gnovel Chapter 84 Sending Money to His Highness
Chapter 84 Sending Money to His Highness
Chapter 84 Sending Money to His Highness
It was past 3 PM, and the sun was already setting in the west.
After returning home, Zhao Mingcheng changed into an ordinary royal blue robe, covered it with a half-sleeved brocade coat, and carried an inconspicuous small box in his hand. Without any attendants, he walked leisurely, heading directly to the main street where the Prince Duan's residence was located.
The vermilion gates of Prince Duan's mansion stood tall and imposing. The guards on duty at the gate recognized him and greeted him with clasped hands from afar.
The gatekeeper was an old man in his fifties named Feng. He was warming himself by the fire in the gatehouse with his hands in his sleeves. When he looked up and saw the person coming, his face immediately lit up with a smile. He hurriedly came out to greet him and bowed.
"Oh my! Young Master Zhao! You've finally arrived! His Highness was just mentioning a couple of days ago that you should be returning to the capital soon, but we haven't seen you yet! Please come in, please come in!"
Zhao Mingcheng returned the greeting with a smile: "Uncle Feng, how have you been? Is Your Highness free at the moment?"
"I'm free, I'm free!" Feng Cangtou said in a low voice as he led Zhao Mingcheng into the mansion.
"His Highness is at the football field in the back, having a great time with his newly recruited players. Your arrival is perfect; His Highness is sure to be delighted!"
Passing through several ceremonial gates and covered corridors, one could faintly hear shouts, laughter, and the muffled thud of a leather ball hitting the ground coming from the direction of the backyard.
Feng Cangtou led them to the moon gate, where they saw Liang Shicheng standing by the door with his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face, clearly having been informed in advance.
"Young Master Zhao!" Liang Shicheng stepped forward, bowing warmly, his plump face beaming with ingratiating smiles. "You're finally back! His Highness was just kicking a ball, but as soon as he heard you were here, he tossed the ball to Gao Qiu, yelling that he wasn't going to play anymore, and rushed over here. Please wait a moment, His Highness will be here shortly!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps were heard, accompanied by Zhao Ji's clear voice.
"Defu! Where is Defu (Zhao Mingcheng's courtesy name)?"
Zhao Ji was dressed in a neat, narrow-sleeved scarlet brocade robe, with a red-gold headband tied around his forehead. His cheeks were rosy from exercising, and fine beads of sweat glistened on the tip of his nose.
He spotted Zhao Mingcheng standing under the eaves, his eyes lit up, and he strode over in a few quick steps. Forgetting all manners, he punched Zhao Mingcheng squarely on the shoulder and arm, laughing loudly.
"You, Zhao Defu! You finally decided to come back!"
The punch was quite powerful, but Zhao Mingcheng didn't budge, only smiling and cupping his hands in greeting.
"Student Zhao Mingcheng greets His Highness Prince Duan."
"Go away, don't give me that polite nonsense!"
Emperor Huizong grabbed Zhao Mingcheng's arm, looked him up and down, and clicked his tongue in amazement. "Wow! Impressive! He's much more robust now! Did he toughen up by eating meat and drinking wine in the Hehuang region? Look at him, his face is darker, and his cheeks are angular! At first glance, I would have thought some fierce border soldier had barged into my residence!"
Emperor Huizong spoke warmly and without any airs of a prince, acting more like a young man from a wealthy family meeting a long-lost friend.
Zhao Mingcheng smiled and teased Zhao Ji in the same way.
"Your Highness has keen eyesight. The winds in the Hehuang region are like knives, and the sun is like a furnace. Even a fair-skinned scholar would turn into a black iron ball after three months if thrown in there. I am considered lucky. Those soldiers who ride horses and patrol the border all day long are truly tanned to the point of being shiny. If they go out at night, all you can see are their white teeth."
"Hahahahaha—" Zhao Ji was amused so much that he doubled over, patting the pillar and laughing. "Defu, your mouth hasn't been dulled by the wind and sand! Come on, it's cold outside, let's go inside and talk!"
As she spoke, she naturally put her arm around Zhao Mingcheng's shoulder, and led him towards the warm pavilion in the backyard, while turning back to give instructions to Liang Shicheng.
"Shicheng, tell the kitchen to prepare a feast quickly, make it lively, and open that jar of new Jiangnan wine in the cellar! Today, Defu and I will drink until we're drunk!"
Liang Shicheng smiled and agreed, then took Gao Qiu to make the arrangements.
Emperor Huizong half-embraced and half-dragged Zhao Mingcheng through several corridors to a waterside pavilion where he usually sat.
The pavilion was filled with the warmth of a roaring charcoal fire. The furnishings were elegant, and several paintings and calligraphies hung on the walls, including one of wild geese and reeds in an autumn pond, painted with a free and unrestrained style.
