Moma Liangshan

Chapter 62 Emperor Huizong Grants Wang Hao's Marriage Proposal

Three days later, in the royal garden, the bright moon hung high in the starry sky, and the sounds of stringed instruments drifted among the flowers and rocks. Li Shishi danced gracefully on a flower drum, while Emperor Huizong knelt behind a zither, plucking its strings. The melodious zither music and the resounding drumbeats harmonized, echoing between the pavilions and waterside terraces. Emperor Huizong looked up at the flower drum five steps away, while Li Shishi looked down at the emperor seated on the ground. The starlight was silent, the music intangible; the emperor was passionate, the beauty righteous. Suddenly, a night breeze arose, lotus pods swayed, and ripples on the water awakened the koi carp from their dreams. The koi carp leaped, lotus flowers emerged from the water, reflecting the starry sky. The starry sky was vast, the zither music ever-changing, like winter snow melting, icy water cascading down from the mountain peak; the drumbeats shifted accordingly, like a clear pool at the foot of the mountain, calmly receiving the cascading waterfall. The harmonious performance of the emperor and the beauty left the attending palace maids and eunuchs in a dreamlike trance, completely captivated. After Emperor Huizong finished his enjoyment, he went to the flower drum and reached out to help Li Shishi up. Li Shishi smiled shyly and fell into Huizong's arms. Huizong held Li Shishi and said, "The night air is cool, and Shishi's clothes are damp with sweat; please don't catch a cold!" After saying this, he took his dragon-patterned cloak from a eunuch and tied it around Li Shishi's shoulders. To be frank, Li Shishi was just a courtesan in a brothel, yet now she was wearing imperial robes in the royal garden—truly unprecedented. However, the dozen or so palace maids and eunuchs from all over the country seemed completely unfazed. The two went to a pavilion and sat down together. Li Shishi spoke up, "My brother has returned from Mingzhou. Does brother know?" Emperor Huizong was taken aback at first, then understood. He looked at Eunuch Chen beside him and asked, "Wang Hao has returned from Mingzhou?" Eunuch Chen replied, "He entered the city through the East Gate three days ago and was recorded in the Palace Guard that day." Emperor Huizong nodded and said, "Wang Hao went to Fanlou?" Li Shishi nodded and said, "He went there the day he returned, but it was about Jiaozhou."

Emperor Huizong, puzzled, said, "Wang Hao went south to Mingzhou to recruit people to rebuild the Jiaozhou Maritime Trade Office. This is a matter of state. Why didn't he come to the palace to meet the Emperor, nor did he report to the Ministry of Revenue? Instead, he went to Fanlou to discuss it with you?" Li Shishi leaned forward, resting her delicate body on Huizong's arm. Then, she gently raised her jade hand and brought the wine she had been holding to Huizong's lips, her breath sweet as orchids, and said, "Brother, everything is ready, except for one imperial decree from you, brother!" Huizong was even more confused and asked, "One imperial decree from me?" Li Shishi leaned into Huizong's arms and said, "Brother needs to raise at least one million strings of cash. If I have your imperial decree, it's a sure thing; if I don't, then..." "It's harder than ascending to heaven." Upon hearing of the million strings of cash, Emperor Huizong was shocked. He helped Li Shishi up and asked, "Tell me his detailed plan!" Li Shishi blinked and said, "Brother, do you think he can succeed?" Huizong countered, "Sister, do you think he can't succeed?" Li Shishi nodded and said, "I have some doubts!" ​​Huizong laughed loudly and said, "On the contrary, I believe Wang Hao can succeed!" Li Shishi asked, "Why?" Huizong replied, "Wang Hao dares not meet the Emperor directly, but instead asks you to convey his message; it must be no ordinary decree. I'm even somewhat looking forward to seeing what ingenious ideas this seemingly gifted young man has that would allow him to raise a million strings of cash with just one of my decrees."

Li Shishi stopped her playful banter and said solemnly, "Wang Hao wants to sell 40% of the shares of the Eight Immortals Wine Shop in Fanlou, divided into eight auctions. The first auction will start at 75,000 strings of cash, and each subsequent auction will start at the previous auction's closing price." Emperor Huizong nodded and said, "I have some ideas, but what does this have to do with me?" Li Shishi said, "The first auction price is the most important. If the price is too low, Wang Hao will lose out; if the price is too high, it might arouse suspicion that he's inflating his own value." Emperor Huizong suddenly understood and said, "Could it be that Wang Hao wants me to set the closing price for the first auction?" Li Shishi was surprised and said, "Brother, you guessed it so quickly!" Emperor Huizong stood up and said, "In the entire Song Dynasty, I'm afraid only Wang Hao would dare to do business with me!" Li Shishi then stood up and stood beside Emperor Huizong, saying, "Actually, even I wouldn't dare!" Emperor Huizong feigned anger, looked at Li Shishi, and said, "That's right! Wang Hao didn't personally meet with Your Majesty, but he..." But I dare to ask you to lobby! Master Li was not afraid at all and said word by word: "Brother, are you going or not?" Huizong said: "I am the emperor and it is not appropriate to go to Fanlou openly. Let Eunuch Chen come forward on my behalf!" Master Li was very excited and said, "My brother has one more thing that I would like to ask my brother's permission for!" Huizong frowned and said, "What else is there?" Master Li tiptoed lightly and leaned closer and said, "My younger brother said, 'In the whole world, there is nothing but the king's land, and on the shore of the land, there are none but the king's ministers.'" 'So the younger brother wanted to donate the money from the first auction to his elder brother. Huizong was surprised and said: "I just need to order someone to call out a price. How much dividends will Wang Hao give me?" Master Li said: "Brother is wise!" Huizong was quite satisfied and said: "Although Xian Meng is young, he has many rules and is a malleable talent!" After a short pause, he looked at Eunuch Chen and said, "You are responsible for this matter. It is all arranged by Wang Xianmeng!" "Eunuch Chen said: "This slave accepts the order! "

