Chapter 24: Serve the finest wine and call for the most beautiful girls!

"This is my honored guest! Apologize!"

Seeing his uncle’s eyes, which were practically spitting fire, Wang Jingyun knew he had blundered. And it seemed to be a massive blunder at that.

With an expression of pure disbelief, Wang Jingyun turned to look at Liu Xie. He didn't even bother to wipe the tears and snot from his face, his brain racing frantically. Who on earth was this person?

"What are you standing there for? Apologize at once!"

Seeing his good-for-nothing nephew still dazed, Wang Yun felt his anger flare up. Unable to help himself, he kicked him, sending Wang Jingyun sprawling to the ground.

Wang Jingyun reacted immediately. He might have been a spoiled brat, but he wasn't stupid. He scrambled up from the floor, crawling over to kneel before Liu Xie to plead for forgiveness.

"Beggar... no, young master, I have deeply offended you just now. Please accept my sincerest apologies! I beg for your magnanimity!"

"It was my own ignorance that led me to collide with you. Please, as a person of your stature, do not hold a grudge against a small person like me. Please forgive me this once!"

Wang Jingyun’s performance was fluid and seamless. The speed of his attitude shift left everyone present stunned; it was the first time they had ever seen the typically arrogant and domineering Wang Jingyun apologize so obsequiously.

For a moment, everyone in the room became even more curious about Liu Xie’s identity. What kind of person could command such respect as to be a guest of honor for the Minister over the Masses, Wang Yun? They began to whisper and speculate about his background.

Looking down at the groveling Wang Jingyun, Liu Xie felt his eyelid twitch. He sighed inwardly, acknowledging that this man was quite the character. Finally, he waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't forget the compensation for my emotional distress: four thousand taels of gold."

Wang Jingyun, who had been feeling anxious, felt his heart settle slightly upon seeing Liu Xie’s casual wave. But the mention of four thousand taels instantly caused his expression to collapse.

"Young master, big brother! My dear brother! Can we make it a little less?"

Wang Jingyun looked at Liu Xie with snot and tears streaming down his face. Four thousand taels of gold—this was going to cost him his life. Even if he were sold to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to work, he wouldn't be able to scrape together that much.

Looking at Wang Jingyun’s miserable state, Liu Xie almost relented. But then he remembered the two thousand taels owed to the Treasure Market, and his resolve hardened instantly.

"No, not a single coin less!"

"What emotional distress compensation?"

Wang Yun, standing nearby, looked at them with a puzzled expression, completely unaware of what they were talking about. However, when Wang Jingyun heard his uncle’s question, his face immediately tightened in panic.

"It’s... it’s nothing!"

He dared not mention that he had just been insulting Liu Xie. He felt that if Wang Yun found out, losing a layer of skin would be the lightest of his punishments.

Seeing this, Liu Xie said nothing, simply slinging his arm around Wang Jingyun’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

Feeling Liu Xie’s arm around him, Wang Jingyun couldn't help but shudder; he had a very bad premonition.

He heard Liu Xie say with a smile: "It’s nothing, really. It’s just that Jingyun owes me six thousand taels of gold, and I’ve come to collect the debt today!" As he spoke, Liu Xie beamed at Wang Jingyun, as if they were long-lost best friends.

Wang Jingyun almost died of shock at Liu Xie’s outrageous demand.

Six thousand! Taels of gold! How was this any different from taking his life?

He wanted to argue, but catching the sharp, warning gaze from Wang Yun, he swallowed the words back down his throat. What kind of karmic retribution was he enduring?

Wang Jingyun was already past the point of tears. His meager private savings wouldn't even come close to covering the debt; he would have to find a way to conjure the money.

Seeing Liu Xie and Wang Jingyun standing together so cordially, a look of confusion crossed Wang Yun’s eyes. As a seasoned political veteran, he had guessed a thing or two, but he kept it to himself. Instead, he walked up to Liu Xie and said respectfully, "Your Maj... sir, everything you requested has been arranged in the carriage outside."

