[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - Episode 18

page views:1 Publication date:2023-07-23

Chapter Five.

With a slight twitch of his fingers, Cheng Zongyang's consciousness seemed to slowly emerge from the deepest depths of water. He moved his arm, then raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light streaming in from the window, barely managing to open them.

The Dian Si Feng Quan wine served at the banquet last night, as expected of a renowned spirit from the imperial winery, had allowed Cheng Zongyang to indulge his appetite and drink to his heart's content. Now,

waking up, he felt neither headache nor thirst, only a slight drowsiness from the alcohol, and lazily lay on the couch, unwilling to get up. Cheng Zongyang mumbled something, lowered his arm, and his elbow brushed against a smooth, soft body. He turned his head and saw a vibrant, beautiful woman lying naked on the bed—it was Ruan Xiangning. One of her arms and legs was bound with red ribbons, dangling from the bed frame. Between her white, jade-like thighs, her exposed private parts were a mess. Her breasts were bound from the nipples to her chest with red ribbons, the full, white flesh overflowing from both sides, making them appear even more plump and smooth. A silver funnel was inserted diagonally between her buttocks, squeezing her tender anus wide open.

Cheng Zongyang scratched his head. He vaguely remembered having a good time last night, playing a bondage game with Ruan Xiangning to spice things up, but he had no recollection of what happened afterward… Wait, what about that slut Huang?

Cheng Zongyang looked around but didn't see Huang Yinglian. It seemed that when he was in high spirits last night, he carried her outside the waterside pavilion, made her lean against the railing, and faced the night view of West Lake, vigorously fucking this slut's anus from behind… Could she have fallen into the water?

Cheng Zongyang quickly got up, tore off the red ribbon, and ran outside to check.

Thankfully, thankfully, there was no floating corpse. Perhaps Huang woke up this morning, felt ashamed of last night's absurdity, and quietly packed her clothes and left. Otherwise, he would have been in deep trouble.

Ruan Xiangning hadn't practiced martial arts or taken any medicine; she was exhausted from last night's ordeal and was still fast asleep.

Cheng Zongyang wrapped her in a brocade blanket, then went to the outer hall and locked the inner room door behind him. Ever since Ruan Xiangning was frightened by the explosion that day, leading Xiao Zi to expose his affair of keeping a mistress in the inner room, Cheng Zongyang had learned his lesson and added a lock to the inner room. Although Ruan Xiangning was subtly influenced by the Meditation Technique and consciously stayed indoors and didn't appear in front of outsiders, if she were to be startled one day and bump into Li Shishi, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.

Outside the waterside pavilion, flowers and trees were lush and green, a scene of vibrant spring. After washing up, Cheng Zongyang adopted the airs of a wealthy man and strolled leisurely in the courtyard.

The servants he encountered along the way, the two guards who had recently joined the Snow Falcon Group, and Lin Qingpu, who had come out to absorb the energy of heaven and earth, all greeted him with smiles, but their smiles all had a strange quality to them.

Cheng Zongyang was puzzled, and then he saw Feng Yuan suppress a smile as he greeted him, and then he was about to run away. Cheng Zongyang rushed forward, grabbed his wrist, and dragged Feng Yuan into the bamboo forest.

"Feng Dafa, what are you laughing at!"

"Nothing! Nothing!" Feng Yuan said with a straight face, "Did I laugh?"

"Stop playing tricks on me! What's going on!"

Feng Yuan couldn't help but chuckle and whispered, "Boss Cheng, you're amazing... The commotion last night could be heard a mile away."

Cheng Zongyang said with a dark face, "What did you hear?"

"It was that woman who came last night." Feng Yuan said, "Boss Cheng, you finished your business and kicked her out, have you forgotten?"

Cheng Zongyang's face darkened even more, "I kicked her out?"

"That's right. I threw her out with her clothes on. That woman wouldn't leave, she was writhing naked outside. Later, Miss Shishi couldn't stand it, so she sealed her acupoints and sent her to the pharmacy."

Cheng Zongyang said with a sullen face, "Feng Dafa, you're not kidding me, are you?"

"Boss Cheng, she's still here. Why don't you go and see her?"

"See what?! Get her out of here!" Cheng Zongyang said with heartache, "My reputation has been ruined by this slut!"

“That’s right.” Feng Yuan rubbed salt into his wound. “Boss Cheng, if you ask me, next time you’re done, you should just kill him to cover it up…”

Cheng Zongyang sighed to the heavens, “Wine and women are a curse.” After this disgraceful incident, wouldn’t Li Shishi look at him like he was a beast?

“But speaking of which, Boss Cheng,” Feng Yuan said curiously, “what methods did you use? That woman was completely smitten. Her juices were flowing so much…”

“Shut up!”

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

After spending the night in the makeshift pharmacy, the effects of the medicine on Huang Shi had worn off, but her legs were too weak to walk. Finally, two maids were found to help her into the carriage.

Cheng Zongyang wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground. After asking Feng Yuan, he didn’t dare to see anyone else and quickly slipped away, leaving Cuiwei Garden before Huang Shi to avoid the embarrassment of running into Li Shishi.

Before leaving, Cheng Zongyang had Qin Hui take a note to the Ministry of Revenue. Cai Yuanchang currently needs his help, and this is a trivial matter that can be easily resolved; he wouldn't refuse to give him face.

The carriage stopped in front of a tall gatehouse. The beast-like warriors following behind stepped forward, tore off the seal on the gate, and then twisted the lock, breaking the bar.

The gate, sealed for many years, creaked open with a harsh sound. Cheng Zongyang jumped off the carriage, glanced at the gate with the plaque removed, and then stepped into the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion, which was considered taboo.

After completing the handover contract, the mansion, including the land, became Cheng Zongyang's property, belonging to the Cheng family of Panjiang. The

Wu Mu Prince's Mansion occupied a vast area, spanning half of Ruyi Ward, with streets on the west, north, and south sides. To the west of the mansion was Mingqing Temple, and to the south, it faced the largest North Wazi in Lin'an across the street. Geographically speaking, it was a prime location. The mansion had interconnected buildings, showing that a considerable amount of money had been spent on its construction.

Cheng Zongyang walked along, only glancing casually at the scenery of the mansion, not eager to search for any traces left by this time-traveling predecessor.

From Yu Ziyuan's narration, Cheng Zongyang learned that Yue Pengju did not reside in the Prince's Mansion much; he spent most of his time in the Xingyue Villa, where he had lived before being promoted to Prince—the Xingyue Lake Camp was named after him, and it had once been the headquarters of the Xingyue Lake Camp. However, after Yue Pengju's defeat, the Xingyue Villa was completely demolished, leaving no trace.

Even in Lin'an, Yue Pengju actually resided more often in the Imperial Palace. The Wumu Prince's Mansion was more like a cover.

Although the Song Emperor was still bothered by the twelve genuine, oversized gold medals, Cheng Zongyang did not believe that Yue Pengju would bury that gold in the Prince's Mansion, which he himself rarely lived in. Moreover, in the past ten years, various forces had not been idle; even if there were anything in the Prince's Mansion, it would have long been looted by various heroes.

The Yin'an Hall at the very center of the Prince's Mansion was magnificent, but inside it was completely empty. Even the ornaments on the pillars had been stripped away, and the gold bricks soaked in tung oil on the ground were scattered and riddled with holes, a stark contrast to its imposing exterior. Cheng Zongyang wondered if the hall might collapse at any moment.

The garden behind the mansion was overgrown with weeds, and the pond dug from the Imperial River had long since dried up. Untrimmed flowers and trees grew wildly, so dense that it was impossible to enter. Fortunately, the artificial hill beside the pond was still there; at least the Song Emperor hadn't sent people to overturn all the stones.

Cheng Zongyang leaped onto the artificial hill, his gaze sweeping over the rows of palace rooftops, taking in the entire Prince's Mansion. The Wu Mu Prince's Mansion covered more than sixty acres, with nearly thirty buildings of various sizes. It had everything a prince's mansion should have, but it had been abandoned for a long time and now looked desolate.

Qin Hui, with a refined and scholarly air, entered through the side gate. Seeing Cheng Zongyang standing on the artificial hill, he quickly moved, leaping up to the pavilion atop the hill.

"Did you see Minister Cai?" Cheng Zongyang asked. "Did he agree?"

Qin Hui shook his head. "No."

Cheng Zongyang chuckled in surprise. "What? Even such a small matter won't Minister Cai give you face?"

Qin Hui said, "Minister Cai was initially quite pleased to hear that you intended to intervene in this matter. But upon hearing that you were pleading for Liang Shidu, he laughed at your somewhat womanly compassion."

Cheng Zongyang asked in surprise, "Does Cai Yuanchang intend to exterminate the entire Liang family?"

"Minister Cai has no grudge against the Liang family. His seizure of Tongyuan Bank is not out of spite."

Cheng Zongyang listened, puzzled, "Then he must be bored?"

Qin Hui said, "Minister Cai's intentions are not hard to guess. There are countless wolves in Lin'an City. With Liang Shicheng's downfall, his businesses, whether overt or covert, will inevitably be swallowed up one by one. Even if Minister Cai is willing to let go, Tongyuan Bank won't be safe for long. Wang's preemptive withdrawal wasn't out of fear of the Ministry of Revenue's seizure, but rather a strategic retreat to eliminate Liang Shidu through Minister Cai, so he could then swallow the entire Tongyuan Bank. Still relying on your own hands? How can that be satisfying? Forum reputation guaranteed!" The high-grade silicone video of Fan Bingbing's lower body is molded from the real state to create a highly simulated vaginal shape. The skin

is soft and delicate! Built-in large particle protrusions are close to the female physiological structure, and the experience is more realistic... The swallowing is smooth and irresistible! Click to enter. "Everyone is very good at calculating." Cheng Zongyang sighed, "What is Minister Cai thinking?"

