Chapter 86 Lying on the beam and listening
The door was suddenly pushed open. Lu Qiaoxiao held his breath, perched on the beam, and watched intently.
Pei Jinxuan and Lu Liang walked side by side in the front, talking and laughing.
"Second Young Master Pei is young and promising. He has just entered the officialdom but he has won the favor of the prince. He is willing to entrust such an important matter to you. It can be seen that your ability to do things is trustworthy." Lu Liang smiled flatteringly.
Merchants are always inferior to officials. No matter how rich a merchant is, he cannot avoid officials when doing business. This is an eternal rule.
After being praised, Pei Jinxuan looked humble. "Boss Lu, you're joking. Without Boss Lu's help this time, things wouldn't have been resolved so smoothly."
Although he appeared humble, he felt that he had done a great job. Although the two banks that he had obtained after breaking off the engagement with the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion were of good size, they were still far from enough for disaster relief.
It would be better to borrow money from the owner of the largest money house in the capital, and then use the connections to help him pay some taxes in the business world, and the matter will be settled.
Once this kind of transaction is exported, if Lu Liang is a good person, he will know that he cannot accept the money from officials. People will do things to please each other and seek long-term cooperation.
Pei Jinxuan even had a vague feeling that once he fully assisted Prince Pingyang to ascend to the throne, the position above everyone else in the court would be his in the future.
What was Shen Yuheng doing at that time?
Qiao Xiao, Qiao Xiao will definitely come back to him.
I heard that since Lu Qiaoxiao took up the post of commander of the patrol department, he often stayed overnight in the department and was too busy to go home.
If it weren't for the bad relationship, why would she be unwilling to return to the Prime Minister's Mansion?
Thinking of this, Pei Jinxuan's breathing became a little lighter.
Lu Qiaoxiao was lying in a position where she could see Pei Jinxuan's face clearly. She looked at the man who was smiling inexplicably and frowned subconsciously.
What is this guy up to?
Suddenly, a faint voice rang out in my ears: "Commander Lu couldn't move when he saw the handsome man. He stared at him intently."
Lu Qiaoxiao glared at Wei Ran fiercely and moved his lips: "Fifth Prince, please don't talk nonsense. I was just thinking that Pei Jinxuan is a scheming man. I wonder what he is planning."
She thought that in her previous life, even the farmers in Qingcheng Mountain knew that Pei Jinxuan was colluding with rebels, which showed how ambitious he was.
According to what I just overheard, Pei Jinxuan secretly borrowed money from Lu Liang to fill the shortfall of disaster relief. So what promise did he make that would most attract the businessmen?
Lu Liang started his business in freight transport. Although he now does a lot of money-lending business, he has also been doing cargo exchanges between the interior and the border, such as transporting silk to the Western Regions for sale.
A large part of the cost of sea freight is tax. According to the scale of Lu Liang's business, if he can be exempted from tax every year, it will reduce a huge expense.
Wei Ran said softly, "Just listen here. I know there's a secret compartment on this beam that you can climb up to. I'll go over there and take a look. Wait for me to come back."
Without waiting for Lu Qiaoxiao's reply, Wei Ran bent down and felt around on the beam. Suddenly, a dark secret compartment appeared on the top of the wooden board.
Then Wei Ran disappeared.
Lu Qiaoxiao was stunned and felt like she was being fooled by this boy. She listened carefully to the hidden meaning in the conversation between Pei Jinxuan and Lu Liang as they toasted each other.
"Second Master Pei, what I'm doing this time can be considered as a token of my allegiance to His Royal Highness Prince Pingyang."
"We've been running out of time at the manor lately, so we need to find a way to revitalize it so we can continue to serve His Highness."
When Lu Liang smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits, and at first glance he looked like the kind-hearted Maitreya Buddha.
But if you look closely, you can see the gleam of light in the slits of those small eyes.
Pei Jinxuan raised his hand and clinked his glass with his, then said slowly, "Don't worry, Boss Lu. His Highness has his own considerations. The ship has already been arranged. You can just transport your goods."
