Chapter 127
“Your Majesty, are you truly not worried at all?” Prime Minister Wen placed a white stone on the corner of the board without even looking.
The emperor picked up a black stone, carefully placing it next to the white one as he pursued his opponent’s move. Shaking his head with a smile, he said, “What is there to worry about? Old Fourteen said he’d handle it, so we should trust him.”
Wen Qing glanced at him. Something about this sounded off. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in Duan Wang, but he was still concerned. Could Ming Yu’s so-called bidding conference really get people to line up and hand over money?
No one had ever seen such an event before. Ming Yu had come up with it out of nowhere, without any established rules or precedents. How could that not be worrying?
And if things didn’t go as Ming Yu expected, what then? Right now, many in the capital were just waiting to see him fail.
Thinking of this, Wen Qing turned his gaze back to the emperor, who remained utterly composed. He couldn’t help but feel a little frustrated—was he worrying too much over nothing? Even the emperor himself wasn’t anxious, so why should he, an outsider, be?
“Be at ease, honestly, Old Fourteen may seem reckless and unconventional, but he’s quite clear-headed. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
There had been times before when he worried about him, yet Ming Yu always managed to resolve things in his own way—perfectly, at that. After all, he had grown up in the imperial palace. If he were truly as impulsive and reckless as he appeared, how could he have survived unscathed until now?
Of course, part of it was due to the emperor’s protection. But even with the greatest favor, if someone lacked discretion, they would eventually lose everything. Ming Yu might often stir up trouble, acting carefree and unruly, but he always stayed within the right boundaries. No one could ever truly pin anything on him.
Watching him grow step by step into the person he was today filled the emperor with deep satisfaction as a father.
Wen Qing sighed and shook his head. Worry clouded his judgment—perhaps he was indeed overthinking.
Seeing that he still seemed uneasy, the emperor chuckled and said, “If you truly can’t put your mind at rest, you can go see for yourself when the time comes.”
“It actually has nothing to do with me,” Wen Qing said, pretending to be indifferent.
The emperor, however, smiled meaningfully. After so many decades, Wen Qing’s habit of saying one thing while meaning another still hadn’t changed. If he didn’t know him so well, he might have been fooled by him.
“Yes, yes, nothing to do with you, Wen Qing. But I heard that this kid nearly emptied out the Prime Minister’s residence,” the emperor said with a hint of teasing in his tone.
At the mention of this, Wen Qing felt a bit uncomfortable. He picked up the cup of tea that had been steeping beside him and took a sip to cover his reaction. Seeing the emperor’s half-smiling expression, a surge of irritation rose in his heart.
Casually placing a chess piece on the board, he cleared his throat and said, “Your Majesty, don’t just speak of me. I wonder how much His Highness Duan Wang has left in your private treasury?”
“Cough, cough!” The emperor hadn’t expected that while he was making fun of Wen Qing, he would be countered so swiftly. He choked slightly and coughed awkwardly.
Shaking his head, the emperor sighed, “You! Your temper is still the same as before—you never admit defeat. Fine, fine, I won’t say anything more. But at least let me keep some dignity, won’t you?”
Wen Qing had spoken impulsively and now regretted it. He quickly stood up and bowed, saying, “Your servant was reckless…”
Before he could finish, the emperor had already reached out to help him up. But before the emperor could say anything, Wen Qing took several steps back, his face turning slightly pale.
Seeing Wen Qing’s reaction, the emperor let out a bitter smile. He knew he had startled him and so sat back down in his seat. “I was only joking. There’s no need for such alarm.”
Wen Qing forced himself to calm down but still kept his distance. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
For a moment, the hall fell into complete silence. The emperor picked up a chess piece and placed it on the board with a soft pa sound. With a touch of melancholy, he said, “In the past, whenever we played chess, every match was a fierce battle. Now, neither of us seems to have the heart to compete anymore. Because of Old Fourteen’s terrible skills, I destroyed almost all the chess sets in the palace. The only one I couldn’t bring myself to part with is this one before us.”
