Zhao Cheng was both angry and amused. The Central Radio and Television Station was clearly vying for power, yet they sent Liao Yiwen, a person who was trying to distort the facts!
Liao Yiwen addressed Zhao Cheng as the imperial son-in-law upon his arrival, immediately establishing Zhao Cheng's status as a member of the imperial family. Therefore, the businesses Zhao Cheng owned were essentially royal businesses. Since they were royal businesses, it was only natural that profits be transferred to the court when it faced difficulties.
The central government is headed by Prince Xin, who is a member of the royal family. It is understandable that he would want to help Zhao Cheng, his brother-in-law, to share the burden.
Everything is as it should be.
Everything makes sense.
That's all bullshit!
Zhao Cheng pointed at Liao Yiwen and said, "Are you guys crazy for money?!"
Zhao Cheng even had the urge to kill Liao Yiwen. He had just been lamenting to Cheng Xu that Yuan Xiu was only asking him for money and didn't intend to cut off his source of income.
But this Yuan Li was even more ruthless than Yuan Xiu, delivering a heavy blow to him!
Zhao Cheng thought about it more and more and realized how serious the matter was. In the past, he only needed to keep Yuan Xiu calm, but now...
With Yuan Li already in control of the central government, and Wen Hu possibly interfering, it's no longer useful for me to simply keep Yuan Xiu in check.
The strategy of using money to buy things is gradually becoming less effective.
Seeing Zhao Cheng's anger, Liao Yiwen suppressed his smile and said seriously, "Your Highness, I am just a low-ranking official in the Central Secretariat, here to convey the Central Secretariat's decrees. Whether you accept them or not, there is no need for you to get angry at me."
Whoosh!
Suddenly, everyone heard a whooshing sound.
Instinctively, Zhao Hu and Zhao Yan stood on either side of Zhao Cheng.
Clang!
An arrow flew by, grazing Liao Yiwen's cheek and embedding itself in the tree trunk behind him. The arrowhead pierced the trunk, and the fletching swayed slightly.
Liao Yiwen looked back at the arrow with lingering fear, his expression changing drastically.
This is a tree that takes one person to hug... and it was shot through?
How strong must that archer be?
However, he immediately received the answer, but the person he saw was a woman.
Zhou Nuo slowly walked over, holding the Spirit-Startling Bow, and said, "This Spirit-Startling Bow is really useful."
Zhao Cheng said, "Xiao Nuo, you've frightened Liao Zhanshi."
Zhou Nuo disagreed and said coldly, "I heard what you just said. Liao Zhanshi said that whether the prince consort accepts the central government's orders or not, there is no need for him to get angry. But I am not the prince consort, and the central government has not issued any orders to me. I can get angry at whomever I want."
With that, Zhou Nuo nocked a bow and aimed at Liao Yiwen.
Liao Yiwen was so frightened that he quickly climbed up the tree, but then realized that was not a good idea, so he jumped down and hid behind the tree trunk.
Zhou Nuo sneered, "If it were before, a tree like this could have stopped my arrows, but now that I have the Spirit-Startling Bow, this tree can't stop me."
Upon hearing this, Liao Yiwen glanced up at the arrow that had pierced the tree trunk earlier, then immediately covered his head and ran away.
"Master Liao, stop!" Zhao Cheng shouted.
Liao Yiwen was terrified and ignored Zhao Cheng's words, continuing to run outside.
Zhou Nuo loosened his grip, and an arrow landed at Liao Yiwen's feet.
Liao Yiwen exclaimed "Ah!" and then stopped, clutching his head.
Zhao Cheng walked over to Liao Yiwen and smiled, "Don't be afraid, Liao Zhanshi. Xiao Nuo used to be the archery instructor of the Imperial Guard. She was just joking with you. If she really wanted to kill you, you would be dead already."
Liao Yiwen said in a panic, "Your Highness, I am a scholar and just a minor official. Please don't make things difficult for me."
