[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - Chapter 28

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

Chapter Seven

: This battle was evenly matched, a true clash of titans. Fortunately, the Jade Dew Pavilion was close to the palace, so neither side dared to use knives or guns, only wielding large clubs, exchanging blows in a lively exchange. Gao Yanei

jumped up and down, shouting, "Fight! Fight him to death! Beat that pretty boy! Damn it! You're still laughing!"

Xiao Yaoyi laughed heartily, picked up a silver cup and drank it all in one gulp, weighed it in his hand, then swung his arm, smashing the silver cup against Gao Zhishang's nose with a "bang," blood immediately flowing out.

Gao Zhishang screamed and collapsed to the ground. A guard from the Grand Commandant's mansion leaped up, wielding an iron eagle claw from his sleeve, reaching for Xiao Yaoyi.

Xiao Yaoyi didn't even glance at it, instead offering a cup of wine to the trembling prostitute's lips, feeding her a sip.

Xiao Wu stepped forward, grabbing a chair and swatting the guard from the Grand Commandant's mansion to the ground like a fly, smashing the pear wood chair to pieces. Holding the broken chair leg, he roared, "Who else?!" Seeing

this unassuming, thin man suddenly attack and defeat a commander of the Imperial Guard, the guards of the Lin'an playboy were terrified, while the guards from Jiankang were greatly encouraged.

Gao Zhishen, covering his nose, shouted, "Rebellion! Rebellion! Fu An! You dog! Gather your troops and take down these rebels!"

Suddenly, the ground seemed to tremble. The courtesans in the building screamed and fell to the ground, while the guards on both sides also stumbled and fell.

Fu An looked around in surprise, only to see a young man walking leisurely towards them, followed by an old and a burly barbarian. He quickly stepped forward, crossed his arms, and said respectfully, "Master Cheng."

Gao Yanei, as if seeing a savior, cried out in a hoarse voice, "Master! Someone hit me—" Cheng Zongyang ignored him and went straight to Xiao Yaoyi, who was sitting with a smile on his face. He bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Young Master Xiao."

Xiao Yaoyi smiled and said, "Is this your disciple? His little bottom is quite round."

"This unworthy disciple was ignorant and disturbed you, Young Master. Please forgive me."

"It's alright." Xiao Yaoyi said, "Make him leave one hand, and this matter will be over tonight."

Cheng Zongyang glared at him fiercely. Little fox, don't overact!

Xiao Yaoyi changed the subject and said, "If that little fat ball doesn't want to lose a hand, he'll have to take out ten thousand gold coins as a way to calm everyone's nerves."

Gao Yanei, Liang Shijie, and the others were all stunned. Back at Leifeng Pagoda, Cheng Zongyang hadn't given them any face at all and had attacked them without warning. Not to mention the Thirteen Protectors, he didn't even put Grand Tutor Jia, Military Governor Liang, or Grand Commandant Gao in the slightest. Just who was this Young Master Xiao?

Cheng Zongyang secretly gave Xiao Yaoyi the middle finger, but smiled obsequiously, "Thank you for your generosity, young master. I haven't been strict enough in teaching, so the ten thousand gold coins are on me, and I'll send them to your residence tomorrow."

Xiao Yaoyi wanted to play the big shot a little longer, but Cheng Zongyang mouthed "Damn!" to him, and he hummed and hawed a few times to end the act. Huan Xin and the others found it amusing, but the girls at Yulu Tower, unaware of the situation, looked at Xiao Yaoyi as if they had seen a god.

Cheng Zongyang glanced at the injury on Gao Yanei's nose. Fortunately, the little fox was weak, and the silver cup that hit his face only broke the skin. He took a silk handkerchief and wiped the blood from Gao Yanei's face, saying sternly, "Hold it down!"

Gao Yanei covered his nose, looking aggrieved, "Master..."

"Alright, if you had offended Young Master Xiao two months earlier, you'd be half-dead by now. It's just a little blood, hurry back and burn incense to thank all the gods and Buddhas."

Liang Shijie and the others knew that Cheng Zongyang had an extraordinary background, and seeing his attitude, none of them dared to step forward. They all left silently with their tails between their legs, like defeated roosters.

Cheng Zongyang turned back and clasped his hands, saying, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you all, tonight's expenses are on me! Farewell!"

Shi Chao quickly stood up, "I'll see you out! I'll see you out!"

