Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 96 Returning to the Restaurant? No, Returning to the Imperial Court
After seeing Zhang Huai and the others off, Wang Xi and his group prepared to set off for a performance at Yixianjue.

Suddenly, Hongxiu quietly approached Wang Xi and whispered, "Wang Xiaoque, was that move you just used taught to you by your teacher?"

Wang Xi asked in surprise, "Which move?"

Hongxiu said, "It was you who made those merchants report their own numbers."

"Does the teacher also think this is a brilliant move?" Wang Xi asked excitedly.

Hongxiu paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"To be honest, teacher, I came up with this myself," Wang Xi said proudly.

"You figured that out?"

"Yup!"

Wang Xi said excitedly, "The master put me in charge of this matter, saying it was to train me, but I don't know how to do accounts, so I came up with this idea: first, to scare them hard, and then let them report the numbers themselves."

This will also give us some satisfaction. They looked down on us before, but now I'll make them come begging to us with money in their hands.

Hongxiu nodded and said, "I see."

He thought to himself, "This is a mistake that has gone wrong in the end; those merchants are going to suffer."

Just then, a shout was heard, "Teacher, Sparrow, what are you talking about? We need to set off."

It's obvious without even thinking that it was Li Jieman, that scoundrel of a friend, who now enjoys breaking up couples.

Wang Xi immediately said, "You all go first, I'll ride in the teacher's carriage."

Then he chuckled at Hongxiu and said, "Teacher, your car is so big, it's such a waste for one person to ride in it."

Hongxiu smiled and said, "Didn't you say that the teacher's car was a bit too big the other day? So today the teacher changed to a smaller car, which can only fit one person."

"???"

Wang Xi was immediately dumbfounded.

Did she anticipate my prediction?

"Teacher, it's cold today. If two people squeeze together, it will be much warmer," Wang Xi said unwillingly.

"Squeeze in?" Hongxiu glanced at him lightly, then suddenly her eyes flashed, and she looked up at Li Jieman and said, "Xiaoman, didn't you want to see Wang Xiaoque just now?"

"Oh? Right, right! We almost forgot about it if the teacher hadn't mentioned it."

Li Jieman and Wang Shuang immediately ran over, "Brother Que, we have something to talk to you about, come over here for a moment."

Without waiting for Wang Xi's response, they simply carried him away.

Wang Xi, who had been thrown into the carriage, immediately said to Li Jieman, "You fatso, I've put up with you for a long time. We made a promise back then, how come you don't keep your word and are always doing bad things in secret?"

Li Jieman said righteously, "How am I going back on my word? I have never had any bad intentions towards the teacher. Heaven and earth can bear witness. I have always respected the teacher. Now I have bad intentions towards you. Is that not allowed? Monk Nian, tell me the truth. Have I gone back on my word?"

Huangfu Sengnian shook his head and said, "Of course not."

"you.."

Wang Xi laughed, shaking his head and saying, "It's no use, hehe, I'm determined to have Hongxiu, you can only be jealous."

Li Jieman curled his lip, "You've shown your true colors. With your character, how could a teacher possibly want you?"

Wang Xi said, "Since you think the teacher looks down on me, why do you want to sabotage things?"

Li Jie, covered in fat, immediately moved closer, blinking his small eyes, "I've got my eye on you."

"roll."

At this moment, Wang Shuang outside the car said, "Sit tight, we're about to set off."

Wang Xi kicked Li Jieman away, then sat up straight. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he said, "Alright! We should talk about serious matters now."

Li Jie asked, "What important matter?"

"You fatso, all you're thinking about is breaking up a couple. What important business are you talking about? Our important business has always been just one thing: raising our dad."

Wang Xi glared at him and said, "It won't be long before those merchants come knocking with money to invite us to perform. We'll soon steal the limelight from the poetry competition. There will definitely be people in the court who will gossip and even sabotage us."

"I'm afraid it's more than that."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Prime Minister Zhang just issued a policy on poetry and prose, but Dream of the Red Chamber is incompatible with those policies. At that time, it was Prime Minister Zhang who ordered us to restrain ourselves. Now we are making a big splash in the restaurant, which may offend Prime Minister Zhang."

Wang Xi laughed and said, "And this is our father's opportunity."

Li Jieman asked, "What opportunity?"

Wang Xi said, "Help my father return to the center of power."

Upon hearing this, both Li Jieman and Huangfu Sengnian were taken aback.

"Return to power."

That sounds really scary.

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Although the position in the Palace Secretariat is relatively close to His Majesty, it is far from the court and is always outside the center of power. Now that the situation has changed, we must help our father return to the center of power so that he can gain a foothold in the court."

The person in charge of the Palace Secretariat must be someone trusted by the emperor.

If it were Li Linfu, he would definitely be able to rise to prominence in this position.

But for Wang Shouyi, this position was very awkward. Now that the maternal relatives were being suppressed, and the emperor was also favoring Consort Wu, Wang Shouyi could not use this position to enter the court. In addition, he did not have Li Linfu's methods.

Even if things are peaceful, staying in the palace can easily wear down one's fighting spirit. If the emperor doesn't go out, there's really nothing to do. Otherwise, Wang Shouyi wouldn't be thinking about those stockings every day. It's because there's nothing else to do.

We must help Wang Shouyi return to the court, which is also the current political need of the Wang family. Empress Wang's main support comes from the outer court!
Huangfu Sengnian asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Wang Xi asked, "What is the purpose of our charity performance?" Huangfu Sengnian replied, "To help those who are living in poverty?"

