"How much will it cost to repair it so that you can't see the cracks?" Qing He looked trustingly at Uncle Liu, the carpenter.
Uncle Liu frowned and sighed, "This is really not cheap, Master Xiao Qing, in order to not see the cracks, you can't partially paint, glue, sand, these hand work, I can don't want you to pay a penny, it's just that the imperial colored lacquer only has a fixed amount of money every month, and I'll have to ask the picking of the barrels to allocate an extra bucket to repair this wooden horse. As you know, I'm a craftsman, and I don't see my master's face on weekdays, so I can't afford the cost of this bucket of colored lacquer with only two taels of silver as my monthly allowance."
Xue Yao closed his eyes in despair.
I'm afraid this is going to be a hemorrhage.
Qing He's face also changed, seeing that Uncle Liu's appetite was not small, so he asked in a less polite manner, "How much do you want, if you give me a real price, I naturally have no second thoughts, but if I can't afford it, I can only move the wooden horse and get out of the palace to find someone else to think of a solution."
Qing He also has a number in his heart, saying this is to threaten Uncle Liu: don't ask too much difference with the carpenters outside the palace, otherwise you can tear your face off.
But after all, he was young, which has Uncle Liu know how to do, know that so big a wooden horse out of the palace, to point the guards have to be a few silver, which is the inner heavy barriers, and may not even be able to go through a certain door, the basket of water in one empty.
That's why Qinghe couldn't threaten Uncle Liu at all by saying that.
Uncle Liu counted the wooden horse will be transported out of the palace to go through several doors, probably know how much silver to hit the point, he did not ask for a lot of money, as long as the cost of 60% of the cost of hitting the point, raised his hand than: "have to be this number."
Xue Yao raised his eyes alertly and saw him make a four sign, his heart was depressed and relieved.
Depressed, this asking price is at least four times higher than outside the palace, relieved, four taels he can afford, and Qinghe one half, or two taels of silver.
Things have to be thought of this way, smashing the wooden horse, is indeed the original owner Xue Yao picks the head, according to reason, he is out of the entire repair fee is also reasonable, and the market price of the repair fee is one or two silver, he is now going to pay out two, it is not too pitiful.
Xue Yao was busy reassuring himself, but he didn't expect Qing He to freak out and pick up the wooden horse and leave!
"Brother Yao, let's go, let's go outside the palace to find someone to help fix it, four taels of silver, I can't afford it even if I sell it! If we can't accomplish anything, we'll also be thrown out of the Shangshu Room!" Qinghe face indignant to the surrounding eunuchs arched his hand and said, "Today, I will first say goodbye to all of you, the future will be long, if I Zhao Qinghe future have that luck in the gold list, and then enter the court, I will not forget Uncle Liu's 'take care of' of me!"
Actually started making threats.
Xue Yao remembers that Qing He didn't have any outstanding performance academically, and it was impossible to nominate him for the Golden List, and he was mentioned a few times in the novels, and when Qing He grew up, like Xue Yao, he became a staff member in the residence of the Third Prince.
The eunuch who watched the scene on the side heard that he was going to be thrown out of the palace, hurriedly came forward to persuade: "Xiao Qing master don't be anxious, the price is not dead, are their own people, picking the side, we can go to say it for you!"
Saying that, the eunuch in charge turned back and glared ferociously at Uncle Liu, warning him with his eyes not to be too greedy.
Qinghe was their little benefactor for running errands outside the palace, a favor that had to be done in good faith.
Uncle Liu, however, was unmoved, he was indeed just a craftsman, usually not in contact with his master, and without a reward, there was no need for Qinghe to help him run errands.
To talk about friendship, it was only when the eunuchs invited Qinghe to eat and drink, he was able to take a small bite.
Uncle Liu has long coveted other people's "windfalls", and this time it was not easy to catch a private job, how could he let go of the opportunity to kill people?
Seeing this situation, Xue Yao felt that there was still a possibility of saving money, and immediately alertly surveyed the small carpenters around him who were buried in their work, and suspiciously approached Qing He's ear and asked, "He's not the only carpenter here, so can't we ask someone else?"
