Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 137 Compensation for Qingluan
Tianji Shop.

Tian Kun paced anxiously in front of the counter.

The young lady and that gentleman have been discussing things in the inner room for an hour, why haven't they come out yet?
What exactly are they talking about that takes so long?
Worried about the young lady's safety, he was about to knock on the door when the inner room door finally opened slowly.

Tian Qingluan, her face flushed, came out of the room, gave Lin Xuan a slight bow, and said, "Thank you, Lord Chen, for helping our Tian family out of this predicament. Qingluan is deeply grateful..."

Lin Xuan smiled slightly and said, "You're welcome. It's what I should do. If Miss Tian encounters any difficulties in the future, she can come to the Jingbian Division to find me. I'll take my leave now..."

Tian Qingluan smiled sweetly and said, "I'll see Lord Chen off..."

Tian Kun looked astonished as he watched the two walk out of the shop side by side.

How long had it been since he'd seen the young lady smile so happily...?

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but the young lady's lipstick color seems much lighter than before.

Tian Kun had intended to wait until the young lady returned before consulting her about business matters. However, he waited and waited until dark before the young lady was finally brought back by that Lord Chen. When Lord Chen left, she was still somewhat reluctant to part with him...

An incredible thought popped into his mind.

Could it be that they...

Tian Kun felt a surge of excitement. This Lord Chen was a high-ranking official in the imperial court. If the Tian family could establish a relationship with him, wouldn't no one in the southwest dare to offend them?

Tian Qingluan returned to her room, closed the door, sat down at the table, rested her chin on her hand, and couldn't help but laugh.

I thought I would never see him again.

Unexpectedly, he appeared before her in her most desperate moment, transforming from a lowly flag officer into a powerful figure whom even a commander of a thousand men dared not offend...

Recalling how he silently protected her while she was undercover, eliminating all dangers around her, she felt an urge to cry.

She must have done a lot of good deeds in her past life to have met such a man in this life.

A soft sound came from the window. Tian Qingluan turned around and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here!"

Lin Xuan jumped in through the window and said, "I want to see you..."

Although the two had spent several hours together during the day and had only been separated for a quarter of an hour, Lin Xuan still couldn't help but want to see her.

Tian Qingluan stood up and hugged Lin Xuan tightly. She pressed her head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, and murmured, "I'm so scared, so scared that this is all a dream..."

Lin Xuan pulled her into his arms, letting her feel the real touch to tell her that this was not a dream.

Tian Qingluan looked up at her and asked, "Can't you go back to your former identity?"

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "No, the Yang family was destroyed, and some people hate me to the core. If I were to revert to my former identity, Zhang Hu and Chen Bao might run into trouble, and you would also be in danger..."

He looked at Tian Qingluan and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I can't treat you like other women, I can't even give you a proper title."

Tian Qingluan hugged Lin Xuan's arm and said earnestly, "I don't care. I'm already very content to be able to hold you like this..."

Perhaps she would have cared about these things in the past.

But after so many twists and turns, the fact that he was able to return to her side was already a blessing from heaven.

She asked for nothing more.

People often say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Although Lin Xuan and Qing Luan never had a wedding, they still had endless feelings for each other.

The two chatted like that all night long, until dawn.

Of course, it wasn't just chatting. Without A-Luo's interference, the two almost took that final step.

Although it wasn't Lin Xuan's first time, it was Qing Luan's. Neither the time nor the place could be chosen so hastily. At the crucial moment, the two tacitly refrained from taking things any further.

Lin Xuan looked down at her and said softly, "It's dawn, go and get some rest."

Tian Qingluan wrapped her arms around his neck and shook her head, saying, "I'm not sleepy."

She dared not sleep, fearing that when she woke up, she would find that it was all just a dream.

Lin Xuan gently pinched her nose and said, "Be good, sleep for a while. I have to go to Jingbian Division. What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you when I get back at noon."

Tian Qingluan reluctantly let him go.

Lin Xuan carried her to the bed, covered her with the blanket, gently kissed her forehead, then walked to the window and jumped out.

Now that Mandala is gone, they can finally enjoy their time together as a couple.

Upon returning to the Jingbian Commandery, a guard at the gate said, "Lord Chen, you're finally back. Commander Lu instructed that you should go to the council hall immediately upon your return..."

Lin Xuan nodded and walked towards the council hall.

