Chapter 720: Wave after Wave

After Jiefu and Zeng Gong had a meal at the Yongcheng Marquis' Mansion, they slipped out through the back door with their bulging bellies.

"Are you going to Yunzhou too?"

The two walked all the way to the bustling street market. Perhaps because it was approaching the New Year, merchants from the north and south brought their produce to Kyoto, hoping to make the last money of the year.

Zeng Gong was quiet and gentle, and spoke in a gentle manner: "I will go and take a look for everyone."

Zeng Gong's ancestors were scholars for generations. His grandfather was a Langzhong in the Ministry of Revenue, and his father was a Doctor of the Ministry of Rites.

A few years ago, Zeng Gong's father was transferred to Rugao County, Taizhou Prefecture as a county magistrate, and he and his brother followed him.

Rugao County had a pure academic atmosphere. Hu Yuan, Wang Weixi, Wang Junyi and others all achieved great academic success, and Zeng Gong was also on good terms with them.

Zeng Gong's father, Zeng Yizhan, was a county magistrate and knew how difficult it was to be a good official. Therefore, he was very curious about and admired the Duke of Yun who was able to build Yunzhou into what it is today.

Influenced by his father, Zeng Gong wanted to choose Yunzhou as his first stop when he went out to study, but his good friend Jiefu wanted to come to Kyoto. Coincidentally, his good friend Su Xuanming in Kyoto wrote to invite him, so Zeng Gong went with Jiefu.

Jiefu scratched his head and muttered quietly: "I don't think Xuanming told us the truth. If Duke Yun and Lord Zhu were really so short of money, why did they only set up the Truffle game?"

Selling truffles makes money, but it’s not the most profitable thing.

Zeng Gong asked curiously: "If it were you, how would you make money?"

Jiefu touched his chin, his beard pricked his hand a little: "If it were me, I would definitely cut off a group of nobles."

What kind of skill is it to break bones and suck the marrow from the common people? The wealth of the world is divided into 20:80, and 80% is in the hands of the noble families.

If you want to make money, you have to make money from rich people.

Jiefu and Zeng Gong returned to their residence and rested for a night. They received the invitation early the next morning.

"It's a birthday invitation from Prince Lexiang." Jiefu held the invitation with a frown on his face.

The Prince of Lexiang is the cousin of the current emperor. He has no real position and has never been involved in court affairs.

He was just an unknown scholar, and his good friend Zeng Gong's status was not enough to allow him to attend this birthday banquet.

Zeng Gong opened it and said, "It should be Xuanming's relationship."

Yesterday, the two of them went to visit the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion and did not deliberately hide it from anyone.

Early this morning, they both received the invitation and the birthday party will be the day after tomorrow.

It was obvious that Prince Lexiang knew that the two of them had a friendship with Su Xuanming.

Zeng Gong: "Are you going?"

"Go!" Jiefu's mind was filled with doubts.

I have never heard that Duke Yun and Prince Lexiang are friends.

There is no good banquet, and no one knows what kind of trouble will arise at this birthday party.

However, Su Xuanming didn't give any specific instructions, so it should be fine.

Jiefu and Zeng Gong went to the West Market to think of one or two decent gifts, preferably ones that were cheap and presentable.

The West Market was bustling with people.

After visiting several shops in succession, Jiefu got a piece of news from his conversations with the shopkeepers that the birthday banquet for Prince Lexiang was going to be a grand one.

It is said that Lady Yusheng from Juchun Tower was also invited to perform a dance.

Madam Yu Sheng was famous throughout Kyoto. Her stunning dance on the palm earned her the title of dancing master.

Now, it is extremely difficult to see her.

Jiefu was very excited: "I have heard of Madam Yusheng's great name for a long time, but I have never had the chance to meet her. This time, I can use the help of Prince Lexiang to broaden my horizons. Xuanming has finally done a good thing."

