Prince Ningxuan seldom appears in public. Before this year, the impression that the young men in the capital had of him was just a name that Cong Rongzheng mentioned occasionally or that someone else mentioned.
This name is usually preceded by other modifiers—
Fool, sickly, short-lived...
This is how Prince Ningxuan should show himself to everyone.
But now in the Shaohua Palace, on New Year's Eve, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, the singing and dancing ended, amid the splendor, the emperor and empress were majestic and dignified, and all the officials were solemn and polite. Rong Tang stood in front of the hall, looking as if he would be blown down by the wind at any time. He couldn't help coughing lightly after saying a few words. He used all his strength to finish this sentence, and everyone was silent.
I couldn't hear what he was saying because I was not quiet, and when I heard it, I was shocked.
Zhang Ge Lao and others even subconsciously shifted their gaze to Rong Mingyu, looking at him and thinking for several times.
How does this look like a retarded child
Why did the Ningxuan Palace have a fool who was destined to die early as the crown prince
They began to suspect whether Rong Mingyu had other intentions, but because they couldn't reveal them to others, they pushed Rong Tang to cover up their tracks.
After Ke Rongtang finished speaking, he stood respectfully at the bottom. He could not look directly at the emperor's face in the court, so he focused his gaze on a piece of bright yellow dragon robe in front of the steps.
He had seen dragon robes like this many times.
Emperor Renshou wore it, and Su Huaijing also wore it.
The latter is much more suitable than the former.
Emperor Renshou sat in the main seat, frowning slightly. He looked at Rong Tang for a long while without saying a word, then turned his gaze back to Ke Hongxue and Sheng Chengming. After inspecting them several times, everyone held their breath and listened to the emperor's deep voice: "You deserve a reward."
Rong Mingyu had no expression on his face, but he looked as if he had just breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up and walked to Rong Tang, pulled his arm, and without saying anything, dragged him to kneel on the cold floor with him, making two dull thuds.
Su Huaijing's eyes suddenly turned cold and he clenched his fingers into fists.
Rong Mingyu said in a clear voice: "My son is ignorant, but luckily he still has some kindness in his heart. He helps your majesty and helps the people. It is his blessing. How dare he ask for a reward from your majesty? Please don't torture my son."
[He is cursing you to die soon.] The system popped up again.
Rong Tang was startled, and asked in his mind with a smile: "Aren't you in hibernation?"
System: [I woke up again. ]
Rong Tang laughed, but didn't expose his words. Instead, he said, "Rong Mingyu has been looking forward to my death for a long time."
The word "blessings and virtues" is usually used for older people, who hope that the blessings accumulated in this life can be used in the next life, so that they can be assigned a good fate in the Hades' palace.
As for Rong Tang, this body would only be twenty years old after today, just reaching the age of twenty. To say that he had accumulated good fortune was just to emphasize once again that Rong Tang would not live long.
The system is angry: [He is so hateful! ]
"Don't worry about him." Rong Tang said, turning his head to glance at the seats on the east side.
His original intention was to see if Wang Xiuyu felt upset because of Rong Mingyu's words, but in the blink of an eye he saw the subtle expression on Su Huaijing's face.
—Or rather, no expression.
Su Huaijing was angry, and Rong Tang realized this clearly in his mind at the first moment.
The moment their eyes met, he paused, his expression slightly relaxed, as if he was worried that he would scare Rong Tang.
Rong Tang frowned slightly. He couldn't interrupt his parents when they were talking to the emperor. But although the person involved didn't mind Rong Mingyu's words, Wang Xiuyu and Su Huaijing were both unhappy after hearing them, so Rong Tang wanted to stop him.
He thought about it for a while, straightened his back and was about to speak, but he heard Ke Hongxue say with a smile: "Prince Rong has served the country and the people, and I admire him very much. Even the ancient sages would be inferior to him in character and responsibility."
Rong Tang: “…”
He silently shrank his straight back, found a comfortable position to kneel down, and listened to Master Ke's talk with peace of mind.
As soon as Ke Hongxue finished speaking, he changed the subject and asked, "I would like to ask you a question. Has the prince reported the money and food he donated to the disaster area to his family?"
Rong Mingyu was puzzled, and didn't understand why this kid from the Ke family wanted to get involved.
But Ke Hongxue's family had an extraordinary status in the capital, and Emperor Renshou had to give some face to people they respected.
But now Rong Mingyu was kneeling and Ke Hongxue was standing. If he replied to the third place winner, it would be like not distinguishing between the superior and the inferior. Neither he nor Ke Hongxue could bear the criticism from the censors.
