The Romantic Adventures of Huanzhu (19)

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter 91 Little Swallow Returns

"Your Majesty, no!"

"Your Majesty, no!"

Two voices spoke simultaneously as soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking.

The two who spoke exchanged surprised glances; it was Ertai and Consort Zhen. Their eyes met briefly before quickly looking away.

"Oh, why not?" The Empress Dowager's tone was slightly displeased. If it were simply Ertai opposing her, she wouldn't think much of it. After all, she was already Ertai's woman, and it didn't matter if a woman was a little foolish in front of her man.

But Consort Zhen was different. In name, she was her daughter-in-law. Openly opposing her mother-in-law's decision was somewhat taboo, and it made the powerful and authoritative Empress Dowager lose face in front of everyone.

But the words had already been spoken, like water spilled, and it was difficult to take them back. Although Consort Zhen could see the Empress Dowager's dissatisfaction, she could only bite the bullet and reply. She glanced at Ertai, who politely let her speak first, and then spoke without ceremony, "Your Majesty, our dynasty's consistent policy towards rebels is to eradicate them completely. On this point, I fully support Your Majesty's wise decision."

She paused deliberately, and seeing the Empress Dowager's expression soften slightly, she continued, "However, the Red Lotus Rebellion is notoriously cunning. Although their forces are weak, their followers are spread throughout the country. To wipe them out in one fell swoop would be extremely difficult."

"Then, in your opinion, how should this matter be handled? We can't just let them run rampant and ignore it

, can we?" the Empress Dowager asked sternly. "Your Majesty, ignoring it is absolutely unacceptable. However, I just heard from Ertai that the Red Lotus Rebellion intends to sabotage Your Majesty's journey back to the palace. Perhaps we should turn the tables on them," Consort Zhen replied crisply, appearing quite confident.

"A counter-strategy? How so?" Although the Empress Dowager's expression was displeased, she still listened attentively, as this matter concerned her life and allowed no room for carelessness.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's seriousness, Consort Zhen was secretly pleased and calmly replied, "Your Majesty, I believe it is a feint while secretly advancing."

Upon hearing Consort Zhen's reply, Ertai's heart stirred. He thought to himself, "What a cunning woman! No wonder the Fourteenth Prince chose her to infiltrate the palace as a spy. It's not simply about exploiting Consort Zhen's hatred for Qianlong." Ertai's understanding of the Fourteenth Prince deepened.

It seemed the Fourteenth Prince was no ordinary man. A prince imprisoned during the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, yet released after Yongzheng's death by his exceptionally intelligent and suspicious son, Qianlong, was probably no accident.

"If I get the chance, I really need to meet this legendary prince properly and see if he really has three heads and six arms," Ertai thought to himself, then turned his gaze to Consort Zhen and the Empress Dowager.

Having heard Consort Zhen's 'openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass', the Empress Dowager understood what she meant. She reviewed it in her mind and felt that Consort Zhen's plan was far superior to her own. She immediately said, "Consort Zhen, do you mean that I should announce the time, route, and number of people I'll return to the palace, and then secretly take a small group of people, travel light, and choose another route back to the palace?"

"Your Majesty, you are wise and insightful; I am ashamed to say I cannot match you," Consort Zhen said, seemingly modestly patting the Empress Dowager.

"Hmm," the Empress Dowager accepted Consort Zhen's flattery without question, then turned to Ertai and asked with a smile, "Ertai, what do you think?" "

Your Majesty, my opinion is the same as yours and Consort Zhen's. However, I have a bold suggestion; what does Your Majesty think?" Ertai smiled and glanced at Consort Zhen before speaking to the Empress Dowager.

In Ertai's startled glance, Consort Zhen read his meaning: "You'er, you still don't trust me." Consort Zhen's heart skipped a beat. She realized she had underestimated Ertai. She had initially thought he had only learned her secret by chance from Lian Gui through some crooked method of soul control, but now it seemed Ertai's cunning far surpassed her own. Indeed,

Consort Zhen had slept with Ertai, but given her tendency to only half-listen to men's words, it was impossible for her to completely trust him in a short time. She remained wary of Ertai, fearing he might one day reveal her identity. Therefore, she needed to plan ahead. The Red Lotus Sect's uprising presented a perfect opportunity. If she could simply express her intentions to the Empress Dowager and wipe out the Red Lotus Sect rebels, even if things were exposed later, she would have a way to clear her name.

Back then, I firmly supported cracking down on the Red Lotus Rebellion to restore order to our court. Even if I was once the Fourteenth Prince's man, or an undercover agent, what could I do after coming to the palace and being influenced by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, abandoning darkness for light? Besides, what rebel would be so bored as to frame their own ally?

Her plan was well-thought-out, but unfortunately, she made a fatal mistake. Half of it was her other secret identity—the eldest granddaughter of Hu Zhongzao—which could cost her her life. The other half was that she naively believed Ertai's claim that the Red Lotus Rebellion intended to kidnap the Empress Dowager. In reality, this was nothing but a baseless rumor, or more accurately, a smokescreen deliberately created by Ertai for his own promotion. Whether Ertai could successfully incite the Red Lotus Rebellion to revolt and then wipe them out by using Lin Hai's handwritten instructions regarding the Empress Dowager's return to the palace, it would be entirely beneficial to Ertai!

The uprising has begun! Well, Ertai leading the men to eliminate the rebels would be a tremendous achievement. Even if the uprising hadn't happened, as long as the Red Lotus Sect spy hidden within the Empress Dowager's inner circle was controlled, and he could be used to provide false intelligence to the Red Lotus Sect at any time, there would be plenty of opportunities to eliminate these rebels. In this process, Ertai would naturally be credited immensely, and there would be no way he could escape the credit.

When it came time to reward merit, the Empress Dowager could simply whisper a few words to Qianlong, and Ertai would be hard-pressed not to be promoted!

"Ertai, speak freely. I'd like to hear your brilliant ideas." The Empress Dowager's gaze towards Ertai was filled with boundless joy. In just over ten days, her fondness for Ertai had reached an unprecedented level. "This little man of mine is not only exceptionally skilled in bed, leaving me in ecstasy every time, almost to the point of my bones breaking, but his strategic acumen is also beyond ordinary people." "

Your Majesty, I dare not presume to offer any brilliant ideas; they are merely some humble thoughts." Following the usual pattern, Ertai first offered a humble explanation, then got to the point. "In my humble opinion, we can use a 'sleight of hand' strategy, combined with a 'sleight of hand' to achieve a 'sleight of hand'."

"A 'sleight of hand'?" As soon as Ertai uttered these words, not only the Empress Dowager, but everyone present turned their questioning gazes towards him.

Ertai remained calm and composed, speaking eloquently, "Your Majesty, it's like this: we can have someone impersonate you and return to the palace in a grand manner, while you disguise yourself as an ordinary citizen and return a day early under cover of darkness."

