I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 125: Prince Yu's Mansion uses three gifts to win over the official, and Captain Lin returns three gifts to make friends with the uncle of the emperor ( chapters)
Prince Yu's Mansion gave Lin Shisan a total of three gifts, all of which were carefully prepared by Feng Bao.

A young eunuch brought in a small dog.

Lin Shisan recognized it at a glance: "Is this a short-tailed Persian spaniel?"

Feng Bao smiled and said, "Lin Chuanfeng is indeed an expert. That's right, this is the bloodline of the royal dog of the Tang Dynasty, a purebred short-tailed Persian dog."

"During the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, many nations came to pay tribute. The Persians brought not only Persian cats, but also Persian Greyhounds."

"Persian cats are very common nowadays. Pure-blooded Persian Spaniels are rare in the world."

"This one was given by the Qin Palace to Concubine Li's brother Li Gao when he went to Shaanxi for a trip."

Lin Shisan looked at the short-tailed Persian spaniel carefully and exclaimed, "I have only seen the small photo of a Persian spaniel in the "Notes on Pet Knowledge" before, but never seen its true appearance."

"It is a hundred times rarer than the Yewulong found in the black pine forest of the East Sea Temple in Ye County, Laizhou Prefecture. It is something you can only encounter by chance but not by searching for."

A good pet, like a valuable antique, must have a story.

Feng Bao began to tell a story: "Lin Chuanfeng doesn't know this. According to the Qin Palace in Shaanxi, this Persian Greyhound has a story."

"In the first year of Tang Zhonghe, a member of the Li Tang royal family who was down and out suddenly got lucky and took charge of the five wards of the Palace. This was a very lucrative job."

The five houses mentioned by Feng Bao were the pet-raising institutions of the Tang Dynasty imperial palace, which were divided into the Eagle House, the Falcon House, the Harrier House, the Eagle House, and the Dog House.

Lin Shisan frowned, "The first year of Zhonghe? How could that poor royal family be so unlucky? They just got a good job when Huang Chao entered Chang'an."

Feng Bao nodded: "That's right, all the luxurious houses and embroidered wheels were destroyed, and even half of the noble houses were gone. After Huang Chao entered Chang'an, the impoverished royal family fled the city and went to Weinan to hide their identities."

"When he escaped, he took neither gold nor silver with him. He only took two pairs of Persian spaniels with him."

Lin Shisan smiled bitterly: "It's not that he didn't want to take the gold and silver. If he took the gold and silver, I'm afraid he would never be able to escape from Chang'an City and would be chopped into pieces by the bandit army."

Feng Bao said: "Anyway, he fled Chang'an with the Persian dog. He lived in Weinan incognito, married and had children, and continued his family line. The Persian dog also continued to reproduce."

"It was not until the 33rd year of the Jiajing reign that the chief minister of the Qin Palace heard that there was a family surnamed Li in Weinan County that had eight Persian spaniels. He spent a large sum of money to buy all of them and raised them in the Qin Palace."

"One of them was given to Concubine Li's brother by the Qin Palace. This is it."

Feng Bao's story actually has loopholes. The impoverished royal family fled Chang'an, and when Huang Chao's bandit army was pacified, why didn't the royal family return to Chang'an?

But it's just a story, just listen to it.

Lin Shisan said: "Such a precious gift, how dare I..."

Feng Bao smiled and said, "You don't have to refuse. As the saying goes, a good dog goes with a good man."

"Princess Li's younger brother, Master Li Gao, is the best at raising birds and insects. In the future, you should spend more time with him and give him some advice on how to raise pets. This will also repay the favor we have done for Prince Yu's Mansion."

Lin Shisan was a very smart man. He knew very well that the Prince Yu's Mansion sending him a Persian Spaniel was an obvious signal: the Prince Yu's Mansion was trying to win him over.

Prince Yu is the crown prince. There are only advantages and no disadvantages in making friends with the crown prince's brother-in-law.

Lin Shisan asked quickly, "Where does Mr. Li Gao live now? I will definitely visit him tomorrow."

