"I cannot accept Lord Li's courtesy. With your immense authority, what if I am inadvertently detained here in the Ministry of Revenue?"
Although Liang Shicheng's face remained expressionless, the mockery conveyed in his words caused Li Yan to immediately kneel.
Let alone him, even the Crown Prince would have to salute Liang Shicheng respectfully with cupped hands and address him as Grand Commandant.
While the old ministers around the Crown Prince were consciously trying to sideline Liang Shicheng, they had to admit that Liang Shicheng was currently the biggest pillar of support for the Crown Prince.
If not for his protection, the position of the Crown Prince would have already gone to Prince Yun, Zhao Kai, by now!
"This subordinate deserves death! This subordinate deserves death!"
Thinking of Liang Shicheng's fearsome reputation, Li Yan was truly terrified to his core!
Liang Shicheng was known to the world as the Hidden Prime Minister!
Even when Cai Jing was at his most favored, he had to respectfully address Liang Shicheng as 'Sir'.
Although the current dynasty did not kill scholar-officials, were there not many who offended Liang Shicheng and died on the road in exile?
"Lord Yuwen, this is your domain. How do you think this matter should be handled?"
Seeing his obsequious demeanor, Liang Shicheng sneered and looked at Yuwen Cuizhong again.
"Such a cunning individual, I don't know how he managed to get into the Ministry of Revenue. Grand Commandant, rest assured, I will immediately issue a document to the Ministry of Personnel to strip him of his official robes and have the relevant authorities thoroughly investigate him for any illegal activities!"
Although the position of a Yuanwailang in the Cangbu was not much, this fellow was Tang Ke's man after all. If he could use this opportunity to kick him out directly, he would be happy to do a favor.
"Your Lordship, forgive me, Your Lordship, forgive me!"
Li Yan's position was hard-won by the Crown Prince. If he lost it due to his own carelessness, the Crown Prince would surely hate him to death!
After all, without him as the Yuanwailang of the Cangbu, Tang Ke would truly have no one to speak for him in the Ministry of Revenue!
"Isn't this a bit too much?"
After looking at Li Yan again, Liang Shicheng asked with a forced smile.
"Then what is Grand Commandant's intention?"
Yuwen Cuizhong quickly asked.
"Give him a lesson, so he learns to remember! After all, a scholar can be killed, but not humiliated!"
After speaking, Liang Shicheng didn't even glance at Li Yan, but turned to look at Zhe Wanchun.
However, Yuwen Cuizhong heard it clearly, Liang Shicheng had deliberately emphasized the word "humiliated."
"This humble one, Zhe Wanchun, greets both Lords!"
Although Zhe Wanchun didn't know why Liang Shicheng was helping him, he quickly saluted both of them.
"Are you from the Si Chang family?"
Hearing his introduction, Liang Shicheng immediately asked with a smile.
"He is my distant cousin. It's just that I am neither successful in academics nor martial arts, and have disgraced my ancestors, which is why I chose this name..."
"Hahahaha, in that case, we are not strangers. Looking at your current state, you probably haven't had lunch yet, have you?"
Hearing him say that, Liang Shicheng said with a smile.
"All my family's shops have been sealed by Lord Tang. How can I still eat..."
Hearing the implication in Liang Shicheng's words, Zhe Wanchun immediately understood that this was likely a rescuer invited by Han Mo. So, he quickly changed the subject and brought the topic to the shops.
"Someone dares to seal the Zhe family's shops? Could it be that you have done something illegal or against regulations?"
When Liang Shicheng mentioned the Zhe family, he deliberately emphasized the words. This time, even Yuwen Cuizhong understood that Liang Shicheng was here for this person today.
"Grand Commandant, you jest. If we had done anything illegal or against regulations, the officials from the Kaifeng Prefecture would have come, not the constables from the Ministry of Revenue?"
"Constables from the Ministry of Revenue can seal people's shops now?"
Liang Shicheng looked at Yuwen Cuizhong with feigned surprise.
"That's impossible. Your Lordship jokes. The Ministry of Revenue has incredibly complex affairs every day. With our limited manpower, where would we find the time to do such things?"
Yuwen Cuizhong certainly understood what was going on, but since this was done by Tang Ke, he had no intention of being a scapegoat for him.
"If Lord Yuwen says so, then this is indeed strange! Manager Zhe, you say your shops were sealed by the Ministry of Revenue, do you have any evidence?"
"The seals on the main doors bear the official seal of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Those constables made it clear that they wanted me to speak at the Ministry of Revenue, but after I came here, that Lord Tang is not in the official residence!"
Having finally found a backer, Zhe Wanchun naturally said whatever came to his mind, as it was not he who was being embarrassed.
"Since this Lord Tang is not here, then we shall wait. I am truly very curious as to when the Ministry of Revenue started sealing people's shops. Lord Yuwen, would you be able to offer me a simple meal here?"
"Oh, right. Please trouble Lord Yuwen to send someone to the shop in front of Imperial Street to retrieve a seal for me. That way, this matter will not end up wrongly accusing Lord Tang!"
Just as Yuwen Cuizhong was about to speak, Liang Shicheng suddenly remembered something and quickly added another sentence.
"Grand Commandant, rest assured, I will send someone now!"
As Wang Fu's confidant, he had navigated the officialdom for so many years that he could naturally see that Liang Shicheng was deliberately causing trouble.
However, he had no good feelings towards Tang Ke, the suddenly appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
If he could use this opportunity to have Liang Shicheng deal with him, it would be the best outcome for him.
Even if he couldn't deal with him, just annoying him in the end would be a pleasing sight!
"My Lord, then he..."
Seeing Liang Shicheng leave with Zhe Wanchun, the constables accompanying Yuwen Cuizhong quickly asked in a low voice.
"Didn't Grand Commandant just say it? Give Lord Li a lesson. Whatever he said, do as he instructed! Oh, right, lock them all up, and I'll deal with them slowly when I have time!"
With a cold smile, he uttered this and then immediately turned and walked away.
"Lord Li, you've heard it too. This is not our fault, brothers. It's really that a higher rank crushes a lower rank..."
The leading constable cupped his hands towards Li Yan with a fawning smile, then slapped Li Yan across the face.
Although his words were polite, the fellow did not hold back at all when he struck.
The constables following Li Yan were even more awkward. They wanted to run, but the entrance was blocked. If they forced their way through, things would be different!
Therefore, they could only look at Li Yan for help.
"Slap—"
As if seeing through their thoughts, the leading fellow slapped Li Yan across the face again.
"How dare you!"
Li Yan was furious, but his anger was of no use.
"Slap—"
"Slap—"
After twenty slaps, Li Yan's vision was blurred.
"Alright, Lord Li, we are truly sorry for what happened today. We were only following orders!"
Seeing the surrounding walls shaking more and more, the constables cupped their hands towards Li Yan again, then tied up everyone around Li Yan and marched out with large strides.