"What Mr. Cai means is: Rather than benefiting outsiders, it is better to benefit yourself."

"He wants to do it himself?"

"According to imperial decree, officials are not allowed to participate in market transactions."

Cheng Zongyang exhaled, "I understand." You tell Minister Cai that I will go to Tongyuan next. Forty percent of future profits will go to him. "

Yes." "

What Qin Hui and Cai Yuanchang said is correct. In Taoism, the hozens were scattered, Liang Shicheng was demoted, and Liang Shidu couldn't keep Tongyuan Xing. Instead of taking advantage of unrelated outsiders, it would be better to take over himself. Liang Shidu and his wife may not be unwilling to accept this result. If it had been anyone else, the Liang family would have been kicked out, or even thrown into jail.

These notorious treacherous officials are indeed ruthless characters who devour people without spitting out the bones. They seize your property and still make you submit—not killing you is considered a great favor.

Cheng Zongyang shook his head and put the matter aside. He pointed to the Prince's mansion before him and said, "This plot of land is nearly two hundred paces wide from east to west and sixty paces wide from north to south. On the west side, facing Mingqing Temple, I plan to build a three-story building. The first floor will be shops, and the second and third floors will be restaurants and hotels, divided into twenty units for rent. On the south side, facing the street and adjacent to Beiwa, I plan to build three courtyards: a brothel, a teahouse, and a hot spring."

Cheng Zongyang paused, "Now that Jiangzhou is over, Lan Gu's business might as well be expanded to Lin'an."

Qin Hui reminded him, "Qi Yuan is in Jiankang."

Cheng Zongyang sighed, "That's exactly why. Wu Dadao already has a child, and Qi Laosi's marriage can't be delayed any longer. Let's take this opportunity to separate them to avoid future trouble."

Qin Hui was somewhat dismissive, "Young Master, you're overthinking it."

"Overthinking is better than underthinking. Let Laosi and Lan Gu run the business together in Jiankang; they'll be exchanging glances every day, causing trouble even when there's nothing wrong."

Qin Hui smiled, "What about the north side?"

"The north side is a back alley; I plan to open a money exchange and inn facing the street there. Inside, it will be divided into four areas: the western side will be the Panjiang Cheng family's office area, the eastern side will be their residence, and the innermost part will be the treasury and inner quarters."

"Young Master, you have a clear plan," Qin Hui clapped his hands, "This scheme will establish a foothold in Lin'an.

" "These are all empty promises," Cheng Zongyang sighed. "Have you seen what happened to the Liang family? If Jia Shixian falls from power and this royal residence is rebuilt, it might just benefit someone else."

Qin Hui pondered for a moment, "Young Master, why don't you seek out some officials in the court for support?"

"We are outsiders, our foundation is not yet stable; even with money, we can't bribe our way out," Cheng Zongyang said. "I'm thinking about how to invite Magistrate Teng back to Lin'an. If old Jia falls, we can rely on him for a few more years."

"Prefect Teng is far away in Junzhou, and can't help in this urgent situation. But I do have a way, young master, you might want to try."

Cheng Zongyang's heart tightened slightly. "Who?"

Although Lin'an was full of high-ranking officials, only a handful truly held the highest positions of power and had the ability to influence the court. Among them, Gao Qiu was definitely one of the closest to him.

Only he knew Gao Qiu's true background. Every time they met, they would talk in a private room, keeping even Qin Hui in the dark. Although this treacherous minister was very astute and could guess that his relationship with Gao Qiu was not simple, he would never guess Gao Qiu's identity out of thin air.

Unexpectedly, Qin Hui gave him a surprise. He stroked his long beard and slowly said, "Prime Minister Wang Yuyu."

Although he had heard that the Song court had the Jia Party, the Liang Party, and the Wang Party, he had not had any dealings with Wang Yuyu since entering Lin'an. The presence of these prime ministers was even less than that of Cai Yuanchang. He never expected that Qin Hui would have a way to get close to this prime minister.

"Young master, do you still remember the Pearl Curtain Academy in Qingzhou?"

"Yes, it wasn't far from where we lived back then. What does it have to do with Wang Yuyu?"

Qin Hui coughed lightly. "I visited the academy in my spare time."

"Oh, you treacherous minister, you certainly have a refined taste." Cheng Zongyang chuckled twice, then suddenly his face changed, and he exclaimed, "Wait! You didn't run into Li Qingzhao, did you?"

Qin Hui shook his head. "The Laywoman Yi'an wasn't at the academy, and I haven't met her. However, I did meet a young woman studying there; she's the Laywoman Yi'an's cousin..."

"Brother Traitor! You've got a real knack for this!" Cheng Zongyang said, beaming. "No wonder you stammered about having a sweetheart—she's Li Qingzhao's cousin! Hey, she's still a minor, isn't she? And you've already fallen for her? An old cow eating young grass, that's not fair, Brother Traitor!"

His own drunken antics last night had become the laughingstock of everyone, and now he'd finally caught a juicy piece of gossip about that treacherous minister. Spreading it would immediately divert everyone's attention, and Cheng Zongyang was overjoyed.

Qin Hui smiled slightly and said, "I am unworthy, but I am honored by your favor. However, life is like floating duckweed; I thought that after our parting in Qingzhou, we would never meet again. Who knew that by chance, we would meet again in Lin'an?"

Seeing the smile on Qin Hui's face, Cheng Zongyang was happy for him. This kind of charming middle-aged man was almost irresistible to innocent young girls. It wasn't surprising that he'd hooked up with a naive young girl, but to meet again in Qingzhou and Lin'an—that was fate. And she's Li Qingzhao's cousin—that treacherous minister finally doesn't have to marry that Wang woman whose affair was exposed! This is truly a cause for celebration!

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Brother treacherous minister, should I propose marriage for you?"

Qin Hui sighed, "She's just a confidante. As for marriage, she's far too high a rank for me."

Cheng Zongyang immediately objected, "Our Panjiang Cheng family's chief steward, in terms of wealth and ability, is no less than a high-ranking official in the Six Ministries. Who wouldn't be a good match for him? Is she a princess?"

"She is the granddaughter of Prime Minister Wang."

Cheng Zongyang was stunned for a moment, "The granddaughter of Wang Yuyu? Does that mean her surname is Wang?"

"Young Master is wise."

Cheng Zongyang ignored his teasing, tilting his head back and slapping his forehead. After a long pause, he said, "I should have sent the fourth prince to Lin'an and kicked you to Jiankang... How could she have the surname Wang?"

Qin Hui raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with that?"

After a long silence, Cheng Zongyang lowered his hand and sighed, "There's nothing wrong with that." Since Qin Hui could become so loyal, Wang Shi might not be so bad. Besides, this Wang Shi was Li Qingzhao's cousin; she might not be the Wang Shi destined to die for the treacherous minister. Cheng

Zongyang perked up. "Then let's try our luck with Prime Minister Wang's connections."

Emerging from the west side gate, Mingqing Temple lay ahead. The temple was still bustling with worshippers, a constant stream of men and women coming to pray. Mingxin, seeing Cheng Zongyang from afar, immediately rushed over, clasping her hands in prayer, exclaiming, "Amitabha—it's a living Bodhisattva!"

Cheng Zongyang replied without hesitation, "Reward!"

He tossed over a few silver coins, and Mingxin's face immediately lit up with a wide grin. While casually inquiring about the temple's incense offerings, Cheng Zongyang inadvertently glanced at the prayer list. The

departure of the Flower Monk from Mingqing Temple hadn't caused much of a stir, but as the story of uprooting the willow tree spread, people frequently came to inquire. The monks

in the temple could only stammer and murmur, unable to give a clear explanation, but it provided them with another avenue for begging. Cheng Zongyang wandered around the temple, finding nothing of value. He left the temple and circled the Prince's Mansion, having already made up his mind. He instructed Qin Hui to post notices outside the mansion, recruiting people to prepare for the demolition of the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion.

"Sell all the bricks and tiles that were demolished, not a single one left," Cheng Zongyang said. "The city is short of wood and stone. How many houses can these houses build? By the time the houses are demolished, the price of wood and stone should have dropped, then we can buy new ones."

Just then, a constable blocked his way. He brandished his badge aggressively and shouted, "Official business with the Imperial City Guard! Please, young master, let's talk in private!"

Once in the carriage, Sun Tianyu immediately knelt down, clasped his hands, and said, "Uncle, please accept my bow!"

"Get up," Cheng Zongyang said. "You're doing quite well, getting a commanding position."

Sun Tianyu smiled obsequiously. "I should have paid my respects to you earlier, Uncle, but I've been too busy with official duties and haven't had the time. Please forgive me."

"Alright, what is it?"

"I've been investigating a case these past few days, and there's something strange about it." Sun Tianyu cleared his throat and then said,

"At the beginning of the year, the Weiyuan Escort Agency..."

Sun Tianyu earnestly recounted the case of the Weiyuan Escort Agency losing its goods. Cheng Zongyang inwardly glared at him. This fellow had most likely recognized Ruan Xianglin's identity that day and was now trying to curry favor. Now that Lu Qian was dead and Gao Yanei was completely under his thumb, the case of the lost convoy that caused Li Shishi to abandon her master was no longer of any value; instead, it had become a handle in this fellow's hands.

Cheng Zongyang didn't reveal his thoughts. After Sun Tianyu finished speaking, he took out paper and pen, wrote a note, and handed it to him. Sun

Tianyu nervously took the note. "This is…"

"Go to the counter of Cheng's Money Shop and withdraw one thousand silver coins."