This is Zhao Ji's recent masterpiece.
The two removed their outer robes, and a maidservant served them hot towels and piping hot tea.
Emperor Huizong dismissed his attendants, leaving only the two men in the pavilion, and then impatiently pressed for answers.
"Defu, tell me quickly, what's really going on in the Hehuang region? The official gazette is all dry and boring, just saying 'the bandits have collapsed' and 'the tribes have submitted,' it's utterly dull. I want to hear your story, tell me about the dangerous, the strange, and the interesting parts!"
Zhao Mingcheng knew Zhao Ji's temperament: he loved excitement and was curious about adventure, so he would only talk about things that were thrilling, interesting, and not boring.
He recounted how he entered the Tibetan tribe and gained the trust of the Tibetan chieftain by exchanging salt and tea; how he held an alliance meeting at the Huangshui River, swore an oath of blood with the chieftains of thirty-one tribes, and how bonfires blazed under the night sky while the Qiang flute played mournful tunes.
Then, how did they devise a plan to lure Xi Sheluo into their trap? Ambushes erupted on the Black Stone Beach, the sounds of battle deafening. Ultimately, Wang Shan slew the enemy chieftain, and Zhong Pu captured the Xia Kingdom's banner.
Zhao Mingcheng was an excellent orator and had firsthand experience of the events, so he recounted them vividly, occasionally interspersing his descriptions of Tibetan customs and border wonders.
After Zhao Mingcheng finished speaking, Zhao Ji was still excited. He poured himself a cup of tea, drank it all in one gulp, and sighed.
"A man should live like this! Expanding territories and maneuvering with great skill, how exhilarating! It's a pity I was born into an imperial family and am confined to this prosperous Bianjing. Every day I either write and paint, play football and listen to music, and at most I go to Jinming Pond to watch the water shows. Compared with your experience, Defu, it is really boring."
Zhao Mingcheng smiled.
"Your Highness, what are you saying? Exquisite writings and masterful paintings are the pinnacle of a prosperous era. I am in the borderlands, where I see mostly desolation, bitter cold, and bloodshed. What I long for is the elegant and peaceful atmosphere of Your Highness's residence, and the days when I discuss books and paintings with Your Highness."
"You always have such a way with words."
Zhao Ji waved his hand, then suddenly remembered something, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of gossip, "Defu, you may not know this in Hehuang, but there have been some interesting things happening in the capital lately. Consort Liu—oh, she should be called Empress Liu now—was just officially enthroned last month, and I reckon she'll be giving birth soon. I've heard from people in the palace that it's probably a prince. His Majesty has been hoping for this eldest son for a long time."
Zhao Mingcheng hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting: "Congratulations, Your Highness! This is a joyous occasion. The addition of a new member to the palace strengthens the foundation of the nation. Your Highness will soon become an imperial uncle."
Emperor Huizong waved his hand, his face showing little joy, but rather a hint of worry, and sighed.
"It's a joyous occasion, but being the emperor's uncle isn't easy. Now that the emperor has a legitimate eldest son, I, as his uncle, will definitely have to send him a generous gift."
But to be honest, the expenses in my household are getting bigger and bigger. As you know, I have a fondness for rubbings of ancient inscriptions and calligraphy and paintings. When I see something good, I can't resist buying it.
A few days ago, someone recommended a Tang Dynasty copy of what they claimed to be Wang Xizhi's "Timely Clearing After Snowfall" to me, and they were asking for this much money!
Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) held up five fingers and shook them, then reluctantly lowered them.
"And that eleven-a-side football you created is really fun, and I can't live without it either. But because of that, I've been keeping more and more football players. Now I have more than thirty football players in my household. They need to be trained every day, and the cost of their food, clothing, and rewards is not a small amount."
Add to that the hundreds of people in the household—with no way to increase revenue and difficulty in cutting expenses, I'm really worried about money. Just the other day, Prince Jian was bragging to me that Cai Yuanzhang sent him several cartloads of fine things—antiques, rare treasures, silks, and satins—he didn't even blink. And me—alas!
Emperor Huizong spoke frankly and without any regard for royal decorum, clearly treating Zhao Mingcheng as a confidant with whom he could confide his troubles.
Zhao Mingcheng listened quietly, and only after he finished speaking did a mysterious smile appear on his face. He slowly took out the small box from his pocket and placed it on the small rosewood table between the two of them.
"Why should Your Highness worry about such a trivial matter? I have come here today to bring you money."
"Um?
'
Zhao Ji was taken aback, his gaze falling on the inconspicuous little box, and asked in confusion.
"What is this? Could it be gems and gold beads brought from the Hehuang region? No, that won't do. I appreciate your kindness, but I can't accept these gifts—"
Zhao Mingcheng smiled and opened the box. Inside, dozens of incense pills lay quietly on the soft satin lining.