Wen Qing looked up, momentarily moved, but he quickly concealed his emotions and buried them deep inside.
“I’m feeling a bit tired. You may leave now,” the emperor waved his hand.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave,” Wen Qing said softly, bowing before departing.
A faint sigh echoed in the grand hall. The emperor picked up one of Wen Qing’s pieces and placed it on the board according to his style of play, then picked up a black piece and continued the game alone.
The past could never return. The days when they used to play chess together were gone forever. In the vast and empty hall, only the emperor remained—a solitary figure. His once-straight back had hunched slightly. The higher one stood, the colder it became.
Ming Yu sent out invitations widely, ensuring that nearly every merchant—whether from the capital or those who had rushed over upon hearing the news—received one.
The business circles in the capital were all interconnected. Everyone was actively making preparations. No matter what, they had to attend this bidding conference to see what it was all about. After all, their money remained in their own pockets. They didn’t believe that Duan Wang could easily coax their silver from them.
There was no such thing as an honest businessman. Anyone engaged in trade was sharp-minded, always evaluating the situation, aiming to gain the greatest profit at the smallest cost.
Soon, the day Ming Yu had set arrived. The event was to be held in the garden that the Ma family had previously lent to the Eldest Princess. The location was spacious, making it an ideal venue for the bidding conference.
Early that morning, Ma Siyong, the head of the Ma family, had everything prepared. The elders of the Ma family had already discussed this matter countless times and had devised several strategies. Today, the family head would simply assess the situation and act accordingly.
As the designated heir of the Ma family, Ma Jinyu saw this as an invaluable learning experience. Naturally, he would accompany his father.
The other merchants who had received invitations were also in high spirits. Given their social standing, they had never had the chance to meet a prince, let alone receive an invitation from one.
This was Duan Wang! No matter how things turned out, it was still an honor. In the future, they could proudly boast that even Duan Wang of the Great Yan had personally invited them to attend his event. That alone was something worth flaunting.
On the day of the bidding conference, however, Ming Yu ended up receiving an unexpected guest—Prime Minister Wen.
“Prime Minister Wen, what brings you here?” Ming Yu was genuinely surprised and asked directly. When his servants reported that the Prime Minister had arrived, he had been taken aback, unsure of Wen Qing’s purpose for coming. Once he collected himself, he personally came out to greet him.
“My apologies for intruding. I simply found Your Highness’s bidding conference quite intriguing and wished to see it for myself.”
In truth, he had felt uneasy ever since the matter was brought up in the palace that day. That lingering concern led him to come uninvited today.
Understanding this, Ming Yu smiled and welcomed him into the garden. “For the Prime Minister to attend is more than I could have hoped for.”
Following behind Ming Yu, Wen Qing said, “To be part of such a grand event hosted by Your Highness is an honor. If this conference proves successful, it might even serve as a model for future endeavors.”
“You flatter me, Prime Minister. I’m merely testing the waters, feeling my way forward. If anything is done improperly, I’ll have to trouble you for your guidance.” Ming Yu spoke with ease—after all, exchanging pleasantries was second nature to him.
Inside the garden, there was a large open space where tables and chairs had already been arranged. A few attendants weaved through the crowd, carrying trays. Whenever someone beckoned them, they would swiftly step forward to offer fruits, snacks, or wine—providing thoughtful and attentive service.
The merchants who had arrived early gathered in small groups, some sitting, some standing, exchanging pleasantries and making conversation.
“This banquet arranged by Duan Wang is quite unique,” someone joked. “It almost resembles those literary gatherings, making even rough merchants like us feel a bit more refined and cultured.”
“Isn’t that the truth? I should learn this trick too. That way, when someone treats us, it won’t just be the same dull drinking and feasting. We can also chat about anything and everything together.”
“Exactly! We ordinary folks can also learn this refined pastime. At least then, people won’t look down on us as much.”