Ertai spoke without hesitation; such a plot had been overused on television before his time travel.

However, using it now felt quite novel. Everyone pondered carefully, and soon Qing'er's eyes lit up. She clapped her hands lightly and said with a smile, "I think this plan is brilliant and feasible."

"Hmm, I also think it's good." A hint of joy flickered in the Empress Dowager's eyes, and she secretly cast an adoring glance at Ertai.

"Your Majesty, I think it's feasible," Consort Ling said demurely, secretly and shyly glancing at Ertai, truly charming and alluring.

"This plan is feasible!"

"Feasible!"

"I agree!"

Consort Yu, Consort Zhen, and the Empress responded one by one. Consort Yu secretly flirted with Ertai, expressing her admiration. Consort Zhen pouted with a hint of jealousy, glanced at Ertai, and secretly blamed herself for not thinking of this plan. The Empress was still somewhat dissatisfied with Ertai, feeling that she should not have taken her body without keeping her promise. However, seeing that Ertai only emphasized dealing with Lin Hai and the Red Lotus Sect rebels and did not involve Rong Momo, she looked at Ertai with hopeful eyes.

Seeing that everyone present agreed, the Empress Dowager said, "Since no one has any objections, let's proceed as Ertai wishes. However, regarding the person impersonating me, Ertai, do you have a preferred candidate? I'd like to hear your opinion."

Hearing the Empress Dowager ask about the candidate, Ertai quickly glanced at the Empress, then cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I think Rong Momo is suitable."

"Rong Momo?" Ertai's words caused an uproar. Those present quickly exchanged glances, all seeing deep surprise in each other's eyes. Even the Empress herself was puzzled, and even a hint of hatred flickered in her eyes.

"You can't play like this! Assassins' bayonets don't discriminate. Although there are many guards and ambushes prepared to ambush the assassins, who can guarantee that the vicious and desperate assassins won't kill 'Old Buddha' in a fit of rage? If that happens, wouldn't Rong Momo be stabbed into a hedgehog?"

Ertai ignored the Empress's gaze and explained, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Your Highnesses, Rong Momo and Lin Hai committed an unforgivable crime some time ago. However, the facts prove that Rong Momo only had an affair with Lin Hai and did not collude with the Red Lotus Sect. Moreover, Rong Momo is an old palace maid who has always served Your Majesty the Empress diligently. She has worked hard even if she hasn't done anything meritorious. Your Majesty, you are kind-hearted, and it was at Xishan Temple..." "For the sake of the Qing Dynasty, I feel it is not appropriate to lightly execute Rong Momo. I think it would be better to give her a chance to redeem herself through meritorious service and to punish her leniently."

Ertai knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in supplication, and lowered his head, secretly glancing at the Empress out of the corner of his eye. "I have kept my word; this is the only way I can save Rong Momo." In his heart, however, he was thinking, "Hmph, you old scoundrel, I hope you are stabbed to death by the Red Lotus Sect. But if you die impersonating the Empress Dowager, then you will die a glorious and worthy death."

The Empress saw Ertai's suggestive look and quickly calculated in her mind. After thinking for a while, she also felt that Ertai's suggestion was the only way to save Rong Momo. If fate decreed that Rong Momo should die, then it was her destiny. But if she was lucky enough to escape and performed a great service, then her crime would be punished leniently, which would be a very satisfactory outcome.

The Empress immediately rose from her chair and knelt down with a thud, pleading for Rong Momo, "Your Majesty, I beg you, considering Rong Momo's many years of service to me, even if she hasn't done anything meritorious, she has still worked hard. Please give her a chance to atone for her sins!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, you've been a devout Buddhist all your life, with a compassionate heart. Please forgive Rong Momo this time, let her atone for her sins and repent!" The delicate Qing'er also knelt down, pleading for Rong Momo.

The Empress still didn't speak; she was waiting for the others' opinions. However, the other concubines weren't fools. Ertai, Qing'er, and the Empress were all the Empress's confidants. With the three of them pleading together, it would be difficult for the Empress not to give them face. Why should she play the villain and create further enmity with the Empress? Why not do the Empress a favor? So, the three imperial concubines knelt down together to plead for Rong Momo, though most of them were thinking, "May the Red Lotus Rebels shoot this arrogant old witch to death with their arrows!"

Seeing everyone pleading for her life, the Empress Dowager went along with it, nodding and saying, "Do as you wish."

The crowd quickly replied, following the script, "Thank you, Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"

...

At noon, Ertai and Lian Gui, whom he had manipulated, left Xishan Temple and arrived at a secluded alley. Ertai whispered to Lian Gui, "Did you remember everything I told you?"

"Second Master Fu, this servant remembers." Lian Gui nodded heavily. Last time, his coordination with Ertai wasn't quite there yet. Ertai's still-developing soul-controlling technique had given him a splitting headache. He was supposed to be keeping watch in Consort Zhen's outer chamber, but he had somehow fainted. That's how Consort Ling entered Consort Zhen's inner chamber and witnessed Ertai and Consort Zhen's scene, which led to his absurd threesome with Ertai and Consort Zhen!

In a way, Lian Gui had inadvertently done Ertai a great favor.

Ertai handed Lian Gui a letter written by Lin Hai, detailing the Empress Dowager's return to the palace, including the time, route, and personnel. He instructed him, "Go to Yuefeng Inn and find Leader Han of the Red Lotus Sect's Zhili branch. Give him this letter. Also, don't forget what I told you to tell him."

"This servant will not forget. I will do as Second Master Fu wishes." Lian Gui knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times to Ertai.

Ertai helped him up, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "If things go well, you'll get your share of the rewards!"

"This servant thanks Second Master Fu in advance," Lian Gui said respectfully.

"Hmm, go ahead." Ertai waved his hand, and Lian Gui quickly left.

...

Afterwards, Ertai turned onto a main road, went to a bookstore, and bought several 'books' that the Fifth Prince had asked him to bring back. After leaving the bookstore, he walked a short distance and saw a group of people gathered in front of a newly opened restaurant.

Ertai, being young and curious, squeezed through the crowd and looked towards the restaurant. In front of the restaurant, he saw Xiao Yanzi, Liu Hong, and Liu Qing standing there beaming.

Chapter 092 Old Enemies

Afterwards, Ertai turned onto a main road, went to a bookstore, and bought several 'books' that the Fifth Prince had asked him to bring back. After leaving the bookstore, he walked a short distance and saw a group of people gathered in front of a newly opened restaurant.

Ertai, driven by youthful curiosity, squeezed through the crowd and looked towards the restaurant. There stood three cheerful figures: Xiao Yanzi, Liu Hong, and Liu Qing.

All three were dressed in red, and beside them were several chubby-faced children in red—Bao'er, Xiao Huzi, and others from the tenement. The children's faces also radiated joy.