Sun Tianyu hurriedly said, "Nephew wouldn't dare!"

"It's not so easy to get money from me for free," Cheng Zongyang said. "Bring me a copy of the useful files you have. Whether it's about court officials or ordinary people, I need them all."

"Nephew understands!"

Sun Tianyu, holding the note equivalent to several years' salary, left the carriage with undisguised joy.

This constable surnamed Sun was a sycophantic opportunist, but even petty thieves have their uses. As long as his position was secure, he'd be more obsequious than a lapdog.

Cheng Zongyang tapped his pen lightly on the wooden table. His network of connections—Jia Shixian in the court, Gao Qiu in the military, the Imperial City Guard (acting as the eyes and ears of the court), and the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, where he held concurrent positions—was gradually taking shape. Qin Hui, worried about Jia Shixian's fall from grace, suggested using Wang Yuyu's connections. But he forgot that to truly establish himself in the Song Dynasty, his biggest backer was only one: the young monarch.

Wang Yuyu was already quite old; even if he held power, how many more years would he last? He should invest in some promising individuals as soon as possible.

"Huizhi! Prepare some suitable gifts and visit a few people," Cheng Zongyang said. "Han Jiefu, the Privy Councilor; Shi Tongshu, the Vice Minister of Justice; and Cai Yuanchang, the Vice Minister of Revenue."

It wasn't until late at night that Cheng Zongyang returned to Cuiwei Garden. Han Jiefu and Shi Tongshu were quite surprised by his sudden visit, but Cheng Zongyang, now serving as an assistant director of the Agricultural Development Bureau and head of the Paper Money Bureau, was essentially a fellow official in the same court. Although his official rank was lower, he was a valuable advisor, and the Song emperor trusted him greatly regarding the issuance of paper money. Since he had taken the initiative to befriend them, the two were very polite and readily accepted his generous gifts.

The Song state differed from the Jin state. In Jin, nobility was hereditary, and power was concentrated in the hands of a few families. As long as one could climb the social ladder by associating with a few powerful clans, everything would go smoothly. In Song, however, the civil service examination system was used to select officials. Even families that produced high-ranking officials and enjoyed great wealth and power could not monopolize power through blood ties. Furthermore, examples of commoners rising from humble beginnings to high positions in the imperial court were commonplace. In this context, attracting talent became paramount.

Even Qin Hui, who was accompanying him, would not know that the people he was visiting today, apart from the powerful Jia Shixian, included all five of the most notorious traitors of the Song Dynasty. Cheng Zongyang was very clear-headed; currying favor with these people might not bring any benefits, but offending them would bring immense harm.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

The pile of carriages and horses in front of Cuiwei Garden startled Cheng Zongyang. "What's going on? Did they change carriages and horses?"

Feng Yuan came out to greet him, saying, "It's Gao Yanei's men. He said you, Boss Cheng, instructed them to have a gathering in the garden. I didn't dare let them into the inner courtyard; I invited them all to Jinxiu Pavilion. And..." He leaned close to Cheng Zongyang's ear and whispered, "That woman is here again."

"Huang Shi?"

Feng Yuan nodded. "She arrived this afternoon and has been waiting."

Cheng Zongyang considered that Gao Yanei's gang of brats getting together was nothing more than eating, drinking, and having fun; they wouldn't do anything serious. However, Huang's situation was still connected to Tongyuan Bank, concerning the terms he had agreed upon with Cai Yuanchang that day. So he went straight to the inner courtyard.

Huang was idly playing with her teacup when Cheng Zongyang suddenly entered. Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly knelt down, saying sweetly, "Master Cheng..."

Cheng Zongyang observed coldly. This woman had made a fool of herself last night; anyone else would have been overwhelmed with shame. Yet here she was, eagerly trying to curry favor with his power, or perhaps to get the pills he possessed, or both.

"I will exchange the paper money in Tongyuan Bank's possession for coins in full," Cheng Zongyang said bluntly.

"You'll have to cover the losses yourselves,"

Huang said with a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Master Cheng."

But Cheng Zongyang's next words made her expression change drastically. "Tongyuan Bank is beyond the Liang family's control."

Facing the panicked Huang, Cheng Zongyang calmly explained, "Since the Prince has withdrawn his investment and isn't planning to get involved in the grain business anymore, even if you cover the losses, you won't be able to manage such a large operation. I've already discussed it with the Prince, and we'll invest in taking over Tongyuan Bank. If you're willing, you can continue managing it, but you'll be working for me instead. If not, we can settle our accounts and part ways amicably."

Cheng Zongyang had expected Huang to cry and beg for mercy, but to his surprise, the woman showed a tearful expression of gratitude and quickly said… "I will do as Master Cheng commands," Huang said.

Cheng Zongyang raised an eyebrow. "Quite straightforward, Madam Liang."

Huang gave him a flirtatious wink and said sweetly, "Even if Master Cheng hadn't said anything, I was thinking of offering the grain shop to him. I'm just a plain girl, and it's only by clinging to Master Cheng's powerful backing that I can find some shade... Ah..."

Cheng Zongyang reached inside her clothes and began to fondle her body wantonly. "How did you manage to cling to my powerful backing? Does your husband know?"

Huang spat lightly. "He only got his fortune by relying on his cheap brother. Even if he knew, so what? Ever since my uncle's accident, I've been living in constant fear, afraid that one day a document would send my whole family to the deepest hell. Thanks to you, Master, I can finally sleep well tonight."

"At most, you'll be stripped of your official position, punished, and imprisoned for a few days. They won't send you to the execution ground, will they?" Cheng Zongyang said bluntly. "Does Madam Liang need to go to such lengths?"

Huang swayed seductively under his grasp, saying, "How could Master Cheng know the bitterness of losing one's family? Hehe, a few days ago, my family bought some maids. Do you know who they are?"

"Who?"

"The wife of Marquis Wei Gou. Known as the most beautiful woman in the Southern Garden." Huang said with three parts jealousy and seven parts pleasure, "That whore, relying on her husband's title, looked down on us. As a result, a few days ago, Marquis Wei Gou was stripped of his title and his property confiscated, and even his family members were sold into slavery."

Cheng Zongyang asked in surprise, "A marquis's family members were sold off?"

Huang spat, "Marquis Wei Gou wasn't a real marquis. He was originally the owner of Yongjin Pawnshop, and he bought his title with money. At most, he was just a minor marquis."

Cheng Zongyang remembered that this was Qin Hui's brilliant idea. Selling even a marquis's title, Jia Shixian was really generous.

Huang laughed, "I bought that prostitute and made her warm my child's bed on her very first day in the manor. She pretended to be high and mighty, and I thought I'd have to whip her a few times before she obeyed. But she was surprisingly obedient, knowing she had no dignity left in this state, and obediently gave herself to me. The next morning, when we were performing the proper rites, she saw me and was ashamed beyond belief."

Cheng Zongyang sneered, "You really spoil your son."

"My child is the most clever and sensible," Huang said with a beaming smile. "That prostitute's son and my child knew each other. This time, I bought both her children, thinking my child would be a philanderer, but he rolled up the covers and treated those two little sluts like maids, hehe."

Cheng Zongyang felt a chill and stopped stroking her body.

Huang was unaware of his thoughts, still reminiscing about the pleasure of the previous night. She was naturally flirtatious, and she didn't know what methods this master had used to make her lose her mind. Although she had embarrassed herself, she had experienced unprecedented pleasure in bed, and the thought of it made her itch like a cat scratching at her heart. At this moment, she was writhing and swaying her breasts in Cheng Zongyang's arms, shamelessly flaunting her charms.

Cheng Zongyang pushed her away, "Wait here, I need to go out and meet some guests."

Chapter Six:

Jinxiu Pavilion is located in the southwest of Cuiwei Garden, and is an octagonal pavilion. At this moment, the pavilion was brightly lit, and bustling with noise. Even from outside, one could hear the sounds of drinking games, hearty drinking, string and wind instruments, cheers, and loud laughter. Cheng Zongyang lifted the curtain and entered. The scene before him made him think that a world of wine, women, and carnage had been recreated. Two groups of musicians sat in the pavilion, each holding their own instruments, playing the zither and the sheng, creating a lively and extraordinary

atmosphere .

A dozen or so well-dressed servants streamed into the pavilion, serving dishes and wine. The other dishes were unremarkable, but one dish, carried by two servants, was a steamed camel hump on a silver platter over two feet wide. The servants stopped at the entrance, where maids inside took the platter and passed it to the table.

A tall curtain hung in the center of the brocade pavilion, allowing music to be heard from both inside and outside, but obscuring the view inside.

The young masters were indulging in revelry behind the curtain.

Cheng Zongyang waved to Fu An and quietly entered the pavilion. Inside, red candles burned brightly, and in the center sat a large, eight-foot-square round table. A dozen or so young masters, known as the Thirteen Protectors, sat around the table on brocade couches, their faces flushed from drinking, each embracing a woman whose robes were half-undone—some with more than one.

The women were a motley crew, some were concubines and maids of various families, others were simply courtesans from brothels. They mingled together, leaning against their masters, acting coy and effeminate, their moans and groans filling the air.

Gao Yanei, without hesitation, took the seat of honor at the east end, and the third person to his right was the young rascal surnamed Liang. Cheng Zongyang silently observed from the side; the young masters were so engrossed in their drinking that no one noticed his presence.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted in the room. Young Master Liang had pulled up the skirt of a maidservant beside him and ripped off her underpants.

The maidservant, dressed in a simple blue cloth skirt, was quite attractive despite her lack of makeup. Now, having her pants removed in public, she was overcome with shame and speechless.

