But then I thought about it, Shen Lian could enter the Ancestral Temple to perform the ceremony and just receive a meeting gift. As long as he found a good reason to go to the palace to persuade him, Emperor Chunde would definitely turn a blind eye and pass.

Things turned out just as Lou Jing expected. The collection of entry fees to the capital was in full swing, and the nobles in the capital were able to lend money very easily. Emperor Chunde did not say a word from beginning to end, and everyone was happy for a while. However, the officials who borrowed money were not. Everyone was happy.

However, no matter how much fuss was made, it had nothing to do with Lou Jing. He was not involved in the money lending at all. He just asked Yun Ba to find out which officials had borrowed money, especially those who had borrowed money from An Guo Gongfu. record it.

In the blink of an eye, it was the 13th day of the twelfth lunar month, and Shen Lian's "meeting gifts" were almost collected. Officials who were returning to Beijing to report on their duties hurried back, while those who were far away could only celebrate the New Year in the middle of the capital. Finally, they all finished their busy work and began to prepare for the New Year's goods with peace of mind. .

"Why don't you do that business?" Xiao Chengjun asked Lou Jing. With his temperament, he would naturally have a hand in making money like this.

"No money." Lou Jing muttered, burying her face in the chest of His Highness the Prince of Fujian.

No money? Xiao Chengjun asked curiously: "Didn't you just make a lot of money from Shen Lian? Why do you have no money?"

It was snowing heavily outside and it was too cold to sit there. After dinner, the two of them got into bed. Xiao Chengjun leaned on the bedside and read a book, and Lou Jing automatically and consciously snuggled into his arms.

"Most of them were scooped out to exchange for warehouse money." Lou Jing stretched out her hand and slowly traced the dark patterns on King Min's undershirt.

Cang banknotes were obtained by wealthy families in exchange for grain. They were called "white strips" among the people and were used in exchange for salt. In the official price, one tael of Cang bank notes was exchanged for one tael of salt, and one tael of salt was worth half a tael of silver.

Xiao Chengjun frowned, "Do you want to start a salt business?"

"You can't spend salt in winter, and most people are anxious to celebrate the New Year. Warehouse notes are already so cheap that one penny of silver can be exchanged for one tael." Lou Jing rubbed against the dark dragon-shaped pattern, thinking about what if he changed it to bright ones in the future. * The undershirt has a five-color dragon pattern embroidered on it, which is definitely more interesting to draw.

In other words, Lou Jing exchanged one denarius for warehouse notes that were originally worth five denarii!

"How can it be so cheap?" Xiao Chengjun was surprised. Because selling salt is very profitable, wealthy businessmen have always been very willing to pay for grain in exchange for warehouse notes. If the price of warehouse notes drops to this point, whoever is willing to pay for grain in the future will probably sell it directly. Pay tax money, and then the government will use the money to buy grain. If you waste it twice, a lot of money and grain will be wasted.

"There are many white bars and little salt. It has not been easy to exchange the salt for the past two years," Lou Jing said with a chuckle. "What's more, there are many people in Jiangnan receiving grain in exchange for banknotes. In winter, the salt field does not produce salt. The salt warehouse is in a hurry, so the salt will naturally be exchanged. Not coming out."

There are many salt collectors in Yancang Village in the north, but not many people pay for grain in exchange for salt. The opposite is true in the south of the Yangtze River, because exchanging white bars for salt requires collusion between the government and businessmen. The merchants in the south have no connections and cannot hook up with the officials in the north. This is As a result, the price of Jiangnan Baitiao dropped so much in winter.

"Is the salt policy already in such chaos?" Xiao Chengjun put down the book in his hand and sighed deeply.

"It won't be a big mess," Lou Jing raised her hand and rubbed away his knitted eyebrows, "It's just because the timing is good. If we wait until spring, the white note will probably be worth two or three cents again."

The reason why he was so anxious to do this business was not only because the price of warehouse notes fell in winter, but more importantly, the shopkeeper of Jinzhou who came to reconcile the accounts a few days ago told him that he had bribed the new salt administrator of Jinzhou, and now Jinzhou After storing a large amount of salt, all he had to do was scoop up the white bars and exchange them for him at the official price.

Hearing this, Xiao Chengjun breathed a sigh of relief and held the hand that was dangling in front of him, "Then when did you mix the white bars with salt?"

"Tomorrow..." Lou Jing was silent for a moment, "I have to go to Jinyang tomorrow." Such a major matter cannot be negotiated by a big shopkeeper. He must go to see the salt official in person.

Tomorrow... going to Jinzhou? Jinzhou is not far from the capital. It takes three days to ride a fast horse to Jinyang City, the capital of Jinzhou. However, the New Year is about to come, and Lou Jing has to leave the capital.

"How many days will you be back?" he asked without thinking, and Xiao Chengjun himself was stunned.