"This newly opened restaurant—Xiao Yanzi and her friends own it?" Ertai wondered to himself. Although he had given them five hundred taels of silver, it had only been a little over ten days; the speed was astounding.

However, after the firecrackers were set off, Xiao Yanzi's words completely dispelled Ertai's doubts: the restaurant was indeed owned by Xiao Yanzi and her friends. Xiao Yanzi bowed to the crowd, her face beaming with joy, and said, "I am Xiao Yanzi, and these are Liu Qing and Liu Hong, my brothers. The three of us opened this Xinglong Tavern, and we hope you, our fellow villagers, will support us!"

"Oh, oh, oh!"

The onlookers, as usual, joined in the cheering. Ertai also joined in the commotion, happy for Xiao Yanzi and her companions, but in his heart, he thought that normally, Liu Qing and Liu Hong should have opened an inn called Guibinlou two years later, much larger than the current Xinglong Tavern.

However, Xiao Yanzi and her companions had lived a very frugal life during these two years. He had given them five hundred taels of silver in advance to open this not-so-large tavern, ensuring they lived a comfortable life. In a way, he had helped them a great deal.

"Looks like my time travel was quite worthwhile," Ertai thought happily. He then squeezed through the crowd, went to an antique shop, bought a prized Pixiu worth a thousand taels of silver, and returned to Xinglong Tavern.

Just then, Xiao Yanzi excitedly announced, "Our tavern is newly opened! To thank our fellow villagers for their support, all food and drinks are half price today! We hope you'll all come and patronize us!"

"Great!"

"Great!"

"Great!"

Ertai joined the crowd in their excited shouts, "Half price sale! In this financial crisis, every penny saved counts!"

He then followed the others into Xinglong Tavern. Xiaoyanzi, Liu Qing, Liu Hong, Bao'er, and others stood on either side of the tavern, smiling and bowing to the customers entering.

Ertai, carrying a huge Pixiu (a mythical creature), walked in with his head down, trying not to attract attention. However, the Pixiu in his arms was so eye-catching that the sharp-eyed Xiaoyanzi immediately recognized him. She excitedly exclaimed, "Oh, Brother Ertai! It's you! How did you know we were opening today? Wow, you even brought something! Are you going to give us a big surprise?"

Xiaoyanzi skipped over to Ertai's side, wrapping her little arms around his arm and shaking them excitedly, her baby pigeons rubbing against his arm. This made Ertai momentarily infatuated. "Darling, it's only been a little over ten days, how come you've grown so much? This little girl is getting more and more alluring."

However, Xiaoyanzi's words made him blush with embarrassment. He wanted to surprise Xiaoyanzi and the others; he had no idea they had opened a tavern, let alone that it was opening today. It was all just a coincidence.

But Ertai, who had lived two lives, wouldn't say anything that would spoil the mood at this moment. Although he didn't want to deceive Xiaoyanzi, he still put on an affirmative expression and said with a smile, "Yes, I happened to hear someone mention that you were opening today, so I haven't come. I've been waiting to give you a big surprise."

"Hehe, that's great! I knew Brother Ertai was the best to me. We only became sworn brothers not long ago, and I knew you wouldn't forget me." Xiaoyanzi was all looks and no brains. Although Ertai's words were full of holes, she didn't notice them, or if she did, she wouldn't care. After all, Ertai's presence was already enough to make her incredibly excited.

Little Swallow was naturally charming and innocent, but Ertai understood the meaning behind her words and asked with a smile, "What? Is someone trying to sow discord between us? Saying that since I, Ertai, have become sworn brothers, I won't let you, my sister, have any more rights?" As he spoke, Ertai's eyes kept glancing at Liu Qing, whose expression was slightly unnatural.

"Pfft!"

Little Swallow and Liu Hong burst out laughing. Liu Hong walked over, took Ertai's other arm, and shook it, saying, "No one's stirring things up! Besides, who can sow discord between us siblings? It's just that Little Swallow and I are worried, afraid you'll abandon us."

"How could that be!" Seeing Liu Hong pout, her expression one of coquettishness, Ertai suddenly felt a tingling, restless sensation in a certain part of his body. He said in a slightly gruff voice, "Heaven has given me two such wonderful sisters, how could I bear to abandon you? I'm more afraid you'll abandon me, hehe."

"Impossible! You'll always be my good brother." Hearing Ertai say this, Little Swallow quickly asserted her stance. She bounced around, playfully resting her beautiful head on Ertai's shoulder. With each movement, her hair, billowing in the wind, gently brushed against Ertai's cheek.

So fragrant, so smooth, so intoxicating!

"Me too, I'll never abandon my dear Ertai brother!" Seeing Xiaoyanzi rest her head on Ertai's shoulder, Liu Hong felt a pang of jealousy. She also rested her head on Ertai's other shoulder, gently rubbing her cheek against it. With such

soft fragrance in his arms and hearing two beautiful women call him "good brother," Ertai's manhood instantly hardened. He felt it was extremely inappropriate to still be holding the Pixiu in his arms, so he quickly handed it to the extremely displeased Liu Qing. Then, he used his free hands to grab Xiaoyanzi and Liu Hong's soft, smooth hands, taking the opportunity to gently caress them.

"You two are truly my 'good sisters'!" Ertai's face beamed with excitement, ignoring Liu Qing's eye-rolling! "

...

Brother Ertai, let me toast you. If it weren't for you, everyone in our courtyard, young and old, would still be living in hunger." This was in a private room on the second floor of the Xinglong Hotel. Liu Hong raised her glass, her face slightly flushed, to toast Ertai.

Ertai quickly raised his glass and lightly clinked it with Liu Hong and Xiao Yanzi's. He even took the opportunity to secretly touch their smooth fingers. "You are both my good sisters. How could I, as their good brother, watch my sisters go hungry?"

Ertai said this casually, without any other intention, just to flirt with the two women. However, this touched a nerve with Liu Qing. He coughed unhappily and then retaliated by wolfing down his food.

In his heart, Liu Qing cursed Ertai, "What does this mean? He's clearly criticizing me for being incompetent and not providing a good life for my sister. But who cares? You're a 'rich second generation,' never had to worry about food or clothing since childhood. Money is just a bunch of numbers to you, unlike us poor folks who don't know where our next meal will come from."

Ertai naturally noticed Liu Qing's displeasure, but he didn't care. That's how society is: the rich are kings, playing with pretty girls; the poor eat chaff and wild vegetables, marrying a widow and living a hasty life. In modern times, wasn't Ertai the same? Didn't he envy his wealthy classmates and friends who lived a life of luxury, changing pretty girls one after another?

But what's the use of envy? A man should use his strength and ability to achieve his revenge and prove his dignity. Constantly envying others, then complaining and grumbling, will only lead to nothing!

