When Zhong Ruolan was talking about the situation of the Zhong family, the expression on her face was neither happy nor sad, but very calm. However, Yan Liqiang still figured out a lot of meaning from what she said.
"This is directed at me!" Yan Liqiang sighed and said, "I heard some news before, and I didn't want to bother with them, but I didn't expect them to be so ignorant of the situation. Seeing that the Zhong family and I were getting close, they actually started to attack the Zhong family. This is the tree wanting to be quiet but the wind does not stop. What is the attitude of the Zhong family now..."
"The Zhong family is a wealthy family, and will not be defeated by the current difficulties. However, if the bank runs in various states become a trend, it may be very troublesome. Now the Han Empire is in turmoil. It is very costly to transfer the money of the Zhong family's banks in various states outside the northwest, and the road is not safe. I came here this time, also entrusted by the head of the Zhong family, and I want to ask for your help!"
"What about you? What do you think?" Yan Liqiang held Zhong Ruolan's hand and asked, looking into her beautiful eyes.
Zhong Ruolan sighed quietly, "If it was in the past, I might have been happy to see the Zhong family in trouble, and wanted to see some people laugh at their jokes, but somehow, in the past year, especially with your return, all the resentment and dissatisfaction I had accumulated towards the Zhong family over the years has been relieved and disappeared. I suddenly understood a lot of things, and felt that the grievances I had suffered in the Zhong family before were really nothing. No matter what, I also have the blood of the Zhong family flowing in my veins, and I can't just ignore the Zhong family when they are in trouble. And the Zhong family's trouble this time is also related to me!"
"Okay, I understand!" Yan Liqiang nodded, "It's just that these things happened so coincidentally this time. Your Zhong family has such wide connections, you wouldn't have heard any news at all!"
"It's Lanzhou Governor Gu Tong'an!" Zhong Ruolan directly said a name, "Our Zhong family has received news before. Since you came back and were crowned king this time, Gu Tong'an has been very active behind the scenes. He has made many small moves and secretly connected with the governors of other northwestern states. As for the reason for their connection, you should know why..."
"Lanzhou Governor Gu Tongan..." Yan Liqiang whispered the name, smiling and shaking his head. He had no impression of the name or the person behind it, and he didn't feel nervous at all. It was just like what Zhong Ruolan said, this person was just an unknown person. It was strange to say that if it was in the past, Yan Liqiang would definitely feel uneasy and nervous if he knew that there was a governor who wanted to deal with him. But now, after advancing to the Martial King and wiping out the Shatu people and the Black Jie people to become the King of Pingxi, Yan Liqiang felt that it was just a drizzle when he heard such news. The only thought that flashed through his mind was that it was just a governor who wanted to make a small move...
"The way you looked just now..." Zhong Ruolan suddenly said...
"What's wrong?" Yan Liqiang was slightly stunned.
"You look carefree and indifferent, and domineering. It seems that no difficulty can stop you. You look very charming!" Zhong Ruolan's cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes flickered as she looked at Yan Liqiang's face. "I don't know why, but when I saw you, I felt relieved!"
"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Yan Liqiang gently hugged Zhong Ruolan in his arms, swept his eyes over Zhong Ruolan's delicate body, buried his head in Zhong Ruolan's snow-white neck and took a deep breath. His throat trembled, and he leaned close to Zhong Ruolan's ear and whispered, "Ahem, you haven't seen each other for a long time, you should stay, we'll have dinner together tonight..."
Zhong Ruolan's face turned even redder. She rolled her eyes at Yan Liqiang and said, "The Zhong family is busy right now, and the insurance company also has a lot of things to do. I will leave for Ganzhou City this afternoon..."
Yan Liqiang let out a disappointed "Ah..." He was about to say something when Hu Haihe's voice rang out from outside the study, "Your Highness, everyone from Ziguangtang has arrived, and it's time for the meeting..."
Yan Liqiang sighed and said to the outside of the door, "Okay, got it..."
