Chapter 334: What Reward Do You Want

Eunuch Song was already an old hand in the palace; as soon as he heard these few words between Xiao Moting and Bai Wei, he could tell that Xiao Moting felt not only respect but also affection for this Shopkeeper Bai.

He could not help but be secretly shocked.

The Fourth Prince held a high position with great power and commanded over a hundred thousand elite troops; even the Emperor was wary of him now. He could have any beauty he wanted, yet he had actually taken a fancy to a female shopkeeper who ran a general store.

He wondered what this "Shopkeeper Bai" actually looked like; she must be breathtakingly beautiful, otherwise, how could the Fourth Prince be moved?

It was just a pity that Bai Wei wore a veil, making it impossible to see her true face; otherwise, Eunuch Song was truly curious and wanted to see what she looked like.

"Come here." Eunuch Song pointed at Young Master Li and his group, then ordered in a pinched voice, "Drive them out of Yannan. From this day forward, the Fuji Trading Firm is not allowed to set foot in Yannan ever again."

Several government soldiers rushed forward and seized Young Master Li.

Young Master Li panicked, and he was filled with extreme regret.

He had thought Bai Wei was just the owner of a small general store, never expecting her status to be sky-high; even the Superintendent from the palace dared not act presumptuously in front of her.

If the Fuji Trading Firm were driven out of Yannan, it would mean losing a huge chunk of business; after returning home, his father would surely punish him according to family law.

"Eunuch Song, please don't! I beg you to show mercy! Shopkeeper Bai, I know I was wrong, please don't drive me out of Yannan..."

Unfortunately, no one would listen to his pleas for mercy.

The fierce government soldiers dragged Young Master Li, along with the people he had brought, onto a carriage and drove off into the distance.

Eunuch Song still spat on the ground impatiently, "You, wanting to compete for business with His Highness? You aren't even qualified to be a footstool for His Highness."

After the people from the Fuji Trading Firm left, Eunuch Song walked up in a few quick steps, lifted his robes, and plopped down on his knees before Xiao Moting.

"Little Songzi, Superintendent of the Imperial Household Department, pays respects to the Fourth Prince."

The group of government soldiers behind him only then realized that this "Manager Xiao" was actually the Fourth Prince.

Everyone was terrified and knelt down one after another.

Xiao Moting's expression remained unchanged as he raised an arm, "Rise."

"Yes." Only then did Eunuch Song dare to stand up, standing respectfully to the side, "Fourth Prince, how is it that this servant heard not a whisper of your trip to Yannan? Otherwise, even if I had to crawl, I would have crawled to your presence to pay my respects, and also..."

"There is no need for flattery," Xiao Moting interrupted. "I came to Yannan on military business. Furthermore, you are not to mention to anyone that you have seen me here."

Eunuch Song's expression tightened, and he nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, this servant will certainly not tell anyone."

The group of government soldiers behind him also hurriedly called out, "Please rest assured, Fourth Prince, we will never leak a single word."

Xiao Moting nodded slightly, "I trust you will not mention my affairs to anyone. However, if I hear even the slightest bit of news outside, everyone present here will have to bring their heads to see me."

He said it lightly, but the crowd present could not help but shiver.

Eunuch Song was so scared his face turned pale.

This was collective punishment!

If anyone leaked the news, everyone present would die!

Too ruthless!

He had only heard that Xiao Moting was brave in battle, but he did not know he was so ruthless at his core.

Now that Xiao Moting commanded a great army and his mother was deeply favored by the Emperor, the Emperor was wary of him but could do nothing about him.

Looking across the entire Daliang Kingdom, there was no longer any prince who could overshadow his prominence.

If Xiao Moting wanted to kill everyone here, no one would dare to punish him for it.

Therefore, even if Eunuch Song were lent ten times the courage, he would not dare to speak recklessly to the outside world.

Eunuch Song's legs went weak, and he hurriedly plopped down on his knees again.

"Please rest assured, Fourth Prince, even if someone held a knife to this servant's throat, this servant would never say a single word."

The people behind him also scrambled to kneel on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the floor, not daring to look up.

"I am merely reminding you; since you have remembered, then all of you may rise," Xiao Moting said indifferently.

"Yes."

Eunuch Song and the government soldiers behind him then stood up trembling.

Xiao Moting asked, "Eunuch Song, how is my mother in the palace now?"

Eunuch Song said hurriedly, "Noble Consort Yun is doing very well; the Emperor runs to Noble Consort Yun's palace every few days! Oh my, the Noble Consort has many rare and wonderful things there; in all the years I have lived, I have never seen them, and the Emperor likes them very much too."

"Rare and wonderful things?" Xiao Moting could not help but glance at Bai Wei; could it be those things she sent?

"Yes," Eunuch Song said with a sycophantic smile. "There are fragrant fresh meat pies, noodles that can be cooked just by soaking them in boiling water, and all kinds of little Hot Pots, containing kelp, lotus root slices, fresh meat balls... it is simply endless variety."

Xiao Moting smiled slightly.

He had not guessed wrong; they were all the food Bai Wei had previously sent to his mother's cellar.

Bai Wei stood to the side, also listening in a daze.

What he was describing sounded like canned goods, Instant Noodles, and self-heating Hot Pots...

But she remembered that when she sent this batch of items to Noble Consort Yun, it was over half a year ago.

These things should be close to expiring, which was why she had recently asked Xiao Moting to send troops to Shengjing to deliver some other, shelf-stable food to Noble Consort Yun.

Why hadn't Noble Consort Yun thrown away these nearly expired foods yet?

At this moment, Eunuch Song laughed, "The Emperor goes to Noble Consort Yun's palace every day to taste these foods. I heard that many of the delicacies were made by Noble Consort Yun herself; the Emperor keeps praising her for being clever and capable, and has bestowed many things upon her."

"Besides that, Noble Consort Yun also shares these delicious things with the consorts of the various palaces; now everyone says she is good."

"It is only a pity that these foods are Noble Consort Yun's unique secret recipes, and she never teaches them to outsiders."

Hearing this, Bai Wei suddenly realized.

So, Noble Consort Yun hadn't thrown away these nearly expired foods, but had taken them all out, let the dog Emperor eat them, and even lied to the Emperor saying she made them herself!

And the dog Emperor was eating them with great relish!

Not only feeding the dog Emperor expired food, but also winning over the consorts of the various palaces.

It seems Noble Consort Yun had indeed mastered the palace intrigue tactics from television dramas: one must be ruthless and harsh, and most importantly, treat the Emperor as a tool.

Xiao Moting asked a few more questions about the recent situation of Imperial Concubine Yun, and only felt at ease after learning that his mother had truly not been wronged.

Eunuch Song was also very sharp; seeing there was nothing else, he hurriedly took his leave.

"Fourth Prince, if there is nothing else, this servant will take his leave now."

After speaking, he looked at Bai Wei.

"Miss Bai, I have startled you today. Another day, I will personally visit the Bai's General Store to offer you an apology."

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Bai Wei hurriedly shook her head.

She was not often in Daliang and did not have time to deal with Eunuch Song.

After finishing his salute, Eunuch Song respectfully withdrew with his men.

After they left, Xiao Moting had his men continue packing the luggage, preparing to set off.

From here to Yannan City, if traveling by carriage, it was already less than two days' journey, which was very close.

While others were packing the luggage, Bai Wei could not help but nudge Xiao Moting with her elbow and spoke in a low voice.

"Manager Xiao, I didn't expect you to be so dedicated; not only did you eliminate a business competitor for the Bai's General Store, but you also happened to start doing business for the palace."

"Since you are so capable, what reward do you want?"