Forehead!
Wang Hui's face stiffened. This guy was looking at him with a disgusted expression, as if he was about to vomit. This was too humiliating.
He couldn't help but retort angrily, " Zhang Zizai, it wasn't me who schemed against you back then. Aren't you going a bit too far with your words? What did I ever do to offend you?"
Birds of a feather flock together!
Zhang Zizai, with his back to him, didn't even turn around. He simply waved his hand and left with a cold laugh.
The onlookers were dumbfounded, comparing the patriarch of a powerful family to a rat in a gutter. This was simply the height of arrogance; no wonder he was called the Madman Zhang Zizai.
Although the aristocratic families are being suppressed by the emperor, their core base is still intact, making them not people to be trifled with.
When Zhang Zizai arrived, he didn't even glance at him; that was incredibly arrogant.
"You son of a bitch!"
Seeing the amused looks on the faces of those around him, Wang Hui couldn't help but shrug his shoulders in frustration. He shouldn't have spoken up in the first place; he'd been directly insulted.
Hehehe!
Just then, a few low laughs rang out. Zhang Wanhao and the others had walked over at some point, and upon hearing these words, they couldn't help but laugh.
"Old Wang, you're the first person in charge right now, and yet you've been compared to a rat in a gutter. How can you tolerate this? Just have your servants deal with him!" Zhang Wanhao winked and said with a strange look on his face.
Because Wang Yunze voluntarily submitted to the emperor, although the Wang Clan's strength is not what it used to be, its prestige is much higher than that of other aristocratic families. This is because Wang Yunze is recognized by the emperor and his future is bright.
Wang Hui is being pointed at and insulted, and he hasn't even fought back. This is truly a All Under Heaven!
"Nonsense!"
Wang Hui rolled his eyes and said irritably, "The aristocratic families are already being suppressed by the Emperor, walking on thin ice. If I dared to harm the scholars who are going to the capital for the imperial examinations, wouldn't that be courting death?"
He's not stupid!
It doesn't matter who Zhang Zizai is; he could overcome numerous obstacles to reach the capital and participate in the imperial examination. He absolutely wouldn't believe that there wasn't some kind of investigation by the Net (a secret police organization).
Since they've come, there must be no problem. Why should I go against the Emperor?
Moreover, given their sensitive background, getting too close to the test takers might lead to accusations of forming cliques for personal gain, so it's best to keep a low profile.
"Damn, this is boring!"
Zhang Wanhao was speechless. This younger brother was actually so obedient; it was truly disappointing.
Liu Kun, standing to the side, couldn't help but smile wryly and said quietly, "Brother Zhang, it seems that Zhang Zizai wasn't just referring to the Wang Clan family, but all the aristocratic families have been insulted. You could make a move too."
"Hmph, I'm not like you!" Zhang Wanhao glanced at him and said smugly.
"What's the meaning?"
"You may still be considered aristocratic families, but my Zhang Clan isn't. We're now a major silkworm breeder for the royal family, not some aristocratic family. If you call me an aristocratic family again, don't blame me for turning against you."
Zhang Wanhao waved his fist, looking unfriendly.
Depend on!
Everyone couldn't help but give him the middle finger. Only he could say something so shameless. It was like taking off your pants to fart—completely unnecessary.
You think you can just call someone a large-scale silkworm farmer? There's no such thing as a All Under Heaven silkworm farmer.
However, no one laughed at him. After all, the Great Liang was too terrifying now. Not to mention that the aristocratic families couldn't withstand it, even the Western countries were probably trembling with fear.
Liu Kun couldn't help but sigh, "With the current fighting strength of the Great Liang, I really don't want to be a powerful family anymore. If the Emperor didn't dislike us, things would be fine, but the current situation is a nightmare."
The once dashing and debonair aristocratic families have now become the emperor's money bags, able to take whatever he wants without a second thought. Who understands the grievances they endure?
"Well, it's better to live a wretched life than to die. At least we're still alive. We can only hope that one day the Emperor will see our loyalty," Wang Hui said with a dry laugh.
What could he do? He was completely helpless!
Even though they were once the most powerful family in Great Ning, they were nothing more than decorations in front of the Emperor. He could destroy the Wang Clan with a wave of his hand, and they had no power to resist at all.
Even the mighty Western Regions and Zhennan are now a thing of the past; the Great Liang of today is no mere figurehead.
"Hehe, I, Zhang Wanhao, have no other merits, except that I know how to be pragmatic. I'll do whatever the Emperor tells me to do; surely that won't lead to any mistakes?"
Zhang Wanhao sighed. As long as he obeyed, at least he would still have a bone to eat.
He has made a lot of money raising silkworms in the past six months, which shows that following the emperor is not a bad thing, as long as you don't make mistakes.
But as soon as he turned around, his pupils shrank, and he looked as if he had seen a ghost. He immediately turned to leave.
"Brother Zhang, please wait!"
He had only taken two steps when the man called out to him.
Damn it!
Upon seeing that familiar face, Zhang Wanhao's smile vanished instantly, and he almost wanted to punch him. That guy's sly grin clearly indicated he had ill intentions.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch the other man, and said awkwardly, "Brother Cao, I'm not feeling well today. Let's meet another day. I'll definitely treat you to a meal then!"
As he spoke, his foot was already outstretched.
This is bad, get out of here!
Every time I run into this guy, I get ripped off. It's just too much!
Cao Cao grabbed his hand and laughed, "I've remembered your offer to treat us, but this time it's not me who's looking for you, it's the Emperor who's summoning you. You're to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor tomorrow!"
ah?
Zhang Wanhao's face stiffened, and he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. How long had it been? The Emperor had already set his sights on him again.
You can't just fleece one sheep like that; Old Zhang can't even keep spinning silkworms.
He couldn't help but say bitterly, "Why am I always the one who gets hurt? I'm clearly a large-scale silkworm farmer now, not from a prestigious family anymore, so please don't try to talk to me."
"Cough cough!"
Wang Hui was standing nearby, coughed lightly and said, "Sorry, I suddenly have a splitting headache, so I'll head back first. See you later!" Then he prepared to leave.
"Slow!"
"None of you should leave. His Majesty has always been Win People Over with Virtue and to bestow his favor equally upon all. This time, not only will the aristocratic families go, but also the major silkworm farmers. You will all be included," Cao Cao said to him with a forced smile.
puff!
Zhang Wanhao nearly vomited blood. He hadn't expected that even this large-scale silkworm farmer wouldn't work. Was he going to follow Zhang Zizai's example and become an outlaw?
"Alas, life is always full of hardships!"
Wang Hui's vision went black, and he almost fell to the ground. This time, he couldn't escape again.
Cao Cao glanced at the group and laughed, "This might be a good thing. It all depends on whether you can seize this opportunity. Don't forget me, Cao Cao, when the time comes to reap the rewards. I'm your mentor and friend!"
Fuck you!
Liu Kun's lips twitched slightly, and he silently lowered his head. "You didn't see me."
As for what good things might be coming, he didn't believe it. What good things could the Emperor be looking for in his people? It was all bad stuff.
However, the monk can run away but the temple can't. They can only hope that the emperor will go easy on them this time, otherwise the Liu Clan might not be able to withstand it.