Chapter 255: The Hereditary Marquis of Changning
"I hope you are well."
The third prince back then, now the emperor, has a gentle and smiling look, like a modest gentleman as gentle as jade, but his eyes are majestic without anger.
“…”
Lei Li was speechless for a moment.
Zhou Yi and he looked at each other, not knowing what to say, so he cautiously did not speak.
The two of them went to their own "hot pot restaurant" to check the bill and eat hot pot in a private room. This person pushed the door open and asked with a smile if they could share the table.
Without waiting for them to speak, he sat down on his own and asked them with a gentle smile:
"My name is Wan Xia. Do you remember me?"
Of course I remember.
Even if it turns into ash, Lei Li will remember it.
The Third Prince, who came to Qingmi County with the Fourth Prince in great fanfare, was also from a royal family. The Fourth Prince was arrogant and domineering, while the Third Prince was gentle and polite, even too gentle. The contrast between the two was quite striking.
What impressed Lei Li the most was the meaningful look given by the Third Prince before he left. He was clearly smiling, yet his expression was sharp and frivolous.
Like a dormant ferocious beast.
Lei Li remembered this glance for more than ten years, and he is still quite afraid of it.
At this time, Wanqi Xia was still smiling gently, and his tone was familiar, as if he and Lei Li and Zhou Yi were old friends who had not seen each other for many years, but Lei Li and Zhou Yi felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Ten years ago, Wanqi Xia was dressed in this disguise, wearing "plain" clothes - compared to his dragon robe and those clothes that symbolized the emperor, this brocade clothes was indeed very simple, and he appeared in front of Lei Li and the others like a sudden disaster.
It was indeed a sudden disaster.
Anyone would be scared to death if such a majestic emperor appeared in a small village in such a delicate manner, not to mention that he was accompanied by the queen and the famous young general.
There were two huge Buddha statues that almost crushed Lei Li’s small temple.
Not only did the two giant Buddhas leave on their own, they also sent an old eunuch who praised them with imperial edicts on the left and promised that they would be granted the title of Marquis of Changning if they went to Beijing. Lei Li was so frightened that he didn't dare to set foot in Beijing for ten years.
Serving the king is like serving a tiger.
Lei Li wanted to be the Marquis of Changning because he felt his life was too short.
And now…
Lei Li looked at Wanqi Xia, who was dressed simply, and glanced at Empress Xiang Chong, who was dressed similarly to him. He carefully considered his words and said respectfully:
"I wonder... why did Master Wan come here this time?"
"You're still so direct."
Wanqi Xia smiled brightly, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, then said slowly, "You didn't have this attitude when we were discussing state affairs in the mansion yesterday."
“!!!”
Lei Li's heart trembled violently for a moment, his knees went weak, and he almost fell to his knees.
The reason why it was almost there was because Xiang Chong stretched out his hand to block his movement, and with a wave of his arm, he bounced him back. As soon as Lei Li's butt left, he sat back steadily.
"No need to be polite."
"yes……"
Lei Li's face: extremely nervous and terrified.
Lei Li thought to himself: It’s just right not to kneel.
Zhou Yi didn't want to kneel either.
He had knelt many times while doing housework and training in modern times, but never to anyone. After traveling to Qingmi County, because Xu Xingzhe wanted to show his friendliness and win over the two of them, he never let them kneel.
Not to mention Meng Yao, they are friends, and he will definitely not show off his power in front of them.
And because the imperial eunuch issued them an edict stating that their family and descendants could not kneel before officials, Lei Li brought the plaque to Kyoto, so he never knelt before anyone in Kyoto.
Zhou Yi can bend and stretch and can kneel, but it is better not to kneel if he can.
"Okay, stop pretending."
Wanqi Xia glanced at Lei Li with a smile, then glanced at Zhou Yi and said, "Of all the people in Kyoto, your family is the most prominent. Lei Shengjiang single-handedly disrupted the Hanlin Academy. Your reputation as a soft-knife really comes from you."
“I dare not…”
Lei Li waved his hands repeatedly in agreement.
"Don't dare?"
Wanqi Xia laughed, "I see there's nothing you're afraid of. You've made so many enemies, and you're sitting right under the emperor's feet, yet you still dare to discuss state affairs? Aren't you afraid of being caught and punished for treason, with your property confiscated and your head executed?"
He emphasized the last four words with a hint of sarcasm, and it was unclear whether he was joking or using the joke to criticize them.
Lei Li and Zhou Yi looked at each other and remained silent for a while.
"I won't scare you anymore."
Wanqi Xia laughed again and said, "But I was right about you. Although I'm not in the imperial court, I can see things more clearly than those good-for-nothings."
"I must take back the Meng Family Escort Agency. The logistics sector has too much influence. We cannot let any one company dominate it."
"So, you, you want to...?"
Lei Li carefully considered his words while guessing Wanqi Xia's thoughts. Since he chose to come and see him and Zhou Yi, he probably didn't want to use force, so it would be a peaceful evolution.
The Meng family didn't agree to hand it over and wanted him to be the bad guy, oh no, to be the middleman to persuade the Meng family?
"Lei Jiang is a good seedling."
Wanqi Xia suddenly said, catching Lei Li off guard, "I want Lei Shengjiang to take over the logistics business and divide the Meng family's influence among the people."
“?!”
Lei Li was horrified, but quickly calmed down and tried to persuade Wanqi Xia, "Lei Shengjiang is too young to dominate the scene, and his family background isn't impressive enough. Why not replace him with a young talent from a prominent family?"
