From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 198

Nanxianglou is one of the most famous opera houses in Shenjing. The owner is a master of Peking opera, but he has no prejudice and is broad-minded, aiming to promote opera in the world.

On the evening of the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, a rare Kunqu opera performance will be staged here. As the oldest opera, Kunqu opera has gradually become inferior to Peking opera and Henan opera after the development of the times. However, there are still a group of fans who love Kunqu opera and have been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Because Jiang Xiaolou, the best Kunqu opera in the world and the most famous artist, will perform in Nanxianglou, and it is also his first performance in the north.

About half a month ago, the seats in Nanxianglou were fully booked today, and countless dignitaries arrived and sat down early.

There are many princes-in-law in the current dynasty, but only Yang Changguan is widely called the prince-in-law, because Princess Qinshui is the only princess with real power, and his status naturally rises with the tide.

"Prince-in-law! I expected you to come!"

The owner of Nanxianglou personally greeted him and led him to the best seat.

Yang Changguan was so hot that he whispered, "Let's start the show soon. I can't wait. I have admired Mr. Jiang for a long time. I got a set of his costumes some time ago, and I couldn't sleep!"

The owner of Nanxiang Tower said, "Don't worry, this show tonight will definitely satisfy the prince consort."

Yang Changguan kept rubbing his hands. He was looking forward to it for a long time. Finally, Jiang Xiaolou came out.

As the rumors said, he was handsome and beautiful, with a flawless voice, like a fairy in the world. It was really rare in the world.

Jiang Xiaolou sang three songs with the most outstanding professional ability, and each time was more exciting than the last. The cheers of Nanxiang Tower almost spread throughout the whole capital.

Yang Changguan even shed tears several times, and was moved to tears by the plot of the songs.

At the end of the show, Yang Changguan hurried to the stage and said excitedly: "Master Jiang! Master Jiang! Can you come to my house tomorrow to chat? I have loved Kunqu Opera for twenty years. If Master Jiang can come, I will have no regrets in my life!"

Jiang Xiaolou smiled lightly and bowed: "The actor is just a blade of autumn grass. How dare I enter the gate of the noble mansion and tarnish the innocence of that place."

"What do you mean!"

Yang Changguan felt distressed and said anxiously: "How can there be a blade of autumn grass? How can I tarnish the innocence? If Master Jiang is willing to come, my humble home will be glorious."

Jiang Xiaolou whispered: "In this case, I dare to bother you..."

As soon as the voice fell, a group of officials suddenly rushed into Nanxiang Tower, shouted angrily, and directly captured Jiang Xiaolou and pressed him to the ground.

There was a commotion all around, and Yang Changguan's face changed, and he shouted in shock: "What are you doing! What are you doing! Why are you arresting people!"

The official shouted: "The Shenjing Yamen is investigating a case. I didn't mean to offend you gentlemen. Please forgive me!"

"Take him away!"

He waved his sleeves, and more than a dozen officials escorted Jiang Xiaolou out.

Yang Changguan stopped everyone and shouted: "Don't you have the law? The Jiang family is a weak actor, what can he do!"

The official said: "This sir, this Jiang borrowed 70,000 taels of money from others, but he didn't pay it back on time. He was reported to the Yamen. We are just following orders."

70,000 taels?

Yang Changguan was stunned. His annual salary was only 4,000 taels. If the princess was generous, she would give him another 4,000 or 5,000 taels, which would still be less than 10,000 taels.

How could the Jiang family owe so much money!

"Alas..."

The owner of Nanxiang Tower sighed, "My Lord, we have finished listening to the opera, let's go back!"

Yang Changguan woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly said, "This...what is going on? You should know, tell me quickly."

The owner of Nanxiang Tower said, "My Lord, you don't know that a few months ago, there was a riot in the two Jiangs, and the Jiang family's opera troupe of more than 20 people was all captured by the rebels."

"The rebels forced the Jiang family to sing for them, but the Jiang family would rather die than sing for the rebels, so they made many arrangements and spent more than 100,000 taels of silver to redeem the people in the troupe."

