Chapter 198: The Loyal Cai You! In front is the Kongming Lantern
Li Qian was watching from the side as Cai You led a group of young masters and evil yamen to clean up another group of young masters and evil yamen. Finally, he asked his entourage to escort them away. It seemed that there was a follow-up to this matter. , not finished.
The people who were watching cheered and applauded for them. Everyone could see that these young men had done something wrong today.
This was the first time that all the yamen were looked at with such worship and admiration by the common people. They couldn't help but feel a little carried away for a moment, with their hands on their hips and a shy face enjoying this feeling.
However, Cai You ignored them and walked quickly towards Lu Bu and Li Qian.
"Brother Lu, long time no see."
Cai You had what he thought was the most decent smile on his face, but he was not at all nervous in his heart. He even forgot how to walk and almost tripped himself.
Lu Bu received Li Qian's instruction and walked up with a smile: "Brother Cai, long time no see."
Cai You smiled and chatted with him for a few times, and then invited him: "Brother Lu, I happened to be eating up there just now. Now that we are done, do you want to go up and have a drink?"
Lu Bu smiled and shook his head, giving him a meaningful look: "Not today, brother, I still have to go to work, so I can't delay my work by drinking."
Cai You was shocked: "Brother Lu, such an outstanding person, still works for others? Couldn't he be the one just now..."
Lu Bu laughed loudly: "There is no way, Yulinwei also has to eat. If you are celebrating the New Year, you can work as a martial arts instructor for a rich man, and you can also make some spare money..."
He turned around and took a look and saw that Li Qian had already boarded the carriage with Wu Meiniang, Lu Pheasant and the old eunuch, and then he said with a smile: "Brother Cai, do you want to come and meet our master?"
"I?"
Cai You's hands in his sleeves were clenched into fists nervously, but he tried his best to maintain calm on his face: "Can I do it?"
His poor performance couldn't be hidden even from normal people, let alone Lu Bu.
The dignified eldest son of Cai Mansion has met countless dignitaries. How could he be nervous when meeting a young rich man now?
This must be showing something.
With a smile on his face, Lu Bu stretched out his big hand and patted his shoulder. The force of the pat made Cai You sink.
"You have to do it even if it doesn't work!"
Cai You's head was buzzing and his face turned pale, as if he thought of something bad.
For example, something like silencing...
But who would have expected that Lu Bu pointed behind him and said again: "Our master admires Brother Cai very much. He just invited you to be our guest."
Cai You was startled and looked in the direction of Lu Bu's finger, only to find that Li Qian and others had disappeared. There was a black carriage parked where they were standing just now.
"Thank you so much, Brother Lu..."
Cai You took a deep breath and nodded. Instead of relaxing, he became even more nervous.
Only then did he realize that his palms were already sweaty.
Cai You turned around, wanting to tell his younger brothers not to wait for him, but to leave as soon as possible. However, he didn't expect that the group of people were still busy showing off their power, kicking the few remaining wounded on the ground from time to time. There was a burst of cheers from the crowd.
"Let's go."
Cai You turned around and forced a smile on his face...
Li Qian had already boarded the carriage, and due to the farce just now, more and more people were gathering here.
Cai You had just seen him and recognized him. If he stayed here any longer, he would be recognized again, so it would be safer to go in the car.
Cai You had followed Lu Bu to the outside of the car. Cai You was waiting for Lu Bu to get in the car first, but Lu Bu stopped in front of the car and refused to leave. He turned to look at him with a smile.
Only then did Cai You understand what it meant. He laughed dryly and stepped onto the carriage. He almost fell off because he didn't step firmly on the carriage.
Lu Bu followed him and got into the carriage. The carriage moved slowly, passed through the crowd, and headed west.
Crunch~
Cai You carefully opened the carriage door, his heart pounding.
If he performs well and soars into the sky, he can even become a person like his father.
If he doesn’t perform well... today next year may be his death anniversary...
To Cai You's expectation, the light inside the carriage was not dim. Several glazed palace lanterns protruded from the walls of the carriage, and the lights were bright.
The carriage is covered with thick hibiscus dark pattern carpet, giving it a warm atmosphere.
But these are minor. Cai You only took a cursory glance and noticed the young man sitting in the center.