Amidst the clamor of the crowd, Young Master Liang slapped her buttocks and shouted, "Strip naked! Offer a toast

to the gentlemen here!" The woman, blushing, was forced by her host to remove her clothes, then took the wine and knelt before the head gentleman, Gao Yanei,

saying, "Please, sir, have some wine..." The crowd jeered, "The most beautiful flower in the South Garden! Bring forth the Jade Breasts Fragrance!"

The woman shyly lifted her breasts, held the wine cup between them, and presented it to Gao Yanei.

Gao Yanei lowered his head and downed it in one gulp, then embraced the woman's pink neck, kissed her with his breath reeking of alcohol, and twisted her white buttocks.

The woman, naked and white-skinned, went from table to table offering wine, being either embraced and kissed by the young masters who were only half her age, or had their breasts explored, or their buttocks caressed. Some refused to drink the Jade Breasts Fragrance, forcing her to place the wine cup on her buttocks, sticking her buttocks out in front of them, taking the opportunity to spread her buttocks and fondle her vulva.

As they were urging each other to drink, another burst of laughter erupted from the table. It turned out that a young master had pulled two maids out from under the table. These two had been crawling under the table, side-by-side, licking the young master's crotch. Now, illuminated by the lamplight, the pretty maid on the right blushed, while the maid on the left, heavily made-up and dressed in women's clothing, smiled seductively and said in a high-pitched, coquettish voice, "Master, how well do you play the little tail flute?"

Cheng Zongyang's hair stood on end, but everyone else burst into laughter.

Young Master Liang said smugly, "Little Weizi is very obedient. His sister, that little bitch, was threatening to kill herself at first, but he had to restrain her and let me deflower her."

Everyone shouted, "Little Weizi! Let everyone see your sister's flower bud!"

Little Weizi flicked his orchid finger, then pressed the maid next to him onto the table, pulled down her pants, spread her pink buttocks, and said in a coquettish voice, "What a fresh and tender flower, which grandpa will want to taste it?"

Gao Yanei shouted, "Let me do it!"

Someone next to him said, "Little Weizi! Let the Grand Duke taste the flute first, so that the Grand Duke can have a good time..."

Little Weizi moved closer with a fawning look.

"Get out of the way!"

Gao Yanei pushed him aside, then got up and moved closer to the table, his fat belly pressing against the girl's white and tender round buttocks as he thrust in, and everyone immediately applauded and cheered.

Xiao Weizi awkwardly stepped back, his eyes darting around. Then, his face hardened, and he shouted at the girl, "What are you crying for! Do you still think you're the daughter of a marquis? You're just a lowly, shameless slut! It's an honor for us siblings that our master is messing with us!"

Someone picked up a loquat and threw it at him, laughing and cursing, "Xiao Weizi, you're really shameless!"

Someone else called out, "Where's the 'Flower of the South Garden'? Bring her over to keep you company at the table!"

The woman serving wine at the table was pale and forced a smile, "She's not pretty..."

"Enough nonsense!" Xiao Weizi volunteered and shoved her over, pressing her naked onto the table. Then he climbed on top of her, straddling her neck and shoulders, grabbing her white buttocks with both hands and spreading them apart.

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Xiao Weizi, in a high-pitched voice, proclaimed, "The most beautiful flower in Nanyuan! A plump, round, white buttock, with a peony inside! Dewy, soft, tender, fresh, and beautiful—everyone loves it! It attracts bees and butterflies alike. Gentlemen, don't miss out, taste this fresh and vibrant 'most beautiful flower in Nanyuan'..."

"That 'rabbit' is Wei Shen," Fu An said, "the son of Marquis Wei Gou. He was originally the seventh of the Thirteen Protectors, but his family fell on hard times and he was expelled. He became a servant to Young Master Liang by selling his buttocks."

"A feud between their families?"

"What feud? Everyone kicks a man when he's down. The Liang family has long coveted the most beautiful flower in Nanyuan, and his unmarried sister. Now that they've got her, why not have a good time?" Seeing Cheng Zongyang's expression, Fu An asked in a low voice, "Master Cheng?"

Cheng Zongyang waved his hand, then turned and left.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Not long after, Cheng Zongyang entered the Brocade Pavilion with a beaming smile, clasping his hands in greeting, "Gentlemen, I'm late! You deserve punishment!"

Young Master Gao, having just finished his business, was leaning against the couch, holding a ruyi scepter and pointing at the lewd scene before him, laughing mockingly. Seeing Cheng Zongyang enter, he immediately jumped up like a spring, "Master! You've finally arrived!" Suddenly, his gaze froze, "Who is this?"

The lewdness at the banquet had just reached its climax; the Wei family of three had been pinned to the table, being raped from behind by several young masters, the room filled with lewd sounds and rampant lust.

However, when Cheng Zongyang pulled out the woman behind him, everyone's eyes shifted, revealing expressions of lustful arousal. The woman's body was half-naked, and she seemed to be covered in fragrant sweat; her white, smooth flesh was slippery and oily.

Compared to the carefree mother and daughter at the table, she wore a thin, crimson ribbon no wider than a finger across her chest, barely covering her nipples as it ran horizontally across her full, rounded breasts. Her waist and hips were completely bare, but her legs were covered by a semi-transparent material. It resembled stockings, but were as thin as cicada wings, clinging to her skin from her toes to her thighs, outlining the alluring curves of her legs. The top of the stockings was embroidered with exquisite lace, further emphasizing the delicate beauty of her legs.

The sight of this mature woman with her full breasts and rounded hips, half-naked, instantly aroused the blood of the young men, who eagerly sought to see her face. However, she wore a butterfly-shaped mask, revealing only a pair of watery eyes and luscious red lips.

The woman's fair, full body trembled slightly, only managing to stay upright thanks to Cheng Zongyang's support. Her thighs were pressed tightly together, her buttocks trembling incessantly, like a female animal in heat, eager for mating. However, upon seeing the young men engaged in their lewd and outrageous acts at the table, her body stiffened abruptly, and terror filled her eyes.

Cheng Zongyang ignored her surprise and laughed, "How can I not bring a gift since it's my first time drinking with everyone? This is a courtesan from Lin'an City. I've used her a few times, and she's alright. If you don't mind, I'll bring her along for everyone's amusement."

The woman gripped Cheng Zongyang's arm tightly, shaking her head involuntarily, her eyes pleading.

Cheng Zongyang chuckled in her ear, "We agreed just now that you'd taken your medicine and come have some fun with my friends. What? Want to back out?"

Huang trembled all over, but dared not tell the truth.

Cheng Zongyang said with a half-sneer, "You refuse?"

Huang shook her head uncontrollably.

Gao Yanei shouted, "This ungrateful hussy will behave after a few lashes!"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "This young lady isn't ungrateful. Let everyone have some fun, it's not like we're going to kill her whole family, why wouldn't she? Go on up!"

Huang Shi finally lowered her eyes and resignedly climbed onto the round table.

Cheng Zongyang patted her white, smooth buttocks and laughed, "Who wants to go first?"

Gao Yanei had just finished and was now powerless. The other sworn brothers, who were ranked higher, were riding on Wei Shen's family and whipping them. Seeing the hussy lying on the table, her plump, round, white buttocks trembling and dripping wet, the remaining brothers scrambled to get a taste.

As the leader of the Thirteen Protectors, Gao Zhizhi made the decisive decision, "Little Liang, go first!"

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Liang Shijie, supported by two maids, climbed onto the table. He kissed the large, white buttocks, then parted the flesh and thrust his penis into the dripping, wet vagina.

"Such a warm old cunt! It's just a little loose!"

"Little Liang, are you even capable? What are you doing, gesturing with a toothpick?"

"Give her a good time! Use a sheep's eye ring!"

Encouraged by the crowd, Liang Shijie put the sheep's eye ring on his penis and thrust in again.

The resilient sheep's eye ring entered the honey hole, scraping back and forth against the vaginal walls. The intense stimulation made the woman beneath him lose her mind, and she screamed in a distorted voice.

Liang Shijie laughed heartily and called two more maids to help him push his buttocks. His penis, still wearing the sheep's eye ring, rammed wildly inside the woman's vagina, making her plump buttocks bounce wildly, and her vaginal fluids splashed everywhere.

The young thugs clapped and cheered, shouting, "Seventh Brother is mighty!"

Cheng Zongyang picked up his wine cup with a mocking smile.

Gao Yanei laughed, "That little slut Wei Shen used to be seventh, but now he's become Xiao Liangzi's lackey. Xiao Liangzi even brought his mother and sister here for everyone to enjoy. We brothers decided to let Xiao Liangzi take his place. Now he's the seventh of our Thirteen Protectors."

Cheng Zongyang looked at the smeared-faced young man, vaguely recognizing him as one of the thugs who had cursed him on Xiaoyingzhou Island. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, he would be treated like a servant by his former sworn brothers, not only losing his own harem but also having his mother and sister violated by them.

Cheng Zongyang said sarcastically, "You brothers have quite the friendship!"

Gao Yanei said smugly, "Of course! So many young masters in the city want to join our Thirteen Protectors. We just lost one, and now we've filled the gap! We still have thirteen good brothers, not one more, not one less!"

These brats have utterly ruined the word "brotherhood. " It's truly baffling where Yue Fei found this high-IQ gem, forcing him upon his unfortunate father, Gao Qiu.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

After tossing Huang Shi, who was drugged, naked, and wearing a mask, onto the table, Cheng Zongyang didn't stay long before returning to Tianxiang Pavilion, letting the brats run wild.

In the middle of the night, Cheng Zongyang suddenly opened his eyes, gripping the coral dagger under his pillow.

