Do you know: I am Yuan Wenshao

Chapter 257 Imperial Order

Yuan Wenshao smiled and didn't say much. He could only say that Gu Tingye was too naive and underestimated Xiao Qin.

After taking a detour to send Gu Tingye home, Yuan Wenshao returned home and told him about the banquet at Shen Congxing's house tomorrow.

After hearing this, Hua Lan was surprised and said: "It's okay to take a concubine to treat guests, but you still need to bring a female family member?"

"Alas." Yuan Wenshao sighed and said, "I can't help it. No one else said anything, and I can't say much. I offended people for nothing."

The people Shen Congxing invited were all his friends from the dormitory in Yuzhou, so Yuan Wenshao and Gu Tingye were not from Yuzhou.

The people of Bianjing look down on these people from the small place of Yuzhou. The people of Yuzhou, relying on their background in Qiandi and the confidants of officials, naturally look down on the noble and wealthy families here in Bianjing.

In addition, the Dazou family is good at being a good person and is highly respected by these people.

If others don't take concubines seriously and let them take their women there, they will naturally feel insulted.

But Shen Congxing accepted the offer from Xiao Zou. None of them felt there was anything wrong and they all agreed.

Hua Lan also knew that it was hard to refuse, so he thought for a while and said, "Then I'll see how I can deal with it when the time comes."

"Well, remember to prepare a congratulatory gift. Just keep it ordinary and don't need to be too grand." Yuan Wenshao said.

"Yes, I understand." Hua Lan nodded and said, "Guanren, you are now the commander of the rear camp, are you going to be busy soon?"

"Not yet. The restructuring of the western suburbs camp requires disruption and reorganization, and currently the officials only announce appointments at the court, and the official positions have not been decided yet." Yuan Wenshao said.

Hualan said: "Guardian, I have something to discuss with you."

"What's the matter?" Yuan Wenshao asked confused.

"Now that Liuli's income is gone, I think it's not a big deal to just leave so much money at home, so I want to buy more farms and shops." Hua Lan said.

"Our family has given Zhuangzi several rewards, and we have tens of thousands of acres of farmland, right? Why did we buy so much?" Yuan Wenshao said.

"But the money won't increase if you keep it there. If you buy some farmhouses and put them there, it won't depreciate in value. You can still make some income every year." Hua Lan said.

"Okay, you just have to figure it out." Yuan Wenshao said.

In fact, Yuan Wenshao does not agree with buying land.

However, there were no banks or anything like that in ancient times. Farm shops were a way for most people to manage their finances.

This is also an important reason for the serious land annexation in ancient times.

The price of land is very stable and will even continue to appreciate, and a large amount of rent can be collected every year.

Naturally, it is the favorite of rich people. After all, there are profits and losses in doing business, but buying land is a business where you can only make profits but not lose money.

Yuan Wenshao didn't care about this. To be honest, land was not that profitable if he didn't ruthlessly exploit tenants.

But since Hualan wants to buy it, then buy it.

His family's purchase of some land will have little impact on land annexation.

Moreover, the rent charged by his family is relatively cheap, which can be considered a good deed if you really think about it.

"Okay, then I'll ask someone to go out and ask around to see if there is any fertile land for sale near Bianjing," Hualan said.

"You just have to figure it out. You don't need to discuss this with me." Yuan Wenshao said.

……

The next morning, Yuan Wenshao took Hualan to the Weibei Hou Mansion.

The Weibei Hou Mansion was originally built by King Yong for his favorite son. It was built entirely in accordance with the standards of a county prince's palace. It covers an area of ​​hundreds of acres and is very luxurious.

After King Yong became the prefect of Kaifeng, construction started. King Yan had just completed the construction before the rebellion and had not even lived in it.

After Zhao Zongquan ascended the throne, he rewarded this house to Shen Congxing.

When the carriage stopped at the gate of Weibei Hou Mansion, Yuan Wenshao got off the carriage first and helped Hua Lan get out of the carriage.

Shen Congxing came up to him with a young man of thirteen or fourteen years old, and said with a smile: "Wen Shao, is this Mrs. Ling? No wonder Zhong Huai begged the official to grant him a marriage and wants to be your brother-in-law!"

"Uncle Guo, please stop making fun of me."

Yuan Wenshao smiled and said: "Madam, this is the Marquis of Weibei."

"I've met Marquis Weibei!" Hua Lan bowed and saluted.

"Brothers and sisters are too polite."

Shen Congxing returned the salute with a smile, turned his head and said to the young man behind him: "Zhe'er, come and meet your Uncle Yuan and Auntie Yuan."

"Shen Zhe has met uncle and aunt of the Yuan family." Shen Zhe saluted.

"Uncle Guo, you are not being honest. You are asking me to give you two gifts." Yuan Wenshao scolded with a smile.

People in ancient times got married early. Shen Congxing was in his early thirties, so it was normal to have such an old son.

"Haha, you are very rich, so you don't need these things." Shen Congxing said with a smile.

