Chapter 7: Do Not Offer Yourself to Me

Once the decision is made to act, there will be no turning back. Two swift men pursued directly down the main road, while the others followed Ma Siyuan, who led the way, as they took a detour to intercept the Grand Eunuch Nian.

People cover their faces with cloth, wear their long gowns inside out, and tightly cinch their belts. They frequently launch surprise attacks on others, specifically targeting their opponents with stealthy blows. Their techniques are extremely proficient; as long as they are not caught in the act, no one can recognize them afterward

Li Le said to the boss: "Serve Master Da with eight meat dishes and eight vegetarian dishes, and attend to him with utmost care!" He then cupped his fists towards Master Da's residence and the other two eunuchs, smiling as he said: "Please take your time, I shall take my leave first!" After saying this, he turned around and exchanged glances with Ma Siyuan and the others, instructing them to step outside for a conversation. Once the ruffians rushed in, they quickly surged back out again.

Li Leheiran said: "After deliberating for more than twenty years, we still haven't come up with anything! Wealth and honor are sought through risk; if we are afraid to take even this little risk, then we might as well part ways, and there's no need to follow me any longer"

Li Legang was about to leave when he suddenly heard someone from the Dazhang residence calling out from behind: "Hey, brother, are you leaving just like that?" He quickly turned around and asked, "Is there something else, Master Da?"

Dazhangfu smiled and said: "That is only natural. Given our friendship, even if you do not invite me, I will certainly go!"

The ruffians are all local bullies, intimately familiar with the roads of the city. Estimating the time, they figured out where the manager might be, darting through alleys and narrow lanes, they rushed ahead at full speed.

Li Le saw his subordinate arrive and stood up, saying: "Master Da, I have some matters to attend to, so I must take my leave. When I hold my son's hundred-day banquet, you must definitely come!"

Going to the residence of Shaoqing Yu Wencheng is no longer an option. Li Le believes he cannot defeat Yu Wencheng, so if he wants to make a name for himself in the Sui Dynasty, the best way is to seek recognition from Yu Wenshu as his grandson. The key issue is how to meet Yu Wenshu; it is estimated that once he manages to meet him, everything will be much easier to handle

Luo Diefei also said: "Indeed, brother, although this strategy is clever, it seems to have some flaws. It would be better to ..."

In recent days, Nianshan Song has been running between the residences of various ministers, seeking fabric for the hundred-fold clothing for the Quiet Consort, while also laying some groundwork for the future of the young prince in terms of connections, but the results have been unsatisfactory

He shared his rough idea with his subordinates, and the ruffians immediately turned pale. Xie Changliu stammered, "Brother, this matter requires careful consideration!"

Li Le nodded and said, "Alright, I trust all of you brothers! There is still time, so let me explain this business deal to you!" He began to speak in this manner.

It turns out that Li Le learned from the Han family why Yuwen Muzhou could not "acknowledge his ancestors and return to his roots." This matter cannot be blamed on Yuwen Shu. Even if a grandfather is biased, he would not drive his illegitimate grandson out of the house to suffer. However, Yuwen Huaji's wife was able to orchestrate such a situation, primarily because she was the one causing trouble behind the scenes.

After a moment, the sound of hooves clattering on the street echoed, prompting the man of the wind to rush into the alley and whisper, "They have arrived. There are not many people on the street now, it is the perfect time to act"

He glanced at the shopkeeper and said, "Brother, you haven't paid yet. Look, the boss is getting anxious!" He thought to himself, "Whatever you forget, don't forget to pay. It's cold and hot, with both meat and vegetables laid out for me. If you just get up and leave, the boss will come looking for me for the money. Where am I supposed to find you? Do you think being a eunuch is a high-paying job?"

After running for a while, everyone hid in a secluded alley. Ma Siyuan panted and said, "The one with the surname Nian should not have arrived here yet. Let's wait for him here!"

Li Le was sweating profusely as he bent down, resting his hands on his knees, gasping for breath. He asked, "How far is it from here to the residence of Duke Xu?"

In half a li fang, we will arrive!" replied Xie Changliu

Nian Shan Song thought: "If we are to speak of those outside the palace who can be close to the Empress, it would only be Princess Nanyang. Unfortunately, aside from her penchant for gossiping about the affairs of others, she possesses no serious skills. Her husband, Yu Wen Shi Ji, is equally insipid, always putting on an air of 'detachment from all matters,' which is of no help at all. Aside from this couple, there is no one else to rely on, which is truly frustrating!" He sighed deeply, lamenting the lack of trustworthy individuals in the court.

Although riding a horse, Nian Shansong did not ride quickly. His horsemanship was not proficient, and coupled with his preoccupied mind, he was too lazy to let the reins loose and gallop, keeping his head down in thought. Nian Shansong was forty-two years old this year and served as the chief steward of the imperial treasury. He was from the same hometown as Consort Jing, and the two supported each other in the palace, which could be considered somewhat prestigious.

