Han Yi was taken aback by those words.
After realizing what was happening, he immediately declined, saying, "You can come here anytime you want to drink. I won't take a penny. As for the recipe, it's a family secret and I can't sell it."
Han Yi had long known that this health-preserving wine would be so miraculous, but he never expected it to come so suddenly and so hastily.
Before he even started selling it, someone had already set their sights on the formula.
"How dare you!" Qi Yong reprimanded coldly. "So many people have begged my master to do them the honor, but he wouldn't even deign to accept it. Don't be so ungrateful!"
Is forcing someone to buy the formula a favor?
A hint of inquiry flashed in Han Yi's eyes.
He sensed that the seemingly naive young master of the Wang family might be of a higher status than he had imagined.
Are the royal family members in the capital officials censors, chief ministers, or nobles?
There were families with the surname Wang among the nobles, but none of them met the criteria.
Could they be feudal nobles?
But the accent was pure Beijing dialect!
In an instant, Han Yi felt that Wang Xuan's origins were becoming increasingly unpredictable.
He grew increasingly wary.
"Qi Yong, step down."
"yes!"
Although Qi Yong stepped aside, he still stared intently at Han Yi, as if he would kill Han Yi with a stick if he showed the slightest abnormality.
Turning his head, Ji Xuan asked earnestly, "Brother Han, are you unwilling to sell?"
He knew he was asking too much, but as the emperor of the Great Zhou, the entire Great Zhou belonged to him. No matter how rare the formula was, it was not as important as his health.
Moreover, as the ruler of a country, he would not deign to take these things for free.
Although Han Yi smiled, his words remained firm: "It's not that I'm unwilling, but that I can't. I can bear to provide Brother Wang with wine for a lifetime, but I cannot reveal the recipe."
"Why?" Ji Xuan asked coldly, "Is it to earn more money?"
If you can guarantee that you will always have alcohol to drink, it doesn't matter whether you buy the recipe or not.
But Ji Xuan is not alone.
An aging minister, a flamboyant concubine, courtiers who need to be won over...
Even if Han Yi provides him with wine for the rest of his life, he doesn't want to be controlled by others.
"It would be a lie to say there isn't one. You should know the value of this wine, but there are other reasons, which I cannot disclose."
Han Yi did not want to involve the Huang family.
If something happens, I can still manage to handle it to some extent, but the Huang family cannot.
With no family background or powerful connections, they are so easy to manipulate that people can't help but want to bully them.
No matter who has designs on it, they won't let go of this soft and fat sheep.
"Brother Han, are you wary of me?"
Ji Xuan spoke with certainty, a hint of hurt still lingering in her eyes.
He thought the two of them had developed an extraordinary bond, but he never expected that he would still be distrusted.
The emperor, who was always sensitive and suspicious, was heartbroken.
"No," Han Yi immediately explained upon noticing Ji Xuan's change, "I certainly trust my brother's character. Not telling you doesn't mean I don't trust you, but rather that the fewer people who know about this, the better. I'm not confident I can protect anyone."
“I see,” Qi Yong nodded and said firmly, “It is true that the fewer people who know some secrets, the better, but that is the general case. Young Master Han, you don’t need to worry. If you have any unspeakable difficulties, please speak up. My young master does not need anyone to protect him.”
It's ridiculous that a monarch of a nation needs to be protected by others.
Upon hearing this, Han Yi fell into deep thought.
He didn't quite trust the young master Wang in front of him. He was of good character and could be trusted for the time being, but he was somewhat naive.
Although intelligent, they are unaware of human suffering and are particularly trusting of others, making them easy targets for deception.
Even with his powerful background, Han Yi didn't think he could wield any real power.
Can this young master really be trusted?
While Han Yi was deep in thought, Ji Xuan did not urge him, but sat in the chair and closed her eyes to rest naturally.
The majesty of an emperor was fully displayed.
He showed absolutely no sign of nervousness.
Ji Xuan never imagined that one day her abilities would be doubted!
A blatant insult...
"Brother Wang, if I may be so bold as to ask, what is your status in the capital?" Han Yi immediately explained after seeing Ji Xuan's expression change slightly, "This concerns my life and fortune, please forgive my intrusion."
He knew this person didn't want to reveal their identity, but if they wanted him to treat them with sincerity, he had to at least show some basic sincerity.
Otherwise, this aggressive stance would be nothing but a joke.
They were just people I met once; even if we got along well, we weren't that close.
“Brother Han’s concerns are not a problem at all,” Ji Xuan said calmly. “Although I cannot say the specifics, I can guarantee that as long as I am here, no one will dare to make a move against you.”
"What if it were the Minister of Rites?"
This person was the highest-ranking official Han Yi had ever met; he could be considered a key figure in the imperial court.
"No need to worry."
Upon hearing this, Han Yi pursed his lips, then tentatively asked, "What if it's the Grand Chancellor?"
“Even the Grand Secretary need not be afraid,” Qi Yong said, unable to bear Han Yi’s ulterior motives. “Young Master Han, rest assured, if my master wants to protect someone, no one can do anything about it.”
This statement already implies a lot.
Qi Yong felt that if Han Yi still didn't know what was good for him, he shouldn't blame him for taking some measures.
He's just a merchant who, by chance, developed a good relationship with his master, yet he keeps acting arrogantly—how presumptuous!
In other words, they have important business to attend to and it is not appropriate for them to reveal their identity. Otherwise, these repeated tests would provide an excuse to take them down.
“Excellent,” Han Yi said decisively after getting the answer he wanted. “To be honest, I bought these wines from somewhere else and don’t know the recipe.”
"Boy," Qi Yong's chest trembled with anger at these words, "Don't think that just because the master is protecting you, I won't dare to do anything to you?"
Why did the recipe mislead them, master and servant?
That's just asking for trouble!
They are not people who can be easily fooled.
Although Ji Xuan didn't speak, her lips were tightly closed, and anger appeared on her face.
"Uncle Qi, don't be impatient, let me continue," Han Yi said slowly after calming him down. "The person who brews the wine is close to the Han family, so he is willing to give the Han family a chance. I promised before that I would never reveal this, so as not to give those with ill intentions a chance."
Ji Xuan: ...
Qi Yong: ...
The two men with ill intentions felt as if they had been insulted to their faces.
Unfortunately, they didn't name names, so I couldn't even refute them. It was so frustrating!
Suddenly, I felt disgusted, as if I had swallowed a fly.
Han Yi, who had specifically warned the two, noticed this scene but pretended not to see it.
“Brother Wang wants to buy the recipe, and I dare not hide it. This wine comes from Huangjiakou.”
"Who brewed it?" Ji Xuan asked tentatively. "Could it be the family we visited yesterday?"
“That’s right. Apart from the Huang family, no one else in the entire Great Zhou can brew this wine.” Then, Han Yi looked at Ji Xuan seriously, “A gentleman keeps his word. Remember your words, protect the Huang family, and don’t let the villains succeed.”
"Don't worry," Ji Xuan nodded gently, "Your word is law."
“So it’s the Huang family,” Qi Yongshen said with sudden realization. “No wonder I sensed something extraordinary about them yesterday.”
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