There is a mansion in the closed city of the Aolai merchants, called Xiao Mansion, which also uses the surname of the Aolai merchants' own family, and in the Aolai Dynasty, it is also a family that controls a lot of wealth: the Xiao family.

Even if it is the Aolai Dynasty with many families, in terms of wealth, I am afraid that the Xiao family is second to none, and it can be called a rich country.

The history of the Xiao family is longer than the history of the Wu Zhou Dynasty, and it also has a lot to do with the Ole royal family, and the relationship can be described as complicated. According to the intelligence of the Dongchang spies, the Xiao family has had three queen queens and sixteen noble concubines in the Ole royal family.

In the Aolai Dynasty, the Xiao family can be regarded as a famous family. Although they rely on running a business to make money, they often do not come forward in person, because the family always has their own code of conduct.

Therefore, every time he came to the Wu Zhou Dynasty to negotiate with Zhou Chuan, he was the head of the Xiao family's caravan, and he was also the person from the side branch of their Xiao family.

Today in the lockdown of the Xiao Mansion, Duanmu Ci, the head of the household department of the Wu Zhou Dynasty, came with the royal decree of Zhou Chuan.

"Lord Shangshu, you really can't be the master of small tax matters. ”

In the Xiao Mansion of the proud merchants, the director Xiao Qingyi looked at Duanmu Ci with an embarrassed face and prevaricated.

"Your Majesty himself said that no matter what, the commercial tax must be collected, and there can be no difference in the slightest. ”

Duanmu Ci spoke slightly, his eyes were calm, and the ancient well was unwavering, but his tone was extremely firm.

He had never been to Xiao Mansion before, because he had Zhou Chuan's relationship in it at the beginning, Duanmu Ci didn't dare to come here to collect taxes at all, but with Zhou Chuan's order, he now has the confidence to come here to collect taxes.

"Duanmu Shangshu, please sit inside, drink tea first, let me go through the master's house, I will definitely give you an answer in a few days, do you think this is okay?"

Xiao Qingyi said with a melancholy expression, his sturdy body couldn't help but be a little rickety, and he looked groveling.

Duanmu Ci shook his head, although the two sides are still in the 'love period' of cooperation, but Zhou Chuan has already spoken, then he must complete the tax collection, and it has nothing to do with him as for the consequences.

Duanmu Ci knew very well that in the Wu Zhou Dynasty, he had to act according to Zhou Chuan's words.

"Director Xiao should not be embarrassed for the old man, Your Majesty means that the old man has no courage to be disobedient. ”

Duanmu Ci's words were very firm, without the slightest tact, and directly rejected Xiao Qingyi's request.

"Lord Duanmu Shangshu, don't be busy refusing first, I have always heard that the old mother of Duanmu Shangshu's family can't see clearly, and Xiao Fuzhong happens to have a magic pill to cure eye diseases. With a hint of a smile on his face, Xiao Qingyi waved his right hand into the mansion and said softly: "Lord Shangshu, please inside." ”

Xiao Qingyi had already figured out some of the details of Duanmuci, the head of the household, and specially searched for this elixir for the treatment of eye diseases from the outside, in order to bribe Duanmuci, this person does not like money, but has only one weakness, and is very filial to the old mother at home.

Although their Xiao Mansion had not planned to pay taxes before, nor had they had an in-depth understanding of Duanmu Ci, but now it is different from the past, since the last time he negotiated with Zhou Chuan, Xiao Qingyi has paid attention to the issue of taxes.

Relying on his astonishing keen sense of smell, he sensed that the Wu Zhou Dynasty was very likely to be unable to make ends meet, so he would inevitably be more concerned about other commercial taxes and miscellaneous taxes.

Sure enough, today, Duanmu Ci, who is the secretary of the household department, came to collect taxes.

"Although the elderly mother in the family suffers from eye disease, this elixir is useless, and Wang Xiao understands that the old man must not bend the law for personal gain. ”

Duanmu Ci's face was calm, and he said lightly, "It is best for Director Xiao to pay the taxes again, although it is a good thing to make money, but the business tax that should be paid must not be less, otherwise the good thing of making money will become a bad thing." ”

It seemed that there was no intention of delaying it, Duanmu Ci was ready to use strong means and was about to turn around and leave.

"Lord Shangshu, please stay!"

A charming voice sounded behind Duanmu Ci.

From the Xiao Mansion, a beautiful woman in a blue skirt walked out, her voice was numb, but there was a hint of majesty inside.

In the crisp and crisp voice of the woman, a team of heroic divisions quickly rushed out of the corridors on both sides, standing around vigilantly.

Although Duanmu Ci was a civil official, he could also see that these attendants were extraordinary, and his eyes were firmly fixed on the woman who walked out of the mansion, and he knew very well that this woman was probably the one who could really take care of things here.

The Xiao family is in the same lineage, the eldest lady Xiao Feiya, the pearl of the head of the Xiao family, is a well-known beauty, and her mature and charming style has made countless talents admire.

However, Duanmu Ci looked cautious, and he noticed that this tax collection did not seem to be as easy as he imagined.

"Miss, their Wuzhou Dynasty has turned its face a little bit and doesn't recognize people, it's better for the old servant to take him down, and it will still be disposed of by Miss!"

Behind Xiao Feiya, a rickety old man suddenly appeared, although he looked ordinary, but when he straightened up, his eyes shot cold light and he spoke coldly, as if this was just an easy matter.

In his heart, the Wu Zhou Dynasty was nothing.

How noble is the identity of his young lady, she is the pearl of the thousand-year-old family of the Aolai Dynasty.

But the so-called little official in front of him couldn't even give a courtesy, in his opinion, this was not to give the Xiao family face, and there was naturally no good face on his face.

"This is what your Xiao family means?"

Duanmu Ci's tone also cooled, and a trace of anger appeared on his face, it was really impossible to make the Wu Zhou Dynasty a paper paste!

"Shut up!" Xiao Feiya's smile instantly converged, her expression was calm, and she said lightly: "Don't care about Duanmu Shangshu, this is an old servant in the family, there is a lot of offense in his words, and I hope that Lord Shangshu Haihan." ”

"The old man doesn't shirk anymore, let's say it clearly, in short, what His Majesty said personally, if there is anything that makes your Xiao family feel inappropriate, you can enter the palace to face the saint. ”

The expression on Duanmu Ci's face also softened slightly, and he said calmly: "Your Majesty's words, the old man is here, no matter what the ending is, it has nothing to do with the old man, so don't leave it at that." ”

Without half a moment's hesitation, Duanmu Ci turned around and left directly, but the coldness on his face couldn't fade, this Xiao family was a little too arrogant.

Xiao Feiya looked at Duanmu Ci's figure leaving without hesitation, and there was deep worry between her eyebrows.

"Miss, why don't you let the old servant take ......" The old servant behind him wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Xiao Feiya.

"Shut up!" Xiao Feiya was rarely angry, and scolded: "Are you really a martial artist who can walk sideways in the Wu Zhou Dynasty? You don't look at how powerful the army on the surface of the Wu Zhou Dynasty is!"

"In any case, this tax matter must be settled, and in two days the new monarch will be met, but I must see how heroic it is to fall to the ground. ”

Xiao Feiya frowned slightly, and said from the bottom of her heart that this tax was very considerable, and she didn't want to pay it like this, which was not in the interests of the Xiao family.

"Master Xiao, you come with this palace. ”

Xiao Feiya left a faint sentence, and then turned around and went back to the house.

"Yes, miss. ”

Xiao Qingyi nodded very respectfully, kept a distance of three meters, bowed his head and hunched his waist, and slowly followed.