Instructor Song had been summoned by Zhao An. He had wondered what business the Lord had with him, but the moment he entered the room, Lord Zhao handed him a red envelope containing ten taels of silver. Then, he explained that he was no longer merely a local official, but a Booi Nikan—a bondsman to the Emperor.
He had officially entered the imperial system, or rather, the very fringes of the Empire's highest decision-making circles.
Therefore, Instructor Song had to accept the red envelope; it was a gesture to share in the good fortune.
Chapter 186