Most of the private soldiers brought by Song Haonan and Bi Hui were killed, while the five top-notch masters brought by Lü Bin were not in mortal danger, but their injuries varied.
Lü Bin clasped his hands in thanks to the five men and said, “Thank you all! Please go back first today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the promised reward tomorrow.”
One of them shook his head and said, "We didn't come for the bounty. We dare not disobey the old man's orders."
Lü Bin said, "But the matter of the reward has already been made public. If we don't give it, wouldn't we be breaking our promise?"
Seeing the five men hesitate, Lü Bin laughed and said, "Brothers, you've risked your lives, so take the money without worry. The old man won't blame you."
"Then we'll take our leave!" The five of them stopped refusing and turned to leave.
Park Moo-di watched their retreating figures, recalling his earlier conversation with Zhao Cheng, and said, "Boss Lü has dispatched five top-tier experts with a single move; he's truly hiding his true strength!"
Lü Bin said, "This matter is of great importance, and I should do my utmost."
Park Moo-di asked jokingly, "Boss Lu's backer in the palace is really powerful! Tell me about it, let me get excited."
With a serious expression, Lü Bin clasped his hands in a fist salute to Park Moo-di and said earnestly, "I will not hide anything that can be said. Please forgive me for what I cannot say."
Park Moo-di pouted and said, "Fine, I won't ask anymore. Looks like you're going to be someone I need to rely on from now on."
"No, no..." Lu Bin waved his hand, glanced at Bi Hui and Song Haonan, and leaned closer to Pu Wudi and said, "Although Bai Ning stayed behind to help with Mujing Bay, we still need our people to take over. Neither you nor I can spare the time. Do you think Bi Hui or Song Haonan is more suitable?"
“I’ve already decided, let Hao Nan take over.” Park Moo-di explained, “Bi Hui is straightforward and fair, so he’s not suitable for this kind of place. Once Chang Sui’s business takes off, we’ll need him to handle important matters. Hao Nan is shrewd and has a bit of a wicked air, so he’s the most suitable person to take over the black market.”
"Okay, you decide this."
Lu Bin nodded, then turned to face the crowd and said, "Song Haonan, you stay here to help Mr. Bai clean up the mess and learn more about the situation in Mujing Bay and the black market. Mr. Bai, you know what I'm doing, right?"
Bai Ning quickly replied, "I will wholeheartedly assist General Song!"
Song Haonan was overjoyed. He patted Bai Ning and asked, "You know me?"
Bai Ning said, "Your father, Song Cheng, was a third-class garrison general of the Great Jing Dynasty. I have been working in Changsui City for many years, how could I not know General Song!"
Song Haonan smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Bai from now on."
...
Jing Palace.
The Imperial Study.
Yuan Xiu sat on the dragon throne, with Wei You combing his hair behind him as they listened to Dian Chen report on the situation at Mujing Bay.
"Zhou Chuan almost fell at Mujing Bay. This King of Chaoye can be considered a formidable figure." After listening to Dian Chen's report, Yuan Xiu had a cold smile on his face.
Dian Chen said, "If Zhou Nuo hadn't led the Imperial Guards there, the situation would have been very different. However, Zhou Nuo led the Imperial Guards out of the palace without His Majesty's permission, which is a crime..."
Yuan Xiu waved his hand and said, "When Zhou Nuo led the Imperial Guards out of the palace, I sent Wei You to find out what was going on. Zhou Nuo claimed that she had learned that a gangster was planning to ambush and kill a court official, who happened to be her own brother, and that she had no choice but to go and rescue him in a moment of desperation. The Imperial Guards she took with her were not taken by force; they all went with her voluntarily. If I wanted to punish her, I could, but that would break the hearts of her and the Imperial Guards."
"Moreover, the underground gang of the Prince of Chaoye is a cancer in Changsui. Even without this incident, I would have found an opportunity to get rid of him. This guy has connections with some officials in the court, and his power in Changsui is growing. It's time to uproot him."
"Dianchen, let's not make a fuss about this. Let them handle the aftermath themselves."
The official replied, "I understand."
"Wei You, has Eunuch Lü not returned yet?"
"Your Majesty, you haven't returned yet."
"It seems he cares a lot about his good nephew. He not only sent five experts but also went with him."
Upon hearing this, Dianchen exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty means... that Eunuch Lü is also at Mujing Bay tonight?"
Yuan Xiu sneered, "So you understand now, even if Zhou Nuo doesn't bring the Imperial Guards, Zhou Chuan and the others will be fine."
Dian Chen gasped. Lü Lu, as the chief examiner of the martial arts examination, was considered his mentor. But to his surprise, Lü Lu went to Mujing Bay and he didn't even notice!
He hid in the shadows as a spy, never expecting that someone else was even more hidden than him.
At this moment, Wei You had already combed Yuan Xiu's hair. Yuan Xiu tossed his long hair, stood up, and said, "My Imperial Guards and my Dragon Guards have actually been sent out to help my good brother-in-law. We are truly a loving family!"
Sensing the sarcasm in Yuan Xiu's words, Wei You quickly said, "The Prince Consort is far away in Jiangcheng; he probably doesn't know about it."
“I know, and I don’t intend to blame him, but…” Yuan Xiu smiled and said, “I have helped him so much, he should repay me. Prepare pen and ink for me, I want to write a letter to my elder sister tonight, to tell her all about my selfless help to the consort. He has now secured the business in Jiangyang County and will soon be selling immortal wine in Changsui City. We should come up with a plan on how to share the profits with him.”
Wei You's eyes lit up, and he said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
"However, there is one thing I am not satisfied with."
Yuan Xiu walked up to Dian Chen and asked, "You said Zhou Chuan fought with all his might tonight?"
Dian Chen said, "It can be called a battle to the death!"
Yuan Xiu's face darkened. He said, "I have treated this chivalrous man with sincerity and care, and have promoted him without expecting imperial favor. Yet he has risked his life for someone else. Tell me, what should I do?"
Dian Chen and Wei You exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke for a moment.
"What's wrong? You're afraid to say?" Yuan Xiu asked.
Dianchen clasped his hands and said, "If Your Majesty wishes him to die, this humble servant will obey!"
Yuan Xiu said, "Don't forget, he is the second-place scholar, and you are the third-place scholar."
The official said sternly, "Your Majesty, as I have said before, the martial arts examination is a competition that only determines victory or defeat, unlike a life-or-death battle. If it were the latter, I might not have lost to him. Besides, in the Changsui Palace, Zhou Chuan would have no chance of escaping."
Wei You pondered for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, I think it is unwise. Zhou Chuan helped the Imperial Son-in-Law because of old friendship and because of his sister Zhou Nuo, which precisely shows that he is a man of loyalty and righteousness. Now that he is Your Majesty’s man, how he treats the Imperial Son-in-Law now will determine how he treats Your Majesty in the future. It would be a pity to kill such a person.”
Yuan Xiu said, "Go on."
“The more sentimental a person is, the less you should push them too hard. Rather than killing him, it’s better to let his feelings for his son-in-law fade. As his feelings for his son-in-law fade, his feelings for His Majesty will strengthen, which will solve the problem at its root.”
"You're right." Yuan Xiu nodded and asked, "What's your idea?"
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