It was definitely not necessary for Prince Yu to go in person to give gifts and bribes to Yan Shifan. Officials from Prince Yu's mansion could go. However, in order to show Prince Yu's attention to Yan Shifan, the status of the officials who went to give gifts could not be low. In this way, the range of officials suitable for the task of giving gifts and bribes was fixed at Gao Gong, Chen Yiqin, Yin Shidan, and Zhu Ping'an.
So who should go
When Prince Yu looked around at everyone, he finally turned his gaze to Zhu Ping'an.
Since the idea was proposed by Zhu Ping'an, no one is more suitable than Zhu Ping'an to carry out this task.
Seeing this, Zhu Pingan couldn't help but coughed, and said with a bitter smile: "Ahem... Your Highness, last month I inspected Taicang and uncovered the theft case of the Taicang silver vault. Yan Shifan was also fined 12,000 silver. Now, I don't know how much Yan Shifan hates me, I'd better not go..."
In fact, Zhu Ping'an had such concerns on one hand, but of course the most important thing was out of consideration for others. One should not be too greedy. It is enough for him to make suggestions, and the credit for specific implementation should be left to others.
After Zhu Ping'an finished speaking, Prince Yu thought for a moment, nodded slowly, then turned his gaze to Chen Yiqin, and said with a cupped hand, "Master Chen, thank you for taking the trouble to make this trip."
"I am willing to serve Your Highness." Chen Yiqin stood up happily, "But for the sake of safety, let Zihou accompany me."
Uh, Lord Chen, didn’t I just say that? Zhu Pingan stood up and prepared to say it again.
"Zihou, I understand your concerns, but don't you think that if you accompany me to give gifts and bribes to Yan Shifan, Yan Shifan's sense of conquest will be stronger?" Chen Yiqin looked at Zhu Ping'an with a smile and used the tactic of using his own spear to attack his shield, blocking all of Zhu Ping'an's excuses.
"Well, Zihou, please take the trouble to accompany Master Chen on this journey." Upon hearing this, Prince Yu nodded slightly.
Well, okay, since Prince Yu has spoken, Zhu Ping'an had no choice but to agree.
Because Prince Yu's mansion was struggling to make ends meet, bribery and gift giving could not be delayed. They split into two groups to inquire about the market and raise money...
Around ten o'clock in the morning, Zhu Ping'an and Chen Yiqun rushed from Prince Yu's Mansion to Yan's Mansion.
The two carried 1500 taels of silver notes with them, which was the money for Yan Shifan. It was easy to find out the market price of Yan Shifan's gifts, which was almost "clearly marked" in the circle. According to the market price, 1300 taels would be enough, but for the sake of safety, they still rounded up 1500 taels of silver.
Of the 1,500 taels of silver notes, 1,000 taels were obtained by Prince Yu from Concubine Du Kang in the harem, 150 taels were lent to Prince Yu by Feng Bao after he heard about it, and the remaining 350 taels were raised by Gao Gong, Chen Yiqin, Yin Shidan and Zhu Ping'an.
Chen Yiqin, Gao Gong and Yin Shidan each contributed 100 taels of silver, and Zhu Ping'an contributed 50 taels of silver.
Although Zhu Ping'an contributed the least, he moved Prince Yu the most because Prince Yu knew that Zhu Ping'an had been fined 160 taels of silver by his father not long ago, and before that, he was fined one year's salary... Zhu Ping'an was so poor that he had to open a Zhuji fast food restaurant to sell pig offal. These 50 taels of silver were probably all the money Zhu Ping'an had earned from Zhuji and everything his family had.
Prince Yu's Mansion is not close to Yan's Mansion, and walking or taking a sedan chair would take too much time, so Zhu Ping'an and Chen Yiqin went directly to Yan's Mansion on horseback.
Chen Yiqin was concerned about Prince Yu's gift, so he rode at full speed on the way to Yan's mansion.
The Shamatte dark horse saw how the horse in front of it was treated, and probably was afraid of being whipped, so he was particularly competitive today. Without Zhu Ping'an whipping him, he just started running wildly, surpassing the horse in front of him in just a few breaths and running to the front.
After about two quarters of an hour, Zhu Ping'an and his companions arrived at a street in front of Yan's residence. Going along this street, they arrived at Yan's residence.
After arriving at the street, Zhu Ping'an slowed down his horse and did not go forward along the street. Instead, he turned his horse's head and headed towards another alley.
"Hey, Zihou, we've gone the wrong way. The Yan residence is in front, not over there."
Seeing this, Chen Yiqin couldn't help but call out to Zhu Pingan.
"Haha, it can't be wrong, Master Chen, just follow me."
Zhu Ping'an reined in the Shamatte dark horse, turned around and waved to Chen Yiqin, and said with a mysterious smile.
"Zihou, I've been to Yan's house several times. Just go along this street. You're going in the wrong direction." Chen Yiqin shook his head and looked at Zhu Ping'an and said seriously, "We should focus on the important things. It won't be too late to do other things after we finish the important things."
"Master Chen, are you going to just hand the money over to Yan Shifan like this?"
Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but laugh when he heard that. He turned his horse around, rode to Chen Yiqin's side, and asked with a smile.
"Well, isn't that what bribery is all about?"
Chen Yiqin nodded and looked at Zhu Pingan with a strange expression.
Seeing Chen Yiqin's reaction, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but think of the time when he paid a visit to Yan Song and was mocked and reminded by the fat man behind him.
"Sir Chen, Yan Shifan will not accept such a gift." Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly and shook his head.
"Huh?" Chen Yiqin was confused.
"This way of giving gifts can easily leave handles and hidden dangers. A smart person like Yan Shifan will not accept them." Zhu Ping'an looked around and then explained to Chen Yiqin in a low voice, "Go forward, there is an alley in front of you, and there is a study in the alley, called 'Henian Study', which is opened by Yan Nian, the butler of the Yan Mansion. Yan Nian's name is 'Henian'. Henian Study specializes in selling fans, and each fan is not marked with a price. You can pay as much as you want to bribe a fan. The clerk of the study will write the price you pay after your name card and transfer it to the Yan Mansion through the back door. At that time, this fan will be the pass to the Yan Mansion, and the gatekeepers of the Yan Mansion will give priority to those who hold the Henian Study fan to enter and pay their respects."
"Uh... Yan Shifan is really a genius. He can actually think of this way to collect bribes." Upon hearing this, Chen Yiqin quickly figured out the ins and outs and couldn't help but admire Yan Shifan's way of collecting bribes.
What was unique about Yan Shifan's bribery was that Henian Study made bribery and corruption legal and normalized through the sale of fans.
As for the price of the fan?!
This is a matter of mutual consent. Besides, there are calligraphy and painting on the fan. In a sense, calligraphy and painting are priceless. As long as you like it, no amount of money is too much.
To put it another way, even if there is a problem, this Henian Study was opened by Yan Nian, what does it have to do with me, Yan Shifan? !
"This little thief Yan Shifan really deserves the title of 'the first genius of Jiajing'. Fortunately, Zihou is with me today, otherwise I'm afraid I can't even get into the door of Yan's mansion. Even if I get in, I can't do this job well." Chen Yiqin couldn't help but sigh.
"Master Chen, you are too serious. These are nothing. Even if I don't tell you, someone in front of the Yan Mansion will tell you."
Zhu Pingan shook his head modestly.
"Zihou, don't be so modest."
Chen Yiqin smiled slightly, and then said, "Then let's go and see Henian Study."
After saying this, the two men turned their horses around and headed towards Henian's study.