The fate was changed, the mistress of the Hou family was slapped in the face and made money to win

Chapter 645 Wen Yan's Conditions

Cheng Du's words eased Wen Yan's expression a little, and she looked at Shen Yanxi again.

"If Prime Minister Shen really wants me to cooperate, it's not impossible. But as A'du said, I don't know what benefits the court can give to the black market?"

Without waiting for Shen Yanxi to answer, Pei Zhaozhi spoke first, "Master Wen, the court is already showing mercy by allowing the black market to exist. The matter of the Xilin spy has already angered the emperor. If you are willing to cooperate and catch the spy, the matter can still be settled. If you use this to negotiate with the court, if you anger the emperor, he might send troops to completely wipe out the black market."

"This lord is so arrogant, are you threatening our host?" A beautiful maid standing next to Wen Yan looked at Pei Zhaozhi with a cold and unhappy face.

"I have no intention of threatening you. I just want to remind you, Mr. Wen, that as a citizen of Beiyang, you still have a responsibility to fulfill even if you are in this black market."

Wen Yan stared at Pei Zhaozhi expressionlessly, and the next moment her red lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile.

"Master Pei is right. As a citizen of Beiyang, we do have responsibilities. But if I, a person in the black market, fulfill my responsibilities as a citizen of Beiyang, can I also get the same treatment?"

"What kind of treatment does Master Wen want?" Shen Yanxi asked.

Wen Yan's eyes gradually shifted towards Jiang Suining. "I heard that Lady Jiang's business is doing very well. I think she must be very short of manpower. I have quite a few people in the black market. I wonder if I can let them find a job in Lady Jiang's shop or in the imperial city?"

"There are many bandits and desperate criminals in the black market. How can such people make a living?" Pei Zhaozhi frowned and said immediately.

Wen Yan smiled and said, "Although there are indeed people like what Lord Pei said in my black market, they are a minority after all. Most of them are refugees and beggars who have ended up in the black market because they can't make a living. If they can find a way to make a living for themselves in an upright manner, they may be able to leave the black market in the future and live an upright life. Isn't that a good thing for the court?"

"If it is really as Mr. Wen said, after those people leave, the situation in the black market will probably be much worse than before. Why do you do this?" Jiang Suining looked at Wen Yan and asked.

The black market can trade prohibited items that cannot be traded in the normal market, as well as various information and even human lives.

It's not that the imperial court doesn't want to crack down on the black market, but firstly, it's too difficult. Secondly, if the black market is completely destroyed, then the refugees in the black market will become a hidden danger to the imperial city once they have nowhere to go.

For the imperial city, even if they were just ordinary refugees, too many of them would easily cause all kinds of trouble. What's more, they were refugees and beggars who had been in the black market before, so they would be more reckless in doing things. To some extent, the court also needed a place like the black market to accommodate these people who might affect the stability of the imperial city.

In other words, the refugees in this black market also play a role in protecting the continued existence of the black market.

As the owner of the Wuliang Tower, Wen Yan could not possibly not understand this point, so the request she made was really strange.

"If you say that I can't bear to see those refugees living in darkness in the black market..." Wen Yan paused for a moment and smiled playfully, "That's of course a lie. It's just that more and more people are coming to the black market now, and it's really too much of a burden. Especially some people don't have the ability to make a living in this black market. Letting them stay here is just an eyesore. It's better to hand those people over to the court for resettlement."

"Master Wen, aren't you worried that once these people really find work outside, it will attract other people in the black market to have other ideas. If most people have active minds, I'm afraid not many people will abide by the rules of the master."

Pei Zhaozhi immediately agreed with Jiang Suining's words. He looked at Wen Yan with suspicion, thinking that the other party's purpose might not be as simple as he said.

However, Wen Yan's expression was frank. "There has never been a lack of cunning people in this black market. There are even those who are trying to plot against me, and there are many who are trying to replace me. If I have to be afraid of everything, I am afraid that I will have to live in fear every day. Since I dare to propose this condition, I am naturally prepared to face the situation later. You don't need to worry about this."

Wen Yan's words didn't sound entirely true.

Shen Yanxi and the others did not agree immediately, but they did not refuse either. They just said, "If we agree to Master Wen's conditions, I wonder what Master Wen can do for the court?"

"The words 'for the court' sound really harsh. Lord Shen, please change the way you put it." Wen Yan raised an eyebrow. "As for what to do, of course, I will cooperate with you to find the Xilin spy who sneaked into the black market. Of course, the premise is that the person is really in my black market."

"What if we don't agree?" Pei Zhaozhi asked.

"Of course we can't force you to do that, but the black market is after all a place that the court cannot control. Since the cooperation has not been reached, you can only wish you good luck in finding people." Wen Yan smiled, but the light reflected in her eyes revealed an undisguised threat.

The meaning was very clear. It was nothing more than a reminder or warning that the black market was not a place where they could come and go as they pleased. Without their permission, they could never find anyone or investigate a case in the black market.

Their eyes met, and seeing the smile on Wen Yan's face, Pei Zhaozhi frowned even more tightly. He knew in his heart that the other party's threat was not just a casual remark.

Without the cooperation of the black market, the yamen runners under his command might not be able to get in.

The two of them were silent, and Shen Yanxi spoke up, "We understand what Master Wen meant, but this matter has already been reported to the emperor, and it is related to the black market. We cannot make a decision on our own. We need to report to the emperor and then give you a reply."

Wen Yan retracted her gaze from Pei Zhaozhi and said, "Okay, I'll be waiting."

"While we were asking for instructions, the Xilin spy who might have sneaked in..."

"Master Shen, you can rest assured. This black market is a place that is easy to enter but difficult to leave. I will have people keep an eye on it. Plus, if you continue to send people to guard the exit, they will naturally not be able to escape in a short time."

"Okay, then I'll have to trouble you, Master Wen."

Having said all, Shen Yanxi and the others did not stay long, but said goodbye and left.

Cheng Du lazily leaned against the door, watching Jiang Suining and the others pass by him. He wanted to follow them out, but was stopped by Wen Yan.

"Cheng Du, you stay."