As soon as Qing He heard this, he slanted an impatient glance at Xue Yao, clearly thinking that he didn't know shit.
Now even explain the mood are not, Qinghe holding the wooden horse gesture to go, but continue to talk to the group of eunuchs: "or not difficult Uncle Liu, just I really can not take four silver. We all know me, weekdays are to everyone busy, even if a little selfish, not to mention four two, forty two I can get, just did not expect, I give others to pull out the heart, others take me ......"
"Little Qing master don't be angry!" The eunuchs are afraid of really offending Qing He, then take out some practical action: "This wooden horse, you put it here, the day after tomorrow to pick up, package you move a brand new back, as for the silver, how much you can get together, how much you can get together, not enough, we will give you to get together!"
Only then did Qing He stop his "performance" of squeezing out, looked back at the eunuch who had spoken, and said gratefully, "For this token of appreciation, even if the job can't be done, I haven't made you a friend for nothing!"
Xue Yao listened in awe, not realizing that Qing He, the little brat, had made such a big detour and wanted to ask for favors, not just for Uncle Liu, but for this group of eunuchs from the Inner Officials Supervision.
It seems that Qinghe had acted for everyone to see from the beginning, determined to take back his capital for the favors he had given away over the past two years, and now he had achieved his goal.
Xue Yao is slightly torn, this thing, in fact, as long as ambiguous pretend to be official business, meaning to give some money for work, it is finished, but the result is to let Qing He used so many favors, is also considered to be under the blood.
Afterwards, Qing He and Xue Yao discussed privately and planned to contribute a total of one tael of silver, one half for each of the two brothers.
That is, let Xue Yao pay half a dime.
This price is very much in line with Xue Yao's heart price, even if one or two silver all have to be out of him in fact, he can accept, but Xue Yao can not agree quickly, too quickly will let Qing He feel that he took advantage of the cheap, but also want to owe favors, and so as a difficult to complain: "Brother is also aware of the fact that my family gave me a total of eight hundred monthly money, and this month has already been spent... ..."
"Alas! Originally that guy opened to four taels of silver, brother face are out to ask for this favor, you do not cry poor with me! This money, as you go with your parents or ask, find someone to borrow or, must give me together!" Qinghe said, "You think it's easy for me? Go back to ask for money, still have to be reprimanded, who let us get into trouble? Don't be a pain in the ass, be quick about it!"
Only then did Xue Yao respond with a despondent expression.
The next day afterward, the two went together to fetch the wooden horse, and paid out one or two pieces of silver.
The eunuchs cheerfully accepted, half a face, presumably early guessed that Qinghe will only come out so much.
The carpenter on duty was not Uncle Liu, who was probably fixed by the eunuchs.
He wasn't there, and both Xue Yao and Qing He were understanding enough not to ask.
Xue Yao carefully surveyed the wooden horse restoration of the broken tail and broken ear, all can not see the cracks, the palace craftsmanship is really a ghostly work of art.
The newly painted colored paint also baked dry, not so bright as to be eye-catching, just the whole wooden horse looks brand new quite a lot, it is estimated that the seventh prince's palace maids can not pick a fault.
The two of them thanked the people from the Inner Official Supervisor and went to the Green Dome Palace.
Qing He still refused to enter the hall and only dared to wait outside, after all, he had offended the Seventh Prince, and he thought it would be better not to show his face if he could, so as not to deepen his impression.
Xue Yao didn't intend to bring him along, from the matter of repairing the wooden horse, he could already tell that Qing He wasn't a particularly good at doing things, and letting him tag along could be a bad thing, so it would be better to be cautious on his own.
This time, Xue Yao deliberately waited until the beginning of Shenzheng to ask the chamberlain to inform him, so as not to disturb the little prince's lunch break.
And just like last time, he was summoned into the Hall of Flowers.
But this time, Lady Shio didn't go out, and when she heard that the third prince's retainer had come to return the repaired wooden horse, she personally came to the flower hall to meet her guest.