A delicate fragrance wafted beside him; Ruan Xiangning lay on her side, a snow-white thigh pressing against him, her smooth skin as silky as silk. Yet, Cheng Zongyang felt a chill that penetrated to his very bones.

His Life and Death Root on his forehead trembled slightly, catching a wisp of icy death energy. With the condensation of his true essence, Cheng Zongyang's Life and Death Root became increasingly sensitive; he could almost visualize the location of the death energy in his mind—under the eaves of the southern end of the lakeside side of Tianxiang Pavilion.

Cheng Zongyang never imagined he'd have as many enemies as Yue Niaoren, but thanks to Yue Niaoren's legacy, his current enemies were formidable. After taking over the Snow Falcon Gang branch in Lin'an, Cheng Zongyang had Ao Run select six reliable mercenaries as guards to replace the retired veterans from Xingyue Lake who had died in battle.

These six guards were divided into three shifts of two, providing close protection during the day and forming a covert presence at night. One of them was positioned under the eaves of the waterside pavilion.

Cheng Zongyang secretly resented that tonight, the treacherous minister was left to guard the mansion in the city, Jin Wuzhu was on duty at the bank's vault, and the Blue-Faced Beast was recovering from his injuries; currently, only Leopard Head was available. Because Gao Yanei and his cronies were clearly planning to cause trouble all night, and the front yard was crowded and noisy, he had placed Old Leopard Head at the inner courtyard gate as a doorman—his ferocious appearance alone was enough to scare away any foolish servant. However, at the moment when the defenses were weakest, they unfortunately encountered a ghost at their door. If it weren't for the connection between the Life and Death Roots, he probably wouldn't even know how he died.

Cheng Zongyang stuffed the pillow under the covers, then leaped up, clinging to the beam like a gecko, carefully hiding the coral dagger against his elbow, and held his breath.

A moment later, the light gauze curtains in the room fluttered in the breeze, and then a figure appeared beside the bed.

Even in the darkness, Cheng Zongyang could still recognize the woman's nun's cap and robe, and the sandalwood prayer beads around her neck: it was none other than that little thieving nun, Jing Shan!

Jing Shan flicked her finger, sending a long needle flying into the covers, then abruptly threw them back.

Just then, something unexpected happened. The corner of the raised covers tore open as if blown by the wind, and a gleaming dagger slashed down from the air, then nestled like a feather against the back of Jing Shan's neck.

Stimulated by the sword's energy, a fine layer of flesh appeared on Jing Shan's slender, white neck. With her back to Cheng Zongyang, her beautiful eyes coldly stared at the suddenly awakened Ruan Xiangning and the pillow beneath the covers.

Cheng Zongyang slapped Jing Shan's back with his left hand, using the Yin energy of the Taiyi Sutra to seal her acupoints. Then, he touched Ruan Xiangning's neck, sending her back to sleep—heaven knows if Jian Yuji had any other means to read Ruan Xiangning's memories, and he didn't want Ruan Xiangning to hear everything. If this puppet beauty, Ruan Xiangning, were used as a human eavesdropping device, and things went wrong, he would be devastated.

After sealing several of Jing Shan's vital points, confirming she was powerless to resist, Cheng Zongyang felt relieved. Then, with a stern face, he said seriously, "Little nun, sneaking into my bedroom late at night, are you here to steal my man?"

Jing Shan stood by the bed, her face expressionless.

"Just kidding, how come you have no sense of humor?" Cheng Zongyang sniffed hard against her neck, praising, "Neither orchid nor musk, what a wonderful scent!"

Jing Shan coldly replied, "Try pushing it again!"

Cheng Zongyang said, "It's not like I did it on purpose. It's willing to stand up on its own. Can you make it go soft? Hehe, speaking of which, if you want it to go soft, you're the only one who can do it..."

Cheng Zongyang looked smugly at his hundred gold coins. The cooked duck had circled around and flown back into the pot on its own. What a mess!

Cheng Zongyang was extremely pleased. While deliberately nudging Jing Shan's round, pert buttocks, he said, "Little nun, now that you've become a nun, has your lower body also become vegetarian..."

Before he finished speaking, suddenly a thin, long object flew out from behind Jing Shan, lashing Cheng Zongyang's crotch like an iron whip.

Cheng Zongyang froze for two seconds, then let out a muffled groan and fell to the ground like a felled tree.

Even though Jing Shan's acupoints were sealed, and this tail whip strike didn't use true energy, a blow to a man's genitals would be unbearable, even for a newly promoted fifth-level Sitting Illumination Realm expert. For a moment, Cheng Zongyang's vision went black, and his entire body felt like his testicles were about to shatter.

Jing Shan pulled out two pairs of leopard-like fangs, her bones seemingly reassembling with a soft, cracking sound. A layer of markings appeared on her fair skin. Then, her sealed acupoints moved slightly, gripping the bed, her body slightly bent forward, her slender figure resembling a lithe snow leopard.

No wonder he felt something was off when he sealed her acupoints; this bitch actually had beast blood, and beast blood with the ability to transform!

Seeing that Jing Shan was about to break free of all her acupoints, Cheng Zongyang gritted his teeth in pain, grabbed her leopard tail, and twisted it hard.

Jing Shan's body, brimming with tension during her transformation, suddenly shuddered, and the beast markings spreading across her body immediately subsided. Cheng Zongyang was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, yet he clung tightly to Jing Shan's leopard tail, refusing to let go.

Jing Shan glared angrily, her expression shifting constantly, and suddenly kicked Cheng Zongyang in the abdomen.

The blow to Cheng Zongyang's vital area shattered his protective inner energy, and the impact of Jing Shan's kick caused him excruciating pain in his dantian, causing him to vomit blood.

Meanwhile, Jing Shan's forced transformation, interrupted by Cheng Zongyang, suffered a more severe backlash than him. She unleashed a powerful kick, also spitting out blood, and both she and Cheng Zongyang were simultaneously declared seriously injured.

Jing Shan's transformation was thwarted, and her forced attempt to open her acupoints damaged her meridians. Cheng Zongyang's dantian was injured; his internal energy chakra shattered like a broken gear, and even the slightest exertion caused excruciating pain. But with their lives hanging in the balance, neither dared to slacken, suppressing their injuries as they fought fiercely.

Now, both were in a sorry state, their cultivation levels wasted, yet they were wrestling like two children who knew nothing of martial arts. Although Cheng Zongyang was a strong man, Jing Shan, this woman, had beast blood, and in the ensuing struggle, he hadn't gained the slightest advantage. To make matters worse, Jing Shan was a nun!

Since it was a relentless fight, the best moves were nothing more than picking his nose, gouging his eyes, flicking his fingers, and pulling his hair—but against this bald little nun, Jing Shan, he was missing a crucial skill!

During the fight, Cheng Zongyang's right cheek was bruised from an elbow strike by Jing Shan, and Cheng Zongyang didn't hold back, punching her hard in the stomach.

The two wrestled for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before finally separating, both panting heavily. Cheng Zongyang wiped the blood from his lips and cursed, "You damned nun! You're insane!"

Jing Shan, suffering a severe blow to the stomach, clutched her abdomen and vomited on the ground. After a long while, she raised her head and shouted fiercely, "Hand over the runes you copied that day, and I'll spare your life!"

Cheng Zongyang was furious. These days, even robbers were so arrogant, daring to make any demands!

"Sure!" Cheng Zongyang shouted, "I think you have a nice ass! Let me have a go, okay?"

Since they couldn't agree on anything, they stopped wasting words. Jing Shan took a Buddhist rosary from her neck and threw it at Cheng Zongyang. As the purplish-black rosary flew, the fine golden starlight on its surface suddenly intensified, eclipsing the moonlight in the sky.

Back at Xiangzhu Temple, Cheng Zongyang had sensed that this damned nun's rosary was no ordinary item; now he realized that Jing Shan's eighteen golden sandalwood rosaries had all been imbued with magic. Although he wasn't sure whether a blow would turn him into a roasted pig or a frozen popsicle, he knew it was something he couldn't withstand.

Seeing the danger, Cheng Zongyang dove under the bed.

Jing Shan pointed a slender finger, and the Buddhist prayer beads followed him like a shadow.

Suddenly, a dark object flew out from under the bed, like a black iron watermelon, smashing heavily onto the beads.

The pavilion brightened instantly, followed by a deafening explosion. The massive blast shook the entire pavilion, sending countless metal fragments flying, tearing the surrounding gauze to shreds, and then embedding themselves like sharp blades in the wooden pillars, window frames, and beams.

This loud noise finally alerted those outside. Shouts came from outside the pavilion: "Thief!"

"Help! The master has been attacked!"

From under the bed, one could vaguely see Jing Shan's feet retreating. When Cheng Zongyang crawled out from under the bed, the pavilion was deserted, except for a trail of crimson blood on the floor. Lanterns were lit inside and outside the waterside pavilion, illuminating it as bright as day. Several guards used long poles to carry lanterns, searching the water for traces.

