YWTGU -Chapter 14 It… It Sold Again?!

Inside Cining Palace, the air was warm and fragrant.

After court was dismissed, Emperor Zhao Ling’er strode briskly into the hall, her phoenix eyes still unable to hide the smile within them.

What had happened in court today had truly been spectacular—so satisfying!

“Your Majesty!”

Empress Sun Ruoxi had already been waiting inside. Seeing Zhao Ling’er in such high spirits, she stepped forward with a smile. “Court ended rather early today. Your Majesty looks delighted—has something good happened?”

“Good? It’s tremendously good!”

Zhao Ling’er dropped all pretense, grabbed Sun Ruoxi’s hand, and said animatedly:

“You’ve no idea how sour those old foxes’ faces looked in court today!”

She immediately pulled her to sit down and eagerly recounted the events of the morning assembly.

“…Those fellows all pride themselves on their vast learning. Before court, every one of them was condemning Li An with righteous fury. And what happened? On the floor of the court, Li An rebutted them with just a few words and left them speechless!”

Sun Ruoxi covered her mouth and laughed softly. “This Li An is truly remarkable.”

“Exactly!”

Zhao Ling’er slapped the table, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.

“But Ruoxi, do you know what has frustrated me most in these three years since I ascended the throne?”

“I know. Your Majesty’s policies never make it beyond the Golden Throne Hall.”

Zhao Ling’er gave a bitter smile and nodded.

“Yes. Whatever I say, those old foxes agree on the surface, but undermine me behind my back. But today was different. Today, I truly saw them choked into silence by Li An’s words!”

“This—this is what it feels like to be Emperor!”

Just then, a long announcement sounded from outside the hall.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived—”

The smile on Zhao Ling’er’s face instantly froze.

…

The Empress Dowager entered slowly, dressed in a dark purple brocade robe. Her features were well preserved, but her eyes carried the sharpness of someone who had seen through the world.

“Your daughter greets Mother.”

The Empress Dowager gave a slight nod and took the main seat. Her gaze swept over the two of them before she said lightly,

“I heard laughter as I entered. What has made you so happy?”

Zhao Ling’er could only steel herself and explain,

“It concerns today’s court session. That top scholar, Li An—no one knows what method he used, but he left the entire civil and military court without a word to say.”

The Empress Dowager let out a cold laugh.

“Your Majesty celebrates too early.”

“What do you mean, Mother?”

She lifted her teacup and blew gently across its surface, speaking casually.

“That Li An merely got lucky, running into a fool like Jin Daya—rich but brainless. Aside from that idiot, who else would spend a fortune buying those useless, title-only posts of his?”

Zhao Ling’er frowned slightly but did not reply.

The Empress Dowager continued, “I hear that over the past two days, the invitations Li An sent out have either sunk without a trace or been returned unopened. The entire capital knows his Fundraising Office is like the Hall of Yama—whoever touches it invites misfortune.”

“You gave him ten days. More than half has already passed. How much silver does he still lack?”

Zhao Ling’er was silent for a moment. “Roughly… five to six hundred thousand taels.”

The Empress Dowager sneered and set her teacup down heavily.

“Five or six hundred thousand? How does he intend to gather that? With those remaining worthless posts that no one would take even if he paid them?”

“You laugh so happily now. I only hope that when Li An is beheaded in a few days, you will still be able to smile.”

With that, the Empress Dowager stood and left directly.

Ding!

【The Empress Dowager strikes at the Emperor’s confidence!】

【Ruler and ministers drift apart, imperial authority weakens!】

【Great Qi National Fortune -50】

【Current National Fortune: 85,879】

Silence fell over the hall.

Zhao Ling’er stood frozen in place, her expression shifting again and again.

“Your Majesty…”

Sun Ruoxi called softly, worry evident on her face.

Zhao Ling’er slowly sat down and rubbed her temples, forcing a bitter smile.

“What Mother says may be harsh, but it is the truth. Li An hasn’t sold a single post these past two days. The wealthy merchants of the capital avoid him like the plague. No matter how capable he is, if no one is willing to buy, what can he do?”

…

The next day, in the side hall of the Fundraising Office.

Ding!

【A new day begins!】

【Current Great Qi National Fortune: 85,879】

【National Fortune change this cycle: -2,121】

【Estimated settlement earnings: 212,100 taels of gold】

【Time remaining: 22 days】

Li An lounged lazily in his chair, legs crossed, looking utterly at ease.

Over two million taels of gold already!

And more than twenty days left.

No rush. Not at all.

Advisor Zhou stood by at the side, his expression rather complicated.

He had heard about Li An’s verbal battle in court that morning.

To be honest, it had shocked him.

This Lord Li was truly no ordinary man.

