The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 55

[55.Chapter 55 Cherish each other]

Looking at the fear on Liu Qian’s face, Emperor Hongzhi finally knew that things were not simple.

He asked sternly: “Speak!”

“While His Majesty was having a meeting in the Fengtian Palace… His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ran over… I didn’t pay attention at the time, thinking… I thought… Your Majesty the Prince came to the Nuan Pavilion to wait for Your Majesty, so I went to the tea room specially. , Pour tea for His Royal Highness.”

Emperor Hongzhi became impatient, what does this have to do with the prince: “Succinctly

, yes…” Liu Qian was frightened out of his mind: “But who knows, I just poured tea. , only to find that His Highness the Crown Prince was carrying large and small bags of things. He rushed out with a swish. Servant… How dare you chase me? I don’t know what happened. When His Highness the Crown Prince ran out of sight, Servant Only then did I realize that in the Nuan Pavilion, there was missing a piece of “Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains”, a pair of ivory and gold-inlaid pen holders, a dragon and phoenix jade passed down from the Tang Dynasty, and…”

After listening to Liu Qian’s words, Emperor Hongzhi Opening his mouth, he was actually dumbfounded at this moment.

Is this considered stealing?

How audacious, how audacious! He took my things and ran away.

“This slave will die!” Liu Qian’s body trembled even more and he fell to the ground.

Emperor Hongzhi looked back, and sure enough, after careful inspection, he found that the dragon, phoenix, and jade were gone, as well as the pen holder…

At this moment, he suddenly rushed behind the screen and couldn’t help but said: “My picture was passed down from Huizong’s court.” Where is the Guishan Inkstone…”

Liu Qian trembled again, not daring to raise his head, and could only say: “I want to come, I want to come…”

“Prodigal son!” Emperor Hongzhi waved his sleeves. The Nuan Pavilion was Emperor Hongzhi’s daily office. , usually stay here most of the time, so Emperor Hongzhi’s favorite palace toys are also displayed here. These things are all treasures passed down from generation to generation, but now they are all… missing…

Emperor Hongzhi’s At that time, he found that he couldn’t even breathe out. He just couldn’t laugh or cry. He was in a daze for a long time, and then suddenly said: “Let the Jinyi guards check and see what the prince is doing. And…” There was a flash of sharpness in his eyes: “No one can speak out about this matter!”

After all, compared to Emperor Hongzhi, his most precious treasure, the prince, was the one who cared about him. This kid must be so unbelievable that there must be something weird about him. This matter cannot be publicized, otherwise, how will the world view the crown prince?

Since it is not allowed to show theft in the palace, then… naturally it cannot be pursued and investigated with great fanfare, so… Emperor Hongzhi twitched his old face, I will bear it!

“Servant…servant, I obey the order.” Liu Qian seemed to be pardoned.

………

Early the next morning, it was still freezing cold. There were many homeless people with no clothes on the streets along the way. They huddled in the streets and alleys, which seemed to be related to the disaster in Baoding Prefecture.

Fang Jifan breathed out and looked at the shivering people huddled in the corner. Fang Jifan was wearing tight clothes and felt cold, let alone them.

When they arrived at Zhan Shifu, they unexpectedly saw Wang Jinyuan.

Fang Jifan greeted Wang Jinyuan warmly, but Wang Jinyuan looked like a frightened bird, lowered his head, pretended not to recognize Fang Jifan, and left in a hurry.

This is strange…

Fang Jifan entered Zhan Shifu and was led to see Zhu Houzhao. When Zhu Houzhao saw him, he said excitedly: “I have money.”

He looked very excited and energetic, snapping Suddenly, a contract was thrown out: “You have money, but I don’t have any money? Hey, hey, who is that…”

Deng Jian is now following Fang Jifan at any time, and Zhu Houzhao seems to have allowed Deng Jian to enter and leave Zhan Shifu at any time. As soon as Jian heard who it was, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, “My name is Deng Jian.”

Zhu Houzhao said, “Read this contract to your young master.”

Deng Jian reached out to take the contract, but Fang Jifan took it first. Well, probably after reading it, I realized that this was a written statement made by Wang Jinyuan. The general meaning is that he is willing to buy a painting of Zhu Houzhao’s “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains” and various cultural relics in three days. Within that time, money and goods will be cleared.

Fang Jifan said in surprise: “His Royal Highness, why did Wang Jinyuan buy these? “Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains”? As far as I know, this must be a treasure in the palace. Where did Wang Jinyuan get the courage to buy it?”