Zhao Cheng walked up to Liao Yiwen and said, "I'm asking you, does the Central Secretariat want my Immortal Wine business only for Changsui City, or all of it?"
Liao Yiwen composed himself and, after catching his breath, said, "According to the message I received from above, we naturally want everything."
Zhao Cheng asked, "What will happen if I don't give it to them?"
"this……"
Liao Yiwen glanced at Zhou Nuo not far away, and then said, "This humble official does not know."
"I won't make things difficult for you. Just take this message back to me."
"Yes! Your Highness, please speak!"
"As a member of the imperial family, I naturally have the court at heart. I am currently packing 30 million taels of silver, intending to present it to His Majesty and the court to help alleviate the court's urgent needs. Since Chamberlain Liao is here, please stay for one more day and take the silver with you tomorrow."
"Thirty million taels!" Liao Yiwen was shocked at first, then clasped his hands and said, "Your Highness is truly generous and righteous!"
If Yuan Li was willing to send Liao Yiwen, then Liao Yiwen must be someone he trusts. However, Liao Yiwen's official position is too low, and he is not in Yuan Li's inner circle. He is unaware of the fact that Zhao Cheng secretly gave Yuan Xiu a share of the profits.
He thought the money was given to him by Zhao Cheng to take back and report.
"As for the matter of the Immortal Wine," Zhao Cheng continued, "this matter is of great importance. My entire Zhao family relies on this business for a living. It's alright if the men of my Zhao family go hungry, but if the Princess goes hungry, how am I supposed to explain this to His Majesty?"
"So go back and tell His Highness Prince Xin that I can hand over the Xianjiu business, but only the operating rights in Changsui City and the western part of Dajing. As for the Xianjiu business in the eastern part of Dajing, I still need to keep it to support my family. Ask him if that's acceptable!"
"I understand, Your Excellency. I will convey your message verbatim when I return!" Liao Yiwen bowed deeply to Zhao Cheng, then glanced at Zhou Nuo with trepidation before retreating.
Zhao Cheng glared fiercely in the direction Liao Yiwen had left, then quickly turned around and returned to the lobby.
“Wei You’s men and Liao Yiwen came in two separate groups. It seems that the emperor is unaware of the matter of the Immortal Wine.”
Cheng Xu nodded and said, "Perhaps the emperor just wants to test you, while Prince Xin wants to take action against you."
Zhao Cheng frowned and said, "You haven't forgotten how the Left Prime Minister's mansion was destroyed, have you?"
Cheng Xu's mind worked quickly, and he said, "The emperor didn't intend to take action against the Left Prime Minister's residence so quickly. The one who actually made the move was Prince Xin."
"Go find my father and Mr. Lian!"
Zhao Cheng took a few steps outside and said, "Mr. Cheng, you will go to Jingbei County tomorrow, and you will be in charge of the business thereafter."
Cheng Xu instinctively showed his delight. Being in charge of a business was indeed what he wanted, which also proved that he was now on par with Wu Sisi, Ma Cong, Huang Hua, and others in Zhao Cheng's eyes.
But then he wondered, "At a time like this, wouldn't it be better for me to stay by my master's side and offer advice?"
Zhao Cheng said, "You are very capable, but I still have Yan Zheng and Mr. Lian by my side. In this special time, only when you go to Jingbei County to take charge can I feel at ease."
"When we gather, we are a blazing fire; when we scatter, we are a sky full of stars!"
Zhao Cheng said solemnly, "If our family is destined to face a great calamity, then whether we can rise again in the future depends on you!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xu solemnly replied, "I understand!"
...
Central platform.
"Give us the operating rights to Changsui City and the western part of Dajing?"
Yuan Lichao glanced at Wen Hu and was amused: "This Zhao Cheng is really a genius! He can't handle the western part of Dajing, so he's using it as a favor for us? What is he giving us? Air?"
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