Cheng Zongyang didn't want to offend him, so he nodded slightly.

Gao Yanei was just used to being domineering, but he wasn't stupid. Following Cheng Zongyang to the pond, he realized what was going on and whispered, "Master, who is that person?"

"Guess."

"Which prince? No, there's no prince with the surname Xiao in our Great Song Dynasty. Besides, even if he is a prince, Master, aren't you afraid?"

"Guess again."

Gao Yanei pondered for a while, then excitedly said, "From the Han Kingdom! Right? A trusted confidant of the Emperor! Carrying the Emperor's sword!"

"Kid, you're very clever."

Gao Yanei said proudly, "Of course! My father always praises me for being smart!"

Only Gao Qiu, that model godfather who's so biased, would praise you for being smart. Cheng Zongyang remembered something and instructed, "Don't forget to come to Cuiwei Garden tomorrow."

Gao Yanei was overjoyed, "Master, don't worry, your disciple will never forget!"

Shi Chao took two quick steps and said with a smile, "My surname is Shi. And this is..."

Looking at Shi Chao's physique, Gao Yanei felt a sense of kinship and said casually, "My surname is Gao! My father is Grand Commandant Gao Qiu! This is my master!"

Shi Chao forced a smile on his fat face, "I am good friends with Master Cheng. If you don't mind, we can call each other brothers from now on. Come, come, here's a small gift, just a token of my appreciation." He waved his hand behind him.

"What gift?" Gao Yanei asked, his mouth agape. The gift Shi Chao mentioned was actually a living person, whose looks were no less than those of the most beautiful courtesans at Yulu Tower.

Cheng Zongyang glanced at the woman, and seeing that she seemed somewhat willing, he smiled and said, "Keep it. It's just a small token of Young Master Shi's appreciation."

Gao Yanei wiped his drool, rolled his eyes a few times, and then took out a jade pendant from his waist pouch and handed it to Shi Chao, patting his chest and saying, "I've decided to be friends with Old Shi! From now on, no matter what happens in Lin'an City, just say the word, Old Shi, and if I don't come, I'm a son of a bitch!"

Cheng Zongyang almost burst out laughing. Gao Qiu really raised a good son; he'd really make him proud.

"Wait!" Cheng Zongyang saw the jade pendant and quickly snatched it away. "What's this? Damn! Dragon Eye Jade!"

"My father gave it to me. He said it can protect me." Gao Yanei said, "Brother Shi is so generous, I, with my high IQ, can't be so rude. Take it!"

Shi Chao said repeatedly, "It's too precious, too precious!"

"You look down on me!"

"Whether you look down on me or not, you can keep it!" Cheng Zongyang stuffed the jade pendant back into Gao Yanei's waist pouch without saying a word, warning, "You can't just take this kind of thing out like that!"

The Dragon Eye Jade was clearly enchanted, of even higher quality than the jade pendant Yun Cangfeng had worn that day. Gao Qiu had really gone all out for this adopted son.

Gao Yanei didn't dare disobey. After thinking for a while, he took out a token. "I'll give you a token. If you need any odd jobs, just go to the Imperial Guards. They can mobilize ten people at a time."

Cheng Zongyang was both amused and exasperated. These纨绔 (spoiled brats) dared to give away anything they wanted.

"Alright, Fatty Shi, you keep it."

The two exchanged gifts. Gao Yanei looked at the beautiful concubine with increasing admiration, while Shi Chao clutched the token that could mobilize the Imperial Guards as if it were a priceless treasure. The two became increasingly congenial, especially since both were extremely obese. They talked animatedly about the best positions for sex. In the end, they simply left Cheng Zongyang aside and excitedly took their concubines to find a place to practice.

Cheng Zongyang didn't know whether to be annoyed or amused. After the two entered the building, he mischievously turned to the Blue-Faced Beast and Hami Chi and said, "Give them another shock!"

The old orc thrust his wooden staff into the ground, silently chanting a spell. The ground shook violently, and several screams echoed from inside the building.

Cheng Zongyang was amused when suddenly a cry of "Help! Ugh..." came from afar behind him. The person only managed one cry before the sound of gurgling water filled the air.

Turning around, Cheng Zongyang saw ripples spreading across the water behind the artificial hill. Someone had likely been on the hill and fallen in.

"Oh no!"

