The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

Upon hearing the report from his subordinates, Changsun Shunde fell silent.

"Wang Bai is here?"

"Yes," the servant hurriedly replied, "He also brought a fat man with him. I've never seen him before, and I don't know who he is."

A sense of foreboding inexplicably welled up in Changsun Shunde's heart.

The main reason is that they know their own business best. Last time, the land annexation in Chang'an was done by a few of them. Chen Huai'an even led Wang Bai and the Crown Prince to storm into the county government office.

The entire structure was thoroughly hammered, the warning was self-evident.

In truth, Changsun Shunde also harbored some regret, having been blinded by short-term gains and doing such a thing right under the emperor's nose.

You should know that even the most powerful and influential families in Chang'an have been annexing land little by little, not doing things like this.

Now that Wang Bai has come knocking, anyone with a brain knows it must be at Chen Huai'an's behest, but they don't know exactly what it is about.

Changsun Shunde thought for a moment, sighed, and waved his hand, saying, "Let them come over."

Good fortune is something you can't avoid, and misfortune is something you can't escape.

Besides, sending only one subordinate shouldn't be a big deal. Soon, Wang Bai arrived with many bags and packages, handed the gifts to the servants in the mansion, and then respectfully said, "I am Wang Bai, and my cousin Wang Jinbao have come to pay our respects to Lord Changsun."

When Changsun Shunde saw that they had brought gifts, he breathed a slight sigh of relief and said calmly, "No need for formalities. Besides, I have already been dismissed from my post, so there's no need to address me like that."

"Lord Changsun, you flatter me. Everyone has their low points. My master also passed the imperial examination, but he worked as a teacher for two years before he rose again," Wang Bai said with a smile. "With Lord Changsun's abilities, it's only a matter of time before he is reinstated."

"It's not a big problem for me to address you like that."

Changsun Shunde was quite pleased with these words.

The main reason is that there are too many famous figures in their Changsun family. The two siblings, Changsun Wuji and Changsun Wugou, are like a mountain, blocking all the light.

Although he had made contributions at Xuanwu Gate, he was still considered inferior to these two in the eyes of the world, even though that was indeed the case.

Furthermore, there are even rumors that he relied on connections and luck, and that it was nothing special.

Now Wang Bai is comparing himself to Chen Huai'an and directly asserting that with his abilities, he will rise again sooner or later, which naturally pleases Changsun Shunde.

"Alright, enough of that. Tell me why you've come," Changsun Shunde said casually.

If it weren't for Chen Huai'an's sake, Wang Bai wouldn't have been able to get into his house at all.

Wang Bai knew that Changsun Shunde looked down on him, but he also looked down on Changsun Shunde. Since they both despised each other, neither of them could say anything about the other.

Therefore, he was not annoyed by Changsun Shunde's attitude and patted Wang Jinbao's arm next to him: "Lord Changsun, this is my distant cousin. He helped my master a lot in the ninth year of Wude, and I owe him a favor."

"A few days ago, some of your men took a batch of fake glass and swindled more than 11,000 strings of cash from my cousin."

"Could you please ask Lord Changsun to have someone return this money to my cousin? He doesn't have an easy time running his small business."

There was a moment of silence in the room after these words were spoken.

Changsun Shunde sat up abruptly and cursed, "You son of a bitch, stop spouting nonsense!"

"My men cheated people out of money? They cheated out of more than 11,000 guan? How come I didn't know?"

"If you can't give me a straight answer today, believe me, I'll make sure you don't leave this house alive!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several servants quietly surrounded him. Cold sweat kept appearing on Wang Jinbao's forehead, and his legs were trembling.

Wang Bai remained calm and politely said, "Lord Changsun, I came here today on the orders of my teacher. Many people saw me bringing my cousin into your residence along the way. There's no need to complicate things that are originally simple."

"I would be grateful if Lord Changsun would grant me this favor."

Changsun Shunde was furious. He would accept that the land was being acquired, but he insisted that his subordinates were cheating him out of money. How could he admit to something he didn't do?

I'm giving you face, but did you give me face?

They swagger in to my door demanding money, claiming my men cheated me out of it. What will the world think if they find out?

Changsun Shunde forcibly suppressed the raging fire within him and coldly said, "I told you, there's no such thing. Get out of here before I lose my temper!"

"Otherwise... do you really think Chen Huai'an can protect you?"

What are you bragging about?

Wang Bai felt disdain.

Chen Huai'an couldn't protect him?

Stop being funny!

Chen Huai'an managed to save him from Li Shimin's clutches; he was only imprisoned for a few days before being released.

Who do you think you are, Changsun Shunde?

Wang Bai's smile gradually faded: "Lord Changsun, that's not very nice of you. Everyone in the Tang Dynasty knows you've made hundreds of thousands of strings of cash just in Luoyang by selling fake glass." "You say you don't know about this? Isn't that just bullying an honest person?"

Changsun Shunde's angry expression froze for a moment: "What do you mean I sold fake glass throughout the entire Tang Dynasty and made hundreds of thousands of strings of cash in Luoyang alone?"

Wang Bai said politely, "Lord Changsun, there's really no need for us to play dumb. This matter has already spread, and it was your men who did it. The evidence is conclusive."

"My husband said that you just need to return my cousin's money, and he won't care about anything else."

"Bullshit!" Changsun Shunde couldn't hold back any longer and jumped up. "Where did you hear this bullshit? What do you mean by 'conclusive evidence'?"

"Who exactly is bullying honest people?"

"When did I ever sell fake glass, or when did I ever earn hundreds of thousands of strings of cash?"

Wang Bai didn't respond to that question; he didn't want to continue arguing with Changsun Shunde. He asked directly, "Does Lord Changsun insist on playing dumb?"

"You've made so much money, yet you've only paid back my cousin's money. Is that not enough?"

"I said, no!" Changsun Shunde took a deep breath, sensing a conspiracy in the matter.

Wang Bai's expression didn't seem fake. Could it be that the news had really spread outside?

"Is Lord Changsun determined not to repay?" Wang Bai sighed. Changsun Shunde scoffed, "How can I repay something I didn't do, money I didn't take?"

"If I return it, wouldn't that confirm that I did these things?"

"I know exactly what Chen Huai'an is up to!"

"I, Changsun Shunde, am upright and have nothing to fear. I have never done such a thing. Even if this matter goes to His Majesty or Her Majesty the Empress, I am not afraid!"

"Really?" Wang Bai chuckled. "Lord Changsun is truly noble, just as pure and virtuous as Lord Pei Ji before him."

"My husband has another matter he would like to ask for your help with, Lord Changsun."

"I wonder if that's alright?"

"..."