Madam, protect me!

Prince Rui's Mansion.

Prince Rui looked at the officials in the Ministry of Revenue in front of him and said displeasedly: "It's only one thousand taels, it's too little. Are you sending beggars from the Ministry of Revenue?"

The official looked embarrassed and said, "Your Highness, the state treasury is tight this year and we really can't come up with any extra money."

King Rui glanced at him and said: "You have this reason every year. When has the national treasury not been nervous... Forget it, I won't make it difficult for you. Since the national treasury is nervous, I will give you some money. You sell Tianyin Courtyard and Lelai Building to me, and I will give you five hundred thousand taels."

The officials in the Ministry of Household Affairs looked even worse.

Prince Rui asked: "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

The official from the Ministry of Revenue said honestly: "Back to Your Highness, just now, Prince Gong has offered 850,000 taels to buy Tianyin Courtyard and Lelai Building."

Prince Rui showed a look of regret and said, "In that case, forget it and go back."

The household official breathed a sigh of relief and left quickly.

Prince Rui sighed and whispered: "It's not ninety-five, it's not one hundred and five, it's eighty-five..."

He looked at the feminine man behind him and said, "Let Mr. Chen come to see me."

Not long after, a middle-aged man walked into the hall, bowed and said, "What are your orders?"

Prince Rui looked at him and asked, "Mr. Chen, how many years have you been with me?"

The middle-aged man didn't know why Prince Rui suddenly mentioned this and said, "It's been five years since I returned to Your Highness."

Prince Rui sighed softly and said in a low voice: "In five years, even a dog should be fed well. Why don't you think you can feed it well?"

The middle-aged man was in a state of shock, but he pretended to be calm on his face, forced a smile, and said, "Your Highness, why can't my subordinates understand what you said..."

Prince Rui looked at him and said, "It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Remember to be smarter in the next life and recognize a good master..."

…

Household Department.

The Minister of Hubu was sitting in the government office and was in a good mood.

Tianyinyuan and Lelai Building are certainly a money tree for some people, but they also require a lot of investment and operation. The imperial court does not allow government agencies to operate Fengyue places, and it is useless to keep them in the hands of the Ministry of Household Affairs. .

Prince Gong is willing to offer 850,000 taels, so that the national treasury can be filled in the short term.

He has already had the land deeds, house deeds, and various contracts of these two places prepared, and they can be handed over to Prince Gong as soon as the money is received.

At this time, an official reported that King Rui was visiting.

The Minister of Household Affairs frowned. Why did King Rui come here? Was he dissatisfied with the allocation given to him?

It's just one thousand taels of silver. Whether he wants it or not, he doesn't want the best. He doesn't want to be able to save even this one thousand taels.

Looking at the figure stepping into the government office, Shangshu of Hube stood up, clasped his fists and said, "I have met His Highness Prince Rui. Your Highness came to Hubu, but what's the matter?"

Prince Rui smiled and said, "To be honest with Mr. Cui, I am here to buy Le Lai Building and Tianyin Courtyard."

It was not because of the appropriation. The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue felt relieved and said, "What a coincidence that Your Highness came here. Lelai Tower and Tianyin Courtyard have already been bought by Prince Gong for 850,000 taels of silver..."

Prince Rui said: "What if I am willing to pay a higher price?"

"Your Highness, please take a seat."

The Minister of Hubu walked out from behind the table and said, "Come here, serve tea to His Highness."

After King Rui sat down, he asked: "Excuse me, Your Highness, how much are you willing to pay?"

Prince Rui said: "One million taels."

The Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue raised his eyebrows. He was not a party to either Prince Rui or Prince Gong. Whoever paid the higher price would sell to whomever paid the higher price. It was reasonable and reasonable. They could not find any problems. The Ministry of Revenue also had an explanation to the court.

However, Prince Rui offered one million taels, and Prince Gong’s second bid may be even higher.

He thought for a while, looked at Prince Rui, and said: "How about this. In three days, the Ministry of Revenue will hold a public bidding for Lelai Tower and Tianyin Courtyard, and the one with the highest price will get it. At that time, His Highness can send someone to come join……"

Prince Rui glanced at him and said, "Shang Shu Cui is really good at business."

The Minister of Hubu smiled slightly and said: "His Royal Highness Prince Rui wants it, and His Royal Highness Prince Gong also wants it. The Hubu can only do this so that it can be easy to explain to the court."

After a while, Prince Rui slowly walked out of the household.

The old fox, Shangshu Hube, was not willing to choose sides between him and Prince Gong.

This was what he expected. It was just a matter of spending more money. In terms of financial resources, he was not afraid of Prince Gong.

Thinking of Prince Gong's expression at this moment, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve.

In Prince Gong's Mansion, Prince Gong looked at a servant and asked, "Prince Rui asked someone to bring a message. What message did he bring?"

The servant said: "People from Prince Rui's Mansion said that Prince Rui invited His Highness to eat dog meat."

Prince Gong frowned and said, "Is that all? What else did he say?"

The servant continued: "He also said that it was a dog he had raised for five years, but he couldn't feed it properly, so he killed it and ate its meat. He also asked His Highness Prince Gong if he wanted to take a bite... "

Bang!

Prince Gong slapped his palm on the table, his palm trembling slightly due to pain, and his face was extremely gloomy.

How could he not hear the implication of King Rui's words?

He had always been plotting against Prince Rui behind his back. He never thought that one day, he would be plotted against by Prince Rui.

He had watched Prince Rui grow up.

He was convinced that King Rui did not have such a brain, and that Li Rui was uneducated and acted on his own initiative. If the advisers around him had not been helping him with suggestions, he would have been eliminated just like King Xuan and King Xin...

There must be an expert guiding him behind him.

