The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Taking a deep breath, he trembled as he walked to the side of the kneeling Mr. Lu, deliberately avoiding the direction of his kneeling. He cautiously glanced at Zhao Douan before tentatively asking, "Do you know why we're here?"

"..." The previously arrogant second young master was taken aback and shook his head, "No... I don't know."

To have a person that even his grandfather feared to such an extent visit... he couldn't fathom the guest's intentions. As for the grain collection... what a joke! Such trivial matters could be entrusted to the servants. Why would such an important figure personally inquire? Even come to collect?

He's no fool.

"Slap him." Zhao Douan calmly ordered.

Zhao Shande froze, his eyes widened, and he glanced at Zhao Douan, then at the second young master, his body went soft halfway. On the contrary, Elder Lu gave him an "encouraging" look, signaling him to act, and only then did Zhao Shande, with fear and trepidation, slap him.

I've hit Mr. Lu... it's okay... The old official looked at his own hand, incredulous.

Zhao Douan said calmly, "We're here to collect grain. Do you understand?"

His gaze swept over the few others kneeling.

The eldest and third young masters both trembled simultaneously and hurriedly said, "Here to collect grain."

Zhao Douan nodded in satisfaction, "Ask him, do you know why you're being punished?"

Zhao Shande looked at the second young master and repeated the question.

The second young master felt the burning on his cheek, dared not be arrogant at all, and cautiously probed, "Because we were disrespectful to you?"

"Slap him." Zhao Douan maintained his expressionless face, adding, "Use force."

Zhao Shande felt a surge of blood rush to his heart, inexplicably a bit excited, he spat into his palm, swung hard, and slapped again!

This time, he used great force, leaving the second young master stunned.

"Because you didn't pay the grain." Zhao Douan answered lightly, his gaze sweeping through the others present, "Do you understand?"

The eldest and third young masters shivered, speaking in unison, "Because we didn't pay the grain!"

The second young master, his cheek swollen up high, "..."

Zhao Douan nodded and was about to speak when suddenly looking at Mr. Lu, who was scared and shook all over—this scholarly playboy had realized, whatever he answered, he'd be beaten.

Zhao Douan suddenly broke into a smile, his gaze moved to Elder Lu, "So, do you know what to do now?"

The white-haired old man quickly said, "The Lu Family will fully cooperate with you to quell the rebellion! With the court's reinforcements in the city, feeding men and horses brings great costs. It's inevitable that the exhausted finances of the government office cannot support the court's military actions. We should call upon all the city's residents, raising donations of grain, silver coin, and various supplies for military needs!"

The old man became more fluent as he spoke, he understood:

Commander Zhao brought over twenty thousand troops, and quelling the rebellion would certainly entail huge expenses. Today, coming to the Lu Family was to make them set an example.

The old man smiled, "Regarding the donation matter, I understand what to do. I absolutely will not let you return empty-handed. According to old customs, the court raises donations, the city's gentry lead, common people follow. Afterwards, the gentry's contributions are returned, and the common people's share is split between both parties. However, since it is a major matter of quelling rebellion, and with Commander Zhao personally leading troops, I, on my own initiative, representing all city gentry, am willing to hand over the entirety of the common people's share. Not only that, my Lu Family has generous gifts to present to you..."

Upon hearing the first half, Zhao Douan slightly froze. As he listened to the latter half, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and his gaze became dangerous again.

He raised his hand and interrupted the old man, his tone haunting, "It seems you haven't understood, or you've misunderstood something."

Elder Lu paused, "Please enlighten me?"

Zhao Douan sat on the stone stool, his body leaned forward slightly, his face closer, meeting eye to eye, and he extended both his hands, palms up, shaking his left palm, and spoke in a gentle voice:

"The common people's share, I don't want it, and you can't have it either, just let it remain in the hands of the common people."

He withdrew his left hand, his right hand abruptly clenched into a fist:

"The gentry's share, I want it all."

Elder Lu paused in a daze.

Only Zhao Douan's voice reverberated by his ear, "Not only that, I want you to notify all the entrenched wealthy families in the city. Tonight, I want to hold a banquet at the Lu Family, inviting everyone to make donations."