Cheng Zongyang sat in a chair, his bare upper body wrapped in bandages—a piece of iron had pierced through the bed, leaving a half-foot-long wound on his back; fortunately, the iron had lost its momentum and hadn't pierced his chest. Li Shishi bandaged his wound, while another young mercenary guard said, "The thief has already escaped by swimming. Brother Long was stabbed through the heart, he's... he's beyond saving..." He choked back tears as he spoke. "Provide generous compensation according to the standards. Also, find his family and see if they need support." Lin Qingpu bowed and said, "Yes." Cheng Zongyang sighed and said to the guard, "This matter today is not your fault. But you must learn from this lesson. One is to be more careful and vigilant, and the other is to strengthen your cultivation. For your own lives, you cannot be negligent." "Understood, subordinate." The guard said, "Please punish me, Master." Cheng Zongyang patted his shoulder and said gently, "I'll spare you this time, but be careful next time." After the guard left, Cheng Zongyang said, "Notify Jiankang that four guards from the family will stay to manage the business until Qi Yuan returns to take over. The rest will be transferred to Lin'an." When he left the Southern Wilderness, Marquis Shang had given him ten guards. When he was ambushed by the demon woman Su, Xiao Zi took him away from Jiankang, and these guards had not accompanied him. Later, when the Battle of Jiangzhou began, Qi Yuan, Wu Zhanwei, Yi Biao and others were all transferred to assist in the battle. They had no choice but to leave these guards in Jiankang to take care of the various properties, as well as Liu Cuiyan, Zhi Niang, La Zhi Xiu Li and the maids in the house.

Cheng Zongyang had already ordered Yi Biao to select thirty capable men from the newly formed direct battalion to help him, but now that his operations were getting bigger and bigger and his opponents were getting stronger, he had no choice but to use these guards as well.

Lin Qingpu returned to the quiet room to send a message. After a moment of silence, Li Shishi broke the stillness, "Is your home in Jiankang?"

Cheng Zongyang leaned back in his chair, then sat up abruptly, hissing in pain, and said, "It's similar there, with houses and lodgings, but it doesn't feel like home. It's more like an inn."

He sighed, "Sometimes I feel like I'm all alone, wandering the world. Wherever I get tired, or get bogged down in things, that's home."

"No mistress?"

A slight smile appeared on Cheng Zongyang's lips. "Yes. But believe me, you wouldn't want to meet her..."

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Bright red cinnabar was smeared on the yellow talisman paper, the ethereal strokes like clouds, swirling and spreading.

Xiao Zi put down the cinnabar brush, spread the finished talisman on a slightly worn copper coin, and then gently blew on it. Two drops of blood flowed along the lines of the cinnabar, finally converging at one point. The instant the blood droplets touched, the talisman turned into a wisp of green smoke, and the delicate vermilion runes were imprinted on the copper coin like silk threads, then gradually seeped into it, disappearing without a trace.

Xiao Zi tied the copper coin to Zhuo Yunjun's hair, smiling and saying, "Alright. From now on, you and Yan'er are bound by blood, inseparable." Zhuo

Yunjun said softly, "Thank you, Mother."

"Take your luggage and go to Lin'an first."

"Daughter understands, Mother Zi."

Chapter Seven

Li Shishi washed the silver knife and small needles in wine, put them away one by one, and then took off her mask, "You can't move around for three days, stay in the pavilion and recover well. Change the dressing once a day."

"Twice a day, okay?" Cheng Zongyang said with a grin, "That way I can see you one more time each day."

Li Shishi rolled her eyes at him, "If you miss changing the dressing, it will leave a scar in the future."

Cheng Zongyang didn't care about this superficial injury. With his own life-and-death root, this injury would heal in less than two days. The important thing was that the kick to her dantian was quite severe; she wouldn't be able to circulate her qi for at least three or four days. Unfortunately, Li Shishi studied surgery and knew very little about internal injuries.

"Where are those little brats?"

"They just dispersed."

"And that woman surnamed Huang?"

"She went back." Li Shishi said, "She came to kowtow to me just before dawn, but I didn't see her."

Cheng Zongyang smiled slightly, "Are you feeling any better?"

Li Shishi said nonchalantly, "I've already forgotten about it."

"That's good." Cheng Zongyang tossed her a porcelain bottle, "Here, take this. When Liang's mother comes begging, just give her a grain or two."

"What's this?"

"A little trinket."

Li Shishi played with the porcelain bottle, and after a while said, "You're quite generous."

"What do you mean by 'willing to part with'?" Cheng Zongyang asked, then suddenly realized, "You mean that woman surnamed Huang? Haha, what's there to be unwilling to part with? Let me tell you, of course I'd keep a good cabbage for myself, but what about a rotten cabbage? Tch, that slut isn't even a rotten cabbage. Look at her, she's been flirting with all sorts of women before, she's practically a pickled vegetable! Is there any fool in the world who would treat a rotten pickled vegetable like a precious gem? If I were to keep a rotten pickled vegetable for myself to eat slowly, wouldn't I be crazy?"

"Rotten pickled vegetable?" Li Shishi laughed, amused by his words.

"I ordered that woman surnamed Huang kowtow to you before she leaves," Cheng Zongyang sneered. "After doing such a disgraceful thing last night, she'll never have the face to hold her head high in front of you again. Her whole family are scoundrels; there's no need to be polite to her."

"I understand," Li Shishi stood up and then instructed, "Rest well for a few days, and avoid spicy food and alcohol."

"Don't worry, I feel nauseous at the smell of alcohol these days," Cheng Zongyang said. "Leave me some medicine for my wounds; it needs to improve blood circulation and remove blood stasis."

Li Shishi gave him a strange look, left the medicine as instructed, and left the pavilion.

After Li Shishi left, Cheng Zongyang quickly unzipped his pants, grimaced, and applied the medicine to his groin. He rested with his legs spread for a while, then struggled to his feet and trudged upstairs like a crab.

Ruan Xiangning was much luckier than him; not a single fragment of the grenade hit her, but the explosion at close range severely impacted this frail woman who knew nothing of martial arts, leaving her momentarily unconscious—in fact, simply knocked unconscious.

Cheng Zongyang checked her pulse, assuming she was alright, then sat down and opened his backpack.

The transcribed kasaya inscription lay quietly inside; besides himself, probably no one else in the world could guess what mysterious and thrilling secrets it contained.

The battle in Wild Boar Forest had revealed a corner of Jing Shan's identity.

Pomi originally belonged to the Exoteric School of Buddhism, but with the rise of the Ten Directions Forest, many Buddhist factions that did not agree with the Ten Directions Forest's doctrines were labeled as heretics, with Pomi being the first to bear the brunt.

To uphold their respective Buddhist justice, Dafu Lingjiu Temple and Pomi engaged in a decades-long conflict. The two sides went from initial verbal attacks to physical battles, and finally to a life-or-death struggle. The conflict ended in Pomi's complete defeat. Pomi had vanished long before the passing of the First Master, and his reappearance at this time was unexpected.

Cheng Zongyang slowly stroked the paper, countless thoughts racing through his mind. Pomi's sect actually cultivated disciples with beastman blood—did those bald monks flee to the territory of the beastmen to escape pursuit? Why was the nun Ciyin involved with them? And what was Ximen Qing, that scoundrel, plotting with Jingshan all along?

On the other hand, a transmigrator single-handedly created the most powerful Buddhist force, the Ten Directions Forest, cloaking himself in the propagation of Buddhism while deliberately guiding its conversion—what kind of impact would this creative act have?

"Where is the Master?" Qin Hui rushed over upon hearing the news, calling from outside.

Knowing this treacherous minister was a natural actor, the anxiety and urgency in his tone still moved Cheng Zongyang slightly.

Cheng Zongyang went out and opened the door, laughing, "Brother treacherous minister, have you seen your tender grass?"

Cheng Zongyang had kept Qin Hui in the city largely to facilitate his seduction of Li Qingzhao's cousin. Hearing Cheng Zongyang's mocking tone, Qin Hui merely bowed and inquired about the attack.

After Cheng Zongyang recounted what had happened, Qin Hui pondered for a moment, then said, "There's no need to pursue Jingshan's whereabouts."

Cheng Zongyang nodded, "That wicked nun most likely escaped through the lake; there's no trace of her."

Qin Hui said, "No need to search. She'll surely come again."

Cheng Zongyang slapped his thigh, "That's right!"

Since Jingshan came for the inscription on the cassock, having failed this time, she'll definitely look for another opportunity. As long as they wait patiently, they're sure she'll walk right into their trap.

Cheng Zongyang felt a sense of unease dissipate and chuckled, "You've come quickly. I even instructed them that you might be secretly meeting your lover, and not to inform you. Where did you get the news?"

Qin Hui smiled wryly, "I came on another matter, and only learned of the attack on the young master upon entering the garden."

"What matter made you rush here overnight?"

Qin Hui said, "The news of the defeat at Jiangzhou has already reached Lin'an."

Cheng Zongyang was astonished, "So fast?"

Qin Hui said, "It wasn't a military report. Someone brought it from Lieshan."

"How did you know?" Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "Did the young grass tell you?"

Qin Hui smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. "Since yesterday, members of the Wang faction have been interacting more frequently. Most likely, they're preparing to take this opportunity to bring down Jia Shixian."

"Old Jia won't fall so easily, will he?"

"About fifty-fifty." Qin Hui said, "After Liang Shicheng fell, most of his followers switched allegiance to Wang Yuyu, greatly increasing the Wang faction's power. If they strike first now, they might be able to bring down Jia Shixian."

Cheng Zongyang stroked his chin and asked, "Who sent the message to Wang Yuyu?"

Cheng Zongyang and Qin Hui exchanged a glance, both knowing the answer: the Shenxiao Sect.

"Old Jia's ship is leaky on all sides; everyone's eager to jump in." Cheng Zongyang sighed, a hint of worry for his money shop.

Qin Hui calmly said, "Why worry, young master? Even if Grand Tutor Jia loses power, the money shop may not necessarily go out of business. After all, who would turn down money?"

Cheng Zongyang laughed loudly, "Exactly!" As he spoke, he stood up, "With the Jiangzhou matter settled, we can simply watch the Song Dynasty's high-ranking officials fight it out, and we can steal a moment of leisure amidst our busy schedules. Today I plan to take a day off and go out to take care of some business. We'll talk about it when I return tonight."

