Therefore, without being organized by the president of the chamber of commerce, various businesses came over with banknotes one after another, asking Guangfeng Shui Dongjia to help convey their sincere wishes to the people.
Who says they are profiteers? Every penny they earn comes from a legitimate source. They are also righteous businessmen, and they also want to take it from the people and use it for the people.
As a result, in less than one afternoon, the backyard of Guangfengshui was packed with merchants who heard the news and received several large boxes full of banknotes.
Yang Fu did not dare to neglect, and wrote down the list and amount of these donations one by one. He took them to see Huo Xi.
"So many?" Huo Xi was surprised.
Who said that businessmen are all profiteers? She said that these businessmen are the cutest people.
They make money based on their skills, who is in the way? Looking at so many banknotes, who dares to call them profiteers?
I picked up the list and took a look at the amount. Large businesses such as Longxing Hao, Xinjiutong, and Wanjia Lumber Shop all donated 50,000 taels. Smaller ones donated 30,000 taels, 10,000 taels, and 5,030 taels.
There are even some small shops that donate one to two hundred taels.
A total of more than five million taels were donated!
"Why did Langguang Pavilion also donate here?" Langguang Pavilion also donated fifty thousand taels. Did you not go with the Mu family to avoid suspicion?
"This was specially sent by the shopkeeper of Langguang Pavilion. He also sent 20,000 taels on behalf of the Duke of Guizhou." Yang Fu said.
"The Duke of Guizhou won't submit it himself, so we should submit it on our behalf?"
"Master Mu is not here, where can the whole family, old, young, women and children, go to pay the money?" Yang Fu replied.
Huh? Mu Yan is not here, but the Consort Commander is here. Although there is no specific job title yet, wouldn't the idea of presenting his feelings to the Duke of Guizhou on his behalf make the emperor remember this former consort better?
Yang Fu shook his head at Huo Xi and said he didn't know.
Huo Xi looked at the banknote sent by the Duke of Guizhou and then remembered that Mu Yan said he was going to Qingzhou to supervise the navy training. Wasn't it too long?
"Xi'er, what's wrong with you?" Yang Fu asked hurriedly when he saw that her eyes became blank as she spoke.
Huo Xi came back to her senses and said, "It's okay. I'm stunned. It's not good to leave such money in my hands. I'll go to the palace right now. I just have to go to the palace to thank you."
Huo Xi quickly packed up and entered the palace.
Now that she has a badge issued by the emperor, she can enter and leave the palace at any time, without having to ask for instructions or wait for orders to be called.
First we went to Zhongcui Palace to meet the imperial concubine.
Concubine Zhang was very happy to see her. She held her hand and asked her if she was okay and how her family was. She also asked why she didn't bring Nian'er with her.
The imperial concubine liked Nian'er very much and often looked forward to him entering the palace.
Huo Xi could understand her mood. A concubine who was not very favored and had no children. She was trapped in the palace and must have missed her family very much. She also looked forward to seeing her nieces and nephews from time to time.
"Next time Nian'er takes a rest, I will bring him here. Then I will bring Xiaoba and the others for you to see."
"It's good. There are so many people, it's lively, it's lively!" Concubine Zhang's eyes were full of longing.
"Is this where you come to the palace to thank me?"
"Yes, besides this, there are other important things." After talking about the donations from various shops in the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, he opened the box and showed it to the empress.
Concubine Zhang was shocked: "So many?"
"It's everyone's wish. Everyone is making a living at the foot of the imperial city. Only when the court is stable can our business go smoothly. It would be an honor for everyone if we can share the emperor's worries."
"Okay, okay. Come on, my aunt will accompany you to see the emperor."
Order Gong'e to follow behind with the big box in her arms.
When I arrived at the main hall, I saw the emperor. When he explained his purpose, the emperor was also shocked.
"Great benevolence. Great benevolence of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce! If all merchants in the world have the heart to live and die with the imperial court, what worries would I have? I, David, will have peace in the world, and all nations will come to court, which will be just around the corner! Reward!"
