Ming Dynasty: At the beginning of the game, Lao Zhu resigned and retired.

Chapter 1045: It's hard to flatter
"The Queen?"

"Don't you know the identity of the Empress?"

"She is the daughter-in-law of the Zhu family and the eldest daughter of the Hu family. Is she looking for a reason to vent her anger on behalf of her younger sister-in-law and eldest sister-in-law?"

Lao Qi's answer was matter of course, and he even looked at the prefect with a somewhat strange look.

"Wenqing, what do you want to ask?"

Zhang Wenqing smacked his lips, glanced around, and found that the other officials had indeed left early, leaving only the two "masters" of their Hangzhou Prefecture. He spoke a little embarrassedly.

"You are just trying to curry favor with the Empress!"

"So, Lao Qi, give me a chance. How does the Empress intend to retaliate?"

"I'll just make do with it and make some good connections?"

Old Qi looked at Zhang Wenqing as if he was an idiot, his face extremely speechless.

"Wenqing, you are going a bit too far."

"What, do you think I'm a stupid ass?"

"Hmm? Lao Qi, why do you say that? I don't mean to insult you. I've come to you for help."

Prefect Zhang Wenqing cried out that he felt he had suffered a great injustice.

He has even lowered his face to expose his shortcomings in front of Lao Qi in an attempt to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, so why are you still talking about him?

But Lao Qi stared at him with his eyes wide open for a long time before speaking in a low voice.

"Wenqing, do you think that if I could do what Miss Hu said, or if I could do it with you, why would I have to wait until now?"

"..."

silence!

A long silence!
The silence lasted until Lao Qi thought Zhang Wenqing had completely shut himself off, and then the prefect, with a red face, stammered and asked.

"So, things are very difficult?"

Sometimes, a person's emotional breakdown can be caused by just one sentence.

"Isn't it easy?"

"If it's just difficult to handle, then forget it!"

"At least we can consider and think about whether to do this or not. If we do it, is it worthwhile? Are there big risks?!"

"But now, damn, this bunch of salt merchants, businessmen, and gentry have done everything they can and are capable of doing, and even smashed the store several times."

"What should I do?"

"I have nowhere to do what I want to do!"

"Fuck these bastards!"

"You really don't leave me any chance at all!"

Looking at the cursing Old Qi, Zhang Wenqing instantly regained balance.

Oh, now I understand.

No wonder Lao Qi looked at me like that just now!
It turns out that the person on the other side is also someone who can't even find a place to flatter.

Compared to myself, he's not much better.

Hahahaha...

Looking at it this way, it feels comfortable.

puff...

Zhang Wenqing couldn't help laughing out loud on the spot.

Of course, this also instantly earned him Lao Qi's angry glare.

In response, Zhang Wenqing not only did not apologize, but raised his eyebrows provocatively.

I'm being arrogant, so what?

Don't forget, you are still my deputy.

Not only am I half a level higher than you, but I'm also your superior. What's wrong with me laughing at you?
Didn’t you just laugh at me?

Got it!
Looking at the smug look of Prefect Zhang, Lao Qi curled his lips speechlessly and glared at him hatefully.

And then, endure it!
It's not that I'm afraid, but this matter really has no solution. "So, Lao Qi, this time, we really can only watch?"

"Logically speaking, the Queen Mother wrote to you. With a senior official like you here, she wouldn't look for anyone else."

"Where did the others get the news?"

"Damn it, I wanted to curry favor with them but these people ruined my chance!"

Zhang Wenqing finally spoke out his true feelings and also started to complain.

When Lao Qi heard this, he became more and more annoyed.

"How the hell should I know!"

"Well, I think there are Jinyiwei among those who did it. How about you ask Jinyiwei?"

"Isn't your brother-in-law in the Jinyiwei? With this relationship, it shouldn't be a problem to ask about his background, right?"

Zhang Wenqing nodded without comment, then turned around and asked, "What about you?"

The question was very confusing, but Lao Qi knew what he meant.

The meaning was very clear. There was no problem with Zhang Wenqing using his connections with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but Old Qi couldn't just sit there and watch.

Lao Qi smacked his lips and touched the beard on his chin.

"Someone in my hometown once tactfully asked me to take care of the Zeng family here."

"And it just so happens that the Zeng family also took action this time."

"Then I'll ask their family!"

"I always feel that this place and your place may not be from the same place."

"How about we meet up later?"

When Zhang Wenqing heard this, his brows immediately frowned.

If this is true, Hangzhou will be in chaos.

After all, these people are only concerned with helping out and don’t care about the final outcome.

Then the mess would be his and Lao Qi's responsibility, wouldn't it?

Thinking of this, he nodded more solemnly: "Then hurry up, let's meet later!"

After saying that, he just got up and left.

Looking at the other party's hurried appearance, Lao Qi smiled and nodded, then walked directly to the outside.

In fact, he knew something about this matter.

In fact, he suspected that Zhang Wenqing, the prefect, also knew a lot.

Even though they seemed to be chatting enthusiastically and intimately just now, in fact, they were not that naive.

Unless one reaches the level of Master Hu, who has retired from the court to live a carefree life.

Otherwise, wouldn't anyone who works in official circles be more careful about who they speak to?
At dinner time, Magistrate Zhang and Vice Magistrate Qi, who had been busy all day, met again in a restaurant which was not very well-known but had good food and a quiet environment.

Sitting in the box on the second floor, the cool breeze blowing through the half-open window made both of them feel much more awake.

"Lao Qi, how are you doing?"

Qi Tongzhi raised his teacup and took a sip. Without even looking up, he replied, "Butler of the Hu family, I want to pass on a message from the young mistress of the Hu family. Anyone who wants to do business with the Hu family must make every effort this time."

"Oh...it turned out to be the young mistress of the Hu family, the person involved. No wonder!"

"What about you? Did the Jinyiwei send a message from the Hu Mansion?"

Zhang Wenqing had an amused expression on his face, and then he gave an answer that he had not thought of before.

"Duke Wei's words were only to help Young Master Hu!"

"If the young master of the Hu family doesn't retaliate after attacking someone's wife, what will happen?"

"Oh? He is also a party involved. However, this young master can actually ask Duke Wei to help him get in touch with the Jinyiwei directly. This is quite rare!"

"I was irritated by this young master a lot back then!"

Lao Qi's sigh is obviously both a lament about the changes in the world and a secret show-off.

Zhang Wenqing obviously understood, but his words simply silenced him.

"I just want to flatter someone, why is it so difficult?" (End of this chapter)