The dust has settled.

After Lu Yuan was beheaded, Xue Gai was imprisoned in Jiangcheng Prison by Deng Fugui. Due to his relationship with Wang Ren, Deng Fugui did not take action against the Xue family, but only sentenced Xue Gai personally.

This was also Zhao Cheng's idea: to keep Xue Gai locked up for now, and deal with him when needed.

At this point, besides Deng Fugui siding with Zhao Cheng, there were also the Miao, Tu, and Lu families. Even Zhao Cheng himself didn't realize that he was actually the de facto ruler of Jiangcheng.

Outside the gate of the elegant and commoner's separate courtyard.

Merchants from various counties in Jiangyang County gathered outside the gate, while He Laosan stood guard at the entrance, preventing anyone from entering.

"The Fu family of Lincheng, Jiangyang County, requests an audience with the young prime minister!"

"The Gao family of Echeng, Jiangyang County, requests an audience with the young prime minister!"

"The Liu family of Shisui City, Jiangyang County, requests an audience with the young prime minister!"

"Jiangyang County..."

He Laosan kept a stern face and was indifferent to each of the many merchants who came to visit, simply introducing them one by one according to the rules.

Zhao Cheng gave him a solution: he should get numbers for all the merchants who came, and those who arrived early should get numbers first, and then they could enter after being called out.

It's called by number.

This gave He Laosan an unprecedented feeling of exhilaration!

Before, he was just a bandit on Lingshan Mountain. Although he was the third leader, he did everything in secret. It was frustrating!

Now, although he's no longer the third-in-command, working under Zhao Cheng is much more pleasant!

In the past, which of these merchants would have given him a second glance?

Now, don't we still have to be humble and subservient?

Please, grandpa, let me go!

He Laosan became increasingly pleased with himself and arrogantly declared, "Everyone behave yourselves and don't even think about cutting in line! I won't take any money from you; whoever is called will be called!"

"Am I, He Laosan, someone who lacks money?"

"Pooh!"

He Laosan was extremely excited, thinking to himself, "Did I actually say something like 'I'm short of money'?"

Holy crap...

I need it!

But even if I lacked it, it wouldn't feel as good as I do now!

Money is useless for a man; power is what matters most!

Under He Laosan's domineering presence, the merchants dared not act recklessly and obediently sat at the door waiting for their numbers to be called.

Just then, an ordinary-looking carriage arrived and rudely rammed past the two carriages blocking the road at the gate, stopping straight in front of the villa.

The owners of the two carriages that had been knocked aside were indignant and shouted, "Who are you? How dare you be so rude!"

Park Moo-di got off the carriage and said, "You can't even stop a carriage properly, and you still have the nerve to criticize me?"

"you!"

As the one in charge of maintaining order, He Laosan waved to stop the two men and stepped forward, saying, "This is the Elegant Courtyard, the residence of the young prime minister, not a place for you to run wild."

"Hey!" Park Moo-di sneered, "Who are you?"

He Laosan clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the direction of the villa and said, "Who I am is not important. You only need to know that my boss is the Young Prime Minister!"

"Alright, alright, they're our own people." Park Moo-di waved his hand and ordered his men, "Lift the things up, let's go inside!"

He Laosan blocked Pu Wudi's way and said, "We need to get a number first."

Park Moo-di paused for a moment, then asked in confusion, "What number?"

He Laosan said, "These people are all here to see the young prime minister, so they have to wait in line."

Park Moo-di laughed: "I saw my Ah-cheng had to wait in line?"

Clang!

Not only He Laosan, but the guards at the door also drew their weapons.

He Laosan said sternly, "How dare you address the young prime minister by his name?!"

"Holy crap..." Park Moo-di burst out laughing, shouting, "Ah Cheng, are you trying to become emperor?"

Whoosh!!

With a whooshing sound, Zhao Yan flew down from the roof of the inner courtyard and kicked Park Moo-di in the chest, sending him flying.

Park Moo-di quickly got up, clutching his chest, and said, "Where did this bastard come from, daring to hit me?"

Zhao Yan moved closer to him and said, "My brother is right, you're the kind of guy who'll try to take advantage of any opportunity to be lewd."

"Your brother?"

Park Moo-di looked Zhao Yan up and down, paused for a moment, and exclaimed in surprise, "You are... the third brother?"

Zhao Yan said, "You call me 'Third Brother'? I am Zhao Yan!"

"You've grown so much!" Park Moo-di excitedly picked up Zhao Yan and laughed, "I didn't see you when I went to Yanchuan last time, my good little brother, you've grown so handsome!"

Zhao Yan was stunned by the hug and was somewhat at a loss, muttering, "Put me down..."

"Yeon-ah, have you forgotten how we played when we were little?" Park Moo-di said happily, "You loved being lifted up high by me the most!"

"Lift me up high..." Zhao Yan felt a toothache and said, "Invincible brother, there are too many people here, put me down..."

Park Moo-di looked around, put Zhao Yan down, and laughed, "Haha, you've grown up, sorry. Okay, okay, I'll put you down. Take me to see your older brother, I have something urgent to tell him."

Zhao Yan said, "What you just said will kill him."

Park Moo-di said, "Jiangcheng belongs to A-Cheng now, so it's no big deal for me to talk nonsense! You guys are all just like him, too cautious!"

Zhao Yan shook his head helplessly, turned around and said, "Let's go."

He Laosan said, "Third Young Master, this person didn't take a number."

"Take a number my ass!" Park Moo-di roared. "You three masters have all come to pick me up, do I still need to take a number and wait in line?"

Old He said seriously, "Unless the young prime minister comes out to pick you up in person, you have to take a number!"

Zhao Yan thought for a moment, patted He Laosan on the shoulder, and said, "You're right, so let's give him a number."

Park Moo-di froze, then called out, "Yeon-ah..."

Zhao Yan walked inside and said, "Brother Wudi, rules are rules, there's nothing I can do about it. I'm sorry to trouble you to wait a bit."

“Oh my god…” Park Moo-di looked annoyed.

Seeing this, the merchants who were still in line became excited.

"The young prime minister is fair and impartial, impartial and incorruptible, and does not show favoritism or nepotism. He is truly admirable!"

"The young prime minister is so upright, there will definitely be no problem doing business with him!"

"Young Prime Minister is truly the most upright businessman in the world!"

"Young Prime Minister..."

"Achoo!!" Zhao Cheng sneezed and asked, "Who's insulting me?"

Zhao Yan said leisurely, "It's probably Park Moo-di, since he thought he didn't need to queue to get in..."

Zhao Cheng said, "Let him wait until tonight! This idiot, doesn't he know how to use the back door? He insists on squeezing to the front to show off, serves him right for waiting!"

Zhao Yan said, "Judging from his appearance, he must have something urgent to attend to."

"How could I not know he had something urgent to do?"

Zhao Cheng pursed his lips and said, "If it's not urgent, why would he come all the way from Changsui to Jiangcheng?"

Zhao Yan asked, "So what do we do now? Just leave him hanging?"

Zhao Cheng said, "You and he have played together since you were little. Go arrange for him to have dinner, and bring him back to see me later."

"Alright!" Zhao Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute and withdrew.

At this moment, Miao Shaohua, Tu Ziming, and Lu Chen entered the hall. Without pausing, the three immediately bowed to Zhao Cheng.

Miao Shaohua.

"Tu Ziming".

"Lu Chen".

"Greetings, Young Prime Minister!"

Zhao Cheng sat upright in the main seat and said, "Stop wasting time with these formalities and get straight to the recent business situation."

"yes!!!"