The first hour of Hai.
The courtyard door creaked open.
Zhu Qi crept in and said, "Young Master, I found it!"
Zhu Mo hadn't slept, but he didn't want to light a lamp. He pushed the door open and said happily, "Good! Old Seven, you truly are capable!"
Zhu Qi handed over an account book. In the faint moonlight, a few large characters were clearly visible—
Tong Xian Ji Profit Sharing Account.
Tong Xian?
A flash of inspiration struck Zhu Mo—
Wasn't this one of the eight major money houses that He Maocai of Jiangnan had invested in? It originally dealt in salt... Who was this chief manager, Gao Qingquan? Or was he from the Gao Hanwen family?
"Good! This is it!"
Zhu Mo was overjoyed. He quickly flipped it open and saw a line of small print—
Jiajing Thirty-eighth Year, Gao Hanwen, twenty-three thousand two hundred taels.
Flipping through a few more pages, he saw another line—
Jiajing Thirty-ninth Year, Gao Hanwen, forty-one thousand three hundred taels.
"Good, he is indeed a shareholder!"
Zhu Mo clutched the account book and thought: You acted unjustly first, do not blame me, Zhu Mo!
"Old Seven, do this... Take the account book with you and go find Liang Menglong immediately. Remember! Just tell him: Zhu Mo said it personally, that Tong Xian Ji of Jiangnan is where He Maocai has shares. Do you remember?"
"I remember!"
"Then, give these few pages back to him and tell him to seal it tomorrow morning at Si Shi. I'll be in the Jinling Ji area. There will be a good show to watch then!"
"Alright!"
...
At the same time, within the Yuxi Palace.
Jiajing soaked his feet in pine water as usual, with Lü Fang attending him. The two were discussing the disaster relief in Xuan Da. Jiajing's good impression of Zhu Mo had risen, and he thought of the house matter again, unable to help but urge:
"Lü Fang, when will your nephew's house be ready? We old men can go and congratulate him on moving in one of these days..."
Lü Fang smiled and said, "Your servant has already sent people to clean it. It should be ready in a couple of days... Alas, he ought to have a house. Such a good person, when the time is right, Your Majesty must also find him a wife, right?"
"Ha, you're being cheeky~~~"
Jiajing cursed with a laugh. He remembered getting married at fourteen, and Zhu Mo looked about eighteen or nineteen. It was time he found a good match, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to manage his household...
As the two were chatting warmly, a eunuch suddenly announced—
"Prince Yu requests an audience..."
Oh?
The two were instantly stunned.
Lü Fang saw that Jiajing was very displeased and forced a smile, saying, "Prince Yu also has it difficult. He respects and fears Your Majesty. Your servant remembers he has never actively come to the palace before..."
Jiajing gave him a sideways glance and said, "Who doesn't have it difficult? To be a Crown Prince, one must be cautious and fearful... Over forty, it seems he has changed his ways..."
"Yes, let's hope he understands the Emperor's intentions..."
"Hmph! What intentions do I have? You are guessing wildly, you servant!"
At this moment,
Prince Yu, in formal attire, walked in with his head bowed, holding a brocade box.
"Father Emperor, long live!"
Prince Yu performed the prescribed rituals, kneeling and kowtowing three times meticulously.
But Jiajing had always disliked excessive etiquette. He simply smiled faintly and said, "Yes, you may be excused... I have said that propriety is a sign of shallow loyalty and trustworthiness... If it can be exempted, then let it be exempted!"
Seeing Prince Yu suddenly become awkward, Lü Fang smiled and said, "Your Highness, coming to pay respects so late, is there something specific?"
Prince Yu gave him a grateful look and said sternly, "Father Emperor, your son has recently obtained a piece of Goryeo ginseng. It has already taken shape and is quite rare... Your son dares not waste it and specially presents it to Father Emperor for his health..."
Oh?
Lü Fang took it and looked, saying happily, "Ah, it has indeed taken shape! Rare, truly rare... Your Majesty, quickly look!"
Unexpectedly,
Jiajing only smiled faintly and said, "What is there to see? Man is the thief of all things in the world, and all things in the world are also the thieves of man. Replenishment, replenishment, where there is replenishment, there must be harm..."
But before he finished speaking, he saw the fear on Prince Yu's face and couldn't help but soften. He said, "Very well... After all, it is your filial piety... Alas, it is rare that you still remember this old man, me... Lü Fang, accept it!"
