Hong Wu ordered two kinds of fruit and, as usual, paid thirty large coins. Gritting his teeth, he tossed the boy a piece of silver, "Do your job well, off you go."
Oh, this errand had proved to be not only taxing on the mind but also on the wallet. To make this meal appear as a coincidence, he had mobilized all his underlings to deceive the subordinates of the Protectorate General. In the private room next door, he had arranged this casual drinking session for Shen Yongzhen.
The silver needed for official business could, of course, be withdrawn from Uncle Wan, but the money to reward the boys... that had to come out of his own pocket. Earning money was not easy.
Bearing the heartache of financial loss, Hong Wu instructed one of his servants, "Withdraw the people keeping an eye on Hongen Pavilion; there's no need to watch it anymore."
