The prince is more stable

Chapter 328 The Poor Prince
Zhao Xiaoqian was completely paralyzed.

The revenue from snow salt and tea was 300,000 taels, and the revenue from the birthday banquet was 200,000 taels, a total of 500,000 taels, all just disappeared like that?

Zhao Xiaoqian had no doubt that Zhao Hao was keeping a mistress outside. No mistress was so lucky that it was worth Zhao Hao spending 500,000 taels to support her. If he found out, he would break her bones.

There are only two people in the lineage of the King of Chu, a father and his son, and the family is small. When it comes to money, the father and his son have always been very generous. If anyone is short of money, he can go to the accounting office to withdraw it. No one cares about how much he spends.

In the past year, the income of the Chu Palace has increased significantly, mainly relying on the snow salt and tea produced by Zhao Xiaoqian. These two big businesses have increased the annual income of the palace by at least several times.

It was basically unlikely that there would be any economic and financial crisis in the palace. Zhao Xiaoqian had a rough idea of ​​this, so he never asked about the palace's accounts.

Zhao Hao dealt him a heavy blow today. In less than a month, the revenue of 500,000 taels was gone?

As a son, Zhao Xiaoqian finally couldn't help but ask.

I originally planned to rely on my parents for support, but ended up being relied upon by others for support. This is unacceptable.

"Gambling? Beauty? Land? Houses?" Zhao Xiaoqian pressed. "Father, money always has a source. Where did it go? Please tell me where it went."

Zhao Hao sighed, "Don't ask, you'll know later. Now just think of me as a spendthrift."

Zhao Xiaoqian: “…………”

People say that being a grandson is difficult, but those who say this probably don’t know that being a son is even more difficult.

I was about to take up my post in Zhending, but my family was nearly bankrupt. When I arrived at Zhending Prefecture, the lower-level officials and generals saw me and said, "Here comes a poor fellow. Why would he command us if I don't give him any benefits?" Pah!
While still in Bian Jing, Zhao Xiaoqian could already foresee the difficult future.

"We have any valuable things at home. Let's sell as much as we can. I need the money urgently." Zhao Xiaoqian said.

Zhao Hao's fat body turned half a circle on the chair and turned his face away like a child.

"Do not sell!"

…………

In a remote old house in the south of Bianjing City.

Zhao Hao sat on the chair with his fat body. The worn-out chair made creaking sounds as it struggled, precariously supporting the unbearable weight of his life.

Perhaps he was not sitting comfortably, Zhao Hao frowned, adjusted his sitting posture, lifted his buttocks up with difficulty, and then put them down again.

The house was too old and the furniture was too worn out, but Zhao Hao had no intention of changing it. He had to live frugally recently.

Standing in front of him was a strange face, a middle-aged man in his thirties.

The man was dressed in black, with his head lowered, and was as submissive in front of Zhao Hao as a well-trained guard dog.

Men don't have names, only numbers.

His name is "Yi Er".

Among the twelve heavenly branches, he belongs to the "Yi" type.

At this time, Zhao Hao was no longer the image of the honest and cynical dandy prince in the palace. Now he looked like a cold-blooded villain.

Yi Er stood respectfully in front of Zhao Hao, not daring to breathe.

"My son is going to Zhending Prefecture to take up his post soon. It's a dangerous place full of tigers and wolves. I'm a little worried..." Zhao Hao said slowly.

"My lord, please give me your orders." Yi Er said with his head down.

Zhao Hao hummed and said, "Select twenty of our martial arts experts. When my son arrives, you will escort him. Tell him that I recruited them from the public at a high price. Don't let him get suspicious."

"Yes."

"If anything happens to my son in Zhending Prefecture, you will all die." Zhao Hao said coldly.

"We swear on our lives to protect the prince." Yi Er said firmly.

Zhao Hao pondered for a moment and continued, "The Imperial City Department of the imperial court is doing a bit of a sluggish job, and I'm worried. I'll send another twenty men to infiltrate the Liao border to gather information about the Liao camp. If you come across any urgent intelligence, please report it to my son anonymously so we can prepare early."

"Yes."

Zhao Hao raised his lips slightly and said, "My son is more promising than me. From now on, you can gradually shift your focus towards him. What I can't do in this life, maybe he can do. I am your master, and he is also your master. It's just that it's not appropriate to reveal it now. Wait until the time is right."

"Yes."

Zhao Hao thought for a moment, then said dejectedly, "Your expansion should be temporarily halted. Just maintain the status quo. ... You've been spending too much money lately, and my son is getting suspicious. This is going to be tough!"

