Chapter 101: The Grain Transport

Zhu Xu fumbled with the teacup in his hands, feeling quite melancholy. The weather was hot, and the tea was hot too—he had no way to take a sip.

He couldn't help but turn his head to glance at the servant who had brought the tea, his eyes displeased. What an inconsiderate servant—couldn't he have brought some cold tea instead?

Li Jinyan looked at the little brat Zhu Xu and sneered inwardly. He wanted to see just how far the hand of His Highness Prince Hui—who could throw his weight around in the capital—could actually reach!

Even here in the capital, what could Zhu Xu possibly do to him?!

Unable to drink the tea, Zhu Xu could only swallow dryly and look at this Li Jinyan. After a moment's thought, he said, "I hear your Li family has assets worth tens of millions. Is that true?"

Li Jinyan raised an eyebrow and said, "Rumors are often exaggerated. Your Highness should not believe them entirely."

Zhu Xu looked curious and said, "Not believe them entirely, eh? To be honest, this prince also likes silver. Could you tell me how you all earned it? Can you bring this prince in on it?"

Li Jinyan's face turned cold. Throughout the entire Ming court—whether the supremely pure Hanlin scholars or the grand officials of the court—all deeply despised the stench of copper. Yet although their family assets numbered in the millions, they never discussed such matters openly.

The purer the pure official, the baser the base profession.

Li Jinyan had just spoken of how his family had produced many pure court officials over generations, so naturally he couldn't now discuss such things. The corners of his mouth curled slightly as he said with a hint of mockery, "These are the fruits of our ancestors' prudent household management, accumulated over generations—not derived from base mercantile pursuits."

Zhu Xu nodded and said, "That makes sense. The capable ancestors died early, leaving all the enjoyment to their grandsons."

Li Jinyan's expression turned unpleasant. He raised his hand toward Zhu Xu and said flatly, "Your Highness flatters me."

Zhu Xu waved his hand repeatedly and said, "No flattery, no flattery—it's you who's the flatterer."

Li Jinyan was secretly furious. This Prince Hui showed not a trace of noble bearing—not only was he obsessed with the stench of copper, he was like a piece of stubborn gristle, utterly shameless. He gave a low snort and was about to mock him again when Qian Qianyi saw this and hastily interrupted him. Bowing slightly to Zhu Xu, he said, "Your Highness must have some purpose in coming here. Please speak frankly—this official will comply with whatever you command."

Zhu Xu turned to Qian Qianyi and looked at him for a long while, until Qian Qianyi's expression grew tense, before saying, "I hear that you, Lord Qian, are planning to return to office?"

Qian Qianyi was startled for a moment, but quickly said, "This official has come to the capital only to give lectures at invitation."

Old fox!

Zhu Xu secretly curled his lips and added, "True enough. Hanlin officials are everywhere these days, and there's no shortage of those who want to participate in compiling the *Veritable Records of Shenzong*. They won't miss you."

The Hanlin were pure and noble—the purer and nobler, the higher their status. Likewise, the more they feared being looked down upon.

But Qian Qianyi merely showed a moment of embarrassment on his face and didn't pick up the thread again.

His not picking up the thread didn't mean Zhu Xu would let him off. Zhu Xu fumbled with the teacup until it had cooled enough, then raised it and took a sip. Casually, as if without intention, he said, "Since the thirtieth year of Wanli, the grain transport has lost money every single year, and the court's subsidies have grown larger and larger. Lord Qian, if you have a way to solve this problem, this prince can guarantee you a recommendation for the post of Vice Minister of one of the Six Ministries!"

Qian Qianyi's eyes shifted almost imperceptibly. He had previously only been a Junior Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and had hastily resigned out of fear of Wei Zhongxian. Given his seniority, to reach a position like Vice Minister, he would need at least another five to ten years of grinding.

But no sooner had Zhu Xu's words fallen than Li Jinyan stepped forward again, speaking coldly, "Your Highness Prince Hui, words without evidence should not be spoken carelessly. The matter of grain transport has long been settled by the esteemed officials of the court, and in all these years there have never been any major errors. For Your Highness to groundlessly accuse a second-rank official of the court—surely that won't hold water?"

The second-rank official of the court he referred to was the Governor-General of Grain Transport who had just recently died of illness—Li Sancai.

Zhu Xu looked at him, blinked, then turned back to Qian Qianyi and said, "So then—Lord Qian, do you want to take office or not?"

Being ignored by Zhu Xu, Li Jinyan's expression darkened by a degree.

Qian Qianyi's face looked honest and simple, revealing nothing, but inside he was agonizing terribly.

Taking office or not taking office—one never announced such things oneself. One had to be recommended by others, receive the court's summons, make a show of declining, and only then accept the post with pleasure.

But since His Highness Prince Hui had asked so openly, if he modestly said he didn't wish to take office and that got spread around, then this trip to the capital would have been a complete waste.

His plump face showed no expression, but his eyes carefully sized up Zhu Xu. What ordinary child could command the conversation so firmly among such a group of people?

Qian Qianyi pondered Zhu Xu's purpose, his face betraying nothing as he smiled slightly and said, "This official has come only to give lectures. If the court has need and summons me, this official would not dare decline—I would take up the post with vigor."

Thick-skinned, all of them, indeed.

Zhu Xu sighed inwardly. He glanced at Li Jinyan again, his smile growing wider, then stood up and said, "Alright, I'm off."

With that, Zhu Xu waved his fan, thinking himself quite dashing and composed, and truly walked away.

Only after Zhu Xu had left the courtyard did the group snap back to their senses.

Li Jinyan was the most puzzled. He stepped forward, raised his hand to Qian Qianyi, and said, "My lord, did you discern anything?"

Qian Qianyi was also frowning at this moment. This Prince Hui had come and gone in haste, his words touching on nothing concrete—there was absolutely no telling what was on his mind.

Qian Qianyi said nothing, and the group below grew all the more uneasy.

This Prince Hui's past deeds were too fearsome—they couldn't help but take him seriously.

Qian Qianyi also saw what everyone was thinking. He smiled slightly and said, "Gentlemen, there's no need to be concerned. His Highness Prince Hui is still young, and his temperament is flighty and erratic. No need to pay it any mind—let us continue our lectures."

Hearing Qian Qianyi's words, the group felt somewhat comforted. Thinking it over more carefully, they indeed seemed to have given no handle to be seized, so they sat back down with a trace of unease.

Qian Qianyi resumed his previous topic, his voice unhurried, warm and solid with a touch of authority.

Those listening below also wore calm expressions, swaying their heads as if they had gained great insight.

Everything was as it had been before, as if Zhu Xu had never come.

Zhu Xu and Fu Tao left the courtyard, boarded the carriage, and after traveling some distance, Fu Tao could no longer hold back and asked, "Your Highness, what was the purpose of this visit?"

He too could naturally see that Zhu Xu had not come looking for a tutor at all.

Zhu Xu waved his fan, a mysterious smile on his face, and said, "Line up for seats, share the treats."

Fu Tao was completely baffled by Zhu Xu's words and could only press again, "Your Highness, what exactly do you mean?"

Zhu Xu saw mountains of gold and silver before him, his mood greatly improved, and explained, "To get a share of the benefits, you must first secure your position. Only when your position is secured will you receive your share when the benefits are divided. And the better your position, the more benefits you get."

Fu Tao mulled over Zhu Xu's words, and suddenly his heart jolted. He blurted out, "Your Highness, you intend to make a move on the grain transport?"

Zhu Xu placed his index finger to his lips and shushed him.