Feng Bao smiled and replied, "He lives on Butabagu Street in the north of the city. The most conspicuous house is his treasure house. Oh, the biological father of Concubine Li, Mr. Li Wei, lives with Master Li."

Since the Xuande Dynasty, the Ming royal family always chose the daughters of poor and good men as concubines.

Li Wei was just a bricklayer in the countryside of Xian County, Shuntian Prefecture. His daughter Li Caifeng was selected to enter Prince Yu's palace, and now she was favored by Prince Yu. He could be said to have risen to fame by relying on his daughter.

Lin Shisan nodded: "Okay, I will go to Butabagu Street to meet Mr. Li and Mr. Li tomorrow."

A young eunuch brought up a second gift, which turned out to be a jade abacus.

Feng Bao smiled and said, "I heard that Lin Chuanfeng's father is a famous wise businessman in the capital. What a coincidence that our Concubine Li has just obtained a jade bead abacus."

"Empress Li specially ordered me to give this jade abacus to your father."

This is a fabrication by Feng Bao. He found the jade abacus from the storehouse of Prince Yu's mansion. How could it be a gift from Concubine Li?

In Prince Yu's mansion, Feng Bao's backer was Concubine Li. So when he came to Lin Shisan's place this time, he tried his best to flatter Concubine Li.

Lin Shisan was extremely surprised: "Oh, this is a rare treasure."

Feng Bao smiled and said, "Lin Chuanfeng is indeed a famous figure in Yongshou Palace. He has seen the world. This jade abacus is indeed a good treasure."

"The beads are carved from the finest Burmese jade. The abacus pillars are made of pure gold. The abacus frame is made of sandalwood."

Lin Shisan did not hesitate. He knelt down with a clang and kowtowed towards the northeast.

Feng Bao asked: "Lin Chuanfeng, what are you doing?"

Lin Shisan replied, "I bow in the direction of Prince Yu's Mansion. I kowtow to thank Concubine Li for her great kindness."

Feng Bao smiled and said, "Lin Chuanfeng, please stand up quickly."

Lin Shisan took the jade bead sandalwood abacus and thought to himself: My father has been doing business for most of his life. This time it was really amazing that he got a precious abacus made of jade bead sandalwood.

If I gave this to my father, he would be so happy that he would run back to his hometown and plant a few lucky trees behind the ancestral grave.

Another eunuch brought up a wooden box. When he opened it, he found a complete set of women's head ornaments.

Feng Bao said, "This set of head ornaments is for your wife. On the second, twelfth, and twenty-second day of every month, Concubine Li holds a flower-viewing banquet in the back garden of the palace, inviting noble ladies in the capital to appreciate rare and precious flowers."

"On the twelfth day after tomorrow, please wear this set of headwear and jewelry to the palace to attend the flower-viewing banquet."

Lin Shisan said, "What good fortune did my humble wife have to have the honor to attend the flower-viewing banquet held by Concubine Li."

Feng Bao was indeed Lü Fang's most valued godson and the most powerful eunuch in Prince Yu's mansion. He was very good at winning people over.

The most important thing in gift giving is to please the recipient. Feng Bao gave Lin Shisan a Persian Spaniel to please Lin Shisan.

The gift of jade beads and sandalwood abacus was given to Lin Shisan's father because of his preference. What businessman doesn't like abacus?

Giving head ornaments and jewelry is what Lin Shisan's wife likes. What woman doesn't like expensive head ornaments and jewelry?
Feng Bao smiled and said, "Lin Chuanfeng, the gifts from the prince and princess have been given. It's time for me to go. As I said before, you should spend more time with our Prince Yu's Mansion in the future."

"We have a lot of cats, dogs, flowers, birds, fish and insects in Prince Yu's Mansion. Some of them get sick from time to time. You need to help with their care and treatment."

Lin Shisan said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Feng. As long as Prince Yu's Mansion can use me, I will do my best."

Feng Bao left the Lin family's new house. Outside the house, the officials who came to give gifts to Lin Shisan were whispering.

"Look, that's Eunuch Feng from Prince Yu's Mansion. He's come to the Lin Mansion."

