51 A Conversation Changed Changsan Jianghu World (2/2)

Watching his face change, Cui Delu dropped the subject and continued with a smile. ”Of course, you know, those who represented the prince's palace were to take some benefits. The butler told me that the prince thought highly of you and mentioned you once when he was drunk, saying that you were level-headed and behaved with discretion.”

The middle-aged man remained silent, and yet his countenance appeared prominently more grave.

Cui Delu continued seriously, ”You know that a censor died in my place, which was a real hassle. The idiot dropped dead, but his family rushed to the prince's palace for an inquiry. The prince was acquainted with the censor and asked me to deal with it. If you should handle this matter for me, then I'll never interfere in the matter at Lin 47th Street. How about that?”

Although Cui Delu was merely an owner of a brothel, and showed little respect while talking with him, the middle-aged man was fully aware that he represented the prince's attitude and spoke for him. Pondering a short while, the middle-aged man asked with a smile, ”Even if the prince was acquainted with the censor, handling his death wasn't difficult at all. Why bother to find a man like me who's from the Jianghu world to do this?”

Cui Delu said darkly, ”Do you really not know or are you just playing dumb right now? If you really don't know, then I'll never recognize you as Old Chao from Spring Breeze Pavilion, because you're an idiot. If you're just playing dumb, I'll do the same, as you're smart yet unappreciative of favors.”

The middle-aged answered calmly, ”The matter of Lin 47th Street was no big deal to both the prince and me. If one day one of the Imperial Courts really wants it, I'll be perfectly happy to offer it with both hands. However, you shouldn't press me with this matter.”

”The conventions of the Spring Breeze Pavilion aren't the involvement of the court, be it the prince, or the Military Ministry and Ministry of Revenue. As long as it has anything to do with these matters, I'll hide as far as I can. The harder you press me, the further I'll hide.”

”You, Old Chao of Spring Breeze Pavilion, are the biggest gang leader, who is in charge of thousands of men. The court even sent you to escort, now you want to leave this behind? Do you think you can quit? And where can you hide? What about those 3,000 men who followed you? Where do you want to put them, in military prison or the frontier fortress prison?”

Cui Delu stared at him ghastly and said, ”It was possible to leave several years earlier when the court was peaceful. But now, the fourth princess has come back and is intent on getting her brother crowned, yet forgetting that the queen has her child as well! Of course, these royal conflicts have nothing to do with you. But if you don't pick your side decisively and be as docile as a dog on that side, neither side will tolerate you.”

”A servant? Do I have to choose my master?” The middle-aged man sighed, and then asked, ”So you're going to control me on behalf of the prince?”

Cui Delu replied, ”You're right, and now anyone who has a say would like to press you. Why? Because you're a dog without an owner. If you're willing to make your choice and pick a side, whoever it may be, anyone who wants to beat you must realize who your owner is, and know the consequences.”

The middle-aged man suddenly beamed and asked, ”Can I ask a question?”

”Go ahead.”

”Which side will the prince pick, the queen or the fourth princess?”

Cui Delu gave a categorical answer. ”Neither of them, of course. The prince has been loyal to His Majesty, and will support whoever His Majesty chooses.”

The middle-aged man remained silent for a while, slowly lifted his head, and answered with a smile, ”Sorry, as a man living in the Tang, I don't think I can get accustomed to being a dog.”

Cui Dele was not expecting this, and stuffing down his annoyance, he continued to persuade him. ”People have to be dogs in their lives. Some men want to be a dog, but yet they don't have a chance.”

The middle-aged man stood up, fasten his sword around his waist, and cupped his fist in his palm, said, ”I have to say, you aren't a persuasive lobbyist because you aren't familiar with my character.'

Cui Delu, his face now gloomy, rose up and said in a low voice, ”Are you afraid that you can't persuade your men? Be assured, the prince said that as long as you kneel down, even if you just put on an act, he'll let the Military Ministry give you two heads. Surely this doesn't mean that a gang leader as high as you can't rule your men?”

There was no need to use the pretext of the prince's butler at this moment. The mention of the prince would have a more direct bearing. Nevertheless, the middle-aged man seemed as if he had not heard the mention of the prince, and walked out of the door. No one noticed that he showed an inscrutable smile when heard the gang leader.

”Stop, Old Chao.” Cui Delu stared at the back of his head gloomily. ”It looks like you and your men have lived too well to know how to respect people. I must warn you, that you, a cockroach in the gutter, will never know the world that men of rank live in.”

The middle-aged man slowed his steps but did not turn his head and walked off.