They passed by the company entrance, and Yan Ge returned to the company while Huangfu Yuchen went back to the palace.
Liu Rong came to report, “Young Master, three guests from the Mai Kingdom are waiting for you in the reception room.”
Yan Ge frowned, “Why are they still here?”
Liu Rong said, “Young Master, they insist on waiting for you.”
Yan Ge looked at him calmly, “If they insist on seeing me, should I let them? Should I let anyone who insists on seeing me meet with me?”
“This…,” Liu Rong lowered his head in apology, “Young Master, it was my mishandling. Initially, they said they wanted to discuss the cement business, and I told them that the cement matters are not under your jurisdiction. Then they changed their minds and said they wanted to talk about cooperation in pens and wine…”
“I’ll let it go this time, let it be the exception,” Yan Ge said in a gentle tone. “Even without me saying it, you should know that the First Company is not an ordinary business establishment. We need to be more cautious in all aspects. You are now in charge of the company headquarters. If you cannot handle problems more appropriately, how can I entrust you with more important tasks?”
“Yes, thank you for the guidance, Young Master. I will remember,” Liu Rong hurriedly said. “So, Young Master, will you still see them?”
Yan Ge m said indifferently, “Since it’s about pens and wine, let Manager Zhao handle them. I have other matters to attend to.”
“Understood.”
Te Liao and his companions waited for a while and only met with a manager. After discussing business with Manager Zhao as if nothing happened, they returned to the Inn where they were staying. As soon as they entered the room, the three of them changed their expressions.
Tulan Zhong exclaimed in anger, “Fourth Prince, Yan Caiqing is being too arrogant!”
Te Liao furrowed his brows and looked at him, and he quickly corrected himself, “Young Master…”
“It’s no wonder,” Te Liao said. “The Emperor of Great Han dotes on him greatly, and the people of the capital highly respect him. He is the most respected person in Great Han after the Emperor himself. It’s no wonder he has such a big attitude.”
Tulan Yong said, “Young Master, I don’t understand. If it was about the cement business, wouldn’t it be easier for you to negotiate with the Emperor using your true identity? Why start with Yan Caiqing?”
“Don’t ask too much,” Te Liao waved his hand. “You go and find out where Yan Caiqing usually goes.”
“Understood.”
Unbeknownst to them, there was a pair of ears listening to their entire conversation.
Not long after, the shadow guard reported the news to Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen was slightly surprised, “Fourth Prince of the Mai Kingdom?”
“Yes,” the shadow guard replied.
Huangfu Yuchen stood up and paced in the hall. “If I remember correctly, the Fourth Prince of the Mai Kingdom is Hu Maiti?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Deng Mande said.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Could it be that the Emperor of the Mai Kingdom, Hu Mailong, sent him to inquire about the cement business? But as far as I know, Hu Maiti is the result of a drunken encounter between Hu Mailong and a palace maid, so he is not favored. Why would Hu Mailong send him to Great Han? And why did he come in secret?”
Deng Mande remained silent and did not disturb his train of thought.
“Could it be that he’s here for Xiao Ge?” Huangfu Yuchen’s face darkened slightly. “Make sure to keep an eye on them, and also investigate the true purpose of Hu Maiti’s visit here.”
“Yes!”
“Also, I asked you to reinvestigate the Centipede Organization. How is the progress?”
The shadow guard said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, we have found out that the leader of the Centipede Organization is from the capital and has close connections with high-ranking officials in the capital. His last appearance was at the Cuiyu Pavilion in the capital, but the pavilion has been burned down. So far, we have lost all leads.”
“Close connections with high-ranking officials in the capital?” Huangfu Yuchen’s voice turned icy. “What does this mean?”
The shadow guard said, “This Is the conclusion we reached based on all the clues we have. In the six years since the appearance of the Centipede Organization, they have targeted over sixty wealthy businessmen and more than thirty officials. Some of these officials’ travel itineraries were kept secret. Having close connections with high-ranking officials in the capital is the only explanation as to how they know their routes.”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded slowly, his face turning colder. “That’s right. If not for that, how could they accurately track our whereabouts during our southern expedition?”
