Chapter 235 Giving Gifts
The government affairs were quickly discussed and several ministers left one after another.
Cui Chaoyong, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, did not leave. He looked like he was hesitating to speak: "I have an unkind request, and I would like to ask your Majesty for advice."
Emperor Tianwu looked at Cui Chaoyong in surprise: "Cui Aiqing, please tell me."
Cui Chaoyong pointed to the cup from which he had just drank tea: "I just drank this tea. It tastes very good. It is sweet in the mouth. There is also the fragrance of orchid in the tea. It is really a rare and good tea!"
"I would like to ask Your Majesty, where can I buy such tea?"
"I love tea so much that I wanted to ask the servants at home to buy some. I usually enjoy a few sips even when I'm tired."
Emperor Tianwu instantly beamed: "You mean this tea? It belongs to me..."
After swallowing the word "daughter-in-law", Emperor Tianwu turned a corner.
"The prince gave it to me through filial piety. I'll go back and ask where they can sell it, and I'll ask someone to tell you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Cui Chaoyong kowtowed again before standing up to leave.
After leaving the imperial study, the other five ministers looked at Cui Chaoyong angrily!
The Minister of Punishment snorted: "Old Cui, it's just you who's the most important one, right?"
The Minister of Industry was also unhappy: "We don't like tea, but you are the only one who likes tea?"
The Minister of Rites is a good old man, and he criticized Cui Chaoyong: "Oh, Mr. Cui, your actions show that we are not sensible."
"You bought some good tea later, but you have to share some with us!"
"Otherwise we won't spare you!"
Cui Chaoyong hurriedly cupped his hands and said apologetically: "Sorry, sorry! Cui just didn't think carefully."
"Definitely!"
The six ministers broke up unhappy. After returning home, they all asked their wives to go to Liulifang to buy.
First choose a glass cup of the same style as His Majesty, and then choose the ones you can afford and buy a few.
Using it when entertaining guests can be regarded as an explanation to His Majesty, and it will give your family face.
In the Nuan Pavilion of the East Palace, Fu Chenan was stunned for a moment when he received a message from His Majesty the Emperor: "What about the tea, the ministers want to buy it?"
He has never asked Miss Xiao about this.
But he couldn't ask at this time. Xiao Yingchun had just gone to the plum blossom feast wearing the clothes made for her by the weaving department overnight.
On the carriage, Mrs. Ningyuan Hou took Xiao Yingchun's hand and explained in a low voice the situation in Minguo's mansion.
"Their family is used to extravagance, so they built a huge Meiyuan Mountain. At this time, the plum blossoms begin to bloom, and their family holds a plum blossom appreciation party every year..."
This kind of banquet has two purposes. On the one hand, it is for men to flatter each other and find out information, so that fellow men can seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.
On the other hand, the ladies and ladies flatter each other to find out information, work hard for the future of the men in the family, and at the same time build a platform for the marriage of their children.
Xiao Yingchun knew that Ningyuan Houfu and the Fu family secretly admired and recognized each other, so he did not shy away from asking: "I heard that their family has two young ladies waiting to be married?"
Mrs. Ning Yuanhou was slightly surprised, then smiled: "I didn't expect you to know this, so I will tell you what I know..."
What Mrs. Ning Yuanhou said was almost the same as what Fu Chenan asked people to inquire about, but she seemed to have a deeper understanding of human nature.
"When you go in later, don't eat randomly. Just follow me. Don't be asked away without my reminder..."
Xiao Yingchun: "Okay. Thank you, madam."
Mrs. Ningyuan Hou smiled kindly and dotingly, patted her hand: "It's me who should thank you!"
She also heard from Ao Guangchun that many of the Fu Jiajun's things were supplied by Miss Xiao.
Clothes, shoes, medicine, iron barrels, grain, lard, tofu dregs...
This is no secret in Fu Jiajun, everyone knows it.
The whole Fu family army was grateful to Xiao Yingchun!
If it weren’t for Xiao Yingchun, they don’t know how much they would have collapsed due to injuries, illness, lack of food and clothing. When she was young, she also went to war with Marquis Ning Yuan, and she knew very well what it meant to have these things in the army.
Because there are so many good things, my stupid son can suffer a lot less.
It was also because of these things of hers that the Fu Jiajun conquered the world so smoothly this time.
It is right for the Fu family and his son to value her.
The two people were talking, and the carriage came to the door of Min Guogong's mansion.
Mrs. Ningyuan Hou pulled Xiao Yingchun forward, and the steward at the door immediately went inside to report.
When Mrs. Min Guogong heard that Mrs. Ningyuan Hou came in personally with Xiao Yingchun, she was also stunned.
"Doesn't she usually not go out?"
The aunt behind her said softly: "Young Master Ao from the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion is serving as a general in the Fu Family Army! I guess it was the Crown Prince who asked her to take this Miss Xiao, right?"
Mrs. Min Guo frowned slightly: "This is a bit troublesome..."
Mrs. Ning Yuanhou had a hot temper when she was young, very fiery.
Although I rarely go out in recent years, I can't change my temper. If something happens all of a sudden, I'm afraid I might be in trouble.
While talking, the two people quickly went to the door to meet him.
"Mrs. Zhan, I haven't seen you for a long time..."
"Mrs. Qin invited me, and I thought I hadn't seen you for a long time, so I came... Didn't you disturb the family?"
"No, no! Please, please, please..."
Mrs. Min Guo Gong greeted people to go inside, and at the same time her eyes fell on Xiao Yingchun.
This dress made of pale pink brocade is exquisite, with small round pearls sewn on the edges...
It's obvious at first glance that it's made in-house.
Even if their family couldn't get such well-made clothes, how could this Miss Xiao have them? !
It must be the handiwork of the prince.
Unexpectedly, this person is really the prince's favorite!
"Is this Miss Xiao, the boss of Liulicang?"
"Nowadays, those four shops in the Liulicang row are all making huge amounts of money every day! We are all envious when we look at it..."
This sounds okay at first glance, but when you think about it carefully, it turns out to be a trap: Doesn’t this mean that all the money earned by those four stores went into Xiao Yingchun’s pocket? !
Xiao Yingchun smiled lightly and nodded: "Those four shops are all opened by the imperial court. I am only responsible for supplying goods."
Mrs. Min Guogong's smile froze slightly: Doesn't that make her envious of the imperial court because her shop is making a lot of money every day?
She didn’t dare.
So Mrs. Min Guogong changed her explanation: "We are also envious that Miss Xiao can supply goods to the shops opened by the imperial court! Ordinary people do not have this qualification."
Xiao Yingchun smiled sincerely: "If Madam has a way to get things of the same quality and style, I think the court would be willing to sell them in the shop together."
Mrs. Min Guogong: ... Where can I get something of the same texture and style? !
Okay, that’s a lot of chatter.
Mrs. Ning Yuanhou couldn't help laughing and patted Xiao Yingchun's hand: "Mrs. Qin is joking with you! Are you serious about it?"
Xiao Yingchun also showed a smile: "I thought Mrs. Qin wanted to discuss business with me."
As they spoke, the two nuns following Mrs. Ningyuan handed over gifts.
Mrs. Ningyuan Hou gave a rosewood Buddha statue as a formal gift.
Xiao Yingchun gave him a seemingly ordinary glass of the same style as the emperor.
(End of chapter)