Zhu Houzhao smiled. He said authentically: “He didn’t have the guts to buy it, but he didn’t have the guts not to buy it either.”

Fang Jifan instantly understood what he meant. In all likelihood, when Wang Jinyuan signed the contract, someone held a knife to his neck. , You are so immoral, Zhu Houzhao, you scumbag.

Fang Jifan wanted to scold Zhu Houzhao. In his opinion, although Wang Jinyuan was greedy, a gentleman loved money and got it wisely. How could he blatantly steal money in broad daylight? He was just trying to make a living.

But what else can be said about this matter? It’s a done deal. Fang Jifan showed admiration and said with a smile: “Your Highness is very clever. I admire you. I admire you.”

When Zhu Houzhao saw Fang Jifan’s ambiguous look, he suddenly became excited: “What? What

do you mean, do you think that I have robbed the people and robbed the people of their wealth? “

What’s wrong with this,” Fang Jifan said seriously. “Robbing the people’s property is inferior to others?”

Deng Jian nodded hurriedly: “Young master’s words are really inspiring and enlightening!”

Deng Jian smiled happily. This was a smile from the heart. He had grown up with the former Fang Jifan since he was a child. , I have been influenced by my ears and my eyes, and I have long been mentally distorted and perverted.

“…” Zhu Houzhao was righteous and awe-inspiring: “That’s nonsense. I’m not robbing the money. I’m just taking it. I took my father’s treasure and sold it to Wang Jinyuan.”

When Fang Jifan heard this, he took a sharp breath. Your Highness, you are not plagiarizing. You are cheating me. It is me you are cheating.

Zhu Houzhao then said nonchalantly: “But Wang Jinyuan didn’t dare to buy it. I was angry, so he obediently expressed his willingness to buy it. Can we start doing business now? How to do this business?”

Fang Jifan could only be speechless at the trap Zhu Houzhao had given him.

Hearing Zhu Houzhao ask about this business, Fang Jifan became serious and said seriously: “I bought a barren mountain in Xishan. However, this barren mountain has to be excavated, so it is necessary to recruit some manpower. Not only that, the barren mountain near the Some land needs to be bought. I have contacted some nearby landowners and have been talking about it in the past two days.

“Excavation, what to discover?” Zhu Houzhao said in surprise.

Fang Jifan said: “Coal, isn’t it cold now? Sell the coal and let people keep warm.”

“Eh…” Zhu Houzhao’s eyes lit up: “Why didn’t I think of this?”

Fang Jifan said with a smile: “Where, where, I have heard people say that there is coal there, so I bought the coal. Your Highness, think about it, the weather is so cold and freezing now, and it won’t be long before heavy snow falls. If those people don’t keep warm, I have to freeze to death. In addition, I also thought about it. Whether it is burning charcoal or coal, if the smoke smoke lasts for a long time, if the room is airtight, it will inevitably kill people. I plan to do it there. Let’s build some coal stoves and smoke pipes at the foot of the mountain. The wealthy households in Beijing are very particular about not being short of money. Isn’t this also a business opportunity? “

“Oh…” Zhu Houzhao was excited: “I didn’t think of this. This is a good idea. I want to make a lot of money with you.”

“Of course I want to make a lot of money. As long as the weather gets colder, these things for heating are as indispensable as firewood, rice, oil and salt. As long as they are indispensable, we mine coal. The price of charcoal is also far lower than that of charcoal, so you are not afraid that no one will buy it. You must know that charcoal needs to be cut down in the mountains and the wood needs to be burned in the mountains. In recent years, many trees have been cut down outside the capital. I know that the price of charcoal is getting higher year by year, but coal is different. I know that the coal in Xishan is a shallow coal mine. It does not take much effort to mine it, and it is inexhaustible and inexhaustible. “The price is more than ten times cheaper than charcoal. Your Highness, just wait, it’s time for us to get rich.”

Zhu Houzhao rubbed his hands in excitement, feeling more and more that he had a lot to do. In fact, people in this era have long known what coal is. , Didn’t the Ming Dynasty have a special coal mountain? Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself there, so even Zhu Houzhao knew that the coal could be used for burning. He couldn’t help but patted his forehead: “This palace actually I didn’t think of it at all, yes, coal can be burned. Brother Fang is really smart. You see, so many people in the world have never thought of it, but Brother Fang did.”

(End of Chapter)