Although the emperor seemed to be asking Zhang Liangxi's opinion, and under normal circumstances Zhang Liangxi could have offered a word of caution, he knew the emperor well enough to understand that, once those words were spoken, his resolve would be almost impossible to shake.
So Zhang Liangxi merely smiled and answered with a question of his own.
"Shall this old servant send someone to Lord Tan's residence, then?"
The emperor smiled too, setting the letter on his desk and securing it beneath a paperweight. Zhang Liangxi had already hurried out to give the orders.
Within Heaven-Bearing Prefecture stood a residence that surpassed those of princes and ministers, occupying an enormous stretch of land in the Capital City, where every inch was worth its weight in gold. It was Tan Yuanshang's residence.
The layout and furnishings of the Tan Residence might not have been the most extravagant, but they were certainly the most carefully considered. Not a single building, courtyard, or scenic feature had been constructed casually.
A few years earlier, they had even invited the master craftsman Chu Qinglin to redesign it. Yet after inspecting the residence, Chu Qinglin had offered nothing but praise, made a few minor suggestions, and helped refurbish several areas, with no further guidance to give.
That alone demonstrated both the extraordinary nature of the Tan Residence and the breadth of Tan Yuanshang's connections.
Chu Qinglin was indeed a celebrated craftsman, but he was also Chu Hang's father. Apart from the emperor, who could persuade him to help build houses and remodel courtyards? Only Tan Yuanshang.
That day, someone from the palace arrived at the Tan Residence to explain the situation. In the warm reception hall, he met Tan Yuanshang, who had hurried over properly dressed, and made the purpose of his visit clear.
Compared