Reward? Reward for what? So many people.
The aunt and nephew looked at each other, it couldn't be money, right?
They saw that Emperor Yongkang had ordered the eunuchs who were waiting behind him to collect all the memorials on the Dragon Case. After giving a signal with his eyes, one of the two eunuchs spread rice paper and the other began to grind ink.
So this is the reward.
Huo Xi sighed once again, this emperor's calligraphy treasure is really expensive.
After the emperor finished writing the calligraphy treasure, he read the list again, "Why is there still money from the Duke of Guizhou's house?"
"Yes," Huo Xi said the matter again.
"Young Master Mu is not in the palace now. Consort Mu may be afraid of entering the palace and being romantically involved. When he learned that his daughter had entered the palace, he asked her to convey her wishes to the Duke of Guizhou."
The emperor thought of the little princess who died young and sighed sadly.
Chang Ning and his consort had a deep love, but even now, so much time has passed, and the consort still has not been able to get over it.
Looking at the 20,000 taels of silver from the Mu family, and remembering that Mu Bin was away, the young and old in the family frowned and were very dissatisfied with the Duke of Guizhou when they heard that all the money from the Mu family's account books was sent to Yunnan.
"I heard that Jie'er often comes to your house to play with the prince? I will give some things to Jie'er and the prince later, and Sister Ning will help me take them back. Tell Jie'er that his father doesn't want to enter the palace, but he can still do it.
Come and see me, the imperial grandfather."
"Yes, I will definitely tell you."
After Huo Xi left the palace, the emperor immediately had these banknotes sent to the Ministry of Household Affairs and told them to use the funds exclusively and not to misappropriate them. If they dared to misappropriate them, they would be beheaded!
After giving the instructions, I thought of Mu Bin...
The British Lord has reported to him that the elite Zhili soldiers led by Mu Bin have disappeared due to the great turmoil. Those who have not returned to Hong Kong to report to the commander-in-chief are afraid that they will all drown.
Of the two thousand elite Zhili soldiers, not even three out of ten could survive.
Emperor Yongkang felt very heartbroken. He was holding back the payment of pensions to the drowned soldiers, just hoping for a miracle. Now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to delay.
On the other side, Huo Xi went to the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce first.
Soon, the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce once again admired the emperor's calligraphy at close range and was crowded with people.
The president of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce was smiling from ear to ear.
The four big characters "Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce" are really more and more powerful the more you look at them, they are just like their chamber of commerce! I wonder, which other chamber of commerce has the same reputation as them?
Which other president can get the emperor's calligraphy treasure?
Just ask who?
Don't be too proud.
Afraid that the crowd would get too close and crush the calligraphy treasure, he said, "Go, stand far away and watch, wait until you are ready to pray, and then watch slowly!" He stepped forward to drive away the crowd.
Huo Xi smiled and said to the president: "The emperor praised the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce for its benevolence and consideration of the people, and asked the president to engrave the list and amount of donations and hang them in a prominent position in the chamber of commerce to show encouragement and commendation.
.”
"Okay, I'll just let someone do it!"
Huo Xi didn't stay much longer, exchanged a few words with everyone, and then went back home.
When they arrived at the mansion, Mu Jie, who had received the news, was waiting for her early.
"Sister Xi, my maternal grandfather gave me a reward? What is it?"
When I saw a bunch of food, things to play with... "Wow!" His eyes were astonishingly bright.
"Brother Nian also has a share!" The two brothers took the emperor's reward and ran away happily.
Huo Xi shook his head, smiled, and followed. After a while, they disappeared.
Entering the yard...
I thought they had gone somewhere, but they ended up at Xianglanyuan.
Xiaoxiao saw them sitting on the stone table in the courtyard muttering. She didn't want to disturb them and wanted to go away, but unexpectedly she heard Jie'er whispering: "...is missing. My second uncle is sick!"
"Jie'er, why did your second uncle fall ill? Who is missing?"