In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

Around noon, we arrived at Luojia Town!

The arrival of more than fifty strangers quickly sparked discussion and drew crowds of onlookers among the local residents.

Li Yuanchang had the carriage stop directly in front of the Luo family mansion, which was the largest mansion in the town, covering dozens of acres and employing hundreds of servants. It could be said that it was comparable to any wealthy merchant in Liangzhou City.

As they disembarked from the carriage, Qin Keyu suddenly reminded them, "Your Highness, please be more polite in your speech. The Luo family's daughter has married into the Censorate in Chang'an."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang was slightly surprised. Could there be such a relationship in such a small town as Luo?

Don't underestimate an official from the Censorate, even the lowest-ranking one.

In the Tang Dynasty, the common people were not afraid of the Censorate, but they were the ancestors of officials, equivalent to the Discipline Inspection Commission in later generations!

Those who spend all day submitting memorials are the ones who do all the work, and Wei Zheng is the foremost among them.

Ordinary people wouldn't dare offend such people, including someone like Li Tai, because during the Zhenguan era, these remonstrating officials had a kind of immunity from death.

Hopefully, they can understand some things.

"I don't want to make enemies everywhere."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keyu couldn't help but smile bitterly. It seemed that she had heard some things about Li Yuanchang, and that even in Liangzhou, there were quite a few people who hated him.

"May I ask, sir, what brings you here?"

The servants at the gate, unaware of his identity, dared not be disrespectful.

"Go and spread the word that the Prince of Liangzhou has come to pay a visit," Li Yuanchang said, revealing his identity directly.

Upon hearing this, the servants were all shocked!

Let alone small places like this, even wealthy merchants in places like Chang'an and Luoyang, upon hearing that the King of Han is coming, will clear the snow from their own doorstep and welcome him with their entire clan.

"We pay our respects to the King of Han!"

"I was blind to your greatness just now, please forgive me!"

"Your Highness, I will go in and inform him immediately. Please go in first."

Li Yuanchang nodded, then turned and signaled to the guards not to follow him in. He only took Guo Chao and eight other people with him.

The Luo family mansion is extremely large, with four vertical and eight horizontal axes, and mountains and rivers in sight, perfectly showcasing the atmosphere of a wealthy family in ancient times.

Before he could reach the front hall, he was met by a large group of people in the long corridor. The leader was a very wealthy man with a mustache and a jade thumb ring on his hand, looking like a ball of flesh.

His eyes were narrowed to slits, gleaming with a sharp light—a typical image of a wealthy gentleman—and he immediately locked onto Li Yuanchang.

"Luo Feng pays his respects to His Highness the Prince of Han!"

"We pay our respects to His Highness the Prince of Han!"

Everyone behind him bowed in greeting.

One of the younger men, who bore a striking resemblance to Luo Feng, smiled at Qin Keyu.

Qin Keyu didn't even glance at it.

"You're too kind, Mr. Luo. Please get up," Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

"His Highness the Prince of Han's presence is an honor to our Luo family!"

"If I had known in advance, I would have had my door cleaned, deer and sheep slaughtered, and entertained the King of Han three days earlier." Luo Feng spoke tactfully and respectfully, showing he was not the kind of person who was rich but brainless.

"Hahaha, Master Luo, to be honest, I didn't know I was coming here three days ago."

"I was just passing through and came to pay a visit. I also have a favor to ask of you," Li Yuanchang said, getting straight to the point.

"oh?"

Luo Feng was surprised.

"In that case, Your Highness, would you mind moving inside to discuss this further?"

"good!"

"please."

"please!"

After a brief exchange, the two sides immediately began their conversation.

Li Yuanchang was pressed for time and had no time for pleasantries. As soon as he sat down, he took the initiative to ask, "Patriarch Luo, may I ask if you are aware of the landslide at Luoma Post Station?"

"I know, merchants from all over the country are changing their routes. Is this why the King of Han has come?" Luo Feng asked in return.

Li Yuanchang nodded: "I guess so."

"The post station has been destroyed; I must deal with it."

"Moreover, there are over a thousand refugees there. In this harsh winter, if they are not dealt with properly, I'm afraid more than half of them will starve to death."

"But for some reason, I didn't bring much food with me this time. It would be too late to go back and forth now, and there's been a tiger problem over there recently."

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng was startled!

"Tiger threat?"

Li Yuanchang nodded: "I have come here to borrow some grain from the Luo family."

"I will return the money in full within forty days at most. If Master Luo is not at ease, I can put it in writing." Li Yuanchang was very polite and courteous, giving him plenty of face. Moreover, the officialdom of Liangzhou Prefecture had never been trustworthy in the past.

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng pondered for a moment, fiddling with the tea lid with her fingers.

"Your Highness, there's no need for that. Putting things in writing would only hurt feelings."

"I can provide the grain for free, but I have a small request, Your Majesty..." He rubbed his fingers together, a fawning smile typical of merchants on his face.

Li Yuanchang and Qin Keyu exchanged a glance, seemingly sensing something.

"What are your requirements?"

"Your Highness, as you know, the Luo family runs a legitimate business and never breaks the law, much less commits murder or arson."

"But a few days ago, because of some trivial matter, three of my nephews and nieces were arrested by His Highness's men."

"Your Highness, do you think we can release them now?"

"I guarantee that I will discipline him strictly and he will never cause trouble for Your Highness!" He stood up, bowed, and clasped his hands in a pleading tone.

Although his attitude was good, Li Yuanchang shook his head directly.

"Master Luo, I cannot agree to this."

The atmosphere became slightly awkward. Although the people from the Luo family didn't dare to say anything, they were clearly a little uncomfortable.

"Master Luo, the legal officials handle cases and trials according to the new Zhenguan Law. His Majesty has also said that the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners."

"Since the judges overturned the verdict, there must be a basis for their decision."

"Even I, the king, cannot bend the law for personal gain."

Luo Feng was a little embarrassed, but he didn't turn cold because of it. After all, he was an old hand in the world, and instead forced a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Your Highness is right. I was rude. I apologize with tea instead of wine."

With that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Li Yuanchang returned the greeting, took a sip of tea, and considered the matter closed.

Immediately afterwards, the scene fell into a long, awkward silence that lasted for more than a dozen breaths.

The situation had reached a stalemate.

Thinking of Li Yuanchang's well-being, Qin Keyu immediately stepped forward with a sweet smile: "Uncle Luo, if you are not at ease, I can also represent my father and acknowledge this debt."

The subtext is a guarantee, asking him to give them face and not to get involved in the ongoing struggle over someone's arrest.

Luo Feng smiled broadly: "Qin girl, with His Highness the Prince of Han personally coming, how could I not trust him?"

"But as you all know, although the Luo family is large and powerful, it doesn't belong to me alone."

"Some things still require the approval of many elders in the family."

"So..." he chuckled, not finishing his sentence.

But everyone knows this is just a pretext, a response to Li Yuanchang's call for the supremacy of the law.

Guo Chao and the other guards were already clearly displeased. The Prince of Han was giving them so much face, and the old man still dared to put on airs!

"you……"

Li Yuanchang gestured to his men to keep quiet. He knew very well where the other side's confidence came from: they had grain and people in Chang'an.