Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The end of the seventh lunar month had come to an end, welcoming the beginning of the eighth lunar month. The two hottest months of the year in the Imperial Capital city were long over. The end of summer and the beginning of autumn was the best time of the year.
It had been a long time since Yan Liqiang rode Snowstorm Cloud. He ordered the stable to bring Snowstorm Cloud out and then walked out of the main entrance with his glossy steed.
While Yan Liqiang had been working hard lately, Snowstorm Cloud lived a very comfortable life in Deer Villa. It was well-fed, well taken care of by the people, and roamed freely in the ranch. Yan Liqiang heard that it even hooked up with two beautiful mares. When Snowstorm Cloud saw Yan Liqiang again, it seemed to know that it would be able to run to its heart’s content outside of Deer Villa. It followed Yan Liqiang very excitedly, snorting loudly from time to time. Its newly-replaced horseshoes crunched noisily on the stone path.
“Ah, Deputy Manager Yan is going out…?” An officer standing guard at Deer Villa’s entrance approached Yan Liqiang with a huge smile when he saw the latter pulling his steed along with him.
“Yes, I’m taking a trip to the Imperial Capital. What do our brothers want to drink? I will bring some back for everyone when I return…” Yan Liqiang greeted the soldiers guarding the entrance as usual.
“Oh no, we can’t possibly. Just let us know if you need anything, Deputy Manager Yan…” The soldier hurriedly waved his hands in shock. They could still accept Yan Liqiang’s offer back then, but now he was the deputy manager in Deer Villa and also an Armed Imperial Guard of the Fifth Grade that was personally appointed by the Emperor himself. Even if the celebrity of Deer Villa was being courteous, they couldn’t accept his goodwill because Eunuch Liu would definitely skin them alive if he found out about it.
“Godspeed, Deputy Manager Yan!” The soldiers lined up on both sides of the entrance shouted loudly and saluted to Yan Liqiang.
Yan Liqiang smiled and didn’t say anything else. He leaped onto the back of his steed, waved at everyone at the entrance, and gave Snowstorm Cloud’s abdomen a squeeze with his legs. The steed neighed and delightfully charged out of Deer Villa under everyone’s envious gazes.
Riding on Snowstorm Cloud’s back, Yan Liqiang only released a long exhale when Deer Villa gradually disappeared behind him. The saying, ‘No one knows the hardships behind the glamor’ portrayed his current situation perfectly. Everyone in Deer Villa was extremely envious of him and thought that a young and promising individual like him would definitely have a great future ahead, yet no one was aware of the peril he was facing.
Shortly after Yan Liqiang left Deer Villa on his rhinodrake steed and rode onto the public road, he suddenly sensed that he was being watched not long after he galloped past a teahouse. When the two people who were drinking tea saw him pass by, they immediately left the teahouse to untie the two rhinodrake steeds from the stable at the side and followed him.
They didn’t follow him too closely, but they weren’t too far back either. They rode unhurriedly about fifty or sixty meters behind him.
Yan Liqiang cast a glance behind him. His stalkers were in their thirties or forties. They were confidently following him on the public road solemn expressions on their tanned faces. They didn’t seem concerned in the least bit even when they noticed Yan Liqiang turning his head around to look at them, clearly stating something along the lines of ‘So what if we are following you? What can you do about it?’
From their temperaments, Yan Liqiang had a hunch they were law enforcers from the bureaucracy instead of thugs. The road to the Imperial Capital city was vast; there was nothing one could do even if people were tailing them.
As expected, he was being watched. Were they afraid that he was going to flee?
Yan Liqiang sneered coldly in his heart…
‘Hya…!” He shook his reins, bringing Snowstorm Cloud into a dash and abruptly increasing its speed. When the two men saw Yan Liqiang bringing his rhinodrake steed to a gallop, they exchanged glances and then shook their reins too to quickly catch up.
In just less than half an hour, Yan Liqiang arrived at the headquarters of the publishing company on Mount Longqi on his rhinodrake steed. When the two men following behind him noticed Yan Liqiang enter the manor, they didn’t follow him inside…
…..
“The manager is here…!” As soon as Yan Liqiang dismounted, Hu Haihe came running and took over his steed’s reins.
“Haihe, did something happen to the publishing company over these two days?” Yan Liqiang passed the reins to him and casually asked his question.
“Nothing. If anything, it’s all the good things. Many managers in the Imperial Capital came running here when they discovered that the could advertise their businesses on our newspaper. Manager Fang’s hands are really full…” Hu Haihe exclaimed in excitement and pointed to the courtyard. “In fact, another major client just arrived this afternoon. He’s Manager Gu of the Huaixiang Bookstore in the Imperial Capital, and he is having a business discussion with Manager Fang over at the Plum Gardens…”
Yan Liqiang frowned slightly as his heart grew heavier. It wasn’t like he suspected that Hu Haihe was lying. Instead, the more cheerful Hu Haihe was, the more serious trouble the publishing company was in. It was probably so serious that Fang Beidou didn’t even tell anyone else and chose to discuss it with him only. Apart from Fang Beidou, the rest probably weren’t aware of anything yet.
It was extremely lively in the newspaper office. People were going around the printing workshop and courtyard responsible for releasing articles. Everything was thriving.
Upon seeing Yan Liqiang’s arrival, those who were aware of his identity hurriedly greeted him, thinking he was here for an inspection. Yan Liqiang smiled and nodded at them as he made his way to the Plum Gardens.
When Yan Liqiang arrived at the Plum Gardens, Fang Beidou came out first to meet him at the entrance before he could even go inside.
“Did something happen here?” Yan Liqiang cut to the chase.
Fang Beidou nodded with a grave expression on his face, then pointed to a secluded pavilion in the rock garden nearby. “Let’s talk there…”
“Alright!”
As soon as both of them arrived at the pavilion and took their seats, Fang Beidou spoke without waiting for Yan Liqiang to open his mouth. He told Yan Liqiang the reason he requested for his presence at the newspaper office without beating around the bush. “Someone wants to buy our publishing company!”
Yan Liqiang was amused when he heard that. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Only that?”
Fang Beidou nodded. “Yes!”
“Just tell them we’re not selling. You know better than me what this publishing company is for. Why would we possibly sell it off…?”
Fang Beidou smiled wryly and shook his head. “If it were that simple, I wouldn’t look for you. The client said that if we won’t sell it, they will make sure our publishing company will be shut down in a week’s time!”
“Empty threat?”
“I think not. The other party came prepared!”
The smile on Yan Liqiang’s gradually faded as he squinched his eyes. “Who’s buying?”
Fang Beidou took a deep breath and shook his head. “No idea who is behind this! The mediator is Huaixiang Bookstore’s Manager Gu. He said he wishes to discuss this personally with you… ”
“And he’s in the Plum Gardens?”
“Yes!”
Yan Liqiang immediately stood up as he composed himself. “Alright then, I shall discuss with him. Let’s see who wants to buy our publishing company…”
