Xia Ruqing looked with satisfaction at the several bolts of silk gauze on the table. "These are fine things, aren't they!"
Little Zhuzi's eyes immediately widened as he said, "Xia Jieyu, you have a keen eye. This is tribute silk gauze from Jiangnan. It's considered good if we receive fifty or sixty bolts a year!"
"There's even less this year, only forty bolts. And the Emperor, with a single word, granted you several bolts!"
Such favor was truly unparalleled.
Xia Ruqing smiled and had Zi Yue give him a purse containing three taels of silver. "Buy some herbal tea to drink in this scorching weather!"
Little Zhuzi quickly knelt. "Xia Jieyu, you honor this servant too much! This servant merely brings things to you, and yet you offer mung bean soup and a purse of silver!"
"This is merely what this servant ought to do. How can I accept this!"
Xia Ruqing smiled and waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing. I will be relying on you much more in the future!"