A delicate fragrance, both refreshing and sweet, wafted out slowly, instantly filling the warm room and suppressing the smell of the charcoal fire.
"Defu, this is—"
Emperor Huizong leaned forward and took a deep breath. He felt the fragrance enter his mind through his nose, and his spirit was refreshed. It seemed as if all the turbid air in his heart and lungs had been cleansed. He exclaimed in praise.
"What a fragrance! It's clear yet not overpowering, rich yet not cloying, with the cool elegance of plum blossoms and the somber melancholy of pine and cypress trees—what is this fragrance?"
I have never smelled such a fine product before!
"Your Highness, this item is called Snow Realm Fragrance."
Zhao Mingcheng took out a pill and held it in his palm.
"This is made according to a secret ancient recipe passed down from Tibet. It is made by taking a rare herb from the top of the snow mountain, combining it with several rare resins and nectars, and then aging and refining it using a special secret method."
Its fragrance not only calms the mind and soothes the nerves, warding off evil spirits and impurities, but also moisturizes the skin with prolonged use. A student, by chance, obtained this secret recipe and commissioned skilled craftsmen to slightly improve it, making its fragrance even more mellow and its effects even more pronounced.
As he spoke, he took out a fragrant pill, applied it to the back of his hand between his thumb and forefinger, and rubbed it in slightly.
Zhao Ji watched with curiosity and followed suit, applying the ointment to his own wrist.
At first, I only felt a slight coolness, and then the cream seemed to melt and seep into my skin, leaving a faint glow.
The fragrance grew longer and more lingering, clinging to my wrist and refusing to dissipate.
"Amazing! Truly amazing!"
Emperor Huizong brought his wrist to his nose and sniffed it, praising it repeatedly.
"This incense seems to be even better than the imperial perfumes and spices used in the palace! It's clear and long-lasting, without any vulgarity. Mingcheng, it must have been hard for you to obtain this, and the cost must have been high."
He weighed the incense stick in his hand and estimated its price based on his own consumerist perspective.
Zhao Mingcheng shook his head and held up two fingers.
"Twenty strings of cash?" Zhao Ji raised an eyebrow.
"No, Your Highness," Zhao Mingcheng smiled, "The total cost, including labor, materials, and transportation, comes to less than two strings of cash."
"Two strings of cash?!"
Emperor Huizong of Song almost jumped up from his couch, his eyes wide open. He looked at the incense stick in his hand, then at Zhao Mingcheng, his face full of disbelief.
"This—how is this possible? Such quality, such fragrance!"
"Things are valued for their rarity, and also for the knowledge they evoke," Zhao Mingcheng said calmly.
"This item is from the Hehuang region, where raw materials are readily available and craftsmen are readily available. The main costs are time and manpower."
Transported all the way to Bianjing, and with its reputation as a "Tibetan secret recipe" and a "precious product of the snowy plateau," its price naturally skyrocketed. To be honest, Your Highness, on this trip back to the capital, I brought back eight hundred boxes of Ningxiang (a type of incense). I also brought one hundred sheets of fine black fox and sable fur, and dozens of boxes of medicinal herbs such as snow mountain ginseng and gentian root.
He paused, looking at Zhao Ji's increasingly serious expression, and continued.
"Your Highness just mentioned that the household expenses are considerable and that cutting costs is not easy. I humbly offer my assistance to Your Highness by proposing this method of 'increasing revenue.' I have the source of goods and the channels to ensure low costs, while Your Highness has the shop, the signboard, and the prestige to attract distinguished customers."
Why not use this snow-covered fragrance and medicinal herbs to start a business? The profits would be enough to cover Your Highness's expenses for calligraphy, painting, and scholarly pursuits, with a considerable surplus.
Emperor Huizong was stunned.
Born in the palace and raised in wealth, he never thought of making money by doing business.
His daily interactions were mostly with literary figures who discussed poetry and painting, or with sycophantic officials and their cronies. Even Gao Qiu and Liang Shicheng would only try to amuse him.
If Gao Qiu amused him, he had to give Gao Qiu a reward; if Liang Shicheng amused him, he also had to spend money from his household.
It costs money to make these people happy.
No one had ever considered how he could make money as frankly and comprehensively as Zhao Mingcheng.
For a moment, Zhao Ji was filled with mixed feelings, a mixture of emotion, surprise, hesitation, and eagerness.
"Defu—you, you have made a great contribution upon returning to the capital, and your future is limitless. Why—why get involved in such vulgar business?"
"Your Highness," Zhao Mingcheng interrupted him, his expression sincere.
"I am not here for money. Although my family is not as wealthy as Your Highness, we are still well-off."
