How could my childhood sweetheart be the current empress?

If Xu Chengling remembered correctly, the middle-aged man in front of him with a big belly was the current head of the Jia family and the number one imperial merchant in the capital, Jia Wanyi.

"I have long heard of Mr. Jia's great name. Please take a seat. Someone, pour tea for Mr. Jia."

Xu Chengling smiled and motioned for the other party to sit down, and asked his servants to make a pot of good tea.

"Then Jia will respectfully obey your orders."

Jia Wanyi made a few polite remarks and then sat down on the chair.

Xu Chengling seemed to hear a slight sound of the chair legs cracking, and was afraid that the other party's weight would directly collapse his century-old pear blossom chair.

Fortunately, the chair was still strong enough to barely bear the unbearable weight of its life.

Xu Chengling also found a seat and sat down. The two of them picked up their teacups and blew on them. At this time, Jia Wanyi squinted his eyes, looked at him and said:

"Jia has long heard about the new prime minister's succession, but I didn't expect to see with my own eyes that the prime minister is so young. It's really a formidable young man. I admire him."

As Jia Wanyi spoke, the fat on his face was shaking.

"No, no, compared to my father, I am still far behind in every aspect. It is Mr. Jia who has run a thriving business in the capital that I should learn from."

Xu Chengling smiled lightly and responded politely.

As the saying goes, speak differently to different people, he will respond to whatever the other person says.

"Oh, Lord Xiangguo, what you said really humiliates me. I am just running a small business. It's nothing, nothing."

Jia Wanyi waved his hand, picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

"By the way, where is your father?"

"My father is ill and is still recuperating. It is not convenient for him to see anyone."

Xu Chengling said in a deep voice that now that the old prime minister was seriously ill, he was basically the one making the decisions in the prime minister's mansion.

"I see. I hope the old prime minister has recovered."

"Lend me your kind words."

The two of them exchanged pleasantries with smiles on their faces, going back and forth as if they were practicing Tai Chi.

Until now, neither of them has gotten to the point.

Xu Chengling naturally knew that Jia Wanyi had been fighting in the business world for so many years and must be an old fox, so he must not be taken lightly.

At this time, Jia Wanyi looked at the girl behind Xu Chengling and asked:

"Who is this?"

"She is my maid."

Xu Chengling said calmly, then picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, squinting his eyes slightly.

After so much pleasantries, it’s time to get down to business.

"Mr. Prime Minister, I am here this time to discuss the engagement between my son and the daughter of the Ling family."

At this time, Jia Wanyi put down the teacup in his hand, the smile on his face faded slightly, he looked at Xu Chengling and said in a deep voice:

"This is a long story. At the beginning, your father and Jia secretly made the engagement. Not many people knew about it. I wonder if the Prime Minister knows about this?"

"Ok, I know."

Xu Chengling nodded and put down the teacup in his hand. As expected, the other party came for the engagement.

With the spies the Jia family had planted all over the capital, they probably already knew about Xu Xiqian's running away from home.

At the same time, the other party has also learned that Xu Xiqian is unwilling to marry the second young master of the Jia family.

But if the engagement is cancelled, the relationship between the two families will likely become strained and no one will benefit.

But for Qian'er's future happiness, Xu Chengling decided to cancel the engagement, so he said:

"Mr. Jia, regarding Qian'er and Lingzi's engagement, I think this matter is still open to discussion. If two people are together without feelings, they will not be happy in the future."

"Yeah yeah!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jia Wanyi suddenly nodded repeatedly, and immediately continued to say what he meant:

"What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right. As elders, we naturally hope that the two can be happy together. If not, then there is no point in them being together."

It started, the old fox started to pull with him!

Xu Chengling cursed in his heart, but still had a gentle smile on his face as he said:

"I think that maybe Qian'er and Lingzi are not suitable to be together."

"Master Xiangguo, we agree!"

Pretend, and continue pretending!

The reason why the other party said this was clearly because he was certain that Xu Chengling wanted to break off the engagement. The old fox simply went along with it and agreed to this matter in order to maximize his benefits.

But for Qian'er's happiness, he would jump in even though he knew it was a trap.

So Xu Chengling continued:

"So, I think..."

"Your Excellency, there is no need to say more. I already understand."

At this moment, Jia Wanyi suddenly interrupted him.

"you understood?"

"understood."

"Really understand?"

"I understand everything."

"Jia came here to cancel the engagement between my son and the daughter of the Ling family,"

Jia Wanyi spoke slowly.

"what?"

Hearing what the other party said, Xu Chengling couldn't help but be stunned.

What was going on? He was about to call off the engagement, but the other party forced him into a step?

In this matter, whoever first proposes to cancel the engagement is the one in the wrong.

"Mr. Jia, have you really thought it through?"

"Yes, I have thought about it."

Jia Wan nodded, took out a land deed from his collar, put it on the table, and said:

"Please calm down, Prime Minister. I feel that my son is not worthy of the daughter of the Ling family. To express my apology, I am willing to offer the property in Xueyuefang to the Prime Minister's Mansion to manage as a condition for breaking off the engagement."

