After dinner, Changsun Wuji returned to the study not long after.
The steward came to report and said: "Sir, after the morning court today, Your Majesty returned to the Lizheng Hall. Before the Lord, Your Majesty met with the Marquis of Jingyang County."
Changsun Wuji asked: "Have you found out why Lin Xuan entered the palace?"
"He entered the palace and gave His Royal Highness Prince Jin some fun things, but before that, His Majesty met with him for a while, and what he said specifically cannot be found out through investigation," the steward said.
"I know, you go down first." Changsun Wuji said.
He asked the housekeeper to investigate who had met Li Shimin, just to see if Li Shimin trusted him and chose him, or if someone tricked him and deliberately recommended him to do this.
Changsun Wuji had only met Lin Xuan, his future nephew and son-in-law, a few times and didn't really know him well.
But no matter what, Changsun Wuji couldn't think of a reason why this matter had something to do with Lin Xuan.
"Is it really because His Majesty trusted me that he entrusted this matter to me?" Changsun Wuji couldn't help but think.
"Come here, prepare the carriage!" Changsun Wuji ordered.
…
"Master Qi, someone wants to see you!" the steward said.
Hou Junji was stunned and asked: "It's almost curfew now, who wants to see me?"
"I don't know. The person who came here was wearing a bamboo hat and a black gauze covering his face. He said that if the master sees the invitation, he will definitely meet him," the steward said.
Hou Junji took the greeting card, opened it, his face changed dramatically, and asked: "Have you read this greeting card?"
"The person who came here told me not to look at it, but to hand it over directly to the master. The younger one didn't dare to look at it," the housekeeper said quickly.
Hou Junji regained his composure and said, "As long as you don't look at it, go ahead and take him to the study. Be careful not to let others see you on the way."
"Yes!" the butler responded.
…
Not long after, the housekeeper brought a man wearing a bamboo hat and a black gauze to the study.
The housekeeper bowed to Hou Junji, closed the door and left.
"Why did Duke Zhao come to visit so mysteriously?" Hou Junji looked at the visitor and asked.
Changsun Wuji took off his bamboo hat, found a place to sit down, and said, "How can Duke Lu not know the purpose of my visit?"
Hou Junji was shocked, but his face remained calm as he said, "I don't understand what Duke Zhao means."
"Your Majesty asked me to investigate a matter. I want to inform Duke Lu. Now it seems that Duke Lu does not welcome me. In this case, I will take my leave!" After Changsun Wuji finished speaking, he stood up to leave.
Hou Junji quickly stood up and stopped Changsun Wuji, saying: "The Duke of Zhao is already here, how can he leave without even having a cup of tea? When word spread, others thought I was stingy and couldn't even part with a cup of tea."
"Then let me stay and have a cup of tea." Changsun Wuji smiled and sat down again.
Hou Junji did not ask anyone to serve tea. He looked at Changsun Wuji and asked, "Brother Fuji, have you heard anything?"
"I wonder who Duke Lu is referring to?" Changsun Wuji asked pretending to be confused.
He had previously guessed that it was impossible for a large quantity of salt to be shipped out of customs without any news at all.
To be able to do this, someone in the Ministry of War must be involved and conceal the matter.
After much thought, he felt that Hou Junji was the most suspicious.
He came here specifically to test it out, and looking at Hou Junji's appearance, he was already sure that Hou Junji was involved in this matter.
Hou Junji was like a frightened bird, he deceived him immediately.
"Brother Auxiliary Machine just said that His Majesty asked you to investigate something. I wonder what it is?" Hou Junji stared at Changsun Wuji and asked.
Changsun Wuji said: "Your Majesty has told me not to tell others about this matter. Please forgive me for not being able to tell anyone."
He wanted to wait for Hou Jun to gather and speak out first, so that he could take more initiative.
Hou Junji looked at Changsun Wuji's expression and knew that he must know something.
"Brother Auxiliary Machine, there is something you must help me find a solution for." Hou Junji sighed and said.
Changsun Wuji secretly said, "Here we come," but his face remained calm and he said, "Let me tell you, I will definitely help you if I can."
"In all countries, I can be said to be the worst off now. Everyone used to be the same, but now Lin Xuan and several others are doing business together, making them make a lot of money. Didn't you see Cheng Yaojin
They are so wealthy." Hou Junji said angrily.
