"Hey, mother-in-law, you don't have a sharp eye. You don't hurry up when the emperor wants something."
Far away, Xia Shang heard someone complaining in the backyard.
It was a group of six people, and they were indeed dressed like eunuchs in the palace. There were also several coachmen waiting at the door, probably preparing to haul wine.
When Xia Shang noticed them, they all also saw Xia Shang.
Seeing the shopkeeper next to Xia Shang, one of the eunuchs who looked like a leader ran over to him, pointed at shopkeeper Ding and asked: "Where is the wine?"
Shopkeeper Ding smiled: "This is our boss. I heard that a noble person from the palace has arrived, so I came here in person."
The eunuch then turned his attention to Xia Shang, but he didn't take Xia Shang seriously: "We don't have much free time, so hurry up and prepare the wine. We are still waiting to go back to recover."
Xia Shang glanced at these people, but he had never seen them in the palace.
When the eunuch saw Xia Shang standing still, he raised his voice and asked: "Hey! Why is it still like a wooden pile? Hurry up!"
"I don't know your father-in-law's surname. Why haven't you seen him in the palace?"
Xia Shang made no move and asked instead.
When the eunuch heard this, he was stunned. After he came to his senses, his tone also changed drastically: "Oh! So the owner here is still an adult who can enter and exit the palace! But... look at the adult's appearance, why haven't I seen this before? No!
Do you know what position your Excellency holds?"
"Taking office in the Metropolitan Procuratorate."
"The Metropolitan Procuratorate? I've never heard of it." The eunuch resumed his previous posture, "Okay, don't get too close. The Emperor is still waiting."
Xia Shang smiled lightly: "Of course the wine is ready, but we are also doing a small business here. When will my father-in-law give me the money?"
"Silver?" The father-in-law was stunned again, "What the emperor wants, you actually want silver?"
"As far as I know, the emperor is upright and never treats the people badly. Since he ordered his father-in-law to buy fine wine, it is natural that the money for the wine is indispensable. I heard someone mention it in the palace that some people in the palace have unclean hands and feet.
Every time the palace asked for money to go out to buy things, the people in the palace took it away, and when they went outside to exploit the people, they didn't know whether it was true or not."
"You're talking nonsense! You're so brave, even the emperor doesn't care about you."
"If it is the emperor's will, then where is the imperial edict? It is really hard to convince people just by my father-in-law's words. Also, although our Wuliangye is not a valuable thing, it is not something that everyone can eat. The emperor thought
For drinking, one jar is enough, even if it is divided among the harem, concubines, etc., it is more than enough. The father-in-law only speaks of three jars. Can the emperor eat it alone? Or is the emperor also planning to invite the father-in-law to have a drink? "
"What do you mean?! Do you think we are pretending to convey the Holy Will?"
"Eunuch, let's not talk nonsense. If it is really the emperor's wish, I will be asked to pay tribute. If it is tribute, it will be imperial wine. The amount of imperial wine required in the palace must be imperial edict, and it must be clearly written on it. Since there is no imperial edict,
That proves that it is a transaction. If it is a transaction, it must be done according to the rules. Even if the emperor cannot find the money to take the wine away, it is impossible."
"Okay... okay... what's your name?"
"Xia Shang, the head of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."
"You are a Xia Shang, and you are the chief of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Our family will remember you today. Tell me, how much does three jars of wine cost."
"The market price is thirty thousand taels of silver."
"Pfft!" When the father-in-law heard this, he almost bit his tongue, "Say it again, how much?"
"A jar of 10,000 taels of silver, if divided into bottles, can be sold for 12,000 taels of silver. For the sake of the emperor, we have already given a discount."
"You guys, you guys are running a shady shop! How can there be such expensive wine in the world?"
Xia Shang pointed outside: "That's how business is done. Prices are clearly marked, so you don't have to be deceived. If you think it's expensive, you don't have to buy it. If you look outside, it seems that not everyone thinks it's expensive."
"Okay... you're a profiteer, let's see."
The father-in-law made an angry sound and turned around to leave.
Xia Shang waved from behind: "Father, what's going on? How can you get back to the emperor if you can't buy wine?"
Those father-in-laws didn't answer again.
Seeing that the person had left, Xia Shang's expression also turned cold. He turned back to look at Shopkeeper Ding: "Did you see that? This is the difference between Beijing and Jiangnan. There are all kinds of people. We are open for business and cannot be ignored.
People have taken advantage of it."
Shopkeeper Ding frowned: "After all, they are from the palace, and these father-in-laws who can leave the palace should have high status. I'm afraid it's not good for my boss to offend them all."
"If you can offend the people in the palace, offend them, otherwise the people sitting in the palace will think that I am easy to bully." Xia Shang muttered to himself and stopped paying attention.
Soon, the winery opened its doors.
The buyer who had been waiting outside for a long time came in and was more excited to see Wuliangye than the young man next door to the beautiful woman.
There were too many people in the shop and it was too chaotic, so Xia Shang took an opportunity and left the shop.
As soon as he came out, he was grabbed by the shoulder.
"Master Xia, what a coincidence."
Xia Shang looked for the voice and saw that it was the second prince Li Xiangyang.
Today, Li Xiangyang was wearing casual clothes, followed by several entourages, looking very relaxed.
However, Xia Shang didn't have a very good impression of Li Xiangyang, and he frowned inadvertently when he met him.
Li Xiangyang smiled and asked: "What? Mr. Xia doesn't seem to want to see me, right?"
Xia Shang forced a smile: "Somewhat sudden, some sudden."
"After briefly meeting Mr. Yu in the Metropolitan Procuratorate a few days ago, I have always hoped to have time to have some leisure time with Mr. Xia. Unexpectedly, we happened to bump into it today. Why don't we go and see this Yunxiang Building together."
Xia Shang did not refuse. He also wanted to see everything that happened in Yunxiang Building today as a guest.
Current events have changed, and Li Xiangyang is no longer as cold as before towards Xia Shang, but is very enthusiastic. He put his arm around Xia Shang's shoulders and pointed to the signboard upstairs.
"Others don't know, but I know it clearly. Both the Five Grain Essence and the Yunxiang Building are from Master Xia's handiwork. Seeing that Master Xia has not only grown in Jiangnan, he has now become a force that cannot be underestimated in the capital.
It’s really gratifying.”
"Compared to His Royal Highness..."
"Wrong, now you are not His Highness the Prince, but King Zhengyang. He was also crowned king half a year ago."
"Compared with the prince's power in the capital, isn't it nothing?"
"Master Xia is a smart man, let's not play this kind of word game anymore. Today, when the King of Japan met you, he had no other thoughts and just wanted to chat with you. For example, the signboard of Yunxiang Building..."
"You two, what are you talking about? It's so lively?"
Suddenly, a voice came.
Xia Shang turned around and saw that it was the third prince Li Xin. Behind him, in addition to the bodyguards, was the princess dressed in men's clothing. (To be continued)