Zeng Gong was not interested in this, and only felt sorry for the money used to buy the gift: "You and Lady Yusheng are not destined to be together, it's all because of you and I spending money."

Jiefu touched his empty purse and said guiltily, "I was born with talents that will be useful. Even if I spend all my money, I will get it back."

"Oh."

Time flies, and soon it is the birthday of King Lexiang.

A wealthy and idle king without any political stance, the civil and military officials still gave him face. Even the Grand Tutor Tong, who didn't like to join in the fun, came.

In order to host this birthday banquet, the entire Lexiang Prince's Mansion was closed to visitors for ten days.

The tall courtyard wall blocks curious views.

Everyone who passed by the Prince's Mansion couldn't help but be curious about what the Prince of Lexiang was doing.

This birthday party is a dinner party.

The gate of the Prince's Mansion was wide open, and the Prince's second son was welcoming guests at the door.

Everyone knew that Prince Lexiang prepared the birthday banquet with great care, but no one expected it to be so elaborate.

Snowflakes are flying, but in the gardens, colored paper and silk cloth are used to create lifelike flowers.

This is not the most important thing.

The most important thing is that the mansion is brightly lit.

"Oh my god. Did the Prince of Lexiang buy all the glass lamps in the Great Zhou?!"

This is simply carving the word "rich" on the face of Prince Lexiang!

“Greetings, Grand Tutor Tong.” The Prince of a County was wearing a silver-white gown. As he moved, the faint patterns on the gown shone brightly. His hair was tied up, only adorned with a jade crown, and his whole body seemed to be glowing.

Jiefu looked at him from a distance and complained secretly, what a pretentious guy!

The Prince of the County looked straight ahead, smiled gently, and led the guests to their seats.

When Master Tong saw the things placed on his desk, his expression almost cracked.

A small three-legged hibiscus stone incense burner is placed in the corner of the table. The incense burner is beautiful, with a peach pink glass texture and a milky white cloud-like texture. The body of the incense burner is made of cloisonné enamel and has grape branches, which is beautiful but not coquettish, and gorgeous but not vulgar.

Fortunately, there were only one or two such incense burners, placed next to Grand Tutor Tong and Lord Li.

As the banquet began, well-trained maids brought a plate of dried fruits.

There is nothing special about dried fruits; what is special is the plate they are placed on.

It was a complete set of glass tableware with gold-painted patterns. The blue plates were painted with gold-painted twined floral patterns. The color was translucent and more dazzling than the finest sapphire.

"Hiss, the Prince of Lexiang is so rich!"

"No, this doesn't look like an imported product!"

"Where did this colored glaze come from?" The craftsmanship of these two sets of colored glaze is comparable to that of the Neizo Palace, but they are not in the palace style.

It is even less like the goods of the Hu merchants. Their colored glass craftsmanship is very impressive, but the style is more complicated and lacks the graceful charm of the Chinese.

The Prince of Lexiang was wearing a brown sushi robe, a tall crown, and sitting on a throne, looking very majestic.

He had a high title and was of a senior generation, so he sat in his chair, too lazy to move. He listened to the surprised voices of the crowd with a smile, feeling quite proud in his heart.

Master Tong looked at the Prince of Lexiang, then at the incense burner, and then at the blue plate. He looked back and forth several times, his eyes full of surprise and suspicion.

Is the Prince of Lexiang getting old and confused? The emperor got really angry about truffles a few days ago, so why should he show off his glass today? !

Is this a provocation?!

After all the dried fruits were served, Madam Yu Sheng, whom everyone had been waiting for, came out masked.

The face of the beautiful girl is slender and graceful, and the light silk is covered with lush golden flowers. She twirls her sleeves like flying snow, and her left and right hands create a whirlwind.

Madam Yu Sheng stepped lightly with her slender feet and stood on the icy white lotus, looking like a lotus fairy come to the world, making everyone fascinated and lost their souls.