This is why their business ran so smoothly.
Even in Bianliang City, no yamen dared to find fault with them.
Even the most overbearing Imperial Guards dared not cause trouble here, after all, slapping Li Shishi’s face was tantamount to slapping the Emperor’s face!
“Now you understand?”
Han Mo said with a smile, watching him calm down again.
“You should have said so earlier!”
Zhe Wanchun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at Han Mo with lingering fear.
“Isn’t it too late now?”
“Then, shall I send it to him now?”
With his mind at ease, even an honest person like Zhe Wanchun was a little eager now.
He was really curious about how Tang Ke would deal with the situation when he discovered the origin of the item!
“Second Uncle should drink the soup before going; if you go too early, the distinguished guest may not have time,”
Han Mo said with a knowing smile.
“Distinguished guest?”
“It’s fine, Second Uncle, just drink the soup and then go!”
As Han Mo spoke, he pushed the chilled mung bean soup that Xu Fengnian had brought over towards Zhe Wanchun.
“It’s no big deal, I’ll be back soon. You just wait here for my good news!”
After responding, Zhe Wanchun, somewhat impatiently, put the Shu brocade back into the box, carefully closed it, and then carefully held the box and walked out.
“Tang Ke, Tang Ke, don’t blame me for being ruthless, who told you to court death yourself?”
With a cold snort, Han Mo also picked up the remaining bowl of chilled sour plum soup on the table and drank it down.
————————————————————————————————————————
“Sir, someone from the Zhe family has arrived!”
Tang Ke had just finished lunch in his office and was about to have some sweet soup to aid digestion when Li Yan suddenly rushed in.
“They’re only coming now? Make him wait outside for a while!”
Tang Ke said carelessly, looking at the hourglass beside him.
“Sir, our time is also running short! This person represents Zhe Kecun. What if he sides with Prince Yun…”
Since entering Bianliang City and tasting the benefits of a swift rise to prominence, Li Yan’s perspective on matters had become increasingly comprehensive.
No matter what he did, his first consideration was always the Crown Prince.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness the Crown Prince is destined to be emperor. By warning him now, he will understand who the true Son of Heaven is!”
Tang Ke, however, was unfazed by Li Yan’s statement.
As a orthodox disciple of Confucianism, he had no good feelings towards military commanders.
Even though Zhe Kecun could be considered a famous general and had made great contributions to the Song Dynasty, in his eyes, he was still just a commoner.
“Yes!”
Since he had said so, even if Li Yan had other ideas, he could only follow his wishes for now.
After all, Tang Ke was the true leader in this matter. If Tang Ke could stand firm, then he, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue, could also stand firm.
Conversely, even if Tang Ke eventually fell from power and he wasn’t implicated, his position as Deputy Director would be a mere figurehead.
Although the runners bowed and scraped to him now, he knew in his heart that these people didn’t take him seriously behind his back.
“Shopkeeper Zhe, my lord is out on business. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait here for a while!”
“Here?”
Zhe Wanchun’s expression turned a little grim.
This room hadn’t been repaired for who knows how long. With the wind blowing, he could feel the walls around the gatehouse trembling.
If the wind were any stronger, Zhe Wanchun feared the house would collapse and bury him.
“That’s right, this ministry handles state secrets. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I’m afraid Shopkeeper Zhe will have to wait here!”
Li Yan said with a forced smile.
“I’m sorry, Deputy Director Li. Since my lord is not here, I’ll be going back. I’ll come again when my lord returns,”
Although Zhe Wanchun was not an official, he could not tolerate being treated like this by them.
After all, he represented the Zhe family. He could be insulted, but the Zhe family could not be insulted like this!
“Going? Shopkeeper Zhe, have you taken a good look? This place is not your Zhe family’s back garden! Is this a place where you can come and go as you please?”
Li Yan, who had intended to put Zhe Wanchun in his place, could not possibly let him leave like this.
“What? Deputy Director Li, has the Ministry of Revenue become a black inn? You can come in but not go out?”
Although Zhe Wanchun was not a military officer and had not learned any decent martial arts, he was from a military family and could handle this minor situation.
“Guards, give this slanderer twenty slaps!”
Since they were going to fall out, Li Yan naturally wouldn’t be polite.
He was a Deputy Director, after all, and Zhe Wanchun was just a merchant. What could Zhe Wanchun do to him even if he was hit?
“You dare!”
Zhe Wanchun’s face turned extremely ugly. He truly did not expect these people to show him no respect at all!
“Hahahaha, as an official appointed by the court, can I commit any crime by striking a merchant who speaks recklessly?”
Li Yan said with a wild laugh, looking at Zhe Wanchun’s ashen face.
“Lord Li has quite the official bearing!”
As soon as Li Yan finished speaking, a sharp voice suddenly came from behind him.
“Who!”
Li Yan, who was about to unleash his fury, was suddenly interrupted. He abruptly turned around, ready to deal with the person who had spoken.
But when he turned his head, he saw that the runners following him were all bowing in greeting.
Although he didn’t recognize the person speaking, the groveling figure beside him was none other than Yuwen Suizhong, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!
“Your, Your Excellency, who is this…”
Li Yan’s heart was immediately filled with bad premonitions upon realizing that someone could make Yuwen Suizhong bow and scrape like this.
Although he was only an Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he was a confidant of Wang Fu.
Normally, even when meeting Prince Yun Zhao Kai, he would at most clasp his hands in greeting. Could the person who made him bow and scrape now be even more distinguished than Prince Yun Zhao Kai?
“Bold of you! Have you not paid your respects to the Grand Commandant yet!”
Grand Commandant?
Upon hearing this, and looking at the person’s smooth chin, Li Yan immediately guessed the person’s identity!
A smooth chin, a sharp voice, and now the Grand Commandant of the dynasty. Who else could it be who could make Yuwen Suizhong accompany him with such deference, other than Liang Shicheng!
“Your, Your subordinate Li Yan pays his respects to Grand Commandant!”