Yan Liang guessed that Kun Lan's arrival was to seek advice regarding the alliance offer from Han and Ning.
Yan Liang hurriedly chased Sui Yan, who was almost down the stairs. "Miss Sui Yan, wait a moment. Allow me to borrow your money bag and all your money inside."
"What do you want with it?" Protested Sui Yang, retaining the money bag.
From her face and tone, Yan Liang knew that Sui Yan already loved her money and didn't want to share it.
"Okay, I'll borrow it for a while. I'll double your money later."
"Double it? Forty gold coins?"
"Yes."
The girl's eyes shone brightly. After hearing the doubling sentences, Sui Yan took off his money bag. "But beware, if one of my coins is missing, you must pay it ten times!"
"Sure, sure, trust me, leave it to me."
Yan Liang pushed Sui Yan away and then took the letter marked with the coat of arms of the dukedom of Sun, which belonged to Yubang, which was left behind.
He placed the money bag on the table by the window, opened it slightly, and placed gold coins around it. He put Yubang's letter near the money bag.
Yan Liang borrowed three swords belonging to the guest next door, then summoned three young men from the Sui Yan tea house to his room.
Three young men entered the room, then closed the door. They stood in a row before Yan Liang.
"Take off your clothes," Yan Liang ordered.
"Huh?" The three of them crossed their arms over their chests. "No, no, sir, what do you want?"
"Take off your clothes. I need you three now," Yan Liang said, forcing one of them to undress.
In the eyes of the three young men, perhaps what Yan Liang wanted was their bodies. One of them replied, "Sir, we're not prostitutes. Besides, it's still noon. Many eyes were watching us."
"Aia, who cares! Take off your clothes!"
"How about tonight, sir? I will come and serve you—"
"You pervert!" Yan Liang snapped, pushing him backward.
Yan Liang struggled to undress them. Then, the door to his room was opened from the outside. Sui Yan came over to him.
"What is this?" asked Sui Yan, looking viciously at the three youths and Yan Liang. "Don't make a scene!"
"Help me get them to take off their clothes. Then make them change into nice clothes." Yan Liang put his glamour clothes on the bed. "Sui Yan, please restrain a man who wants to see me for a while. Later, if you see these three young men coming down, you order the guest to come up."
The three young men quickly changed clothes, and Sui Yan complied with Yan Liang's request.
For now, everything was according to plan.
Yan Liang asked three handsome young men down to the first floor and asked them to look suspiciously at Lan.
"Master, why should I—"
"Come on, hurry up. You guys must go down the stairs when that person comes up, nudge him, and glare at him. Got that?"
"What do you want these three youngsters to do?" asked Sui Yan, coming over to them. "Your guests are waiting. Would you like him to come in now?"
"Yes, and ask these three men to go down now."
The three youngsters turned to Sui Yang. It looks like they're waiting for the tea house owner's approval.
Sui Yan smiled gently and nodded slowly, and the three young men prepared to come down. Sui Yan cleared her throat three times, and it seemed to be code for the maid downstairs to allow special guests to be sent up.
She approached Yan Liang. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, yes, you, go away, hide, quickly."
"Hmmph! Watch out if you don't double my money. I'll double you."
"Huh? How?"
"Split you into two." Sui Yan left Yan Liang and served other guests.
"Very mean. But thank you, someday I will repay your kindness, Miss."
After everything was settled, Yan Liang sat back while reading a scholar's book. He purposely left the Go table board as it is.
He wanted to test the second prince of the Dukedom of Kun directly. He tried to find out if what Yubang said about Lan was true.
Not long after, Lan arrived at Yan Liang's room. The young man bowed in greeting politely. "Good afternoon, Master Yan Liang."
"Ah, a young scholar has come. Please take a seat, sorry, an official from another dukedom came earlier, so it took your time to wait. Please sit here." Yan Liang motioned for Lan to sit on the futon where Yubang was sitting earlier.
"Sorry, Mr. Yan Liang, I am not a scholar. I'm a master miner in the north."
"Ah, businessmen. Please, is there anything I can help you with?"
As Yan Liang expected, Lan looked around the room.
Before this, Yan Liang had investigated Lan. According to palace officials, Lan has a good perspective. He was able to keep an eye on things with precision and deduct it precisely.
That's why he made this test, to test Kun Lan. Would he be able to guess what Yan Liang wanted to show?
"You seem busy. Is your friend from the Dukedom of Sun?"
"Aia, yes, that's right. One of them accompanied me to play Go."
Lan nodded slightly. "They also asked you something or even tried to recruit you?"
Yan Liang guessed right. Lan has a good perception. "Aia, no, no, they're just asking something, not recruiting."
"It looks like you are important people, so three people came all the way here just to meet you," Lan said. "Your advice must be costly."
"No, no, I'm just giving advice. I don't expect to pay a fortune."
Lan took out a beautiful box under her clothes. "I can't give you as much money as the Sun emissary, but I want you to have this." He passed a flower-carved wooden box to Yan Liang.
"Is this Mr businessman?"
"Please, sir, open."
Yan Liang opened the box and was shocked. He didn't expect that Kun Lan would give this thing to him. The thing he wanted.
****