Chapter 688: Shen Liang: Impossible?

Time rewound a little.

Shen Liang walked out of Zui Xian Lou and got into his own carriage.

He thought for a moment in the carriage, frowned, and said, "Yu Shu, did you see the group at the table just now?"

The butler called Yu Shu replied from outside, "Young master, I saw them; those people have an extraordinary bearing, they're probably not ordinary."

"Hmm." Shen Liang still hadn't forgotten the gaze of that roughly twenty‑something, brocaded‑clad youth; recalling it now still made his heart race.

That gaze could only be cultivated by someone in a high position, just like the local Inspector Li Xiaochang.

Shen Liang had seen Li Xiaochang several times; each time in his presence, he didn't even dare to draw a breath.

But Shen Liang found it odd that the young man he'd just seen, who looked at most twenty‑something, could exude such a huge sense of pressure.

Moreover, the two women beside him were extraordinarily beautiful; even a single profile made Shen Liang feel utterly dazzled.

Yet Shen Liang was not a spoiled rich heir; he knew that a pressure of that magnitude, coupled with women as gorgeous as celestial maidens, only further proved the young man's extraordinary nature.

A beauty brings disaster, a beauty brings disaster!

Without sufficient status, how could one fend off the calamity a beauty brings?

"Young master!" the Yu butler outside gently reminded, "The master recently said we need to act low‑key; it seems someone has already set their sights on us, and the master has even halted the grain trade."

"Those people's status is clearly extraordinary; we should keep out of trouble to avoid causing any problems."

Shen Liang was momentarily stunned, then laughed, "Yu Shu, where are you getting that idea? Am I the type who can't move when he sees a woman?"

"I know well that the prettier the woman, the more trouble she brings; I can still discern the seriousness of matters."

"Besides, there are countless beautiful women in the world; even if they don't match those two, I can find a whole bunch of second‑rate ones."

Yu the butler nodded inwardly; he felt very reassured about Shen Liang, who was highly trusted by his master.

"But…" Shen Liang raised another matter, "Why has my father become so cautious lately? Who exactly has set their sights on us?"

"Could it be the Huazhou Inspector?"

Yu the butler fell silent, "I don't know much about this, but from the master's tone it seems it isn't the Inspector."

"The details, the master didn't elaborate; you'd better not ask more. Keep a low profile for now and ride out this storm."

"Hmm." Shen Liang slowly closed his eyes and softly replied.

Shen Liang gave no further thought to what had just happened in the restaurant.

He only glanced once, perhaps showing a slight odd expression; could anyone really trouble him over this?

Impossible.

The next day, after finishing his ablutions, Chen Yan flipped through the intelligence Xue Li had delivered, unsurprised by its efficiency.

When expanding the Money Shop, Chen Yan had instructed Xu Lianyue that the shop should also conduct intelligence work.

Especially regarding wealthy merchants across the lands, he ordered strict investigations.

It was so that one day he could easily manipulate those merchants and use them.

Previously, Chen Yan had skimmed the conditions of merchants in various regions.

Thus he could immediately state the basic situation of Shen Wan Jun of Huazhou.

"Sir, Shen Wan Jun truly deserves death," Xue Li said angrily. "On the surface he flaunts a charitable reputation, putting on a façade, and has amassed fame."

"In reality, he controls others to issue usurious loans that exploit the populace, and as Huazhou's largest grain merchant, he constantly inflates grain prices for huge profits."

"The key is this isn't his first time doing such a thing; it's truly detestable!"

"Sir!" Xue Li clasped his fists, "Shall I go to the Inspector's Office and inform the Huazhou Inspector of this information?"

"No hurry." Chen Yan replied casually, continuing to peruse the intelligence Xue Li had brought.

Finally, his gaze fixed on a string of numbers.

It was the money Shen Wan Jun had in the Money Shop, a full thirty‑plus thousand strings of cash.

Of course, this was only cash; the intelligence also listed many of Shen Wan Jun's various enterprises and land holdings.

In short, these funds and assets fit a merchant's wealth perfectly—neither excessive nor insufficient, just within a reasonable range.

Chen Yan, while flipping through the intelligence, suddenly smiled, "I didn't expect to arrive in Huazhou and run into a little surprise."

"Alright, let's go have breakfast."

Saying that, Chen Yan hummed a tune as he walked out, clearly in good spirits.

Xue Li was somewhat puzzled; since they had already uncovered the truth, why not arrest Shen Wan Jun?

But he didn't press further; whatever Chen Yan said, he would do.

When he arrived on the second floor, Li Shimin and the others had already begun eating, not waiting for him at all.

Li Shimin lightly raised his eyes, "Arrived? Sit down and eat, then pack up and get ready to head to Tongguan."

"No rush to eat." Chen Yan approached Li Shimin, handed over the intelligence Xue Li had brought, and said with a smile,

"How about I give you a sum of money?"

"Hmm?" Li Shimin showed interest, looking at the intelligence Chen Yan passed, not opening it immediately, but asking curiously,

"You want to give me a sum of money?"

"Yes!"

"How much?"

"At least five hundred thousand strings, with silver, gold, land, and property counted separately."

With those words, not only Li Shimin but also Empress Changsun, Li Tai, and Li Lizhi all turned their gazes toward him.

They were clearly startled by Chen Yan's statement.

Li Shimin exclaimed in surprise, "You've already cleared Shen Wan Jun's case so quickly?"

Chen Yan modestly replied, "It's not exactly that; mainly I've been having the Money Shop investigate merchants everywhere so that if we ever face an economic crisis, we can borrow a sum from them."

Before we arrived, the Money Shop had already cleared up most of Shen Wanjun's details, but they still hadn't found the money he hid.

But I think it won't be less than the amount I mentioned earlier.

Li Shimin's face turned strange.

You, this borrower... is it really a loan?

The thought floated in his mind, and Li Shimin chuckled softly, took the intelligence on the table, skimmed it for a while, then frowned.

After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "How do you think this matter should be handled?"

"Aren't you trying to see the Crown Prince's ability?" Chen Yan offered a suggestion: "How about secretly reporting this matter to the Crown Prince, then watching how he handles it, while having the Grand Historian order a shady operative to keep watch the entire time."

"How does that sound?"

Li Shimin stared, "Didn't you just say you were giving this money to me? Are you actually trying to give it to me, or to the Crown Prince?"

"......"