Chapter 698: Addiction

The sky was gray and the drizzle was floating.

Cao Yong came out of the yamen and looked up at the sky. It was really an autumn rain and a cold, which inexplicably added to the bleakness.

Zhao Tong was carrying two bags in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and asked Cao Yong: "Uncle, you have already sent someone back to the house to get the raincoat, why don't you wait a little longer?"

Cao Yong waved his hand, took the reins from Xiaoman's hand, and said, "This little rain is not a problem. But those things, when you go to the yamen to find someone, you need a few pieces of oil paper to cover them, be careful to be wet."

Speaking of this, he said to Jiang Jian and Li Wei: "Fai Zi, please go back first. I'll walk to the Thirteenth Prince's Mansion and go back later."

Jiang Jian and Li Wei agreed and rode their horses back to the mansion first.

After Zhao Tongxue returned from oil paper, Cao Yong urged the horse to go to Jinyu Hutong.

Because it rained, there were not many pedestrians on the road. Occasionally, there were two or three people, and they were also wearing tight clothes.

After a quarter of an hour, I arrived at Jinyu Hutong, in front of the Thirteenth Prince's Mansion.

Cao Yong turned over and dismounted, and Xiaoman stepped forward to pull the door knocker.

When the doorman came out, he saw that it was Cao Yong, so he hurriedly asked the butler to come out. While sending someone to inform him, he led Cao Yong to the living room to sit down.

Xiaoman was stalking with Cao Yong in. Zhao Tong and others were led to the side hall by the concierge to wait.

After a while, the Thirteenth Prince stepped in and said with a smile: "Fang still talked to the concubine that it was raining, maybe you are not here today."

Cao Yong had already stood up from his seat and greeted the Thirteenth Prince. He had seen each other before the guest and the host and the guest sat down again.

"It's Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Thirteenth Master is Xi Tianlin'er again, so he is going to come to congratulate him." Cao Yong said with a smile.

A few days ago, the Thirteenth Prince Mother gave him a son, and this is what Cao Yong said.

The Thirteenth Prince pointed to Xiaoman's silk bag that was hanging aside and said, "What is this? It doesn't look like a mooncake."

Cao Yong went over, took a bag, opened it in front of the Thirteenth Prince, and said, "Thirteenth Master, look at it, it's this."

There were a few paper bags in the bag. When I opened it, it was dark inside.

The Thirteenth Prince leaned over and found that it was a dead ant: "This...ank..."

"Well, when I went to Chengde in spring, I found that there were many ants there, so I asked people to pay attention to collecting them. I only sent it a few days ago, and there were ten kilograms. Using this wine to remove rheumatism is an old folk recipe. There are also ants in the capital, but they are not as big as outside the gates. The left and right are also healthy. The Thirteenth Master kept it for drinking." Cao Yong replied.

When the Thirteenth Prince heard this, he squeezed out a little smile and said, "After so many years, you have been thinking about this. It seems that you really hope that I will live for a hundred years." As he spoke, he could not hide his loneliness.

Cao Yong sighed in his heart when he saw the stars in his hair.

A few years ago, the thirteenth prince's rheumatism had been almost the same, but his condition has become worse in the past two years. What else can be caused by excessive depression, which can cause harm to the body.

"I really hope that the Thirteenth Master will live a hundred years old so that the big trees behind Cao Yong can enjoy the cool air. Thirteenth Master knows my temperament and is most impatient with those intrigues. In the yamen, everyone does either errands or these relationships. They have to have a smile on socializing and care about it all day long, which is not what Cao Yong wants." Cao Yong said with a smile.

The Thirteenth Prince smiled bitterly and said, "If you find a backer, your brother-in-law, Xiao Shiliu, who can't be your backer? What can I take care of you, a prince without a title?"

Cao Yong stretched out his hand and said while beating his fingers, "Thirteenth Master started working on a job at the fifteenth. In addition to the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites have also made many political achievements. Among the princes and princes of the emperor, there are really a few people who can manage their affairs. Thirteenth Master is aware of it. Thirteenth Master wants to enjoy the leisure time, but I am afraid he can't."

When the Thirteenth Prince heard this, he was stunned for a while, shook his head and said, "What talent is not talented? Is it possible? It's just because the prince's identity is the one who is willing to flatter him and has never done anything useful."

Speaking of this, he looked at Cao Yong's eyes and said, "It's just that, Xiao Cao Yong, you always give people a different look. The fourth brother came over yesterday and praised you several times, talking about the two-wing ranch of Taipu Temple. He didn't show up in his early years, but now he is a serious horse, and his past achievements cannot be covered. If you took care of the Taipu Temple ranch in the early years, it would not make the court worry about lacking horses now."

"It's just that my colleagues have done their best. I can't get through the ranch twice. I have worked in the capital to build my yamen. What contribution can I have?" Cao Yong said humbly.

