Wei Zheng raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised by Du Qi's words. He didn't think that it was a compliment, but rather that Du Qi was trying to flatter him. He didn't say that he was hiding the secrets of the universe, or that he was going to help Li Jiancheng become a wise ruler.
Wei Zheng's expression was indifferent as he said unhurriedly, "Erlang, thank you for your auspicious words."
After a pause, Wei Zheng continued, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is honest and courteous, a role model for your subjects. When Your Highness ascends to the throne, you will definitely be a wise ruler. "
Du Qi said, "Wei Xima is right."
He didn't say anything else.
If Li Jiancheng wanted to be a wise ruler, the future Emperor Li Er would not agree.
Wei Zheng changed the topic. "Speaking of which, His Highness the Crown Prince is quite impressed with your management skills, Erlang. To have such ability at such a young age is quite extraordinary. "
"But doing business is a lowly path, and it's difficult to reach the heights of elegance. It would be a pity if you kept doing business. Especially since you are young, but in terms of talent, ability, and character, you are the best of the best. "
"His Highness the Crown Prince is courteous to the wise and thinks highly of talented people. He intends to promote you to the Eastern Palace and work there."
Wei Zheng asked, "Erlang, are you willing?"
Du Qi didn't immediately answer. Instead, he revealed a thoughtful expression. He understood Wei Zheng's meaning, or rather, Li Jiancheng's intentions. They wanted him to work in the Eastern Palace so that it would be easier to recruit him.
Think about it, Du Qi was already Crown Prince Li Jiancheng's man. Once Li Jiancheng's Eastern Palace needed money, as Li Jiancheng's man, Du Qi would have to obediently hand over the money and listen to Li Jiancheng's arrangements.
Du Qi wasn't willing.
He didn't immediately refuse, because if he refused too directly, it would easily anger Li Jiancheng. Therefore, Du Qi pretended to be deep in thought. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "Du Qi appreciates Your Highness' good intentions. His Highness thought highly of Du Qi and promoted Du Qi. It was Du Qi's honor. But my father has already made arrangements for me, so for the time being, I can't follow Your Highness's arrangement. "
Li Jiancheng asked, "What arrangements?"
Du Qi immediately replied, "My father wishes for me to walk the path of the imperial examinations and enter the bureaucracy step by step. He doesn't wish for me to be promoted. His Highness the Crown Prince wants to promote this kid, but I'm afraid it's not possible for the time being. However, the specifics can wait until my father returns to Chang 'an. It won't be too late to discuss this matter when the Crown Prince summons my father. "
This was a tactful rejection!
It was impossible for him to take up an official post at will.
In particular, serving Li Jiancheng, who was bound to die, was even more impossible. After all, serving Li Jiancheng was equivalent to becoming an enemy of the Duke of Qin's Manor, standing against his father.
Li Jiancheng frowned.
He had thought that calling Du Qi over and arranging for Du Qi to come to the Eastern Palace wouldn't be a difficult task. In fact, it would even be a benefit for Du Qi. But now, it seemed that things weren't going to be easy. It was rather difficult.
Du Qi was slippery and difficult to control. With just a few words, he had shut down Li Jiancheng's recruitment.
Li Jiancheng looked at Wei Zheng to see what he would say. Wei Zheng was an extremely shrewd man. He stroked his beard and said, "Erlang, you're now in charge of the tea shop and the restaurant. These are all properties under your name. Although you haven't been crowned, you've already made your own decisions. Could it be that you don't dare to make your own decisions about the path you want to take and how you want to do things? "
He was using a little provocation.
When Du Qi heard this, he sighed and said, "Wei Xima, you're wrong."
Wei Zheng frowned when he heard that.
Wei Xima, although he was the Crown Prince's Xima, it was a little strange to hear Wei Xima call him that.
Wei Zheng said, "Erlang, how am I wrong?"
Du Qi said, "I'm just a little clever. I don't have great wisdom. When it comes to the operation of the tea shop and the restaurant, the general direction was arranged by my father. If it weren't for my father, I wouldn't have accomplished anything. I'm just a little clever and have a few ideas. So when Wei Xima said that I make my own decisions, that's a big mistake. "
After a pause, Du Qi continued, "Speaking of which, Wei Xima might not believe it. The two shops under my name are making a lot of money every day, but I don't even have two strings of money in a month's allowance. Every month, when the shop's accounts are settled, all the money is taken away by my mother. From beginning to end, I'm just passing my hand. I don't even have the chance to warm it up. "
At this point, Du Qi looked like he was sighing.
This was a special precaution. If Li Jiancheng really wanted him to take the money, then he could use the Jeong Clan to evade it. After all, all the money was in the hands of Du Qi's mother, the Jeong Clan. Du Qi couldn't make the decision even if he wanted to.
This was a way to refuse.
After Wei Zheng heard this, he frowned again.
Du Qi, this kid, really wasn't easy to deal with. Because Wei Zheng was going to say that the Crown Prince Residence needed money and needed Du Qi's support. No matter how much, Du Qi would have to give some.
However, Du Qi's words had blocked all of this.
Wei Zheng had no chance.
Wei Zheng looked at Li Jiancheng and shook his head imperceptibly. Li Jiancheng understood tacitly and understood the situation. Li Jiancheng sighed, "Forget it. Since Erlang has his own ideas, this Crown Prince won't force him. Erlang, I invited you to the Eastern Palace because I heard that you were smart and wanted to promote you. If you don't want to, then forget it. "
Du Qi said, "Your Highness, I am ashamed of your good intentions. I can't make the decision on my own matters, so I can only wait for my father to return before making a decision. "
"Alright!"
Li Jiancheng didn't insist. He picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Seeing this, Du Qi tactfully took his leave.
After Du Qi left, Li Jiancheng looked at Wei Zheng and asked, "Xuancheng, Erlang is not simple. It won't be easy to make a move on him. What do you think about him? "
Wei Zheng said seriously, "Just as Your Highness said, Erlang is slippery and ruthless. In some aspects, he's as cunning as an old fox. He said that he wanted Du Ruhui to make the decision, and that he wouldn't take the money, but those were all excuses. It's impossible to make a breakthrough from Du Qi. "
Li Jiancheng looked anxious and asked, "Xuancheng is right. Then, what do you plan to do?"
Wei Zheng's eyes lit up. He already had an idea and said, "Your Highness, it's not easy for us to make a move on Du Qi, but it's not impossible for us to make a move on Du Qi's mother, the Jeong Clan."
"Especially in our residence, there are people from the Zheng Clan of Xingyang. This is an entry point. Let's send someone to the Jeong Clan and have them arrange for a tea shop or a restaurant. This way, we'll have a chance to take control of the restaurant and tea shop. "
"There's one thing that Du Qi said that's right. He's still young. Although the restaurant and tea shop were arranged by him, he's still young. So, it's possible for the Jeong Clan to arrange for someone to go there. "
Wei Zheng said, "It's even more possible if the Jeong Clan doesn't trust him."
Li Jiancheng clapped and smiled. He nodded and said, "Alright, you can make the arrangements."
"Yes!"
Wei Zheng answered immediately.
For Wei Zheng, it would take some effort to deal with a kid like Du Qi, but he didn't think it would be difficult. Even if it was difficult to make a move on Erlang, he could do it from other places.
Du Qi's side was not impregnable.
It could be manipulated.
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