novelAbuy Chapter 21: Princess Wei, Family Ties or Business Interests?!
Chapter 21: Princess Wei, Family Ties or Business Interests?!
"What are Sister and Jie'er talking about that makes them so happy?"
As Princess Wei Chang was talking with Consort Shi, a sudden sound came from outside the hall, and Crown Prince Liu Ju walked in.
"uncle."
Upon seeing Princess Wei Chang, Marquis Cao Zong of Pingyang, who was nestled at her knees, rushed over on his short legs.
"Ouch!"
Liu Ju reacted quickly, scooping Cao Zong into his arms.
"Giggle!"
Cao Zong was captivated by the game and kept laughing in his arms.
Upon seeing this scene, Princess Wei Chang seemed to recall something, and a trace of sadness flashed across her eyes.
Shi Liangdi, who was standing nearby, noticed the change in her expression and quickly patted her hand, her words of comfort clearly conveyed.
"Why did you have time to bring Zong'er to Bowang Garden today, sister?"
Holding Cao Zong in his arms, Liu Ju walked to the bedside and asked in confusion.
"Your Highness."
"My elder sister sent many things over."
"I don't know what to do."
Shi Liangdi quickly spoke up.
"Many things?"
Liu Ju was completely confused and could only turn his gaze to Princess Wei.
"These past few days, the events that occurred at the Crown Prince's Palace have caused quite a stir in Chang'an."
"As the eldest princess who lives alone at home, I have naturally heard a lot as well."
"Just then, Zong'er was making a fuss about seeing his uncle, so I had someone send over a million coins, 100,000 catties of gold, and 30,000 bolts of silk."
"I don't know what happened between you and the Emperor, and I don't want to know."
"But you're my own brother, I can't just abandon you."
Princess Wei Chang's gentle voice carried an undeniable firmness.
"Sister."
Liu Ju was deeply moved; he hadn't expected Princess Wei to bring him such a generous gift.
"Your Highness, Liangdi."
Princess Zhuyi sent 1.2 million coins, and Princess Yangshi sent 800,000 coins.
Just then, a servant rushed inside to report.
"this...."
Shi Liangdi had no time to react.
Princess Wei smiled gently and said, "My second and third sisters have the same idea as me."
"Jie'er".
"Since it is the kind offer of the three elder sisters, we will accept it."
Liu Ju calmed his inner turmoil and gave instructions to Shi Liangdi.
Princesses of the Han Dynasty were treated as second only to empresses, crown princes, and princes, and higher than marquises. They usually had a county as their fief.
Princess Wei Chang's Dangli County (present-day Laizhou City, Shandong Province), Princess Zhuyi's Zhu County (present-day Qiaozhuang Village, Zhigou Town, Zhucheng City, Shandong Province), and Princess Yangshi's Yangshi County (present-day south of Laizhou City, Shandong Province) belonged to Donglai Commandery and Langya Commandery respectively, and were all among the most prosperous places.
Moreover, their fiefs were all salt fiefs (fiefs that collected salt taxes), so taking this money wouldn't be a major financial loss for them.
The reason why the three princesses sent so many things at the same time was entirely to support their younger brother, Crown Prince Liu Ju.
At present, the Crown Prince's palace treasury is empty. Liu Ju needs to cultivate his confidants and expand his power, all of which require a lot of money. So how could he refuse the support of his three elder sisters? He will remember their kindness and repay them in the future.
"promise."
Shi Liangdi hurriedly arranged for the servants to pack the gifts sent by the three princesses into the storeroom.
"Um."
Princess Wei smiled when she saw Liu Ju decisively accept the gifts.
The money they sent was not only for the sake of the siblings' affection, but also an investment.
"uncle."
"I want to be the Crown Prince's bodyguard too."
Holding Crown Prince Liu Ju in his arms, Cao Zong squirmed restlessly and spoke in a childish voice.
"Hahaha!"
These words drew laughter from everyone present. Cao Zong was only 8 years old and not even as tall as a standing sword. How could he be a guard for the crown prince?