Deng Mande said worriedly, “Your Majesty, please calm down…”
Huangfu Yuchen asked again, “Do you have any suspects?”
The shadow guard shook his head. “No, there are too few clues. They are very cautious, and unless they take action, our men won’t be able to track them.”
“You may withdraw,” Huangfu Yuchen said.
“Yes.”
Deng Mande noticed Huangfu Yuchen’s contemplative expression and tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, have you figured something out?”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “The actions of the Centipede Organization are indeed puzzling. Killing the wealthy for money is no secret; however, why do they target so many officials and nobles? It can’t be just because they hate officials or the court. If it’s about hating the court, why don’t they attempt to assassinate me? And as for dealing with Xiao Ge, it’s even more confusing. They have always wanted to capture him, but what is their motive?” He vaguely felt that he had touched something, but in his rush to pursue it, he gained nothing.
“Your Majesty, since you can’t figure it out, it’s better not to think about it for now,” Deng Mande said. “Now that you have set up a net, as long as they dare to take action again, we will definitely catch them! In fact, in this servant’s opinion, they definitely wouldn’t dare to act in the capital. The common people hold great respect for you and Yan Caiqing. Even if you and Yan Caiqing don’t have bodyguards around you, I dare say that if anyone dares to harm you or Yan Caiqing, the common people will fight to protect you.”
Huangfu Yuchen praised, “You are right about the second statement. Centipede wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on Xiao Ge in the capital, but I won’t risk sending him outside the capital either. So, for now, we can only take it step by step and see who loses patience first.”
Te Liao was completely unaware that his identity had been exposed shortly after entering the capital. Upon learning that Yan Caiqing was frequently seen in the “ West City Development Zone,” he dressed neatly and went to the new development area with Tulan Zhong and Tulan Yong.
Yan Ge had not been very busy with the company’s affairs lately. He only provided a development plan for the company and entrusted the implementation to his subordinates. The reconstruction of the capital posed a greater challenge for him, and once the capital became a renowned city, he would receive a system reward of 2 million taels of silver. Naturally, he was enthusiastic about it.
West City was home to many officials’ mansions and academies, and had a strong academic atmosphere. In the new development area, a piece of land was reserved for the imperial court, where Yan Ge planned to build the Chongwen Hall. As the political, cultural, and military center, it was necessary to provide a platform for scholars to communicate. Chongwen Hall would be constructed with bricks and cement, and it would not only house a rich collection of books but also provide opportunities for scholars to learn and exchange ideas, including poetry, literature, and calligraphy.
On the other hand, East City was filled with brothels and gambling dens. When planning the capital, Yan Ge bought a piece of land in the new development area in East City. He planned to build an entertainment city, and recently he had found time to complete the design. In the entertainment city, there would be singing and dancing performances, storytelling, drama, and various delicacies, making it the liveliest place in the capital. Both Chongwen Hall and the entertainment city would be constructed simultaneously, indicating how busy he would be.
“Young Master, have a drink of water,” Du Juan handed a water jug to Yan Ge.
Yan Ge took a sip of water and said to Gao Feng, “Make sure the workers pay attention to safety.”
“Young Master, you can rest assured,” Gao Feng said.
Gao Yun said, “Young Master, there’s something I don’t understand.”
Yan Ge said, “Oh? Just say it.”
Gao Yun said, “According to Young Master, the first floor of the Chongwen Hall will be the library, and the second floor will be the exchange room. I think it would be better to put the library on the second floor since it’s quieter than the first floor.”
Yan Ge nodded, “You’re right, but we need to consider one situation. The books in the library are extremely precious. If we place the library on the second floor and there’s a water leakage, it will cause significant losses before we can put out the fire. That’s why I decided to put the library on the first floor.”
“I see,” Gao Yun suddenly realized. “Young Master, your consideration is indeed thoughtful.”
A gentle male voice came from behind them: “I suppose you must be Yan Caiqing.”
Yan Ge turned around, and a few steps away stood three individuals. From their positions, it was clear that there was a master and two servants. All three had distinct features, and it was apparent that they were not from Great Han.
“Who are you?” Gao Feng stepped forward and asked.
