RPAGF Chapter 364 Design Fee
Chapter 364 Design Fee
Emperor Jingyang didn't contribute a bit of effort, so why does he think he's at a disadvantage?
Lipin listened to the conversation between the two. A glimmer flashed across her eyes, and she suddenly suggested: "Your Majesty, I think we can charge some design fees from the other three countries."
"Firstly, this kind of design is very rare. Once it is mass-produced, it will definitely benefit the people of all countries. If they use the tools we designed, their national strength will definitely take a big step forward, and the people's lives will become more and more prosperous, which is very disadvantageous to us in Dongchen."
"Secondly, the treasury has been very empty recently. I think that charging some fees appropriately can increase the royal family's revenue and be used for maintaining stability and transition expenses."
"Third, we have set a precedent by having women from the Canglang Poetry Contest sign up for the competition, so why can't we charge for wood design?"
After Concubine Li finished speaking, Emperor Jingyang began to think about the feasibility of this matter in his mind.
Personally speaking, he felt that Lipin's proposal was very much to his liking.
Take the thirty finished wooden products in front of him for example. If they were charged by the piece, the design fee for one would be 100,000 taels of silver, so thirty of them would be 3 million taels of silver.
Three million taels for one country, and nine million taels for three countries, which is a considerable income.
Emperor Jingyang was very excited. When he thought of this, he immediately discussed it with the Queen.
After he finished expressing his thoughts, he added one more sentence.
"Empress, there are some things that I cannot intervene in. As the mother of a country, I hope you can come forward and discuss this matter for me."
His idea was very simple. He let the queen be the bad guy, and he would hide behind and reap the benefits.
At that time, even if someone blames him or is dissatisfied, it was the Queen's idea alone and has nothing to do with him.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingyang's proposal was immediately opposed by the Queen.
"Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate. Not to mention that the Canglang Poetry Talk is held by Qingyun Pavilion, the Dongchen Royal Family, as a participating party, only has the right to participate, not the right to decide."
"Isn't the Emperor worried that suddenly charging such a high design fee will destroy the peace of the four countries?"
Emperor Jingyang pursed his lips, a storm brewing in his eyes, and he looked at the queen angrily.
"Isn't fifteen years of design sharing enough? We can't let them do it for free forever. If we are left far behind by them, will you be satisfied?"
"To put it nicely, this is promoting our own culture. To put it bluntly, this is stealing state secrets. I can allow them to use it, but I also have the right not to allow them to use it."
Queen: "..."
She felt that Emperor Jingyang was simply unreasonable.
The four countries finally maintained peace for more than ten years, and the people were able to live and work in peace.
If he does this, this short-lived peace will probably be over!
The queen's face darkened, her eyes as cold as ice. "The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. This is what the emperor said himself, so I will not intervene in this matter. If the emperor really has an idea, then go and discuss it with Master Mei!"
"Oh, by the way, these finished designs have nothing to do with the emperor. If the emperor really wants to charge for them, he should also ask the opinions of the candidates who designed them, so as not to discourage the students of Dongchen Country and make them unwilling to serve the royal family in the future."
Emperor Jingyang's eyes were blazing with anger, "Queen, are you threatening me!?"
"I dare not." The Queen looked at him calmly, "Culture has no borders. The finished products of the Canglang Poetry and Woodworking Competition are meant to be promoted free of charge. I believe that the candidates who signed up for the competition are well aware of this, and that is why they designed tools that can benefit the people in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation."
"Their original intention is definitely not to make money from this. I'm afraid the only one who wants to profit from it is you, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Jingyang: "..."
He was caught off guard by the Queen's clues and looked extremely embarrassed.
But once this idea came to his mind, it would not go away, so much so that Emperor Jingyang was in no mood to watch the next few rounds of woodworking presentations by the candidates, looking like he was preoccupied.
Until Eunuch Zhang reminded him in his ear, "Your Majesty, all the candidates' finished woodworks have been displayed. What do you think of Mr. Ji and Miss Murong's?"
When Emperor Jingyang came to his senses, he saw two finished products with the red cloth still placed on the huge venue.
One long and one short stood there, and it was impossible to tell what was inside.
Not far away, Meng was helping Ji Nanchuan adjust his official uniform.
She whispered, "My Lord, since the emperor asked people to bring up the folding bed designed by Hang'er, it means that he still recognizes Hang'er's design ability."
"It just so happens that Hang'er had written down the principle of the folding bed he designed on paper yesterday and asked Che'er to bring it to you. As long as the Marquis can seize this opportunity, maybe the emperor will be so happy that he can release Hang'er from the prison."
Ji Nanchuan looked unruly and said slowly: "You don't need to tell me, I know what to do!"
He stood aside, waiting for Eunuch Zhang to call Ji Zihang's name, and then he would go up and uncover the red cloth.
Unexpectedly, Eunuch Zhang not only didn't even look at him, but instead called four guards, lifted the folding bed designed by Ji Zihang and walked out.
Ji Nanchuan became anxious and quickly stepped forward to stop him. He put on a humble expression and asked.
"Eunuch Zhang, I wonder where they are going to take the folding bed that my son designed?"
Eunuch Zhang glanced at Ji Nanchuan and pointed the whisk in his hand at the announcement.
"Oh, so the thing in the red cloth is the folding bed designed by the Third Master Ji?"
Before Ji Nanchuan understood what he meant, he heard Eunuch Zhang say in a long voice:
"The emperor said that the third son of the Ji family is in prison and his test results have been cancelled, so his finished product will naturally not count. The emperor ordered the servants to carry this folding bed to the woodshed and chop it up and burn it."
Ji Nanchuan: "..."
Ji Nanchuan: "!!!"
He couldn't believe his ears.
"Cut it down and burn it. How could this happen?"
"Eunuch Zhang, since my second daughter is about to become the Crown Princess, can you help me put in a few good words in front of the Emperor and ask him to give Hang'er a chance to show off?"
Ji Nanchuan stuffed a gold ingot into Eunuch Zhang's arms, but Eunuch Zhang pushed it back.
"My Lord, the decision made by the Emperor is not something I can change. My Lord, please don't embarrass me!"
After he said that, he asked the guards to carry Ji Zihang and Murong Yue's finished wooden works down!
Ji Nanchuan felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife. What he didn't know was that Emperor Jingyang really disliked these two things.
He believes that since the owners of the designs have already been put in jail, it means that they are already tainted.
If you have a tainted design and then sell it to the other three countries, the other party may not buy it.