" All the family wealth is gone, and there is still a debt of 70,000 taels of silver. It is miserable! "

Yang Changguan was shocked and couldn't help saying: "Jiang Dajia is indeed a man of character. He would rather die than perform for the rebels. He would redeem the troupe even if he spent all his family wealth. "

"Then...what should we do now? If he can't pay the silver, won't he go to jail? How can his weak body withstand the disaster of jail?"

The owner of Nanxiang Tower sighed: "This is fate. Jiang Dajia has suffered all his life, and his fate is unfortunate. In the end, he can't escape the tragic ending."

When Yang Changguan heard this, he felt his heart was broken.

No, no, how could such a good person like Jiang Dajia die in torture.

But where can I get tens of thousands of taels of silver!

I worked hard for ten years to save up 40,000 taels of silver, and it was stolen. I haven't found it yet.

Even if he finds it back, he still lacks 30,000 taels!

Find the princess! She can definitely come up with it!

70,000 taels is nothing to her!

But thinking of the princess's face, Yang Changguan trembled inwardly. That tigress would not only not give him money, but also beat him up.

With an extremely tangled mood, Yang Changguan returned to the Prince Consort's Mansion in a daze, with only endless sadness in his heart.

"Master, Zhou Yuan, the commander of the North City Military Division, has been waiting for you for a long time."

Hearing the guard's words, Yang Changguan was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered who Zhou Yuan was.

More than two months ago, the young man who argued in the court was a celebrity in Shenjing recently, and it is said that he has done a lot of practical things.

What did he come to me for?

Yang Changguan was in a bad mood, and he didn't give Zhou Yuan a good look when he saw him.

He just said indifferently: "Commander Zhou, what's the matter with your late night visit?"

Zhou Yuan bowed respectfully and said in a deep voice: "I am the commander of the North City Military Department, and I pay my respects to the Lord of the General Office!"

"Ha!"

Yang Changguan sneered subconsciously, General Office? Everyone knows that this is just a nominal position, just a name for distributing regular money, only four thousand taels of silver every year, who would regard me as a so-called superior?

It's you, Zhou Yuan, who still thinks I'm an official.

He felt relieved and his face was warmer, and he sighed: "Zhou Yuan, you have done a good job recently, and the people of Shenjing all praise you."

Zhou Yuan said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "It's my job, I dare not talk about my achievements, I just want to do more for the General Office."

Work for me? Ha, which official in the court doesn't have anyone to flatter him? But no one flatters me, the son-in-law of the emperor.

Everyone knows that I can't make the decision.

Yang Changguan was not in high spirits, just shook his head and said: "You came to me so late, what's the matter?"

Zhou Yuan said seriously: "Master General Manager, regarding the rectification of Shenjing, the excrement removal and pollution removal, a total of 3.88 million taels of silver were collected. After the spring plowing after the New Year, the excrement will be sold, and there will be hundreds of thousands of taels of income. It is estimated that it can reach 4.5 million taels of silver."

"Except for the one million taels of wages required for the coolies of the nine major gangs, there are still 3.5 million taels left, of which 3 million taels will be added to the national treasury, and the remaining 500,000 taels will be used to maintain the project."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan said angrily: "However, the Minister of War Wu Qingrong is really greedy. He asked for one million taels of silver. I really can't give it!"

Yang Changguan waved his hand and said, "I never care about these things, you..."

Zhou Yuan interrupted directly, "Master General Manager, of the 500,000 taels of silver, the five city military divisions each get 50,000 taels, which leaves 250,000 taels."

"Of the 250,000 taels, 100,000 taels should have been given to Master General Manager! What should I do now!"

Yang Changguan's figure was shocked, and he suddenly raised his head and glared, "Wait! You mean, I can get 100,000 taels!"

Zhou Yuan was puzzled and said, "Master General Manager controls the five city military divisions, leads the overall situation, completes such an excellent job of cleaning up the manure, and brings a fresh look to Shenjing. He should have taken this money!"

What he said makes sense!

100,000 taels of silver!

The Jiang family is saved!

And I can still have 30,000 taels left for daily expenses.

After 100,000 taels every year, I don't have to look at the face of that stinky woman in Qinshui anymore!

Thinking of this, the haze in Yang Changguan's heart was swept away, replaced by incomparable excitement.

He grabbed Zhou Yuan's hand and said excitedly: "You are right! Zhou Yuan! You are my confidant!"