Chapter 156 Why not just kill him now!
Those documents were only held in Lin Shiyuan's hands for a short while before he handed them to Qingling.
Yao Qingling blinked, glanced at the stack of documents, then looked at Lin Shiyuan: "What does this mean?"
The man's face was solemn as he said, "Someone recommended me to the imperial court, and I was appointed as the commander of the Five Cities Garrison."
Qingling gasped and opened her eyes wide.
At this critical juncture, the imperial court appointed Lin Shiyuan... Commander of the Five Cities Garrison?
The Five City Garrison was responsible for maintaining order within the city, which included reviewing shop registrations.
The magistrate's reminder and Lin Shiyuan's appointment... Qingling vaguely realized that she was being set up.
Yao Qingling's expression was solemn. She asked first, "Can't we refuse? The commander of the Five Cities Garrison is only a sixth-rank official."
He was formerly the General Who Guards the South, commanding 100,000 troops.
This lowly commander is humiliating him.
Lin Shiyuan remained silent.
Qingling's heart sank.
How could she forget that Lin Shiyuan had always longed to return to his former position? His current subservience to her was merely a temporary transition.
He even considered capturing bandits to achieve his goal of overthrowing the regime.
He can't remain a lowly manager forever. He has great talent; keeping him as a shop manager would be a waste of his potential.
Qingling had always known that he was going to leave.
But deep down, I always hoped that this time would last longer, much longer.
The hand under the sleeve clenched and unclenched repeatedly, but hesitated to reach out and take the stack of documents.
After looking at each other for a moment, Lin Shiyuan spoke: "If you refuse, I will never have another chance."
He had waited too long.
The imperial court was controlled by powerful clans. Even if the emperor valued talent and wanted to use him, without war, he was just a sword sheathed in its sheath.
Even the sharpest blade will rust.
He can climb the ranks in officialdom, just like he did back then, rising from a lowly soldier guarding the city gate to become the General Who Guards the South.
In addition, he also wanted to know who was the person who made this recommendation behind the scenes.
A mere commander dares to presume to arrange his future? Ha!
Qingling swallowed hard: "Then will you arrest me?"
He knew all her secrets.
Lin Shiyuan looked at her, his brows furrowing deeply before gradually relaxing, and the corners of his lips curving slightly upward.
After another silent exchange of glances, Qing Ling's lips slowly curved into a smile.
She raised her hand and patted Lin Shiyuan's arm, laughing as she said, "Being a commander is great! With you like a nail planted in the yamen, no matter how many times they investigate, my shop will remain safe and sound. So, do a good job."
She took back the stack of documents, folded them, and tucked them into her sleeve.
She said, "Then, should I treat you to a meal to thank you for your hard work during this time?"
Lin Shiyuan: "Since Madam Yao has such a kind intention, it would be impolite of me to refuse."
He pretended to bow and clasp his hands in a gesture of respect.
Yao Qingling looked at him and imitated his gesture of cupping her hands.
She thought to herself, "This man used to be so serious and rarely smiled. But now he's cracking jokes."
...
On a distant tower, Prince Xin, Lian Chengtai, held up his binoculars and watched for a while, muttering to himself, "They're about to part ways, and he can still smile? Shouldn't he be crying his eyes out?"
The man tossed the binoculars to a guard and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, glancing occasionally toward the dock.
His eyes and brows were gloomy and somber.
According to his previous reports from his spies, there was definitely something wrong with Yao Qingling's estate.
A village with little land and little income doesn't need so many people.
Moreover, so many people suddenly went in.
He had his spies disguised as cockfighting enthusiasts gather information around the village, saying that the people in the village were acting mysteriously.
The prefect granted Yao Qingling so many household registrations and also gave her the title of "Outstanding Merchant." Relying on that plaque, her business flourished, and she opened one shop after another.
"Yao Qingling must have taken in those refugees beforehand. She was working with the prefect, one seeking fame and fortune, the other seeking political achievements."
"Damn it, she actually fooled me. She should have been destitute and helpless after leaving Zhan Xingzhuo."
Prince Xin paced back and forth a couple of times, then turned around, braced his hands on the railing, and gazed at the dock in the distance, his eyes slightly narrowed.
“Those people are definitely suspicious. Otherwise, why would they cause trouble at the shop just because I casually had someone instigate them? Yao Qingling is resourceful. She suppressed the incident and claimed it was for wages.”
On the day of the incident, Lian Chengtian sent people to mingle among the customers of Hui Ba Fang and witnessed the two sides almost coming to blows.
If they keep making a scene, something will definitely come out.
It's a pity it was just a little short.
Therefore, Lian Chengtai could only continue to wait and see when Yao Qingling would show her true colors.
Now he finally understood that Yao Qingling was not the real owner of the dock warehouse, but she was the one who undertook the construction of the warehouse.
"She's a woman, building a warehouse? Ha, Yao Qingling must be involved in the sale of household registrations, right?"
For people who are sensitive about their identity, household registration is a very valuable thing.
Once you obtain an identity, you can establish yourself in the capital.
The real migrants were taken in by the merchants and made to work in the shops. Saving a few pennies on wages wouldn't bring the merchants much profit, so they found it troublesome.
Merchants only need to act as guarantors to obtain legitimate documents without spending any money. They then sell these documents to wealthy but unemployed migrants, which is where they make their big money.
Lian Chengtai believes that Yao Qingling's money-making secret lies within this.
"Ha, she keeps claiming to be the daughter of a general, putting on an innocent act, but she's nothing special."
Yao Qingling doesn't consider herself innocent, and Lin Shiyuan isn't a stern-faced general?
He wanted to see how things would turn out when the spear attacked the shield.
The prefectural governor prioritized maintaining stability in the capital as a political achievement, yet he was unable to apprehend the bandits.
Yongning Temple houses countless treasures and a vast amount of gold and silver. How could we let those people benefit from it?
Lian Chengtai loved money and had always been concerned about the missing gold and silver jewelry.
He simply mentioned to the Ministry of Personnel that Lin Shiyuan had experience in leading troops and was suitable for suppressing bandits, and the officials in the Ministry of Personnel understood his meaning.
Lin Shiyuan had no factions, and unless he no longer wanted to be an official, he could not refuse this minor sixth-rank position.
In order to climb the ranks, he would definitely have to take Yao Qingling down as his target.
Ah, no matter how deep the affection between a man and a woman is, it is not as important as one's own interests.
How can a man care about romantic love?
Lian Chengtai is waiting for the day Yao Qingling cries.
He went to Yanyun Tower again to have fun with that fat girl.
...
Qingling did indeed host a banquet and invited Lin Shiyuan to dinner.
Lin Qiao, Lou Yue, Xia Chan, and Tao Ye, along with several maids, Xiao Pingfeng, the shopkeeper Liu, the manager of the estate, Yang Kuan, and even several managers from the dock, were all present.
Two tables were set up inside the side room for people.
Lin Shiyuan glanced at Yao Qingling with a complicated expression upon seeing so many people.
He thought it was just the two of them.
After the banquet began, Qingling immediately announced that Lin Shiyuan was going to take up the post of Commander of the Five Cities Garrison and would not be with them.
These people all knew each other well, and when they heard that Lin Shiyuan was going to become an official, they all wore expressions that were hard to describe.
Officials and bandits are natural enemies.
"Madam Yao, Steward Lin wants to become an official, are you just going to let him go like this?" Yang Kuan, with his explosive temper, slammed his fist on the table and jumped up.
He walked towards Lin Shiyuan, his eyes flashing with ferocity: "Why don't we just kill him now!"
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