Chapter 304: Shangshu Yanshilang Pen Doctor Mo Zhubo Paper

Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Fu Chenan quietly left and went from the East Palace to Wolong Villa.

Xiao Yingchun said that the four treasures of the study would arrive in the morning.

When he went over, the car carrying the four treasures of the study had indeed arrived.

After confirming that the unloading was complete, Fu Chenan went to the East Palace yard first.
Xiao Yingchun sent the things directly from the garage to Fu Chenan's yard...

When Fu Chenan returned to the court, today's meetings of various departments had been completed.

All the departments that had originally wanted to make huge demands on the imperial court and the Ministry of Revenue became very cautious.

Emperor Tianwu took the initiative to ask them to propose a budget, and they all said they would go back and check again with their subordinates before reporting...

They were obviously frightened by Lin Xiang’s admonition video.

Just at this moment, Fu Chenan came back and nodded slightly at Emperor Tianwu.

Emperor Tianwu smiled kindly and said, "You are so cautious, it is a blessing for the court and the people of the world. It's the beginning of the new year, and the court has some money. I will be generous today and give you a new year gift..."

Lu Daban waved his hand, and a group of eunuchs came out holding trays.

"The six ministers and the left and right prime ministers will each be rewarded with a set of the Four Treasures of the Study."

"The rest of the second-rank officials will be rewarded with a box of Hui ink and three Hui pens."

"A box of Hui ink is given as a reward to third and fourth rank officials..."

For those of the fifth rank and above, there is also an ingot of Hui ink and a piece of Chengxintang paper...

The eunuchs handed the plates in their hands to the corresponding officials. The officials were flattered and took them with both hands and kowtowed to thank the emperor for his grace.

Emperor Tianwu laughed and said, "You may as well open it and see if you like it."

The Minister of Revenue Cui Chaoyong was the first to take the initiative to open it and take a look. When he saw the She inkstone in the box in front of him, he was also amazed.

This She inkstone obviously makes use of the difference in stone materials, using colorful carving to cleverly carve the yellow into the shape of a winter plum.

"This... this is too expensive!" Cui Chaoyong exclaimed, his eyes full of shock.

The other officials exclaimed in amazement and looked at Cui Chaoyong sideways.

No wonder Cui Chaoyong was promoted so quickly, his ability to steal the limelight and flatter others is truly amazing!
Everyone is crying with gratitude, but you are the first one to shout it out with such a shocked look?!

It's you! ?
For a while, the court was filled with sounds of praise and gratitude, and finally everyone knelt down and shouted "Long live the emperor".

When everyone got up, the emperor smiled and said, "From now on, the ink and brush shop at the entrance of Yingchun Academy will also be stocked with a large number of these excellent pens, inks, paper and inkstones."

"If you need any, you can go and buy it..."

"If there is no need, or if you don't have enough money, you should still do what you can, and don't try to be too ambitious..."

Lu Daban stood up at the right time and shouted in a long voice: "If you have something to say, please report it early. If you don't, please leave the court!"

The civil and military officials were silent for a moment, then knelt down one after another, shouted "Long live the emperor" again, and respectfully saw the emperor off after court, while saying that they would definitely buy it!
Civil and Military Officials: What should we do now that there is only a little bit of emotion left in our hearts?
What Your Majesty gave you is not a gift, it is a sample!
After receiving the samples from His Majesty, how can I not consume them? !

In order to increase the revenue for the imperial court, His Majesty actually promoted it openly in the court!

Your Majesty is becoming more and more shameless... wuwuwu!

No matter what they thought in their hearts, they dared not complain at all and even put on a happy smile.

After the court session, civil and military officials made appointments to go to the "Huangshan Pen and Ink Shop" in Yingchun Academy in groups of three or five to spend money.

As a result, the Huangshan Writing Instrument Shop at the entrance of Yingchun Academy was suddenly packed with people.

Fortunately, Cui Chaoyong had expected this to happen. After all, Fu Chenan had informed him early on, and there were soldiers handing out number tags at the door.

"My Lords, our store's reception capacity is limited today. Those of you who have received your number tags, please follow the time indicated on your number tags."

"The one who started it all, please come back tomorrow."

"For those whose numbers begin with two, please come back the day after tomorrow..." This number plate was actually queued up for five days later.

The officials holding the number plates looked at each other in bewilderment, but could only obediently register their names and then say goodbye and leave.

The officials who were lucky enough to go in and spend money on that day were stunned by the exquisite inkstones and ink sticks inside.

Those inkstones, each priced at one thousand taels of silver, were of the same grade and similar workmanship as the rewards that the six ministers received in the court today. Each one was exquisitely crafted.

Those ink sticks are colorful and exquisitely shaped, and the expensive ones cost more than 100 taels of silver.

No wonder it is so expensive, the packaging and shape of the ink stick are really pleasing to the eye!
"Give me a box of these Ladies' Painting Ink Sticks."

The clerk took out a box from the counter with swift movements: "Okay, sir, I'll give you ninety-eight taels of silver."

"I want some too! I want five boxes of paintings of ladies!" another one said quickly.

"Okay, sir, I will give you four hundred and ninety taels of silver..."

Officials came out one after another with bags of all sizes, and some students and wealthy people passing by also rushed in.

The next morning, the saying about "the Shangshu inkstone, the Shilang pen, the doctor's ink, the Zhubu paper..." spread.

"This She inkstone is specially awarded to the six ministers and the left and right prime ministers! It is worth a thousand taels!"

"Ordinary people want it? They can only buy it!"

"And there is no identical model available, only similar models. You need to make an appointment in advance and can only pick it up half a month later!"

"This pen is only available to second-rank ministers and above! It's very expensive! Only a penny is worth a thousand!"

"Hui ink? That's a reward for those above the fourth rank. Do you want it too? Go to Huangshan Ink Shop and buy it!"

For a time, Huangshan Pen and Ink Shop became famous in the capital.

“Why is this calligraphy and painting shop called Huangshan Calligraphy and Painting Shop?”

"Is Huangshan a place name? Where is it?"

"I do not know……"

Various topics about Huangshan's calligraphy and painting shops began to spread among students and wealthy families.

As the Huangshan Writing Brush and Ink Shop of Yingchun Academy sold well, branches of Huangshan Writing Brush and Ink Shop were opened one after another in various places.

There are all kinds of pens, inks, papers and inkstones, but the variety and exquisiteness are not as many as those in the main store in Beijing...

At first, all the scholars were just curious. The things in Huangshan Pen and Ink Shop were good, but they were too expensive!
The "Spring Examination Time" announced by the imperial court immediately afterwards made all the major families and students all over the world nervous and expectant.

It’s time to prepare for the scientific examination!

Those who passed the Tongsheng examination last year can take part in the provincial examination one month later, and if they pass, they will become Xiucai.

Two months later, in the provincial examination, those who passed would become Juren.

Then came the joint and palace examinations in autumn.

In other words, this year the Tianwu Dynasty will usher in the first complete imperial examination for promotion since the founding of the country.

There will be a group of people who will reach a turning point in their lives during this year's assessment.

Who doesn't want to be a winner in life and stand in the court? !
For a time, paper was in great demand in Luoyang, and all kinds of pens, inks, papers and inkstones were in hot demand.

The newly released Shangshu inkstone, Shilang pen, Dafu ink and Zhubu paper are particularly popular.

In order to bring good luck, families with the means would buy expensive She inkstones, Hui pens and Hui ink for their children, under the pretext of trying to gain some influence from the official fortunes of the officials in the court.

Those who really don't have money can at least buy a piece of paper to worship...

(End of this chapter)