Yuan Wenshao shook his head, took off a jade pendant from his belt, handed it over, and said, "Since you call me uncle, this jade pendant will be given to you as a meeting gift."

"This..." Shen Zhe did not accept it, but looked at Shen Congxing.

"Look at what I'm doing. You've been reading for so long. Don't you understand why you dare not resign?" Shen Congxing said angrily.

"Thank you, Uncle Yuan!" Shen Zhe took the jade pendant and bowed.

"No wonder Zhong Huai said you were generous, if he had known I had brought another son here." Shen Congxing said with a smile.

The piece of jade pendant given by Yuan Wenshao was of the finest mutton-fat white jade. It was so big that it would be impossible to remove it without weighing several thousand taels.

"Pull him down, Zhong Huai is the real rich man." Yuan Wenshao said angrily.

He earned his fortune bit by bit by himself. Gu Tingye inherited it directly, which is incomparable.

"Haha, his courtesy was too light at that moment, I won't agree." Shen Congxing said with a smile.

"Why did I hear someone talking bad about me from a distance!"

At this moment, Gu Tingye's voice came over.

Several people looked for a voice and saw Gu Tingye coming over on horseback with stones.

When he came closer, Gu Tingye got off his horse, threw the rope to the stone, walked over, and said with a smile: "What are you saying bad things about me?"

Yuan Wenshao and Shen Congxing looked at each other and shook their heads, saying, "Nothing!"

"Zhe'er, why don't you know how to greet your Uncle Gu when he sees him?" Shen Congxing said with a face.

"I've met Uncle Gu." Shen Zhe saluted quickly.

"It's been a while since I've seen him grow taller again." Gu Tingye said with a smile.

"Zhong Huai, your child is saluting you, and your uncle is calling you, why don't you give me a greeting gift?" Yuan Wenshao said with a smile.

"I said you don't have any good intentions, but I met Brother Zhe when I was in Yuzhou, and I gave him a meeting gift a long time ago." Gu Tingye said.

"Zhong Huai's words are wrong. At that time, you concealed your identity and didn't give anything valuable to you. It's time to make up for it now." Yuan Wenshao said with a smile.

"Okay, you were just discussing how to plot against me, right?"

Gu Tingye glared at the two of them, took off the ring on his hand, handed it over, and said, "The original gift was indeed a bit shabby, so I'll give this to you." "Thank you, Uncle Gu."

Shen Zhe was no longer so restrained about Gu Tingye and happily took it.

Even though his father is an uncle, he actually doesn't have much money.

Zhao Zongquan was originally just a regiment training envoy. After he ascended the throne and became emperor, the treasury did not have much money, but he rewarded Shen Congxing with some imperial shops.

But after Shen Congxing received it, it didn't take long and naturally there was no benefit.

Of course, Shen Congxing is not poor, but the prosperity of Bianjing is too attractive to a person of Shen Zhe's age, so the money for the ring on his hand is naturally not enough.

The jade pendant given by Yuan Wenshao and the jade ring given by Gu Tingye were both not cheap, and they would last him a long time.

"Haha, Zhe'er, take your two uncles and aunt in first." Shen Congxing said with a smile.

"Yes."

Shen Zhe responded and saluted: "Two uncles and aunts, please come inside."

"Then let's go in first." Yuan Wenshao and Shen Congxing said hello and followed Shen Zhe in.

There were no decorations outside the door of Shen's house, but after entering the house and walking around the screen wall, one could see lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere, with happy words plastered all over them.

Yuan Wenshao recalled that when he got married, it seemed that it was not as grand as when Shen Congxing took a concubine.

Gu Tingye naturally saw this, and a trace of worry flashed deep in his eyes.

"Da Lang, what guests are here now?" Gu Tingye asked.

"Looking back at my uncle, cousin Huan Wang and uncle Geng have already arrived and are drinking tea in the main hall." Shen Zhe said.

"I thought I was the first to come, but I didn't expect that Lao Geng had already arrived first." Gu Tingye said with a smile.

After entering the middle courtyard, Shen Zhe called a maid and asked the maid to take Hualan to the backyard. He led Yuan Wenshao and Gu Tingye to the main hall.

Zhao Ceying, who was talking to Geng Jiechuan, saw Yuan Wenshao and Gu Tingye come in, stood up and said with a smile: "Wen Shao, Zhong Huai, you guys came so late, you will have to punish yourself with three drinks in a while."

"I have met His Highness King Huan!" the two of them saluted.

"No courtesy. Today, my king is a guest just like you, so there is no need for more courtesy." Zhao Ceying said with a smile.

Shen Zhe asked the two of them to sit down, asked the maid to serve them tea, then bowed and left.

"Wen Shao, this is Lao Geng. He was my father's deputy in Yuzhou back then. Now you are the commander-in-chief of the rear camp and he is your deputy. You will have to drink a few more drinks to get familiar with each other later," Zhao Ceying introduced. .

