Huo Chenan felt a headache when he heard the old emperor's question.
Huo Chenan knew that serving the emperor was like serving a tiger, not to mention that he knew the tiger's little secret.
But if he refused to accept the job, he would be dead in a week.
Huo Chenan said helplessly: "Your Majesty, I have an agreement with the eldest lady of the Su family, and I will be a servant for another month and a half."
The old emperor nodded slightly. He knew the three-month deadline, and Huo Chenan's background had been thoroughly investigated by the old emperor.
The old emperor was not angry, but rather appreciated Huo Chenan's honesty and trustworthiness.
"It's a good thing for a man to keep his contract. I will invite you to Beijing in a month and a half."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I want to start from the local area first."
Hearing this, the old emperor was slightly displeased. Why did Huo Chenan always refuse to do his own arrangements?
The old emperor asked, "Why do we have to start from the local level?"
Huo Chenan replied, "How can you know the sufferings of the people when you have been in the temple for a long time?"
"Humph!" The old emperor snorted and said, "Are you criticizing me for not knowing the sufferings of the people?"
"I dare not." Huo Chenan said tremblingly, "If you are in the temple, you will worry about the people; if you are far away from the rivers and lakes, you will worry about the monarch. It is worrying when you advance and worrying when you retreat. Therefore, I think we should worry about the worries of the world first and then enjoy the happiness of the world. That's why I want to understand the sufferings of the people and start from the local level."
Hearing this, the old emperor's stern face eased, and he murmured and repeated, "Worry about the worries of the world first and then enjoy the happiness of the world."
Suddenly laughed out loud, "Hahahaha, you are good Huo Chenan, you are good at worrying about the worries of the world first and then enjoy the happiness of the world. I agree. Come to Beijing in one and a half months to obey orders. If there is a vacancy in the local level, I will arrange it for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Huo Chenan breathed a sigh of relief.
It's safer than staying with the old emperor.
When Huo Chenan left the dragon boat, the crowd on the shore of Xuanwu Lake had dispersed. Looking at the lonely night, Huo Chenan suddenly felt unreal. Since he crossed over, everything he did was to integrate into this society and make himself have a place in this world.
However, at this moment, he seemed to be a person with nothing. This feeling of powerlessness that he could not control his fate also made Huo Chenan feel a little confused.
"Hey!" A crisp voice interrupted Huo Chenan's thoughts. He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a beautiful woman standing not far away under the moonlight. It was Su Linglong, the eldest daughter of the Su family.
Su Linglong did not disperse with the crowd, but waited until Huo Chenan came out.
Because Huo Chenan changed into casual clothes, he was also handsome at this time. The white moonlight sprinkled on the two of them. Huo Chenan could see clearly that Su Linglong was holding a set of men's clothes in her hand, which seemed to be for her to change.
Huo Chenan felt warm for no reason, and the confusion and powerlessness he had just felt were instantly dispelled by this warmth.
The spring breeze blew through Su Linglong's long hair, curling up a few strands of naughty black hair and sticking to her pretty face.
Su Linglong walked closer to Huo Chenan, looking at this goose-like pervert, and the concerned look in her eyes could not be hidden at all.
She stuffed the clothes in her hand into Huo Chenan's hand and said in a cold voice: "Don't be so stubborn in the future."
After that, she turned around and left, and her pretty face was already stained with a blush.
Huo Chenan couldn't help but smile when he looked at the clothes in his hand. The eldest lady was a person with a cold face and a warm heart.
He looked at Su Linglong's swaying back, and couldn't help but feel distracted. Uh, no, no, she will be my sister-in-law in the future. It doesn't matter if I just look at her.
Just when Huo Chenan was struggling, two figures entered his field of vision, blocking his view of Su Linglong's graceful figure.
Both of them were wearing long robes and hats. The most noticeable thing was that they both wore a pair of small round sunglasses. This thing was an imported product. It was a rare thing in the Dashun Dynasty. The two of them could buy it, so they must be rich.
What surprised Huo Chenan the most was that the two of them were carrying a horizontal board-shaped bag together.
This made Huo Chenan complain in his heart: "Go away, I'll break your glasses. These two four-eyed guys, Qingming Festival has passed, and they are still carrying coffin boards everywhere in the middle of the night. It's really unlucky."
These two people are the masters Tiancan Dique invited by the Tyrant Gang, but the two have not yet gone to the Tyrant Gang to receive the mission. They plan to play in Jinling City first.
...
The second day of Jinling City was still lively.
The news that the young servant of the Su family won the first prize in the poetry competition also spread like wildfire in Jinling City. Of course, all kinds of rumors and interesting stories also spread with it, such as the new champion of the poetry competition fell into the lake and died, and the one who angered the emperor was thrown into the lake to feed the fish.
But this did not stop the girls from the brothel from coming to ask for poems.
Early in the morning, Su Linglong strictly ordered the guards to refuse all visits. If there were any brothels that asked Huo Chenan to ask for poems, they would respond that Huo Chenan drowned last night.
Because of this order, Shen Mingcheng, who came to show his courtesy early in the morning, was also ruthlessly turned away.
…
At this time, Huo Chenan was saying goodbye to the old emperor and others in the Wu Wang Mansion.
Today, the old emperor will take the prince and Princess Jialing back to Beijing.
Since learning the old emperor's secret, Huo Chenan can no longer go back to the past when facing the prince.
"Sir, I will go back to the palace with my father."
Let's go, let's go, thank God! Huo Chen'an cheered in his heart, but he still said respectfully: "I wish your highness a safe journey."
"I will wait for you in the capital." The prince saluted Huo Chen'an.
Huo Chen'an returned the salute respectfully.
Behind him was Princess Jialing: "I thank the man from Jiangning County again for saving my life."
"Your Highness is too polite."
"I will also wait for the man from Jiangning County in the capital. Roujiamo is still the best you make."
Huo Chen'an replied: "I will definitely make it for your Highness if I have the chance."
...
After the farewell, the old emperor and his entourage returned to the capital in a mighty manner.
On the dragon sedan, the old emperor said to You Zizai: "This year's tribute to the inner treasury will be selected by the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau."
"Your servant obeys your order." You Zizai replied respectfully.
This piece of news alone was enough to shock the entire Jiangnan business community. You know, being able to become an imperial merchant is the ultimate pursuit of every merchant, not to mention the profits brought by Gongjuan every year.
The fame brought by becoming an imperial merchant alone can make all merchants scramble for this honor.
Shen Mingcheng, who learned the news that night, rushed back to Hangzhou overnight.
Su Linglong also ordered people to prepare various goods and prepare to go to the Hangzhou Weaving Bureau to establish connections, try to get the exclusive supply rights of Gongjuan this time, and become a soaring imperial merchant.