Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Zhang Jingwei had just dealt with the gang of scammers and was in a good mood. He was about to turn around and go upstairs to continue his carefree life as his boss behind the scenes, but he was suddenly stopped by a voice.

"Master Zhang, please stay."

Another old man's voice. Zhang Jingwei felt annoyed. Was he going to argue with the old man tonight? He patiently turned around, his eyes behind the glass mask scrutinizing the old man who had called him. This old man also wore a mask, but his demeanor was calm and composed, completely different from the loudmouthed scammers from earlier.

"Dear guest," Zhang Jingwei's voice, with a hint of subtle fatigue and alienation through the mask, "do you have something to ask me?"

The old man was none other than Zhao Mingcheng. He slowly stepped forward, unfazed by Zhang Jingwei's status. Instead, his tone was calm, even a hint of admiration. "Master Zhang's methods are truly eye-opening. Through a combination of tactics and tactics, he not only recovered the debt, but also deterred the scoundrels and rectified the local unhealthy atmosphere. While his methods were... well, a bit unconventional, they were remarkably effective."

Zhang Jingwei raised his brows beneath his mask when he heard this. This old man's speech... didn't sound like that of an ordinary scoundrel who was just trying to get food and drinks for free. Instead, he sounded like someone who had seen the world. He spoke a little more slowly, "From the way this distinguished guest speaks, he seems calm and composed. I'm sure he's also a distinguished person from the capital. What's his name?"

Zhao Mingcheng smiled faintly and said frankly, "I am indeed from Kyoto. My surname is Zhao, my given name is 'Luo', and my courtesy name is Mingcheng."

"Zhao... Mingcheng?" Zhang Jingwei repeated the name, then burst into uncontrollable laughter, as if he had heard something utterly absurd. His laughter was particularly piercing in the suddenly quiet hall. "Hahaha! Old man, you really know how to joke! I've seen at least eight or nine swindlers impersonating provincial governors and inspectors these past two days! You're the only one - this is the first time I've seen someone so bold as to impersonate the current prime minister!"

He suppressed his laughter, his tone tinged with a mixture of joking and well-intentioned admonition: "Old man, if you're not bothering with making up stories, you might as well think about how to get by tomorrow. It's a blessing that you've met me. I respect the elderly and cherish the young, so I won't bother with these empty promises. So, settle the bill for the free food and drinks you've had in Gaoyang these past two days, and I'll pretend I didn't hear anything and let bygones be bygones. How about that?"

Zhao Mingcheng didn't get angry. Instead, he looked at him with interest. "Master Zhang is very cunning and his methods... well, quite clever. He must be an extremely intelligent person. Has it never occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, I really am the current Prime Minister, Zhao Mingcheng?"

Zhang Jingwei scoffed and waved his hand, his expression a bit like, "I've seen through it all!" "Forget it, old man! There are two prime ministers in this dynasty. One is named Shi, and I just sentenced his uncle to death. He must hate me to the core right now. The other is Zhao, the old uncle of the emperor. He is of noble status and a transcendent position. He is a true royal relative and a central authority! How could such a person, who is busy with all kinds of affairs and holds the power of the world, come to my remote border county without a word? And even chat with me in my Zuixian Tower?"

Zhao Mingcheng stroked his beard, an elusive smile flickering in his eyes. "Haha, I hope so. However, I do hope that Master Zhang can linger in this Zuixian Tower for a while longer. I, too, will stay here a little longer. Perhaps... we'll meet again soon, and then I hope Master Zhang will still be so confident."

Zhang Jingwei felt the old man was being pretentious. He lost his patience and his tone turned cold. "Old man, you're just joking. As the governor of Gaoyang, I have many official duties to attend to. If it weren't for the need to clean up these creeps that are causing trouble to the area, why would I linger in this recreational area for so long?" He paused, with a condescending "concern" and a hint of threat, "If you are... well, old and can't remember the way home, or if you are short of money and have nowhere to stay, you can come to the county government office to find me. My door is always open to my people. But if you are deliberately provoking trouble and harassing me..."

His voice lowered a few degrees, and a cold warning came through the mask: "The consequences will be very serious."

Zhao Mingcheng simply smiled noncommittally at this implicit threat, seemingly unconcerned. "Well, since Lord Zhang is so busy with official duties, I won't bother you any further." He then changed the subject, as if genuinely a guest simply seeking comfort. "To become a member of your Zuixianlou, I paid a hundred strings of cash. I can't waste this money in vain. I must savor the delicacies you offer to make this trip worthwhile."

After saying that, he nodded slightly to Zhang Jingwei, then turned around and walked leisurely towards the dining area, as if the conversation involving the identity of the prime minister had never happened.

Zhang Jingwei watched his calmly departing figure, his brows furrowed slightly beneath his glass mask. This old man... seemed different from those foolish thieves. But he immediately shook his head, dismissing his suspicions—perhaps just a more patient, pretentious con man. He turned and headed upstairs, temporarily isolating himself from the clamor downstairs and the old man calling himself "Zhao Mingcheng."