Chapter 1462: Please Tell Me How You Respond

Intelligent people grasp things quickly.

The mirror hummed, "Qingyang is quick to react."

He Lingchuan had been working tirelessly. The moment he received King Yao's approval, he rushed to the government offices to expedite the process, aiming to finalize everything before Qingyang could get wind of the news and react. However, Qingyang was certainly no pushover. Less than a day after King Yao approved the land, she had He Yang approach the Construction Department to create obstacles for He Lingchuan.

She knew, of course, that He Ling's groundbreaking at You Lake was a direct challenge to her.

But why did the Construction Department dare to openly defy King Yao's intentions and impede He Lingchuan? There were likely some complex underlying reasons.

The mirror sighed, "I thought with King Yao's special approval, this matter would be resolved swiftly. Doesn't a command from King Yao mean all subordinate officials will comply immediately?"

"King Yao doesn't have absolute power even on his own land. Subordinate officials have countless excuses and methods to stonewall." The bureaucracy of the Yao Kingdom was two hundred years old and had developed its own will. "This also reveals the meticulous infiltration of Beijia into the Yao Kingdom. Qingyang has managed to gain influence even within the Construction Department."

When Yuwen Xu arrived, He Lingchuan was reviewing the modified blueprints. Upon seeing him, He Lingchuan immediately offered him tea and a seat. He not only knew that the approval for You Lake Villa was being held up, but also understood the reason why:

"The Construction Department reported that multiple aspects of Island Lord He's You Lake Villa proposal were rejected. They publicly declared in court that since You Lake Villa was to be built on former royal grounds, the approval process must be rigorous, construction must be undertaken with extreme caution, and supervision must be stringent to avoid diminishing the royal family's prestige or disrupting the capital's geomancy."

The moment He Lingchuan heard "in court," he realized King Yao's initial advantage had been neutralized by the opposition. "What did His Majesty say?" he asked.

"His Majesty merely stated that you should be urged to make the necessary revisions as soon as possible." On the surface, the Construction Department's pronouncements were perfectly sound. What else could King Yao say in front of all his officials?

He Lingchuan offered a wry smile.

Yuwen Xu cleared his throat. "I'll let you in on something: Liang Xiaohao, the head of the Construction Department, is the son of the Chief Sacrificial Priest of the Miaozhan Temple in Tianshui City."

The implication was clear, and He Lingchuan understood immediately.

"That explains it." It was no wonder Liang Xiaohao dared to feign cooperation while secretly creating obstacles. Other departments were assisting with the You Lake Villa project, but only he found "legitimate reasons" to impede its progress. His powerful background was the real reason.

The Yao Kingdom revered Miaozhantian. The Chief Sacrificial Priest's standing in Tianshui City was comparable to that of the Duyun Envoy of the Heavenly Palace in Lingxu City. Naturally, the individual closest to the divine and most capable of receiving divine oracles commanded the highest respect. With heavenly deities above and public sentiment below, King Yao naturally held this Chief Sacrificial Priest in great deference.

He Lingchuan wasn't interested in how Liang Xiaohao became the head of the Construction Department. The immediate concern was how to resolve the stalled approval of You Lake Villa.

The Soul-Snatching Mirror in his embrace huffed, "I knew Qingyang wouldn't simply stand by and do nothing."

He Lingchuan's lips curved into a faint smile, but he remained silent. He had come to stir up trouble; how could Qingyang permit it? As a seasoned official, her response was bound to be swift.

However, Yuwen Xu immediately added, "But His Majesty also appointed Lord You Rongzhi on the spot as the construction supervisor for You Lake Villa."

He Lingchuan knew who You Rongzhi was, but still asked for confirmation, "And this Lord You...?"

"He will not make things difficult for Island Lord He."

He Lingchuan let out a heavy sigh of relief. "That's excellent, excellent!"

King Yao had finally reacted this time, using You Rongzhi to secure the position and preemptively close off the possibility of onsite interference. Otherwise, if Qingyang had managed to install her own people, they would have been there not to supervise, but to cause trouble.

If King Yao had been an unhelpful ally, He Lingchuan would have found it incredibly difficult to confront Qingyang alone. His objective in the Yao Capital was to stir up trouble, and he absolutely needed to leverage King Yao's influence. Fortunately, his assessment wasn't far off; King Yao, who had reigned steadily for over twenty years, was a cunning and resourceful monarch, entirely unlike King Yuan or King Bo, whom He Lingchuan had encountered.

He Lingchuan then thanked Yuwen Xu again, "I'm grateful to Brother Yuwen for the introduction. Otherwise, the rushed sale of the You Lake Villa residences wouldn't have allowed for widespread publicity." As a newcomer, he had very few connections. After Yuwen Xu returned from drinking at Maochun Tower, he instructed his people to disseminate the information. Any gossip mentioning King Yao or You Lake traveled incredibly fast, as if it had legs.

In just two days, the general populace was still oblivious. He Lingchuan's aim was solely to promote the residences within the highest aristocratic circles of the Yao Capital. It didn't concern him if most nobles didn't learn of it immediately; they would certainly discover it later.

Yuwen Xu smiled. "After Gu Xuan left Maochun Tower, he attended a gathering at South Lake, where many more distinguished gentlemen were present. Your You Lake Villa residences immediately piqued the interest of many people there." Gu Xuan had once turned He Lingchuan away, so this was merely a small compensation.

"How will your You Lake project proceed now, Brother He?"

He Lingchuan casually produced several approval documents: "While we wait for further approvals, we can start with this."

