The Good Grandson of the Red Chamber

Chapter 123 The little prince is so brave, will he cry when he runs into a wall?

Xia Chengzong said to Liu Xianglian, "Young Master Liu, when you have time in the future, please visit my Prince's Mansion more often. We can have a friendly sparring session."

Liu Xianglian shook his head and said, "Your Highness is a person of noble birth, while I am of lowly status and enjoy playing different roles, which makes me even more despised by the world."

"My close relationship with Your Highness has not tarnished Your Highness's reputation."

Xia Chengzong laughed and said, "I don't like hearing you say that. There were two people in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, one named Zu Shishao and the other named Ruan Yaoji."

"Zu Shishao loved money, and Ruan Yaoji loved shoes. Zu Shishao personally handled all the money in his household. Ruan Yaoji took care of all the shoes he wore."

"These two have their own preferences, and it's hard to say who is better for the time being."

"Once, when Zushi was counting money, a guest came to visit. Before he had finished counting and before he could move the money, he hurriedly hid the two small bamboo baskets containing the money behind his back, afraid that someone would see them."

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"When a guest visited Ruan Yaoji, he saw him blowing on fire to wax his clogs. Upon seeing the guest, he sighed and said, 'A person doesn't know how many pairs of shoes they will wear in their lifetime.'"

"By comparing these two matters, the difference in their character becomes immediately apparent. Young Master Liu enjoys opera and doesn't care at all about worldly opinions; how is that lowly?"

"This truly embodies the saying: Only a great hero can remain true to his nature, and a true gentleman is naturally elegant!"

Liu Xianglian never expected that Prince Ping'an would look at him like that, which immediately made him feel like he had found a kindred spirit.

He raised his wine cup and said, "Your Highness understands me best! Let's drink a toast!"

After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.

Xia Chengzong raised his milk bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

Prince Zhongshun laughed and said, "Brother Zong, others drink wine while you drink milk; you've lost some of your heroic spirit."

Xia Chengzong asked, "Fifth Uncle, do you believe that if you give me a bowl of wine, the Emperor will summon you to the palace tomorrow and give you a severe scolding?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Zhongshun quickly replied, "I believe you, I believe you. Don't worry, your fifth uncle will never allow you to drink alcohol before you reach adulthood."

All three burst into laughter at his words, and the air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Xia Chengzong asked Liu Xianglian, "Young Master Liu, I've heard you value chivalry. I've heard a saying: 'The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people.' What is your interpretation of this saying, Young Master Liu?"

"The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people?"

Liu Xianglian murmured these words, momentarily lost in thought.

Next, he became absent-minded and kept muttering those eight words.

After the banquet, Liu Xianglian took his leave.

Prince Zhongshun asked, "Zong-ge'er, why did you provoke him?"

Xia Chengzong laughed and said, "Fifth Uncle, this Young Master Liu is quite interesting."

"It would be a waste if he were to waste his martial arts skills by indulging in frivolous pursuits and living a dissolute life."

Xia Chengzong sat for a while longer before getting up to take his leave.

In the Rongguo Mansion, when Grandmother Jia heard Yuan Chun relaying Prince Ping'an's words, she nodded and said, "Yuan Chun, I will discuss this matter with them. You can rest assured that I will not put you in a difficult position."

Grandmother Jia summoned Jia She and Jia Zhen, but Jia Zheng was on duty at the Ministry of Works, so she didn't specifically call him.

After the others arrived, Grandmother Jia relayed what Prince Ping'an had said to them.

After some discussion, they decided to do as Prince Ping'an instructed.

After all, the Jia family has now switched allegiance to the Third Prince's camp.

Now that Yuan Chun has become a maid in the Prince's mansion, although she may not become a princess in the future, she can't escape the status of a concubine.

Now that the Third Prince has accepted this task, they have no reason not to cooperate with him.

This is also an opportunity to curry favor with the retired emperor and the emperor.

Next, the two families discussed the matter and agreed that the Rongguo Mansion would return 100,000 taels of silver, while the Ningguo Mansion would return 70,000 taels of silver.

On the Rongguo Mansion side, Grandmother Jia paid 50,000 taels of silver, and the remaining 50,000 taels were split equally between the eldest and second sons' families.

The Jia family immediately began borrowing money from relatives and friends and selling off their assets.

At this time, the news that the emperor had appointed the third prince to collect the debt owed by the national treasury spread among civil and military officials, and even throughout the capital.

In recent years, the Third Prince Xia Chengzong has made a great name for himself.

Even the rumor that Emperor Hengchang was able to ascend the throne because of his good grandson, the Third Prince, was being secretly spread.

This has piqued the curiosity of many people, who want to see if the Third Prince is really as powerful as the rumors suggest.

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Those creditors who owed money to the national treasury had varying reactions upon hearing this rumor.

Those honest and upright officials, such as the Hanlin scholars and censors, who lived in poverty, were all filled with anxiety.

They were naturally aware of the current predicament in the imperial court.

It is only natural that murderers should pay with their lives and debtors should repay their debts.

If you owe money, you should repay it.

Unfortunately, his family was too poor to repay the debt.

What will they do when the Third Prince comes to collect the debt?

Complaining? Playing the victim?

Their pride wouldn't allow them to do such a thing; if they weren't so proud, how could they live such a poor life?

Must we simply endure humiliation?

This thought stirred up unpleasant memories for them, reminding them of their dire situation years ago when the Crown Prince demanded repayment of their debts.

As for those officials who had the ability to repay but were unwilling to, or members of the royal family and nobles.

They were all waiting to see this young prince make a fool of himself.

Back in the day, even the Crown Prince couldn't do anything to us.

You're just a ten-year-old kid, what tricks could you possibly pull off?

At this moment, many people were watching this legendary prince.

I want to see what methods he has and how far he can go.

Soon, they learned the latest news.

On the first day of the prince's debt collection, he obtained 135,000 taels of silver from Prince Zhongshun.

I heard that the Jia family also owes more than 100,000 taels of silver.

In just one day, they recovered more than 200,000 to nearly 300,000 taels of silver.

It seemed like a huge success, but no one took it seriously.

After all, both families were very close to the Third Prince, making them the easiest to persuade.

Now, the real test will begin!

The next day, Xia Chengzong took a carriage and went directly to the residence of Prince Yihe.

Prince Yihe and Prince Yizhong were of the same generation as the Emperor Emeritus, and had an extremely good relationship with the Emperor Emeritus.

In his youth, he was a member of the retired emperor's faction, and he contributed greatly to the retired emperor's ascension to the throne.

Back when the Crown Prince was demanding repayment of his debts, he dared to cause trouble at Prince Yizhong's residence, but he didn't dare to go to Prince Yihe's residence to demand repayment of his debts.

Many people who follow Xia Chengzong's every move feel a sense of absurdity.

This young prince is truly fearless, like a newborn calf!

They immediately set up their most formidable opponent!

They were curious to see how the young prince would react after being humiliated at Prince Yihe's residence. Would he cry?

Soon after, Xia Chengzong arrived at Prince Yihe's residence. After announcing his arrival, he was quickly welcomed inside.