Xue Yao thought that she would see Aunt Yi Qiu again, so as soon as she saw someone enter the door, she raised her head with a bright smile and tried to greet her, when she was coldly shocked by Princess Shi Shi's stunningly beautiful face.
Shi Fei fifteen years old was tribute to the Emperor of Daqi, seventeen years old birth, at this time is not yet less than twenty years old, the appearance of the body is completely young girl model, it is really not powder and skin as gelatinous fat, facial features are exquisite.
She is a foreign tribute to the dance girl, but can not see what mixed with foreign blood, wearing snow white lining, bean green shawl plain wide-sleeved flowing fairy dress, the Oriental beauty of the whole set off.
A closer look reveals that her deeper facial contours and light glazed pupil color are a bit different from the usual Han Chinese.
Xue Yao's brain emptied for a moment when he was only swept by her peach blossom eyes, and he promptly put his head down again and bowed to greet her.
"No need to be polite." Concubine Shi walked past Xue Yao with an arrogant expression and coldly said, "His Highness the Third Prince's people are all honored guests, this palace cannot afford it."
She didn't bother to check the repaired wooden horse, she directly walked to the eunuch chair and sat down, her gaze coldly glancing at Xue Yao: "His Majesty said that the Third Prince is very remorseful, but is that true? If the Third Prince hasn't gotten enough anger, you should carry this wooden horse to Lin You Palace and simply let His Highness the Third Prince wrestle it enough, I just hope that he will just take out his anger with the wooden horse, Old Seven is still young and can't withstand the two times he wrestled the wooden horse."
Xue Yao didn't expect this little fairy to turn out to be angry as well, last time she just happened to be out of the palace, so she didn't come to settle the score with him in person, but this time she could be considered to be on the wrong end of a gun.
It was normal, her young son was bullied in public by the Third Prince with a group of people, being a mother would definitely be unacceptable.
After thinking about it, Xue Yao bowed and replied, "His Royal Highness the Third Prince is extremely remorseful and knows that he has gone too far with his jokes, and has spent the past two days in the study, copying books for his own trial."
Concubine Shih still had a displeased look on her face, and said coldly with downcast eyes: ''So you are copying from a book? No wonder he didn't have time to personally appear, sent you such a child to me to turn around, I still think he remembered the emperor's reprimand it. On the contrary, Tong Fei invited me to enjoy ...... cough ...... together yesterday."
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly coughed for a while, and the maid hurriedly picked up the tea and handed it forward.
Shi Fei seems to be a little dizzy, a hand to hold the forehead, a hand to push away the tea, eyes closed slightly gasping for breath, the appearance of this sick Xi Shi, really call for heartache.
Xue Yao, however, because of her appearance, recalled a plot from the pre-post original - after the Third Prince offended the Seventh Prince, the Third Prince's birth mother, Consort Tong, personally went up to the Qingdao Palace to make amends, and invited Consort Shi to join her in enjoying the play.
Xue Yao's face changed as he thought about this.
Come to think of it, in this episode, Consort Tong pretended to feel guilty and sent many gifts to please Consort Shi, among them, there was a tranquilizing incense bag.
Such as the traditional palace drama, this incense bag is a great mystery, said the long-term close to wear, the body will give birth to a natural body fragrance, but in fact, the spice mixed with toxic powder, ultimately leading to the Shi Fei not long after the baby girl conceived prematurely, less than a month after delivery, died.
This was one of the crimes of the Third Prince and his mother consort in bullying the hero.
This was an opportunity, if she could successfully remind Princess Shi Shi to replace the herbs in the incense bag, not only could she gain Princess Shi Shi's favor, but she could also save that future baby girl's life, and she didn't know how many whitewash points she could earn.
However, if one were to rat to Princess Shio, the impact on the original plot would be too great, and the Seventh Prince would have to have an extra surviving sister out of thin air.
Xue Yao was worried if he would be punished for changing the plot, not to mention, what evidence did he have to prove that there was a dangerous ingredient in that scented bag? In the original, even the Imperial Physician couldn't find it out, was he convincing as an eight year old?