Wang Jingyun was so shocked his teeth nearly fell out. He was not alone; everyone in the room felt the same.

Who was that? The Minister over the Masses, Wang Yun! Treating a young man with such deference! Seeing his uncle act with such subservience toward Liu Xie, Wang Jingyun had no idea what to say.

Liu Xie simply nodded and said casually, "It’s not needed now. Take the things back."

"Understood."

...

Wang Jingyun was completely numb, as was everyone else in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. He clearly remembered what his uncle had told him before leaving: "No matter what, befriend this guest of mine! And make sure you treat him well!"

Who exactly was the person beside him? To command such importance from his high-ranking uncle?

Wang Jingyun was filled with questions. He followed Liu Xie cautiously and asked, "Young master? Might I ask your name?"

"Xie Liu. Just call me Brother Xie," Liu Xie replied nonchalantly, busy contemplating what he would do once this "fat sheep" paid him his money.

Hearing this, Wang Jingyun racked his brain, but he couldn't think of any prominent aristocratic family in Luoyang with the surname Xie.

*Could it be the Xie family from the south of the city? No, no, they have no sons, only daughters... Is it the Chang'an Xie family? That doesn't seem right either. They have business dealings with my family, but not enough to warrant my uncle treating them like this...*

While both were lost in their own thoughts, the madam who was leading them stopped abruptly, nearly causing Liu Xie and Wang Jingyun to crash into her.

"Young masters, your private room is ready." Mother Yang looked at them with a seductive smile, especially at Liu Xie, as if she were tempted to take a bite out of him.

Behind them, Fu Hu felt a wave of disgust. How could a woman of loose morals dare to set her sights on the Son of Heaven?

Mother Yang had suspected Liu Xie wasn't ordinary, but she hadn't expected him to be *this* extraordinary—even the Minister over the Masses treated him with such reverence. He must be a major figure.

Liu Xie looked at the heavily made-up madam smiling seductively at him and felt a chill run down his spine, his skin crawling with goosebumps.

"Fine, you may leave!"

Sensing Liu Xie’s desire to be rid of her, Mother Yang left with a look of regret, not forgetting to cast one last flirtatious wink at him before she departed.

"Ugh!" As soon as the madam turned to head downstairs, Liu Xie leaned against the wall and dry-heaved.

"Um... Brother Xie?"

Looking up, Liu Xie saw Wang Jingyun, his face still swollen, looking at him with a fawning expression.

*But... this 'pig-head' looks truly hideous when he smiles.* Liu Xie suppressed the urge to slap him again, fearing it would only make him look worse.

"What is it!"

"Er... Brother Xie, what would you like to eat? My treat today. I’ll cover all expenses!"

Watching the magnanimous-looking Wang Jingyun, Liu Xie raised an eyebrow.

"I don't really know what's good here..."

Seeing Wang Jingyun’s eager demeanor, a smile flashed across Liu Xie’s face, giving him the appearance of a gentle breeze.

"Then bring out the best dishes and wine, and summon the best songstresses to perform!"

"I..."

Wang Jingyun felt like killing himself; he could practically feel his heart bleeding. Though he was usually generous, he had never been *this* generous. Every dish at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was expensive, and now this Xie Liu was ordering everything—he was going to be bled dry!

"What? If you aren't willing, then forget it! *Sigh*..." Liu Xie deliberately put on a look of regret, which made Wang Jingyun’s eye twitch uncontrollably.

*How did I end up stuck with such an ancestor!*

"No, no, no, I am absolutely willing! This is nothing! I’ll pay for it!" Even though his heart was bleeding, Wang Jingyun had to put on a show of being happy and magnanimous.

Liu Xie was laughing inside, and even Fu Hu, standing behind him, had to press his lips tightly together to keep from bursting into laughter.

*You little brat! You dared to insult me? If I don't bleed you dry, then my name isn't Liu Xie!*