Chapter 461 Silver Earned by Skill
Emperor Chengde glared at him unhappily, but he couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips.
When he saw the real location of the fire in the Imperial College last night, he breathed a sigh of relief on the spot. That was why he had created such a trip up trouble for Xiao Muheng.
As Liu Sheng's son-in-law, so obviously half a member of the Liu family, it was hard for Emperor Chengde not to notice him. At first, his face was so dark that he could not be recognized, but as soon as his name was said.
Hey!
Haven't seen it? Haven't you heard of it?
If I don't suppress you, I would be ungrateful for this opportunity that has come to my doorstep.
Since the school has been burned down anyway, we might as well make the best use of it.
No matter how useless Xiao Muheng was, he was still Liu Sheng's son-in-law. Liu's party would not watch him being beheaded, so when the Minister of Justice pleaded for him, Emperor Chengde immediately went along with it.
Ten million taels was indeed a huge ask, but if he didn't take the opportunity to make a big profit, would he leave it all to Liu Sheng?
Wouldn't it be nice to put it in your pocket?
"If you wanted to take action against Xiao Muheng, couldn't you inform me in advance?" Emperor Chengde wanted to use a shoe horn to slam his infuriating son against the wall, making it impossible to get him off.
What a pity, I can’t bear to do that.
"I'm afraid you won't agree if I tell you." Chu Jinyan said.
However, the tone sounded somewhat perfunctory.
The corner of Emperor Chengde's mouth twitched.
"Are you afraid that I won't agree, or are you just too lazy to tell me?"
Chu Jinyan pursed her lips slightly and didn't respond.
Emperor Chengde was so angry that he rolled his eyes, and his silence meant he agreed.
"If you do something like this again, can you please let me know in advance? Fortunately, I am in good health. If I were weak, I would be either angry or scared to death. I want to live two more years."
Chu Jinyan glanced at Emperor Chengde with a cold gaze: "So father, you are not happy that you got 10 million taels for nothing?"
He did not act arbitrarily, but chose to set fire to the Imperial College because he knew that Emperor Chengde could gain the greatest benefit from it.
hey-hey!
Emperor Chengde couldn't help but raise his lips, but when he thought that it was time to educate his son, he couldn't lose his prestige, so he tried to suppress it: "Doesn't it cost money to rebuild the Imperial College?"
At this time, the palace servant outside the door reported softly: "Your Majesty, Minister Meng requests to see you."
Emperor Chengde: "Xuan."
Minister Meng, Minister of Revenue Meng Liang.
After receiving the summons from Emperor Chengde, the Minister of Revenue walked in respectfully, stood in the hall, and saluted Emperor Chengde: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the emperor."
The man was about 40 years old, with a round face. Even without a smile on his face, he looked kind and peaceful. Who would have thought that Minister Meng would be so petty that he would even confront the emperor.
"No need to be polite, my dear."
Emperor Chengde looked at him and said, "Xiao Muheng will pay 10 million taels of silver as compensation. Remember to collect it by the second day of the new year at the latest."
"I obey your order." Minister Meng responded, feeling a little unhappy in his heart.
Everyone is having a holiday and happily celebrating the New Year, but he still has to be on duty. Doesn’t he know that debt collection is a very tiring job?
However, considering that the emperor was contributing to the Ministry of Revenue to fill the national treasury, he was still willing to do it even though the work during the New Year was annoying.
Emperor Chengde rubbed his folded hands together quietly, and then looked at the Minister of Revenue with a serious face: "Lord Meng, the Ministry of Works has estimated the approximate cost of rebuilding the burned-down school in the Imperial College with you?"
The Minister of Revenue bowed and replied respectfully, "After the incident last night, I and Minister Lu have already made a rough estimate. Two million taels, no more, no less."
Emperor Chengde nodded and said, "Well, then I will order the Ministry of Revenue to take out 5 million taels to rebuild the Imperial College. You can make the arrangements."
Minister Meng frowned and looked at Emperor Chengde suspiciously.
"Your Majesty, there is no need for five million taels. Minister Lu has already calculated the price based on the best materials."
Emperor Chengde looked at Meng Liang, who was standing in a daze in front of him, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Why is this person so stubborn?
Chu Jinyan stood calmly aside, watching Emperor Chengde and Meng Liang talking at cross purposes.
"If I say it's useful, then it's useful." Emperor Chengde stared at the Minister of Revenue with a dark face: "I have worked so hard to earn all this money in your Ministry of Revenue, don't I want some hard work compensation?"
Does he have to make it so clear?
He was so pissed off.
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue looked at Emperor Chengde in a daze.
Hardship pay?
Your Majesty, how powerful do you have to say such shameless words?
The Minister of Revenue complained silently in his heart, his eyes almost rolling up to the sky, but he responded respectfully: "Your Majesty...Your Majesty understands."
Emperor Chengde immediately showed a satisfied expression.
Do you think it's easy to be an emperor?
Even when the Ministry of Revenue had money, he couldn't spend it as he pleased, let alone when the treasury was tight due to disasters or wars. He wanted to spend every penny in half.
Therefore, over the years, Emperor Chengde gradually developed the habit of saving money in his own treasury.
In the past, it was saved little by little or deducted from the rewards given to others, and it was not easy to be discovered.
Faced with so much silver this time, Emperor Chengde could not do it quietly, so he had to call the Minister of Revenue.
He earned the money through his own ability, so why can't he take a penny of it?
He took three million taels, and the Ministry of Revenue still got five million taels for free. Meng Liang must be secretly happy.
When the Minister of Revenue left the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he was speechless.
Thinking of the silver that was about to go into his pocket, Emperor Chengde couldn't help but feel happy. He immediately felt good about his son who had set fire to his Imperial College, so he smiled and said, "Are you going to Jingren Palace for lunch?"
"kindness."
Emperor Chengde stood up and said, "Let's go together."
At the same time in Yongfu Palace, Chu Qingyun, Cao Bingbing and Chen Ruijin were sitting in the main hall talking with Concubine Yi, while the palace servants were busy preparing lunch.
It was a rare occasion for the four of them, mother, son, daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law, to dine together, so Concubine Yi was even more attentive than at a palace banquet.
Chu Qingyun sat next to Chen Ruijin, whispering with her from time to time. They said that the four of them were chatting, but in fact, most of the conversation was done by Concubine Yi and Cao Bingbing.
"Ahem!" Concubine Yi looked at Chu Qingyun and coughed softly, "Madam Wei, the Third Prince's tea is cold. Change him a cup."
It’s almost done. Didn’t you see that Cao Bingbing’s face is almost frozen into an ice cube?
Concubine Yi would not regard Chen Ruijin as a thorn in her side just because her son doted on her too much. Not to mention that she had asked the Queen several times for her son to marry her, and she had known for a long time that her son was attached to her.
Even if not, does that mean she should be disliked just because her son likes her?
After being in the palace for so many years, she just understood everything.
Things like feelings can't be forced.
Although Empress Yao was extremely beautiful at that time, Concubine Shu also had her own charm and style.
The emperor is in his prime, and the embroiderers selected every three years are also in their prime. There are concubines in the palace who combine talent and beauty, they are gentle, virtuous, noble and beautiful. Aren’t they good?
no.
But no one can enter the emperor's heart.
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