Chapter 127 – Qing Transmigration Tale (36)
The day that Si Ye held the tea banquet, the weather was very good. The vibrant winter jasmine were placed in pots around the flower hall, adding some fresh spring.
The tea was the spring tea that Lin Yu Tong had made herself. When boiling water was poured into the tea bowls, the tea leaves would spread out, like four leaf clovers. When they rippled through the water, the faint tea fragrance rose up, and it was very good.
These princes were all experts in tea and knew what was good. While this was not tribute tea and not famous, the taste was rare.
“Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!” Third Prince savored the fragrance and said, “Four, I always said that you are selfish with what you have. I did not wrongly accuse you.” The meaning was that why did you not share such good things with brothers earlier?
Si Ye laughed. “Princess Consort just roasted it this year. This brother just found that it is very good, and you brothers have immediately be invited? Just a cup of clear tea. As long as Third Brother does not feel it is very boring.”
“So Fourth Sister-in-law made it herself!” Fifth Prince was very surprised. “But if it is just roasted, new tea has to be transported from the south. This is not possible.”
Si Ye nodded and said with a smile, “A few years ago, I had people transport tea seedlings from the south, and got them back to the establishment in pots. Your sister-in-law has been rearing them in the flower room all this time, and they grew well. It is just they do not produce a lot. She just roasted them a few days ago, and there is only half a catty. I tasted it and it is good, so I called everyone to taste it.” He said like he only held this event for tasting tea, and it had nothing to do with silver.
Eighth Prince laughed. “In terms of days, Fourth Brother lives the most comfortably. Us brothers are not served in person by our princess consorts like this. Eating, clothing, use, attention was paid to all this. Your days can be described as very refined.”
He looked at Ninth Prince and waited for him to take over.
Ninth Prince laughed, and just nodded along. But he did not say anything else to help.
Fifth Prince raised his eyebrows in shock. Had Nine grown up in cleverness a bit? Should he be gratified that the other had not completely sold himself?
Fourteen looked around, and then put the teacup back on the table. He thought of how easily his fourth brother had given him the silver and that you that it was his brother. Now, when his brother was in difficulty, if he did not start, who would start this? So he said, “Fourth Brother, since we are all here today, then let’s get the main matter done. We all know you are having difficulties with the repayments to the Ministry of Revenue. Us brothers should not be so polite. I will give you the silver today, and end this matter.”
Si Ye’s lips curved slightly. Fourteen was not stupid to the bone. He nodded. “That works.” Then he looked at Su Pei Sheng. He saw Su Pei Sheng understand his meaning and leave. Then he said, “The officials of the Ministry of Revenue are coincidentally discussing matters today at my establishment. You can just give it directly to them.”
So he had even invited them, just to inspect the accounts and erase the debts.
Fourteen smiled and said, “That is perfect. It saves me having to run to the Ministry of Revenue and having people laugh at me.”
They worked together to take care of the matter today.
The people from the Ministry of Revenue did not qualify to enter the flower hall. They were all waiting outside. The princes all sent their personal eunuchs over to take care of the matter.
In just a while, almost two million silver in certificates was in hand.
The officials trembled holding the silver certificates. Si Ye had borrowed people from the imperial guards to escort the silver back to the Ministry of Revenue.
Si Ye did not mention silver at all, but the hardest bit of silver to get back had come back like this.
The pastries were placed on the table, all made from the canned fruit from last year. In the spring, fresh fruit had not come yet, and the ones in storage were not fresh. The canned ones had a different taste.
The brothers talked and laughed as though they only came today to taste tea.
Two concubines in Eighth Prince’s establishment were pregnant. He was very happy and refreshed right now. He found the pastries were good, and wanted to take them back for the two pregnant women to taste. He even proactively went to ask from Si Ye. “…… They are very delicious. If they are more, I will be shameless and ask Fourth Brother to take some back.”
Si Ye was shocked for a moment and said, “Just a bit of food, no need to be so polite. Even if you want to eat everyday, they will be available. However, you usually am not a person for sweet pastries, but now your tastes have changed.”
Everyone was surprised. Fourth Brother remembered Eight’s preferences? Looking at this, the pastries on the table were slightly different.
There were two plates of pastries on Eight’s table, one was a mix of different fruits and pastries. The other seemed to have shrimp. It likely was savory. This was to care for his tastes.
Then they looked at each other. Third Prince discovered that the pastries in front of Fifth Prince had almond filling, while his had sesame and walnut filling. It was because they knew he did not like to eat almonds.
Fifth Prince looked in front of him. Half of them were yellow peaches, and the others were just a few of each flavor. It was for him to have the experience of tasting them, and then have the ones he liked.
He then looked and saw that the ones on Seven’s table were different. He said in shock, “Seven, how come you like to eat flower cakes?” So girlish.