Emperor Huizong hesitated for a few steps, then turned and said, "The Jiaozhou matter is progressing smoothly, and Wang Hao's contribution is indispensable; he should be rewarded. However, once the auction of Fanlou's shares is held, it will surely cause a great uproar. At that time, not only will there be no reward, but I'm afraid his mistakes will be listed in countless ways by the literati. What good ideas do you have?" Li Shishi looked at the starry sky, pondered for a long time, and said, "I have a suggestion then, but I don't know if I should say it?" Emperor Huizong said, "You've invited me to participate in business matters; what is there that you wouldn't dare to say?" Li Shishi said, "That's true, but I'm only thinking of the Song Dynasty and have no selfish motives. Please understand, brother!" Emperor Huizong patted Li Shishi's shoulder lightly and said, "I naturally know. Let's talk about Wang Hao's reward!" Li Shishi nodded and said, "How many princesses do you have, brother?" Emperor Huizong roughly understood Li Shishi's thoughts and said, "I have nineteen princesses. Eight are married, five are still unmarried, and six are underage." Li Shishi said solemnly, " The younger sister was bold and suggested that her elder brother recruit Wang Hao as his son-in-law! Huizong did not respond directly. Instead, he looked at Eunuch Chen and said, "What do you think of recruiting Wang Hao as your consort?" "Eunuch Chen thought for a moment and said, "If Mr. Wang can be neither arrogant nor impetuous from beginning to end, he will definitely do something good in the future. However, as the ancients said, "If you are small, being big may not be good." 'The prince is only fifteen years old, so he is a bit young after all. In the opinion of a slave, the emperor can continue to investigate. Huizong frowned and said, "So, don't you suggest recruiting Wang Hao as your consort?" "Eunuch Chen shook his head and said: "In my opinion, I will choose one of the underage princesses to be engaged to Wang Hao, and promise to marry the princess when she comes of age. In this way, the emperor can express his respect for the prince and continue to inspect him to see his future achievements! Huizong clapped his hands and said, "Wonderful!" Wonderful! Wonderful! After saying that, he suddenly looked at Master Li and said, "I never expected that my sister would suggest that I recruit Wang Hao as my consort?" "

Li Shishi laughed heartily and said, "Brother, do you think there's something between you and your brother?" Emperor Huizong looked slightly embarrassed and said, "How could I be so lacking in manners?" Li Shishi nestled into Emperor Huizong's arms and said, "Sister just wants to know the difference between an emperor's jealousy and a commoner's jealousy?" Emperor Huizong feigned anger and said, "You're getting bolder and bolder; you even dare to joke about my feelings?" Li Shishi leaned comfortably against Emperor Huizong and said, "Throughout history, among countless emperors, perhaps none have offered such a reassuring embrace as brother's." Emperor Huizong smiled slightly and said, "I've always liked to follow my heart. As for this..." "I have no obsession with the imperial scepter," Li Shishi said. "If the Prince of Yue hadn't died young, and my brother Zhezong hadn't been childless, how could I have ascended the throne as his successor? Looking back now, my most carefree days were when I was Prince Rui!" Li Shishi continued, "So, brother, your ascension to the throne is truly ordained by Heaven!" Huizong laughed, saying, "Your words are always so comforting!" Li Shishi suddenly stared at Huizong and slowly said, "Is it only your words that make you feel comfortable, brother?" Huizong smiled and said, "Your voice, your appearance, everything about you is pleasing to the eye!" Li Shishi said, "That's more like it!"

The next day, Eunuch Chen personally went to Erlibao outside Tokyo to visit Wang Hao. Upon seeing Eunuch Chen, Wang Hao and Chen Song went out to greet him. Chen Song, seeing the two, said, "My son hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?" Wang Hao cupped his hands and said, "I've been in Mingzhou for over three months, and when we met again, Chen Song truly impressed me!" Eunuch Chen said, "Chen Song is mischievous; without you as a role model, how could he have grown so quickly?" Wang Hao didn't argue further and said, "Please come in, Eunuch!" The three entered the living room, and Wang Hao said, "Eunuch, did you come in person with the Emperor's decree?" Eunuch Chen nodded and said, "My visit was indeed at the Emperor's behest, but there is no explicit imperial edict." Wang Hao asked, "What is it?" Eunuch Chen said, "Two things. First, the Emperor has granted your request, Young Master, to attend your auction in your place; the specific arrangements are entirely up to you. Second..." "Secondly, Miss Shishi suggested that the Emperor choose the young master as his consort, and the Emperor has already agreed." Wang Hao was surprised and said, "According to the laws of the Great Song Dynasty, men can marry at fifteen and women at thirteen. I've just turned fifteen, isn't that a bit too hasty?" Eunuch Chen smiled meaningfully and said, "So I've proposed a compromise." Wang Hao quickly said, "I'd like to hear the details!" Eunuch Chen said, "Then a minor princess will be engaged to the young master, and the marriage will take place after the princess comes of age." Wang Hao was very surprised and said, "Brother, you are truly very creative! You even came up with such a method!" Eunuch Chen laughed loudly and said, "Brother, are you not satisfied?" Wang Hao took a deep breath and said, "Is the marriage completely unconsidered?"