Although the Yang family has fallen, it has left behind a lot of trouble, and he and Lu Feng have endless things to deal with every day.

Lin Xuan entered the council hall, walked straight to the front, and sat down in the chair next to Lu Feng.

After nodding to Lin Xuan, Lu Feng looked down at a refined-looking man and said, "The imperial court intends to sell the Yang family's shops, but the price offered by your An family is far too low..."

The refined-looking man smiled slightly and said, “Commander Lu, you have long been in the imperial court and do not understand business matters. All businesses have risks. Anjia may not be able to make money by buying these shops. It is not that our price is low, but that the court’s asking price is too high…”

Lu Feng looked to the other side and asked, "What about the Song family? Can you raise your price a bit more?"

A man from the Song family gave a wry smile and said, "Commander Lu, this is already the highest price the Song family can afford..."

Lu Feng took a sip of tea, inwardly cursing the unscrupulous merchant.

Although the Yang family's shops have been seized, the imperial court cannot operate them on its own.

That would not only be time-consuming and laborious, but also not necessarily profitable.

The best solution is to exchange it for silver.

Both the Song and An families wanted to get their hands on this lucrative opportunity, but neither was willing to pay too high a price.

The two sides had clearly reached an agreement in private to drive the price down to an extremely low level, determined to take advantage of the imperial court.

Lu Feng looked at Lin Xuan and said, "Lord Chen, please come out for a moment."

Lin Xuan followed Lu Feng as they got up and left their seats, going to Lu Feng's duty room.

Lu Feng poured two cups of tea, then asked Lin Xuan, "The An family and the Song family want to take over the Yang family's shops, but they are unwilling to pay a high price. Should we look for other chieftains?"

Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "The more eager we are to sell, the lower their price will be. Even if we go to other chieftains, the result will probably be the same."

Lu Feng took a sip of tea, frowned, and said, "Are we really going to suffer this loss?"

Lin Xuan thought for a moment and said, "I have an idea."

Knowing that he had many ideas, Lu Feng immediately said, "Speak."

Lin Xuan said, "The Yang family has controlled Bozhou for hundreds of years, and all they are involved in are highly profitable businesses. Instead of selling it to them, why doesn't the imperial court run it itself? Wouldn't that generate a steady stream of income?"

Lu Feng shook his head and said, "There are some things you don't understand. Once the imperial court gets involved, things change. Wherever there's profit, all parties in the court will want a piece of it. Even a profitable business can turn into a loss-making one. It's better to just sell it off..."

Lin Xuan certainly understood these things.

Simple matters become complicated when they involve the imperial court.

Merchants pursue profit, and so do the various interest groups in the court, but they only pursue their own interests and don't care whether the court makes money or not.

Moreover, the business world is ever-changing, and opportunities are fleeting. When faced with a situation, decisions need to be made immediately, and it is impossible to consult with superiors at every level.

He mentioned the imperial court only to set the stage for further discussion.

Lin Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Since the imperial court cannot intervene, we can have someone manage it on our behalf, taking only a small percentage of the profits each year. Although the short-term returns may not be large, in just a few years, we can surpass the profits from selling the shops..."

Lu Feng was silent for a moment, then gently patted Lin Xuan's shoulder and said, "If we sell these shops now and the proceeds go into the national treasury, it will be our achievement. But if, as you say, we only see returns after several years, what should be our achievement will benefit those who come after us..."

Lin Xuan looked at Lu Feng and said seriously, "It doesn't matter whose credit it is. What matters is that it benefits the court. Besides, we can't give such a huge benefit to the An and Song families for a little immediate petty gain. Otherwise, I'm afraid it won't be long before a second or third Yang family appears in the southwest, and then there will be endless troubles..."

After pondering for a moment, Lu Feng nodded and said, "You have a much longer-term vision. In terms of awareness, I am far inferior to you, and those so-called upright officials are not even worthy of carrying your shoes..."

Lin Xuan was a little embarrassed and said, "Commander Lu is too kind, too kind..."

Lu Feng said solemnly, "I'm not praising you at all. The court is full of people who are greedy for merit and reckless, and selfish. There aren't many like you who are wholeheartedly devoted to the court. I will now ask the commander for instructions..."

……

Beijing.

Wanshou Palace.

In the center of the main hall, a huge alchemical furnace was burning with raging flames.

Emperor Dayong, holding a whisk, sat cross-legged before the alchemy furnace, his eyes slightly closed, as if his mind had wandered beyond the mundane world.

