I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 526 How can we get Young Master Li to come more often? (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
Recently, the Tang family has been making great strides in the capital.

The partnership with Wanbao Chamber of Commerce allowed the Tang family to operate smoothly in various industries, making it three times faster than ordinary merchants in terms of purchasing shops and obtaining permits.

Tang Yue and Tang Zhen were frequently seen in circles of the powerful and influential. Being able to communicate with these bigwigs from the capital gave these scions of aristocratic families from small mountain towns a great sense of honor.

This is the top tier of the Tian Ce Dynasty. The fact that I can be here means I must also be at the top tier.

Especially when moving from high-end circles to ordinary circles, namely the business circles, it's like a game of cat and mouse.

The Tang family is close to royalty; such prestige makes them uncrowned kings in ordinary circles.

That evening, the area in front of the Tang residence was bustling with carriages and horses.

Tang Yue and Tang Zhen, dressed in brocade robes, were greeting guests at the gate of the mansion.

The two wore polite smiles, and their every move exuded the air of the powerful and wealthy in the capital.

A round-faced wealthy merchant strode forward, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Oh, Master Tang! Last time, thanks to your introduction, my batch of silk was able to enter the pass smoothly."

Tang Yue nodded reservedly: "Master Zhang, you're too kind. It was nothing."

Behind this wealthy man, Mr. Zhang, was a still-charming and beautiful woman, wearing a lake-blue embroidered dress, with a gold hairpin in her hair swaying gently with her steps.

She gave a graceful bow: "This humble servant is Zhang Liushi, greetings to Second Master Tang."

Tang Yue's eyes lit up; the wealthy man's wife was quite beautiful.

Just as he was about to speak, another carriage stopped, and a tall, thin man stepped out.

"Third Master Tang!" The tall, thin man warmly grasped Tang Zhen's hand. "I heard you've been in close contact with the Minister of Works lately? What about my mine's permit?"

Tang Zhen patted him on the shoulder knowingly: "Don't worry, Mr. Liu, I'll go and ask about it tomorrow."

Behind Boss Liu was a young woman in her early twenties with almond-shaped eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, and a slender figure.

She said sweetly, "This humble servant, Cui Yuniang, greets Third Master."

Tang Zhen's heart skipped a beat; Boss Liu's new concubine was indeed young and beautiful.

Inside the mansion, Liu Yuran and Su Qinghe were entertaining the female guests in the flower hall.

Several wealthy businesswomen sat in a circle, their eyes filled with envy.

“Madam Tang’s jade bracelet is truly beautiful,” exclaimed a woman in a crimson-purple dress.

Liu Yuran gracefully raised her hand, making the bracelet shine even brighter under the light: "This is a new product sent by Wanbao Chamber of Commerce the day before yesterday."

Su Qinghe smiled and deliberately showed off the gold-inlaid jade bracelet on her wrist: "This is nothing, just a gift from the wife of the Minister of Works."

The women immediately gasped in amazement.

Everyone knows that the wife of the Minister of Works is always very arrogant, so to receive a gift from her shows that the Tang family is of extraordinary status.

After several rounds of drinks, the banquet was in full swing.

Taking advantage of his drunken state, Tang Yue patted Master Zhang on the shoulder and said, "Old Zhang, I'm not exaggerating, but in the capital, there's nothing the Tang family can't do!"

Master Zhang nodded repeatedly: "Of course! Second Master Tang is now a guest of honor among the imperial family and nobles!"

Actually, he had only heard about this, but it was just a baseless rumor.

However, the Tang family did not deny that they were indeed related to the royal family.

If my younger sister enters the palace as a concubine, wouldn't she become a member of the imperial family?

Tang Zhen, also drunk, put his arm around Boss Liu and said, "Old Liu, what's your mine compared to that? Wait until I introduce you to Young Master Li, that's what you call a meteoric rise!"

The fact that he could say that shows that this guy was really drunk, and that Tang Zhen's alcohol tolerance is really low.

