Chapter 650: Shouting
Editor: Atlas Studios

The ministers shuddered and stole a glance at the Emperor. Seeing that his eyes were also red, they empathetically knew that the Emperor intended to abolish the tribute system. At the very least, expensive tributes would be banned, and only cheap tributes like the ones sent by Prince Rong would be allowed. However, unlike Prince Rong, they weren’t the Emperor’s younger brothers, so how could they have the guts?

The officials who had benefited from the tribute system were all a little repulsed. If they no longer allowed the regional officials to pay tribute to the royal family, this would greatly affect their earnings.

Meanwhile, Zhu Liang, who had personally escorted the goods into the capital, had no time to inquire about the court. They had brought a lot of goods this time. At dawn, Zhu Liang got someone to set up a stall in the capital under the name of Prince Rong’s estate.

He got someone to sell the goods he had brought from Qiannan on the streets, shouting to attract customers. A jar of pickled vegetables was sold for 30 copper coins, and a catty of cured pork went for 50 copper coins. The price of the dried prickly pear was seven times the acquisition cost. The Liver Tonic Herb was placed on the table in packets at 50 copper coins a packet, which was ten times more expensive than in Qiannan.

As it was approaching the new year, the streets were filled with people buying New Year goods and it was very lively. Everyone came over and after a while, they pursed their lips and said, “30 copper coins for a jar of pickled vegetables? So expensive. Other stalls are only selling it for 15 copper coins.”

“Fresh pork costs only 18 copper coins a catty. Why is your cured pork so expensive?”

“I’ve never seen dried prickly pear and Liver Tonic Herb before. Can they be eaten?”

“The sunflower seeds are also so expensive…”

Zhu Liang knocked on the gong and said, “Everyone, don’t think that my goods are expensive. That’s because they’re not ordinary. They were all transported from Qiannan.”

“Don’t tell me that the food in Qiannan is better than the food in Jiangnan?”

“Shopkeeper, don’t lie to us. The prices in Qiannan are low. Other than the staple food being more expensive, these items definitely cost less over there. How can you lie to us?” A peddler who had traveled extensively knew the market and hurriedly shouted.

Zhu Liang said with a smile, “Brother, you don’t know this, but these are all ‘local specialties’ of Qiannan. They were presented as tributes by Qiannan’s Miao stockades and Prince Rong to His Majesty. His Majesty praised these items after eating them last night.”

Zhu Liang tried to work up the nerve for a long time, but he ultimately did not dare to shout out the advertisement slogan that Mu Yangling had taught him: “Just 30 to 50 copper coins, and you can buy the delicacies that the Emperor has tasted before!” Zhu Liang felt that it was too challenging; it was better to leave it for future generations.

“Has the Emperor really eaten these before? Could it be a lie?”

Zhu Liang pointed at the signboard which said ‘Prince Rong’s Estate’ and said, “I’m Prince Rong’s chief butler, and not far away is the grain store owned by Princess Consort Rong. This is the ‘local specialty’ of Qiannan that Prince Rong presented to His Majesty. Isn’t it only right for someone to send food to his biological brother? We have several carts of food here. I’m not bold enough to act in the name of Prince Rong’s estate without authorization.”

Everyone felt that his words made sense.

Everyone knew that the Emperor treated Prince Rong like his son. Even if Prince Rong gifted the Emperor a plate of wild vegetables, the Emperor would probably eat it and give praise. Now, he was just giving him some pickled vegetables.

With this thought in mind, everyone was 70% convinced.

Seated in the palanquin, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites hesitated for a long time. Finally, he closed his eyes and got out of the palanquin. Then, he pushed through the crowd and said, “Steward Zhu, there’s a message from the palace. His Majesty said that your pickled vegetables are refreshing and tasty. But he gave a lot to the court officials so there’s not much left in the palace. Therefore, he asked you to send some more into the palace.”

Zhu Liang agreed happily and sent the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites to the palanquin with a smile.

The crowd burst into an uproar and squeezed in like crazy. Without looking at the price tag, they stuffed their money into the hands of the servants of the Prince’s estate and carried the goods away.

Seeing as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites was wearing an official’s uniform just now, what he said must be true. So the Emperor had indeed eaten these foods.