Qin Hui cupped his hands and said, "Yes."

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

"His Majesty has decided to strip Jia Shixian of his power."

In the secret room with oak tiles, Gao Qiu, dressed as a merchant, slowly said while drinking hops wine.

As

Xingyue Lake's biggest enemy in the Song Dynasty, Jia Shixian's downfall should have been a good thing second only to the great victory in Jiangzhou, but Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but feel a little regretful at this moment.

Although Qin Hui made it clear that the money shop would not necessarily be abolished. However, on a political level, most measures outside of established systems are achieved through the actions of individuals, and examples of policies collapsing with the death of those individuals are commonplace. Jia Shixian vigorously promoted paper money, and although the affairs of the money shops experienced some minor setbacks, they were generally handled smoothly. Once Jia Shixian lost power, if his successor continued to promote paper money, all the credit would go to Jia Shixian, and he would have done the work for someone else without even realizing it. If the paper money system had problems, the successor would be left to take the blame for Jia Shixian's actions. It's a lose-lose situation, and even a fool would know which way to go.

Once Jia Shixian relinquished power, the most likely candidates to manage paper money affairs would be only three to five people. Neither Cai Yuanchang, nor Han Jiefu, nor Shi Tongshu were fools. Cai Yuanchang was already prepared to discard them after they had served their purpose; even if he showed some leniency, this move would still leave him half-dead.

Gao Qiu dismissed Cheng Zongyang's worries, saying, "You're overthinking it, sir. You're only afraid the court will discard the paper money like trash after profiting, but you haven't considered that the court is also reluctant to part with this income. Using 400,000 gold coins as if it were 3 million—who would give up such a good deal?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid everyone in our Song Kingdom will see me as a foolish fat sheep, not only slaughtering and eating me, but also skinning and shearing me, confiscating my property, and then expecting me to thank the emperor for his favor."

Gao Qiu waved his hand, "That won't happen. Although His Majesty is young, he has his own opinions and is not a suspicious and harsh ruler."

Even if the Song emperor is a ruthless character who turns his back on people, he has no good recourse but to pray for divine protection. If the emperor wants to take advantage of him one day, whether he wants to eat him braised, dipped in sauce, or seasoned with cumin, it's all up to the emperor's word.

Cheng Zongyang changed the subject, "The Song army suffered such a crushing defeat, why is there no reaction from the court?"

Gao Qiu replied leisurely, "How could there be no reaction?"

Compared to the uproar when the decision to withdraw the army was made, the news of the Jiangzhou defeat brought an unusually quiet reaction from the court. Liang Shicheng had already gone to the prefectures and counties, and the Liang faction had disintegrated. Wang Yuyu acted as usual, repeating the same three sentences every day: "Requesting the imperial edict," "Receiving the imperial edict," "I have received the imperial edict." His followers were completely unmoved, and not a single impeachment petition, which was expected to be sent in droves, was submitted. The Wang faction remained silent, and the members of the Jia faction were even more terrified, everyone feeling insecure, and the court maintained a strange silence.

But these were all just appearances. Gao Qiu said, "When His Majesty learned of the Song army's crushing defeat and the countless losses of supplies, he immediately overturned his desk—did you know that?"

Cheng Zongyang shook his head.

Gao Qiu said, "In his fury, His Majesty sent an eunuch to deliver an imperial edict, ordering Weng Yinglong, who was sent to supervise the army, to commit suicide in front of the troops."

Weng Yinglong was Jia Shixian's confidant, and along with Liao Qunyu, was considered his right-hand man. Normally, Weng Yinglong should have been imprisoned and interrogated by the authorities, but the Song emperor didn't even conduct a trial, directly ordering his suicide. Clearly, his patience with Jia Shixian had reached its limit.

Gao Qiu continued, "When news of the defeat at Jiangzhou arrived, Jia Shixian should have immediately gone to the palace to plead guilty, but His Majesty waited a whole day without seeing the Grand Tutor. His Majesty repeatedly inquired, and the eunuchs who delivered the edict all reported that they couldn't find Grand Tutor Jia. Do you know what Wang Yuyu, who was present at the time, said?"

"What did he say?"

"Wang Yuyu said that he had heard Grand Tutor Jia had taken a new concubine, and perhaps she was enjoying herself on the lake." Gao Qiu laughed,

"If you had heard that Jia Shixian's new concubine was a palace maid who had been secretly released from the palace, you would know how furious His Majesty was, wouldn't you?"

“Wang Yuyu’s words have hit the mark. This will surely

infuriate His Majesty!” Gao Qiu mimicked the Song Emperor’s tone, saying, “His Majesty’s face turned ashen, and it took him a long time to issue an edict: The Censor-in-Chief is a licentious official! He is ordered to retire! The Prefect of Junzhou, Teng Fu, is reinstated.”

The Censorate was supposed to supervise all officials, but Jia Shixian’s willful actions led to a major defeat. The censors should have rushed over to tear him to shreds long ago, but this time they pretended to be deaf and dumb—the censors had even criticized the Song Emperor, yet they were afraid of the Grand Tutor’s power. No monarch could accept such a thing. However, Cheng Zongyang was more concerned about the second half of Gao Qiu’s sentence.

“Reinstate Teng Fu? And make him Censor-in-Chief again?”

Gao Qiu nodded.

“Excellent!”

Teng Fu had originally been demoted to Junzhou because of his feud with Jia Shixian. Now that the Song Emperor was summoning Teng Fu back to court, the implication was clear even to a deaf person. Old Jia was in serious trouble this time.

Before Cheng Zongyang could ask further, Gao Qiu, who had just been speaking with the air of a high-ranking official, suddenly sat up straight, staring at the light reflected in the water mirror

, and shouted with a cheer, "The polo match has begun!" Gao Qiu's eyes were fixed on the water mirror, and he reached out and pulled the rope. A copper bell rang softly outside, and then two courtesans in short cheongsams flew in like jade butterflies, smiling radiantly as they poured wine and peeled fruit, smoking cigars as they served the two men.

Gao Qiu didn't mention anything about court affairs, speaking with the tone of a merchant. Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to put the matter aside and concentrate on watching the polo match.

For many years, Gao Qiu had disguised himself to watch the game, always alone in a room to avoid revealing his identity, at most with two courtesans keeping him company. To a die-hard football fan like him, two fake fans trying to please their guests were like unromantic prostitutes—better than nothing.

Now, finally finding a knowledgeable confidant, and one who was on the same side, knowing each other inside and out, Gao Qiu felt a surge of joy, like a family member finally arriving with a lantern after years of walking in the dark. Compared to that, the great victory at Xingyue Lake in Jiangzhou seemed trivial to Gao Qiu.

Cups of frothy hops wine were passed around, the two men, cigars in their mouths, leaning back on the sofa, each with a half-naked beauty in their arms, slamming their fists on the table and shouting cheers as they watched the live footage of the polo match on the water mirror. They argued heatedly over a single ball, betting on the outcome of the match. While

Cheng Zongyang was certainly caught up in the excitement of the match, even the old man Gao Qiu was burning with passion, even showing off his skills during a break by jumping onto the table and kicking a tin wine cup around himself.

The two men drank two barrels of hop wine, each ten liters long, and smoked countless cigars, each costing fifty silver coins. Gao Qiu, whose alcohol tolerance was usually average, barely managed to stay upright. Cheng Zongyang, while not as good as Yun Danliu, was far superior to Gao Qiu, and he too was thoroughly drunk. By the end of the match, the four men and women in the VIP box were wearing only one piece of clothing in total. Gao Qiu, true to his word, wore Jiao'er's undergarment. As agreed, he let his hair down over his face, rushed out, and shouted, "I'm a pig!" before running back.

Cheng Zongyang was even more decisive. He guessed the outcome correctly but lost the bet on the number of goals. After Gao Qiu's shout, he drunkenly took the undergarment, covered his head and face, and then ran downstairs alone. Amidst the jeers and curses of the departing fans, he ran naked for a lap, his face impassive, before returning with seven or eight pounds of saliva on his lips. The remaining barrel of hop wine was used entirely for his bathwater.

The two partied until late at night before leaving Oakwood, both reeking of alcohol and arm in arm. As they were leaving, Su Jiapu, the owner of a jewelry business in Lin'an, angrily berated his manager, "Where did this madman come from! Disturbing our peace and quiet! Next time you catch him, beat him to death!"

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Cuiwei Garden was far away by West Lake; it would probably be dawn by the time he got back from the city. After parting ways, Cheng Zongyang, suppressing his drunkenness, went to his old lodgings and fell into a deep sleep.

He slept until the afternoon before waking up. When Cheng Zongyang finally opened his eyes, still hungover, he got up to wash and received a message from his subordinate saying that there was some trouble in the business and he needed to go and take care of it immediately. As for what the trouble was, the messenger couldn't explain, so Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to rush to the money exchange.

The money exchange was as deserted as ever, with only a few hired clerks and not a soul in sight. This situation was expected, and Cheng Zongyang didn't linger, immediately heading towards the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion.

Having just come from the desolate money exchange, the scene that greeted Cheng Zongyang at the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion nearly made his jaw drop. Countless people swarmed in and out of the vast mansion like ants, each carrying a few bricks and tiles, looking as if they had just crawled out of a charcoal pit, covered in dust and dirt, yet their faces beaming with happy smiles.

Cheng Zongyang immediately summoned his men who were overseeing the scene. "What's going on here? Who hired so many workers? Hey! That child is only six years old! How come there are even child laborers?"

"Reporting to Young Master! It was Miss Shishi's order."

"Shishi? How did she get involved here?"

