Chapter 317 318. One tael of silver
Jin Qianqian just came back from outside the mansion, and Qingmei took out today's invitation, "Here is the invitation sent by the Minister of War's Mansion this morning, it's for the baby's full moon banquet.
There is also the flower-viewing banquet hosted by General Deng’s wife, and the first birthday banquet for the second daughter of the Minister of Justice…”
Jin Qianqian rubbed her head with a headache. These banquets were held one after another, and each of them was of great importance, making it difficult to refuse.
"Oh, right," Qingmei took out another visiting card from her bosom, "Grandma Xu sent a visiting card, and it seems that there is news about Zhuangzi."
Jin Qianqian then reached out and took the invitation. She finally heard different news in the middle of the banquet, and it was what she had been thinking about.
"Send someone to reply and ask them to come in the afternoon. I am only free in the afternoon these days." In order to attend these banquets, Jin Qianqian has repeatedly shortened the time she spends with her children.
Qingmei nodded in agreement and turned around to go out to discuss with Aunt Ou how to deal with the matter.
Jin Qianqian knew that Qingmei had no intention of redeeming herself and returning home, so she promised to help manage the backyard after Qingmei got married. Qingmei has begun to slowly adapt.
However, since arriving in the capital, Jin Qianqian had been constantly invited to banquets of all sizes, and she had never found an opportunity to settle the lifelong affairs of the maids.
Thinking about the increasing number of people in the mansion, and the orphans that Gu Wenheng had brought in before were also growing up slowly. If I were to do these things myself, I would be exhausted.
When she met Madam Duan and Madam Ou, Jin Qianqian told them all her thoughts, "If you have time, please help to mediate. Then, Madam, I will give them a dowry."
The two maids naturally agreed and then began to talk about other miscellaneous matters in the mansion.
Gu Wenheng once again declined his colleague's invitation to drink, packed up his things and prepared to go home.
When he reached the door, Gong Zhengping called him back, "Wenheng, come with me to the palace to see the emperor."
Gu Wenheng did not ask any more questions. He turned around and gave Mingfeng a few instructions, then quietly followed Scholar Gong.
"Aren't you curious?" Gong Zhengping looked sideways at him. This young man was too calm. If it were anyone else, they would have shown excitement on their faces at this time.
Gu Wenheng lowered his eyes, "Your Excellency must have called me here for a reason, and I have a rough guess in my mind."
"Oh, what did you guess?"
Gu Wenheng looked up at him and said, "If I am not mistaken, it should be the matter of mathematics."
During his time in the Hanlin Academy, he behaved well every day. Apart from the mental arithmetic he demonstrated that day, he really couldn't find any reason why the Grand Secretary would specially bring him to the palace to meet the emperor.
Gong Zhengping did not hide it, "When I left the court today, I mentioned this matter to His Majesty, and His Majesty was very interested in it, so he asked me to bring you to the palace to explain it.
This will only benefit you, not harm you. There is still some time on the road, so you should make good preparations."
Gu Wenheng knew that this was a suggestion from the Grand Secretary, and nodded in agreement.
Maybe they should give him some time, as neither of them spoke another word along the way.
As soon as he stepped into the South Study, Gu Wenheng saw Bai Jinglie standing at the door and winking at him.
He walked in without looking around, and waited until Hua Shunming called out to stand up, then stood quietly behind Master Gong.
Hua Shunming said, "Gu Xiuzhuan, the Grand Secretary said that you are a good accountant. I am also a little curious. Here happens to be a copy of the palace's account book from last month. Can you help me calculate it?"
Gu Wenheng walked over with a calm face. When he turned to the first page, he was a little surprised, but his face did not show any surprise.
He paused for a moment and then started flipping through the pages one by one. Everyone waited until he reached the last page without seeing him point out where there was a problem.
Scholar Gong was a little nervous. Could it be that Gu Wenheng was showing his weakness here and was confused?
Bai Jinglie slowly approached him and wanted to give him a reminder, but saw that Gu Wenheng had already closed the account book.
"You didn't find anything wrong?"
Gu Wenheng looked around the entire study room. Apart from the four of them, there was only Eunuch Le serving them.
Then he pursed his lips and said, "There are problems with the entire account book."
Hua Shunming was a little disappointed. "I've had it calculated, and there's nothing wrong with it."
Gu Wenheng shook his head. "I'm not talking about the problem of counting. The whole account book itself has a big problem."
"Wenheng, just say whatever you want to say. His Majesty will not blame you." When Bai Jinglie heard that there was a problem with the account book, he immediately thought of Kuang at home. Thinking of the troubles at home in recent days, the words came out of his mouth and came out directly.
Hua Shunming cleared his throat and said, "Bai Shijie is right. Just say whatever you want to say. I will pardon you."
Gu Wenheng casually flipped open a page and pointed at the categories registered on it. "Just this egg, in the Shangjing market, only costs five coins each. This fresh live chicken is only more than two hundred coins each. And this mutton..."
The more Gu Wenheng spoke, the uglier Hua Shunming's face became. He had been standing nearby, looking at everything in there. He had more than turned the things inside over several times.
What? One tael of silver for an egg? Where did the other nine hundred copper coins go?
A chicken costs five taels of silver. Are you thinking of yourself as a fool?
Even if he didn't understand these things, he knew how much ordinary people earned in a year.
These account books are all managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which only gives an approximate number every year. Now, when I randomly picked one, I found such a big problem. You can imagine how many rats he has raised over the years.
Gong Xueshi was so scared that he quickly grabbed Gu Wenheng and knelt beside the table. He secretly complained in his heart. He just wanted to show off that he had won the prize this time, but he didn't expect it to cause such a big storm.
If this matter were to get out, the entire Imperial Household Department would regard him as the culprit.
Hua Shunming threw the account book in his hand to Le San and said, "Go and bring those people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to me."
Gu Wenheng knew that since the mess had been exposed, he had to add fuel to the fire, "Your Majesty, please calm down."
Bai Jinglie quickly pulled the fool away. Even if he had a good personal relationship with the emperor, he would not dare to put himself in danger at this time. Wasn't he afraid of being vented on by his words?
"Does Gu Xiuzhuan want to intercede for them, or do you think I shouldn't punish them?"
For the first time, Gu Wenheng felt that kind of invisible pressure. "I dare not, but I just want to remind Your Majesty that this will alert the enemy."
Hua Shunming looked at the back of the head kneeling on the ground, and the anger that had just risen up subsided a little, "You all get up."
When they just stood firm, Hua Shunming asked, "Gu Xiuzhuan, tell me what you think."
Gu Wenheng faced everyone's gazes and spoke out the thoughts he had just sorted out, and Hua Shunming applauded.
Gong Zhengping and Bai Jinglie looked at Gu Wenheng with complicated expressions, not knowing whether to sympathize with those officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or to praise Gu Wenheng for being able to come up with such a response plan in such a short time.
(End of this chapter)
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