"Zong'er overheard the palace maids mentioning this matter when he came in, and he has kept it in mind."
"They're always clamoring to be guards."
Princess Wei rolled her eyes and said indulgently.
"Zong'er is too young to be a guard."
"How about having Uncle Feng Zong'er as your study companion?"
"When Jin'er grows up, Zong'er will accompany him to practice riding and archery, martial arts, and to read and write."
Liu Ju smiled gently.
"it is good."
Cao Zong was still young and did not understand the importance of this matter. He only knew that his uncle had agreed to it, and he suddenly beamed with joy.
Everyone else present, without exception, showed expressions of surprise.
"Brother."
"Jin'er is still young, isn't this too hasty?"
Princess Wei looked at Liu Jin in his swaddling clothes and said with a serious expression.
It should be noted that Liu Jin was not only the eldest son of Crown Prince Liu Ju, but also the eldest grandson of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, and was very likely to inherit the throne.
In the Han Dynasty, the positions of Imperial Grandson's Study Companion and Imperial Son's Study Companion were not particularly significant, but the position of Crown Prince's Study Companion was different. It meant that if the Crown Prince became emperor in the future, these people's official positions and titles would rise accordingly.
"Not too early, not too early, just right."
Liu Ju casually said, "Father Emperor promised that I would take care of Shan'er, and Zong'er and Shan'er can keep each other company."
"And there's also Jie'er's elder brother's youngest son, Shi Xuan; the three of them will all be Jin'er's study companions."
"In the future, when Jin'er grows up, he will have a few helpers, so he won't be like me, all alone."
In fact, although Crown Prince Liu Ju was about the same age as Wei Kang, Wei Buyi, Wei Deng, and Huo Qubing, they did not grow up together from childhood.
Huo Qubing was raised by Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che. The three sons of the Wei family were not born to Princess Pingyang, and it was impossible for them to enter the palace to study with her. As a result, after Crown Prince Liu Ju came of age, apart from Zhang He, he had few trusted confidants around him.
Therefore, selecting a study companion for Liu Jin in advance was also a way of arranging a ruling candidate for Liu Jin in advance.
What?
Princess Wei Chang's pretty face changed slightly when she heard Huo Shan's name.
She never expected that His Majesty would allow the Crown Prince to raise Marquis Huo Shan, the only bloodline of the late Marquis Jingheng and the head of the Huo family.
Now she understood why so many things had happened at the Crown Prince's Palace in the past few days.
"call!"
After pondering for a while, Princess Wei Chang let out a long breath and solemnly said, "Very well, let Zong'er stay in the Crown Prince's Palace to be taken care of as well."
Currently, Liu Ju has arranged for Liu Jin to have three companions: Marquis Huo Shan, Shi Xuan from Liu Jin's maternal clan, and Cao Zong. The appearance of these three undoubtedly represents Liu Ju's attitude towards his eldest son. It is entirely beneficial for Cao Zong to grow up in the Crown Prince's palace.
How could Princess Wei possibly refuse?
"it is good."
Upon hearing Princess Wei's words, Liu Ju's smile deepened.
Cao Zong, the Marquis of Pingyang, had a fief of 23,000 households, while Huo Shan, the Marquis of Champion, had a fief of 17600 households. This was a level of wealth that many noble families could not attain in several lifetimes.
With these two companions, Liu Jin, the eldest grandson of the emperor, was much luckier than the crown prince.
PS: The Book of Han, Treatise on Food and Commodities clearly records that there are three grades of gold: gold is the best, platinum is the middle grade, and red gold is the worst grade. Among them, gold refers to pure gold, red gold refers to copper, and platinum refers to a silver-tin alloy, and sometimes it also refers to silver in general.
One jin in the Han Dynasty was approximately equal to 248–250 grams, close to half a jin in the modern Chinese system.
因此，十万斤黄金≈ 24.8–25吨（即24，800–25，000公斤）