I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 385 Not giving face

Chapter 385 Not Giving Face

At first, Lu Xiang-sheng thought Wang Wen-zhou was quite normal, but after a while, he was stunned.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wang Wenzhou, Wang Ying stepped out of Wang Wenzhou's large sedan chair.

Lu Xiang-sheng had seen Wang Ying before, and he was completely stunned. Wasn't this Consort Tian? The rumor was actually true! Lu Xiang-sheng was also a man, and he knew he couldn't tolerate being cuckolded. But the Emperor not only tolerated it, but also bestowed Consort Tian upon Wang Wen-zhou. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, no one would have believed the rumor was true!

Moreover, Wang Wenzhou's specially made sedan chair was even larger than the imperial carriage, resembling a mobile house, requiring more than a dozen people to carry it.

Wang Wenzhou's babies stepped down from the sedan chair. Lu Xiangsheng counted them; there were a total of five women. Wang Wenzhou's reputation for being a lecher was truly well-deserved.

Lu Xiang-sheng led Wang Wen-zhou into the restaurant, whereupon Wang Wen-zhou surprisingly seated all his wives and concubines at the head table. In the Ming Dynasty, women, regardless of status, were not allowed to sit at the main table. During meals, women of higher status would not be seated in the same room as men, but would be accompanied by the host's women. Men and women dining together was only observed in brothels, outside of everyday life at home.

Although it was a matter of following the host's lead, Lu Xiang-sheng couldn't refuse Wang Wen-zhou's shamelessness, so he had no choice but to sit at the same table with Wang Wen-zhou's wives and concubines. Thus, besides Lu Xiang-sheng, only Wang Wen-zhou and his wives and concubines were at the main table. The other officials who had come to greet Wang Wen-zhou were relegated to tables to the side.

Lu Xiang-sheng raised his wine cup and said, "Lord Wang, I would like to offer you a toast."

Wang Wenzhou smiled and said, "Lord Lu, you are too kind. I was just passing through this place, and Lord Lu's hospitality has been very kind to me. I am extremely grateful."

Lu Xiang-sheng drank it all in one gulp.

Wang Wenzhou handed the wine cup to Liu Rushi beside him. Liu Rushi shook her head with a wry smile, drank the wine in the cup, and then fed it to Wang Wenzhou mouth to mouth.

Lu Xiang-sheng was dumbfounded. No wonder all the civil and military officials who had come into contact with Wang Wen-zhou in the court called him a mad dog. This guy was openly drinking and carousing in public.

The officials who accompanied Lu Xiang-sheng were also dumbfounded. Wang Wen-zhou was truly amazing! Drinking and carousing in this kind of setting!

Liu Rushi leaned over and said softly, "Wang Wenzhou, your injuries haven't fully healed, so drink less today."

"Yes, yes!" Wang Wenzhou nodded repeatedly, and said in a serious tone, "I will listen to you and be a good man!"

Liu Rushi rolled her eyes at Wang Wenzhou, disciplining her son in public and scolding her husband behind his back! Liu Rushi was very considerate of Wang Wenzhou, and was too embarrassed to reprimand him in front of outsiders. But Wang Wenzhou was different; along the way, whenever he was entertained, he would drink heavily, not stopping until he was completely drunk.

"Sister-in-law, have some food!" Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, putting his arm around Wang Ying.

Wang Ying quickly fed her nemesis a bite of food.

Wang Wenzhou looked at Lu Xiangshan and said with a smile, "Lord Lu, please let my men who are being held up outside Datong Pass pass through quickly."

Lu Xiang-sheng quickly said, "Lord Wang, please stay here for a few days and rest. I will immediately send someone to order your passage."

Lu Xiang-sheng concluded that the subordinates on the mission were undoubtedly Wang Wen-zhou's smuggling caravan. Lu Xiang-sheng felt deeply saddened that someone as greedy and lecherous as Wang Wen-zhou could rise to such a high position and enjoy the emperor's favor. The Ming Dynasty was being ruined by these corrupt officials!