“Oh, come on! Even if we learn it, do you think anyone will look at us differently? If you ask me, it’s better to be practical. Speaking of which, the price of rice went up again last month. I’m still figuring out what to do about it. Any ideas?”
“Rice prices are rising, so we just raise our prices too. What else can we do? If we don’t, we’ll end up losing money.”
Their conversations never strayed far from business. Every household had its own trade secrets, and some were keen to probe for information about others.
Someone soon noticed the person Ming Yu had brought in. The newcomer was dressed in a simple blue robe, with the refined appearance of a scholar. Everyone found it puzzling—who was this person? He didn’t look like a businessman. If anything, he resembled a scholar preparing for the imperial exams.
What was his status? Was he really important enough for Duan Wang to personally welcome him? But then again, anyone Duan Wang valued wouldn’t be an ordinary commoner.
Yet today’s event was a gathering of merchants invited by Duan Wang for a bidding conference. Why would a scholar be interested? Weren’t scholars usually the ones who looked down on them for being tainted by the stench of money?
Ming Yu clapped his hands, signaling everyone to quiet down and listen. The crowd leaned in, and the previously noisy venue instantly fell silent.
Ming Yu raised his voice and gave a simple introduction. “This is Prime Minister Wen, who has come today to observe the proceedings.”
“What? Who? Did I hear that right?” someone blurted out in shock. Prime Minister Wen? The highest-ranking official in the Great Yan court? The Emperor’s most trusted and valued minister? Why would he be here?
A person standing nearby quickly nudged him, prompting an immediate apology to avoid further embarrassment.
Wen Qing gave a faint, gentle smile and spoke in a clear voice, “You did not mishear. I am indeed Minister Wen.”
The crowd immediately scrambled to bow deeply in respect. Wen Qing waved them off with a polite gesture and exchanged a few courteous words before Ming Yu led him to the main seat.
The man who had just spoken out of turn was still in a daze, as if trapped in a dream. He pinched himself hard, finally snapping back to reality. Many others reacted the same way—caught between surprise and excitement.
No one had expected Prime Minister Wen to show up. Just for that, their trip here had already been worth it.
Once Ming Yu and the others had moved further away, ensuring they wouldn’t be overheard, someone whispered, “Why is Prime Minister Wen here? I never heard of this matter involving him.”
The others were equally clueless, each lost in thought, trying to decipher the minister’s motives. Why had he lowered himself to attend? If Duan Wang had invited him to bolster his influence, it would have been unnecessary—after all, scholars and merchants belonged to completely different spheres. Besides, from the look on Duan Wang’s face when he first heard the announcement, it was clear that even he hadn’t expected Minister Wen to come.
They weren’t entirely sure about the details of the bidding conference Duan Wang had organized, but they knew it was a major event for merchants. Many had come out of sheer curiosity.
Now that Prime Minister Wen had appeared, it was evident that this was no ordinary occasion. Many people began reconsidering their stance.
The head of the Zhu family, the elderly Master Zhu, his hair and beard already white, furrowed his brows in deep thought. Like the rest, he was also puzzled. However, as the head of one of the four major business families in the capital, he had access to more information than most.
The purpose of this bidding conference was, at its core, to raise funds—specifically for the Western Qi Corridor issue. This matter had already been debated in court but was ultimately rejected due to the government’s lack of funds. Ming Yu had taken it upon himself to handle the matter, which had led to the organization of this bidding event.
From Master Zhu’s perspective, the risk was enormous. If even the imperial court had deemed it unfeasible, how could a single person accomplish it? For that reason, no matter what Duan Wang did, he had always maintained a wait-and-see approach.
The Ma family had been making bold moves lately—everyone had noticed. But what exactly had they learned that made them so eager? The Zhu family would never risk their entire fortune on something so uncertain. They had made some preparations, but only as a contingency plan.
Now, with Prime Minister Wen stepping in, things were clearly not as simple as they seemed!
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