Zhong Ruolan stood up from Yan Liqiang's arms, kissed him on the face, and then tidied up his robe. She smiled at him and said, "If you miss me, I can only come back to apologize to you. Sister Beixin is here too. You can go find her..."
Yan Liqiang shook his head and smiled bitterly. It would have been fine if he had not been the King of Pingxi. After becoming the King of Pingxi, every time he went to the Lu family, a large group of people followed him and served him, making the scene too big. He was no longer as free and casual as before. He was embarrassed to do anything to Lu Beixin under such circumstances. At most, he just held her hand and kissed her face. A few days ago, Mr. Lu invited a few maids who were said to have stayed in the palace. Now Lu Beixin is watched by a bunch of aunts and maids all day long to teach her various rules and etiquette. Even when she met Yan Liqiang, there were maids following her. What else could she do...
The two of them walked out of the study together. Yan Liqiang asked Hu Haihe to send Zhong Ruolan out through the side door, and he went directly to Zijin Hall.
"The prince has arrived..."
Following a long announcement from the guards at the door of Zi Guang Hall, the hall, which had been bustling just a moment ago, suddenly became quiet. All the civil and military officials of Qiyun County who were attending the meeting stood in front of their seats at once, and then everyone saw Yan Liqiang walking in from the door of Zi Jin Hall.
At this time, Yan Liqiang was wearing a dark golden robe with a coiled dragon pattern, which represented his identity as the King of Pingxi of the Han Empire. He had a crystal-clear gold jade belt tied around his waist, and a crown on his head that was black on the outside and red on the inside. It was round in front and square in the back, and had nine jade hairpins on the front and back. He looked dignified and elegant, like a completely different person, and people could hardly bear to look at him closely.
It was the first time for all the civil and military officials in Ziguang Hall to see Yan Liqiang formally put on the robes that represented the status of King Pingxi. After seeing Yan Liqiang come in, everyone was shocked and bowed to Yan Liqiang at the same time, "Greetings to His Majesty the King Pingxi!"
Yan Liqiang went straight to the main seat and sat down, nodding his head, "Well, everyone sit down!"
A group of civil and military officials sat down, their backs straight, their eyes looking at their noses and their noses looking at their hearts, looking extremely solemn.
"Haha, don't be nervous, I'm not a cannibal. This isn't the first time we've had a meeting, but this time we're holding it in the palace. Seeing everyone's rosy faces and in good spirits, I feel relieved. It seems like everyone likes getting promoted and making money..."
Hearing Yan Liqiang speak in a relaxed tone, all the civil and military officials present breathed a sigh of relief and were no longer so nervous. A smile appeared on their faces and they relaxed a little.
"Now everyone has a lot of gold and jade at home, and countless fertile fields outside. If the world is peaceful now, to be honest, after we pacify the seven tribes of Shatu and the Black Jie people, we can really have a good rest and enjoy life with fertile fields, beautiful wives, luxury houses and delicious food..." The smile on Yan Liqiang's face slowly faded, and his loud voice echoed in the Purple Light Hall, "But the problem is that the world is not peaceful now. Not only is it not peaceful, but there are also undercurrents and endless disputes. The Han Empire is now surrounded by powerful enemies outside and eyeing it covetously, and there are bandits inside who are causing chaos and have become the king. Can we rest? Since ancient times, it has been easy to conquer a country but difficult to rule it. It is not an easy thing for us to keep what we have now, leave something for our children and grandchildren, and let those who believe in us and rely on us continue to live a peaceful and good life. That's why I gathered everyone here today to hold this meeting. We cannot be satisfied with the little achievements we have made now, but must have greater courage and determination, strive to be the first, and be brave to innovate. Only in this way can we cope with the complex situation facing the Han Empire!"
Yan Liqiang's voice echoed throughout the Purple Light Hall. At this point, Yan Liqiang paused, then looked at Fang Beidou, who was sitting to his right, and said, "Master Fang, please first introduce the current situation of the Han Empire to everyone. I guess many people don't know some of this news yet, so that everyone can be prepared..."
(End of this chapter)