"I have also heard of General Geng's reputation. If there is anything inappropriate in the future, General Geng can give me more advice." Yuan Wenshao said with a smile.

"Haha, don't worry, Marquis Zhongyong. I, Old Geng, have been in the military camp since I was a teenager. If you ask me to give you advice, I will definitely not be able to give you advice. I am very familiar with military affairs. However, I, Old Geng, have a straightforward temper. If I am offended by something else, , you should be more patient." Geng Jiechuan said with a smile.

He was very unhappy that Yuan Wenshao had become his immediate boss.

He had followed Zhao Zongquan for many years, but Yuan Wenshao just sent a blood edict, so why should he climb on top of him.

Therefore, he deliberately followed Yuan Wenshao's polite words and said this, wanting to embarrass Yuan Wenshao.

"Natural nature."

A dark look flashed in Yuan Wenshao's eyes. He had just asked Geng Jiechuan to give him more advice in the future, but that was just a polite word.

When ordinary people meet this thing, they will ask if it is the same after eating it.

Although Geng Jiechuan seemed carefree and his previous position in Yuzhou was not high, it is impossible for a man in his thirties not to be able to hear polite words.

He also said that he should give him guidance and ask him to take more care of him, but he didn't take him seriously at all.

Gu Tingye noticed something was wrong in the atmosphere and quickly changed the subject: "Your Highness, I just entered the mansion and saw the decoration in the mansion. Isn't it a little too grand?"

"Huh."

Before Zhao Ceying could say anything, Geng Jiechuan said carelessly: "The Zou family siblings are such good people, but they will be gone if they say no. My uncle can only take little Zou as his concubine, what's wrong with giving her some dignity?"

"Old Geng!"

Zhao Ceying shouted, glared at him, then looked at Yuan Wenshao and Gu Tingye and smiled bitterly: "I also felt it was inappropriate and tried to persuade him. However, his uncle and aunt have a deep relationship, and he felt that he owed something to the Zou family and wanted to make up for it. Even if you insist on doing this, I can’t help you.”

"Your Highness, if the uncle wants to make up for the Zou family, he can make up for it elsewhere. What will the people in the house think when he promotes the Zou family in this way? When the Zhang family girl comes in, how will he manage the house? This is a private matter for the uncle. , We outsiders shouldn't say much. But the British government is full of loyal people, and now there is only an only daughter. If she is wronged, there will be big trouble." Gu Tingye reminded.

Yuan Wenshao nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

"Alas." Zhao Ceying rubbed his brows and said, "I will advise my uncle on this matter, let's not talk about it for now."

He gets a headache when he mentions this. Regardless of the restructuring of the western suburbs camp, the British Duke is equivalent to being idle.

However, the British Duke's family was full of loyal men, and he was regarded as the number one general in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Even if someone leaves the military, the prestige of being in the military for many years is still there.

Once the Zhang family is wronged, the impact will be too great.

But it was hard to persuade Shen Congxing. After all, he was not willing to get married in the first place.

Now that he finally agreed, if he pushed too hard, Shen Congxing would be in trouble if he started making trouble.

Next, other guests invited by Shen Congxing also arrived one after another.

This time to take in concubines, Shen Congxing set up three tables, of course, not counting the female dependents in the backyard.

Fortunately, Shen Congxing did not do anything to ask for help. He went to Zou's house early in the morning to pick up little Zou and entered the house through the side door. Then he asked her to change clothes in the backyard and received the female family members who came over.

Even when the banquet started, Shen Congxing didn't call out the little Zou family.

As for whether Shen Congxing had worshiped with little Zou in the room before the guests arrived, they didn't know.

Halfway through the banquet, everyone had drunk a lot of wine, and the whole hall was noisy.

At this moment, a boy walked in hurriedly, came to Shen Congxing, and whispered something into his ear.

After Shen Congxing listened and replied a few words, the boy hurried away.

"Everyone!"

Shen Congxing stood up and shouted in a deep voice. When the hall became quiet, he said: "The Queen has an edict coming. Let's go out to receive the edict first. After the palace officials leave, we will continue drinking."

When Yuan Wenshao heard this, he already guessed in his heart that it was the purpose of conferring a royal decree on the little Zou family, and secretly shook his head.

In his opinion, it is better to give the Zou family a title than to give the little Zou family a royal title.

But there is nothing that can be done about it. To be awarded a title requires merit. Although the Da Zou family saved the queen, the water thrown out by the married daughter. The Da Zou family is already a member of the Shen family, and this credit cannot be counted as the head of the Zou family. superior.

The imperial decree is different. It is more of an honor. It does not need to be reviewed by the three provinces and can be rewarded directly.

Shen Congxing led everyone to the front yard, where many servants were already busy setting up incense tables.

As soon as the incense table was set up, the women in the backyard also came out.

Not long after waiting, the internal officials arrived. After reading out the imperial edict, they took the reward given by Shen Congxing and left happily.

(End of this chapter)