After transmigrating, Ertai secretly vowed that he would definitely become a superior person!

However, Ertai had a good impression of Liu Qing, finding him to be a loyal and righteous man. He had helped Xiao Yanzi, Ziwei, and the others during their escape, and had even developed feelings for Jin Suo. However, after his rebirth, Ertai naturally wouldn't allow Jin Suo and Liu Qing to cross paths again. But aside from that, Ertai didn't mind helping Liu Qing out.

He raised his wine cup to Liu Qing, smiling, and said, "Come, Brother Liu Qing, I, Ertai, toast you! You're a true man!"

Hearing Ertai suddenly praise him as a 'true man,' Liu Qing was momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained his composure, knowing Ertai was trying to save face for him. Actually, he wasn't annoyed by Ertai; he was just extremely resentful that Ertai had shone so brightly in front of his sister and Xiao Yanzi, completely overshadowing him.

However, since Ertai was now trying to ease the tension and had given him face and a way out, he couldn't maintain a stern face any longer. So, he smiled, raised his wine cup, and clinked it with Ertai's, saying sincerely, "Young Master Fu, I, Liu Qing, rarely admire anyone in my life, but you have earned my genuine respect. In our Qing Dynasty, there isn't a single official 's son as kind-hearted as you."

Liu Qing's words weren't entirely unfounded. Some officials' sons were indeed quite shameless, frequently engaging in acts like harassing women or beating up ordinary people in the street. In comparison, although Ertai was ruthless, he only targeted those who deserved it. If someone wanted him dead, he naturally wouldn't let them live, but to ordinary people, Ertai was at least harmless.

Seeing Liu Qing's sincere expression, which didn't seem feigned, Ertai smiled and downed his drink in one gulp. He then put down the cup and casually asked Liu Qing, "Brother Liu Qing, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

"What is it?" Liu Qing immediately perked up, his eyes burning as he looked at Ertai, almost bursting into tears. "Wow, even the young master of the Fu family has something to ask of me! Looks like I, Liu Qing, am quite capable after all!"

Seeing his eager expression, Ertai was secretly delighted. He thought to himself that a true man like Liu Qing was actually quite easy to please. Once he found the right approach, Ertai wouldn't have trouble controlling him.

In an instant, Ertai took a liking to Liu Qing, this straightforward and innocent man, and wanted to take him under his wing, cultivating him into a core member of his faction.

So, he lowered his voice and told Liu Qing and the other two that the Red Lotus Sect wanted to kill the Empress Dowager. The three of them were immediately shocked and their mouths dropped open. After a long while, Liu Qing asked in a trembling voice, "Holding the Empress Dowager hostage, do they have a death wish?"

"Of course they don't want to live, otherwise why would they be called rebels?" Ertai said jokingly.

"Then... what... does this have to do with us?" Liu Qing pressed.

"………………" Ertai told Liu Qing and the other two about his 'switching the beams and pillars' scheme, and said, "You are people I, Ertai, trust, so I'm asking for your help. I want you to help escort the Empress Dowager back to the palace safely."

Since it was to be a return to the palace as ordinary people, it couldn't be done in a big way, and the number of people couldn't be too large, otherwise it would inevitably expose their whereabouts. According to his plan, the Empress Dowager and the others would be divided into five groups, riding in five carriages, and returning to the palace along five different routes. In this way, there weren't enough trustworthy people, so he wanted to ask Liu Qing for help.

After hearing Ertai's arrangements, Liu Qing thumped his chest loudly and solemnly guaranteed, "Young Master Fu, you have been kind to everyone in my tenement, young and old. Your affairs are my affairs, and besides, this matter is of great importance to the country, so I, Liu Qing, have an inescapable responsibility!"

"Me too, Liu Hong!" "And

Xiao Yanzi too!"

Liu Hong and Xiao Yanzi also said in a serious tone.

"Good, to know you all and to become sworn siblings with you is my blessing in this life!" Ertai cheerfully picked up his wine cup, tilted his head back and drank the wine in it first, then showed the three of them the bottom of their cups.

The three of them immediately responded, tilting their heads back and drinking their wine in the same way.

Afterwards, the four chatted and ate. Ertai casually asked, "Little Swallow, what made you decide to open a tavern?"

Hearing Ertai's question, the usually carefree Little Swallow blushed, stammering, "It was my idea. We used to go hungry all the time, so now that we have money, we naturally want to open a tavern to eat more good food and make up for what we missed."

"Hahaha, interesting. But that's more like the Little Swallow I know," Ertai laughed.

Seeing Ertai's high spirits, Liu Hong chimed in, "Speaking of which, Xiaoyanzi is truly a lucky charm. Just when we were talking about opening a tavern, the original owner had a family emergency and was in a hurry to sell it. The price was very low, and we thought it was a good deal, so we bought it. Look, the tables and chairs are still about 80% new; we really got a great bargain."

Ertai looked around and found the shop's decor quite nice. He'd really made a profit at five hundred taels of silver. Suddenly, he looked away, raised his hand, and playfully tapped Xiaoyanzi's delicate head, saying, "Our Xiaoyanzi is a lucky charm! Whoever marries you will be

incredibly successful." "Brother, why do you have to tease me? I'm not getting married! If you keep doing this, I won't talk to you anymore!" Hearing Ertai's teasing, even the usually carefree Xiaoyanzi couldn't help but blush.

"Hehe, okay, brother won't laugh at you anymore. If you really ignore me, I'll be so sad." Ertai looked at Xiaoyanzi with a beaming smile, his eyes gradually filled with affection.

Xiaoyanzi seemed to read some meaning in his eyes, and couldn't help but turn away shyly, stomping her delicate little feet on the ground in a coquettish manner.

"Hahaha." Seeing Xiaoyanzi's adorable appearance, Ertai and the other two burst into laughter, creating a lively atmosphere.

However, someone inconsiderately ruined the atmosphere. A foreigner with blond hair, blue eyes, and a small braid stumbled upstairs, panting, and called out to the waiter in Chinese, "Waiter, quick, give me some water."

"Yes, sir." The waiter replied crisply and quickly went downstairs to fetch water.

Soon, the water arrived. The foreigner, seemingly extremely thirsty, picked up the teacup and gulped down the water, not caring whether it was hot or not.

Unfortunately, before he could rest enough, a pair of hurried footsteps came from downstairs. Ertai was sitting by the window. Looking down, he saw a slick-haired, wealthy-looking middle-aged man leading a group of soldiers standing at the entrance of Xinglong Tavern. He pointed at the tavern and said to an official behind him, "Sir, my men saw him escape into this tavern!"

"Search!" the official on horseback shouted sharply, and immediately a large group of soldiers rushed into the tavern.

Ertai glanced at the middle-aged man, finding him strangely familiar. Then, a thought struck him, and he couldn't help but chuckle. This man was actually an old nemesis of his; he hadn't expected to run into him again so soon.

