Cen Yu drank three pots of tea, growing impatient. Shangguan Jin finally arrived, her presence accompanied by a sweet fragrance mingled with the crisp scent of plum blossoms.
"Patriarch Cen."
"Brother Shangguan, I trust you are well." Cen Yu rose, his gaze fixed on Shangguan Jin. Her sleeves were dusted with white powder, and she carried the sweet aroma of pastries. Was she baking? To keep him waiting this long just for pastries? A flicker of displeasure rose within Cen Yu, but remembering he had a favor to ask, he suppressed it.
"Why the sudden visit from Patriarch Cen today?" Shangguan Jin invited him to sit, accepting a cup of hot tea from a maid and taking a sip. "I was busy earlier, apologies for the long wait."
"It's nothing. I came today primarily to ask for your assistance, Brother Shangguan." Cen Yu, having risen from humble beginnings, was accustomed to the ebb and flow of fortune and the sycophancy of those who sought favor. Now that the Cen family was in trouble, Shangguan Jin's refusal to add insult to injury was already considered benevolent. He paid little heed to Shangguan Jin's seemingly cool demeanor.
Shangguan Jin sipped his tea and set down the cup. "Do you require money?"
"It's not just money; I need your stance, Brother Shangguan, to help stabilize the situation outside. I will repay you handsomely in the future." Cen Yu spoke. The Shangguan family might not have extensive business dealings in the Imperial Capital, but their reputation preceded them. If the Shangguan family were to cooperate with the Cen family at this juncture, it would pacify those outside.
"I am afraid I cannot agree to this, Brother Shangguan," Shangguan Jin replied gently.
"Brother Shangguan, the Cen family has merely suffered a temporary setback and will soon recover. We will not implicate the Shangguan family."
"Is it truly just a temporary setback?" Shangguan Jin asked Cen Yu with a lingering gaze. Even now, Cen Yu failed to grasp the enormity of his mistake.
"Naturally."
"If that is the case, then Patriarch Cen must be able to turn the tide with his own strength." Shangguan Jin immediately signaled for the guest to be escorted out. "Someone, see the guest out."
"Wait." Cen Yu stood up quickly. "Is Brother Shangguan perhaps afraid of the mastermind?"
Shangguan Jin looked at Cen Yu. "As merchants, harmony is paramount. Harmony brings wealth. Yet, you have committed a cardinal sin for a merchant, offending someone you should not have. Not only the Shangguan family, but likely even the Prime Minister's residence would dare not help you!"
"What do you mean?"
"The downfall of the Cen family is already decided." Shangguan Jin's voice was neither hurried nor slow. With each word he spoke, Cen Yu's heart sank a little further, until it hit rock bottom. "You have no idea how terrifying the person you have offended is."
"Even the Shangguan family fears her?" Cen Yu knew whom he had offended – Xiao Man of the Protector General's mansion. Yet, he had crossed Xiao Man countless times, and each time, it had ended inconclusively. Why was there such a fierce retaliation against the Cen family this time? Could it be that Prince Qin was behind it?
"Fear?" Shangguan Jin savored the word. "No, it is not fear, but reverence. A complete lack of any thought of resistance!"
"She merely relies on men. Without them, she is useless."
A cold glint flashed in Shangguan Jin's eyes. "See the guest out."
Cen Yu understood. The Shangguan family would not help him. The Jin family was frantically nibbling away at their influence, and they certainly wouldn't help either. The Prime Minister's residence had limited capabilities, and he could not drag them down. If Prince Qin was involved, he needed to find someone of equal standing to seek refuge with. Prince Qi had the Jin family, and the Crown Prince was imprisoned, his fate uncertain. After much consideration, the only one he could turn to was Prince Chu!
Stepping out of the Shangguan family's gates, Cen Yu sneered inwardly. Xiao Man, do you think you've won just like this? Too naive. The Cen family is not my sole backing. Even if the Cen family falls, I, Cen Yu, will still live well!
Cen family shops began to close one after another. Workers who had served the Cen family for years, unable to receive their wages, gathered outside the Cen residence, demanding payment. The Cen family members, confined to their manor, dared not venture out.
"Where is Cen Yu? Tell him to quickly resolve the situation outside."
"He left early this morning. He's probably gone to deal with this matter."
"I wonder who is plotting against the Cen family from behind the scenes. If I could find out who it is..."
"What? If you find out who it is, are you going to fight them to the death, old man?" Cen Yu's figure appeared at the entrance of the main hall.
"Patriarch, you're finally back! How did it go? Did you find a solution?" The formerly indignant Cen family members, seeing Cen Yu return, rushed forward to ask.
"No, Shangguan Jin refused to help."
"What about the Prime Minister's residence? Patriarch, you are close friends with Minister Wen. He surely won't stand by and watch."
Cen Yu sat down in the main seat. "The Prime Minister's residence has no understanding of commerce and cannot offer much help."
"Are we just going to sit here and wait for death?" everyone murmured anxiously. They were accustomed to servants attending them and maids serving them upon entering and leaving, living lives of luxury. If they were to fall suddenly, they could not bear such a drastic change.
"If the Cen family wishes to survive, the only way is to seek refuge with the strong," Cen Yu stated slowly. "However, Prince Qin and Prince Qi are not viable options, and the Crown Prince is imprisoned, his position precarious. The only one we can turn to is Prince Chu."
"Prince Chu is weak. I believe seeking refuge with Prince Qin would be more stable."
"Stable?" Cen Yu sneered. "Do you know that Prince Qin is the one scheming against the Cen family?"
"Then the Cen family is finished." This thought flashed through the minds of all the Cen family members. If Prince Qin made a move, where would they find a way to survive?
Wen Mohan felt a wave of sadness upon receiving news that the Cen family was being suppressed by unknown forces and had suffered heavy losses.
"Young Master, are you not going to intervene?" Wei Feng asked, perplexed. Someone was targeting the Cen family from the shadows, and the Cen family was allied with the Prime Minister's residence. This might be an attempt to deal with the Prime Minister's residence.
"Intervene?" Wen Mohan gave a bitter smile. "I already warned him, yet he insisted on going his own way. He has only himself to blame."
"Young Master, your subordinate does not understand."
"Who do you think, in the entire Imperial Capital, could force the Cen family to such a desperate situation in just a few days?" Wen Mohan inquired.
Wei Feng scratched his head, racking his brains but unable to guess. After all, the Cen family was deeply entrenched in the Imperial Capital. If they were so easily uprooted, how could the Jin family have failed to act for so long? This indicated that the Cen family was not easily dealt with. Moreover, it was common knowledge that the Cen family was on good terms with the Prime Minister's residence, and the latter wouldn't just stand by, would they?
"Could it be His Majesty?"
"His Majesty is preoccupied with state affairs; he has no interest in dealing with a mere merchant."
"Then... Prince Qin?"
Wen Mohan did not answer. Could this matter be Prince Qin's doing? No, it was not. If his predictions were correct, this was Xiao Man's doing.
"Is it really Prince Qin?"
"He merely fanned the flames."
Wei Feng was somewhat bewildered. In the Imperial Capital, there were few who possessed the ability to drive the Cen family to despair. Prince Qin was one of them. As for the Jin family, if they truly had that capability, the Jin family would be the wealthiest in the Imperial Capital, not the Cen family.
"Your subordinate cannot guess."
"Enough. Go and send a formal invitation to Cen Yu, inviting him to my residence for a discussion."
"Yes, Young Master."