Phi-Fic Chapter 17 There must be a trick involved.
Chapter 17 There must be a trick involved.
"Ok?"
Upon hearing this, Li Longji paused in his writing, holding the brush, and remained silent.
Seeing Li Longji's reaction, Gao Chen was delighted and immediately decided to strike while the iron was hot.
He wanted to continue provoking Li Longji, but Xianglan didn't give him the chance. She whispered a few words in Li Longji's ear, which made Li Longji, who was already feeling hot, even more itchy.
He then waved his hand, signaling Gao Chen to leave.
Gao Chen glared fiercely at Xiang Lan, but ultimately had no choice but to leave the main hall.
Not long after, a series of melodious voices came from inside the hall.
However, the sound was particularly grating to Gao Chen.
……
The next morning.
Li Mao passed through numerous palace gates and arrived at the palace ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, outside the main hall, Gao Chen stood quietly, his eyes occasionally gazing into the depths of the palace, revealing complex emotions.
That night, thanks to the fragrance of orchids, Emperor Li Longji appeared particularly radiant, as if time had turned back.
This change, however, left Gao Chen with mixed feelings.
Just then, Li Mao arrived in a hurry, and a barely perceptible shadow flashed in Gao Chen's eyes.
He deliberately stepped forward, his voice carrying a hint of deliberate disdain: "Your Highness Prince Shou, His Majesty is still reviewing memorials; you may have to wait a while."
Upon hearing this, Li Mao's expression froze, and a chill flashed across his brow.
He knew that Gao Chen was once again using his position to make things difficult for him.
"Alright, stop with the nonsense. I have important business with my father, and if I'm delayed, you filthy fellow can't afford the consequences!"
Gao Chen suppressed his anger.
Li Mao's arrogant appearance lingered in his mind.
However, he knew all too well that losing control of his emotions would be tantamount to digging his own grave.
He had no choice but to turn around and report, feeling rather dejected.
Upon entering the Imperial Study, Gao Chen suppressed all his emotional fluctuations.
He whispered to Li Longji, who was engrossed in his memorials, "Your Majesty, Prince Shou requests an audience."
Li Longji raised his eyes, a subtle glint in them, and gently put down the vermilion brush in his hand, uttering a few words indifferently: "Let him in."
With a soft creak of the door hinges turning, Li Mao entered the room, his magnificent robes gleaming subtly in the candlelight. He knelt on the ground.
Li Longji's gaze was sharp. After a moment, he spoke, his tone devoid of any warmth: "What is it?"
"Father, I have come to present the recent profits from the restaurant."
Li Longji said indifferently, "It's a small matter. I can just have my servants do it next time."
Li Mao said humbly, “Your Majesty, my purpose in coming here is not only to contribute to the restaurant’s profits, but also to have the opportunity to stay by Your Majesty’s side and listen to Your Majesty’s teachings so as to help me cultivate myself and manage my family.”
Although Li Longji was fully aware of how much hypocrisy was contained in these words, the sense of satisfaction of being praised as an emperor still gave him a strange pleasure.
He coughed lightly to conceal the subtle changes in his mind, and then asked about the restaurant's business.
"Hmm, how's business at the restaurant lately?" Li Longji asked casually.
A smile played on Li Mao's lips, but his tone remained extremely respectful as he replied, "This time, we are offering 80% of the restaurant's profits, totaling 50,000 strings of cash."
The figure of 50,000 strings of cash pleased Li Longji, who nodded slightly and said approvingly, "Not bad."
In the emperor's eyes, it was truly remarkable that such a small restaurant could generate such profits, but little did he know that this was just the tip of the iceberg of Li Mao's vast business empire.
Li Mao was secretly pleased, secretly mocking his father, who sat on the dragon throne, for being too easily satisfied.
The potential of the restaurant market is far greater than this. Once it spreads throughout Chang'an and even the entire Tang Dynasty, the profits will be more than a thousand times greater!
His ambitions extend far beyond the petty gains he may have in mind.
Gao Chen, seemingly sensing the subtle atmosphere, seized the opportunity to interject, his tone sarcastic: "Your Highness's restaurant business is booming, and you are on good terms with the officials, which is truly a blessing for the court. However, Your Highness must remember not to let personal matters interfere with public affairs or form cliques for private gain."
Li Longji was well aware that these princes and nobles were the primary consumers.
Li Mao wanted to make money and for his restaurant to earn more profits, so how could he not associate with these people?
Upon hearing this, Li Mao quickly replied, "Your subject will certainly not fail Father's trust, so there's no need for Eunuch Gao to trouble yourself."
……
After leaving the palace, Li Mao did not go directly to a restaurant as most people would have expected.
He leisurely arrived at a secluded and inconspicuous mansion in the western corner of Chang'an City.
Outside the mansion, several capable servants seemed to have been waiting for a long time. The moment they saw Li Mao, a hint of awe flashed in their eyes: "Greetings, Your Highness!"
Li Mao's gaze swept over the crowd. He parted his thin lips slightly, his voice devoid of any warmth: "Have you brought the person?"
The lead servant quickly stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, everything was done according to your instructions, and no one unrelated was alerted."
Li Mao nodded slightly and stepped into the mansion.
The atmosphere inside the mansion was somber.
A middle-aged man sat in the hall, looking uneasy.
The moment Li Mao stepped across the threshold, the man's face turned ashen, and fear flashed in his eyes: "Your Highness Prince Shou, what is the meaning of this?"
He asked in a trembling voice. This man was Wei Chao, a senior official of the Imperial Medical Academy. He had served Li Longji for many years and was naturally familiar with Li Mao.
Faced with Wei Chao's questioning, Li Mao's expression remained unchanged: "Imperial Physician Wei, how have you been? I'm truly sorry that I had to invite you here in such an impolite way."
Upon hearing this, Wei Chao's face darkened with anger: "Your Highness, this is not inviting someone, it's clearly kidnapping! As the saying goes, one should not bring misfortune upon one's family, why are you even targeting my family?"
Li Mao sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "It's a last resort. I invited you several times before, but Physician Wei didn't come. I had no choice but to resort to this."
Upon hearing this, Wei Chao's eyes became more wary, and he questioned, "Your Highness, what is the purpose of summoning me here? Why would you go to such lengths for a mere imperial physician?"
Li Mao did not answer immediately, but instead glanced at him and gestured. The servant beside him immediately understood and brought a heavy box from the shadows. When the lid was opened, it was a whole box of gold!
Upon seeing this, Wei Chao gasped, his expression filled with shock and uncertainty: "Your Highness, do you mean... that you intend to harm His Majesty?"
Upon hearing this, Li Mao's expression darkened slightly: "You are mistaken. I have no intention of betraying you in the slightest. I simply need your help, Physician Wei, to resolve some minor troubles. This is nothing more than a trivial matter for you."
"What if I don't agree?"
Wei Chao had lived for several decades, so he naturally understood that money doesn't come for free.
There must be something fishy going on here!