Chapter 306: A Big Harvest
Exactly was all this his arrangement, or had someone wise giving directions? Regardless of who, in a certain sense, all a threat.
For Inspector General Su personally, he actually further leaned towards the former, but he didn’t have evidence, just baseless words, and moreover, he was also in a dilemma right now himself, not daring to rashly make a move. After all, if it’s really as he’d predicted, then even the slightest movement will all be detected by the other party. In that case, everything will be all over. That’s why, right now, he can only ‘follow the other party’, acting according to the circ.u.mstances.
“w.a.n.gye, the gold and silver from the fu treasury have arrived.”
Li Hong Yuan faintly nodded.
The artisans in charge of casting didn’t dare to slight, speeding up their movements.
Although someone was already guessing that Jin Qinw.a.n.g doing this perhaps had purpose, but putting two big yuanbao in front of the Confucius House still made one unwell no matter how one thought about it.
“w.a.n.gye, towards your intentions, we are truly unable to guess, but presumably won’t be a useless move, so this student dare ask, whether or not we can know the reason.”
“What do you all think this money is?” Li Hong Yuan asked in reply.
And this undoubtedly just led to many internal guesses. Quite a few people revealed a look of sudden realization.
However, regardless of whether or not it was really coming to realization suddenly, and regardless of what they thought of, in any case, for those that believed their thoughts to be precisely the truth, towards this matter, they no longer oppose, instead feeling that Jin Qinw.a.n.g was wise.
The various officials looked to one another in dismay. They never once thought that Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s nonchalant one line would just solve the root of the problem. This, this, this………….
Never mind the various students, even they couldn’t help but overthink too, of course, for the most part, all turning into schemes.
Regardless of what, all won’t ask Jin Qinw.a.n.g for answers anymore. His specious words seemingly just explained certain unspeakable things.
Everyone were all ‘understanding people’, so how can they go trouble Jin Qinw.a.n.g. That would truly be too insensible.
Li Hong Yuan faintly hooked the corner of his mouth. If all unable to resolve this bit of matter, then wouldn’t he Li Hong Yuan have worked for nothing. “This prince has already written a letter to the imperial court. These gold and silver, the imperial court will soon send people to come take over. During this period of time, you all can help watch over together.”
That student blanked, then shortly after, returned to his sense, “This student won’t turn down such honor.” Carrying the resolution of having been given heavy responsibility.
And afterwards, more and more gold and silver got moved over, all the way until all the money in the fu treasury were gathered together.
The people in the surrounding also increased more and more, and more than ninety-nine percent of them have never seen this much money before, trunk after trunk, all silver ingots and gold bricks. They unconsciously began swallowing their saliva, fantasizing how great it would be if all this money was their own. However, seeing the increasing number of government soldiers, as expected, they can only think about it.
The people commenting definitely weren’t in the minority either, but majority of the thoughts were ‘their Chongzhou Fu’s government money was actually quite abundant’. However, according to Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s meaning, this money seemingly had problems.
Watching the silver ingots and gold bricks separately and endlessly get poured into the smelting furnace, the emitted heatwave just made the sweat beads fall one by one, yet not that many people stepped away. This kind of spectacle, in one’s lifetime, afraid will only ever happen once.
“w.a.n.gye, why not return first?” Yu Zhong Qing suggested.
Li Hong Yuan also just happened to have this thought. With it being this hot, who would be willing to stay here to suffer. Pulling the reins, he turned the horse around, and clenching the horse’s stomach, the horse just began running.
The others, seeming the movement, “Respectfully seeing off w.a.n.gye.” With someone taking the lead, more and more people followed afterwards in succession.
The black clad guards just left behind merely ten people, while the rest all left along with Li Hong Yuan.
And in the outer most place, a green-clothed horse carriage was quietly parked by the roadside. An ordinary carriage driver was sitting in the front. The horse carriage’s door curtain, as well as window curtains, all were half raised, and behind it, there were even pearl curtains blocking. As such, the outside was unable to see the situation inside. However, the inside can have the situation outside all taken in.
The horses rode past. Speaking of which, that horse carriage wasn’t considered conspicuous, but still got noticed by Li Hong Yuan. He lightly swept a glance, yet didn’t carry any emotion.