Emperor Renshou raised his hand, looking impatient: "The ground is cold, get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Rong Mingyu said, then stood up, turned to Ke Hongxue, and answered his question: "For such a small matter, Tang'er can make the decision on his own. You don't need to report to me."
Ke Hongxue smiled and said, "I guess so, but Your Majesty, do you really know how much money the Crown Prince spent on disaster relief?"
Rong Mingyu frowned and said nothing, and Rong Tang moved back silently.
Ke Hongxue said: "We collected 10,000 dan of polished rice alone, 10 carts of medicinal herbs, and thousands of pieces of cloth and hemp, not to mention the real money and silver notes sent to Suzhou Prefecture after the disaster."
He paused for a moment and said with a smile, "I just happened to pass by and didn't know the details. I think the Second Prince has kept track of the number?"
Sheng Chengming nodded immediately after hearing the conversation and said, "The total amount is 30,000 taels of silver, and all the accounts have been recorded."
During the days of heavy rain in the south of the Yangtze River, Rong Tang was in pain all the time and had no mood or time to calculate how much silver he had given away. When he heard Sheng Chengming put it into concrete form, he was stunned for a moment and turned around to look at Su Huaijing.
The latter nodded to him, indicating that there was no need to worry, and Rong Tang knew that everything was under his control.
[…] The system's electric current stuttered for a long time, and said: [Did he calculate this half a year ago?]
Rong Tang was also surprised, but said, "It shouldn't be."
When Ke Hongxue pointed at him just now, a look of surprise flashed across Su Huaijing's face. It seemed that this drama was not what Su Huaijing had expected.
The big villain has to watch his own drama, which, if nothing unexpected happens, actually starts from today and will unfold year by year.
But before that, Master Ke just wanted to make some money for Rong Tang in advance.
Ke Hongxue said: "Thirty thousand taels of silver, even if it is a first-rank official in the court, it would take thirty years to save up this much silver. The prince, a mere person, could take out so much silver at will, which is really astonishing."
Rong Tang said he was the prince of Ning Xuan Wang, but in fact he had no power or title. The fact that he received the emperor's salary meant that he would receive some rewards from the palace at the end of the year, but in fact he had no financial source from the officialdom.
When he went south, he easily took out 30,000 taels of silver. Not only did Prince Ning Xuan say in person that it was entirely up to him to decide on the matter, he also took the initiative to refuse the reward when the emperor wanted to offer it. One can't help but wonder, how rich is Prince Ning Xuan's mansion to allow a prince to be so generous
What's more, how many of those paths to wealth and fortune are filled with shameful activities
Emperor Renshou was suspicious by nature, and Ke Hongxue's simple words were enough to drive a thorn into his heart.
Rong Tang has been stupid for many years, he is still young, and has not entered the court. Moreover, Rong Mingyu personally emphasized that he will die soon and needs to accumulate more merits and virtues. Therefore, his behavior can be understood as childish ignorance.
But what about Rong Mingyu
Where did he get such a huge fortune
Those present who were unaware of the situation almost thought that Master Ke was questioning Rong Tang and using this as a pretext to target Rong Mingyu. Even Sheng Chengming was startled when he heard the words. He lowered his head to hide his expression, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists in his sleeves.
But on Rongtang's side, Mu Jingxu shook his head slightly after hearing what Ke Hongxue said, poured the cold tea on the other side of the table into the plate, poured another cup and put it aside waiting for Ke Hongxue to come back.
Su Huaijing sat there, his face calm, his eyes only occasionally falling on the dust on the hem of Rong Tang's robe, which was extremely glaring.
And what about Rong Tang
If this matter could not be confirmed, he would have wanted to pretend to be panicked and trick Rong Mingyu again.
Everyone in the hall had different thoughts and each had their own ulterior motives. The emperor was silent for a long time, and no one dared to speak to break the silence until the second prince's mother, Concubine Yi, held her belly and let out a soft "ouch".
Emperor Renshou's attention was drawn away, and the maidservant beside Concubine Yi immediately came out and saluted: "Your Majesty, it's time for the queen to drink the pregnancy-preserving medicine."
Concubine Yi's belly was already showing, and it was bigger than a normal five-month-old baby. Emperor Renshou looked at her belly, his face slightly brightened, showing some fatherly concern: "Carefully help the queen down."
Concubine Yi picked up the white porcelain bone cup on the table and bowed: "I will use tea instead of wine to wish your majesty good health and long life."