Lou Jing looked up at him, and saw a bit of reluctance in the deep eyes of His Highness the Prince of Fujian. She couldn't help but bend her eyes, and leaned forward to kiss him gently, "I will pay him back within ten days."

"Yes." Xiao Chengjun responded. They had been together basically every day since their wedding. Now that they were suddenly separated, they suddenly felt a little at a loss. Not knowing how to react, His Highness the Prince of Fujian could only pick up the books on the quilt again.

It seems.

Lou Jing blinked, raised his hand and took the book away from Xiao Chengjun's hand, "What's so interesting about the Book of Songs? Let's read this one." With that said, she leaned on the chest of His Highness the Prince of Fujian and opened another book.

This book, pointing to a page in it.

Xiao Chengjun put his chin on the head of the person in his arms, glanced at the book in his hand, and immediately felt that he didn't want to read it anymore. On the opened page, there was a white painting, in which a man was lying on the couch.

On top, another man invaded behind...

"Yuanlang, we've been apart for ten days. I'm afraid I couldn't bear it and ran back halfway..." Lou Jing scooped up the book in front of Xiao Chengjun and leaned on him, slowly rubbing the legs of His Highness the Prince of Fujian with his knees.

.

"Well..." Xiao Chengjun's breathing stagnated, and his body couldn't help but feel hot.

Lou Jing smiled, threw away the book in her hand, leaned into her husband's ear, and whispered: "Did you see clearly the potential just now?"

Xiao Chengjun was a little embarrassed by him and pushed him, "No."

"It doesn't matter," Lou Jing put a hand into the undershirt embroidered with dark patterns, "I'll just see it clearly."

"Well..." Xiao Chengjun was about to say anything more, but Lou Jing kissed him on the lips. When he came back to his senses, the clothes he was wearing had long gone.

It's freezing cold, the copper stove is blazing with charcoal fire in the house, and the red tent is warm. If you don't do something interesting, wouldn't you be wasting your time?

"Slow down, slow down... um..." Xiao Chengjun lay on the pillow and was hit mercilessly by the person behind him. His body kept rubbing against the soft quilt, and he couldn't bear it for a while.

Lou Jing leaned forward, bit the white neck, and really slowed down, slowly pulled out, and then suddenly the entire length was inserted, embedded deeper.

"Ah..." Xiao Chengjun couldn't help but arched his body.

Lou Jing ignored it, wrapped his arms around Xiao Chengjun's body, rubbed the sweaty chest wantonly, and invaded His Highness the King of Min's body bit by bit.

"It's too deep, uh..." Xiao Chengjun tightened his grip on the edge of the pillow, with uncontrollable trembling in his voice.

After "torturing" the person under her for a while, Lou Jing stopped, kissed his sweaty forehead, and started moving quickly again.

As the parting was about to begin, Lou Jing couldn't help but ask for it a few more times. When he finally stopped, Xiao Chengjun was so tired that he collapsed on the bed.

Lou Jing took the trembling man into his arms and slowly caressed his body.

"Scoop it out." Xiao Chengjun moved uncomfortably.

"Wait a while," Lou Jing slowly rubbed the back of his neck, "If you feel sleepy, go to sleep. I'll wash you later."

Although Xiao Chengjun was very tired, he didn't want to sleep at all, "Actually, you don't have to be so anxious to make money, I..."

"You are a fool if you don't make money." Lou Jing turned the person in her arms around and made another soft moan, "I have a sense of propriety, you just have to do what you have to do."

The snow was falling heavily for several days, and Jinzhou was even colder than the capital. Running back and forth in ten days would definitely involve riding a horse. Xiao Chengjun asked Chang En to scoop out the fox fur cloak he made last year and put it on Lou Jing.

Lou Jing took the thick cloak, leaned over and kissed the person on the bed, "Be careful in Beijing, I will be back as soon as possible."

On the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the matter of establishing a new crown prince was suddenly mentioned in the court.

"The new year is approaching, and the new crown prince should be established in the spring of next year. It should be decided before the year." The person who submitted the memorial said.

Emperor Chunde frowned, "Who do you think among the princes can take on such a big responsibility?" As he said this, his eyes swept over Xiao Chengjun, who was standing with his head bowed. Seeing that he looked unmoved, he

He looked away and turned to the courtiers.

There was a moment of silence in the court. The matter of the Crown Prince was nothing to play with. If one word was wrong, it would be doomed. Even the veteran officials who had already planned it did not dare to speak out easily.

Emperor Chunde's face turned cold. These people were talking passionately just now. Why are they mute again now?

Everyone couldn't help but look at Zhao Duan, the left prime minister. Since the right prime minister was wrong about the last corvee expedition, the power of the left prime minister in the DPRK has become much stronger than before.

Zhao Duan lowered his eyes, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Zhao Qing, what do you think?" Emperor Chunde naturally saw the reactions of the ministers, and called Zhao Duan to speak.

The left prime minister had no choice but to step out and pondered for a moment before saying: "According to the ancestral system, the prince beside the queen should be appointed. King Jing is weak and cannot take up the position of heir apparent. I think that four princes can be established."