Cheng Zongyang leaped onto the hill, only to see a man's headscarf floating in the center of the ripples. He was stunned. The voice he'd heard was delicate and soft, clearly a woman's. How could it be a man who had fallen in?

In his surprise, a smooth arm emerged from the water, like a white jade flower branch, waving weakly before disappearing again. Cheng Zongyang didn't dare delay. He immediately jumped into the pond and dog-paddled over, grabbing the woman from the water.

The woman had fallen into the water from the artificial hill, not far from the shore, but her desperate struggles only pulled her further away. Cheng Zongyang finally managed to grab her waist underwater, and the girl shuddered as if electrocuted, then struggled violently. He was an average swimmer, and rescuing someone from the water was never easy; now, with her pushing and kicking, he nearly choked on water. Without hesitation, Cheng Zongyang released a burst of internal energy from his palm, sealing her pressure points, before finally carrying her to the shore.

The woman lay limply on the ground, her beautiful face wet, like a pear blossom in the rain. Her bright, dark eyes darted around, watching him warily.

She was probably in her early twenties, her delicate face like a peony, possessing a rare and striking beauty. Cheng Zongyang was used to seeing beautiful women in elaborate makeup, but this woman had just washed in the water, without a trace of cosmetics. Her delicate skin, fair with a rosy glow, resembled flawless jade, incomparably radiant.

Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He hadn't expected Jade Dew Pavilion to have such a stunning beauty. Of all the women he had ever seen, perhaps only Xiao Zi could compare; the rest paled in comparison. It seemed he should spend more time exploring this place.

The woman's clothes were already soaked, her curvaceous body trembling slightly beneath them. Her starry eyes darted around rapidly, and although she tried to remain calm, she occasionally revealed a look of panic.

As Cheng Zongyang released her pressure points, he asked, "Are you a young lady from Jade Dew Pavilion? What's your name?"

The woman pursed her delicate red lips, remaining silent, staring straight at him as if angry, or perhaps having seen something extraordinary. For a moment, Cheng Zongyang wondered if she might recognize him. However, he was certain he didn't know her, or had never even seen her before. If he had, how could he possibly forget such a breathtaking beauty?

Seeing her dressed in blue men's clothing, her face filled with panic and guilt, Cheng Zongyang suddenly realized

what was going on. He whispered, "You were trying to run away, but you accidentally fell into the water, right?" The woman's lips parted slightly, as if startled by the question. Her beautiful eyes darted around a few times, seemingly considering something, before she finally nodded helplessly.

Cheng Zongyang had seen many prostitutes who willingly stooped to such lowly status for the sake of fine food and clothing. If not counting Zhuo Meiren'er, this was the first one who refused to be a prostitute, which greatly impressed him.

"Don't be afraid, I won't send you back," Cheng Zongyang smiled. "What's your name?"

The woman hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Meiniang."

Sure enough, she was the head prostitute of Yulu Tower. It seemed that the entire garden had been booked by guests today, and she had changed into men's clothing to sneak away, only to be caught in the earth-shaking spell of the beastmen. Falling into the water wasn't the worst of it; her escape plan had been ruined.

"Where's your package? Did you drop it in the water?"

Cheng Zongyang looked into the water, and Meiniang quickly replied, "I don't have any package."

"You only changed your clothes?"

Meiniang nodded.

Gazing at Meiniang's stunning beauty, Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but sigh. Huang Yinglian and Ruan Xianglin were both from respectable families, yet they lacked the self-respect of a mere courtesan. With Meiniang's looks, she would undoubtedly be the top courtesan at Yulu Tower, living a life of luxury, yet she left empty-handed. Her self-reliance and self-respect were truly admirable.

Cheng Zongyang listened to the surrounding sounds. The Thirteen Protectors, who had just rampaged through Lin'an, had returned defeated, and the entire garden was filled with joy. Laughter and chatter were still coming from inside the tower, and no one had noticed the commotion here.

Mei Niang struggled to her feet. "Thank you, but I have to go."

"Your clothes are soaked through. How can you leave? I'll have someone get you some clothes."

"Okay." Mei Niang said, "I need men's clothing."

Cheng Zongyang said to the Blue-Faced Beast, "Go ask Fatty Shi for some clean men's clothing. Two sets!"