Wang Xi laughed and said, "But can this really be done by relying solely on the common people? How can we prove that the other party is a hidden resident, and how can we know where their household registration is?"

Huangfu Sengnian was taken aback. "You mean, you should leave this matter to your father?"

Wang Xi nodded and said, "We can only raise money. The real responsibility for arranging the return of hidden households to their registered residence rests with the imperial court. We have no authority in this regard. The issue of hidden households is currently the most important thing for the imperial court. As long as we take on this task, regardless of the rank, it is equivalent to stepping into the center of power."

Huangfu Sengnian nodded and said, "You are right, but how can we do this on our own?"

Wang Xi said, "That's why I deliberately went against Master Zhang. Someone will definitely use this to sow discord, and the Wu family at least won't let this opportunity pass. And that's exactly what we need. As long as this matter causes a stir, we can push the problem back to my uncle. In fact, it was my uncle who asked us to steal the limelight from the singing competition."

Li Jie said dejectedly, "Are you going to betray my father again?"

"Please forgive me! Please forgive me!"

Wang Xi chuckled and continued, "Because only in this way can your father find an excuse to cover up the matter, and that excuse is to help my father plan this job."

On the surface, both storytelling and opera have been incorporated into your father's education reform, and the core idea behind his reform is to provide property for the people. So what is the connection between these two?

Huangfu Sengnian suddenly said, "Return to your place of residence in seclusion."

"correct."

Wang Xi snapped his fingers. “What is the purpose of our performance? It is to raise money to help those hidden households return to their original homes. Isn’t this the same as helping people acquire property? Your father can use this as an excuse to explain why we are performing for charity. Then he can take the opportunity to recommend my father, and my father can get Monk Nian’s father to be his assistant.”

"I see."

Huangfu Sengnian nodded slightly and said, "Your reasoning is sound, but it's also somewhat self-contradictory. Based on this alone, I think it will be difficult to convince Minister Zhang and the others, let alone secure this job."

Wang Xi said, "This is still an excuse. Our real trump card is Dream of the Red Chamber."

"Dream of the Red Chamber?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "You're trying to use the same old trick again."

Wang Xi nodded, "First, put Dream of the Red Chamber on the fire to attract His Majesty. As long as His Majesty likes Dream of the Red Chamber, he will definitely find a way to save it. To save Dream of the Red Chamber, we must agree with Uncle's point of view. Uncle can then take the opportunity to recommend my father to His Majesty."

In the past, they would have thought Wang Xi was daydreaming, but now they are very confident in him.

Because that's what they did last time.

After pondering for a moment, Huangfu Sengnian said, "Actually, I could even avoid conflict with that Mr. Zhang."

Wang Xi asked, "What do you mean?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "The matter of the hidden households was proposed by Yuwen Rong, and this task will eventually fall to him. However, there are rumors that Minister Zhang is at odds with him."

Your father and Yuwen Rong are not on the same side. Your father's involvement will undoubtedly help to check Yuwen Rong, which is perhaps what Master Zhang wants to see.

Perhaps he will even support us.

Wang Xi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Li Jieman said, "Wouldn't that offend Yuwen Rong?"

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "That's not necessarily true. Assisting the hidden households to return to their original places is just a small step in the reform and opening up. My father is not capable of taking charge of the overall situation. If my father can help Yuwen Rong to better complete this task, then he can even secretly befriend Yuwen Rong and help my father to rise to a higher level."

Li Jieman sighed, "In the end, it's my father who will suffer again. He'll beat me again. Oh dear."

Wang Xi laughed and said, "Your father has already become the Vice Minister of Rites. What does it matter if he suffers a little? As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility."

Li Jie asked, feeling frustrated, "So how am I supposed to lie to my dad this time?"

Wang Xi said, "Wait for the right opportunity. As long as the opportunity is right, it is not deception, but a strategy."

When they arrived at Yi Xian Jue, they didn't crowd the restaurant like they had the day before, but that doesn't mean the popularity of Dream of the Red Chamber has waned.

It's easy to see that all the teahouses and taverns surrounding Yi Xian Jue are packed with people.

They were waiting, waiting for their friend to come out.

These days, anyone who gets to hear the plot of Dream of the Red Chamber first is highly sought after. Those who reserve seats at Yixianjue are also looking forward to the opportunity to show off. People are vain; having what others don't is the best time to show off.

The consistently high level of interest and the increasingly exciting storyline have prompted various restaurants to submit their offers.

Of course, they had already made arrangements in private.

Because Wang Xi raised his voice so high, showing respect for His Majesty, they were also afraid of competing with each other and suffering greater losses.

So the prices they quoted were based on their own store's usual expenses for live performances, plus double that amount.

After reviewing several quotes, Huangfu Sengnian immediately understood, "It seems they've already reached an agreement."

"That's secondary."

Wang Xi laughed and said, "They didn't expect that what I mainly wanted was their territory, not just that little bit of money."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "So you don't intend to bargain."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Of course. After all, our ambitions lie elsewhere."

Wang Xi did not make things difficult for them anymore, but agreed to everything.

This made the merchants feel somewhat frustrated, wondering if they had quoted too much, but the other party was a group of spoiled brats, and no one dared to haggle anymore.

Of course, these merchants wouldn't do business at a loss. They had calculated that even without the impact of "Dream of the Red Chamber" on their business, they wouldn't lose money at this price; it was just a matter of how much profit they would make.

All the major restaurants immediately negotiated performance times with Wuming Academy, and upon returning, they promptly hung up signs for "Dream of the Red Chamber".

As if overnight, the Dream of the Red Chamber craze swept through the entire city of Chang'an.

(End of this chapter)