The Thirteenth Prince shook his head and smiled, "You, you, others want to squeeze their heads and grab credit. They are just a little bit like you, and they don't take it to your heart. If the Emperor Ama didn't know people, based on your temper, don't expect to be promoted."

Speaking of this, the Thirteenth Prince remembered that he heard the Fourth Prince mention the matter of Duijin in the Sect Mansion yesterday and asked how it was going.

I don’t know what Yaer Jiang A was thinking. He even asked someone to talk to the Thirteenth Prince when he was about Duijin this time. And the meaning inside and outside was to let the Thirteenth Prince collect a thousand taels of gold and make more prospects.

Nowadays, the royal family is busy redeeming gold. Because they are greedy for a chance of one or two taels of silver than the official, they really make up a lot. Yaerjiang has no choice but to make the sect's mansion set rules that the amount of gold exchanged shall not be higher than the annual salary of the title.

In the Prince's Mansion, the annual salary of 10,000 taels of silver is 1,000 taels of gold is 1,000; in the Prince's Mansion, the annual salary of 5,000 taels of silver is 5,000 taels of gold is 5,000. The same is true for Beile, Beizi, Duke, etc.

The Thirteenth Prince was a titleless prince, but Yaerjiang A treated him the same as the prince.

The Thirteenth Prince only thought he had gained the light of Cao Yong, and said with a smile: "I'm afraid I borrowed your light, otherwise Yaerjiang's character would not be given by me for nothing."

After hearing this, Cao Yong waved his hand and said, "Thirteenth Master, don't be so arrogant, you don't have that great ability. It's just because of Thirteenth Master's identity..."

Speaking of this, Cao Yong remembered what happened to Yaerjiang Axun yesterday and spoke to the Thirteenth Prince.

After hearing this, the Thirteenth Prince was a little surprised, just like Cao Yong's reaction yesterday.

Although the Fourth Prince came yesterday, he did not mention the "give venison meat", so the Thirteenth Prince couldn't figure it out for a moment.

"Is this because I am afraid that Brother Ninth has greedy and cut off the wealth route of the sect's family, and then I want to avoid him?" The Thirteenth Prince said to himself.

Cao Yong had heard Yaer Jiang's talk about giving meat, but in front of the Thirteenth Prince, it was not easy to say this, so he said vaguely: "Maybe for this reason, I went to my place to ask for someone yesterday. If Wei Xin hadn't gone to Macau with his wife, I would have asked Prince Jian to do an errand in Guangzhou."

"I heard that your business in Guangzhou has been around for a while, and there are no other servants there?" asked the Thirteenth Prince.

Cao Yong shook his head and said, "No. In his early years, Zheng Hu took his sister to Guangzhou for a few years, but later he came back, but he did not let anyone go." Speaking of this, he remembered Wang Quantai.

He is not a person who cares about it, but at this moment he has an idea to use this to bring the relationship between the Thirteenth Prince and Yaerjiang A closer.

He couldn't explain why the purpose was for a while. Maybe he was pitying Yongjia and his daughter and wanted to protect Yaerjiang; maybe he was afraid that Yaerjiang would still pester him and ask for someone, which caused him a headache.

To be honest, Cao Yong was a little disgusted with Yaerjiang A, because of his arrogance and a disturbing "interest".

After contact, Yaerjiang A got along much better than others. He was happy and unhappy, and he was all hung on his face, missing those curves. Sometimes, he showed his loyalty unintentionally, and was quite generous, like a real man.

"Does Thirteenth Master want to make up for this shortage?" Cao Yong asked with his eyes lit up.

After hearing this, the Thirteenth Prince hesitated and said, "Although Zheng has been to Guangzhou, you know that the industry here is managed by Zheng, which is really inseparable from her. Wang Quantai has also made up for the errands in Beijing."

Cao Yong said: "It is not necessary to call them and their wife. There are many children in the Wang family in Guangzhou. If Thirteenth Master sends his disciples down, the designated one can help. Besides, since Wei Xin wants to leave Guangzhou, Thirteenth Master's foreign goods shop will also need to be properly purchased from Guangzhou."

The Thirteenth Prince raised his eyebrows and said, "If my disciples came over, wouldn't they know that there was anything else in Yaerjiang?"

Cao Yong thought about something else in his mind.

If the Thirteenth Prince can attract attention to the foreign goods trade in Guangzhou Customs at this time and have some understanding of the harm of opium, it may curb the amount of opium import. In addition, Cao Yong was thinking about changing gold from Japan, and he must be a steadfast manipulator at that time.

He briefly told the Thirteenth Prince about these two things.