The Construction Department couldn't indefinitely block all aspects of the project; it would appear too blatant. Although those who understood the situation knew what was happening, some superficial efforts still needed to be made. So He Lingchuan sought out options and found that certain parts of his You Lake Villa, such as the main gate and some roads and landscaping, could still commence construction. These elements had already received approval, a result of the efforts by Huang Naxuan and others.

Yuwen Xu picked up the documents and remarked, "Start with the main gate and roads?"

"Indeed," He Lingchuan sighed. "Since the Construction Department is withholding approval, I'll proceed with what I can. I can't afford to wait indefinitely. When the time comes, I'll need to organize a grand groundbreaking ceremony, and I'll have to ask for your help, Brother Yuwen, to gather an audience."

"I'll lend you my family's opera troupe," Yuwen Xu nodded. "Just tell me if there's anything else you need."

"Carriages, tools, and construction teams are mostly sorted," He Lingchuan said, stroking his chin. These were readily available in the commercially vibrant Tianshui City; if one supplier didn't work out, another would. "However, building materials are still up in the air."

As Yuwen Xu was about to speak, Fan Shuang strode in from outside, exclaiming excitedly: "The Scarlet Keep auction is about to begin!"

Knowing that He Lingchuan had also submitted a residence for auction that evening, he was eager to secure a front-row seat. "Care to join us, Brother Yuwen?"

Yuwen Xu smiled. "How could I possibly miss such an event?"

Taking the opportunity to relieve himself before they left, the Soul-Snatching Mirror asked He Lingchuan, "Hey, Qingyang is having the Construction Department impede you. How do you plan to respond?"

"What can I, a merchant from out of town, do about the Construction Department?" He Lingchuan mused, "King Yao will have to intervene to resolve this."

"He's already backed down, letting the Construction Department pressure you to make revisions," the mirror huffed indignantly. "What a useless old man! He can't even handle such a minor issue."

"King Yao remains the supreme ruler of this nation, having held power for decades with a relatively stable government," He Lingchuan stated calmly. "It's not that he can't resolve this issue; it simply depends on whether he chooses to." For the sake of a minor figure like He Lingchuan and a small project like You Lake Villa, King Yao wouldn't risk antagonizing the temple. The most crucial task and greatest challenge for those in power is to weigh conflicting interests. No matter how sound the advice from capable ministers and valiant generals, it remains mere counsel. The ultimate decision rests with the ruler, who must also bear the consequences.

"Oh," the mirror responded, "So you mean you have a plan? How will you get King Yao to confront the Construction Department?"

"I need to show King Yao tangible benefits," He Lingchuan said, his eyes gleaming. "He must be made to realize that building You Lake Villa will bring him immense advantages! I will give King Yao the leverage to tip the scales in our favor," he said, washing his hands and heading out. "It begins tonight."

Over a hundred years ago, Scarlet Keep was a distinct locale. After Tianshui City annexed it, it was consolidated into a single city block. The Scarlet Keep Auction House stood at the largest and most prominent crossroads. Its sign was immense, though the building itself had only eight entrances. Today, a constant stream of people flowed in, and the carriages of dignitaries arrived one after another.

He Lingchuan and his two companions had already disembarked and walked the rest of the way. As they reached the auction house entrance, they saw a large sign erected there, which read:

"First residence on the South Shore of You Lake up for auction!"

The second line of text, in a slightly smaller font, stated:

"Lake-facing with scenic views, the first official residence in You Lake in 175 years!"

The bold black text on a white background struck He Lingchuan as awkward. It was truly... inauspicious! Yet, the sign was positioned so conspicuously that it was inevitably the first thing anyone passing by would notice. In the few moments He Lingchuan stood observing, passersby would instinctively glance at it, some even pausing to read all the smaller print on the sign.

Yuwen Xu pointed at the sign. "The Scarlet Keep Auction House had this sign prepared and put up the very day Brother He submitted the You Lake residence for auction."

He Lingchuan expressed his gratitude. "You've gone to great lengths, Brother Yuwen."

"No, no, it had nothing to do with me," Yuwen Xu chuckled. "When Scarlet Keep acquires particularly valuable and eye-catching auction items, they publicize it themselves. In Tianshui City, they have their own established channels for disseminating information, which are far more effective than our own efforts."

Scarlet Keep conducted extensive business and maintained excellent relationships with various dignitaries. It was akin to Fang Canran, who, when previously gathering intelligence in Lingxu City, managed the Dunyuan Auction for the Golden Horn family, thereby cultivating a vast network of connections and becoming adept at dealing with all manner of people.

He Lingchuan and his two companions proceeded inside.

The hall was crowded with guests, shoulder to shoulder, and they sometimes had to turn sideways to pass through. Fan Shuang remarked in surprise, "I've been here several times before. How can there be so many people at a minor auction?"

Scarlet Keep's auctions were categorized as major or minor. Major auctions were meticulously prepared beforehand, often featuring a headline treasure, which drew larger crowds. Minor auctions, however, were routine affairs; sometimes only four or five people would be seated in a side hall, which often felt empty, with a couple of them merely there for a cup of warm water. Yet, the main hall, which could accommodate three to four hundred people, was almost entirely full, with only half of the front-row VIP seats remaining vacant. All other seats were occupied, the standing room in the hall was completely filled, and even the outer corridors were packed with people.

Yuwen Xu, enjoying VIP privileges, led He Lingchuan to the front row, greeting many acquaintances along the way. With so many nobles in attendance, it had become a prime venue for aristocratic socializing.

"I'd say ninety-nine percent of them are here for the You Lake residence," Fan Shuang told He Lingchuan. "Even if they don't bid, it's a good spectacle to witness."