Chapter 478: Whim
Li Hong Yuan was unconcerned, not even giving them a glance, “It was wangfei’s idea, merely wanting to earn a bit of rouge and powder money.” It was just short of pointing at them and giving a condescending look. Afterwards, throwing out a line of ‘making a fuss over nothing’. Was this bit of pocket change even worth mentioning? For better or worse a qinwang, yet the eyes were this shallow.
These people, each and every one, were all violently cursing inside. Who the hell needed this much money to buy rouge and powder? The entire capital’s noble ladies and noble madams added together, even including the numerous imperial concubines and imperial daughters in the palace, all won’t need this much money. Besides, who didn’t know that the best rouge and powder of the Rouge Pavilion were from Jin Wangfei’s recipes. Never mind having a large sum of dividend, all the rouge and powder there, that was not needing to spend a single copper to buy, to even say it was rouge and powder money?
Even if looking for an excuse, can you at least put in a bit of effort? Even if you don’t say anything at all, it would still be better than this.
However, no matter how they curse inside, they still can’t say it out loud, or rather, don’t dare to. Somewhat dejectedly tugging their collar, they adjusted their breathing, warning themselves to stay calm no matter what and don’t act on impulse.
“If interested, just stake a few bets for fun.” Li Hong Yuan had one hand against the armrest, propping up his chin, his other hand randomly tapping the other side, appearing very relaxed.
Because it was the first time, the rules for betting were relatively simple, and moreover, it was betting on the champion and not the rank.
For this first round, it was one bet, win double, each match having ten horses. So far, there has been about sixteen matches. The first three horses of each match from the first round can participate in the second round. For the second round, it was eight horses in each match, one bet, win triple, similarly taking the first three of each match to participate in the third round, where it was one bet, win fivefold. Then, it was taking the first three to participate in the final round, one bet, win tenfold.
And as the horse’s owner, for every match won, there will be corresponding prize money. If able to win from beginning to end, then just based on this bit, one will all be able to make one’s wallet rapidly expand.
For the first round, the minimum bet was ten taels, a hundred taels for the second, a thousand taels for the third, and for the last round, it wasn’t ten thousand taels, but rather, got changed into no restrictions by Jing Wan. On the lower end, betting a single copper coin was all possible, and for the higher end, tens to hundreds of thousands was all not a problem.
This time, even if suffering a financial loss in the end, it also didn’t matter. Jin Qinwang was completely able to bear the cost. However, this possibility was relatively small. Of course, in the future, it won’t be like this. They ultimately needed to adjust the compensation rate according to the number of bets and amount of money staked. And there probably won’t be a lowest quota limit either.
All in all, as the banker, it was certainly steadily making a profit and not suffering a loss.
As the brothers, they ultimately needed to give a bit of face. Moreover, for better or worse, they had their own horse participating. Never mind the others, at the very least, they should still have a bit of self-confidence, no? To not play at all, probably only Li Hong Yuan had this ‘special privilege’.
Speaking of which, no matter how poor, for better or worse, they were still a wangye. As such, when throwing out money, it was naturally impossible to place the lowest amount of bet.
Kang Qinwang, as the eldest brother, placed five hundred taels for every match. Continuing like this, several thousand taels went out just like that.
Rui Qinwang slightly subtracted a little from Kang Qinwang’s base amount.
However, unknown as to why, Gong Qinwang completely maintained the same amount as Rui Qinwang. Fifth wangye who was after him naturally perceptively subtracted a little more, and after him, aside from Li Hong Yuan, the other three all maintained the same amount as fifth wangye.
En, if the ones in the back all don’t have any problems, then it was just Gong Qinwang having problems.
Kang Qinwang was the eldest di son. Rui Qinwang’s birth mother was a noble consort. Gong Qinwang’s birth mother, however, was just an imperial concubine. Reasonably speaking, he should slightly yield to Rui Qinwang a little, and the ones behind him maintaining the same amount as him was all fine. Yet, he insisted on maintaining the fact that he was on the same level as Rui Qinwang. Have to say, according to his original intentions, he even wanted to exceed Kang Qinwang, but luckily, in the end, he wasn’t that muddled.