A moment later, the Blue-Faced Beast brought over the clothes. Cheng Zongyang took them and looked at them, laughing and cursing, "Damn! Fatty Shi's clothes smell better than women's." His own clothes were also soaked, and although the new clothes smelled wonderful, he had no choice but to change.

"Should I find you a place to change?"

"No need."

Mei Niang wrung out her soaked hair, then directly draped the new clothes over her body, tying the belt. Although it was men's clothing, she still looked beautiful.

Cheng Zongyang kindly said, "If you don't take off your wet clothes, you might get sick."

Mei Niang put on her outer clothes, then nimbly put her hands inside, and soon removed the wet inner garment from her sleeve.

Cheng Zongyang was extremely impressed. This girl was clever enough to take off her clothes from the inside without moving her outer garment.

Mei Niang carefully folded the wet clothes and held them in her hands, then said, "I'll return them to you another day."

Cheng Zongyang said, "You're not going to climb over the wall again, are you? I'm leaving anyway, so I'll give you a ride. I have a lot of people with me, so the gatekeeper might not recognize you. Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video Fan Bingbing's lower body realistic state molded into a highly realistic vulva shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, experience a more realistic feeling... well-proportioned, irresistible! Click to enter."

Mei Niang frowned and thought for a moment, then smiled, "Alright."

"Where are you going?"

Mei Niang thought for a moment, "There's a Gao Qiu, do you know him?"

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Grand Commandant Gao?"

Mei Niang's eyes widened, "Is he a Grand Commandant?"

"Of course." Cheng Zongyang laughed, "How do you know him?"

Mei Niang lowered her head and whispered, "He is... he is... my guest."

Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but laugh.

Mei Niang glanced at him, embarrassed and annoyed. "What are you laughing at?"

"I never thought that old bull Gao Qiu would actually eat such tender grass—that old guy is really tight-lipped, he didn't even tell me."

"You...you two, are you very familiar?"

"Not familiar! Not at all. That old guy never told me about a beauty like you. I'm really not familiar with him."

Mei Niang's jade cheeks flushed slightly, then she lowered her head.

Cheng Zongyang told the blue-faced beast to fetch a horse, saying, "I didn't bring a carriage. If you don't want to walk, you'll have to share a horse with me."

Mei Niang frowned and said, "Aren't there carriages over there?"

"Those are other people's carriages. I only have one horse here."

Those young masters certainly have carriages, but he couldn't just give them away for free. Cheng Zongyang thought to himself, suddenly feeling embarrassed. How come he's like Yue Niaoren, his bottom line is getting lower and lower? Will he also follow Yue Niaoren's old path, turning from an innocent young man into a shameless old rogue?

Mei Niang suddenly smiled and said softly, "How about I ride the horse myself?"

………

...

Cheng Zongyang chuckled inwardly. Making this old fox lose his composure like this was certainly worth the effort. For so many years, to keep it a secret, he hadn't dared keep a single concubine. If he hadn't stumbled upon this by chance, he truly wouldn't have known that Cheng Zongyang had such a confidante in the brothel.

"I greet the Grand Commandant," Cheng Zongyang said, lifting the hem of his robe as if to perform a full kneeling bow.

Gao Qiu's legs buckled, and he awkwardly helped Cheng Zongyang up as if he were about to fall, his eyes fixed on Meiniang. "You...you...this...this..."

Seeing Gao Qiu's incoherent appearance, Cheng Zongyang almost burst out laughing. He said sincerely, "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, I happened to meet this young lady on the road. I heard she was an old friend of yours, so I took the liberty of bringing her to your residence. I wonder if the Grand Commandant knows her?"

Meiniang smiled slightly, "Grand Commandant Gao, hello. I am Meiniang."

Gao Qiu laughed heartily, "So it's Meiniang...hahahaha...this old man...hahahahaha..."

Cheng Zongyang teased, "Could it be that you really know her? Or have you mistaken her for someone else? I wonder how the Grand Commandant and this Miss Meiniang know each other?"

"Of course, we met in a brothel." Mei Niang's beautiful eyes flickered slightly as she softly said, "I met this Grand Commandant Gao after I was sent to the brothel. Although there are many customers in the brothel, only Grand Commandant Gao is a good person. Over the years, as my benefactor, he has taken good care of my business."

Gao Qiu, who had been calm, turned pale upon hearing the last sentence, and stammered, "It's all what I should do, hehehehe..."

