Chapter 125: Seemingly Suggestive

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But!
For many years, he had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle and had the backing of veteran ministers at court.
Even if Emperor Taizong wished to replace him, he had to consider the feelings of these senior officials.
But now, things were different.
Li Zhi had suddenly risen to prominence just as the noble families were causing trouble, urgently needing capable administrators for the merchants' guild. Seizing this opportunity, he recommended him before the entire court, and Emperor Taizong reluctantly agreed.
The matter had come to this.
The wood was already carved and the boat had set sail.
From now on, if he wanted to return to the army to earn merits and establish his career, it would be a distant hope.
Li Ji felt as if he had aged several years in an instant, and slowly made his way back to his residence.
At noon,
Sun Jiali, the magistrate of Chang’an County, came to visit.
He brought along several constables,
with Huang Wenyuan, the complainant, trailing behind.
“Oh? This fellow actually went to file a complaint...” Li Zhi looked on with a hint of admiration for Huang Wenyuan’s audacity. Knowing he would not win, he still dared to complain.
Was it cleverness?
Or foolishness?
Sun Jiali cupped his hands respectfully and said, “Your Highness, greetings from your humble servant, Magistrate Sun!”
“No need for such formalities, what brings you to my place?”
“Nothing, nothing... I was just taking a casual look around.”
Sun Jiali walked through the guest hall and entered the backyard.
His eyes darted about nervously, as if pondering something.
When he returned to the guest hall,
Li Zhi’s face darkened. “Magistrate Sun, could it be that you listened only to one side of the story from the noble families and now suspect me of robbery? Coming to my guild in search of stolen goods? To be honest, there are two million coins upstairs, every transaction thoroughly recorded in the ledger. Would you like to see it?”
Sun Jiali hastily replied, “Your Highness, you flatter me. I was merely looking around casually, with no other intentions.”
“Other intentions are no matter! With a clear conscience, I fear no shadow’s crookedness. Feel free to search.”
“Your Highness must be mistaken, I had no such intentions!”
“Hmph!”
Li Zhi’s cold snort sent a chill down Sun Jiali’s spine.
He quickly apologized repeatedly, then made an excuse: “I have urgent matters to attend to. I shall take my leave now and visit Your Highness again another day.”
“No seeing off.”
“Ah!” Huang Wenyuan from the Hebei noble families stood at the door, dumbfounded.
After all the effort to bring Sun Jiali here, this was the result?
“What’s this? Hurry up and go!” Sun Jiali grabbed him and unceremoniously dragged him out.

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“Wait!”
Li Zhi suddenly called out to Sun Jiali, “Come back! I have something to say to you!”
“Take him away!” Sun Jiali ordered the constables he brought, forcibly removing Huang Wenyuan, then hurried back to the guest hall.
“Your Highness, you called me?”
“I have been thinking carefully: how dare you bring people to my guild? Were you bribed by Huang Wenyuan? Be honest!”
“Ah?” Sun Jiali panicked and knelt down. “How could I dare? It was all Huang Wenyuan. He insisted there were eight million coins of stolen funds in the guild. I was deceived by him and agreed to come and have a look. I had absolutely no intention to search. I beg Your Highness to see this clearly!”
“I believe you... rise.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Li Zhi shifted tone and said, “However... such things can only happen once. Today you may search thoroughly, and if you find stolen money, take it away. But if you dare come again to interfere with my business, not only will you have to compensate the guild for losses, I will also take you to see the Emperor and settle this properly!”
“I dare not!”
...
Sun Jiali broke out in a cold sweat.
He withdrew from the guild trembling with fear.
The matter soon reached the Ministry of Justice.
The officials there were all old foxes, knowing Li Zhi was not to be trifled with, and avoided seeing the complaining Huang Wenyuan.
After four or five days,
Huang Wenyuan found no way to file his complaint,
and had no choice but to leave the capital.
“Your Highness, you have great methods and courage... snatching eight million coins at a stroke. This may well be the greatest robbery since the founding of our Great Tang.” One day, Li Ji entered the guild.
Fortunately, the guest hall was empty.
Only Li Zhi and Luo Tong heard this remark.
Li Zhi scrutinized the man before him. The man was about the same age as Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin, with an ethereal, otherworldly bearing, somewhat carefree, but his expression held a hint of sharpness, like a seasoned general who had fought on the battlefield.
Li Zhi frowned and said, “If I’m not mistaken, you are Li Ji?”
“Exactly!”
“Too clever a person often doesn’t live long, you know that?”
“Ha ha...” Li Ji laughed heartily. “So it really is you!”
“Your Highness has made a fortune. Won’t you invite me to a meal?”
“Please!”
Li Zhi gave a wry smile. “They say you’re a stinking old Taoist, and it’s true! Truly rancid!”
“Your Highness is no different!”
“Ha ha...” Li Zhi laughed in return, then led Li Ji to a guest room on the second floor. “Luo Tong, go to the restaurant opposite and order a proper table of food and wine. I want to share a drink with General Li Ji.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Luo Tong bowed and left.

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Inside the guest room,
Li Ji sat upright and said, “Before coming to the guild, I already met with the Emperor. The Emperor said... Your Highness is a genius rarely seen in a century. At first I did not believe it, but now I do...”
“Eh?”
Li Zhi looked puzzled. “That can’t be right. We seem to have met before! In the imperial study, we spoke to each other!”
“Really?” Li Ji looked confused.
“You rascal... trying to get me to say something? Just say it straight, don’t beat around the bush!”
“Alright!”
“You are a straightforward person, so I’ll be direct! I’m not suited to business, nor have I ever been involved in commerce. Your Highness summoned me here just to fill a seat. Why not just let me go?”
Li Ji immediately backed down, clearly unwilling to serve in the guild.
It was no wonder.
A dignified general, how could he be content with the merchant guild?
“Don’t think about running away! It took me a long time to invite you here; the guild needs you to take charge. If you leave, who am I to turn to?”
“Your Highness, please be merciful and let me off this time,” Li Ji said calmly.
“What do you say?”
“I don’t want to say the same thing twice...” Li Zhi was resigned. This fellow had never intended to work in the guild, only thinking of escape.
If this continued, how could the guild prosper?
At that moment,
Luo Tong returned with the staff from the First Restaurant, carrying a table laden with sumptuous dishes.
“Did Cheng Chuliang make these dishes?”
“Yes!”
Luo Tong smiled and said, “I saw him make them myself. I tasted them just now; they seem quite good!”
“This kid... only been here one or two months and already has such culinary skills?” Li Zhi eagerly sampled the food; the timing and ingredients were flawless.
Almost rivaling Cheng Chubi.
The aroma drifted to Li Ji’s nose.
He sniffed and was somewhat surprised. “These dishes were all made by Cheng Chuliang? Cheng Yaojin’s son?”
“Yes!”
“I don’t believe it.” In his impression, Cheng Chuliang was a wayward son, spending his days in the pleasure quarters, fighting and brawling. How could he possibly have learned cooking and made such a feast?
“There are many things you don’t believe yet! You’ll get used to it over time!” Luo Tong said with a cheerful smile.
He then glanced at Li Zhi, implying something with his words.