Emperor Renshou raised his wine glass and took a sip. Concubine Yi then withdrew. Everyone stood up to see her off. When they sat down again, the smoke from the explosion had subsided a little.
Rong Mingyu said naturally, "Since Tang'er was born, the Princess gave him several shops, and his maternal grandfather's family also gave him several farms. In addition, he has his share of the palace, and the treasures bestowed on him by His Majesty, the Queen Mother, and the Empress every year. Although 30,000 taels of silver is a lot, it is not impossible to collect it. Why is Master Ke so surprised?"
He paused, then replied, "If we talk about the wealth of your family, who in the world doesn't know that your father is the richest man in Jiangnan?"
Mu Jingxu's expression stiffened slightly, and he frowned and looked at Rong Mingyu.
Rong Tang felt disgusted in his heart, and once again felt that the original novel's description of King Ning Xuan was absolutely correct.
Ke Hongxue pointed out the wealth of the palace with the intention of arousing Emperor Renshou's suspicion towards Rong Mingyu. Rong Mingyu turned around and not only shared the responsibility, but also stepped on Ke Hongxue.
The Ke family's wealth is truly known to the world.
"He really is worthy of being called a dog by Emperor Renshou's side." Rong Tang complained to the system.
Whoever you catch will be bitten.
[really.]
Ke Hongxue was not nervous about being challenged, but just smiled and said, "Your Highness is right. It is true that I am short-sighted. My grandfather and father always taught me that it is easy to establish a business but difficult to maintain it. Therefore, I am a well-known vulgar person when it comes to money. I think that I should be frugal if I can, so as not to let the family business accumulated by my parents be ruined by me. That's why I think of others as my own. It is really offensive to ask this question."
[Is he calling the emperor? ] the system asked.
Rong Tang: “Yeah.”
Not to mention the contributions that the Ke family has made to Dayu every year, there has been collusion between officials and businessmen since ancient times, but asking officials to do business will only backfire.
Ke Xuebao's talent for business and Ke Wenrui's status as a great scholar meant that no matter which emperor sat on the throne, he would have to give face to the Ke family.
After the incident in the 25th year of Yuanxing, the Ke family once again stood firmly by the side of the new emperor. At that time, everything was in ruins. If it were not for Ke Xuebao's generosity, the coronation ceremony of Emperor Renshou would have become shabby.
Ke Hongxue's words not only mean that it is easy to establish a career but difficult to maintain it, but also that it is easy to be a king who is in decline but difficult to be a king who maintains the success.
Ke Hongxue wanted to be the one who would preserve the business, and the Ke family supported the emperor, so Emperor Renshou was naturally the one who deserved to be the one who would preserve the business in Ke Hongxue's mind.
He didn't even need to defend himself. He just needed to make his position clear and give Emperor Renshou a hint, and the emperor would naturally complement his opinion.
No matter how many times the Ke family surrenders, Emperor Renshou will never get tired of it. Of course, the more the better, and the more loyal the better.
Emperor Renshou loved to hear officials flatter him the most, and when Ke Hongxue flattered him so subtly but sincerely, he would be happy once he understood it.
Sure enough, just as Rong Tang finished answering the system's question, a low voice came from the podium: "It's easy to start a business, but difficult to maintain it..."
The emperor was in deep thought and no one dared to respond.
In a flash, or perhaps just a moment, Emperor Renshou laughed and looked at Ke Hongxue and said, "It's easy to establish a business but hard to maintain it. Hanying is right! Even if the father-in-law and aunt gave Tang'er a lot of wealth, there is no reason for him to spend all his savings for me."
He turned to Rong Tang and interrupted Rong Mingyu directly, his face warm: "Tang'er has made a great contribution this time, and your aunt has not been in vain for telling me how smart you are. Your uncle wants to thank you very much. I will double the 30,000 taels you spent on disaster relief this time!"
Rong Tang was about to kneel down to express his gratitude, but he heard him say, "Don't be in a hurry. This is a return, not a reward. Don't be in a hurry to express your gratitude."
Queen Wang said hurriedly, "That's enough."
Emperor Renshou shook his head: "Alas! How can this be enough? Order the Ministry of Internal Affairs to draft an edict, and all rewards given to Prince Ningxuan should be in accordance with the standards for the princes."
"Yes." said the eunuch.
Rong Tang then knelt down and kowtowed to express his gratitude.
Emperor Renshou smiled and asked him to stand up. He scanned the hall with his hawk-like eyes and asked, "Didn't Tangtang get married this year? Where is the Crown Prince's Consort?"
(End of this chapter)