But under the current circumstances, with everyone in the capital avoiding Li An like the plague, no matter how capable he was, Zhou felt he could not possibly break the deadlock now.

Just as he was thinking this, a commotion came from outside.

“Reporting to Lord Li! Someone seeks an audience!”

Only then did Li An open his eyes lazily. “Who is it?”

“The visitor calls himself Zhao Dadan of the West City gambling house. He says he has brought generous gifts to pay his respects to Lord Li.”

Li An’s eyes instantly lit up.

Zhao Dadan?

He knew that name all too well.

According to the intelligence from the Blackwater Terrace, in the capital’s underground power rankings, Jin Daya was second. This Zhao Dadan ranked first.

The Golden Sand Gang mainly dealt in gang affairs, while Zhao Dadan’s operations were broader—gambling houses, brothels, loan sharking, the whole package.

In short, a richer, fiercer, and smarter crime boss.

And one of Li An’s target customers.

Delighted inwardly, Li An kept his face calm and waved a hand. “Invite him in.”

Moments later, a burly, fierce-looking middle-aged man strode in.

He wore a luxurious yet somewhat gaudy brocade robe, and on his wrist was a gold bracelet weighing at least half a jin—clearly the flashy style of a nouveau riche.

“This commoner, Zhao Dadan, greets Lord Li!”

He clasped his fists in greeting, his voice booming like thunder.

Behind him, several attendants carried in large chests. When opened, they revealed gleaming silver ingots.

“A small token of respect from this commoner. I hope Lord Li will not find it lacking.”

Li An narrowed his eyes. Rather than look at the silver, he studied Zhao Dadan with interest.

“Gang Leader Zhao, one does not visit the temple without a reason. Tell me—what brings you here today?”

Zhao Dadan chuckled and did not beat around the bush.

“To be honest, I’ve come today to seek instruction from Lord Li.”

“Instruction on what?”

Zhao Dadan leaned closer and lowered his voice.

“I want to follow Jin Daya’s example—get myself an official post!”

Li An thought, Just as expected, and smiled.

“Oh? Gang Leader Zhao has heard about Jin Daya’s affair?”

“Heard about it? Damn right I have!”

Growing more animated, Zhao Dadan slapped his thigh.

“Lord Li, you don’t know this—Jin Daya’s been strutting down the streets these past two days like a crab! Those constables used to at least chase him a couple of steps when they saw him. And now? They see him like he’s their ancestor—bowing and scraping!”

“I’ve been getting by in the capital for so many years,” Zhao Dadan said indignantly. “Running gambling dens, lending money at usury—what doesn’t make money faster than what Jin Daye does? Yet every day I still have to dodge the constables, afraid they’ll catch me with something. Why does that hoodlum from the Golden Sand Gang get to ride over my head now?”

Listening to him, Li An was secretly amused.

Sure enough—without comparison, there’s no harm!

This Zhao Dadan’s mentality had clearly completely collapsed.

He envied Jin Daye’s current glory and couldn’t stand being overshadowed.

Wasn’t this a ready-made sucker?

Li An pondered for a moment, then deliberately pretended to hesitate before speaking slowly:

“What you say, I understand. Jin Daye is now a court-appointed official. Naturally, everything he says and does is justified. It’s just a pity…”

“A pity what?”

Zhao Dadan hurriedly asked.

Li An sighed, looking troubled.

“It’s a pity the Street Office post has already been given to Jin Daye. There’s clearly only one such position.”

Disappointment immediately showed on Zhao Dadan’s face.

“Then… are there no other official posts?”

“There are.”

Li An took a seal from his sleeve and toyed with it in his hand. “It’s just that I don’t know whether Leader Zhao has the… courage.”

“Courage?”

Zhao Dadan’s eyes lit up. “Lord Li, just say it! What post, how much money—so long as I can afford it, I won’t hesitate!”

Li An smiled faintly and placed the seal on the table, gently pushing it forward.

“Mutual Trade Supervisor.”

“Mutual Trade Supervisor?”

Zhao Dadan froze for a moment. “I’ve heard of this post. It’s stationed at the border year-round—extremely dangerous. The previous few supervisors didn’t even survive half a year.”

Adviser Zhou chimed in from the side:

“Exactly! Zhao Dadan, you’ve only got one life. You’re living comfortably in the capital—why go licking blood off a blade’s edge?”

But Li An remained calm, having long prepared his argument:

“Others died as Mutual Trade Supervisors because they lacked ability. But you, Zhao Dadan, are different! Look at you—managing to thrive in a tiny place like the capital.”

“Once you take charge of Great Qi’s border trade with Northern Yan, do you know what that means? Every year goods flow through there—furs, horses, medicinal herbs coming in; tea, silk, salt, iron going out. Silver flows like water. Just think how much benefit you could skim from it.”