There's no way around it; men are all concerned about their image. When he sees people who used to be of similar or even higher status than him fawning over him, he does get a little cocky.

Mr. Liu's eyes lit up: "Young Master Li? Who is that?"

At this moment, Tang Yue, who was still relatively sober, was afraid that his second brother would say something wrong, so he immediately replied, "This matter is still in its infancy. It's just that my younger sister and Young Master Li have some connection." Boss Liu, Master Zhang, and the other merchants present all understood what had happened.

Although Tang Yue's younger sister was getting on in years, she was still a young woman of marriageable age, and her looks and figure were simply stunning.

These merchants had tried to take advantage of Tang Hongxiu before, but she was rather aloof, so they gave up.

But I've heard that Young Master Li, and all indications suggest that the Tang family has certain privileges in the capital, so Young Master Li must be a member of the royal family.

Once this is confirmed, these merchants will definitely try to curry favor with the Tang family, since this is their only chance to get close to the royal family.

Some merchants felt that this might be unfounded speculation, and that it was unnecessary to place bets on the Tang family for the time being after further observation.

Just as everyone was toasting and exchanging drinks, a commotion suddenly broke out at the gate of the mansion.

A richly dressed man strode in with several attendants, his jade pendants jingling at his waist.

"Manager Chen from Wanbao Chamber of Commerce has arrived—"

The room fell silent immediately.

This Manager Chen is the second-in-command of Wanbao Chamber of Commerce in the capital, and he is usually elusive and rarely seen.

Tang Yue and Tang Zhen quickly got up to greet them.

Manager Chen bowed first and said, "Gentlemen Tang, I have come on the orders of the chairman to present ten bushels of newly arrived South China Sea pearls to congratulate the Tang family on their prosperous business!"

There was an uproar.

South China Sea pearls are priceless, and this gift is ten bushels!
Tang Yue suppressed his smugness and pretended to be indifferent: "Manager Chen is too kind. I will definitely come to thank you another day."

Manager Chen smiled meaningfully: "The chairman said that the Tang family's affairs are Wanbao Chamber of Commerce's affairs."

Tang Yue was deeply moved: "Thank you very much for conveying the message, Manager Chen."

After Manager Chen left, the guests looked at the Tang brothers with even greater eagerness.

The merchants who were hesitant just moments ago are now determined to curry favor with the Tang family.

The wealthy businesswomen surrounded Liu Yuran and Su Qinghe, chattering amongst themselves about "Young Master Li."

Liu Yuran remained expressionless, though her ears turned slightly red: "You all flatter me. It's just ordinary interaction."

Su Qinghe lowered his head and sipped his tea, concealing the complex expression in his eyes.

After the banquet, Tang Yue stood alone in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky.

The guests' flattery still seemed to echo in my ears, but the image of my wife's shy smile as she did her hair this morning appeared before my eyes.

He knew the price he had paid for all this wealth and glory.

Tang Yue carefully pushed open the door and saw Liu Yuran sitting in front of the dressing table, removing her hairpins and jewelry.

In the candlelight, her skin was as white as snow, her features as exquisite as a painting, and she was even more radiant than before.

The deep purple gauze dress accentuated her graceful curves, and every gesture she made exuded the unique charm of a mature woman.

"Madam," Tang Yue called softly, then asked hesitantly, "Didn't Young Master Li come today?"

Liu Yuran turned around and said coquettishly, "What, do you expect Young Master Li to come every day? He's busy~"

A smile played on her lips, and her eyes sparkled with allure.

Tang Yue rubbed his hands awkwardly.

Indeed, Li Chen initially visited almost every day, then it became once every other day, and now it only comes once every two or three days.

He was filled with anxiety, fearing that Li Chen would get tired of him and stop visiting, and then the high branch that the Tang family had worked so hard to climb would be gone.
"Madam, do you think we should think of a way to get Young Master Li to come more often?" Tang Yue asked tentatively. "After all, the higher his position in the court, the more our Tang family needs him."

(End of this chapter)