Chapter 271 Overseas Treasures

The overseas treasures paid by various countries were dazzling. Zhen'er had been in the palace for so long, and his vision was already extraordinary. Liang Fang from the Imperial Horse Prison was indeed a talented person, and he had tried his best to curry favor with the imperial concubine. The tricks he gave were also foreign things, with the best agate embedded in the Western bell, and there were sculptures of two Western women on the bell seat.

"Empress, this is an imported product, it is also a treasure in the West. It uses hundreds of good agate." Liang Fang said, "This is becoming more and more precious from afar. It is better than what the envoys send it."

"Isn't this the best thing I should use? How could the outside be better than mine?" Zhu Jianshen didn't like Liang Fang. He thought this clock was beautiful, but he was a traitor. If Zhen'er hadn't protected him, he wouldn't have let him do it. Zhen'er's face would have to be given.

Wan Zhen'er smiled: "Your Majesty, of course you don't know in the palace that there are many treasures from this capital market. Didn't the things that foreign envoys paid tribute to them locally? Nowadays, people like to do business, and our Ming people are also considered rich. Naturally, they like to make some rare food, clothing and supplies, so of course, some people in the capital specialize in this overseas business. Liang Fang just bought a good thing. He came to honor me, so I can't pick on it."

"Forget it..." Zhu Jianshen took a step back, "Liang Fang, do you know that the people outside are not blind? You are really hateful... Forget it, Zhen'er likes it, just keep it, but I also want to go to a place where foreign things are sold. The overseas customs should be very interesting."

"Yes, when the eunuch of the Three Treasures went to the West seven times to show his national prestige for the Ming Dynasty, so the various countries came to pay tribute... What a grand occasion." Liang Fang said, "I feel that the thieves in the north are not as good as before. The peace in all regions is worse than to reopen the road to the West, so that people can know the national prestige of our Ming Dynasty." Liang Fang said.

"This idea is good." Zhu Jianshen was happy. His words were reasonable and just satisfies his curiosity.

"Your Majesty, do you know why Emperor Xuanzong strictly prohibited voyage to the West back then?" Zhen'er glared at Liang Fang.

"Is it because of the lack of money?" Zhu Jianshen was not stupid either.

"What's the use of us for so much money to exchange for some clever gadgets?" Zhen'er said, "Prince, it's enough for private trade."

"Then I'm just going to the Beijing market to find some favorite babies. Is Zhen'er willing to go with me?" Zhu Jianshen said. "I'm a local rich man too."

"I obey the order, it's better to go out for a walk. Maybe I will find the items I like. The overseas accessories are also very distinctive, different from those in the Ming Dynasty." Wan Zhen'er said.

There are also many merchants gathered around the corner of the capital, especially the alley where the envoys from various countries live. They are all from the country and sell goods from abroad, and they are mainly from Japan and South China. Jewelry is the characteristic here. Chinese people like gold, silver and jewelry, but not the woolen fabrics. The spices and wood in South China sell well here, and some of the merchants are very popular about overseas business. Who doesn’t want to make a profitable business?

"Madam, look, these are all from across the ocean. These are Western gems." The shopkeeper of Juzhenzhai is a middle-aged man. The one he holds in his hands is exquisitely made glass products, not real gems.

"You are just glass, how can you call jewelry?" Zhen'er looked.

"This thing is not that valuable in the West, but we, the Ming Dynasty, will not do these things. We came to the Ming Dynasty thousands of miles away, and I don't know how much it will lose along the way. How can we increase our value? Madam, I'm not lying. If Madam likes it, I can give it some price." said the shopkeeper.

"Boss, isn't this a glass mixed bead?" Zhu Jianshen said, and Zhang Min, who followed behind, couldn't help but stretch her head.

"You don't understand this husband. Scarce is precious. Besides, the wife has a good vision. The Western bottles she picked are really exquisite. And this goldware is real. Judging from the craftsmanship, our Ming craftsmen will not make such patterns." The shopkeeper will not give up on business.

Zhu Jianshen thought that the price was not too outrageous, and he was about to pay the silver notes, but Zhang Min stopped him.

"Master, I forgot to bring the silver notes." Zhang Min said, "I only have twenty taels of silver on my body."

"Twenty is about twenty. I'm losing money." said the shopkeeper.

Zhen'er put down the thing: "My husband, I won't buy it anymore, I don't like it."

The shopkeeper showed a fierce look: "Leave twenty taels of silver, you have been buying it today. I am already vomiting blood. If you don't buy it, you are just fooling us. What's the justice for you to bully people like this?"

Is this a forced sale? It's twenty taels of silver?

"Is this gold fake?" Zhu Jianshen seemed to be awakened. Zhen'er folded the goldware in half, and it was indeed lead.

"The workmanship is more than twenty taels. Are you here to make trouble? I want to report to the official and ask you to compensate." The shopkeeper said, and he directed his servant to surround them.

Zhen'er scolded, "Bold, the evil one complained first, I'm not easy to mess with." Just as she was thinking about how to do it, she saw Liang Fang coming in.

"Shopkeeper Wang, I'll compensate you if they broke it." Liang Fang said, "This husband and wife are both friends who are here."

"Why do you have to be so wronged?" Zhu Jianshen asked softly.

"Master, aren't you here to play? Did you go back at the beginning? The silver is just a handful and just look for someone to investigate this shop. If you want to buy authentic foreign goods, of course you have to go to a shop run by foreigners. The glass and mirrors there will not be expensive. The goods in this shop are not formal, and they are all imitations." Liang Fang said with his ears.

After leaving the shop, Zhu Jianshen was in a completely bad mood. He didn't like any foreigners, but Zhen'er took a fancy to a mirror.

"Western mirrors are really amazing," Zhen'er said, "even the wrinkles on her face are so clear. She's so old."

"What do foreigners come to us for? They are not favored by these things." Zhu Jianshen said. However, the foreign boss could hear it clearly and responded: "We buyers and sellers, you don't like our things, but we like your things. You can sell them in our country at a price of ten or even hundreds of times. Silk and porcelain are all available in heaven. Doing business with the Ming Dynasty is to make a lot of money. They are very respected in our country, unlike you who despise merchants."

He was right, and Zhu Jianshen was excited: "Who are you from?"

"The country you call us is a franc, but our country was once as big as the Ming Dynasty..."

What? Zhu Jianshen couldn't figure out the overseas countries, and he just felt that he had heard of the country's name.

"I have a telescope here. Although it is made of glass, it is very interesting. This master might as well try it." said the boss of the Yang family. He has never seen this blond and blue-eyed one before. Although he was wearing the Ming Dynasty costume, he was still so eye-catching...

Zhu Jianshen was indeed fascinated by the look glasses and spent a lot of money to get this thing that could see clearly from afar.

"Be gentle, will it be a waste of money if it is broken? This glass is so magical." Zhu Jianshen finally held the telescope in his hand.
Chapter completed!