In the room, Li Erlang looked worried.
"Young Master, this is equivalent to directly offending the Crown Prince and the King of Yue.”
Kong Yan sat in front of the dining table and chuckled,""Then what do you think I should do? Agree to meet them? And then? To provide them with gold and silver? Or do you think I need to borrow their power to do business?”
Li Erlang frowned and thought for a moment before saying,"His Highness the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince, and his reputation is very good. If nothing goes wrong, he should be the next one in the future…Why not invest in advance?”
"Good reviews?" Kong Yan laughed and shook his head." You still don't understand my current situation. This is Chang 'an City, and there are nobles everywhere. Countless people are coveting my business and wealth.”
"Then why is Young Master still treating the Crown Prince and the Prince of Yue's men like this?”Li Erlang was even more confused.
"Because my business is too big!" Kong Yan said calmly," If I was just an ordinary merchant, I would have no problem submitting to either of these two. But am I an ordinary merchant?”
Li Erlang didn't say anything. He had followed the young master in front of him for five years, and what he had seen was just the tip of the iceberg. He even suspected that his young master himself didn't know how much wealth he had.
How could a person who could casually take out five million taels of silver be an ordinary merchant?
"But there's no need to offend them directly.”Li Erlang sighed. He could understand why his young master did not want to go, but he still did not understand why he had to reject him in such an offensive way.
"Your rejection is indeed a little direct.”Kong Yan pondered and said," But the effect is still quite good.”
Li Erlang was speechless again.
How was the effect good?
The Crown Prince was furious, and the King of Yue's face was dark. He really couldn't see what was good about it.
Kong Yan smiled and explained," I reckon that ever since I donated five million taels of silver without any hesitation, I have become a thorn in the side of our Emperor. If I continue to be involved with his two most beloved sons, I reckon that His Majesty won't be able to sleep at night if he doesn't kill me.”
"It can't be that exaggerated, right?" Li Erlang widened his eyes and said in a trembling voice.”
"How is it exaggerated?" Kong Yan chuckled. I'm just a small merchant who has more money than the national treasury. If you were the emperor, would you be able to tolerate me?”
" This…" Li Erlang scratched his head and complained," Then why did Young Master donate five million taels?”
"If I didn't donate it, I would probably be on the list of people wanted by the sea." Kong Yan sighed and said.”
"This old emperor is too overbearing.”Li Erlang muttered.
Kong Yan smiled. If he were in Li Shimin's shoes, he wouldn't be so reserved.
"Then isn't Young Master in a very dangerous situation in Chang 'an?”Li Erlang started to worry." Should we transfer more secret guards over?”
Kong Yan waved his hand and said," Don't meddle. After entering Chang 'an, my every move should be under the control of His Majesty. Before I meet him, I won't be in real danger."”
"What about after we meet?" Li Erlang asked.
"It depends on what he wants." Kong Yan smiled faintly.”
Li Erlang didn't ask further. Seeing Kong Yan's smile, he felt a little relieved.
"Oh right, when I came, the manager of Falling Goose Restaurant said that someone from the palace had come to recruit the chefs of Falling Goose Restaurant to be in charge of the Empress 'birthday banquet in three days.”
Kong Yan's hand paused and he shook his head.""It's hard to guard against. This emperor is really a thief.”
"What do you mean?" Li Erlang was shocked.
"It's nothing."
……
The Imperial Palace, Tranquil Palace.
Li Shimin was lying on the couch while Empress Zhangsun was weaving brocade.
"This kid is smart. He directly rejected Chengqian and Tai 'er.”Li Shi Min looked at the report and snorted.
Empress Zhangsun looked at him and asked curiously,""Why is Your Majesty so concerned about a merchant?”
"To be able to take out five million taels of silver so easily, is this something that an ordinary merchant can do?" Li Shimin said faintly.”
" Hehe, Your Majesty is jealous!" Empress Zhangsun giggled.
"Do you know what criteria he used to choose your birthday gift?" Li Shiming's face darkened.”
"What standard?" Empress Zhangsun was a little curious.
"It's good that it's expensive!" Li Shi Min said slowly.
