"You still can't tell?"
As Han Mo spoke, he directly untied the ropes binding the woman.
"Aren't you curious about what I've hidden?"
The woman seemed even more perplexed.
"What have you hidden? What business is it of mine?"
Han Mo suppressed a chuckle and made a welcoming gesture.
This time, the woman was somewhat taken aback.
She wasn't stupid; she knew that the officers from Kaifeng Prefecture wouldn't leave so easily.
"Let's go, why aren't you leaving?"
Han Mo stretched lazily as he spoke.
Although he wasn't a big shot, he didn't want to be used as a pawn without knowing why.
After all, in the eyes of those powerful figures, he was nothing more than a tiny ant.
If anything went wrong, he could lose his life!
"The outside must be swarming with Kaifeng Prefecture officers!"
After taking a few steps, the woman finally stopped.
"That's right, but what does that have to do with me? We're strangers. I was merely captivated by your beauty just now. Since you insist on leaving, please do!"
Han Mo maintained his accommodating demeanor, which only made the woman more distressed.
Given her current physical condition, if she stepped outside, she would undoubtedly be caught by the officers.
However, this rascal, who had seemed rash and foolish, had suddenly transformed into someone else, completely thwarting all her plans.
What should she do?
The ball was now back in her court. Although this manor was vast, without someone to cover for her, her exposure would mean certain death in her present state.
Her own death was of little consequence, but her painstakingly retrieved belongings would be lost in vain.
"What must I do for you to help me?"
After a long silence, the woman finally couldn't hold back.
"What did you say?"
Han Mo exaggeratedly dug in his ear, feigning that he hadn't heard clearly.
"What must I do for you to help me?"
The woman knew perfectly well that this fellow was doing it on purpose, but at this moment, she had no other options.
"Why should I help you?"
Now that the initiative was back in his hands, Han Mo felt a sense of relief.
"You! Aren't you also Cai Shu's enemy? Do you really think Cai Shu will let you off after what happened last time?"
As expected!
Han Mo finally understood that everything the woman had done before was a facade.
In fact, Han Mo even suspected whether the incident where he knocked her unconscious was real.
After all, judging by her displayed intelligence, she didn't seem like someone easily manipulated!
"My dealings with him were merely a dispute of pride. You don't honestly believe I'd help a complete stranger just for that, do you?"
Han Mo nonchalantly brushed aside his past interactions with Cai Shu, acting as if he couldn't care less.
"You!"
Han Mo was completely unyielding, which thoroughly stumped the woman.
"What about me? If you can't give me a reason to help you, why should I?"
As he spoke, Han Mo picked up the book "Taiping Guangji" from a nearby shelf.
He appeared completely disinterested, waiting for the woman to offer something herself.
"If you help me, upon successful completion, I can reward you with a hundred taels of gold! Enough to ensure you live comfortably. How about it?"
A hundred taels of gold!
Indeed, Han Mo's mind began to analyze again, realizing the woman was backed by a powerful force.
However, his expression remained unchanged.
"My dear lady, a gentleman speaks not of profit! Han Mo is a scholar; are you trying to insult me?"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, the woman nearly choked.
Just a few months ago, this fellow had been scheming every day to get money from her little maid.
He had almost resorted to trickery and deception just for a bit of drinking money, and now he was saying this. It was truly ironic!
"Think about it, a hundred taels of gold is worth over a thousand guan! With this money, you could relocate and live a carefree life. Why stay here relying on others?"
"I apologize, but a gentleman desires wealth, and obtains it righteously!"
The more anxious she became, the calmer Han Mo grew.
"Three hundred taels of gold!"
"Money is but an external possession. Han Mo isn't so foolish as to risk his life for a mere few hundred taels of gold! If you have no other means, then please leave!"
Let alone three hundred taels, even if she offered ten thousand taels of gold now, Han Mo would not agree.
However, a force capable of producing three hundred taels of gold so readily did narrow down his scope of analysis.
"If you help me, I have benefactors behind me who can recommend you for an official position. How about that?"
The woman, helpless, gritted her teeth and continued to increase her offer.
Entering the bureaucracy?
Furthermore, the "benefactors" who could recommend him for official positions significantly narrowed the scope.
Those who could recommend someone without credentials into officialdom were at least regional military and administrative officials.
Within this range, those who were at odds with Cai Jing further reduced the possibilities.
But who it was still required further analysis!
"Although Han is untalented, I am already an Inner Scholar. Why would I need someone to recommend me?"
Han Mo's casual remark almost made the woman spit blood.
"If not for the relationship with Prince Consort Han, wouldn't you have been expelled from the Imperial Academy by now?"
The woman finally lost her patience. This was too shameless!
"But what of it? Han has now turned over a new leaf and will surely pass the imperial examinations this year!"
Han Mo's expression remained as serene as ever, without the slightest change.
"Boastful!"
The woman scoffed.
"Are you done? You may leave!"
Han Mo gestured for her to exit again.
At this moment, he held all the advantages. Seeing the woman grit her teeth, Han Mo felt extremely smug.
It seemed the time to reel in his catch had finally arrived!
"What exactly do you want?"
The woman finally couldn't take it anymore.
"What do I want? I need to know who is behind you. Official Cai is not someone anyone can deal with. If I help you now, won't that put me at odds with Official Cai?"
Han Mo smiled, a happy smile. It seemed the time to reel in his catch had finally arrived!
"You're so eager to know who is behind me? Do you know that if I tell you, you'll surely die!"
The woman gritted her teeth and threatened him directly.
"That would be my problem!"
Han Mo had considered such threats, but after seeing that ledger, he had already begun to plan.
While this might be a death warrant for him, it was also a golden opportunity!
Those with the confidence to move against Cai Jing would naturally have commensurate forces behind them.
Whoever it was, it seemed they could serve as a stepping stone for his advancement!
It was only a few years until the Jingkang Incident. If he continued on his current path of examination, even if he achieved the top rank this year, according to the current imperial system, he would at most become a county lieutenant of the eighth rank.
After a few years of experience in the provinces, when the Jingkang Incident erupted, he would at best be a county magistrate!
Fortune favors the bold; he had to take a risk!