There is another very, very important reason: he doesn't want to give away his hard-earned wealth to an ungrateful person.
But he had already left the Liu family mansion, so no matter how much wealth he had, it was no use to him.
“Grand Secretary Liu,” Xiao Yuanzi quickly advised after receiving a signal from Ji Xuan, “this matter is of great importance. Don’t be rash. It would be more prudent to consider it for a few days. Grand Secretary Liu’s sincere intentions are commendable, but there is no need for him to donate all his family property.”
As Xiao Yuanzi spoke, she gave Liu An a strange look, her gaze quite subtle.
He never expected that the frail and gentle Liu An could make such a bold move; even he, a mere eunuch, didn't have that kind of courage.
"Your Majesty is aware of my family affairs," Liu An explained slowly. "Most of the family property was created by me, but it has long since become the property of Liu Xun and his mother. Rather than letting those with ulterior motives squander it, it would be better to help the people."
Anyway, with the banished immortal, there's no way we'll lack these mundane things.
If he wasn't mistaken, after this trip, plenty of people would be eager to give him money.
"allow!"
After saying this, Ji Xuan leaned back slightly in her chair and closed her eyes.
Seeing this, Xiao Yuanzi put her hands behind her back and gave a thumbs up.
Their master is ruthless, and this one in front of them is no less so.
It had been soft and yielding like dough, letting the mother and son run rampant; it turned out they were waiting for this.
This move completely thwarted the mother and son's plans, leaving them unable to voice their grievances and forced to swallow their bitterness.
By venting his anger and gaining the Emperor's favor, he will surely be remembered by the Emperor in the future.
Once again, Yuan Gonggong realized with absolute clarity that in a battle of gods, he was the only weakling.
Surrounded by wolves, Grandpa Yuan trembled with fear...
Outside the Meridian Gate, all of An Ge Lao's expectations for the banished immortal vanished the moment he saw the four people.
He immediately asked with a dark expression, "What's going on?"
"Your Excellency," the guard explained hastily, "the people all say that Marquis Liuxian and his sons are swindlers. In their indignation, they threw vegetable leaves and eggs at them."
"A fraud?" Grand Secretary Zhong asked curiously, "Why do you say that?"
"Because, because Marquis Liuxian brought a bunch of vegetables growing in the fields, as well as a cartload of live chickens and ducks."
After the guard finished speaking, he immediately lowered his head.
He could feel the deathly stillness before the storm.
"Vegetables from the field, live chickens and ducks?" Grand Secretary Zhong roared. "What does the Lady Protector of the Nation mean by treating us like beggars?"
They made such a big fuss to welcome people, even taking a bath and burning incense beforehand, only to be served a bunch of rotten vegetables and melons in the end?
Are they unable to afford vegetables or watermelons?
"Calm down," Elder An said coldly. "All the civil and military officials are here. Don't lose face."
After saying that, he took the lead and walked forward.
“Lord Liuxian, is it?” Grand Secretary An’s gaze fell directly on the eldest Huang in the middle. “I will have someone help you to freshen up before you enter the palace.”
Thank you.
Boss Huang is very aloof.
Even if you move your mouth, egg liquid will be poured into it, so you can only remain aloof.
Seeing this, Elder An's anger subsided somewhat, but his voice remained cold. "Someone, help them wash up."
"Wait a minute," Jiang Chao interrupted, "These tributes cannot be damaged. Let's deliver them first."
Upon hearing this, the anger that had just been suppressed surged up again. With a livid face, Elder An said, "I am here, and I guarantee that not a single leaf will be missing."
They're just rotten vegetables and withered melons, and you're treating them like treasures? Who cares?
At this moment, Grand Secretary An never expected that he would be proven wrong so quickly.
The four were visiting the capital for the first time, feeling embarrassed, awkward, and disheveled. Their initial expectations for the capital vanished the moment the tarpaulin was lifted.
Similarly, the expectations of everyone from officials to common people for the banished immortal were all reduced to ashes.
With some people deliberately stirring up trouble, some even demanded that Huang Chuan and the other three be imprisoned to appease public anger.
A strange, absurd, and desolate atmosphere permeated the entire capital city.
Seeing this, Liu An couldn't help but sigh, "Humans, they love so much they want you to live, they hate so much they want you to die. Do those who are now resisting the banished immortal ever think about how fanatical they will become in the not-too-distant future?"
After saying that, he secretly glanced at Ji Xuan.
The thought of these people being led around by the emperor like puppets terrified him.
He had a premonition that donating his family fortune would be the second wisest decision he had ever made in his life.
"Little Yuanzi, let's go," Ji Xuan said without the slightest change in expression. "Back to the palace."
At the Meridian Gate, the civil and military officials were at a loss.
They welcomed the lineage of the banished immortal with the utmost sincerity, only to receive this result.
The hot-tempered generals were so angry that they started cursing.
"Brother An," Grand Secretary Zhong asked tentatively, "what do we do now?"
We can't keep standing here.
Wouldn't that make us a laughing stock?
"I have already sent someone to consult His Majesty and see what he says."
That's good.
Not long after, the guard returned and said, "Your Excellency, His Majesty says that the banquet will proceed as usual tonight."
"What?" Grand Secretary Zhong exclaimed in surprise. "You didn't report what happened on the street to His Majesty?"
“I have reported,” the guard said, sounding aggrieved, “His Majesty has said that things should remain the same.”
"Brother An," Zhong Ping waved for the guards to leave and then lowered his voice to speak, "Don't you think that our Emperor has been completely bewitched by this swindler?"
“I have just received news,” Elder An’s eyes flashed with darkness, “that Liu An is at Xing’an Tower.”
"Are you afraid of losing face? Too scared to come out?"
"According to the visitor, Liu An has a full head of black hair and a ruddy complexion, as if he has returned to his prime."
He originally thought that Liu An was deliberately using special means to conceal his old age and get rid of the influence of that poem.
Now I'm no longer sure.
He knew the Emperor's temperament; he was not easily fooled.
Moreover, the Lady Protector of the Nation was indeed quite capable; she was not just a figurehead.
Upon closer reflection, today's events were also very unusual and highly abnormal.
They only learned the news a few hours ago, so how could the common people have heard it from them? Besides, they had prepared so many vegetable leaves and eggs in advance.
There's something eerie about it.
"Return to youth?" Grand Secretary Zhong became serious. "Is it really possible?"
"I don't know either, but," Elder An murmured, "we'll know the result by tonight at the latest."
His feelings were complicated, especially when his gaze swept over the carriages and horses.
I don't know whether I hope these ordinary things become extraordinary or not.
Neither outcome seems favorable to him.
If the guess comes true, I'll lose face; if the guess doesn't come true, I'll lose all face.
"Brother Qingyun," Elder Zhong grabbed Elder An's arm, his breathing rapid, "if the banished immortal truly possesses such extraordinary abilities, do you... do you want to..."
“Of course,” Elder An said wistfully, gazing at the sky, “I ask you, who in the world doesn’t want to live a long life?”
If he could, he would want to live for a thousand or ten thousand years...
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