This action has two purposes: firstly, this item is indeed rare and it would be a pity to keep it buried in the borderlands; secondly, it is also because…
Zhao Mingcheng looked directly at Zhao Ji and said.
"I regard Your Highness as a close friend and confidant. I know that Your Highness has profound interests and extensive expenses, and you do not wish to ask the Emperor or the Palace for help."
Since there is such a perfect solution that can satisfy Your Highness's desires and relieve Your Highness's worries, why not do it?
"For Your Highness, this matter is merely a matter of borrowing the shop's name and occasionally offering assistance. The specific operational details will be handled by your students and reliable individuals; we would never dare to trouble Your Highness."
Emperor Huizong stared blankly at Zhao Mingcheng. The warm pavilion was filled with the fragrance of incense, and the charcoal fire crackled.
After a long while, he let out a long breath, his eyes even felt a little hot. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhao Mingcheng's hand, shaking it hard, his voice choked with emotion.
"Defu—I—I truly don't know what to say. In the entire Bianjing, no, in the entire world, I'm afraid only you, Zhao Defu, would think so much for me, Zhao Ji! I'll take this deal! Tell me, how should the profits be split? Just name your price, and I won't say a word!"
Zhao Mingcheng patted Zhao Ji's hand with his other hand and laughed.
"Your Highness is too kind. The idea came from me, but Your Highness provided the shop and the signboard, which shows you've done your utmost. As for the profit sharing—"
"Three sevens!" Zhao Ji interrupted, his voice firm and resolute.
"I'll take three, you take seven! No, two-eighths is fine too! I only need two-tenths! You've worked so hard and taken all the risks, you deserve the lion's share!"
"Your Highness, you mustn't."
Zhao Mingcheng shook his head, his attitude resolute. "Without Your Highness's shop, no matter how good this Snow Region Fragrance is, it will only be a rare commodity from the borderlands, unworthy of being presented in a refined setting, and it won't fetch a good price. A 50/50 split is fair and reasonable, and it's the only way to make it last. If Your Highness refuses, then you are looking down on my humble efforts."
"Fifty percent? How can that be acceptable!"
Emperor Huizong shook his head repeatedly.
"Defu, this formula and these goods are the result of your hard work and risking your life. How can I just sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor, taking half of them? Thirty percent, I will take no more than thirty percent! Otherwise, I will not be at peace with myself!"
Zhao Mingcheng insisted on splitting the profits 50/50, while Zhao Ji was only willing to take 30%. The two even started arguing over who should get a bigger share.
In the end, Zhao Mingcheng pretended to be unhappy and said it.
"If Your Highness insists on taking 30%, then you are looking down on my good intentions. In that case, let's drop the matter. Consider these fragrant herbs as a New Year's gift from your student to Your Highness."
As he spoke, Zhao Mingcheng made a gesture to close the box lid.
"No, no, no!" Zhao Ji hurriedly pressed his hand down, his eyes reddening as he sighed.
"Fine, fine, I can't argue with you. It's fifty-fifty then! Defu, I'll remember your kindness!"
Zhao Ji took a deep breath, looked at Zhao Mingcheng with an unprecedentedly solemn expression, and said, "From now on, your affairs, Zhao Mingcheng's affairs are my affairs, Zhao Ji's affairs. If there is anything you need me to do, just ask!"
As long as I don't break the law or violate moral principles, I can always do my part in this Bianjing city!
Zhao Mingcheng smiled gently, withdrew his hand, picked up the slightly cooled teacup, and offered a toast.
"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated, but I have no other requests of you."
The student only hopes that Your Highness will spend more time thinking about how to prepare a gift for the soon-to-be-born imperial nephew; furthermore, that Your Highness will visit the palace more often when you have free time, and show more filial piety to the Empress Dowager, so that the Emperor will have less to worry about. That would be the best outcome.
These words sounded more like intimate conversations between close friends, and hearing them now was even more comforting. Zhao Ji was deeply moved and nodded emphatically.
"Very well, I will do as Defu says. I have remembered this."
At this moment, Gao Qiu's cautious announcement came from outside the warm pavilion.
"Your Highness, Young Master Zhao, the banquet is ready and will be held at Liubei Pavilion."
Zhao Ji took a deep breath, concealing the slight moisture in his eyes, and laughed loudly.
"Very well! Let's set out for a drinking party! Today, I'm going to drink with Defu until we're completely drunk!"
As he spoke, Zhao Ji pulled Zhao Mingcheng up, his face regaining its former radiance. He put his arm around Zhao Mingcheng's shoulder and said with great interest.
"Come on, let's drink and chat! Tell me more about what else is so special about the Hehuang region—"
Zhao Mingcheng and Zhao Ji chatted and laughed as they walked out side by side. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the corridor windows, casting long shadows of the two young men.
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