The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Hot summer.

Li Jinglong and Li Zengzhi sat around the stone table, eating watermelon.

On the stone table lay a drawing, a sketch they had drawn after surveying the village.

"Come on, let's do the math." Li Jinglong tossed the melon rind aside. "Look, a three-story pavilion by the stream, that's the big expense. A spacious hall on the first floor, a tea room on the second, and bedrooms on the third. Just this one building alone, with materials and labor, will cost at least three thousand taels."

"Three thousand taels?" Li Zengzhi exclaimed in surprise.

Li Jinglong continued calculating: "Plant flowers in the front yard, fruit trees in the back yard, build a pavilion, pave a stone path, and oh right, we also need to dig a pond to raise koi."

"Koi fish? You're quite particular, bro."

"There were also various furniture, stationery items, tea sets and wine sets; plus the wages of servants and maids, and daily food, clothing and grain."

He threw down his pen and sighed, "No matter how you calculate it, it would have to start at ten thousand taels of silver."

"Ten thousand taels?" Li Zengzhi was stunned. "Our father left behind less than twenty thousand taels of silver in total. And now more than half of it is going to be spent?"

"You don't know until you calculate it, and then you're shocked."

"Brother, I'm terrified! This is absolutely unacceptable. Our father worked hard his whole life to save up this little bit of wealth. If you spend ten thousand taels of silver all at once, how will we survive?"

Li Jinglong slumped back in his bamboo chair, looked up at the sky, and sighed, "Why wasn't our father a corrupt official?"

"Brother, watch your words!"

"Look at those corrupt officials, their homes are piled high with gold and silver, and their sons and grandsons can't even spend all the money they want."

"Although our father is His Majesty's nephew, His Majesty doesn't show favoritism to corrupt officials. Besides, our father isn't that kind of person."

Li Jinglong sighed, "Our father is an honest man, and honest men can't save money."

"Brother, ten thousand taels is a lot. Do you know how many taels of silver an ordinary person earns in a year?"

Li Jinglong said thoughtfully, "Let's find a way to make some money."

Li Zengzhi's expression changed drastically: "Brother, what you said is dangerous. Our Li family cannot produce corrupt officials."

"Who said I was being greedy? I meant I wanted to make money in a legitimate way, like..."

"Like what?"

"for example……"

Li Jinglong thought for a long time but found that he really had no clue.

"Relying solely on my salary, when will I ever be able to build a manor?" he said, looking dejected.

"Brother, take your time thinking about it. I still have classes at the Imperial Academy, so I'll be going now." Li Zengzhi stood up.

Li Jinglong waved his hand weakly: "Go on, go on, I have to go to the palace too."

……

Half an hour later, Li Jinglong arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

After performing the proper greetings, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even raise his head, his vermilion brush sweeping across the memorials.

Li Jinglong then consciously stood aside, pondering how to start the conversation.

He secretly glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang.

It was him who spread rumors about me behind my back, saying that I was a slut!

Is it appropriate for an emperor to spread gossip about his ministers?

He wanted to ask what the rumor really meant.

But when I think of Xu Yikui, who was beheaded because of a pun, I think I'll just forget about it.

My reputation issues are nothing to worry about.

"Your Majesty, I have visited the estate at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain. Its location is superb, nestled against the mountain and beside the water; it is truly an ideal place to escape the summer heat. I am deeply grateful and have come to express my gratitude."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly: "Satisfied?"

"I'm very satisfied, extremely satisfied."

"If you're satisfied, then we'll start construction."

Li Jinglong's face fell: "Your Majesty, I am poor. I had someone calculate it, and the total comes to ten thousand taels."

"I'll reward you with five thousand taels," Zhu Yuanzhang said, waving his hand.

Li Jinglong was stunned.

Did I just hallucinate?

"Your Majesty, what did you just say?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted, "I'll reward you with five thousand taels!"

"Your Majesty, is it not paper money? I need cash." After his initial surprise, Li Jinglong remained calm.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "It's cash, pure silver."

Li Jinglong's mind went blank for a moment, and he said in disbelief, "Your Majesty, you've completely baffled me. You've never been so generous before."

"Have we not rewarded our meritorious officials enough?" Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened.

Li Jinglong said suspiciously, "I feel like something's not right."

He still had some doubts.

Something's not right. Something's off about this whole thing from beginning to end.

First, he rewarded me with an estate, and then he generously gave me five thousand taels of silver.

Is this still Zhu Yuanzhang?

There's a conspiracy, there's definitely a conspiracy.

"What? You don't want it?" Zhu Yuanzhang snorted. "Fine, then we'll save ourselves the trouble."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Jinglong prostrated himself and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness. My gratitude to Your Majesty is like the endless flow of the Yangtze River, and like the overflowing Yellow River, it is unstoppable."

"That line again," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a look of disgust. "I knew you weren't being sincere."

Li Jinglong looked up with a grin: "This comes from the bottom of my heart. Your Majesty, to be honest, even my father, when he was alive, never treated me this well. If it weren't for ethical considerations, I would call you my godfather right now."

"Get lost." Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to disgust me."

Li Jinglong chuckled, "His Majesty has bestowed five thousand taels, and I will contribute another five thousand taels myself, making a total of ten thousand taels. I reckon the estate can start construction now."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression turned serious: "I have to tell you, this money needs to be used sparingly. Timber, bricks, tiles, stone—everything must be used sparingly. Don't be extravagant, understand?"

"Your Majesty is right. I will definitely study the market carefully and compare prices from different vendors before placing an order, making the most of every penny." Li Jinglong wholeheartedly agreed.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "If you're not familiar with the market prices, just ask the people in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. They've been handling construction and repairs for years and know the market prices for timber and bricks inside and out."

Li Jinglong's expression was strange.

Looking for people from the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Works?

Do you think I don't know the bureaucratic procurement system? They handle everything, skimming off every last penny. The quoted price for timber is three taels per cubic meter, the actual price is two taels, and the remaining one tael goes into their own pockets. Ask them for a price? Can you even trust their quotes?

and many more.

Is Your Majesty referring to something?

They rewarded me with an estate and even gave me money to build it. Then they told me to go to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to inquire about the price. The more I think about it, the more it seems like a trap.

Do you want to use me to investigate something?

But that doesn't make sense. If His Majesty really wanted to investigate corrupt officials, he could have just sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard directly. Why go through all this trouble and roundabout methods?

After going through such a long and complicated process, losing an entire estate and five thousand taels of silver, was Zhu Yuanzhang the kind of person who would do a losing business?

The emperor's heart is as vast as the sea.

This water is too deep.

Is this five thousand taels of silver a windfall or bait?

"I'll go ask them," he said, his mind racing with thoughts, but his words were straightforward.

Zhu Yuanzhang buried himself in reviewing memorials again: "Go ahead, we'll go take a look after the estate is built."

"As long as I don't stay for long, it's fine," Li Jinglong blurted out.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyes: "Look how stingy you are! How could we possibly live here forever? Is that the Qianqing Palace?"

"I have misspoke, I will leave immediately." Li Jinglong quickly made his way out.