Chapter 093: The Stocking Merchant?

The middle-aged man was the manager of Yufuxiang Silk Shop. He'd been soundly beaten by Ertai last time for leading a group chasing Xiaoyanzi, and now he was causing trouble again, this time chasing a blond, blue-eyed foreigner.

Since the other party was a foreigner, Ertai naturally wouldn't intervene. He sat on a stool, drinking tea, glancing down at the plump, dark-skinned official downstairs—it was none other than the Imperial Censor Ji Xiaolan. He couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of a scholar doing the work of a military officer.

As they spoke, the soldiers came up. Hearing the commotion, the foreigner rushed to Ertai, intending to escape through the window. Ertai smiled and made way for him. The foreigner smiled gratefully, then grabbed the window frame with one hand, stepped on the railing with his right leg, and prepared to jump.

Suddenly, his movement was too abrupt, and something that Ertai found extremely familiar, both comforting and alluring, fell from the bundle on his back—a pair of stockings.

However, these stockings were somewhat different from those of the modern Ertai lived in. They were coarser in texture, made of cotton, wool, and silk, and crafted using fine knitting machines. They had a poor feel and were available in limited colors, mostly dark flesh-colored and black.

Upon seeing this, Ertai was overjoyed. He grabbed the foreigner, who was trying to escape through the window. Caught off guard, the foreigner turned around, glaring angrily at Ertai, and snapped, "What? You want to arrest me to curry favor?"

"Not at all." Knowing he had misunderstood, Ertai shook his head and said in a scholarly tone, "I admire you, brother, and would like to have a drink with you."

"A drink?" The foreigner was relieved to see that Ertai wasn't arresting him to take him to the authorities. However, he was in dire straits himself and dared not have time to drink with Ertai. He said anxiously, sweating profusely, "But I have matters to attend to today and cannot stay with you for long. I hope you will forgive me and come to visit you again another day when things have calmed down."

Unexpectedly, the foreigner spoke fluent Chinese, and Ertai felt that this man was invaluable. How could he let him go? With a forceful pull, he dragged the foreigner back from the window.

This delay allowed the soldiers to catch up. The leader immediately spotted the strikingly handsome foreigner and yelled to his men, "He's over there! Brothers, attack!"

"Brother, let me go! If you don't leave, I'm in big trouble!" The foreigner struggled to break free from Ertai's grasp, but Ertai's hand was like a vise, firmly gripping his arm, rendering him immobile. The foreigner could only beg Ertai to release him, his expression almost tearful.

"Hehe, calm down. If I can keep you here, I can certainly handle these shrimp soldiers!" Ertai smiled calmly at the foreigner.

The latter watched the soldiers approach step by step, rolling his eyes in frustration. He was filled with regret. There were several other windows nearby; why did he have to choose this one to jump through? And why did he have to run into this pervert? It seemed his chances of survival were slim today. "Bad luck, what an unlucky year!"

the foreigner lamented to himself. Meanwhile, the soldiers who had apprehended him were overjoyed. The Qing Dynasty had closed its borders and strictly prohibited foreign trade; capturing a merchant who wanted to trade with the Qing was a great achievement.

Soon, the soldiers pounced like hungry tigers, each vying to capture the foreigner.

"Gentlemen, what brings you here—" Seeing the soldiers swarming towards him, Liu Qing stepped forward, cupping his fists in greeting. As the owner of the tavern, he naturally had to inquire about the soldiers' arrival.

Unexpectedly, the officials ignored him completely. The leader coldly shouted, "Get out of the way! This is none of your business. Stay put, or I'll tear this tavern down!"

He then looked at the foreigner with the eyes of a hungry wolf eyeing an unattended lamb. The foreigner's heart skipped a beat, his face turning ashen. Even Ertai, who was gripping his arm, sensed his unease and worry.

Liu Hong and Xiao Yanzi, however, were not worried at all. They had already witnessed Ertai's power before and knew these soldiers were afraid of him. They leisurely drank tea and chatted.

"Are you accomplices of this foreign devil?" the leader shouted at Xiao Yanzi and Xiao Yanzi.

Xiao Yanzi, who was quick to anger, was immediately provoked by the other party's harsh tone and the fact that Ertai was backing her up. She retorted angrily, "Are you blind? Can't you see I have black hair and he has blond hair? How could we possibly know each other?"

"You—" Seeing that the girl in front of him dared to insult him, the leading soldier was furious. He glared at Xiao Yanzi, about to unleash a torrent of curses, when someone behind him quietly tugged at his sleeve.

"Why are you tugging at my sleeve?" The man, unable to vent his anger, turned to his subordinates and cursed.

"B-B-Brother, that girl, well, it seems to be the girl who stole from Yufuxiang Silk Shop last time." The man behind him whispered in the leading soldier's ear.

The leading soldier was startled and turned to look at Xiao Yanzi. Upon seeing her, he was even more shocked. Indeed, wasn't this the girl who had stolen Yu Fuxiang's clothes last time, and then, along with her henchmen, had brutally beaten them up? Moreover, one of her henchmen was a formidable figure. He wondered what she had whispered to his master, Ji Xiaolan, who hadn't dared utter a single word of dissent before ordering a retreat. How could he have forgotten this young lady?

Suddenly, he saw Fu Ertai sitting next to Xiao Yanzi and remembered—wasn't that the formidable henchman? He was someone even his master couldn't afford to offend! He, a nobody, should keep a low profile.

However, as the saying goes, 'It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost.' Now that he knew the other party's identity, it wasn't too late to try and salvage the situation. So he stepped forward, bowed slightly, and asked Xiao Yanzi in a soft, gentle voice, "Miss, do you know that damn foreign devil?"

Hearing him call Xiao Yanzi "Miss," Ertai couldn't help but find it amusing. In modern times, calling a girl "Miss" would probably get you a beating from a college sophomore, but in ancient times, "Miss" was a term of respect.

"I already said I don't know him," Xiao Yanzi said impatiently. "But could you please be a little more polite? Foreigners are people too. Don't keep calling him 'damned foreign devil,' it

's so annoying." "Heh," Ertai couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This Xiao Yanzi really was just like the characters on TV, always ready to stand up for others. The other person's use of "damned foreign devil" had stirred her chivalrous heart.

"Yes, yes, Miss, you're right. I'll definitely change in the future." After bowing and scraping to Xiao Yanzi, the leader turned his gaze to Ertai, and with an even more obsequious attitude, asked, "Young master, could you hand over the foreigner you're holding? He's a fugitive we're trying to capture."

"A fugitive? What fugitive?" Ertai asked curiously, "What crime did he commit?" "

Replying to your question, young master, the manager of Yufuxiang has accused him of being immoral. Moreover, our dynasty prohibits foreign trade, and his trading on our territory naturally violates our laws." The leader replied respectfully.