"Yes."

Otoko had basically nothing else to say except "yes".

In front of Zhao Hao, he didn't need to have his own thoughts. "Has Jiaba found out the real murderer who assassinated my son in the canyon?" Zhao Hao's tone suddenly became a little cold.

Yi Er shuddered and lowered his head, saying, "I didn't find anything."

Zhao Hao hummed, half-drooping his eyes, and said calmly, "Send the order, sentence Jiaba to death, and replace Jiaten to investigate. This matter will not end until they give an explanation."

"Yes."

…………

Zhao Xiaoqian was in a bad mood. Poverty made him unhappy.

Who would have believed that the Prince of Chu, apart from his fancy clothes, was actually a poor man in essence.

Zhao Xiaoqian was too lazy to ask where the money in the palace had gone.

After all, he is his biological father, so it is really difficult to trace how he spent the money. Fortunately, Zhao Hao is his father. If he were his son, he would have been hung at the gate of the Taimiao by Zhao Xiaoqian and beaten in front of all the ancestors.

But, who says he is the father? A living father.

Zhao Xiaoqian now feels a sense of urgency. He must get some money before leaving Bian Jing to take up his post. This matter is very important.

Everything else can be put aside; making money is the top priority.

Zhao Xiaoqian, feeling restless, immediately went out and headed straight for the palace warehouse.

The warehouse of the palace is located in the backyard and is heavily guarded. Hundreds of imperial guards surround the warehouse and anyone entering or leaving must undergo strict inspection.

Zhao Xiaoqian was an exception, no one dared to investigate him.

Looking at the layers of security outside the warehouse, Zhao Xiaoqian felt depressed.

The warehouse is empty, why are you still on guard?

It’s like using a six-digit password to protect a two-digit deposit. Is that necessary?

As I stepped into the yard outside the warehouse, I saw the accountant of the palace head-on. He was probably here to check the accounts.

When Zhao Xiaoqian saw the accountant, he became furious.

The first three hundred thousand taels, and the later two hundred thousand taels, as an accountant, you really just kept the accounts and watched your father squander the money without stopping him?
When the accountant saw Zhao Xiaoqian, he bowed hurriedly.

Zhao Xiaoqian snorted coldly and suddenly shouted.

"Sweep Tang's legs!"

A strong wind blew by, and the accountant was knocked down, lying on the ground groaning.

Zhao Xiaoqian felt good. He thought his skills were pretty good. No wonder martial arts masters had to shout out their moves loudly during competitions. It really worked. Without shouting, their moves would be soulless.

After dusting off the hem of his shirt, Zhao Xiaoqian walked into the warehouse and saw that the shelves where copper coins and silver were placed were empty. Only the other room where goods were stored was full. Apart from some precious medicinal herbs, cloth and luxury goods, the most abundant item was tea.

The tea was produced in a workshop under the name of the Chu Palace. After Zhao Xiaoqian gave the secret recipe for roasting tea to Zhao Hao, he basically never took care of it again.

Zhao Hao took the secret recipe and hired workers from the farm under the name of the palace to start the work themselves. From purchasing fresh tea from all over the country, to frying the tea, packaging it into boxes, etc., he has formed an one-stop industrial chain.

The accountant had a bitter face, held his waist, did not dare to show any dissatisfaction, and tried his best to explain.

"So, all the copper coins and silver in our storehouse are gone, and the most remaining thing is these tea leaves?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

The accountant said bitterly, "Yes."

"What were you doing while my father was spending money? He spent five hundred thousand taels in just one month, and you just kept track of the accounts?"

The accountant lowered his head and said, "I dare not stop him, for fear of being beaten to death."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Okay, that's a reason. After all, it's His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu's own money, and he can spend it however he likes."

"How much tea is in the warehouse?"

The accountant said without hesitation, "As of yesterday, the total amount of tea stored in the warehouse is over 4,000 kilograms. It's summer now, so I'm afraid we won't be able to collect any more tea soon. We can only wait until after Mid-Autumn Festival to roast a batch."

"How are the tea sales? If it's selling well, there shouldn't be so much left in the warehouse, right?"

The accountant sighed, "Most of those who can afford tea are relatives and dignitaries in Bianjing. The market hasn't been opened up yet, so the sales are not very good."

Zhao Xiaoqian pondered for a while and said, "Seal the tea leaves and don't move them. I'll find a way to sell this batch of tea."

(End of this chapter)