It wasn't very warm inside the carriage, but he was only wearing a thin sapphire blue midriff with a snow leaf pattern. Sitting underneath him was a pair of snow-white mink furs. He was looking at Cai You with a bit of a smile on his face.
Cai You's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly bowed and knelt on the ground. He pouted his hips and lowered his head and said, "Cao You, a common man, has met your Majesty."
Fortunately, Lu Bu, who came up behind, closed the carriage door, otherwise this scene would have been seen by outsiders.
Ever since Cai You came in, Li Qian had already started to look at him.
Seeing him kneeling on the ground at this moment, Li Qian said with a smile: "You haven't seen me before, have you? How did you recognize me today?"
Cai You frowned and replied: "Your Majesty is the destined emperor. He has the dragon spirit around him, just like gold in the sand. He shines brightly at a glance."
Li Qian raised his eyebrows: "Master Cai is still angry?"
Cai You was suddenly stuck, and a few drops of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.
Some people like these gods and ghosts, such as the late emperor, but some people sneer at them and hate them very much.
Cai You didn't know what kind of person this Emperor was. If he answered wrongly, wouldn't all the previous efforts be in vain and leave a bad impression?
Li Qian saw him hesitating a little and probably guessed what was going on.
However, he did not show it, but waited for a moment. Seeing that Cai You still couldn't speak and became even more nervous, he smiled and said: "There's no rush, let's sit down and talk first."
"His Majesty……"
Cai You finally calmed down before getting on the carriage and became nervous again: "How dare a commoner sit at the same table as His Majesty?"
Although he had met many high-ranking officials, those who visited the Cai Mansion were all there to curry favor with Cai Jing. Naturally, they were even more kind to Cai You and even placed them in the Buddhist hall and lit a few incense sticks for him.
Although Cai Jing also disciplined his son, it was mostly me who disciplined his son, not his boss who disciplined his subordinates.
Now that His Majesty the Emperor has met Daqian for the first time, this is the first time he has truly faced Daqian's top decision-maker.
Cai You was extremely nervous to begin with. Under close contact, this tension and pressure, as well as the fear of death, were infinitely amplified...
"I tell you to sit down, so you sit down." Li Qian saw his restraint.
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
Cai You stood up carefully and sat on the bench beside him, but even so, he only sat on half of his buttocks.
"You are the son of Cai Qing's family..."
Li Gan looked at Cai Bian with a smile: "But for some reason, I feel that you are very different from Cai Qing's family."
Cai You was a little worried when he heard the first half of Li Qian's words. After all, it was well known throughout the court that Cai Jing was against His Majesty the Emperor.
He had heard more than once in the Cai Mansion that the ministers were conspiring with his father.
But after hearing what Li Qian said later, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty is very discerning. You are not the only one who said this, but many others have said so."
Li Gan looked a little weird, and Lu Bu behind him was also rubbing his chin, his generous face full of serious thinking.
Li Qian coughed twice and hurriedly corrected Cai You's statement: "What I said is what I feel."
He looked at Cai You and said with some emotion: "You are a loyal and loyal person. I like you very much."
Cai You's heartbeat suddenly slowed down by half a beat, and he understood what Li Qian was referring to.
Li Qian smiled again and said: "Actually, I have heard of you from others before. Many people say that you are a capable person."
"But in my opinion, loyalty is more important than ability."
Cai You pinched his sleeves tightly, lowered his head and said: "Every one of the tens of thousands of people in the world is loyal to Your Majesty."
Li Qian sighed with emotion: "Yes, everyone says so, but how many can do it?"
"That's why I was a little...surprised when I saw you today."
Cai You seemed to have heard something and hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, my father is not disloyal, he is just... just..."
In a moment of desperation, he couldn't figure out what words to use to excuse Cai Jing.
Cai You had heard that Cai Jing was conspiring with those ministers. This was not simply disloyal, but could be regarded as treason.
Li Qian glanced at him: "I just have different ideas, but we are all for the sake of doing well."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Cai You finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I also understand Cai Qing's family, so as long as he is loyal to Da Qian, the dispute between me and him is just a dispute over political opinions, and his ability to handle political affairs is still very strong."
Li Qian looked at Cai You seriously: "It's just that Cai Qing's family is old after all, and they are about to retire. I'm afraid they won't be able to help me for many years."
