Chapter 1376 - 1301: Governance Consultation
Zhao Hanzhang entered the room and saw an almost one-meter-high jade artifact on the table, with two Vermilion Birds carved on both sides, each holding a jade ring in its mouth.
Upon seeing her, Zhao Hu immediately shifted his boasting to her and, with a smile, introduced, "This Vermilion Bird Carrying Ring and Stepping on Tiger Jade Vase is a treasure of the Han Dynasty court. It features high relief, shallow relief, through carving, and flat carving. Not only was it difficult to create so many crafts on one jade vase several hundred years ago, it remains challenging even today."
Zhao Hanzhang leaned in to take a closer look and nodded in admiration, "Impressive craftsmanship."
Feeling proud, Zhao Hu stroked his beard and said to her, "This is a thousand-year tribute for your mother... the Empress Dowager."
Mrs. Wang’s birthday was approaching.
Standing nearby, Mrs. Wang quickly said, "This gift is too precious; I do not deserve it. Ancestor, please take it back."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded and also said to Zhao Hu, "It is too precious, and besides, Mother does not enjoy drinking wine, rendering this jade vase useless to her."
Zhao Hu: "Although the Empress Dowager may not use it, surely you can? A gift given cannot be taken back; what kind of conduct is that?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "I cannot accept without merit, and I dare not accept it."
Unable to give away the gift, Zhao Hu grew displeased and couldn’t help but complain on the spot: "I’m not asking for any favors from you. Your ascension brought honor to my family with double marquis titles, and it pleases me. I wanted to give you something good, yet you refuse. That’s just overly finicky."
Zhao Hanzhang said: "This gift is too significant; whether for me or the Empress Dowager, it is inappropriate. If the court accepts the ancestor’s grand gift today, tomorrow rumors will circulate among the powerful and noble that we admire precious jade and wine vessels, and the day after, people will start finding ways to send various valuable jade and wine vessels to the palace."
Zhao Hu: "What’s wrong with that? The world is yours, so just accept whatever they send."
"Like you, Ancestor, those who possess skills generate gift money independently, so I accept without guilt—merely regarding it as the affection between our ancestors and descendants. However, always there are those lacking such family wealth and ability, and upon witnessing others’ gifting, they believe they cannot fall behind, thus trying every means to gather money."
"Officials directly extort from the common people, while the powerful conspire with officials to plunder collectively from the masses. The cycle concludes with me consuming the people’s fat and pilfering the people’s colostrum; yet I must bear gratitude to these people while my kingdom becomes riddled with wounds. Tell me, how hateful is that?"
Zhao Hu frowned.
Zhao Hanzhang added: "Whether they are hateful or not is aside, but I, accepting gifts without restraint, am indeed loathsome. If in ignorance I accepted, it’d be foolishly hateful, and knowingly accepting while aware of its implications proves even more despicable. Hence, I cannot accept this gift, lest I turn into a hateful and vile person."
Zhao Hu: "...You consistently reason well; I cannot argue against you."
Zhao Cheng exhaled a breath, and with a solemn expression, he saluted Zhao Hanzhang, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."
He turned to look at Zhao Hu.
Zhao Hu shrank his neck in fear and turned his head away to avoid his son’s gaze.
Zhao Cheng frowned, yet refrained from speaking publicly, merely commenting coldly, "Father, refrain from offering such grand gifts in the future."
Zhao Hu’s breath grew rapid, prompting Zhao Hanzhang to laugh immediately, "Ancestor, I am unable to accept this jade vase, but if there is a family banquet, I could partake in some wine using this jade vase, and then it would have been used, wouldn’t it?"
Zhao Hu brightened instantly, "Indeed, Your Majesty considers everything thoroughly."
With spirits uplifted, Zhao Hu displayed generosity, "Last year, those grain reserves and funds Your Majesty borrowed from us, in light of this year’s consecutive three-month flooding, they willingly postponed repayment until next autumn."
Those were the provisions borrowed last year for the recovery of Jiangnan.
Zhao Hanzhang could not help but feel grateful and had a selection of silks from the private treasury sent to Zhao Hu.
Though Zhao Hu was not in need, gifts from the Imperial Palace bore different significance.
Zhao Hu was delighted and frequently engaged Zhao Hanzhang during the meal, "I have already prepared the caravan for the westward journey. The map Your Majesty obtained from Zhang Shi..."
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "I have already had it printed by the bureau; didn’t Ancestor manage to acquire one?"
"Isn’t there a more detailed one left behind?" Always leave some leverage, right?
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "That is all; however, Zhang Shi has personally visited Dunhuang, and he has a guide who has been to Kang Country."
Zhao Hu hurriedly asked, "Could Your Majesty help me get a guide?"
Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "Talents belonging to the populace, I cannot forcibly take them."
Zhao Hu pouted and decided to venture himself; he asked Zhao Hanzhang, "If I can bring back cotton seeds, would you really give me ten gold coins per pound?"