eurekapd Chapter 144: Forced to Make a Bet
Chapter 144: Forced to Make a Bet
Fortunately, Zhou Wenjian spoke up at this moment.
"Your Highness is so concerned about us ordinary folks. You even need to help my wife with getting dressed. You are truly the first wise ruler to stand on the front lines since the founding of our Great Yu Dynasty!"
"I will certainly spread this matter far and wide, and let the Crown Prince's benevolent act spread throughout the streets and alleys, and even the whole country."
Praise to death! Good heavens, Wenjian, your mind really works fast. You actually came up with such a method in such a short time. It makes one want to kneel down in front of you.
Fang Xiaoxiao was secretly thinking to herself, but her face still showed an awkward, worried and fearful expression, just like a young woman who had not yet left home.
This infuriated Pei Zuo. One dared to make sarcastic remarks about him, while the other looked as if he had suffered a great injustice. He was so angry that he almost vomited blood.
Throughout his life, no one had ever dared to make fun of him, let alone defy him.
Now, the other party not only makes false accusations but also dares to disobey; they're really courting death.
Think about this.
Pei Zuo's sharp, hawk-like eyes flashed with intense killing intent, but it vanished in an instant. He put on a friendly face and chuckled sheepishly.
“Brother, you flatter me. It is only right for me, the prince, to do something for the people. You need not do this. Otherwise, if others find out, they might think I am a person who is fond of grandstanding.”
"Alright, since Madam Fang needs to wash up and change, then this prince will not linger here for even a moment."
He turned around and was about to leave when he reached the front door. He stopped, as if he had thought of something, and then spoke to the two people inside.
"Oh right, I almost forgot. My master said that after an incense stick's time, he would be waiting for his wife in the main hall, saying that he wanted to have a contest of poetry and prose with her."
Pei Zuo turned and left, leaving the two people looking bewildered.
What? Poetry and songs again? Is this old man seriously ill? He just managed to extract a lot of the second half of the Tao Te Ching from me yesterday, and now he's doing this again. Does he even want people to live?
For a moment, Fang Xiaoxiao had an urge to die.
"Never again should I show off and then get slapped in the face. Showing off and then getting slapped in the face will get me struck by lightning!"
She secretly blamed herself. She had casually recited "Shuidiao Getou" because she wanted to impress her husband and embarrass those self-proclaimed scholars.
Little did anyone know that the poem would eventually reach Zhu Wen's ears. Considering the money he had been paid, Zhu Wen had no choice but to leave the complete version of "Shuidiao Getou" on the screen in the main hall of Wenyue Pavilion.
Then came Li Mubai and the disciple of the Confucian sage, it was so annoying.
Now, that so-called Confucian sage has actually appeared in front of me and even put me under house arrest. What kind of mess is this?
"I just want to be a quiet, beautiful woman, earn some money to spend, is that wrong?"
Think about this.
She ultimately chose to compromise, sitting there with a sigh, letting Zhou Wenjian leave first. After changing her clothes, washing up, and eating the white porridge on the table, she walked down to the lobby.
Meanwhile, the hall was practically a grand banquet, bustling with noise and people, indicating that many dignitaries and important figures had arrived.
She didn't recognize any of these people, but Zhou Wenjian, who was standing next to her, introduced them to her one by one.
"My lady, look, that thin man in the blue robe is the richest man in Jiangnan. His business spans the entire Da Yu Dynasty, mainly dealing in cloth, silk, and tea."
"And that man over there, with a square face, is the general of the Protectorate of Jiangnan Province, known as the King of Hell. It is said that at least eight thousand people have died at his hands, if not ten thousand."
Zhou Wenjian launched into a long and detailed introduction of the audience.
Almost all of them were extremely wealthy or high-ranking officials from Jiangnan Province.
Among them were many prominent families from Kyoto, all of whom had migrated from Kyoto to Jiangnan Province.
Fang Xiaoxiao was puzzled when she heard this. Why would those wealthy families who were living comfortably in the capital want to move to Jiangnan Province?
With a question in mind, she looked at Zhou Wenjian beside her and asked in a low voice.
"Why would those aristocratic families from Kyoto come to Jiangnan Province? Logically speaking, Kyoto is more prosperous, and it's right under the emperor's nose."
Zhou Wenjian glanced at everyone in the hall, pondered for a moment, and then slowly replied.
"I also find this matter strange, but I really haven't figured out why."
"Oh, okay."
Fang Xiaoxiao lowered her head in disappointment and followed Zhou Wenjian slowly toward the lobby.
And at the same time.
On the stage in the center of the hall, Zhang Xuzi sat in a grand chair behind a desk, looking like a Taoist immortal, waving a jade bone fan in his hand. The fan surface still had the three large characters: Tao Te Ching.
His right hand was playing with a jade thumb ring, which was of extremely good quality and clearly a unique piece, much more precious than the one in Pei's left hand.
Pei Zuo sat upright beside him, holding a cup of tea in his hand, enjoying his tea very comfortably.
His gaze never left Fang Xiaoxiao for a moment, observing her every move, every smile.
"I will make you my own sooner or later!"
Pei Zuo secretly made up his mind, his eyes revealing a hint of greed.
Zhang Xuzi, who was next to him, coughed twice as a reminder.
"Do not forget your important business, and do not be tempted by romantic feelings."
"is teacher."
Upon hearing his teacher's words, Pei Zuo was so startled that he immediately averted his gaze, straightened his posture, and adopted the demeanor of someone in a superior position.
Just as Fang Xiaoxiao and her companion were about to find an empty seat, they heard Pei Zuo's voice from the stage.
"Madam Fang, your seat is here. Come up on stage quickly so that everyone can get to know the talented woman from our Changle County."
"Gah~~~"
It feels like I'm being handcuffed and put on fire.
Fang Xiaoxiao glanced at Pei Zuo on the stage, who had a sincere smile on his face, and couldn't help but feel annoyed. She even wanted to tear him apart.
Unfortunately, the imagination is beautiful, but the reality is harsh.
As an ordinary citizen, she had no right to refuse; all she had was the ability to obey orders.
Come to the stage.
First came thunderous applause from below.
The people in the audience were not blind fools; each of them had extraordinary abilities to make their families big and powerful.
Take judging people, for example.
They could tell at a glance that the eldest prince on the stage had feelings for the woman, and the name Fang Xiaoxiao was already well-known after Zhu Wen's introduction.
Some of these people came with a "let's see what happens" mentality, wanting to see if the extraordinary woman in business that Zhu Wen spoke of, a talented woman with exceptional abilities, could defeat Zhang Xuzi, a genius Confucian and Taoist scholar who was a once-in-a-century talent in the Dayu Dynasty.