"Oh, is that so? Call your master up here, and tell him that Ertai invites him up for a drink." Ertai said casually to the man.

"...This..." The man hesitated.

Ertai glared at the man, who dared not say another word. He rushed downstairs and ran to Ji Xiaolan, panting, "Lord Ji, that young master invited you upstairs for a drink."

"Which family's young master is he? Putting on such airs?" Ji Xiaolan sat lazily on his horse, not moving an inch, taking a leisurely puff of his pipe and exhaling a smoke ring.

He didn't care, but the messenger was frantic, wiping cold sweat from his brow. He hurriedly approached Ji Xiaolan and whispered, "My lord, that young master said his name is Fu Ertai."

"Oh, Fu Ertai—what? You mean the second young master of the Fu family, Fu Ertai? Damn it, why didn't you say so sooner? You've got me killed!" Upon hearing the name 'Fu Ertai,' Ji Xiaolan initially didn't think much of it; there were plenty of famous young masters in the capital. But then he thought about it again… It was Fu Ertai, the second son of Grand Secretary Fu Lun, and at only eighteen years old, he had already been appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Cining Palace Guards, a fourth-rank official—a rising star in the political arena with limitless potential.

In the blink of an eye, Ji Xiaolan's expression changed drastically. He dismounted with lightning speed, nearly falling off in his haste. Fortunately, the leading soldier reacted quickly and caught him, preventing him from embarrassing himself.

The moment his toes touched the ground, Ji Xiaolan pushed away the man who had helped him, grabbed his official robes and trousers, and dashed upstairs like lightning.

Ji Xiaolan, who frequently served as an official in the capital, summarized a profound truth: "It's better to offend your superior than your son." Because if you offend an official, the latter will still respect the rules of officialdom and won't do anything too drastic. As long as you give him face afterward, unless it's a fatal feud, it can usually be resolved. But if you offend your son, you can go home, wash your hands of your sins, and wait to die!

Officials care about face, but sons are obsessed with saving face. If you offend them, they'll retaliate mercilessly!

Ji Xiaolan was well-versed in the ways of officialdom, which is why he feigned such haste. Seeing Ji Xiaolan's flustered demeanor, the manager of Yu Fu Xiang immediately collapsed to the ground, secretly lamenting, "Has I offended someone I shouldn't have again? Last time it was that female thief, this time it's a foreigner. How come both of them have powerful figures behind them? Why is my life so tragic?"

"This humble official greets Master Fu, may Master Fu be well." Ji Xiaolan bowed slightly and greeted Ertai.

"Haha, Lord Ji, it's been a long time. Our meeting today is truly a matter of fate. If you don't mind, would you like to have a drink with me?" Ertai released the foreigner, walked to Ji Xiaolan's side with a smile, and affectionately took his arm, extending a warm invitation.

"Since Master Fu thinks so highly of me, then I will not refuse." At noon, Ji Xiaolan's stomach was already growling with hunger. The aroma of wine and meat in the tavern instantly whetted his appetite, and he secretly swallowed his saliva.

At this moment, Ji Xiaolan naturally wouldn't bring up the matter of the foreigner who had committed the crime. Ertai had been with that foreigner just now, and Ji Xiaolan had seen it clearly. Although he didn't know the relationship between Ertai and the foreigner, they were definitely related. The best solution at this moment was to drink and eat meat, and not discuss state affairs.

However, instead of mentioning it, Ertai brought it up, smiling as he said to Ji Xiaolan, "Lord Ji, this man is a friend of mine. I wonder what he has done to warrant such a large-scale arrest by you, Lord Ji."

Upon hearing Ertai say that the foreigner was his friend, everyone present was stunned. This foreigner was clearly a fugitive being arrested by the soldiers; when did he become Ertai's friend? Even the foreigner himself was completely baffled. He had only just met him and didn't even know his name; how could they be friends?

However, he had witnessed Ertai's prowess. Although he didn't know Ertai's exact background, the foreigner clearly saw the respectful attitude of the fifth-rank official before him. If there was anyone who could save him, it would undoubtedly be Ertai, the "Second Master Fu" he had mistakenly taken for an enemy.

He quickly nodded in agreement and said to Ji Xiaolan, "Yes, sir, I am Second Master Fu's friend, but I am unfamiliar with the roads of the capital and mistakenly entered Yu Fu Xiang. These things are not actually for trading, but Second Master Fu asked me to bring them to him." The foreigner lied. Although he didn't know Ertai's name, he had heard Ji Xiaolan repeatedly refer to Ertai as Second Master Fu, so he followed suit.

"Oh, is that so? In that case, it was all a misunderstanding, haha." Ji Xiaolan laughed it off, dismissing the matter as a 'misunderstanding'.

Seeing Ji Xiaolan's understanding attitude, Ertai was even more delighted and said cheerfully, "Lord Ji, please call all your men in. It's midday, they must all be thirsty and hungry. My friend's tavern is just opening, so please invite them in to show their support. This meal is on me."

"Master Fu is truly considerate of his brothers," Ji Xiaolan remarked, then ordered his men to be called in.

After the farce involving the foreigners and soldiers, many of the timid customers in the tavern had left, and the once bustling tavern had become quiet. Ertai didn't want Xiaoyanzi and the others' grand opening to be a dull affair, so he invited the soldiers in to join in the fun. Xiaoyanzi and the others, who

loved lively gatherings, were naturally pleased with Ertai's arrangement. She was naturally easygoing and rarely held grudges. At this moment, she happily drank and played drinking games with Liu Qing and Liu Hong, along with the soldiers who had previously been her 'enemies,' creating quite a lively atmosphere.

Ertai watched with amusement as Xiaoyanzi's graceful figure skipped and hopped through the crowd, drinking and playing drinking games with the soldiers. She was so adorable and genuine; he wished time could stand still forever.

Lost in his gaze for a while, he noticed the surprised looks from Ji Xiaolan and the foreigner. Quickly snapping back to reality, Ertai turned to the foreigner and asked, "What country are you from? Are you here to do stocking business?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaolan and the foreigner were stunned again.

Chapter 94 Stockings and a Beautiful Woman

Ertai watched with amusement as Xiaoyanzi's graceful figure skipped and hopped through the crowd, drinking and playing drinking games with the soldiers. She was so adorable and genuine; he wished time could stand still forever.

Lost in thought, Ertai stared at Xiaoyanzi for a while, then, sensing the surprised gazes from Ji Xiaolan and the foreigner, he quickly snapped back to reality and turned to the foreigner, asking, "What country are you from? Are you here to do stocking business?" Upon

hearing this, Ji Xiaolan and the foreigner were stunned again.

The former didn't understand Ertai's meaning. The foreigner had already said he was Ertai's friend, and Ertai had asked him to bring him something; going to Yufuxiang was just a misunderstanding.