"If we can combine the two, the civil and the military, and use the civil to come up with strategies and the military to intimidate the enemies, I believe the escort agency will be able to quell the situation quickly."
Lei Li didn't say too much, but just made a point.
First, since Wanqi Xia knew that they had teased him and Chao Zheng at home yesterday, he must know what he was thinking. Second, if they said too much, it would backfire and cause Wanqi Xia to be disgusted, which would be detrimental to Sheng Jiang and their family.
"You have a point."
Wanqi Xia glanced at him with a smile, "Lei Shengjiang is too young, not suitable. I think you two are a good match. You are the right age, one is a scholar, the other a warrior, both wise and brave. As for your family background..."
"The hereditary Marquis of Changning, a first-rank imperial consort, her family background couldn't be more noble."
“?!!!”
Lei Li was stunned and shocked for a while, but Zhou Yi was the first to politely refuse.
Zhou Yi stood up and bowed. Although he was shocked, he said calmly, "This is absolutely impossible. We are just commoners. The Marquis of Changning is far too noble..."
"Not noble."
Wanqi Xia smiled and looked at them, as if looking at two pieces of gold, convinced that their value must be fully utilized. "Compared to your intelligence and wisdom, a mere marquis is nothing."
"this……"
Lei Li came back to his senses flattered and was about to refuse, but saw Wanqi Xia frown slightly, and immediately changed his words.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness and regard for us. I will respectfully obey your command."
I'm so used to speaking in plain language that I almost forget how to say these flowery and polite words...
"I look forward to hearing your good news."
Wanqi Xia smiled gently and patted Lei Li's shoulder, looking very convinced. "But since I'm traveling abroad, I'm going on a private visit in disguise. For now, I'm not bound by the status of monarch or subject. I'd like to get along as friends. How about that?"
"yes."
Lei Li bowed respectfully and nodded, muttering to himself, "What's the matter? Aren't you the one who has the final say? He came all this way here to scare people. Does the emperor have so much free time?"
After years of being thick-skinned, Lei Li has long been able to smile on the surface while complaining countless times in his heart.
A meal where both the host and the guests are delighted——
Not really.
Only the guest - Wanqi Xia was happy.
Xiang Chong didn't speak a word throughout the whole process. He didn't seem like Wanqi Xia's partner or companion. Instead, he was more like Wanqi Xia's subordinate, protecting Wanqi Xia diligently.
It was just Wanqi Xia's occasional unintentional little gestures and the intimacy in his tone during the meal that proved that they were a real couple and had a good relationship. At least they were not the kind of couple who were not in harmony with each other in spirit.
By the way, we use two pots for meals.
Lei Li and Zhou Yi were one, and Wanqi Xia and Xiang Chong were the other. The question was whether the emperor and his subjects were sharing the same affairs and the common people were in panic. In fact, it was because Lei Li disliked the saliva of the uninvited couple.
Even if Wanqi Xia is the emperor, he is still a stranger whom he has only met three times! Why should he eat from the same pot with him? He is not his son!
Lei Li secretly took advantage of Wanqi Xia, and he felt completely justified. He was a few years older than Wanqi Xia, so what was wrong with being Wanqi Xia's father? Had he ever seen such a young, handsome, and vigorous father?
However, Lei Li still breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Wanqi Xia and his wife off.
But Zhou Yi still frowned.
—
"Marquis Changning?!"
Lei Shengjiang had just returned home from work and had just taken a sip of tea when he heard his father's brief account of what had happened. He almost spit out the tea.
"Dad, are you saying that the boss came to you and dad today and wanted to make you the Marquis of Changning and take over the Meng family's escort agency and logistics?!"
"yes."
Lei Li calmly peeled an orange, ate a slice, and then peeled the other half and gave it to Zhou Yi. "You just don't know when the imperial edict will arrive, and you may not do it, right?"
"Even the emperor can joke sometimes. What if he came all the way here just to joke and get a free meal?"
"Your Majesty is so busy with all sorts of things. Why would you come all the way here just to tell a joke..."
Lei Shengjiang wanted to sigh again. He couldn't help but reflect on whether his examiner was wrong. If he had known earlier, he should have stayed in the village honestly, become a local rich man and take care of his brother Xiaobao.
In fact, he didn't really want to be an official. It was just that the man surnamed Liu was talking nonsense and wanted Brother Xiaobao to be with him. He said that he would let Brother Xiaobao become an official's wife in the future, so that others would envy Brother Xiaobao. He also said that Brother Xiaobao would dump him and be with someone else.
fart!
Lei Shengjiang couldn't swallow this anger when he thought about it. Even if people envied her for being an official's wife, it was only his wife who was envied. What did it have to do with that Li?
Besides, he's good-looking, very rich, and treats Xiaobao brother well. How could Xiaobao brother kick him out and be with someone else? He's the best in the world!
Lei Shengjiang hummed in his heart, took the orange slices handed to him by his father, and subconsciously put them in his mouth to eat. His facial features were immediately distorted by the sour taste.
Looking up, he saw his father Zhou Yi chewing an orange with an expressionless face, while his dad threw his head back and laughed heartily, and his brother Xiaobao also covered his mouth and laughed secretly.
Lei Shengjiang: "..."
No, am I the only one so nervous? He's the emperor! And Dad, why are you in cahoots with me again?
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