Te Liao clasped his hands and said, “I am Te Liao, a merchant from Mai Kingdom. These two are my bodyguards, Tulan Zhong and Tulan Yong. Greetings, Yan Caiqing.”
Tulan Zhong and Tulan Yong followed suit and saluted, “Greetings, Yan Caiqing.”
Yan Ge looked at Te Liao with surprise. This person was probably the most beautiful person he had ever seen. His features were exquisite, surpassing even Song Ruhao in beauty.
Te Liao allowed him to scrutinize him, a faint smile forming at the corners of his lips, enhancing his captivating charm. A meaningful emotion flickered in his eyes.
Yan Ge carefully examined Te Liao and asked, “From your appearance, you look like a woman dressing up as a man, but your voice suggests otherwise. Are you a man?”
Te Liao’s face darkened slightly. “I am indeed a man.”
Yan Ge smiled apologetically. “I apologize for my impoliteness. Please forgive me.”
Te Liao replied, “Not at all. It is I who rudely disturbed Yan Caiqing, and I am the one at fault.”
Yan Ge said, “If I’m not mistaken, you are the three individuals who visited our company a few days ago, right?”
Te Liao confirmed, “That is correct. I wish to discuss a major business deal with Yan Caiqing. Can Yan Caiqing spare some time for a detailed discussion?”
Yan Ge chuckled lightly . “If you want to discuss the cement business, you can approach the officials in the Ministry of Works.”
Te Liao clarified, “It’s not about that. I know that the cement business falls under the jurisdiction of your esteemed kingdom’s Ministry of Works. I am here to discuss other aspects of cooperation with Yan Caiqing. I must confess, I hold a considerable amount of wealth in the business circles of Mai Kingdom. This collaboration would encompass various aspects of your esteemed company’s business.”
Yan Ge dismissed it casually. “Other matters can be discussed with the managers of our company. They will surely attend to you well.”
Te Liao hesitated. “I believe Yan Caiqing might have misunderstood. I want to discuss a major business deal with Yan Caiqing personally. How about I play the host, and we can talk while enjoying a meal?”
Yan Ge found it amusing. After the initial stages of the company, he often discussed business with renowned merchants over a meal. However, that was no longer the case. Firstly, because the merchants were apprehensive about his identity as an imperial consort, so any business matters were usually handled by the company’s managers. Secondly, his subordinates were capable and didn’t require his personal involvement.
This Te Liao seemed to hold himself in high regard. What made him think his business was worth his time for dining and entertainment? Either he hadn’t done his research properly, or he had ulterior motives.
“If you truly wish to discuss business, please approach the managers of my company. If you don’t want to, you are free to leave. I have other matters to attend to. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
Te Liao exclaimed in surprise, “Aren’t you afraid of missing out on a major business deal?”
Yan Ge nonchalantly replied, “There are plenty of people who want to do business with me. You’re not the only one.”
With that, he turned to Gao Feng and Gao Yun, saying, “Go and check the construction site in the back.”
“Yes.”
Te Liao watched as Yan Ge gradually moved away, his face growing dark.
“Young Master,” Tulan Zhong whispered, “I really don’t understand why you’re so interested in Yan Caiqing.”
Te Liao didn’t answer. He quickly caught up to Yan Ge and said, “Yan Caiqing, I am actually the Fourth Prince of Mai Kingdom, Hu Maiti.” He waited for Yan Ge’s surprised expression.
Yan Ge, who hadn’t received any information from Huangfu Yuchen, was taken aback internally, but his face remained calm. He looked at Te Liao with a composed gaze, seemingly smiling but not quite.
Te Liao thought to himself that Yan Ge was indeed worthy of the person who built a successful company and reconstructed the capital. Just this level of composure was beyond the reach of ordinary people. He felt a bit embarrassed and continued, “I was just joking about discussing business over a meal. Please don’t mind, Yan Caiqing.”
Yan Ge calmly replied, “Are you joking? If you truly are the Fourth Prince of Mai Kingdom, then you should know that treating another kingdom’s emperor’s consort in such a manner is disrespectful.”
Hu Maiti explained, “When I saw Yan Caiqing, I felt a sense of familiarity, so I was a little too forward. Please forgive me.”
