Chapter 57: The Imperial Palace sells ice cubes on a large scale
Early the next morning, news came from the palace.
His Majesty the Emperor wants to sell all the 20,000 kilograms of ice he saved last year.
The external view is that the war on the front line is tight and Datang's finances are struggling.
The royal family of the Tang Dynasty set an example by giving up enjoyment and converting all the ice cubes into money to support the frontline war effort.
With the emperor's edict, people all over the world praised His Majesty as an eternal wise king.
In order to repel the invading enemies on the border, he actually made such a big sacrifice.
However, only Zhao Chen, Wei Zheng and Li Shimin knew the real situation.
All the ice cubes in the palace were carried by Qianniuwei to the East Market for sale.
Those who can afford such luxury items as ice cubes are wealthy businessmen, and ordinary nobles cannot afford such things.
For a time, rich businessmen gathered in Dongshi.
The news that the emperor was selling ice cubes in Dongshi was known to all the people in Chang'an City, and naturally the people with the fifth surname and Qi Wang also knew it.
Zheng He from the Zheng family in Xingyang is purchasing items for his father's sixtieth birthday these days.
As the eldest son of the Zheng family in Xingyang, Zheng He was very attentive.
Because this birthday is related to the face of his Xingyang Zheng family.
It must be luxurious and elegant.
After all, the Zheng family in Xingyang has a lot of money.
So when he heard that His Majesty the Emperor was selling ice cubes in Dongshi, Zheng He was very excited.
Ice cubes, a luxury item that only the upper class could afford, were openly sold in the market today.
Zheng He sneered secretly in his heart.
His Majesty Emperor Xindao was so poor that he even sold all the ice cubes.
This life is not as good as that of Zheng He!
Zheng He felt quite proud.
"Master, the birthday gift for the old lady's birthday has not been prepared yet, and the emperor happens to be selling ice cubes. How about we buy a few hundred kilograms?" the steward next to him said with a smile.
He is a housekeeper, and he is also dressed in brocade and satin.
More gorgeous than some businessmen.
"How many pounds? Who do you look down on?" Zheng He smiled coldly.
"I, Mrs. Zheng of Xingyang, are not like His Majesty the Emperor. I am so poor that I even sell ice cubes for summer vacation."
"Notify me and buy eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight pounds to give to my father as a birthday gift." Zheng He said loudly, with a rather proud look on his face.
"Eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight pounds?" The housekeeper was stunned for a moment.
Although it is hot summer now, it weighs more than 8,000 kilograms. How long will they use it?
There are only two months left. Once autumn comes, these ice cubes will be useless.
That's really worthless.
"It's my father's birthday in half a month. Our Xingyang Zheng family has invited more people this time. Anyway, there are one or two hundred tables."
"At that time, ice cubes will be placed next to all tables, which will make people feel cooler even in this hot summer."
"If you can't use them all, pick some with whom you have good connections and give them some ice cubes. It will also show the financial strength of my Xingyang family, Zheng." Zheng He said with a smile.
"Tall, sir, you are really tall!" The butler gave a thumbs up.
Isn’t it true that the Qiwang family with the fifth surname and the Zheng family in Xingyang cares most about face?
Money, they have plenty of it.
"By the way, ask someone to write on the invitation and ask the guests to wear more clothes to avoid freezing when they arrive."
"Then I, the Zheng family of Xingyang, will not pay compensation." Zheng He said proudly.
…
Li Ruoshuang has been very distressed recently.
The last time I rode a horse with Zhao Chen, an acquaintance saw it.
Hong Funu almost got into a fight with Li Ruoshuang at the house.
These days, Li Ruoshuang is locked up at home under strict security and cannot even leave the room.
Fortunately, today Hongfu Nu was invited into the palace by Empress Changsun, and Li Ruoshuang breathed a sigh of relief.
After climbing over the wall from home and walking on the street for most of the day, Li Ruoshuang felt a little tired.
But unknowingly, he walked outside Zhao Chen's tavern.
Zhao Chen was eating lunch. When he saw Li Ruoshuang, he waved to her and shouted: "Miss Ruoshuang."
Li Ruoshuang originally wanted to leave.
After her mother, Hong Fu Nu, found out about riding a horse with Zhao Chen last time, she was worried that Hong Fu Nu would kill Zhao Chen again.
How could Zhao Chen, an ordinary person, be the opponent of his mother, Hong Fu Nu?
Li Ruoshuang didn't want to cause trouble to Zhao Chen.
"Miss Ruoshuang, it's noon, come in and have a meal. I just have something to discuss with you." Zhao Chen called again.
Li Ruoshuang was silent for a moment and walked into the tavern.
"Uncle Fu, cook another dish for Miss Ruoshuang." Zhao Chen shouted towards the backyard.
"Okay!" Uncle Fu from the backyard responded.
"What's wrong with Miss Ruoshuang? She doesn't seem happy?" Zhao Chen was a little curious as to why Li Ruoshuang, who is usually so arrogant, was so coquettish today.
Are you so hesitant to even come in for a meal?
"Zhao Chen, I'm fine, what do you want to discuss with me?" Li Ruoshuang shook his head and asked.
She didn't want to tell Zhao Chen the things that made her miserable.
"Oh, that's it. The mine you saw last time will be mined in a few days, but I don't have the manpower, so I thought you knew someone in Chang'an City and wanted to ask if you could help find some manpower and the price.
It's easy to talk about anything, I will never treat you badly!" Zhao Chen and Li Ruoshuang said with a smile.
Old Li Tou can live in the north, so he has a very wide network of contacts. Naturally, he can get things done quickly such as mining documents.
But when Lao Li Tou went back, he asked Zhao Chen to help find mining manpower.
Originally, Zhao Chen wanted the folks in his hometown in Wannian County to help him.
But most of them are old, and they also need to grow the peppers at home.
That's also a very important thing.
After thinking about it, Zhao Chen found that apart from Old Li Tou, he only knew Li Ruoshuang in Chang'an City.
Moreover, Old Li Tou told Zhao Chen that Li Ruoshuang was the daughter of Wei Guogong Li Jing.
With Li Ruoshuang's status, if she didn't have the temper of a young lady, Zhao Chen would really not want to associate with her.
But no matter what, Li Ruoshuang knew more people than Zhao Chen.
"Mining?" Li Ruoshuang frowned slightly.
She knew a lot of people, including her own subordinates, who could do this.
However, these people are all women.
Li Ruoshuang's temperament followed that of Hongfu Nu, and she grew up listening to the deeds of Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning.
Then I thought that I could become a woman like Princess Pingyang.
Li Ruoshuang gathered hundreds of women, most of whom were lonely girls in Chang'an City.
I thought that by training them, they might have the opportunity to contribute to Datang in the future.
But recently, Li Ruoshuang encountered a problem.
She found that she had no money.
Moreover, because she was drunk at Zhao Chen's place last time, her mother, Hong Funu, was so angry that she deducted half of her monthly money.
And a few days ago, after Hong Fu Nu found out about riding the same horse with Zhao Chen, Hong Fu Nu became so heartbroken that she didn't even give her a single coin.
Li Ruoshuang is very embarrassed now.
"Is there any difficulty, Miss Ruoshuang?" Zhao Chen said softly.
"I do have people, but they are all girls I took in. If they are mining..." Li Ruoshuang hesitated.