I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 206 Promotion and Fortune

Chapter 206 Promotion and Wealth

Sheng Lan sat on Wang Wenzhou's lap, looking at the ledger while her hands moved rapidly across the abacus.

Wang Wenzhou's large hand would occasionally touch her, but Sheng Lan was already used to it, as if Wang Wenzhou's harassment didn't exist, and she continued to carefully calculate the accounts.

"The accounts are finally settled," Sheng Lan said, stretching.

Wang Wenzhou kissed the goddess and praised her, "Thank you for your hard work, my Lazy Blue."

"Take a look," Sheng Lan said.

Wang Wenzhou glanced at the accounts and found that the charity fund had a total of 90 taels, his private account had 300 million taels, and the government's public account had 10 taels.

Wang Wenzhou had so much silver in his private account for two main reasons. First, he extorted 800,000 taels of silver from the Duke of Ying's mansion, claiming that the ugly girl's dowry alone was worth 800,000 taels. Second, Ting Er Mei Clothing contributed 900,000 taels. Ting Er Mei Clothing was now a large company; it had boutiques in almost every major city in the Ming Dynasty. Young women and wives of the Ming Dynasty were utterly captivated by such beautiful clothes, and no matter the amount of silver, they would buy, buy, buy.

The courtesan competition brought in a total of 40 taels of silver. The Hanshan Heroes' Gathering is not yet over, and the accounts have not yet been delivered.

The sales revenue from the three major residential complexes totaled 60 taels of silver, and not all the houses have been sold yet; this is only a portion of the initial income. There is also some sporadic income from Wang Wenzhou's ribbon-cutting ceremonies, calligraphy inscriptions, and other activities over the past two months.

Sheng Lan would help Wang Wenzhou calculate his accounts every month. She had no concept of money anymore. She felt that as long as an adult wanted money, he could just wave his hand and someone would bring him a lot of money.

"Young Master, is this a convenient time? I'm coming in!" Wang Qiang knocked on the door. Wang Qiang knew that his young master might be doing something naughty at any time, so he always knocked before entering.

"Come in," Wang Wenzhou said.

Wang Qiang pushed the door open and said, "Young Master, quickly change your clothes. The imperial edict has arrived, and the eunuch delivering it has been waiting at the county office for a long time."

"Bah! How could I, a grown man who can urinate standing up, kneel before a eunuch who has no servants! Go and have that ugly freak receive the imperial decree for me, and tell him I'm seriously injured and cannot go." Wang Wenzhou said, cursing.

"Young Master, isn't this inappropriate?" Wang Qiang frowned.

"What's wrong with that? I'll only kneel to the girl I love, I'd never kneel to a eunuch. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Wang Wenzhou suddenly asked.

"Congratulations, young master!" Wang Qiang laughed. "This humble servant, Wang Qiang, pays his respects to Prefect Wang of Hanshan."

"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou laughed. The Duke of Ying's mansion does have some strength; they got this done so quickly.

"Alright, go ahead and hurry up," Wang Wenzhou urged.

Wang Qiang shook his head helplessly; his young master was always so unserious.

……

Zhang Shifang sat beside the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree and said apologetically, "Eunuch Li, I'm so sorry, my husband is injured and has been a little late. Please wait a little longer."

Eunuch Li was not a powerful eunuch; he was just a lowly eunuch who delivered imperial edicts. If it were anyone else, he would have put on airs and scolded them, but the one who received the edict was the fifth young master of the Xinjian Earl's Mansion and the son-in-law of the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion. How could he dare to offend him?

Eunuch Li quickly smiled and said, "It's alright, it's alright! I haven't even congratulated Madam Wang yet, but Lord Wang has been promoted six ranks this time. Lord Wang is very talented and will surely have a bright future."

"Thank you for your kind words, Eunuch Li." Zhang Shifang winked at Zhang Rong.

Zhang Rong quickly took out a silver note and secretly handed it to Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li nodded his thanks and, as if on cue, put the silver notes away.

