148: A peerless painting, worth ten thousand taels of gold

Outside the Prime Minister's Residence.

"Young Lord Xie, what brings you to the Prime Minister's Residence?"

A middle-aged man in brocade robes with an extraordinary demeanor looked at Xie Weilou, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

He was Wei Xianming, the son of Prime Minister Wei Zhongchen.

Wei Xianming had not entered officialdom but had joined the Sacred Academy, where he was now a teacher.

Xie Weilou smiled and cupped his fists, saying, "I'm here to see Prime Minister Wei; he asked me to come."

"Nonsense! How could my grandfather ask a good-for-nothing like you to come here?"

An angry voice rang out, and then a shuttlecock flew out from inside the residence, heading straight for Xie Weilou's face.

"......"

Xie Weilou seemed not to have reacted, standing motionless in place.

Wei Xianming waved his hand casually, sending the shuttlecock flying aside. He looked inside the residence and frowned, "Nonsense! How can you be so disrespectful to the Young Lord?"

"Hmph!"

A delicate snort sounded, and a woman in a Peach Blossom-colored long dress emerged. Her skin was fair and beautiful, her figure curvaceous, and her eyes, like obsidian, held a hint of cunning.

This was Wei Changle, the granddaughter of Wei Zhongchen.

Wei Changle put her hands on her hips and glared at Xie Weilou, saying, "Xie Weilou, what are you doing at my house? You're not welcome here!"

Xie Weilou said with a broad smile, "Prime Minister Wei mentioned earlier that Miss Changle has reached the age for marriage, so he specifically asked me to come and see."

"......"

Wei Xianming raised an eyebrow, his gaze at Xie Weilou tinged with displeasure.

He found this young man from the Zhenxi Marquis Manor very disagreeable and annoying!

"You... what nonsense are you spouting? How could my grandfather say such a thing?"

Wei Changle glared furiously at Xie Weilou, wanting nothing more than to beat him up. She had met Xie Weilou a few times before, and he was always incredibly annoying.

Xie Weilou shrugged slightly, "It's the truth! But you can rest assured, I'm not interested in you."

"Hmph! Someone like you, I wouldn't even want if you threw yourself at me."

Wei Changle gritted her teeth.

Yet, she felt a strange annoyance. In Tianqi City, who didn't know Xie Weilou enjoyed frequenting taverns and brothels?

As long as she was a woman, as long as she looked decent, as long as she was alive, she could capture his soul. Now he was saying he wasn't interested in her?

Was he implying her charm wasn't enough?

"Young man, come in."

Inside the residence, Wei Zhongchen's voice sounded.

"Coming."

Xie Weilou ignored Wei Xianming and Wei Changle and walked directly into the residence.

"......"

Wei Xianming stared at Xie Weilou's retreating back, lost in thought.

Wei Changle clenched her fists and said huffily, "I don't understand why the old man wants him here."

Wei Xianming shook his head and walked inside.

In the main courtyard.

Wei Zhongchen sat on a chair, leisurely sipping tea. He looked at Xie Weilou, "Young man, do you have something to discuss with me?"

Xie Weilou said with a beaming smile, "I heard that the Prime Minister enjoys ancient paintings, so I specially acquired a peerless one. I hope the Prime Minister likes it."

With that, he handed the painting in his hand to Wei Zhongchen.

"A peerless painting?"

Wei Zhongchen showed a hint of interest. He put down his teacup, took the scroll, unrolled it, and glanced at it, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.

He stared at Xie Weilou, his expression strange as he said, "Young man, where did you get this painting?"

Xie Weilou said, "I bought it! It cost three thousand taels of silver."

"Three... three thousand taels?"

Wei Zhongchen's face darkened, and he said angrily, "This painting is worth at least ten thousand taels, in gold!"

Xie Weilou couldn't help but be a little astonished and quickly said, "As long as you like it!"

The painting was indeed good, a master's work, but at most, it was worth a hundred taels of silver. Ten thousand taels of gold? This old man's eyes must be failing!

"Hmph!"

Wei Zhongchen snorted coldly, his expression still filled with displeasure. He asked, "You, young man, are giving me such a valuable painting; do you have something you want?"

Xie Weilou smiled and said, "The older the ginger, the spicier it is! It's like this: my two brothers are being buried tomorrow, and I plan to give them a grand send-off. So, I plan to invite people from the Prime Minister's Residence to a banquet to foster our relationship!"

He said he was requesting people from the Prime Minister's Residence, not inviting the Prime Minister himself. It wouldn't be appropriate for the dignified Prime Minister of Great Xia to attend the funeral of two young lads!

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongchen's face darkened. He finally understood the young man's intention—this young man planned to extort money from him?

First, he sends a painting. If people from the Prime Minister's Residence actually go tomorrow, it wouldn't be right if they didn't bring something.

This young man mentioned three thousand taels, so if the gift from the Prime Minister's Residence tomorrow is less than three thousand taels, it would be a bit embarrassing...

"About this matter... what do you think, old sir...?"

Xie Weilou looked at Wei Zhongchen.

"Hmph! Tomorrow, I'll send that girl Changle to go."

Wei Zhongchen said with a face full of impatience.

This young man was full of schemes, and he was even trying to play his tricks on the Prime Minister's Residence.

"Thank you, Prime Minister."

Xie Weilou quickly bowed.

"I won't keep you for dinner. Go back."

Wei Zhongchen waved his hand.

"Farewell."

Xie Weilou bowed again and then turned to leave.

After Xie Weilou left.

Wei Xianming walked over. He looked at the painting in Wei Zhongchen's hand, "Father, this painting..."

"See for yourself."

Wei Zhongchen directly threw the painting to Wei Xianming.

Wei Xianming took the scroll, glanced at it, and his expression froze, "Isn't this your painting?"

Wei Zhongchen said speechlessly, "Years ago, the Pacification Envoy asked me for a painting, and I gave it to him, but I didn't sign it. This painting has always been in the Tianquan Division. This young man actually just took it and gave it to me as a gift."

Wei Xianming's face was full of oddness, "Doesn't he know this painting is yours? Or does he know and still intentionally do this?"

"He knows nothing! He actually said this painting cost three thousand taels. My paintings should be worth at least ten thousand gold taels, shouldn't they? That young man has no eye for value!"

Wei Zhongchen was extremely displeased.

As the dignified treacherous minister of Great Xia, if he casually threw out a painting, who wouldn't frantically pay to buy it, and it had to be gold!

Xie Weilou saying this painting was three thousand taels—wasn't that slapping him in the face?

Wei Xianming chuckled, "Then what do you plan to do, Father?"

Wei Zhongchen said, "Prepare ten thousand taels of silver. Tomorrow, have Changle deliver it. I want to see who will go to the Xie Family tomorrow."

A treacherous minister, naturally, must have a strong foundation. Casually taking out ten thousand taels of silver should be effortless.

Otherwise, if he were incorruptible, how could he be a treacherous minister?

"Understood."

Wei Xianming nodded slightly.