Chapter 64 Miscalculation

  As soon as this remark came out, the Crown Prince Yinzong was shocked. What does Fourth Brother mean? Is he trying to steal the credit? Why didn't he discuss it with me first? Isn't this ruining my show? He couldn't let the officials see anything unusual, so he quickly responded, "Your Majesty, what Fourth Brother said is also the voice of us brothers. I am willing to donate 200,000 silver coins to support Eighth Brother and his troops."

  The crown prince and the fourth prince sang in harmony, and all the princes and ministers thought they had a prior agreement. Suddenly, everyone was shocked: donating silver? Was it the emperor's intention? No wonder the emperor didn't let the court spend money; it turned out he had this idea. Each of them started calculating in their hearts, thinking about how much to donate to show off, while others planned to wait and see, and some secretly cursed. Those standing in front dared not move, but could only mutter to themselves, while those standing behind exchanged glances and made small gestures, busy with secret signals.

  The old ninth and tenth are nothing to worry about, but the old eighth is secretly laughing, thinking of sharing the credit? Just the silver from Old Fourteen and Huang Ama's two people is already 600,000, how much can you donate? If there's less silver, you can't divide it up, if there's more silver, it's just right to make things bigger and more beautiful, the big head is still ours.

  Lao San and Thirteen, along with the Crown Prince, were on the same side. This situation was naturally supported by Lao San, who as a close relative of the emperor, had to keep up appearances with Lao Si. Although it pained him, he gritted his teeth and donated 10,000 taels. Thirteen didn't have any noble titles, but he knew that the silver he donated wouldn't come out of his own pocket; Fourth Brother would reimburse him. However, he couldn't donate as much as 10,000 taels - that was the standard for a close relative of the emperor. So he donated 5,000 taels instead.

  The three princes, Wu, Qi and Shi, who did not participate in the party struggle, almost burst out scolding, 5,000 taels! This is two years' worth of salary! If I had known this earlier, I should have taken sick leave. You two parties are fighting for power and profit, don't drag us down with you. Glancing at several ministers who were eager to try, the three brothers were extremely reluctant but had no choice but to donate 5,000 taels while holding their noses.

  As soon as the twelfth saw the donation, a group of ministers couldn't help but follow suit. Tong Guowei also thought it was Kangxi's intention and, as the chief minister of the Grand Council and a staunch supporter of the eighth prince, he naturally had to set an example at this time. As soon as the twelfth finished speaking, he stood up and donated 3,000 taels of silver.

  Upon seeing Tong Guo Wei's attitude, those who had been watching with bated breath also knew they couldn't hide anymore. Since it was a donation, they naturally wanted to make a big show of it. In an instant, a large group of high-ranking officials from the Taizi Party and Baye Party stood up one after another. The entire hall was filled with voices saying "I, your humble servant, donate 3,000 taels, I, your lowly minister, donate 2,500 taels." The whole court was in an uproar for a time, and even the recording officials, who were writing as fast as they could, found it difficult to clearly record everything.

  The enthusiasm of this donation really surprised Kangxi, it's not buying shares, why use so much enthusiasm? It seems that you all have a lot of money, next time I must severely exploit you once, this time let it go, with the 500,000 from Old Fourteen as the bottom line, there is no need to let you take advantage of it.

  After clearing his throat, Kangxi said, "This time, the renovation of the sanitation environment in Beijing was proposed by the 14th prince, Yin Zhen, who donated 500,000 taels. The 8th, 9th and 10th princes are responsible for the specific matters. I have allocated an additional 100,000 taels from the inner treasury to repair the streets, and ordered the 8th prince, Yin Xiang, to take charge of it together. As for the other princes, since they have this intention to contribute to the country and the people, I will allow it. You, ministers, do not need to donate again."

  As soon as it was said that the 14th prince alone donated 500,000 taels, many officials couldn't help but take a cold breath. No wonder they didn't ask us to donate, with this millionaire taking action, and still worrying about not having enough money? Many officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and some were secretly sighing because they lost the opportunity to show their loyalty.