Hearing this, Zhao Dadan’s eyes shifted. “Is what Lord Li says true?”

“Of course. To put it plainly, it’s the head overseer of border trade.”

Li An chuckled. “All goods passing the border must go through the Mutual Trade Supervisor. Just imagine how much grease there is to skim.”

Ding!

【Host Li An begins sweet-talking Zhao Dadan!】

【Another “trash official post” is about to be sold!】

【Great Qi national fortune -30】

【Current national fortune value: 85,849】

At this point, Zhao Dadan sucked in a sharp breath. He was thoroughly tempted; the greed in his eyes was impossible to hide.

“This… this makes money way faster than running gambling dens!”

“Exactly.”

Li An stood and walked to Zhao Dadan’s side, patting his shoulder.

“Zhao Dadan, running gambling houses in the capital only earns you hard-earned cash—and you still have to endure humiliation. But at the border trade? That’s huge profit from minimal cost! Once you control the Mutual Trade Office, you set the rules along that entire line. Anyone who wants to do business has to let you peel off a layer.”

“When the time comes, you just sit there—caravans from the north will pay you tribute, goods from the south will stuff you with red envelopes. Tell me, is that deal worth it?”

Zhao Dadan swallowed, his eyes practically glowing.

“Worth it! Damn right it’s worth it!”

He slapped his thigh boldly. “Lord Li, I’ll take it! How much?”

Li An raised five fingers.

“Fifty thousand taels?”

Li An shook his head.

“Five hundred thousand? I can’t afford that.”

Li An shook his head again, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

“Fifteen hundred thousand taels. I’ll give you a friendly price.”

Zhao Dadan froze for a second, then burst into laughter.

“Fifteen hundred thousand taels? Lord Li, you’re too generous! Even if this post were sold for five hundred thousand, I’d still think it worth it!”

Ding!

【Zhao Dadan purchases the post of Mutual Trade Supervisor!】

【Another rogue is about to meddle in a key court position! Border trade is in peril!】

【Great Qi national fortune -200】

【Current national fortune value: 85,649】

Li An secretly rolled his eyes.

Five hundred thousand taels? For a godforsaken post like this, under normal circumstances no one would take it even if it were free.

But for a rogue like Zhao Dadan, whose mind was filled only with making money, the enormous profits of border trade were irresistible.

“Very well. Then it’s a deal.”

Li An clapped his hands. Adviser Zhou stood there completely dumbfounded.

It… it sold again?

Can official posts really be sold like this?

While muttering to himself, Adviser Zhou still obediently handed over a blank official appointment document.

“Leader Zhao, sign and press your seal. From now on, you are Great Qi’s Mutual Trade Supervisor.”

Zhao Dadan took the document, didn’t even glance at it before pressing his fingerprint, then took out a stack of banknotes from a chest and respectfully offered them with both hands.

“Fifteen hundred thousand taels. Here’s a deposit of five hundred thousand. The remaining one million will be delivered within three days!”

Li An accepted the banknotes and nodded with a smile.

“Leader Zhao is too polite. From now on, we’re one family. If you need anything, just say the word.”

After seeing Zhao Dadan off, Li An returned to the side hall.

He secretly glanced at the system.

【Today’s national fortune change: -230】

【Cumulative change: -2,351】

【Current national fortune value: 85,649】

【Estimated settlement reward: 235,100 taels of gold】

Over two million taels of gold already!

And another post sold today!

Fifteen hundred thousand taels of silver in hand!

Yet deep in his heart, Li An let out a dark chuckle.

A rogue like Zhao Dadan—constrained in the capital but lawless by nature—going to serve as an official at the border trade?

That region dealt with surrounding states and steppe tribes—a highly sensitive zone.

With Zhao Dadan’s temperament, if he didn’t die within a month, he would absolutely turn border trade into utter chaos.

Once trade routes were cut off and conflicts became frequent…

Heh, another massive blow to the state.

Ding!

【Li An already has follow-up plans to ruin the state!】

【Border trade will descend into chaos!】

【Great Qi national fortune -50】

【Current national fortune value: 85,599】

Li An looked out the window. He still had two official posts left to sell: the Imperial Prison Interrogation Officer and the Overseas Inspection Commissioner.

These two positions were even more obscure than the Street Office and Mutual Trade Supervisor.

But the more obscure a post was…

In Li An’s eyes, the easier it was to find the right “sucker.”

As for his next target, Li An already had a rough idea in mind.

The Imperial Prison.

That dark, terrifying place everyone avoided like the plague.

But in the eyes of a certain type of person…

It might just be paradise.