Commander Chen Bing of the Jingye Division slowly entered the hall, stood respectfully behind him, and handed over a memorial with both hands, saying softly, "Your Majesty, Lu Feng has sent a message from Bozhou with an important matter to consult. I dare not make a hasty judgment, and I humbly request Your Majesty's decision..."

Emperor Dayong slowly opened his eyes, took the memorial, glanced at it, and a hint of approval appeared in his eyes. He said, "So young, yet able to focus on the big picture, not greedy for merit or rashly advancing, and wholeheartedly thinking of the court—truly rare, truly rare..."

Chen Bing smiled and said, "This man is indeed a rare talent, possessing both wisdom and courage, and is utterly loyal to the court. He played an indispensable role in the annihilation of the Yang family. I have already promoted him to the Sixteen Guards, and once the situation in the southwest is resolved, I will transfer him back to the capital..."

Emperor Dayong threw the memorial into the alchemy furnace and said indifferently, "Leave this matter to him. Don't let the cabinet interfere, otherwise, I don't know how much of my money will actually end up in my hands..." At this moment, a eunuch stepped forward slowly and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works are requesting an audience outside the hall."

Emperor Dayong chuckled twice: "See? They must have known that the Jingye Division had sent silver from the southwest. They came right after smelling it. Tell them to go back and wait until the Prince of Zhennan returns..."

The eunuch responded and bowed as he withdrew.

Emperor Dayong rose from the prayer mat, and the fire in the alchemical furnace slowly went out.

He reached out his hand, and three fragrant pills flew out of the furnace and landed in his palm.

He took out two of them, put them into a palm-sized brocade box, handed it to Chen Bing, and said, "There aren't many people who can put aside personal gain and think only of the court. I'm giving him these two pills."

Chen Bing respectfully accepted it, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you on his behalf..."

……

Banshu.

Jingbian Division.

Lu Feng put down his telescope and smiled at Lin Xuan, saying, "The commander has agreed. I'll leave this matter to you. I'll be returning to the capital in a few days, and I'll be entrusting all matters in the southwest to you..."

Lin Xuan paused for a moment, then said, "Commander Lu, this isn't right. There are so many important matters in Bozhou that need to be decided. If you're not here, who can I turn to for advice..."

Lu Feng patted his shoulder lightly and said, "The Yang family has fallen, so there's nothing major happening in the Southwest. You can decide on all matters. You'll have to take charge sooner or later, so you need to get used to it. If there's anything you're unsure about, you can consult the Commander's Office..."

Lin Xuan clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."

Lu Feng reached out and straightened his collar, saying, "You're not the junior officer you used to be. You represent the commander in the field. Be more professional, don't embarrass yourself..."

Lin Xuan straightened up and nodded slightly.

In just a few months, he had risen from a lowly flag officer in a centurion's office to a high-ranking official in the Jingye Division, a position above the thousand-household level. He was indeed still somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Inside the meeting hall.

Several figures were whispering among themselves.

"Brother An, will the imperial court agree to such a low price?"

"Don't worry, we have already warned all the chieftains, big and small, in Bozhou. They will only offer lower prices, and the imperial court will have no other choice."

"The Song family is sincerely looking to cooperate; don't try to fool me."

"Rest assured, after the Yang family falls, our two families must cooperate sincerely in order to gain a firm foothold in the southwest and prevent the court from taking any rash actions. Naturally, we will not deceive you on such matters."

A figure walked into the council chamber, and the two people's voices stopped abruptly.

The refined-looking man looked at Lu Feng and asked, "Commander Lu, how did your negotiations go? At most, our two families can increase the price by another 10%..."

Lu Feng waved his hand and said, "You don't need to tell me these things. I'm leaving soon. These matters are now in the hands of Lord Chen."

The refined-looking man paused for a moment, then asked, "What about Lord Chen?"

Lu Feng said, "Lord Chen has important matters to attend to and will be leaving now. Please come back another day..."

……

The backyard of Tianji Shop.

Tian Qingluan leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Lin Xuan busy in the kitchen, a happy smile curving her lips.

This was exactly the scene she had dreamed of countless times.

And this time, he belongs to her alone; no one else can take him from her.

Tian Kun walked into the courtyard and said, "Miss, I heard that the imperial court is selling the Yang family's shops. Should we buy some? The court is in a hurry to sell, so the price they're offering shouldn't be too high..."