Taking this group of girls to supervise the army, are you going to fight on the battlefield or to have sex in bed? Lu Xiang-sheng dared not blame Zhu You-jian for being blind, but only felt that Wang Wen-zhou must have deceived his superiors and misled the emperor.

No! I must submit a memorial impeaching Wang Wenzhou. A man like him, sent to the Northwest, will not only be detrimental to the bandit suppression efforts, but will certainly cause trouble for the generals in charge! The national treasury has just been replenished thanks to the enthusiastic donations from the people. The soldiers at the front have all received their previously owed wages and are full of energy, ready to serve their country. We cannot allow Wang Wenzhou to dampen their morale!

"Lord Wang, I suddenly remembered that I have urgent military affairs to attend to, so I must take my leave!" Lu Xiang-sheng had already decided to impeach Wang Wen-zhou, which meant he would break ties with Wang Wen-zhou and no longer wanted to feign politeness with him.

Wang Wenzhou frowned deeply. "Is this guy out of his mind? What did I do to offend him? Why the sudden change in attitude?"

"Let's go!" Lu Xiang-sheng called out, and the officials who had come with him took their leave.

"Little Gui, come here!" Wang Wenzhou beckoned to Wu Sangui.

"Who told you to sit down? You fucking squat on the side!" Wang Wenzhou said irritably.

"Xiao Guizi, what do you think Lu Xiang-sheng means?" Wang Wenzhou asked.

"Lord Lu is a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and he became the Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong in his thirties. He can be described as a young man who has achieved great success!" Wu Sangui cursed inwardly. What else could he do? Lord Lu just didn't like his way of doing things! Wu Sangui dared not say it outright, for fear that Wang Wenzhou would punish him.

Liu Rushi said irritably, "I've reminded you before. When we're out and about, not at home, we women can't eat at the same table as you, and you certainly can't eat from our mouths."

"Tch!" Wang Wenzhou said disdainfully, "In front of Zhu Youjian, I, this young master, eat from the baby's mouth. What is Lu Xiangshan? What's so great about him! He'll be killed by the Manchus sooner or later! I'm not eating anymore, I'm in a bad mood!"

From the capital to here, the officials who received him along the way were all very hospitable and offered him travel expenses. This was an unspoken rule in officialdom. Although Wang Wenzhou looked down on that small amount of money, he wouldn't refuse. If someone gave you face, you had to give them face in return. Lu Xiangshan was the first person Wang Wenzhou encountered who didn't give him face.

Wang Wenzhou returned to his tent in a huff and puff, intending to go find Dayuer.

Liu Rushi frowned and said coldly, "You want to go find those Mongolian bitches again?"

Wang Wenzhou quickly explained, "Ruru, don't be angry. I want to release them."

"Hmm?" Liu Rushi asked suspiciously, "You colluded with Dorgon to help him seize power. Huang Taiji's wives and concubines were very valuable bargaining chips in your hands. Why did you let them go so easily?"

“Ruru, don’t be so harsh with your words. What do you mean by collusion? I was making an investment! Ruru, you know it’s really hard to say who assassinated me. Besides, I am a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, and I don’t want the Tartars to rule the Central Plains.” Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.

"Lord Wang, are you so loyal to the emperor and patriotic?" Liu Rushi said sarcastically.

"Loyalty to my ass! In my heart, my beloved Ru Ru is the one I will serve for life!" Wang Wenzhou said tenderly.

Liu Rushi shook her head with a wry smile; her nemesis's words were truly sweet.

"I released them so they would tell Huang Taiji that Dorgon and I were plotting to seize his throne. Let the two brothers fight like dogs! That would be fair to Zhu Youjian, allowing him to take advantage of the internal strife among the Tartars and pacify Liaodong in one fell swoop. Of course, I still believe that Zhu Youjian will not be able to pacify Liaodong in a short time," Wang Wenzhou said seriously.

"Go ahead, but don't come back to my room if it's too late, and don't wake Liu Xiaohua." Liu Rushi knew that her nemesis was having an affair with that Mongolian slut, and given his character, he would definitely be reluctant to part ways. Besides, he was sleeping with girls for the country, so she turned a blind eye and gave him the opportunity.