Seventh Prince was a bit embarrassed. The pastries in front of him were rose and chrysanthemum.
Tenth Prince shouted, “So what if it is flower cakes? Ye likes osmanthus cakes. Today, some osmanthus was mixed with the fruit in the pastries, just perfect.”
Then he looked at Ninth Prince and frowned, “Grapes and dried dates? Ninth Brother likes to eat this?”
Ninth Prince blushed. “Go away! Why care about me?” Even Ten did not know his own little preferences. But Four knew. What was the meaning in this?
Fourteen looked in surprise at Si Ye. This person did not just know his preferences, he remembered the preferences of his brothers as well? Then he took a bite of Twelve’s pastry. On the outside, it looked the same, but the filling inside was different. Twelve’s pastries had honey. He tasted Thirteen’s. Wrapped inside was wine. His eyes lit up.
They all held their pastries, but the fillings were all different. In reality, consideration like Four was very rare. They learned from young not to show their preferences. If a person did not pay attention, they would not discover such little details.
Thinking like this, when they returned to their own establishments, they felt that in reality, Four was not very dislikable. The displeasure caused by him demanding repayment had dissipated.
“Ye truly has a virtuous wife,” Si Ye sighed. In reality, he did not know these little details. However, Lin Yu Tong had asked about these through chatting with the princess consorts and the niangniang in the palace. The use in such little preferences was not much. He just had to remember one or two. When used at key times, they would have wondrous effect.No one could help but feeling more tolerant about a brother who could remember their preferences. Just like this time, he did not say anything, but it was more useful than speaking of great principles.
Lin Yu Tong smiled and said, “Ye only knows it now?”
Si Ye pulled Lin Yu Tong and said emotionally, “Without you, this matter will not have finished so easily. I was thinking of offending half of these people. Now, it appears that I will not be blamed at all. They have settled down and ended the matter so respectably. Ye is very relieved.”
“Ye, do not praise me like this, how much is this? The imperial house, the aristocracy, the officials, they are the bigger part.” Lin Yu Tong did not believe his sweet words.
Si Ye laughed. “You do not know this. If the brothers are taken care of, the emperor will be happy. The remaining people are just servants. Regardless of what is done, at least the emperor does not care too much. On this task, I do not seek merit, but to not make mistakes. Ye is upright and direct, and does not fear taking this task that offends people. The emperor knows that I have worked hard, and even the brothers do not resent me. Will he resent others? Regardless of how they resent, what will the emperor think? Even his sons repaid their debts, why will they not repay, and dare to resent?”
“So, Ye is able to make major moves?” Lin Yu Tong asked.
Major moves? No!
Si Ye smiled and did not speak.
Kangxi was outside the passes. He put down the memorandum in his hand and rubbed his forehead.
Four had done this quickly and briskly. He first started with the imperial sons to intimidate others and tell them they had to repay the silver. The path was correct.
But it could not just be the imperial sons. Because above the imperial sons was Commandery Prince Zhi and the crown prince. The retainers of these two sides were likely still fearless. Adding on the families of Jiangnan who had received him, the silver they owed had been spent on him. In other words, he, the emperor, also owed debts, except that no one dared to say so.
Four’s personality was a bit serious. If this continued, it would be the Cao and Li Families. If this ended up in public, it would not be easy to clean up.
It was not possible to get back all the silver in one go. He had Four work on this first because he wanted the other to use lightning tactics to intimidate, so that the people below could see the determination of the court, so they would not dare to not repay.
But the lightning tactics now will easily cause people to feel resentment and increase conflicts. When the time came, the silver may not be repaid.
So, it was time to change for a person who had gentle methods and was very smooth.
And this person would be no one else but Eight.
Of the two sons, Four’s methods were too hard, and Eight’s methods were too soft. He frequently thought, if the two could be mixed together, it would be very good.
Four appeared to be softer in his methods now. If Eight could have iron in his softness, then this matter would be ended in a perfect manner.
The people in the capital were waiting for Si Ye to come ask for repayment, but Si Ye only demanded back the debts from the imperial sons, and then did not leave his establishment. Everyone was puzzled and did not understand this Si Ye.
It was the same for several days. People were even more scared.
On this day, an edict came from the emperor just for Si Ye, praising him for having done well. Si Ye was rewarded with a garden, and the emperor named it the “Garden of Perfect Brightness.” Thirteenth Prince was given an estate as well. The imperial edict also said that he missed Si Ye and Thirteenth Prince, telling them to hand the matter over to Eighth Prince and quickly traveling to meet the imperial procession.
- Grafting Life Chapter 126 – Qing Transmigration Tale (35)
- Grafting Life Chapter 128 – Qing Transmigration Tale (37)
- Grafting Life Chapter 129 – Qing Transmigration Tale (38)
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