“……”
Empress Zhangsun was speechless for a moment. After a long time, she smiled and said,""ChenQie wants to see what kind of valuable gift he can give. Does Your Majesty really not plan to meet him in advance?”
Li Shi Min shook his head and said," He's in high demand right now. I'll have to observe him for a while. Donating five million taels of silver at once will help me solve a big problem."”
"But ChenQie heard that His Majesty temporarily recruited the chefs of Falling Goose Restaurant to be in charge of ChenQie's birthday banquet.”Empress Zhangsun said leisurely.
Li Shi Min looked embarrassed and explained,""The chefs of Wild Goose Restaurant are proficient in all kinds of cooking methods. Their delicacies are famous in Chang 'an City.”
"That's all?" Empress Zhangsun glanced at Li Shimin.
Li Shiming snorted and said,"This kid is slippery. I've been investigating him for half a month, but I haven't found any problems." All the officials in the court had only heard of his name and had never seen him before. Even Cheng Yaojin, that money-grubber, could not find anyone to cooperate with him.”
"So Your Majesty plans to dig a pit for him? If he didn't know how to appreciate kindness, would he just bury her?”Empress Zhangsun raised her eyebrows.
Li Shi Min took a sip of wine and smiled,"Zhen personally went down to play with him, giving him enough face.”
Empress Zhangsun shook her head, feeling that she was making a mountain out of a molehill.
In the Eastern Palace.
Li Chengqian and his trusted aides were also discussing Kong Yan's problem.
In order to win over the officials of the court, one needed status and two needed benefits.
As the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian naturally had an advantage over Li Tai.
As for the benefits, other than the promise of official positions, they also needed to use money to support them.
In the end, it was still inseparable from money!
As for Kong Yan, the most he had was money!
Almost everyone in the world knew this.
Li Chengqian's expression was very bad. He had openly and secretly roped in many people, and there were also people who refused, but they definitely did not dare to refuse to meet him!
This was the first time he had been rejected so straightforwardly!
"Don't tell me that a small merchant like him needs this prince to personally invite him?”Li Chengqian's expression turned cold.
Today, he knew that Kong Yan had gone to the directorate, so he went to the Qing Ya Courtyard near the directorate to wait for him. He had given Kong Yan enough face.
But in the end, he became the joke of the entire Chang 'an Fortress!
"Actually, this is quite good." A middle-aged man sitting on Li Chengqian's right laughed.
He was Han King Li Yuanchang, the seventh son of Retired Emperor Li Yuan, and had always been close to Crown Prince Li Chengqian.
"Uncle Wang, what do you mean?" Li Chengqian frowned.
Li Yuanchang raised his wine cup and took a sip before smiling,"What does Your Highness think His Majesty's attitude towards Kong Yan is?”
Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said,"Casually taking out five million taels of silver, father should be somewhat afraid of him."”
"So the situation is pretty good now." Li Yuanchang swirled his wine glass and said," His Highness recruited him because he was rich enough. But since he doesn't know how to appreciate favors, then get rid of him. A portion of his money will also fall into the Eastern Palace, and at the same time, it won't cause His Majesty to have bad feelings…"
"Hehe, your highness is right." Prince's attendant Zhangsun Jiaqing laughed and agreed.
"He dared to be rude to the Crown Prince, so he should be taught a lesson.”
"His Majesty must also want to get rid of this hidden danger. If we act on his behalf, His Majesty will definitely not blame us. It is even possible to win His Majesty's favor.”
"Not only did he offend us, but he also offended the King of Yue. If we do it secretly, we might be able to frame the King of Yue.”
“……”
The aides all agreed with Li Yuanchang and suggested getting rid of Kong Yan.
"Alright, Jiaqing, I'll leave this matter to you.”
Li Chengqian's face turned cold as he looked at Zhangsun Jiaqing.
Zhangsun Jiaqing came from the Zhangsun Clan and was one of Li Chengqian's most trusted aides.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. A small merchant can be easily eliminated.”Zhangsun Jiaqing smiled and took a sip of wine. He didn't really care about Kong Yan.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]