On the other side, after Li Yinhu left, Zhao Tailai, who felt increasingly angry the more he thought about it, went home directly and found his father, the chief minister of the cabinet, Zhao Xuanji, who was writing in the study.
"Dad, do you know what happened today?"
Zhao Tailai sat down opposite Zhao Xuanji and asked.
Zhao Xuanji lowered his head and wrote, concentrating on it. The tip of his pen did not waver, and his strokes penetrated the back of the paper, but he was answering Zhao Tailai, "What's the matter?"
"What's up!?"
Zhao Tailai's eyes widened and he said unhappily: "The East Palace issued an edict to change the construction cost of Prince Zhao's palace from the reported 1.1 million taels to 300,000 taels! Three hundred thousand! Three hundred thousand to build a palace.
Damn he thought of it! And he also wanted to take away all the extra money. Isn’t it obvious that he was swallowing my hard-earned money as fat? "
"There are 800,000 taels left. Now at the end of the year, the court has to distribute annual gifts to all officials. The gap is exactly this number. It's not surprising."
Zhao Xuanji said calmly: "Whether it's three hundred thousand or one million, it's all trivial and cannot be brought to the fore. Why are you so anxious to get angry?"
Zhao Tailai said distressedly: "Is this still a small matter? A full eight hundred thousand taels are gone, how can it still be small?"
"A good man has aspirations in all directions and a world in mind. You are my son, Zhao Xuanji, how did you get into the eyes of money?"
Zhao Xuanji put down his pen and lectured dissatisfiedly: "I have taught you a lesson long ago, you should take a long-term view. Yellow and white things are just the lowest level of interest and pursuit. The best decoration for a man is power!"
"Are those big weavers in Jiangnan rich?"
"Are those black businessmen who colluded with government and businessmen involved in the North-South Salt Transport have money?"
"The boss of the No. 1 bank in the world, is he rich?"
"But what about these people? Which one of them is not polite and respectful when they see you?"
Zhao Tailai said with a sullen face: "I just feel sorry for my elder brother..."
"Brother?"
Zhao Xuanji twisted his eyebrows and said, "King Zhao?"
Zhao Tailai said proudly: "Yes, he asked me to call him big brother. We have a good relationship and I like him very much."
"Confused!"
Zhao Xuanji snorted coldly and said: "No matter how downcast he is, he is still the son of the emperor, and now he is a county prince who has been granted the title of king. You have neither fame nor official position, so why should you call him brother? Next time you see him, give me
I respectfully call you King Zhao!"
Zhao Tailai said unconvinced: "He said this himself, we are personal friends..."
"This is where you are inferior to him."
Zhao Xuanji looked indifferent and said: "His city will kill ten of you without even taking a breath. If the prince is said to be extremely domineering, then this son is extremely vicious. You can't see what he is thinking in his heart."
Zhao Tailai was shocked.
He still believes in his father more than Li Yinhu.
"Then, should I have less contact with him in the future?"
Zhao Xuanji said calmly: "That's not necessary. His friendship with you is also to tie up with my interests. If the prince does not fall, there will be no possibility of us turning against each other. If we should make friends, we can make friends. But don't lose your sense of propriety.
Don’t be fooled, keep your distance and keep your distance.”
Zhao Tailai agreed honestly.
Suddenly, Zhao Tailai changed the subject and asked tentatively: "I heard that after the Chinese New Year, the palace will send people to the general's house to give betrothal gifts?"
Zhao Xuanji's gaze focused on Zhao Tailai's face and said, "Is this something you should inquire about?"
Zhao Tailai gritted his teeth and said, "Dad, I don't accept it!"
