Chapter 28

First Volume, Chapter 28: Keep the Accounts on Record

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; one misstep, and not only Qin Feng's life is forfeit, but the entire Qin Family will be implicated.

Fortunately… the Liang Emperor is a pragmatic man, uninterested in empty formalities. And this, in turn, proves his absolute control over the entire Shedynasty—only those with confidence can act as they please.

As for feigning madness in the Imperial Study, it wasn't that Qin Feng was bold—it was simply his persona. The Liang Emperor's spies were everywhere in Jingdu; he likely knew Qin Feng inside and out. If Qin Feng acted normally every day but suddenly became proper in the Imperial Study, the mere label of "hypocrisy" would make the Liang Emperor despise him.

Moreover, though the Liang Emperor wore a smile and seemed amiable, he was far from benevolent—Qin Feng had seen with his own eyes how the Liang Emperor had tossed memorials onto the floor.

Qin Feng was certain the Liang Emperor had done it on purpose, to warn him: if he wished, the Liang Emperor could crush him like an ant, leaving not even bones behind.

But no matter what, he had gotten through this ordeal.

Qin Feng exhaled softly in relief, his expression flipping one hundred and eighty degrees—he leapt straight up in place, shouting: "You might not lose, but I'm profiting massively!"

Li Zhan grabbed Qin Feng by the arm, quickly shushing him with a finger to his lips, heart pounding: "Don't make noise!"

Watching Qin Feng's radiant joy, Li Zhan was baffled—this boy's madness wasn't faked! Signing a contract with the Holy One in the Imperial Study was already shocking. And building three Elite Soldiers units in three years? That kind of expenditure would make even the National Treasury count every silver tael.

Anyone else would be gloomy and lifeless—but why was Qin Feng so happy?

Qin Feng naturally wouldn't reveal such commercial Jiwei to outsiders.

What Qin Feng feared most right now wasn't the Di, nor the conflict between the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue—it was White Sugar.

Now that Intellectual Property was protected, Qin Feng could act freely and make a fortune from White Sugar. After all, this was a business with a hundredfold profit—he didn't just have the recipe for White Sugar in his head. This era didn't even have decent Salt; most Common People still used Vinegar Cloth!

Once he monopolized Shedynasty's seasoning industry, moving into other sectors? Daily profits would pour in like gold.

In the short term, the Liang Emperor could never imagine that the four simple words "Intellectual Property" were worth an army.

Qin Feng strode with the Eight-Character Step, head held high, as the Imperial Guard stared at him, brows furrowed in disbelief.

Li Zhan shook his head with a bitter smile: "Young Master Qin, I've spent years in Gong Zhong, yet I've never met anyone like you. Court Intrigue demands caution—you…"

Caution my ass! Qin Feng couldn't be bothered to explain.

Things the Liang Emperor dislikes? Of course, be cautious. But if you can say something that strikes his heart and still hesitate, you're an idiot.

Launching troops against the Di was the Liang Emperor's own wound. Raising national prestige was just the surface—the real goal was stabilizing internal factions. Otherwise, the borderlands, already seething with resentment, would erupt—and their damage to Shedynasty would far outweigh the Di. The Liang Emperor only needed a reason to commit.

All the talk of conflicting interests? Empty. In truth, it's just one word: money!

With money, national strength grows, and all problems vanish. All Court Intrigue? Let it cool off somewhere.

Li Zhan could only guess the Emperor's mind; he simply couldn't understand this "Madman."

Others leaving the Palace Gate either wore gloomy faces, as if terminally ill, or secretly grinned, too afraid to show it.

The gate guards had never seen anyone walk out with head held high, humming a tune, jumping to pluck leaves, as excited as a rutting rabbit.

The two guards exchanged glances and spoke in unison: "This is unnatural!"

Qin Feng was in high spirits, returned home, and was about to gather servants to hold a grand award ceremony—when the moment he stepped over the threshold, his ear was yanked.

Immediately, a soft, nightmare-like voice whispered in his ear: "You little brat, how dare you speak such nonsense? Shut down Zui Xian Lou in a few days? Are you not awake? Or are you talking nonsense in broad daylight?"

Qin Feng clutched his ear, grimacing: "Sis, let go! If you keep pulling, my ear won't be worth saving!"

Liu Hongyan sniffed, ignoring his pleas, demanding he confess everything.

Qin Feng seethed inside—he'd just secured the Liang Emperor's favor, was about to become the richest man in Shedynasty, yet his status at home hadn't improved one bit?

As he pondered, his ear ached again—he dared not delay, groaning as he explained: "That Zhao Zhangfu took sides! Asking him to compensate for one Zui Xian Lou? I've been generous enough."

At these words, Liu Hongyan's brows twisted in fury—she nearly wanted to tear his ear off.

Who in all of Jingdu didn't know Zui Xian Lou's web of powerful backers? Not even a Wanfu like Qin Feng could touch it—much less a court minister, who'd tread carefully.

Moreover, Zui Xian Lou was immensely wealthy—rumored to earn two or three thousand taels of silver per day, one of Jingdu's rare money trees.

"You've just made White Sugar? You haven't even sold a single grain yet, and you're already showing off? How dare you provoke Zui Xian Lou? You think you can shut it down in days? Are you trying to kill me with laughter? Why don't you fly to heaven?"

Qin Feng bristled inside—fly to heaven? Hard? He couldn't build an airplane, but couldn't he build a glider?

But his ear was held hostage—he dared not resist, so he lowered his head and whispered: "If I say it, I can do it. Not just one Zui Xian Lou—even ten of them—I'll shut them all down within half a month. I stake my reputation on it."

"Pah! Your reputation is less reliable than a pig's." Liu Hongyan was furious—but then she thought: if White Sugar truly hits the market, profits will pour in daily. If he truly clashes with Zui Xian Lou, it might not be impossible… though certainly not as fast as he claimed.

Liu Hongyan released his ear, scolding: "You brat, you've got no silver to your name, yet you bluster constantly. Tell me—how will you do it?"

Qin Feng chuckled inwardly—was this bluster? This was nothing! If she knew he'd signed a contract with the Liang Emperor, promising three Elite Soldiers units in three years, she'd cut his ear off right then.

The bigger your courage, the greater your harvest—maybe if you gamble, you turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.

Qin Feng didn't explain right away. Instead, he bounced a few steps away from the she-tiger, shook off his earlier humiliation, patted his chest, and declared: "You don't need to worry about this. You've already taken your share of the White Sugar profits—this deal, I'm doing it alone."

"When I become the richest man in Shedynasty, the first thing I'll do is make a solid gold ear muff—so you can never pinch my ear again."