  Several princes who donated money were so angry that they wanted to jump out and beat Yunqi violently. Damn, you have so much money that you don't know where to spend it. Why don't you learn from Old Fourteen? Donating 10,000 taels is nothing, and it's tiring for us to follow suit. It's two years' worth of our salary! We're not as good at making money as Old Fourteen.

  The crown prince, Yin Bi, although his face was calm and unruffled, in his heart he couldn't help but want to kick this self-willed fourth brother to death. The 20,000 taels of silver had vanished into thin air, and now he was short of money everywhere, so much so that he even wanted to rob the 'Four Great Treasures'.

  He was extremely depressed, and Wu Si's prediction was not bad. The situation was exactly as he had expected. But since you thought it was the idea of Old Fourteen, how could you not think that Old Fourteen would donate money, and a donation of 500,000 yuan at that? Now it's good, not only did we offend a group of brothers for nothing, but also threw away 15,000 taels of silver. How can I explain this to the Crown Prince and several other brothers now? What a scapegoat I am!

  The three brothers of Yongzheng were overjoyed, and it's hard to describe just how happy they were.

  Pomegranate flowers and corn are new, today whose family wine is not brewed. Worth laughing at the rivers and lakes blocking the wind guests, but following the wormwood leaves on the vermilion gate. On May 5th, Dragon Boat Festival, every household in Shanghai County was busy eating zongzi, hanging mugwort, drinking realgar wine, eating wu du cake, wearing fragrant sachets to bathe, racing dragon boats, and welcoming daughters back home.

  Zhang Mengjiao didn't return to her mother's house, yesterday she received a fast horse report from Yin Zhen's personal guard. Today at noon, Yin Zhen will arrive in Shanghai. As the saying goes, "a short farewell is better than a new marriage", and she was both newly married and bidding farewell, so early in the morning she got up, bathed, and began to carefully dress herself, changing her clothes one set after another, until it was past 11 am that she rushed out of the city to welcome him on the official road.

  Out of the west gate, rushed to the reception pavilion, at this time the reception pavilion was already a sea of people, originally according to the rules, when Yongzheng arrived in Shanghai, local officials and gentry should have gone out to welcome him thirty miles away, but Yongzheng said it was not necessary to go far to welcome him, so they decided to welcome him at the reception pavilion just two miles outside the city.

  Before the arrival of Yi Zhen, this group of people saw a specially made carriage from Liu Chun Garden approaching. They naturally knew who was sitting inside the carriage, and they all suddenly became somewhat bewildered and at a loss for what to do. Although Zhang Meng Jiao was only a concubine, in Shanghai she was Yi Zhen's only legitimate wife. On the day he married her, Yi Zhen had even made a big show of it, flaunting his love for her in public. This put everyone in an awkward position - if they didn't go to pay their respects, it would be impolite, but if they did go, it wouldn't be proper either.

  Zhu Yan Zhi, being a seasoned official, hastily went forward alone to greet her. He bowed and asked after her well-being just a few steps away from the carriage. Zhang Meng Jiao was most annoyed by these tedious formalities, and lightly said "no need for courtesy". She then lifted the curtain to get off the carriage, which startled Zhu Yan Zhi. He hastily and tactfully said: "I beg your pardon, milady, but there are many people outside with prying eyes, it would be safer for you to stay inside the carriage."

  Are there many people watching? This dead wood, he thought he had only informed his close relatives, how did so many people come? Zhang Mengjiao hesitated slightly and was about to leave, but she didn't think twice and immediately said: "What's the point of sitting in the car? Mr. Zhu, tell them not to come over to pay their respects."

  Outside, it was all rumors that this imperial concubine was the most unorthodox and rebellious. Zhu Yan Zhi had learned his lesson today and didn't dare say more. He hastily went to spread the word. When the officials heard this, they couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Zhang Yuan Long, however, showed no restraint, bringing his four sons over to pay their respects and chatting with Zhang Meng Jiao as if nothing was wrong.

  Rebirth: I Am a Glutton