"The people in the brothel are treacherous, it's rare that Grand Commandant is a kind person who never forces me to do those difficult things."

Gao Qiu's face turned from pale to green as he coughed and said, "I am ashamed."

"Tsk tsk," Cheng Zongyang lowered his voice and chuckled in Gao Qiu's ear, "I really didn't expect Grand Commandant Gao to be such a chivalrous man. Hey, you once said that good goods should be shared by everyone, and I think Mei Niang is quite good. How about I have a go-to for her?"

Gao Qiu's face turned from pale to green, then to black, a truly fascinating sight. Before Cheng Zongyang could finish speaking, Gao Qiu grabbed his arm. "You're busy with your affairs, so I won't keep you any longer. I won't thank you for your kindness; I'll repay you another day. Farewell. See him out!"

Cheng Zongyang was practically dragged out of the living room by Gao Qiu, and then the door slammed shut behind him.

Cheng Zongyang cupped his hands to his mouth and said through the crack in the door, "Grand Commandant Gao, don't be so hasty! Be gentle. Leave me a little!"

The door flung open, and Gao Qiu emerged with a grim face. In the blink of an eye, Gao Qiu's hat was askew, his forehead was bruised, and his face was so dark it could wring out two pounds of water.

Cheng Zongyang jumped back a step, grinning mischievously, "Grand Commandant, you're too fast!" Mei Niang

, dressed in men's clothing, slowly stepped out and said gently, "Thank you for escorting me to the Grand Commandant's residence. Let me see you off."

Ignoring Gao Qiu's expression, Cheng Zongyang immediately replied, "Alright."

Mei Niang smiled and raised her hand, saying, "Master Cheng, please."

Cheng Zongyang asked curiously, "You know me?" "

I only learned from Grand Commandant Gao that you are an official in the court."

Cheng Zongyang glanced at Gao Qiu's ashen face, then at Mei Niang's beautiful face, as if only now realizing Gao Qiu was still there. He feigned politeness, saying, "The night is too short; how can I let you see me off?"

"Master Cheng, you're too kind." Mei Niang said, taking the lead.

Cheng Zongyang could only make an apologetic gesture to Gao Qiu, following behind Mei Niang while racking his brains for topics to discuss.

“You rode your horse out of the garden just now, weren’t you afraid at all?”

Meiniang asked in surprise, “Afraid of what?”

“Weren’t you afraid of being recognized by the guards of Yulu Tower?”

Meiniang smiled sweetly, “They’ll just think I was taken out by a guest. Who would dare to stop you from having fun, Master?”

Cheng Zongyang teased, “So you were using me as a shield.” “

That’s why I have to thank Master Cheng.”

“How’s business?”

Meiniang was silent for a while, “It’s very difficult.”

“Is that so? I think there’s a huge demand for entertainment in Lin’an.”

“I’ve met the wrong people.” Meiniang sighed softly, “All the distinguished guests in the tower are mediocre people.”

“Is it because you’re too proud?” Cheng Zongyang said, “Just now at Yulu Tower, I saw that the girls in the garden were all quite happy.”

Meiniang glanced at him and suddenly said, “Master Cheng, how about giving me that black horse from earlier?”

If it were any other horse, Cheng Zongyang might have given it away, but he was extremely reluctant to part with Black Pearl and declined, “My bad horse is wild and untamed. If I hadn’t been leading it, it would have thrown you off long ago.”

"Why not find a horse trainer and properly tame it?"

"I've tried. No one could tame it." Cheng Zongyang made up a story: "Several horse trainers have been injured in the process."

"That's because the trainers didn't know the proper methods." Meiniang said dismissively: "Where in the world can't a fine horse be tamed?"

"Oh? You can tame horses too?"

"Taming horses is easy." Meiniang said: "All you need are an iron whip, an iron mace, and a dagger."

Cheng Zongyang laughed: "How can you tame a horse with these things?"

Meiniang calmly said: "If it doesn't submit to the iron whip, then mace its head; if it still doesn't submit, then cut its throat with a dagger."

"Ha, you'll kill the horse, what's the point of taming it..."

Cheng Zongyang laughed halfway through, then suddenly stopped. It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head from mid-air, making him shiver and feel a chill creeping up from the bottom of his heart.

Mei Niang looked at him strangely, "What?"

Cheng Zongyang swallowed hard and said with some difficulty, "Mei Niang...you wouldn't happen to be surnamed Wu, would you?"