"Lin Chuanfeng is really powerful. Even Prince Yu's Mansion has sent people to make friends with him."

After Feng Bao left, Lin Shisan immediately found Biyun and told her everything.

Biyun was extremely surprised: "Prince Yu's Mansion is really very kind to our family."

Lin Shisan nodded: "You have been very close to the noble ladies in Beijing in recent months. You are more informed about the news in the noble ladies' circle than I am."

"You should immediately find out two things. First, what does Li Fei's father Li Wei like, and what does her brother Li Gao like."

"Second, what kind of flowers does Concubine Li like the most?" Biyun nodded: "Okay. I will definitely find out."

Lin Shisan took advantage of the fact that no one was around and kissed Biyun: "Hey, you are really my good wife."

Biyun said, "What are you doing as an old couple in broad daylight? You will make a fool of yourself if Mei Niang and Chun Ge'er see you."

Lin Shisan pinched Biyun's buttocks and said, "She is my own wife, I can do whatever I want."

Biyun said, "I have something to tell you. Now that you are powerful, people from all walks of life often come to your house. How can you live with only Mei Niang and Chun Ge'er, a maid and a servant?"

"It's too much for the two of them to take care of a house with two courtyards."

"I plan to buy two maids, hire two servants, and a cook. I will also find a mature and steady person to be the housekeeper."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Okay, you decide on family matters."

Biyun was really quick at finding out things from the circle of noble ladies. By the evening of that day, Biyun had found out that Concubine Li liked orchids the most.

Princess Li's father, Li Wei, was a money-grubber who loved money the most. He also liked to do bricklaying work in the mansion.

Concubine Li's younger brother Li Gao loved women the most.

Lin Shisan immediately went to the Diaobeng Street Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market and spent 700 taels of silver to buy a pot of exquisite butterfly dendrobium orchid. He asked Biyun to present it to Concubine Li when she went to the flower viewing banquet in the palace.

He went to Jiao's Gold Shop again and asked the old goldsmith from Ye County to make a tile knife weighing thirty taels of pure gold.

Finally he went to the Spring Shop.

The so-called Chunshipu is the adult products store in Daming.

Who among the rich and powerful in Beijing doesn't like women? And they like variety. Spring shops came into being, selling a wide variety of goods, including all kinds of magical aphrodisiacs, gourds, spring pictures, obscene books, etc.

Li Gao likes women, so it would be too common to send him a woman directly. If you want to send him a woman, you should send him something special, exciting and rare.

The strengthening medicine cannot be given as a gift. If Master Li gets sick after taking the medicine, Chief Lin Shisan will not be able to explain it even if he opens his mouth a hundred times.

As luck would have it, Chunshipu actually has a rare Song Dynasty edition of "Dongxuan Su Nu Shu", which is rich in pictures and texts, and is both entertaining and educational.

The shopkeeper of Chunshi Shop asked for a high price of four hundred taels. Lin Shisan bargained for it and finally settled for three hundred taels.

Two days later, Biyun brought Butterfly Dendrobium to Prince Yu's Mansion for a flower-viewing banquet, while Lin Shisan took the Golden Tile Knife and the "Dongxuan Su Nu Shu" to Li's Mansion on Buttocks Street.

When a woman succeeds, her family and friends will all benefit. Li Wei, a country bricklayer, now lives in a large mansion with four courtyards and has a large number of maids and servants.

Lin Shisan met Li Wei and his son in the living room and introduced himself.

Li Wei picked his teeth with the nail of his little finger and asked, "I know the centurion of the Northern Pacification Division. A centurion is in charge of more than a hundred people. What kind of official is this Yongshou Palace Chuanfengguan?"

Lin Shisan explained: "I raise pets for the emperor in the Western Garden. There are cats, dogs, turtles, fish, tigers, leopards, insects, birds, deer and so on."

Li Wei curled his lips and said, "An official in charge of animals? He's not a high-ranking official at all."

Compared to Li Wei, Li Gao was more knowledgeable: "Dad, please stop talking nonsense. This Lin Chuanfeng is very favored now, and he is very popular in front of the emperor."