Wang Qiang rushed back and ran to Zhang Shifang's side, whispering, "Sister-in-law, the young master isn't coming. He said he'll only kneel to the girl he loves, and he'd rather die than kneel to a eunuch."

"Sigh..." Zhang Shifang sighed. Her husband was truly lawless. Although this matter wasn't a big deal, if someone were to investigate, it would be considered a crime of deceiving the emperor.

Zhang Shifang quickly apologized, "Eunuch Li, I'm so sorry, my husband is seriously injured and unable to get out of bed. How about I accept the imperial decree on his behalf?"

If it were anyone else, Eunuch Li would have already started cursing. What did he mean? The imperial edict had arrived, and instead of kneeling to receive it, was someone else supposed to accept it for him?

But this Lord Wang was someone Eunuch Li couldn't afford to offend. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then let Madam Wang receive the decree on Lord Wang's behalf."

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..." After reading the imperial edict, Eunuch Li handed it to Zhang Shifang, who was kneeling on the ground, with both hands.

"Madam Wang, please rise," said Eunuch Li.

Zhang Shifang held the imperial edict in both hands and stood up.

With a wave of his hand, Eunuch Li summoned a member of the Imperial Guard beside him, who presented him with a set of official robes in both hands.

Eunuch Li said with a smile, "This is Lord Wang's official robe. Please keep it safe, Madam Wang."

Zhang Rong accepted the official robes.

With a smile, Eunuch Li said, "I'll take my leave now."

"Won't Eunuch Li stay in Hanshan for a few more days?" Zhang Shifang asked.

Eunuch Li shook his head and said, "No, I have official duties to attend to, Madam Wang, there's no need for you to see me off."

After leaving the yamen, Eunuch Li headed straight for Chunfeng Pavilion.

Because he had already received a message from Zhao Yingjie, instructing him to go to Chunfeng Pavilion to deliver an imperial edict.

Li Gonggong was very reluctant to let a eunuch go to a brothel, but what could he do? He was just a lowly eunuch, and he couldn't afford to offend the heir of the Duke of Dingguo.

It turned out that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion had also contributed to the upgrade of Hanshan County to a prefecture. The Duke of Dingguo's request was for the Duke of Yingguo's mansion to help establish the Hanshan Guard in Hanshan. The commander of the Hanshan Guard was, of course, Xu Yingjie, the heir apparent of the Duke of Dingguo.

In the end, the matter was accomplished. Emperor Chongzhen divided Hezhou Guard in two, transferring one half to Hanshan to establish Hanshan Guard.

Wang Wenzhou was unaware of this matter. If he had known, he would have cursed loudly: "That bastard Xu Yingjie is trying to steal Ru Ru from me!"

After arriving at Chunfeng Pavilion and delivering the imperial decree, Eunuch Li left without looking back.

Ma Deyun cupped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Young Master!"

Yang Shan spoke up, "While this is a joyous occasion, I feel indignant on behalf of the young master. Why is Wang Shazi the prefect, while the young master is merely a commander? In my opinion, the young master should be the prefect of Hanshan."

"Young Master is skilled in both literature and martial arts; how could that corrupt official Wang the Fool compare?" Sun Feng nodded repeatedly, flattering him lavishly.

Xu Yingjie smiled wryly and said, "The three of you are all my good friends. We brothers can talk about anything. Actually, I also want to be the prefect of Hanshan. Unfortunately, Wang Shazi has too much power behind him, and our plan to ruin Wang Shazi's reputation is not going well. We can only think about it again later."

These past few days, Wang Wenzhou had been frequently seen holding Liu Rushi's hand, showing off everywhere. Xu Yingjie saw this and felt a pang of pain in his heart. He wished he could kill Wang Wenzhou immediately. But given his influence in Hanshan, he didn't dare to make a move. Now, with the Hanshan Guard, Xu Yingjie had someone to rely on.

Silly Xiao Wu, don't get cocky! Lady Liu will eventually belong to the young master!