Tian Qingluan thought for a moment and said, "No need."

Firstly, the Tian family has expanded rapidly in the past few months and does not have extra funds.

Secondly, the Yang family is a lucrative target, and many people are bound to be eyeing it. The Tian family has no foundation, no strength, and not enough manpower to compete with the local chieftains in Bozhou.

Neither the Song family nor the An family would willingly relinquish such enormous benefits.

"time to eat."

Lin Xuan brought out several dishes, and Tian Qingluan immediately forgot all about her business.

Tian Kun tactfully left quietly. It seemed that there was nothing to worry about regarding the young lady's marriage.

Tian Qingluan picked up her chopsticks and eagerly took a bite of the dish; it was a taste she knew all too well.

Nothing else is needed; this dish alone is enough to prove his identity.

Lin Xuan watched her quickly picking up food and smiled, "Eat slowly, no one is going to take it from you."

Tian Qingluan paused slightly.

right.

Before, when we ate, A-Luo would always try to take the food from her. If she was even a little slow, A-Luo would finish it all. Now that she's gone, why is she in such a hurry?
She picked up a piece of fish and fed it to Lin Xuan.

Without A Luo and Wenren Yue, she could feed them however she wanted.

Lin Xuan suddenly said, "Qingluan, there's something I'd like to ask if the Tian family is interested in."

Tian Qingluan smiled and said, "What is it? Tell me."

Lin Xuan looked at her and said, "After the Yang family was destroyed, the imperial court confiscated all their shops. The court doesn't want to sell them off cheaply and plans to find someone to manage them. I wonder if the Tian family is interested in taking them over, but they will have to pay the court a certain amount of profit every year..."

Bada...

Tian Qingluan dropped her chopsticks on the ground.

She looked at Lin Xuan in shock and delight, and asked, "Really?"

Lin Xuan smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course it's true. Didn't you say you wanted the Tian family's business to one day be bigger than the Yang family's? That wish can come true now. Consider it my gift to make up for it..."

Over the course of two short days, Tian Qingluan was struck by a series of tremendous surprises, leaving her mind momentarily blank.

She wanted to expand the Tian family business step by step, and eventually build a business empire belonging to the Tian family.

Little did they expect that one day, the business empire that the Yang family had already built could be directly changed to the surname Tian.

She never even dared to dream of such a gift.

Even though this matter was incredibly tempting to her, she still looked at Lin Xuan with concern and asked, "Is this alright? Does the imperial court agree to you doing this?"

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and said, "This suggestion was made to the court. The court entrusted me with full authority over this matter, and I can decide who takes over the Yang family on my own."

Lin Xuan had this idea from the beginning.

Rather than selling the Yang family's assets at a low price, it would be better to entrust them to capable people for management. This would provide the imperial court with a cash cow in the southwest and prevent the An and Song families from becoming too powerful.

The Tian family is undoubtedly the most suitable.

Their family wasn't powerful, but once they became imperial merchants, they became the focus of protection for the town government and local officials. No one dared to provoke them anymore; it was a form of protection that Lin Xuan provided for them.

Because they are not powerful, the imperial court has no reason to be wary of them.

This arrangement also served as an explanation to the imperial court.

Of course, he also had his own selfish motives, and these selfish motives were perhaps the biggest driving force behind this matter.

She had wronged Qingluan a lot these past few months, so she decided to help her fulfill a small wish as compensation.

Tian Qingluan's gaze towards Lin Xuan was filled with deep, unyielding affection.

He always thinks of himself.

A thousand words were condensed into a deep kiss, and silence fell over the courtyard for a long time...

……

settle down.

Black Lotus looked at the figure walking out of the room and exclaimed in surprise, "You've broken through!"

She hadn't expected that A Luo's breakthrough in breaking through the bottleneck during her seclusion would be so easy. It seemed that her experiences during this period had greatly tempered her mindset.

A Luo breathed a sigh of relief. Although her cultivation had broken through, she felt little joy.

Hei Lian looked at her and said, "Perfect timing, why don't you come back to Nanzhao with us? You can stay by my side from now on..."

A Luo shook her head and said, "You guys go back first, I want to go back to Bozhou for a visit."

This time, she will never come to the Southwest again.

Before that, she wanted to go back and see it again, even just for a moment...

(End of this chapter)