In the following period, the relationship between Su Qinglian and Xiangyun was quite good.

Su Qinglian was talented, and was good at playing music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and poetry; Xiangyun was also a talented woman, especially in the fields of calligraphy, painting, and poetry appreciation.

Therefore, it can be said that the two of them cherished each other, hated each other for a long time, and soon got along as if they were the same person.

After Xiang Nan and other Xiangyun accepted Su Qinglian, they found a good and auspicious day to take Su Qinglian as their concubine.

This also made He Shen quite jealous.

During this southern tour, Xiang Nan was promoted two levels in a row, from a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy to a minister of the Ministry of Rites, and was also granted the title of Prince Shaobao. It can be said that he had both wealth and wealth.

In comparison, he only admired and wore flower feathers, which was far behind Xiang Nan.

"Congratulations to Mr. Ji, congratulations to Mr. Ji. It's such an enviable joy for me to have passed the exam." He Shen cupped his hands and said with a smile.

"Why are you so sour when talking to adults?" Xiang Nan asked with a smile after hearing this.

"To be honest, Mr. Ji, I am indeed a little sore. But I know that there is someone who is more sore than me." He Shen smiled and said, "Do you know who this person is?"

"There's no need to be too close to you, sir. During the trip to Hangzhou, it's just you, me, and that one person who has met Qing Lian." Xiang Nan pointed to the sky and said, "You want to say that he is the one with pancreatic acidosis, right?"

He Shen was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Since Mr. Ji knows this, why don't you give in? Are you still going to fight with that person? Aren't you afraid of offending him?"

He originally thought that Xiang Nan didn't know that the emperor was also attracted to Su Qinglian.

"Don't be afraid." Xiang Nan waved his hand and said, "Heshen, I'm not like you. You want to be a powerful minister, and power is more important to you than anything else.

So in order to please the emperor, you flatter, you flatter, you flatter, you can even donate to the emperor the woman you like.

And I have no desires. I don’t want to be a high official, nor do I want to make a lot of money. I don’t need others to respect me or be afraid of me. So I don’t have to deliberately please anyone, and I live a relatively free life.

Qing Lian is the woman I like, so I want it. I can't afford to trade her for fame and fortune. Sir, wouldn't it be nice to be as free and easy as I am?"

He Shen flattened his mouth and was speechless.

…

In the blink of an eye, two months later, Shang Rong, the governor of Zhili, requested an order to build a garden for the emperor to relax and escape from the summer heat.

As soon as the memorial was handed down, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Rites and other ministries immediately followed and agreed one after another.

He Shen even gave his strong support, "Your Majesty, you have so many things to do and work on state affairs every day. It's really hard work. You should build a garden for your entertainment."

Qianlong was naturally happy when he heard what they said.

He prides himself on being a perfect old man, thinks very highly of himself, and wants to be the best in everything.

Naturally, one wants to build a garden that is magnificent and extremely gorgeous. In this way, one can not only enjoy the splendor of the garden and the beauty of the lakes and mountains, but also be envied by future generations.

However, he also knows that gardening costs money, and it costs a lot of money.

If you build large-scale construction projects for your own selfish interests and waste public funds, it will not sound good if it is not spread.

Therefore, he looked at Xiang Nan, "Ji Xiaolan, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, the Qing Dynasty entered the country, established its capital in Yanjing, and inherited the Forbidden City. From then on, the royal buildings were mainly gardens." Xiang Nan bowed and said, "Since Emperor Shunzhi, Jingyi has been built

Garden, Jingming Garden, Summer Palace, Old Summer Palace, Changchun Garden, Xichun Garden, Jingchun Garden... there are more than ninety royal gardens, large and small.

It stretches for more than 20 miles from Haidian to Xiangshan. It is a spectacular sight. In my opinion, Qin Shihuang's Epang Palace is nothing more than this. And the construction cost of all gardens is very high. The construction of Changchun Garden alone cost 110,000 taels of silver. .

And the repair and maintenance costs over the years have reached millions, which is really a big burden. Therefore, in Yichen’s opinion, it’s okay not to repair this new garden.”

When Qianlong heard this, his face darkened.

…

"Your Majesty, Sir Ji is worried about spending public money on building gardens, and he has good intentions." He Shen smiled and said, "I have an idea that can solve this problem."

"Oh, tell me." Qianlong asked quickly after hearing this.

"The emperor cares about the world and works hard for state affairs. It is really hard to build gardens for your entertainment. It also benefits the Qing Dynasty and the people.

Therefore, every citizen of the Qing Dynasty should contribute his or her heart and soul. I suggest that we raise money nationwide to build the garden. I will take the lead and pledge five thousand taels." Heshen said immediately.

"Good work with you, sir!"

"My lord, this is absolutely true!"

"Master He is indeed loyal and patriotic!"

When He Shen said what he said, all the officials immediately spoke in unison and echoed loudly.

"Your Majesty, I don't agree with Mr. He's proposal. Although Mr. He said it was a donation, when the decree reaches the lower levels, it will most likely be misinterpreted as an apportionment.

The officials below have made up their names and collected all kinds of exorbitant taxes. The people of Li have long been unbearable. Now with the addition of garden fees, the people are even more burdened and find it difficult to support them." Xiang Nan immediately added.

"Lord Ji, the emperor is the emperor of the world. The emperor is concerned about state affairs and takes care of all kinds of things every day, which is very hard. We, the people of the Qing Dynasty, can't we donate even a little money for the emperor?

If they are not even willing to pay this amount, how can they be considered loyal and patriotic?" He Shen retorted.

"He is really a good person and knows how to criticize you. In that case, your Majesty, I suggest that all officials in the Qing Dynasty donate all their property to the emperor to build the garden." Xiang Nan bowed and said, "Eating the emperor's salary is a matter of loyalty to the emperor. It is the official's duty. If the family property comes from the emperor, then all of it should be dedicated to the emperor to relieve the emperor's worries. If you don't donate it, it would be disloyal and unfilial.

I will take the lead first and donate all my family property. Your Majesty can send the imperial guards to your residence today to search your property."

Xiang Nan's words immediately made all the officials excited.

Xiang Nan was an upright official and had little family property. Unlike them, they all hugged him a lot. They were reluctant to give up their property.

Besides, there are only six people in the thatched cottage, so we are frugal and only spend thirty or forty taels of silver a year.

But all of them have big families and big businesses, ranging from dozens of people to hundreds of people. If all the family property is donated, will this big family enjoy the northwest wind?

"That's enough, Ji Xiaolan, stop messing around." Qianlong shouted firmly. No matter how much he wanted to build a garden, he couldn't build it by copying hundreds of officials' homes. Otherwise, no one would dare to be an official. Who does he, the emperor, rely on to manage the world? Who else is willing to listen?

"Let's talk about repairing the garden later, let's disperse the court!" Qianlong then waved his hand.

…

"Ji Xiaolan, you are presumptuous, you deceive the emperor, and you have no regard for the emperor. What's wrong with the emperor's gardening? Are you blocking the way? It's not your money spent?" He Shen argued.

"My lord, the world is so big. Where is there no disaster or difficulty? The treasury only has such a small amount of money and does not leave much to deal with disasters. What will happen if something happens?" Xiang Nan rolled his eyes at him and said, "If you really care about the emperor, If you want him to have a good time, that's fine, you have to pay for it yourself. You and the adults have to donate all their property, I'm afraid it would be enough to build ten summer estates."
Chapter completed!