Changsun Wuji did not comment. Among all the princes, Hou Junji was definitely not the worst.
Hou Junji continued: "Some time ago, someone came to me and said that there was a batch of ordinary goods that they wanted to transport out of the customs and asked me to help. I was thinking about ordinary goods that were not a big deal and could still make a profit, so I helped
Got them."
Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "If I guess correctly, the things shipped out must be extraordinary, right?"
Hou Junji said bitterly: "Brother Auxiliary Machine is right. Those people tricked me. They were transporting salt. Later, I was threatened by them and had to help them many times. I don't know if Auxiliary Machine can do anything.
Help my little brother to get rid of their threats?"
"Is Mr. Lu Guo really threatened?" Changsun Wuji said with a half-smile.
Hou Junji's expression changed and he said, "I don't understand what Brother Auxiliary Machine means."
"I don't mean anything, I just want to hear the truth from Duke Lu." Changsun Wuji said calmly.
Hou Junji's expression was uncertain. He looked at Changsun Wuji and asked, "So, the mission Brother Auxiliary Machine mentioned is related to this matter?"
"So Duke Lu, please stop testing me." Changsun Wuji nodded.
The conversation has reached this point, and when Li Shimin announces that he will be patrolling the border, Hou Junji will be able to guess it.
Hou Junji looked at Changsun Wuji and said: "In this case, Brother Auxiliary Machine comes to see me, and you must have your purpose. Brother Auxiliary Machinery, you might as well tell me directly."
"I can help you with this matter, but I want this number!" Changsun Wuji raised two fingers.
"Twenty thousand yuan? No problem, I can make the decision and promise it to you." Hou Junji said.
Changsun Wuji shook his head and said, "I said 20% of the profit."
Before Lin Xuan came up with the new salt-making method, the profit of salt was very high. Now it will only be even higher when sold to grasslands and other countries.
He took such a big risk and wanted to send him away with 20,000 yuan. How is that possible?
"Impossible, I can only give you 10% at most. Do you know how many people are participating? If you get 20% by yourself, others will not agree." Hou Junji said.
Changsun Wuji smiled and said: "Is 20% too much? You know, once His Majesty finds out, he will be beheaded. By taking 20%, I will not only save your lives, but also you can continue to make money in the future. What do you think of 20%?"
Isn’t it worth it?”
Hou Junji looked uncertain and said, "I can't make the decision on my own. Brother Auxiliary Machinery will come over again tomorrow, and I'll invite the others over to discuss it together."
Changsun Wuji shook his head and said: "I am not interested in meeting other people, nor do I want to know their identities. Once there are results, you can just inform me. But you must do it as soon as possible, don't wait for me to send the evidence to your majesty.
No results yet.”
Money was secondary to him. He participated in this matter because he was worried that Hou Junji would jump over the wall and attack him.
Another reason is to win over Hou Junji.
He found that Li Chengqian didn't listen to him anymore like before.
Changsun Wuji wanted to win over Hou Junji and support Li Zhi with him.
"I wonder how Brother Fuji plans to settle this matter?" Hou Junji asked.
If Changsun Wuji occupies 20%, the interests of others will be reduced. He needs a reason to convince others.
"You hand over some people to me. I'm on a mission to your majesty. When your majesty sees that this matter has been resolved, he will naturally stop staring at you." Changsun Wuji said.
"What! Do you want us to make friends with you?" Hou Junji was a little unhappy.
Let Changsun Wuji take so many benefits just to settle this matter.
But Changsun Wuji actually asked them to make friends with him.
Changsun Wuji said calmly: "If you don't hand over the information, how can I tell your Majesty? Is it possible to tell His Majesty that the investigation has not revealed anything? What should I do if Your Majesty sends someone else to investigate?"
Hou Junji knew that Changsun Wuji was right, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I will tell the others."
"In that case, I will go back first." Changsun Wuji said.
Hou Junji said in surprise: "You are crazy. There is a curfew now. If you go back now, you will definitely be inspected and registered by the Forbidden Army. Doesn't His Majesty know that?"
Changsun Wuji said: "Don't worry, if I don't even have this ability, how can I have the nerve to take 20% of your profits?"
Hou Junji looked at Changsun Wuji in surprise. According to him, he had someone in the imperial army.
"Since you said so, I won't keep you here." Hou Junji said.