Cai You felt suffocated. He was not stupid. The Cai family's current prosperity and wealth were all supported by Cai Jing alone.
If it weren't for the big tree like Cai Jing, the hundreds of Cai family members would be beaten back to their original shape sooner or later.
"But today I see that you also look like a father."
Li Qian looked at him meaningfully: "In the future, you may be able to replace your father and lead the court for me."
It wasn't hot in the carriage, but Cai You's forehead was covered with sweat, and he couldn't even speak properly: "Your Majesty, common people are not even Jinshi..."
"I have said before, compared to talent, loyalty is the most important."
Li Qian had a smile on his face: "I saw your loyalty today."
Cai You suppressed the excitement in his heart and bowed: "The common people thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Qian waved his hand: "Don't thank me in a hurry. I just mentioned a possibility. You can't say what will happen in the end, and I can't say either."
"It depends on what Cai Qing's family does."
Cai You froze and opened his mouth to explain something, but Li Qian waved his hand: "I've talked so much today, and I'm a little tired."
The carriage moving slowly stopped.
"The common people resign."
Cai You did not dare to disobey Li Qian's words, so he stood up and left.
When he walked to the door of the carriage, Li Qian suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, don't tell others about seeing me in the capital today."
"As long as the people present know it, it's enough."
Cai You immediately said: "Your Majesty, the common people understand."
"very good."
Li Qian smiled and nodded, leaning on Diao Qiu, and said casually: "What I am most optimistic about are young people like me."
Cai You lowered his head a little lower and carefully got out of the carriage.
Afterwards, the carriage continued to move forward, heading towards the west of the city.
Li Qian was concentrating on recalling Cai Bian's various performances just now, when a black curtain behind his seat was opened, and Wu Meiniang and Lu Fei walked out from behind the curtain.
Both of them had a bit of worry in their eyes.
"Your Majesty, why don't we go back to the palace first..." Lu Zhi sat next to Li Qian and held his hand.
Wu Meiniang was also a little worried: "Cai Jing's son, if he goes back to tell Cai Jing about His Majesty, wouldn't His Majesty be in danger?"
Li Qian came to his senses and shook his head: "Don't worry, that guy is a smart man."
"He must know that I am at odds with Cai Jing. If he wanted to tell the truth, he would not come to see me at all. He would have gone back to find his father long ago."
"Now I have given him another price and promised benefits. Although I don't know what the minimum price is in his mind, my price is definitely far beyond this minimum price."
Li Qian was very confident in this: "As long as he has the slightest hope for my conditions, he will never go to Cai Jing to reveal my whereabouts."
The two women were startled, and Lu Zhi said thoughtfully: "Your Majesty finally reminds Cai You, do you like young people like this?"
Li Qian smiled and nodded: "Cai Jing is already old, how many more years can he maintain the prosperity and wealth of the Cai family? He became an official at the age of seventy, and Cai You is only forty, so he will be considered young by then."
"Without his father, his current glory and wealth would disappear."
"But I am younger than him, but I can protect him for the rest of his life..." Li Qian said with a smile in his eyes, "A person like Cai You will make the most correct choice."
Li Qian still has follow-up methods, and he can naturally guide Cai You step by step to the position he wants...
The carriage walked some distance and then slowly stopped. Li Qian led Wu Meiniang and Lu Pheasant to continue shopping on the busiest Zhuquemen Street for a while, and then continued westward.
During this period, Li Qian originally wanted Wu Meiniang to go meet her family, but Wu Meiniang was worried that Li Qian's identity might be revealed, so she didn't go.
From the jewelry and gorgeous clothes in the East Market to the rouge, gouache, and street snacks in the West Market, they went shopping from morning until dark, which exhausted Wu Meiniang and Lu Pheasant who were in high spirits.
"Master, let's go back home..."
The sky was sinking, Lu Pheasant was holding Li Qian's arm, almost all his weight was hanging on him, Wu Meiniang on the other side was only slightly stronger than her.
Although they didn't need to carry the shopping, they were still feeling exhausted after the day.
Li Qian was a little moved after hearing this, but he looked at the familiar place in front of him, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Let's go further and have a look."
"There is a place in front that releases sky lanterns. Let's go back after watching it."