Rui Qinwang turned to glance at him, smiling, as if completely not taking it seriously.
However, certain people in the back subconsciously shivered. Clearly, this third imperial brother was in a very good mood lately, being amiable towards everyone, that smile making one feel as if bathing in the spring breeze. But now, how come it strangely feels a bit terrifying?
Gong Qinwang’s expression also sunk, but shortly after, unwilling to concede, also returned Rui Qinwang a smile, blatantly provoking.
Right now, even if gaining a bit of an advantage on the surface, what can come of it? Clearly he was in a weaker position, so even if feeling good now, still don’t know what it will be like in private. Moreover, although a trivial matter, it was still more than enough for certain officials to make out a big matter from something small, and make a choice.
That’s why, Gong Qinwang, you clearly don’t have the living Enma’s life, yet how come you just want the living Enma’s disease? To squander money without any misgivings, that was the living Enma’s special privilege. Him pressing above your heads, that was all given. No one would feel it was wrong. And if he really were to act according to the rules, the others would instead worry whether or not he had evil tricks bottled in his heart.
All say Kang Qinwang was a rash and impulsive person with a violent temper, but in reality, Gong Qinwang wasn’t the least bit inferior, especially now. Kang Qinwang, after the Empress ‘collapsed from illness’, just curbed himself in all kinds of ways, appearing much more composed. And regardless whether it was genuinely composed, or pretending to be composed, comparing the two, Gong Qinwang instead appeared increasingly unsightly.
Among Le Cheng Emperor’s sons that have entered the ranks, aside from the two that have already died young, eight have already come-of-age and got bestowed a wang title. To not count one would not know, but once counted, the amount really wasn’t few. However, those that truly have the competitive power for the throne was also just those few in front. The ones in the back, truthfully speaking, even if really having the ambitions, wanting that position, to want to achieve truly was very difficult, because their birth mother’s status wasn’t high, nor were they favored, not having a strong maternal clan, and similarly not having a powerful wife’s clan. And their own talents……….Alright, without those backings, having too much talent might instead cause one to lose one’s life.
Setting aside the external factors, just considering the person, Rui Qinwang actually was the most suitable for that position, regardless whether it was his temperament, or his conduct in handling affairs. Although his heart might be dark, but he actually cared about his face the most, cherishing his feathers, paying attention to his reputation. This kind of person, even if ascending the throne, it was still aiming to become ‘the greatest emperor throughout the ages’. That’s why, even if it’s the people fighting against him for throne right now, unless truly hating to the bone, otherwise he won’t have the person killed easily. And even if killing, it also won’t be on the surface, and he further won’t do something like executing all that are connected. He even won’t be like his father, making certain people appear as if fresh flowers wrapped in brocade, but in reality, unbearably miserable. He can give out honor and wealth, just they probably won’t have power, that’s all.
And when it comes to abilities, Rui Qinwang actually was also pretty good too. Once for a time, he was also the one Le Cheng Emperor was the most optimistic towards. Just, afterwards, he got secretly schemed against by Li Hong Yuan in dark, weakening Le Cheng Emperor’s good feelings towards him.
In reality, including certain people that secretly supported the living Enma, many believed that it was better for Rui Qinwang to become the Emperor.
However, having gotten on the living Enma’s pirate ship, to want to get off, it won’t be becoming a corpse and getting thrown off, that simple.
Of course, when it truly comes to abilities, Rui Qinwang naturally can’t compare with Jin Qinwang. The former wanting to become the greatest emperor of the ages, probably can only think about it. To be able to have the current Qi Yuan elevated a tiny bit would already be not bad. And the latter, as long as he was willing, he completely had the ability to have Qi Yuan pushed towards a golden age. However, Li Hong Yuan’s temperament was unusual and difficult to predict. He can become the ruler that will establish a golden age, but similarly can walk towards the other extreme. For many things, it probably just depended on a single whim.
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