I hope they never mention buying the formula again, otherwise I really won't be able to resist chasing them away with a broom.
We treated them to good food and drinks, and they still have no conscience. We'd be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn't kick them out.
Thinking this way, Xie felt a little better, and her movements became more nimble.
After tidying himself up, Qi Yong went to the hall and immediately told the Huang brothers his purpose.
Hearing Qi Yong's words, Boss Huang's face turned ugly, but he still suppressed his anger and told him to find Jiang Nuan.
Upon hearing the news, he immediately went to the kitchen without wasting any time.
Qi Yong was a eunuch. Although he looked down on the kitchen, he did not have the aloofness and pedantry of a scholar.
"Madam Jiang, we need to speak with you. Could you please come out for a moment?"
Because he needed a favor, Qi Yong adopted a very humble attitude.
Even the emperor's personal eunuch, who was the emperor's personal eunuch, did not have such a lenient attitude towards the Grand Secretaries of the court.
"Wait a moment, I'll wipe my hands and come out."
"No rush, we're not in a hurry at all."
While saying this, Qi Yong paced back and forth at the kitchen doorway.
After Jiang Nuan came out, she led the person to a stone table in the corner and brought two cups of tea. "Have a sip of water to moisten your throat. Tell me slowly."
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam Jiang. We are indeed quite thirsty." After saying that, she drank the water in the cup in one gulp without any hesitation.
Then, the two fell silent.
Jiang Nuan wasn't in a hurry, but Qi Yong couldn't wait.
Before long, he spoke directly, "Madam Jiang, let's get straight to the point. The Huang family's wine is useful to my master. How can I buy the recipe?"
Feeling that his words were too blunt and that he was afraid of offending people, Qi Yong quickly added, "Don't worry, money is not a problem, and other conditions are negotiable. Even fame and fortune, as long as Madam Jiang asks for it, our family will find a way to make it happen."
He hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should reveal his identity.
That way, we won't waste so much breath.
However, their master seemed unable to bear losing face!
If the civil and military officials were to learn that the emperor himself had forcibly seized a family's secret recipe from a commoner, the entire court would likely erupt in uproar.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan did not rush to answer.
Instead, he asked, "What are you going to do if I don't agree?"
"No matter what, our family will make you agree."
"Is there absolutely no room for maneuver?"
"No!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan gave Qi Yong a deep look, "You can cause trouble, but can your master cause trouble too?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yong's expression changed drastically, and he warned with a sinister look, "Madam Jiang, I advise you to think carefully before you speak. I won't touch you, but I can touch others."
"A miscellaneous person?" Jiang Nuan frowned and asked after confirming that she hadn't misheard. "Are you from the palace?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yong fell silent.
"They really are from the palace," Jiang Nuan said, standing up in shock. "Could the one inside be the emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yong couldn't help but reprimand her in a low voice, "Madam Jiang, watch your words!"
How could a woman of no rank or status possibly utter the word "Emperor"? It is utterly treasonous.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan clutched her chest in disbelief.
It's unbelievable that such a small place as Huangjiakou actually has a giant Buddha statue. It seems so surreal.
Sitting down, taking a sip of water to suppress her shock, Jiang Nuan quickly racked her brains.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Eunuch Qi, was it your master's idea to buy the formula, or did you act on your own?"
Qi Yong gave Jiang Nuan a complicated look before speaking with an air of superiority, "There is no difference!"
He is no longer as eager as he was before.
In a moment of impulse, he had already revealed his identity, and he refused to believe that this matter could not be accomplished.
Who in the whole world can refuse His Majesty?
"If that's the case, have your master come over and talk to me."
At this moment, Jiang Nuan was not intimidated by Qi Yong at all.
It's not that I look down on eunuchs, but I feel that they are not capable of managing affairs.
Moreover, influenced by later generations, she completely lacked the awe that people of this era had for the emperor.
Upon hearing this, Qi Yong was furious. "How dare you! Are you looking down on me?"
This is the first time someone has so openly expressed their disdain for me.
I haven't felt this kind of frustration for over ten years.
"No, some things are better discussed with the person involved. Please tell him that I'm waiting for him here. If His Majesty doesn't come, there's no point in discussing anything." He paused, then added, "Only I know the recipe. If you make even the slightest move, I'll commit suicide immediately."
After saying this, Jiang Nuan began to leisurely drink her tea, completely unconcerned about Qi Yong's anxious hopping mad.
She didn't show it on her face, but her heart was in turmoil. She never expected that the emperor of the Great Zhou would appear alive in front of her.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" Qi Yong was furious. Looking at Jiang Nuan, who seemed completely unfazed, he snorted coldly before instructing, "Don't let anyone know His Majesty's identity. You wait here, I'll go and inform him."
Qi Yong saw Jiang Nuan's behavior and was so disrespectful to her father that it made his chest ache.
Such blatant audacity, whether it's ignorance and fearlessness or emboldened by something else, is simply outrageous!
Despite his inner grumbling, he didn't hesitate and rushed into the room like a gust of wind.
Seeing Qi Yong walk in with a grim expression, Ji Xuan made up her mind. "The matter didn't work out?"
"no!"
"What happened?"
Qi Yong has a bad temper outside, but he is very gentle in front of me and rarely shows his emotions.
Taking a deep breath, Qi Yongcai spoke in a low voice, "Master, Madam Jiang says she wants to talk to you."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan paused slightly. "How did she know my identity?"
“I only probed her a little, and she guessed it.”
Qi Yong felt guilty. There shouldn't have been so many problems. It was all his fault for being too clever for his own good. In the end, he shot himself in the foot and was completely controlled by others.
“I see,” a dark glint flashed in Ji Xuan’s eyes, “What did she say?”
"She said that the Emperor should go and talk to him; this servant cannot make that decision."
After saying this, Qi Yong gritted his teeth and lowered his head.
This is the first time in all these years that I've heard someone say that as the Grand Eunuch, the person who serves the Emperor personally, I can't make decisions!
Everyone sees themselves as a continuation of the emperor's will, but today they've encountered such a scoundrel and stingy person.
Qi Yong, who had always been pampered, was furious, but he understood the gravity of the situation.
Jiang Nuan was fearless because she had grasped their weakness, but she herself could not bear even the slightest risk. However, in her heart, she had made a lasting impression on Jiang Nuan.
“Hmm,” Ji Xuan remained silent for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before rising, “Come with me on a trip.”
He wanted to see what tricks this Lady Jiang was up to.
When the two arrived, Jiang Nuan had already prepared a fresh cup of tea. Upon seeing them, she nodded in greeting but did not offer any formalities.
This scene further provoked Qi Yong.
This woman, knowing full well the Emperor's identity, still dared to be so disrespectful; she deserves to be thrown into prison and sentenced to death.
"Lady Jiang, I advise you not to be so presumptuous!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com