The next day, accompanied by Duke Wei and others, Chen Hong and other eunuchs ate, drank and had fun around Yingtian for a day. In the evening, they went to Confucius Temple. When it was getting dark, Chen Hong was in the mood to go boating on the Qinhuai River and tour the ten-mile Qinhuai River.
"My favorite line of poetry is 'The merchant woman knows not the sorrow of losing her country, she still sings the song of the back garden across the river'. I hope you all will remember this poem. As for us, we should always think about serving the court and His Majesty."
Chen Hong sat on a cruise ship, appreciating the Qinhuai River and the brightly lit brothels and taverns on both sides of the river, and spoke to the Duke of Wei and other accompanying officials while pinching his fingers.
"Listening to the eunuch's words is better than reading ten years of books. When I go back, I will frame this line, 'The merchant woman knows not the sorrow of losing her country, and still sings the song of the back garden across the river', and hang it in the study. Every time I enter the study, I will recite it silently to remind myself to remember the eunuch's teachings and always think about serving the court and the emperor."
As soon as Chen Hong finished speaking, an official clapped his hands in praise, looking as if he had benefited a lot.
"Angels are indeed angels. Their realm is different. No wonder they can be entrusted with such an important task by His Majesty. When we tour the Qinhuai River, we can only see the bustling brothels and wine shops on both sides of the river, and the fragrance of rouge on the Qinhuai River. However, you can see the loyalty to the country and the loyalty to the emperor, and the infinite care and love for the country. This realm is beyond our reach. We still have a lot to learn. Thank you for your teachings."
Another official was not to be outdone. He stepped forward and bowed deeply, like a student greeting his teacher, to thank Chen Hong for his teachings.
"Thank you for your teachings, eunuch." A group of officials came forward to express their gratitude.
Duke Wei opened his mouth for a long time but couldn't utter a word. Everything he wanted to say had been said by this group of officials.
"No, no, I'm just expressing my feelings casually." Chen Hong covered his mouth with his handkerchief and narrowed his eyes with a smile.
"The more casual, the more sincere it is. This sentence shows how the public is always concerned about the country and the people, and how he wants to serve the emperor."
A group of officials came forward to flatter him.
Chen Hong could not help but squint his eyes as he was surrounded by people and flattered by them. He was just the seal holder of the Imperial Stables, and was ordered to convey the emperor's orders, but these officials flattered him so much. If he became the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department and reached the pinnacle of eunuchs, these officials would crawl at his feet. Haha, it would definitely be even more satisfying then.
After sightseeing for a day and a night, Chen Hong asked about the nearby scenery and seemed to have no intention of returning to Beijing.
Zhu Ping'an and other officials who were to receive the imperial edict had no choice but to stay in Yingtian. According to etiquette and convention, they had to see off the angels such as Chen Hong. It would be unreasonable for you not to see them off when they have come all the way to announce the imperial edict to you.
"I heard that Qixia Mountain is the most beautiful mountain in Jinling. I want to see it. I wonder if there is such an opportunity."
On the second day, Chen Hong expressed his interest in Mount Qixia, and Duke Wei and others naturally promised to make arrangements.
So, Chen Hong and others, accompanied by Duke Wei and others, played in Yingtian day after day.
Chen Hong and others had been eating, drinking and having fun in Yingtian for three days, and still had no intention of returning to Beijing to report.
During these three days, whenever Chen Hong returned home, officials, wealthy businessmen, and gentry came to visit him in an endless stream. Chen Hong was humble and never turned anyone away. He opened his arms to embrace guests from all directions, and the door of his home was open 24 hours a day.
These people came to visit Chen Hong, and none of them came empty-handed. Chen Hong also cared about their health and felt that they were too tired to carry so many things. He enthusiastically helped them lighten their burden so that they did not have to bear the weight of worldly things and could go out and fight lightly.
The conversation might take a few words, a cup of tea, or even a stick of incense. All the visitors returned with satisfaction and joy, which showed that they all got what they wanted.
"Tsk tsk, Chen Hong really accepted the gift this time, at least tens of thousands of taels of silver, I'm really jealous..."
"No wonder they stayed for so many days. It turned out they wanted to collect money. I'll say no more. I'm going to exchange silver for pearls. It's not that I'm trying to curry favor with the eunuchs, but mainly because everyone else is going there. If I don't go, I'll feel a bit out of place..."
All the officials were sharp-eyed and sharp-eared people, and they all knew what was going on in Chen Hong's mansion.
On the fourth day, everyone thought that Chen Hong might go for a walk somewhere else, and they were already considering taking Chen Hong to visit Wuyi Lane.
However, Chen Hong informed Duke Wei and others that they would set off for Beijing today.
This means that he was satisfied with the gifts and finally willing to leave, everyone couldn't help but think secretly in their hearts.
At around ten o'clock in the morning, the banks of the Qinhuai River outside the Chaotian Palace were crowded with people, all coming to see Chen Hong and others off on their journey back to Beijing.
All the officials who had come to receive the imperial edict last time, whether they were rewarded or punished or not, came to see him off without any hesitation. Officials from Yingtian and nearby areas who had not received the imperial edict but were qualified came to see Chen Hong off. Some gentry and wealthy businessmen who had interests in Chen Hong also came to see him off. There were also some onlookers who, although driven away a hundred meters by the officers, still watched the excitement from a distance.
At the Qinhuai River wharf outside Chaotian Palace, more than ten ships have been packed up and are ready to set sail at any time.
"Thank you all, gentlemen, and fellow villagers for seeing me off. I am deeply moved."
Chen Hong stood on the shore and clasped his fists to thank everyone.
"Thank you for your hard work, eunuch. Have a safe journey." A group of officials bowed and saw him off.
"It's not hard, not hard, but before I leave, I have one more thing to do." Chen Hong smiled slightly, his eyes swept across the crowd, paused in one direction, and said something shocking.
"Another errand?"
"What errand?"
The officials were all stunned. Why was there still work to do? If there was work to do, why didn't they do it earlier? Why did they have to do it today? !
"An errand?! Could it be an errand to buy pearls? Haven't many people given you pearls these days?!"
"You are not using the name of the job to make more money, are you too greedy? Aren't the gold, silver and jewelry I sent you in the past few days enough?! It took several large carts to load the ship just now. You are surnamed Li. You should know that you got off the ship empty-handed four days ago!"
Everyone was secretly complaining in their hearts.
As for the errand, everyone was confused and speculated whether Chen Hong wanted to take the opportunity to make money, otherwise why did he do it now? If it wasn't to make money, what kind of errand could it be that he dared to delay it until just before leaving? !
Among the crowd, there was only one exception, and that was Zhu Ping'an.
When Zhu Ping'an heard Chen Hong say that there was another errand, his mind shuddered, especially when Zhu Ping'an noticed that Chen Hong glanced at Zhang Jing's location when he said there was another errand, Zhu Ping'an became even more certain.
Here it comes!!!
It’s finally here!!!!