Such a clumsy lie, of course, wouldn't fool someone as intelligent as Ji Xiaolan. However, seeing Ertai somewhat protecting such a person, Ji Xiaolan deliberately feigned ignorance and remained silent about the foreigner's violation of Qing Dynasty law.

But why did Ertai... actually bring it up? Ji Xiaolan quickly calculated in his mind, and a touch of emotion welled up in his eyes as he looked at Ertai. Ertai's behavior truly showed that he didn't treat him like an outsider. Not only that, but he probably considered him one of his most trusted people. Otherwise, he would never have openly asked a foreign merchant who had violated the Qing Dynasty's prohibition on trade what kind of business he was doing.

Thinking of this, Ji Xiaolan was overjoyed. With Master Fu as his backer, his future seemed limitless. These days, it was already widely known in the Qing Dynasty that Master Fu had somehow suddenly become the Empress Dowager's confidant, even surpassing the Empress Dowager's former most trusted confidante, Princess Qing. In addition, Ertai himself was Emperor Qianlong's imperial bodyguard, the nephew and direct confidant of Consort Ling. This triple-favored confidant was probably the most remarkable person in the history of the Qing Dynasty!

"I must keep up with Master Fu's pace," Ji Xiaolan secretly vowed to himself.

The foreigner, however, lacked Ji Xiaolan's awareness. He had initially been grateful to Ertai for saving his life and had planned to have a good drink with him to express his thanks. But before he could even speak, Ertai openly exposed his lie in front of the official who had tried to arrest him, revealing that he wasn't Ertai's friend but a foreign merchant doing business in the Qing Dynasty.

Judging from the fat, dark-skinned official's respectful attitude, he must also be a member of the officialdom. Didn't he know that Qing Dynasty law prohibited domestic officials, merchants, and ordinary people from trading with foreigners? Why had he saved him before, only to try to harm him later? Couldn't he have waited until the fat official left and asked him privately?

In that instant, the foreigner's heart underwent a series of complex changes. Therefore, his gaze towards Ertai was no longer filled with curiosity and gratitude, but instead with a faint resentment.

The three sat around a table. Ertai's sharp eyes didn't miss the expressions of Ji Xiaolan and the foreigner. Seeing Ji Xiaolan's grateful expression, Ertai was secretly pleased, thinking to himself that he had often heard people say Ji Xiaolan was exceptionally intelligent, and it was indeed true. Looking at the foreigner's expression, Ertai thought to himself, "A foreigner is a foreigner after all. Even if he's fluent in Chinese, he's still clueless when it comes to social etiquette!"

Ji Xiaolan also sensed the foreigner's unfriendly gaze towards Ertai and felt somewhat annoyed. She huffed, "Master Fu is asking you a question. Why are you pretending to be deaf?"

Despite Ji Xiaolan's reminder, the foreigner remained silent.

"You—" Seeing his arrogant expression, Ji Xiaolan became even more furious and embarrassed. He slammed his hand on the table, about to unleash a torrent of curses, but Ertai smiled and patted his shoulder, comforting him, "Lord Ji, please calm down. Foreigners, how could they possibly understand like us!"

"Hmph, he got off easy." Ji Xiaolan said angrily, then turned his head and glared fiercely at the foreigner.

To everyone's surprise, the foreigner fearlessly glared back at Ji Xiaolan, then turned his gaze to Ertai, a hint of contempt in his eyes. It turned out that Ertai's words, "Foreigners don't have our comprehension abilities," had reached his ears perfectly, making him extremely displeased. Coupled with his overflowing patriotism, he forgot his current status as a suspect and shouted at the top of his lungs, "We, the British Empire, are known as the Empire on which the sun never sets! Our people are the smartest and most superior people in the world! Your Great Qing Empire, from princes and nobles to commoners, are the most ignorant and inferior people!—"

"Bullshit!" Before the foreigner could speak, Ji Xiaolan stood up angrily, slamming his hand on the table. His finger trembled as he pointed at the foreigner, his face flushed with rage as he cursed, "You bastard! Don't you know this is the Celestial Empire, the Great Qing Dynasty, not some tiny piece of land like England? If you dare utter another word of arrogance, don't blame me for arresting you and subjecting you to severe torture!"

"Tch, all you Qing Dynasty officials are cowards and useless cowards. Clearly inferior in skill, yet you refuse to admit it. All you do is threaten the people with torture. I am not a citizen of your Qing Dynasty; you have no right to arrest me." The foreigner actually had some backbone, meeting Ji Xiaolan's resentful gaze without flinching. The two of them glared and puffed out their beards.

"Guards! Seize this damned foreigner and give him a good beating!" Ji Xiaolan trembled with rage. He was a proud scholar, and after passing the imperial examination and serving as an official for many years, he was accustomed to arrogance. How could he tolerate a foreigner behaving so arrogantly in front of him?

The two men were arguing so loudly that the once bustling tavern fell silent in an instant. Everyone stared at the two arguing men in bewilderment. After a long while, the head guard finally realized what was happening and remembered that his master had asked him to take down the foreigner. He shook his head, which was still fuming from drinking, took out shackles from his pocket, and walked menacingly toward the foreigner.

Seeing the other man lunging at him again, the foreigner's expression grew even more disdainful. He sneered, "Hmph, you ignorant, corrupt officials! Incapable of invention, all you do is arrest foreign merchants who bring benefits to your country!"

Every word of the foreigner's grumbling reached Ertai's ears. As someone who had been through it all, he knew that although the foreigner's words were unpleasant to hear, they were all true! However, he was a son of China, a descendant of the dragon, and in front of foreigners, he naturally wanted to uphold the prestige of his country!

Ertai said to the foreigner in an even more mocking tone, "Are you implying that Jiangdong has no one of talent?"

"So what if I am?" The man was still somewhat afraid of Ertai, not only because of Ertai's mysterious identity, but also because Ertai actually knew that the thing in his hand was called a stocking. In the closed-off Qing Dynasty, knowing what a stocking was was extremely rare.

The foreigner was quite surprised, but didn't pay it much attention. It was possible that Ertai had been to England and heard of stockings. So he took out a pair of long, flesh-colored stockings from his bundle, waved them, and asked Ertai contemptuously, "Do you know who invented stockings?"

Before Ertai could answer, the mischievous Little Swallow skipped over, raised her little hand to touch the stockings in the foreigner's hand, feeling their silky smoothness, and asked curiously, "Hey, what's this?"

"These are stockings," the foreigner said mockingly, then looked at Ji Xiaolan with even more disdain, as if to say, "See? I told you people are ignorant; you don't even know what stockings are."

"Then what are stockings?" Little Swallow asked even more curiously, without any guile.

"Stockings are a type of sock, but different from the socks you usually wear," the foreigner explained proudly.