"Yesterday, people from Lin'an Prefecture came, saying that the Prince's mansion was infested with rats and gave us three days to demolish it, or they would reclaim the land. We searched everywhere but couldn't find you, so we had to wait in the garden. When Miss Shishi came out, she met us, asked about the situation, and then made a decision."

The fact that he and Gao Qiu were watching the game at the Oak Tree Terrace yesterday was a top secret, unknown even to Qin Hui and Lin Qingpu. No wonder these people couldn't find him. However, Lin'an Prefecture's sudden change of heart, giving him three days to demolish the Prince's mansion, served as a wake-up call for Cheng Zongyang.

The Wu Mu Prince's mansion had been abandoned here for over ten years without anyone daring to touch it. How come it became infested with rats and had to be demolished within three days under his care? It's simply because they saw that things weren't going well for Jia Shixian, and the people of Lin'an Prefecture were quick to make trouble. Once Jia Shixian fell from power, they'd be the first to be slaughtered.

Elsewhere, people forget about you once you're gone; here, the tea's already on the table before you've even left. The officials of Song are truly shrewd.

Cheng Zongyang calmed himself down. "What did Miss Shishi say?"

"Miss Shishi said that notices have already been posted asking for workers to demolish the houses. Why not change it? Say that the fire a few days ago affected many families, and now bricks and tiles are very expensive in the city. Our Cheng family, to help those in need, has specially opened the mansion to all affected families. They can freely enter and take bricks and tiles; the Cheng family won't charge a penny."

The subordinate said, "The first day there weren't many people, but this morning over a thousand people have flocked here, and now it's a sea of people. We can't stop them. Young master, at this rate, they'll be completely demolished by tonight. Just now, some neighbors came over and said that the disaster victims we summoned have demolished half of their houses. If we don't do anything, they'll report us to the authorities. But right now..." "You've seen this momentum, young master, and we can't control it even if we wanted to."

There are at least several thousand people here to demolish the houses, crowding the huge Wu Mu Prince's Mansion to the brim. Cheng Zongyang was dizzy just looking at them. After a moment of stunned silence, he comforted them, "Alright, alright. Don't even mention you, even the Xingyue Lake camp couldn't stop them here. Let them report to the authorities if they want. If the government could stop these people, Jiangzhou would have been captured two hundred times over by now."

One of his men muttered, "These bricks and tiles can still fetch a lot of money."

Cheng Zongyang joked, "I'll give you a table. You go to the gate and collect the money. Everything you collect is yours. I won't take a single penny. How about that?"

Upon hearing this, the man immediately shrank back and fell silent. So many people, all armed with weapons. Even if each person threw just one brick, it would be enough to build him seven or eight decent-looking tombs.

The Prince's Mansion, which was desolate just two days ago, is now bustling with activity everywhere. It looks like there are more than a few thousand, possibly even tens of thousands. Groups of young men scaled the walls, first tearing off the roof, sawing off the beams, and knocking down the pillars. Then, wielding hammers and pickaxes, they chipped away at the bricks layer by layer. Below, a throng of people jostled for the falling tiles. From afar, the entire manor was shrouded in dust and filled with the clamor of voices. This demolition had been transformed into a massive military operation, no wonder even the neighbors were affected.

Cheng Zongyang was amazed and returned to Cuiwei Garden with a belly full of exclamation marks.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

At this moment, an uninvited guest arrived in the garden. Cheng Zongyang, carrying candied hawthorns he had bought on the way, had come excitedly to find Li Shishi. As soon as he entered, he saw a familiar figure.

Ruan Xianglin was wearing a light green dress, her long hair tied back with a silk handkerchief. Her delicate features were bright and radiant, and she looked quite spirited. If it weren't for the ring on her right hand, which I had seen on Gao Yanei's hand before, she would have

looked every bit the dashing, chivalrous heroine. But now, Ruan Xianglin's almond-shaped eyes were filled with anger, and her beautiful face seemed to be covered in frost. Sitting opposite her, Li Shishi, with her graceful figure, silently stared at her toes, not uttering a word; the atmosphere between mother and daughter was incredibly tense.

Cheng Zongyang cheerfully handed Li Shishi a candied hawthorn, "The hawthorns here are big and red, have a taste."

Li Shishi secretly gave him a grateful look, then took the candied hawthorn, stood up, and said, "Mother, this is the head of the family I've come to stay with, Young Master Cheng of Panjiang. You can speak to him if you have anything to say."

With that, Li Shishi got up and left, leaving Cheng Zongyang alone in the room.

Cheng Zongyang forced a smile. "What advice does Auntie have?"

"Let's be frank," Ruan Xianglin said, as expected. "My Shishi was originally betrothed to the son of Grand Commandant Gao as a concubine. If you know what's good for you, then stop bothering her."

Cheng Zongyang sized up Ruan Xianglin's curvaceous figure, recalling the mature beauty of her body beneath her chivalrous exterior, and chuckled, "This is probably the first time Miss Ruan has been here. Do you know whose garden this is?"

Ruan Xianglin seemed oblivious to his hint, saying with a hint of disdain, "Just because the young master calls you 'Master' doesn't mean this garden is yours."

"Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher—my Master is one of the Five Relationships."

"One can be called a teacher for both literature and martial arts. But I, Ruan Xianglin, have never heard of a teacher who teaches business. Do you know what people outside are saying?" Ruan Xianglin sneered, "They say that young master's name contains the character for 'merchant,' and that he needs a merchant by his side to succeed. Your teacher is nothing more than a servant in the Grand Commandant's mansion."

Cheng Zongyang was thoroughly humiliated and thoroughly ridiculed. He couldn't help but curse inwardly, thinking that this was probably Gao Qiu, that cunning old fox, deliberately spreading rumors to cover up their relationship.

Cheng Zongyang couldn't very well slam his fist on the table at Li Shishi's mother, so he swallowed his anger and said, "Miss Shishi joined my Panjiang Cheng Clan voluntarily. Please don't misunderstand, Miss Ruan."

Ruan Xianglin raised an eyebrow and said, "Shishi is young and ignorant. If it weren't for your sweet talk, how could she have run away from home?"

"Miss Ruan, did you force Shishi to marry because you were forcing her? Speaking of which, how could you bear to let such a beautiful girl like Shishi marry a playboy as a concubine?"

"Is there anything shameful about becoming Gao Yanei's concubine?" Ruan Xianglin said, "The Grand Commandant's mansion only has this one young master. Grand Commandant Gao is powerful and has a fortune that he could never spend in his lifetime. What's wrong with Shishi marrying him?"

"Shishi is going to marry Gao Yanei. Why keep talking about Grand Commandant Gao's power? You might as well just let Shishi marry Grand Commandant Gao directly."

A hint of anger flashed in Ruan Xianglin's eyes.

“Miss Ruan,” Cheng Zongyang said earnestly, “marriage is a lifelong commitment. Grand Commandant Gao can leave his wealth to your son, but can he leave his power as well? Can Grand Commandant Gao’s power protect him for ten or twenty years, or even for a lifetime? Is it worth sacrificing Miss Shishi’s lifelong happiness for a little immediate gain?”

“You, an outsider, do you think you care about Shishi more than I, her mother?” Ruan Xianglin sneered. “And what do you have? Just a lowly guest official. Do you think I would entrust Shishi to you?”

Cheng Zongyang grew increasingly angry, staring at Ruan Xianglin’s prominent breasts and secretly vowing revenge: What are you putting on airs for! What part of your body haven’t I touched? I’ll expose you and make you look bad right here! What’s with the arrogance!

After venting his frustrations, Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "Since Miss Ruan knows I'm a guest retainer, you must also know I'm the head of the Treasury Bureau, right?"

Ruan Xianglin retorted sarcastically, "Just a mere merchant. Even if you have enough money to buy a prince's or marquis's title, your family can still be raided."

"Hey, Marquis Wei was raided because he committed too many sins, taking government money to lend at exorbitant interest rates, okay?"

The two exchanged heated words, neither able to convince the other. Ruan Xianglin waited for a long time, but Li Shishi didn't return, and finally left in anger.

Li Shishi came out after her mother left, apologetically saying, "My mother has a quick temper, and some of her words were a bit harsh. Please don't take it to heart, young master."

Cheng Zongyang said, "Where are the candied hawthorns? You didn't even leave me one!"

Li Shishi was both annoyed and amused, "There's still half left, you can have them all."

"That's more like it." Cheng Zongyang picked up a candied hawthorn and took a bite.

Li Shishi said, "My mother heard from somewhere that Jia Shixian is going to be punished. Because she heard that you bought your official position through Jia Taishi's connections, she came to ask me to come home."

Cheng Zongyang finally understood. No wonder Ruan Xianglin looked down on him. In their eyes, only power was real. Merchants without power or influence, or without a backer, were nothing but fish to be slaughtered. It seemed that Jia Shixian's downfall had a far more profound impact on him than he had imagined.

"Your mother is very well-informed."

"The news from the escort agency is always faster than from outside. Besides, it's already spread throughout the city."

Cheng Zongyang shook his candied hawthorn and said, "She's wrong. I didn't get my position through Jia Taishi's connections."

"Will others believe it?" Li Shishi said, "You even managed to get the most valuable book from Yueshengtang. Don't you think it's okay?"

Cheng Zongyang suddenly became interested. "Have you read it? What do you think? Is it good or not?"

Li Shishi spat.

Cheng Zongyang laughed and said, "Don't worry, if Old Jia falls, I'll at most have a little bad luck. Nothing serious will happen."

URL 1:https://www.sex3p.com/htmlBlog/67500.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=67500&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : [Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 17

Next Page : [Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 20

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - Episode 18

comment Open a new window to view comments