When the Thirteenth Prince heard that Japan's gold exchange rate was two or three times more profitable, he couldn't help but speak out in surprise, stretched out his hand and pulled Cao Yong's arm, and said, "The court is short of silver, this idea is good. If this is true, going back and forth several times will not relieve the embarrassment of the court."

Speaking of this, he was a little confused and looked at Cao Yong and said, "That's true, why didn't you tell Yaer Jiang A? Could it be..." He wanted to ask Cao Yong if he had selfish intentions, but he also felt that it was unreliable.

If Cao Yong really had selfish thoughts, he wouldn't tell him.

"Thirteenth Master, even if I say it now, can this silver be entered into the Ministry of Revenue? Besides, the current administration is terrifying. Even if I really exchange gold, I don't know how many people have to go into my private pockets." Cao Yong sighed and said.

The Thirteenth Prince said, "You are right, that's right, you have always been cautious, how could you come up with this loophole for Yaerjiang A? It turns out that the method of redeeming gold is inappropriate. If you use silver to exchange gold from Japan and then transport the gold to Guangzhou to exchange for foreign silver, it would be a good deal."

"Thirteenth Master, the harm of opium should not be underestimated. That thing, unlike tobacco, is like gambling, which makes people addicted. It is not enough to lose everything." Cao Yong said: "If Thirteenth Master pays attention to this and saves the Chinese people from opium, it means that the country will be rewarded for the future. Even in history books, Thirteenth Master will leave the name of "virtuous king".

"'Virtual King', 'Virtual King'..." The Thirteenth Prince looked at Cao Yong, and lost his coldness and self-deprecating as before, and said with a smile: "It seems that Furuo has great expectations for me. In order not to let you down, I will remember these two things in my heart." Speaking of this, I added a little solemnly and said: "One day, I will complete these two things, not for the sake of the country, but just to show the world that my thirteenth brother is not a useless person."

After hearing this, Cao Yong nodded vigorously and said, "Thirteenth Master is an eagle in the sky, and there will be a day to spread his wings. Cao Yong will wait and see."

The Thirteenth Prince was quite excited, stood up, walked to Cao Yong, and looked at Cao Yong.

Cao Yong then got up from his seat, felt a little uncomfortable when he was seen, and said, "Thirteenth Master, what are you asking for?"

The Thirteenth Prince reached out, patted Cao Yong on the shoulder, and said, "Whether it is now or the new emperor ascended the throne, these two things will be managed well, and they will gain both fame and fortune. With this qualification, I am afraid that the title of the Prime Minister will be granted the title. Furuo, you have no selfish intentions at all and are wholeheartedly planning for me. How can I repay this great kindness?"

"What kind of kindness is it? Thirteenth Master has said far. If it weren't for the early years of the thirteenth Master and the Fourth Master who saved me, I would have buried my bones by the West Lake, so how could I live to this day?" Cao Yong said: "I just hope that Thirteenth Master will take good care of his health as soon as possible, and achieve great achievements in the future..."

Buerhasutai, the Holy Driving is here, the Sixteenth Prince's Account.

Since the Mid-Autumn Festival was the next day, the sixteenth prince called officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to inquire about the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

The concubines and princes, civil and military officials, and Mongolian princes who came to the court were all given banquets.

After all, it is not in Beijing or Rehe. All the ingredients here are not abundant. If you want to buy a special banquet, you have to worry about arranging it.

The sixteenth prince was listening to everyone's reports with a smile, and suddenly felt a little dazed, and then he couldn't help but tremble. He hurriedly stretched out his hand and stopped the official who reported the matter and said, "Okay, I know. You retreat first, if you have anything to report, come back and tell me."

Everyone leaned over and exited the account one by one.

Fortunately, Yiduli knew Prince Sixteenth. Seeing that he looked wrong, he stayed at the end and asked, "Master Sixteenth, is it okay?"

The sixteenth prince waved his hand and said, "It's okay, no..." Halfway through speaking, he couldn't help but sneeze heavily.

"Sixteenth Master is catching a cold? Do you want a slave to invite the imperial physician over?" Yiduli asked with some concern.

The sixteenth prince leaned into the chair and said, "I asked the boys to spread it. But the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is there, Lao Yi must pay attention to taking care of him. I will be slanted for a while and I won't leave you to speak."

After Yiduli heard this, he left the tent.

The sixteenth prince couldn't help it and quickly called Zhao Feng to get a pack of things.

When I opened it, it was a piece of opium the size of a pigeon egg.

Zhao Feng had already sent out everyone else, lit the light, and served the sixteenth prince to take a few mouthfuls of opium.

After sucking opium, the sixteenth prince sighed and finally recovered.

While wrapping the remaining opium ointment, Zhao Feng whispered: "Master, I'm addicted to this month and I'm getting more and more... I'm getting less and less..."

The sixteenth prince smiled bitterly and patted his forehead.
Chapter completed!