Unfortunately, the only undercover agent he placed beside him was also found out. It will be difficult to know his movements immediately in the future...

At this time, another servant walked in and said: "Your Highness, the Ministry of Revenue has just sent someone to inform that Prince Rui is also interested in Le Lai Building and Tianyin Courtyard. In three days, the Ministry of Revenue will hold an auction..."

…

Li Mansion.

Inside Phoenix's room.

Li Nuo removed his hand from Phoenix's white and slender ankles and said, "Okay, this is the last massage. From today on, you can move around as you please."

Phoenix said softly: "Thank you."

Li Nuo waved his hand and said, "You're welcome."

Half of the credit for the harmony in the Li family's home must be attributed to Fenghuang, and he considered it as repayment by providing her with a few massage services.

Over the past few days, his relationship with Phoenix had undergone some subtle changes.

Although Fenghuang and I lived under the same roof before, we were still somewhat polite when we got along.

After these few days of close contact, the relationship between the two has become more natural.

Phoenix went out for something today, and Yiren also went out with him.

After walking out of Li's Mansion, Song Yiren asked: "Where are we going?"

Fenghuang said: "Let's go to the household department to do some things first."

…

A lot of people gathered at the door of the Ministry of Household Affairs today, mostly dignitaries and wealthy businessmen from Chang'an.

The Ministry of Revenue released the news a few days ago that Lelai Building and Tianyin Courtyard were sold through public bidding today. Many people want to try it. This is the most profitable industry in Chang'an. If you can find out, you can make a lot of money.

When the two carriages stopped in front of the door, the noisy crowd fell silent instantly.

The curtain of the carriage is embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon, which is the prince's rule.

"His Royal Highness Prince Rui!"

"His Royal Highness Prince Gong is here too!"

Seeing the two figures getting off the carriage, everyone stopped thinking about bidding.

Sure enough, how could it be their turn to pick up such a bargain?

Prince Rui and Prince Gong came forward in person, and it seemed that they were sure to win this bidding.

Think about it, if these two brothels are well run, it is not just as simple as a brothel. Not only can they create huge value themselves, but their hidden influence cannot be measured in terms of money.

"See His Highness Prince Rui!"

"I have met His Royal Highness Prince Gong."

Everyone saluted the two people one after another. Although the bidding was hopeless, they did not leave.

The two supervising princes came in person, even if it had nothing to do with them, they could still watch the excitement.

Prince Gong and Prince Rui looked at each other, and were each taken into the government offices on both sides by officials from the Ministry of Revenue.

Soon after, the crowd was brought into the Hubu courtyard.

The doctor from the Ministry of Finance stood in front of the crowd and said: "Today, the Ministry of Finance is auctioning Le Lai Building and Tianyin Courtyard. You are free to bid. The one with the highest price will get it. All the silver will go to the national treasury. Don't bid maliciously. If you win, Those who do not buy will be deemed to have obstructed official duties and will be fined ten thousand taels of silver and sent to the Ministry of Punishment for accountability..."

He read out the rules first, and then said: "The base price of this auction is five hundred thousand taels. Each increase in price must not be less than ten thousand taels... Now you can bid."

After his words fell, the crowd fell silent.

Everyone has now understood that today's auction is a battle between Prince Rui and Prince Gong, and they can just watch the excitement.

Although the two princes suffered many defeats at the hands of Li Xuanjing, it was easy to manipulate them.

Just as everyone was waiting for Prince Rui and Prince Gong to take action, a pleasant voice suddenly came from behind the crowd.

"Five hundred and one thousand taels."

Everyone was stunned for a moment and turned their heads.

They really want to know who is so ignorant and dares to interfere in such a thing.

When they saw the two figures standing there, everyone was stunned for the first time.

Standing there were two women, two young women.

Not only young, but also beautiful.

Still very familiar.

The people present are either rich or noble, and naturally have a lot of knowledge.

They met the No. 1 scholar's wife on the day when the Jinshi paraded through the streets, and they remembered her deeply.

As for the person next to the Number One Scholar Lady, the Master of Yuyin Pavilion, they were even more familiar with her.

Are they also here to bid for Le Lai Building and Tianyin Courtyard?

Doesn't this mean that the Li family will also intervene in this matter?

This time the excitement was even greater.

I don’t know who will end up with these two money trees.

In a certain government room on the left, Prince Rui was sitting steadily. When he learned the identity of the bidder outside, he immediately stood up with a look of surprise on his face.

Li Xuanjing also wants to intervene?

These days, he has been studying Li Xuanjing's past and knows him very well.

A gentleman's revenge is never too late.

It is not too late for Li Xuanjing to take revenge in twenty years.

What he wants to get, he will do whatever it takes to get it.

What is not obtained will be destroyed.

Even if we can snatch Le Lai Building and Tianyin Courtyard from Li Xuanjing, I'm afraid we won't be able to continue driving safely.

King Rui made a decision quickly.

The Minister of Hubu came in from outside and said, "Someone has offered 510,000 taels. Your Highness Prince Rui, it's your turn to bid."

Prince Rui glanced at him, waved his sleeves, and said, "I won't buy it, let's go..."

In another yamen room, Prince Gong's expression was uncertain, but he finally showed helplessness and stood up slowly.

Li Xuanjing is gaining momentum, and the previous incident has just subsided, so it is not appropriate to conflict with him again.

He walked out of the door, and Prince Rui also walked out of the government office opposite.

Prince Gong and Prince Rui looked at each other and left tacitly.

The Minister of Revenue chased after them and watched them leave. He felt extremely regretful. If he had not been greedy, one million taels would have gone into the treasury.

He walked up to the beautiful woman and whispered, "Girl, please add a little more. Five hundred and ten thousand taels is really too little..."

Phoenix looked at him helplessly and said, "But, this is all I have..."