Prince Yu immediately responded, "Your son and his Consort, Madam Li, have been concerned about the people of Xuan Da during this time. So, Madam Li's younger brother, Li Shuo, has donated the ten thousand bolts of silk Your Majesty rewarded last year. They arrived in the capital this morning, and your son has already had the Ministry of Revenue register them."
Oh...
Lü Fang couldn't help but look at Prince Yu with a newfound respect.
Unexpectedly,
Jiajing suddenly became angry—
They didn't think of solving the problem when it arose, but now that it's over, they come out to curry favor? If it weren't for Zhu Mo, I would still be begging Yan Shifan to provide money for disaster relief... And you? You're coming out now to pretend to be a good person?
He looked at Prince Yu's respectful appearance and suddenly felt particularly useless. He couldn't help but say coldly:
"How can what I bestow be taken back? Prince Yu, the Li family is after all related to our Zhu family by marriage. How can we take back what was given to relatives? Even if the court is poor, we cannot mistreat our own in-laws..."
Uh~~
Prince Yu was immediately choked.
Lü Fang playfully said, "Your Majesty, is not Prince Yu's Consort also worried about the people? This intention is also rare..."
But Jiajing only waved his hand, not saying another word, his face full of disdain. Prince Yu was immediately at a loss and had to retreat awkwardly.
Looking at Prince Yu's retreating back, Lü Fang couldn't help but sigh softly—
These father and son, their personalities are too different! One is a Daoist, and the other is so full of elaborate rules and trifles, cautious in everything...
Who would believe they were father and son if they didn't know?
And Jiajing, ever since he found his fifth son, Zhu Zai Mo, his mind had been fully opened. He looked at Prince Yu with increasing dissatisfaction.
You must know,
His life was devoted to Daoism, and he hated pretense the most!
And Prince Yu, throughout his life, had revered Confucius and Mencius. Although there was nothing wrong with that, Jiajing couldn't stand looking at him. This was a conflict rooted in their very beings. In the past, because he had no heir, Jiajing could tolerate it. But after Zhu Mo appeared, his dislike for Prince Yu was no longer concealed.
At this moment,
He glanced sideways at the brocade box Lü Fang had opened. The old ginseng root was indeed very large, a rare superior product. But for some reason, he couldn't feel happy—
When will Prince Yu truly take on the responsibility of state affairs? What is the use of all this superficiality? Look at Zhu Mo, he rushes into water and fire, capable of making money and getting things done!
This Great Ming needs a person with a sense of responsibility...
Thinking of this, Jiajing's expression became unpredictable.
Lü Fang, who had known him for forty years, immediately understood his thoughts and couldn't help but sigh—
The Great Ming had reached a crossroads, and it was truly not a time for luxury and enjoyment... With state affairs in such a state, who would have the mood to eat old ginseng? Moreover, this Emperor valued his reputation the most. How could he be happy about returning what was given to relatives?
Furthermore, Zhu Mo had already brought back over a million, and the Xuan Da disaster was resolved. What use would these ten thousand bolts of silk be?
Alas,
This Prince Yu,
Truly has no clue about the Emperor's thoughts.
...
The next morning,
Zhu Mo, at the agreed-upon time, brought Xiao Xiao Sheng, hired a few people, and had already arrived at the entrance of Jinling Ji.
Three or four attendants immediately opened the sacks and divided the salt into small bags, one liang per bag, and placed them on a large flat table.
Zhu Mo personally wrote a notice with only a few words—
Mo Ji Sea Salt, Free Tasting.
If it doesn't dissolve in the mouth, ten times compensation!
After the characters were written, he asked Xiao Xiao Sheng to call out.
He had imitated the handwriting of Emperor Taizu of Ming. The characters were not only elegant but also exuded a powerful aura that dared not be directly confronted. As soon as it was hung up, it attracted many onlookers.
"This handwriting is so awesome!"
"I think the current Grand Secretary Yan, who is considered a calligrapher, would have to bow his head in admiration..."
"Yes, good writing, rarely seen..."
"It has the style of the Jin Dynasty!"
"But I heard this salt is sand soaked in seawater?"
"Who knows? We'll just look at the writing, never mind anything else!"
"..."
A dozen or so scholars, with their heads shaking and looking excited, commented. They occasionally mentioned rumors, but no one dared to discuss them further.
At the same time,
Forty or fifty people who wanted to buy salt came out of Jinling Ji. Upon seeing Zhu Mo, they shouted—
"Young Master Zhu!"
"Young Master Zhu is here!"
"Make way for Young Master Zhu!"
"Young Master Zhu, please come in!"
"..."
Although they were equally polite, none of them dared to mention the matter of paying a deposit anymore.