invited one more person last month, and then he laughed: "Hahaha, I didn't expect Ziyuan to be so infatuated. It's just because the queen invited Miss Shen Er. Ziyuan is so worried about this prince's consort and is watching her so closely."
Emperor Huaisheng smiled sincerely. All clan members and ministers have weaknesses or soft spots, and that is "perfection" for the emperor.
"In that case, the Queen's banquet for Miss Shen II is not considered a family banquet." He looked at the ministers with dignity. Several important ministers listened respectfully to the words of the emperor and said in a good mood: "Today, all the ministers in the Imperial Study should bring their wives and children to attend."
"I obey your command and thank your Majesty for your grace." The ministers bowed.
"Eunuch Liu."
"I'm here," the eunuch in charge of the imperial seal responded hurriedly at the door of the imperial study.
"Inform the Queen that the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet will be changed to a State Banquet after thirty days. Also, inform Lord Yun to bring his wife and children to attend."
"Old slave obeys the order."
The Duke of Yunsheng's Mansion?! Zhu Yanxiao's eyes twitched. This result was the one he disliked the most. For some reason, he had a bad feeling.
"If there is nothing else, please leave." Emperor Huaisheng was in a good mood.
Everyone bowed and said, "I'll take my leave." They retreated to the door of the imperial study and then turned around and walked out. After they separated, the ministers did not say much. They walked to the Meridian Gate and took their own carriages to leave the palace.
Shen Qingming's study in the Anbohou Mansion.
Shen Shenshen was shocked: "Mu Mian'er is the murderer?"
Shen Qingming said with lingering fear: "This is what Master Zhu found out. Does Shen'er know this girl?"
"Father, I don't know her, but I went out to attend Mr. Zhou Si's invitation a few days ago, and I saw Mian'er playing the piano and singing at Jixian Teahouse."
Lord Shen frowned: "Why is Shen'er related to Mr. Zhou Si again?"
"No, no, no, father misunderstood." Shen Shenshen waved his hands hurriedly: "There is no connection. We just had tea together." The key point was that he almost lost his innocence that time.
Looking at his daughter's appearance, Lord Shen saw that she looked more and more like his wife when she was young. Fortunately, she was engaged to Prince Zhu early on, and the prince could protect her. Otherwise, who knows what kind of storm this second daughter's appearance would cause in Dongxiang. Back then, even the late emperor had to step in to calm down the commotion caused by his wife Xu Wenwan in Dongxiang.
"Shen'er, since you're engaged to Prince Zhu, you shouldn't get too close to other men." Shen Qingming advised patiently.
"Don't worry, father. Your daughter understands."
"Well, let's go back to Xiaoyuan. I'll practice calligraphy in the study." Shen Qingming sighed inwardly as he looked at her. He didn't want to provoke a goddess, but those men couldn't resist the temptation of this face. Just like Prince Zhu now, and just like his wife now.
"Father, please rest early. Your daughter will take her leave."
After leaving the study, they called Lu Hen who was guarding the door, and the master and servant walked towards the blue and white garden in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Walking on the cobblestone path, I was lost in thought.
Her father's unintentional words just now awakened Shen Shenshen. It had only been two months or almost three months since she traveled to this time and space, and everything that happened was related to her. She was arranged to move forward step by step, as if an invisible hand was manipulating everything, leaving her nowhere to hide or avoid.
Is there someone behind all this? What is his or her purpose?
Returning to the Qinghua Garden, she entered the boudoir following the rhythmic rustling of the osmanthus trees.
Under the candlelight, a man in a sky-blue robe and a sky-blue headband was about to pour out the hot tea she had prepared on the tea table. Hearing the noise, the man raised his handsome eyes and looked at her, revealing a smile that would make any woman's heart beat fast.
"Coming." The voice was cold but warm.
"Yeah. Ziyuan." Shen Shenshen smiled and sat opposite Zhu Yanxiao.
Zhu Yanxiao frowned.
Shen Shenshen hurriedly explained: "I can't sit next to Ziyuan. I have something important to tell Ziyuan today. If I sit next to him, I can't tell him. Then... then..." Her face turned redder as she spoke, but her voice got lower and lower.
Zhu Yanxiao looked at her suddenly shy look and found her adorable. He smiled dotingly and said, "Okay. Let's listen to Shenshen talk about important things first. Then, I will do more important things with Shenshen."
Shen Shen's face turned even redder, and he glared at him in dissatisfaction. This expression seemed very charming to Zhu Yanxiao. He said with a rolling Adam's apple, "Shen Shen, if you don't want to talk anymore, just do something more important."
"No, no. Making money is more important." Shen Shenshen said hurriedly, "Miss, go to Heyinlou again tomorrow, and it should be ready. When is the best time to open? Can Ziyuan ask Zhang Mingzhu's father to help calculate an auspicious day?"
"Yes." Zhu Yanxiao answered straightforwardly.
"Now that the opening date is set, we need to write an invitation. Shen'er's thin gold script is not very convenient to write. Does Ziyuan have any suggestions?"
"We'll ask Shopkeeper He to write on the auspicious day for the opening. His handwriting is pretty good."
"Shopkeeper He?"
"Yes. He was a scholar in his hometown before he went to the capital to seek a career."
"Xiu...xiucai? Manager He? Him?" Shen Shenshen opened his mouth so wide that an egg could be stuffed in.
"Yes. Scholar."
"Why didn't you continue to take the imperial examination?"
Zhu Yanxiao said calmly, "Shenshen, without power and influence, it is very difficult for him to gain a foothold in the court. He came to the capital to seek refuge with his mentor, but his mentor made a mistake and his entire family was executed. My father saw that he was a talent, so he saved him and gave the Heyin Building to him to manage."
Shen Shen was extremely shocked: "It seems that everyone around Ziyuan has a story."
"People with stories?" Zhu Yanxiao smiled knowingly: "Shenshen is right, they are all people with stories."
"Now that the invitation has been resolved, can Xingyun and Liushui go to deliver it? Other servants can go, but I'm afraid the ladies won't take it seriously. If they don't come on that day, all the preparations Ziyuan and I have made will be in vain."
"Sure. Let Zhixi's maid also send some."
"Ziyuan is really thoughtful." Shen Shen gave him a thumbs up and continued, "Well, can Ziyuan come to Heyinlou tomorrow? We need to confirm the on-site matters with Ziyuan."
"Shenshen, I'm sorry. From now on, I have official duties to attend to during the day."
"Official business?"
"This afternoon, His Majesty issued an order to allow this prince to enter the Inspectorate and serve as the Chief Censor."
"Chief Censor?" Shen Shenshen was confused: "What rank?"
Zhu Yanxiao was puzzled and said, "Fourth rank."
Shen·Money-loving·Shenshen's eyes turned into the shape of copper coins: "How much monthly salary is a fourth-rank official?" This is the key point.
Zhu Yanxiao couldn't help knocking her head: "Money-grubber." But he still said: "Twenty-four shi per month, about eight taels of silver."
"It hurts." She covered her head and said in surprise: "Eight... Eight taels? Only eight taels?"