"Oh, these are socks! How embarrassing!" Hearing the foreigner call them socks, the conservative Xiao Yanzi blushed crimson with shame. Her heart pounded wildly, and she thought shyly, "How can there be such revealing socks? It would be so shameful to wear them!"

It must be said that Xiao Yanzi's thoughts were a true reflection of most women at the time. From childhood, they were taught the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues," that women should be chaste, and that their clothing should not be revealing. Even when wearing socks, they were expected to keep their feet bound with white cloth.

Seeing her expression, the foreigner became even more disdainful, mocking, "Ignorant fools! Don't you understand the concept of fashion? This is fashionable, it's avant-garde, how can you say it's shameful?"

"But... it is inherently shameful!" Xiao Yanzi stubbornly argued, while also being very dissatisfied with the foreigner's arrogant tone.

"Hmph, ignorance! What a terrifying nation, what terrifying people!" The foreigner, oblivious to the danger, spoke with utter contempt, incurring the wrath of the crowd. Everyone glared at him angrily, ready to pounce and beat him to a pulp!

"Damn it, grab this bastard who's spreading heresy and beat him badly, beat him hard!" Ji Xiaolan was nearly driven mad, cursing involuntarily. He gritted his teeth, his fury so intense he could have bitten the foreigner's neck off if he had fangs.

"Wait!" Ertai waved his hand, stopping the guards from rushing forward.

The crowd stopped, turning their questioning gazes to Ji Xiaolan, after all, he was their master. Ji Xiaolan suppressed his raging anger, looking at Ertai with confusion. The latter didn't explain, but instead gave Ji Xiaolan a look that said, "Take it easy."

Strangely enough, just a reassuring glance from Ertai calmed Ji Xiaolan down considerably, and his anger subsided considerably. He then waved to his men, signaling them to stop.

Seeing the guards retreat, the arrogant foreigner breathed a sigh of relief. But just as he calmed down, Ertai's words reignited his fury.

Ertai disdainfully pointed at the stockings in the foreigner's hands and said, "These stockings originated in the 16th century, invented by the Frenchman Fournier in Lyon. They are made of cotton, wool, and silk. It's a pity that two centuries later, your country's merchants are still selling this garbage as a treasure. It's utterly laughable."

"What? You actually call this garbage?" The foreigner was furious, cursing Ertai inwardly. He thought Ertai was a pretentious idiot who didn't know anything. His own country didn't even have a pair of stockings of this quality, yet he had the audacity to call the stockings in his hands garbage.

"That's right, it's garbage." Ertai's entire demeanor was dripping with mockery. "These stockings require meticulous cutting and sewing before use, but because they lack elasticity, not only is the manufacturing process extremely wasteful, but they also have side effects on women who wear them for extended periods. For example, these stockings have very poor breathability, leading to poor blood circulation, swollen feet, and excessive weight on the thighs. In severe cases, they can even cause oxygen deprivation in women."

Ertai's words silenced the already quiet tavern. Everyone was stunned. They had never heard of Ertai's terms like 'stockings,' 'blood circulation,' and 'oxygen deprivation.'

Moreover, in Ertai's previously arrogant yet now seemingly dazed expression, everyone knew that Ertai had grasped the foreigner's pulse, using knowledge far superior to the foreigner's to defeat the self-proclaimed representative of advanced productivity.

"That's fucking satisfying!" Ji Xiaolan looked at the foreigner triumphantly, feeling an indescribable sense of satisfaction!

"Damn it, that dog-like birdman, he's done for, damn it!" the guards cursed inwardly.

"Wow, Ertai is so amazing! He even knows about stockings! Although those stockings are embarrassing, Ertai looked so handsome just now, I admire him so much!" Xiao Yanzi felt a sweet, shy warmth in her heart.

"Ertai truly deserves to be my good brother, he's so stylish, so... I like him so much... Oh dear, how embarrassing! How could I have such feelings for my good brother that go beyond sibling affection?" Liu Hong swayed her delicate body coyly.

“Alas, I am ashamed of myself,” Liu Qing sighed. “I originally thought Ertai was just a rich young master, but who would have thought he was so knowledgeable?”

“You—” The foreigner blushed with shame. He had already admitted in his heart that Ertai’s words made sense, but he was still embarrassed, especially since the people of the Qing Dynasty, whom he considered ignorant, could point out the shortcomings of his stockings. How could he, from an ‘advanced’ country, bear this?

“What do you mean, ‘you’?” Ertai said in an even more sarcastic tone. “You foreigners are really blindly arrogant and conceited. What? I’m right, and that makes you unhappy?”

“No…no…” The foreigner was extremely ashamed and stammered.

“Hmph, it’s good that you know your shortcomings. Actually, the stockings you have are not only lacking in this aspect, but also in color, workmanship, and even concept.” Ertai put on the air of a stocking inventor and said in an old-fashioned manner.

Unexpectedly, this performance actually fooled the foreigner. His voice trembled as he asked, "Color? Craftsmanship? Concept?"

"That's right. Color is easy to understand. The stockings you have are too monotonous, just dark flesh and black. There's nothing new about them. Over time, both the viewer and the wearer will experience visual fatigue." "

As for the craftsmanship, the machines you use to make stockings aren't very precise, resulting in rough stockings. Combined with the wrong materials, the current stockings lack elasticity and breathability, causing women to develop a sweaty odor after wearing them for a while, thus affecting the enjoyment of the relationship."

"Let's talk about concepts. On the surface, inventing something seems like inventing for the sake of invention, for manufacturing, or for necessity. But if we think about it in the context of theory and practice, isn't invention itself an interpretation of a concept? For example, why did we invent stockings? It stems from men's fantasies about women. Women wear stockings to enhance their attractiveness to men and add to the pleasure of intimacy. And when women put stockings on men, it intensifies men's fantasies about women. In this way, the cycle repeats itself, creating a virtuous cycle. This is actually a concept!"

"Don't stare at me like that. I know you don't understand, but that doesn't stop me from giving you some pointers. Take the types and colors of stockings, for example. We can invent stockings, ankle stockings, open-crotch stockings, garter stockings, pantyhose, and fishnet stockings. We should also use our ingenuity and creativity in the colors, based on men's different fantasies, color preferences, and visual impact, to create stockings in light flesh color, light gray, dark gray, dark flesh color, black, light black, and various shades of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple."

"Okay, I know you're dumbfounded. Let me break it down in depth. To summarize my concept in one sentence: 'From a male fantasy perspective, from the consumer's standpoint, we're dedicated to creating a high-quality, low-energy-consumption, mid-priced pleasure product that will make men's hearts flutter and women's hearts race!' Wow!"

Ertai spoke without hesitation, his words flowing smoothly and confidently, reminiscent of his past life pointing out 'stockings' and passionately discussing 'guns' on a computer screen. Everyone else present was completely dumbfounded.

This... is incredibly powerful...!

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