In the past, the Emperor ate all sorts of delicacies. Even if they wanted to taste what the Emperor had eaten, they didn’t have the money. Even if they did have the money, they wouldn’t be able to buy the exact same thing. However, it was different now. They only had to fork out a small price of 30 to 50 copper coins, and they too could eat the same thing as the Emperor.

Zhu Liang quickly squeezed back and stood on the stool, shouting for everyone to line up. They had brought a lot of goods with them, more than 20 carts worth, so there was enough for everyone.

The lives of the commoners in the capital had always been better than other regions. Here, even the commoners could afford to be extravagant with things that cost dozens of copper coins. Anyway, each person only bought a little, just about one catty of cured pork and a jar of pickled vegetables.

Prince Rong’s estate’s trade caravan was surrounded in the middle, while the entire street was crowded with commoners who wanted to buy the “local specialties” of Qiannan. The county governor of Lin’an City had no choice but to send bailiffs to maintain order. He stomped his feet and glared at the trade caravan, deciding to lodge a complaint in the palace.

Zhu Liang smiled so widely that his eyes were narrowed into slits. In just half a day, he had finished selling all the carts of local specialties they had brought over. He loudly announced that he still had more to sell tomorrow, and whoever wished to buy should show up early. He promised that the prices would remain the same.

Many officials were furious and felt that Prince Rong’s men were too arrogant. A few of them agreed to go to the palace to complain to the Emperor and happened to meet the county governor of Lin’an City, so they accompanied him.

Just as Qi Xiuyuan finished dealing with the memorials of the day and was about to return to the harem to accompany his son, he heard the emissary report that some ministers were seeking an audience with him.

After some thought, Qi Xiuyuan got someone to call them in. After hearing their complaints, Qi Xiuyuan took out a memorial from the side and threw it down. He said faintly, “This is Qiannan’s memorial requesting for food relief, and has been suppressed for a month. Does anyone have a way to raise food relief? Even if it’s a loan, I will definitely return it in four to five years.”

The ministers looked at each other and lowered their heads in silence. Qi Xiuyuan sneered and said, “You’re not capable? I thought you were very capable. Prince Rong only did one thing, and you’re already so anxious to lodge a complaint against him as if he’s a villain fighting with the people for benefits? When has Prince Rong really fought with the people for benefits? Do you really have no clue as to why they’re selling these local specialties, or are you pretending not to know?”

At this point, Qi Xiuyuan said angrily, “My biological younger brother, the noble Prince Rong of Great Qi, has no choice but to do such a business for the sake of the people. How dare you complain that he’s fighting with the people for benefits? If you have the ability, do I have to let my biological younger brother suffer this grievance? Get lost!”

After throwing a tantrum and chasing everyone out, Qi Xiuyuan felt better. He snorted coldly and flicked his sleeves before leaving for the harem.

The few officials who were chased out looked at each other with ugly expressions.

Just then, Rong Xuan came out of the Hall of Bright Governance and happened to see them. He asked with a smile, “What’s wrong, my lords?”

The few of them hurriedly bowed and greeted, “Prime Minister.”

Rong Xuan looked at them for a moment and chuckled. “The treasury is empty now. Since the establishment of the new dynasty, the Imperial Court has been able to operate because His Majesty and Prince Rong have spent all their assets. The Duke of Peaceful State has also been conscientiously raising the money to settle down the refugees. Now that spring is coming, we need to buy grain seeds and distribute farming tools. Sirs, since you work in the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and the Imperial Censor’s office, you ought to share His Majesty’s worries. Perhaps you can follow Prince Rong and the Duke of Peaceful State’s example and donate some money?”

The ministers smiled awkwardly and lamented that they were poor.

How would they dare to start doing such a thing? Everyone in the court knew that Prince Rong and the Duke of Peaceful State were extremely poor now, having plowed all their assets into the national treasury. This was the Qi family’s territory, so it was only right for Prince Rong to exhaust all his assets. Considering how close the Duke of Peaceful State was to Prince Rong, he rightly did so out of brotherly love. It was best for them not to get involved. As for the matter of Prince Rong’s trade caravan, forget it. Even though it was ungracious to shout on the streets like that, they decided they could just turn a blind eye to it.

The county governor of Lin’an City made up his mind to get the bailiffs to protect Prince Rong’s trade caravan and maintain order for them.