flstandardbreds Chapter 268: Leaving the palace, merchants have secret talks.
Chapter 268: Leaving the palace, merchants have secret talks.
Just out of the palace gate.
Originally waiting outside the palace gate were other noble families and merchants.
They immediately surrounded us.
The nobles: "How is it? How is it? What does your majesty say?"
"I wonder how your majesty will react?"
"Yes, yes. You have been inside for so long, but His Majesty deliberately kept you and said something to you?"
Walking behind the representatives of the aristocratic families were Jiang Xiang and two other businessmen.
I was directly blocked by these people.
The merchants waiting on the other side wanted to get closer but couldn't squeeze in, so they could only stand aside, rubbing their hands anxiously and waiting.
When the representatives of the aristocratic and powerful families heard these people's questions, their expressions became even uglier.
Ying Zheng hardly spoke to them throughout the whole process, and even named the three merchants as imperial merchants.
There was no reward for them.
Moreover, their opposition to the imperial merchant's proposal was refuted by Qi Pan.
Ying Zheng did not react at all to this and even agreed with Qi Pan's proposal.
Ignored them.
This is unacceptable to them.
One of the representatives of the aristocratic families said with a dark face.
"There's nothing to say."
"Since the donated silver has been sent in, we can discuss anything when we get back."
The other several noble families who represented the palace also had gloomy faces.
Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that they were unhappy.
The other noble families didn't dare to say anything and just followed him.
Just before leaving.
He has always disliked Jiang Xiang and the other two businessmen, representatives of the aristocratic families.
He glared at them coldly and snorted.
This time Jiang Xiang was in a good mood and didn't bother to argue with him.
He was personally conferred the title of Imperial Merchant by His Majesty and was in a very good mood.
I don't have time to argue with them about these things.
As soon as the nobles and dignitaries left, merchants immediately surrounded them.
They all talked at once and asked Jiang Xiang and the other two merchants.
"What did His Majesty look like? Did you see it with your own eyes?"
"What did His Majesty say to you?"
"Have you submitted the list of our donated silver to His Majesty?"
"Did your majesty see it?"
"After reading the list, did you say anything?"
Jiang Xiang said, "I looked at it."
"We saw His Majesty with our own eyes, and His Majesty granted us a great favor."
what?
grace?!
Other merchants couldn't wait to ask, "What is this grace? Tell me quickly."
Jiang Xiang: “Yes…”
He looked at the other people not far away who were looking over here, suppressed his excitement, and spoke in a low voice.
"Let's talk about this when we get back."
"There are too many people here, and it's easy for trouble to happen."
The other merchants also realized that this was not a place to talk and spoke up immediately.
"Okay, okay, let's go, let's go back first, go back."
"Come to my place. I have prepared wine and food and am waiting for you to come out."
"Come on, let's go eat and talk."
Jiang Xiang and two other merchants were surrounded and walked in another direction.
After they left, the crowd watching not far away slowly dispersed.
Among them were a few who were spies for some powerful family.
Seeing that they didn't get any useful information, they left two people behind and quietly followed the direction the merchants were going.
The other person went back to report the news.
..........
In a side room of a restaurant.
This is the property owned by one of the merchants.
The private rooms offer great privacy.
If you talk inside, no one outside can overhear you.
There are no other rooms nearby, so no outsiders will come.
After leaving someone to guard outside, Jiang Xiang and other merchants went into the wing room and sat down.
In the wing room.
One of the merchants looked at Jiang Xiang and asked.
"What happened after you entered the palace?"
"And what about the grace you just mentioned?"
The other merchants all looked curious.
Staring at Jiang Xiang and the other two merchants.
Jiang Xiang said: "Your Majesty has named us imperial merchants."
what?
Royal merchant?
The merchants were stunned.
"What does this...what does this imperial merchant mean?"
"Never heard of it."
"yes........"
Jiang Xiang said: "Simply put, the imperial merchants are merchants who are protected by His Majesty."
"I am under the protection of your majesty."
"From now on, when we do business in Xianyang, or even in the whole Qin Dynasty, we no longer have to worry about being bullied, insulted, or robbed of our goods."
"With the title and identity of the Imperial Merchant, if others want to touch us, they have to think twice before doing anything."
"Especially... those aristocratic and powerful people."
"They dare not touch us easily."
After hearing this, the merchants opened their eyes wide, their faces full of disbelief.
Are imperial merchants merchants protected by His Majesty?
Is he under the protection of His Majesty?
From now on, those powerful families will no longer dare to oppress them at will?
this........
It seemed like a dream.
One of the merchants pinched his thigh tentatively.
See if you are dreaming.
This pinch......
Hey? Why doesn't it hurt?
He pinched it again, with more force.
Still doesn’t hurt?
He twisted a piece of flesh on his thigh and rotated it without giving up.
The merchant next to him, whose face was twisted in pain, cried out.
"Ouch!!!"
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!"
"Shashasha...are you going to kill me?!"
The merchant next to him let go of his hand in disappointment and coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem... I was wondering why it didn't hurt when I pinched you. It turns out I pinched your leg."
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..."
Now he was sure that he was not dreaming and what he heard was true.
Other businessmen also confirmed that this was really not a dream.
After all, that roar just now went straight to the top of his head.
If they were dreaming, they would have woken up long ago.
The merchants asked Jiang Xiang: "You said that His Majesty has made us imperial merchants. When did this happen? Why hasn't there been any news?"
"Yes, it has been quite a while since you left the palace. How come there is no news from the palace?"
"You didn't hear me wrongly?"
"If your majesty crowns us as imperial merchants, will those noble families agree?"
"You all entered the palace together and met the emperor, but they didn't say anything?"
Just now at the palace gate, although the representatives of the aristocratic and powerful families looked a little unhappy, they did not do anything extreme.
If they were really named imperial merchants by His Majesty, then those aristocratic and powerful families would not be able to remain so calm.
Although they had never given them a good look, it was not much different from their performance just now.
.........