And as for the person inside the horse carriage, their heart uncontrollably jumped. That slender jade hand covered over top, rising along with the movement of the chest. However, that upright body couldn’t help but lean towards the window, watching Li Hong Yuan’s figure disappear into the distance. This was the man she will soon marry. Although probably as a concubine, but such a man, seemingly didn’t make one resist, especially just now, sitting tall on horseback, as if ridiculing and mocking, nonchalantly just resolving the situation, just this dazzling.
“Miss, Jin Qinw.a.n.g has already gone far, we……………” A person to the side that was probably a servant girl softly spoke.
“Let’s go.” The girl’s voice carried a natural gentleness, comforting to the heart like the spring breeze.
Without needing to specially instruct, the horse carriage just slowly began moving. Clearly the voice was very light, and under normal circ.u.mstances, the carriage driver outside wouldn’t have heard. Thus, it can be seen, this carriage driver also wasn’t simple.
Just, the girl thought that everything just soundlessly pa.s.sed by like this, and that no one would know of her arrival. However, was this really the case?
From far away, “Investigate.” Li Hong Yuan suddenly opened his mouth.
“Yes.” Others perhaps still didn’t understand what Li Hong Yuan wanted to investigate, yet An Yi already responded. Following by Li Hong Yuan’s side already wasn’t a day or two, and although towards master’s thoughts, he still didn’t understand, nor want to presumptuously guess, but the perception one ought to have, he still fully possessed. With Li Hong Yuan’s one glance, An Yi already understood everything.
Li Hong Yuan returned to the villa, and didn’t bother with where the various officials following behind him went. Dismounting the horse and tossing the reins, he directly returned to the inner courtyard.
“w.a.n.gye has returned.” A servant girl hurriedly offered up tea, while another person went to draw warm water for him to wash his hands and face.
Li Hong Yuan casually cleaned himself, having the cloth towel thrown back onto the tray, then went on his own to change his clothes. Coming out, “Where’s Wan Wan?”
“Replying to w.a.n.gye, w.a.n.gfei is tending to guests. The magistrate’s madam had just left, before another person came to visit.”
“Oh?” Li Hong Yuan ambiguously smiled, “What all did they bring to visit?”
“The magistrate’s madam brought a pot of gold peony, and for the person that came afterwards, the specifics are still unclear, but reportedly had a money tree.”
“Gold peony? Money tree?” Li Hong Yuan softly muttered, “Heh, indeed adapting to someone’s taste.”
Li Hong Yuan rather didn’t go look for Jing Wan, sitting down, slowly drinking the tea. Before even finis.h.i.+ng one cup of tea, Jing Wan just came back, and behind her, there were even people lifting something.
“Since Ah Yuan has returned, then the matter has already been settled?” Jing Wan sat down next to him.
Li Hong Yuan conveniently had the tea cup in his hand handed over, “Just a small matter, so naturally didn’t take much effort. Just, this prince had only gone out once, yet this harvest of Wan Wan’s is already this abundant.” He looked to the two ‘trees’ before him, “Gold peony and money tree, truly is the name matching the reality.”
“Indeed so.” Jing Wan softly chuckled as well.
The gold peony, a bright and dazzling golden tree. From the pot to the soil, from the tree trunk to the branches, flowers and leaves, all entirely one color. At least, because of the extremely fine craftsmans.h.i.+p, it appeared vivid and lifelike, very much realistic. Those who didn’t know would even think there really exist such a unique variation of peony in the world.
And the money tree, it was far taller than the gold peony, the tree trunk, branches and leaves all made from jade. This jade naturally wasn’t one color, but not just the veins on the leaves, but also the patterns on the tree bark, aside from having a slightly cold sensation, that feeling was even very realistic. Although clearly knowing it wasn’t carved from a single piece of jade, from the exterior, one practically couldn’t make out the seams. Then, speaking of the ‘money’ on the tree, even Jing Wan couldn’t make out what the material was. However, it similarly was very exquisite.
“And what’s inside the chest?” Li Hong Yuan turned and asked.
Jing Wan directly reached out to open the chest……….
T/N: Yes, this is a bribe, tho I feel like giving Jing Wan a real plant would’ve been more effective. Although, I’m curious, would it still be considered a bribe if you accept something but don’t actually do anything, because technically that would just become a ‘gift’.