"The fourth prince is too upright, I'm afraid..." Just after he finished speaking, some officials questioned him.

"The prince was deposed because of his stupidity. Now the four princes have no achievements and are suddenly appointed as princes. How can they serve the world?" the Minister of Punishment said.

To say that the establishment of the fourth prince is justified, the only reason to blame is the edict that abolished the prince. It was said that Xiao Chengjun was stupid and unfit to take on the great responsibilities of the world. Now if we want to establish a new prince, he must be smarter than Xiao Chengjun. At least he must have merit and be easy to persuade.

People of the world.

However, who can be established if the fourth prince is not established? The eldest prince has just been deposed, so it is naturally impossible to re-establish him. The second prince has never been exposed to the public. It is said that he has been weak and sick since he was a child. The third prince was not raised by the queen, so he is not qualified according to the ancestral system.

Be a prince.

"I think that the third prince has excellent qualifications, but it is a pity that he was not raised by the queen." The person who spoke was the minister of the princes.

"Since ancient times, the crown prince has been selected based on his talents."

"How can we violate the ancestral rules? I think I should establish the fourth prince."

"emperor……"

"I thought..."

The debate started again in the court. Xiao Chengjun glanced at the silent Emperor Chunde. There was nothing to argue about. His father's actions were simply because he wanted to establish a third prince without any legitimate reason and needed the courtiers to give him.

Find a reason.

Xiao Chengjun lowered his eyes and did not intend to get involved. The situation in the court was now under control. He would not let Concubine Chen succeed in her wishful thinking. It would not be that easy for the third prince to take over the East Palace.

Regarding the matter of establishing a crown prince, the court had been arguing for many days without reaching a conclusion. The memorials were like snowflakes outside, flying into the imperial study in piles. Emperor Chunde saw one big one and two big ones. Now that the new year is approaching, the court

Nakamoto already had a lot of things going on, and he was already bored enough.

In particular, Yang Youting, the Minister of Civil Affairs, is an extremely rigid person. This time someone mentioned that he wanted to establish a third prince, which was a sign of his old-fashioned nature. There were two memorials a day, each of which could be written eloquently.

With a thousand words, he still had to come out and talk about the ancestral system of the previous hour. It happened that this person was the teacher of Emperor Chunde when he was the crown prince. Emperor Chunde was almost furious but could not get angry.

After this delay for several days, Emperor Chunde couldn't bear it anymore and said, "The matter of establishing a crown prince is not a matter of time. We will discuss this matter after the year!" This stopped the debate among the ministers and settled down for a few days.

However, after this battle, the third prince, who had never been valued by the ministers, suddenly became a hot candidate for the crown prince. Moreover, now that Concubine Chen is favored and the right minister is powerful, there are indeed many people trying to win over Xiao Chengduo.

Xiao Chengjun turned a deaf ear to all this. He went to court on time every day without saying a word, and then returned home after court, reading and writing quietly in his study. The front door of the Prince of Fujian's mansion became increasingly deserted, and at the end of the year it was still deserted.

It snowed heavily, stopped and started falling again. The north wind howled incessantly. It was still cold on a winter night no matter how many charcoal fires were burned.

Xiao Chengjun was lying on the empty big bed, looking sideways at the pairs of pillows, which were embroidered with gold thread on which were embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. He stretched out his hand and slowly touched the cold space. The man had been gone for eight days. From Beijing to Jinyang, it was a thousand miles.

It's so far away and it's snowing heavily. I wonder if he will have a safe journey?

The arms that were only wearing underwear soon became frozen. Xiao Chengjun retracted his hands into the quilt, looked at that place in a daze, sighed longly, and closed his eyes while listening to the sad wind outside the window.

Thousands of miles of frosty and snowy road, it takes six days to make the round trip at a high speed, but if you ride a sweaty horse, you can save half a day. I have seen the salt officials and everything has been done, no matter it is already afternoon, it is a matter of horse racing

If you go, you can save half a day.

Lou Jing returned to the capital covered with wind and frost, and went straight to the Prince of Fujian's Mansion. She changed out of her ice-covered cloak, warmed her cold body by the copper stove in the outer room, and drank the hot soup served by Le Xian.

Then he quietly entered the inner room.

Seeing the peaceful sleeping face on the bed, Lou Jing's tense heart immediately relaxed. He never expected that after only being separated for a few days, he would feel like he was possessed, having trouble sleeping and eating, and just wanted to see him soon.

Lou Jing leaned over and kissed the warm sleeping face, thinking that it would be interesting to see what kind of expression His Highness the Prince of Fujian would show when he saw him sleeping next to him tomorrow morning. Thinking like this, he slowly opened the quilt.

He was about to get in, but suddenly he was stunned. Under the quilt, where he usually slept, there was a slender hand, unconsciously and slowly stroking the satin sheets in his sleep.
Chapter completed!