"Very well, rest assured, I keep my word." Gu Chengyu nodded first, then called Ding Shi to fetch the pen and ink.
Lu Chen hesitated to speak. How could Gu Chengyu agree to release this person and promise him freedom? How difficult must that be?
Moreover, this person is from Da Xing! It’s best to eliminate him swiftly.
Could Gu Chengyu be just placating him? However, in his impression, Gu Chengyu was soone who ant what he said.
"Your Danqing skills are high, but can you draw it?" Lu Chen thought for a mont, putting the matter aside for now, and simply asked about the portrait.
Even with high Danqing skills, drawing a person’s likeness based on description is rather uncertain.
Without seeing the original image, would it resemble?
...
"Sir, it’s almost dawn, and Man Niu hasn’t returned yet!"
"Humph! It seems he failed. Send soone again in a couple of days, I refuse to believe he can’t be killed."
The cloaked man’s words were sowhat exasperated, causing the person opposite to shudder inwardly.
"Sir, we’ve already lost quite a few people at Gu Chengyu’s hands. We didn’t bring many people to Jiangnan this ti, and we also have the task of finding the Young Master. Plus, that person hasn’t been found yet. Should we postpone the task of removing Gu Chengyu and handle these two matters first?"
The man in black thought of losing so many capable subordinates and felt a sharp pain. Actually, the task of assassinating Gu Chengyu wasn’t that urgent, right?
Their primary mission in Jiangnan was to find the Young Master, and this matter was already pressing.
Even if the task of stirring up disaster victims failed, they could find another chance next ti.
But the master seed to have a grudge against Gu Chengyu and was determined to eliminate him first.
This was confusing priorities, he must persuade him. Otherwise, it might ruin major affairs!
"What? Do I need your instructions to do things? Map Master, don’t think you can step over just because the Master values you. When have my decisions ever been for you to question?"
The cloaked man’s tone was very unfriendly, and his stubborn nature ignited a great fire in the Map Master’s heart.
He was just about to retort when he heard that a secret letter had arrived.
The Map Master imdiately left the room, and the cloaked man sneered, deeming him sensible.
As soon as the Map Master obtained the secret letter, the cloaked man reached out his hand.
"Hand it over!"
The Map Master’s face imdiately turned ash gray, clearly disregarded. After returning, he must find a way to speak ill of him in front of the Master.
"Oh? There’s news about the Young Master?" The cloaked man exclaid in surprise after reading the secret letter.
Perhaps his mood was improved, the cloaked man didn’t make things difficult for the Map Master and handed over the letter.
"The Young Master has now beco a person from Jingyuan Prefecture and has lived in the Capital for the past two years, only recently returning to Jingyuan Prefecture. Who is this person? Has such a significant connection with Gu Chengyu?"
The Map Master widened his eyes, feeling utterly speechless. Truly, what a strange twist of fate, why is there another connection with Gu Chengyu?
"Quickly send soone to investigate thoroughly, we must confirm if it is the Young Master! There isn’t much ti left; this ti, the Young Master must recognize his ancestry. It better not be like the last ti, making a mistake with the person. Humph! These useless things need a good retraining; they haven’t accomplished a single task."
The cloaked man looked down on his subordinates, spending so much Silver on them every year, yet they turned out to be a bunch of failures.
The Map Master was left speechless for a long ti. Facing Gu Chengyu, completing the task was naturally challenging.
"The task of assassinating Gu Chengyu is temporarily shelved. Now that we have the Young Master, are we still worried about not having an opportunity?"
The cloaked man let out a sinister laugh, having found another thod to deal with Gu Chengyu.
Despite the loss of so many people before, he didn’t entirely disregard it. Now having a better thod, why not go for it?
Lu Chen looked at the portrait in Gu Chengyu’s hand, secretly admiring him, not expecting this skill from Gu Chengyu!
After ordering this person to be detained separately, Gu Chengyu and the others left the cell.
As they passed by the cells of Min Feng and Li Taixing, both imdiately turned ashen, shrinking into the corners like quails.
The miserable screams from earlier, they heard quite clearly. They wondered if that person was still alive, or had he already died?
Gu Chengyu hadn’t expected this secondary effect; if he had known, he would have let Min Feng witness it, saving him from his constant whining.
The next day, in the Eastern Palace of the Capital!
"Crown Prince! Did you ntion to the Emperor about transferring Gu Chengyu to Jiangnan? The matters in Jiangnan cannot be delayed!"
Xia Qing saw that the Crown Prince didn’t ntion this matter during discussions today, so he had to remind him once again.
"Pri Minister, after pondering overnight, I still believe it’s better to keep Gu Shaoqing in the Capital. As the Imperial Censor Yin said, even if he’s not in Jiangnan, he can still handle Jiangnan’s affairs. Just like the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Chief; they are in the Capital and can manage their jurisdictions just the sa."
The Crown Prince’s words seed like a rejection, which made Yin Kun breathe a sigh of relief.
Xia Qing was imdiately so angry that his face turned green. Could the Crown Prince be truly unaware, or was he pretending?
He had harbored long-standing grudges with Gu Chengyu, and now his young disciple was still in Gu Chengyu’s hands; transferring Gu Chengyu back to Jiangnan was to teach him a lesson.
Yet the Crown Prince wasn’t giving him any face! Could it be that Xia Qing had grown old, so no one respected him anymore?
Never mind! There’s not much ti left, let the Crown Prince enjoy his current days of affluence and power!
Such days of issuing commands will soon beco things of the past.
By then, wouldn’t dealing with Gu Chengyu be entirely up to his whims?
With these thoughts, Xia Qing felt much better, wondering how long they could remain arrogant?
"Regarding the establishnt of a chamber of comrce, I’ve already consulted the Emperor, and he has gladly approved. I intend to send officials from the Ministry of Revenue to Jiangnan specifically to handle this matter. Additionally, the Magistrate of Yingnan Mansion will be transferred to Ji Yan, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."
The Crown Prince’s words imdiately softened Xia Qing’s expression, as Ji Yan was his protege.
Currently holding a Standard Fifth Rank position, though it was a pity to transfer from a Capital Official to a local official, at least he would be promoted two grades.
Besides, Jiangnan is affluent, and within three years as a Qing Prefect, there’s ten thousand pieces of white silver. After Ji Yan becos Magistrate, wouldn’t he pay him homage?
Moreover, once the chamber of comrce is implented, the benefits to Yingnan Mansion will surely be plentiful, all contributing to political achievents!
As long as Ji Yan completes his three-year term, he can transfer him back to the Capital and even promote him another grade.
It was pitiful that Gu Chengyu had exerted so much effort, only to have others reap the benefits.
"The Crown Prince is wise; Ji Yan, as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has accomplished a lot during his tenure. His work is reliable, and being promoted to Yingnan Prefecture Magistrate is indeed a cause for celebration!"
The Crown Prince smiled, "If the Pri Minister has no objections, then let’s settle on that."
As long as Gu Chengyu wasn’t in Jiangnan, Yin Kun would not object any further.
The Junior Minister had previously been promoted three tis in succession, so even if he garnered all the rits, he couldn’t be further promoted.
It was just that Xia Qing unfairly benefitted, which was rather unpleasant.
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