Just as I was sighing, suddenly, a group of masked men burst out from the alley ahead, charging towards me with fierce intent

Ma Siyuan pondered and said: "Brother seems to be a bit hasty, but the saying 'Fortune favors the bold' holds true! If things do not work out, at worst we can all escape the capital and find a mountain to settle down, which is not a big deal! Brother, count me in for this venture!"

To successfully gain an audience with Yu Wenshu, it is advisable to have an introducer; otherwise, the guards will not dare to let him through. Dazhangfu could be a candidate, but judging by his cunning, lazy, and gluttonous demeanor, he would hardly believe that Li Le is the eldest grandson of the Yu Wen family, let alone take him into the residence. In matters like this, relying solely on banquets to curry favor is of no use whatsoever

Li Lexin thought: "The boss is anxious; he is eager for me to leave quickly, not worried about my payment!" He slapped his forehead and said: "Look at my memory; I actually forgot to order wine for Master Da! Boss, serve Master Da a few pots of good wine and attend to him with care. I will have my subordinate bring you the payment for the food and wine tomorrow"

Upon hearing the boss acknowledge the account, Dazhangfu immediately felt relieved. The emperor had gone to bed late yesterday and was likely still asleep at this hour, so there was no rush to return to the palace to deliver the edict. He lifted his chopsticks and indulged in food and drink. The two young eunuchs who accompanied him were even more delighted; being of lowly status, they rarely received attention from others and seldom had the opportunity to enjoy a banquet in the palace. Today, being able to dine and drink alongside their superior, they naturally loosened their belts and refrained from mentioning anything about returning.

It is quite difficult for a hero, and there aren't many beauties for him to save. However, it is much easier to be a rogue; saving a eunuch hardly requires much skill. Therefore, Li Le decided to take a risk and set a trap for that year’s steward to fall into.

Si Yuan was taken aback and said, "You've been to your grandfather's house before, so why are you asking me?" He replied, "If you take the main street, it’s quite far; it takes more than half an hour to go around a big bend. But if you go through the alleys, it’s much closer, probably less than two quarters of an hour."

The ministers appeared courteous on the surface, each presenting garments worn by their own children to Nianshansong, yet not a single genuine word was spoken regarding the future of the little prince. Everyone was astute, understanding that it was uncertain whether the child could grow up safely. To express "loyalty" to him at this stage was indeed premature, and to offend other princes for the sake of this little prince, who had just turned one hundred days old, would be truly unwise

The ruffians all laughed, and Ma Siyuan said: "What are you talking about, brother? It is only natural for us, having become brothers in this life, to share wealth and face difficulties together! Losing a head is just a scar the size of a bowl; if we are afraid of even this, how can we follow you in this life?" The other ruffians nodded in agreement.

Li Le then turned his thoughts to the steward of the year. In a hurry, it was certain that he could not establish a rapport with the steward, and even if he did, the steward would not rashly take him into the residence. Therefore, the only remaining option was to make the steward owe him a favor

Li Le had also contemplated intercepting the carriage midway, but that would be tantamount to airing the family's dirty laundry. Prominent families dread such occurrences; even if he were to truly encounter Yu Wen Shu, it would likely provoke the old man's displeasure. The benefits that could have been granted might instead be withheld. Thus, the only remaining option would be to enter the residence for a formal visit. However, the tactic of soft persuasion had already been employed by Yu Wen Mu Zhou, resulting in a beating. If he were to force his way in, he would undoubtedly face another beating, and Li Le had no interest in testing that.

Li Le had a plan in mind and said to the ten or so subordinates in front of him: "Brothers, I have a lucrative business opportunity to pursue. If successful, we will have no worries about food and drink, and we might even gain official positions. However, if it fails, we could lose our heads! This business carries significant risks, so I do not wish to force anyone. Those who are willing can follow me now, and those who are not can leave immediately"

Li Le's heart suddenly leaped to his throat. Gritting his teeth, he declared, "Success or failure depends on this one attempt! Brothers, be a bit measured in your actions, let's go!" With a wave of his hand, more than ten strong men charged out of the alley.

The two men spoke insincerely; Li Le wanted to hold a hundred-day banquet but did not mention his home address. Da Zhang's residence "must" be attended, yet he did not inquire about the date. In broad daylight, the two men surprisingly engaged in a game of "mutual understanding"!

Li Le saw that they were ready and could not help but think: "I hope that the one with the surname Nian hasn't already gone over, or we will have waited in vain!" His heart was filled with excitement, yet tinged with a hint of unease, as he had never done such a thing before, making him inevitably anxious to the extreme

With someone taking the lead, matters became easier to handle. The ruffians, being desperate individuals, hesitated only for a moment before resolutely deciding to join the elder brother in this venture. Thinking back to the time when the steward had left for quite a while, if they did not hurry to catch up, they feared he might have already arrived at the residence of the Duke of Xu.

Li Le exited the restaurant, turned a corner with his subordinates, and slipped into a deserted alley. He asked Ma Siyuan, "Old Ma, do you know how long it takes to get from here to the residence of Duke Xu?"

The boss dared not demand money from him, bowing and agreeing, he saw Li Le out the door. Li Le then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the Da Zhang residence and left.