In order to dispel Xu Chengling's vigilance, Jia Wanyi gritted his teeth with some heartache, patted his chest and promised:

"Please rest assured, Prime Minister. This land deed is definitely one of the most prosperous areas in the capital. It is the most profitable area in my hands, but now I am willing to offer it to you."

Xu Chengling had of course heard of Xueyuefang, which was located in the East Market and was one of the most prosperous areas in the capital.

It is also worth mentioning that the Xiangguo Mansion’s property, Huayinglou, is also located in Xueyuefang.

"Since we agree, then this matter has been decided."

Xu Chengling couldn't help but smile, and took advantage of the situation to accept the conditions proposed by the other party.

But he still couldn't understand why the Jia family suddenly came to his house and offered to cancel the engagement.

And my wife also knew about this matter. Could it be that my wife...

Unexpected prophet?

"Mr. Prime Minister, I really don't want the friendly relationship between our two families to be affected by the cancellation of the engagement. I hope you will not take it to heart. If you need it, the Jia family will do their best to help."

Before leaving, Jia Wanyi turned around and spoke to Xu Chengling in a very serious manner.

He didn't want this incident to affect the cooperative relationship between the Jia Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion. After all, if the Jia Mansion wanted to continue its business in the capital, it needed to rely on the Prime Minister's Mansion as a backer.

"That's great. I hope our two families can have a pleasant cooperation in the future."

Xu Chengling happily sent Jia Wanyi away. This result was too unexpected for him.

Is there such a good thing?

In the end, the Xiangguo Mansion successfully broke off the engagement and did not cause a rift with the Jia Mansion. It also seized the ownership of a prosperous area in the East Market from Jia Wanyi.

It can be said that for the Prime Minister's Office, this is a win-win-win situation for all three parties.

But this result was too smooth for Xu Chengling.

It went so smoothly as if someone had arranged it secretly.

Chapter 65 I miscalculated!

After Jia Wanyi left the Prime Minister's Mansion, his face instantly became gloomy.

Just yesterday, the emperor, for some unknown reason, suddenly issued an imperial decree to the Jia family, demanding that they immediately cancel the engagement between the two families, otherwise they would revoke the Jia family's status as imperial merchants in the capital.

From the emperor's point of view, he naturally does not want to see a marriage between the Jia family and the Prime Minister's family.

The powerful alliance between the two families will inevitably pose a great threat to the rule of His Majesty.

Once the Jia family's status as imperial merchants is revoked, all the preferential policies for imperial merchants will disappear, which will definitely affect the Jia family's business in the capital.

Under the threat from the emperor, Jia Wanyi had no choice but to speak out his grievances.

Therefore, he had to come to the Prime Minister's Mansion in person and take the initiative to propose to cancel the engagement, but the price was that he had to offer the best land he had to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

If he does not offer generous conditions, it will inevitably anger the Prime Minister's Mansion, and then he will be in a dilemma.

In the end, the Jia family had to suffer the consequences.

……

On the other side, after sending Jia Wanyi away, Xu Chengling picked up the land deed left by the other party.

Wow, Jia Wanyi was really generous. He directly gave him the most prosperous location in East City.

Just by collecting rent, he can earn a very considerable extra income every month.

If Xu Chengling remembered correctly, there was a restaurant owned by the Jia family on this land.

And what a coincidence is that this restaurant is just opposite Huayinglou.

This is simply Qiaoer's mother opening the door for Qiaoer, and Qiao has finally arrived home.

Otherwise, why not just demolish the restaurant opposite and open a branch of the Huayinglou chain, Xu Chengling couldn't help but think.

However, in this industry, the more people there are, the better. The girls in Huayinglou are all highly educated, good at singing and dancing, and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Their main focus is on high-end quality.

Of course, this piece of land now belongs to Xu Chengling, so he can build a toilet on it without any problem.

"Hehe, the Xiangguo Mansion has a new source of income."

For a moment, Xu Chengling was in a very good mood, and at the same time he was ready to tell his wife the good news.

Just then, he suddenly remembered something.

"Wait, the lady seemed to have known that the other party was here to cancel the engagement?"

Before Xu Chengling went to meet the people from the Jia Mansion, his wife guessed that the other party was taking the initiative to cancel the engagement.

Although I don't know what's going on, I have to admit that my wife is really well-informed.

Xu Chengling carefully put away the deed, left the main hall and walked towards the courtyard.

Back in the yard, a graceful blue figure was sitting in the courtyard, drawing on an account book in her hand, and occasionally showing a thoughtful expression.

Seeing his wife in the yard, Xu Chengling couldn't help but walk over, sat down next to his wife, and said:

"Ma'am, I have good news for you."

"Aren't you going to listen?"

"If we can stay within the budget every month, that would be the best news for me."

Yan Jixue said in a cold voice.