Li Wei took a sip of tea: "You are so famous, but you only care about the beasts?"

Lin Shisan smiled awkwardly. He held a wooden box and respectfully placed it on Li Wei's tea table.

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Mr. Li, this is my first visit, so I don't have anything good to give you. I have specially prepared a small gift. Please don't despise it."

When he heard there was a gift, Li Wei's eyes lit up. He opened the lid of the wooden box and took a closer look.

Li Wei's eyes widened when he saw it. He took out the golden tile knife from the wooden box and asked, "Is this tile knife inlaid with gold?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Mr. Li, please allow me to report that this tile knife is not inlaid with gold, but is made of pure gold."

Li Wei weighed the tile knife and said, "Hey, this is good, this is good, it's heavy enough. How much gold does it cost?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "It's only thirty taels."

Li Wei was overjoyed: "Huh? Thirty taels of gold for a tile trowel? I've used a lot of tile trowels in my life, and this is probably the most expensive one."

"No, I have to go to the backyard. I just built a wall in the backyard and I'm going to try it out with the mud."

After saying this, Li Wei ran out of the living room happily holding the golden tile knife, like a child who had found a treasure.

Li Gao smiled awkwardly: "Lin Chuanfeng, my father is like this, please don't laugh at me."

Lin Shisan is very good at speaking: "Mr. Li is kind and gentle by nature. He is truly a breath of fresh air among the royal relatives."

After that, Lin Shisan said mysteriously, "I also prepared a gift for Master Li."

After saying that, Lin Shisan carefully took out a book wrapped in Hangjin from his arms, which was the "Dongxuan Su Nu Shu". He handed the book to Li Gao.

Li Gao opened Hang Jin and was disappointed to see that the gift was a book. He thought to himself: Damn it, Feng Bao told me that this guy is a popular person around the emperor and is good at socializing.

Why is he so generous to my dad but so stingy to me? Giving me a crappy book?

Li Gao looked unhappy: "Ah, I don't like reading. A few days ago, my sister asked me to go to the prince's house to learn the Four Books and Five Classics from a few old masters. I learned nothing."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Mr. Li, please open this book and take a look. I guarantee you will be interested."

Li Gao flipped the book over casually, and his eyes lit up immediately: "This, this, this is a really good book! I haven't seen any of the moves in it!"

"This is a brilliant move! Ah? In addition to the diagram, there is also a formula. If you go deep, the Jade Spring will surely gush out. Oh, this is a precious book!"

Lin Shisan said, "Mr. Li, you don't know this. This is a precious book that came out of the Song Dynasty palace. It is a unique copy. If you learn the moves in it, you will be majestic and powerful at the table, and kill everyone."

Li Gao laughed and said, "Oh, maybe it's the people close to the emperor who give gifts? Your gift really touches my heart!"

"From today on, we are friends. If you need my help in the future, just let me know."

Lin Shisan hurriedly said, "How can I, Lin Shisan, be friends with the younger brother of Concubine Li? I don't have any special abilities, but I am good at playing with and raising pets."

"From now on, all matters concerning your family's favor will be entrusted to Thirteen."

Li Gao laughed and said, "Playing with pets? I don't really like that. I prefer playing with people. Especially women with cleavage and a beautiful body."

"Come on, let's go eat. You gave me a precious book, and I'll treat you to some good wine. We just got a young lady who sings well. Let's drink and listen to the music."

Lin Shisan used a golden tile knife and a precious book to establish a relationship with Li Wei and his son.

Over at Prince Yu's Mansion, Biyun also won the favor of Concubine Li with a pot of butterfly Dendrobium orchid.

Although Concubine Li was a concubine, she was the most favored by Prince Yu and the principal wife was seriously ill, so she was actually treated the same as the principal wife.

Climbing onto the family of Concubine Li is equivalent to climbing onto the high branch of Prince Yu.

Now that Lin Shisan is in the capital, he is really good at dealing with people and feels like a fish in water.

　Happy New Year's Day. Only 4000 words today. Sorry.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)