The two men laughed at each other and raised their glasses. The beauties came forward singing and dancing and snuggled into the men's arms.
"Knowing Boss Lu's hobby, I specially got a batch of goods. Would you like to check it out?" Pei Jinxuan showed a meaningful smile on his face.
That smile was very dazzling to Lu Qiaoxiao, and she naturally understood what he was talking about.
Are the lives of ordinary people nothing but grass in their eyes?
A group of fair-skinned and slender young men came forward, poured wine for Lu Liang, took off his clothes, and served him until his face was flushed.
Pei Jinxuan sat aside, drinking one glass after another, looking at those girls and gentlemen with a bit of disdain in his expression.
Lu Qiaoxiao took a breath, and when she looked at Pei Jinxuan again, her eyes were somewhat complicated.
Is this still the same upright young man from a few years ago before he entered the officialdom?
At that time, on the Bianjiang River, he was paddling the boat, extending a hand towards his embarrassed self in the water, and showing that warm smile under the sky.
Is this his true nature? Or has the political struggles turned him into this?
Soon, Lu Qiaoxiao had the answer in his mind.
In her previous life, even though everyone said that Lu Qiaoxiao was an ominous disaster, there was always Shen Yuheng who felt sorry for her loneliness and misery.
Even though he holds a high position, he can still sympathize with ordinary people, right?
"click"
There was a sound of something being moved above his head, and Lu Qiaoxiao's heart skipped a beat.
She secretly cursed Wei Ran, a man who was more likely to cause trouble than to help. The next moment, she felt a pair of gazes sweeping over her.
"Mr. Pei is in such high spirits that he's hosting a grand banquet here, and he didn't even bother to invite me and Prime Minister Shen to join him for a drink."
The door creaked open, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Lu Qiaoxiao noticed that the fierce gaze had been withdrawn, so he dared to continue looking outside.
It was Shen Yuheng and Prince Jiang——
Her pupils were filled with shock. Why would Shen Yuheng come here?
It can't be that he was invited by Lu Liang and Pei Jinxuan, right?
Shen Yuheng was wearing a goose yellow robe, with a faint coldness on his moon-like face. However, his temperament and demeanor as he walked in were like those of a god, which was out of tune with the somewhat erotic atmosphere in Zuihonglou.
It makes people feel that such a banished immortal should be worshipped, and it would be a sin to look at him for even a few more seconds.
Lu Liang was so shocked that his mouth was about to drool, "Chen--Prime Minister Chen?"
Jiang Weiman saw the fat man's loss of composure and couldn't help but sneer: "Oh, is this Mr. Pei's friend? How come he is drunk before he even starts drinking?" He stood in front of Shen Yuheng without saying a word.
It’s not because this person needs any special protection, but because he is afraid that Shen Yuheng would want to chop off his vitals on the spot.
After all, Prime Minister Shen has mysophobia, and it's a very serious one.
If you are seen by dirty things, this mysophobia will also flare up.
Pei Jinxuan smiled coldly and introduced, "Boss Lu, why don't you meet Prime Minister Shen quickly?"
After this reminder, Lu Liang restrained the obscene expression on his face, straightened his voice and came forward to pay his respects.
It was not known whether it was a coincidence or something else, but the place where Shen Yuheng sat was such that he could just look up and see the beams in the house.
Lu Qiaoxiao stared at him from time to time, secretly complaining: Isn't it said that Chen Xiang never sets foot in a brothel? How come she ran into him the first time she came to a brothel?
man.
She clenched her fists, but she also knew what was most important, so she lay on the beam and listened carefully.
Pei Jinxuan raised his glass and toasted Shen Yuheng first, saying:
"It's a rare opportunity to meet Prime Minister Shen. It's unfortunate today. We need to get drunk first."
"Prime Minister Chen, the girls in this room today are all the best, so you can have fun as much as you want."
"Listen up, girls. Whoever can please Prime Minister Chen today will be rewarded handsomely by this young master." Pei Jinxuan raised the corners of his lips, as if smiling, but there was a strong hatred in his eyes.
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