Mei Niang paused for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No."

Of course not! Wu Zetian was clearly in the Tang Dynasty!

Cheng Zongyang chuckled inwardly at his own suspicion. There were too many people named Mei Niang, and besides, if Wu Mei Niang existed at this time, she would only be in the Tang Palace in Chang'an, how could she possibly be in a brothel in Lin'an?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

It was already late at night when they returned to Cuiwei Garden. The Jiankang playboys and the Xingyue Lake soldiers were not of the same ilk. Apart from Cheng Zongyang and Xiao Yaoyi acting as intermediaries, the two sides rarely interacted. Therefore, the arrival of Xie Wuyi and his group did not cause any ripples among the Xingyue Lake people.

The courtyard of Yue Shuang was already dark and silent. Cheng Zongyang had tried to get close to her these past few days, but since that one night of passion, the heroes of Xingyue Lake had suddenly remembered their responsibilities, springing up like wheat seedlings to guard Han Cui Ting impenetrably. Yue Shuang hadn't given him another chance; she always came with her subordinates, led by either Cui Mao or Guo Sheng. Even if Cheng Zongyang had two more lives, he wouldn't dare to act like a lovesick fool towards Yue Shuang under the noses of these powerful figures.

However, Cheng Zongyang hadn't wasted these past few days; he had the opportunity to rekindle his romance with Xiang Ya twice. During their conversations, he learned that the Jingxi people, now only women remaining, had two opinions: one was to continue the original practice of using offspring, returning to Jingxi to propagate the tribe if children were born; the other was to leave the tribe and integrate into the Six Dynasties through marriage. Although the number of people holding the latter opinion was small, it was slowly increasing. Seeing this branch of the Jingxi people about to disappear as a tribe added to Xiang Ya's worries.

"If you ask me, it's best to let things take their natural course," Cheng Zongyang comforted her after a tender moment. "Those who wish to continue the tribe can stay. The trade route from Yunzhou to Muyu City passes through Jingxi, so there's no need to worry about food and clothing. Jin Wuzhu's beast-barbarian tribe has now moved there to be your neighbors, so safety isn't a concern either. They can marry if they want, and those of you who stay in the tribe can even find husbands to marry into your families."

Xiang Ya stroked his chest and smiled, "What if I were to marry you?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled wryly, "I'd like to, but it's not time to retire yet—Qin Huizhi is quite good, wouldn't you consider it?"

Xiang Ya smiled, "His new wife is very capable."

"Really? Where did you hear that?" Cheng Zongyang immediately perked up his ears at the mention of gossip.

“I heard it from Major Yue,” Xiang Ya said. “Major Yue looks down on most men, but he's taken a liking to Lady Qin. He even invited her to the camp to handle paperwork yesterday.”

“Absolutely not!”

Xiang Ya asked curiously, “Why?”

Cheng Zongyang opened his mouth, but couldn’t find any reason to give. To be honest, since Qin Hui’s path had changed, Wang Shi might not be as treacherous as in history. Besides—with that dead girl in charge, Cheng Zongyang really didn’t believe any woman could stir up any trouble under her control.

“They’ve just gotten married, and you’re already making them live apart? That’s inhumane!” Cheng Zongyang finally found this reason and quickly changed the subject, “What about Miss Shishi? Did Yue say anything?”

“Major Yue doesn’t like Miss Shishi very much. He said she’s too glamorous and not suitable for the army,” Xiang Ya said with a smile, “She can only be a vase for some rich nouveau riche.”

This was blatant prejudice and jealousy! However, Cheng Zongyang had no interest in correcting Yue Shuang’s opinion of Li Shishi. If Yueyatou takes a liking to Li Shishi, she might just poach her into her own camp. The thought of having to report to the camp and plead with the gatekeeper just to see Li Shishi is terrifying. Ideally, Yueyatou would make things difficult for Li Shishi at every turn, making her cry, so he could offer her comfort with open arms…

Looking at Yueyatou's dark courtyard and recalling his thoughts from that day, Cheng Zongyang muttered to himself, "Am I being possessed by Yueyatou? Why am I becoming more and more like a birdman?"

The outer courtyard of Cuiwei Garden was tranquil, but the inner courtyard was bustling with activity. Qi Yuan, Yi Biao, Lin Qingpu, Kuang Zhongyu, Feng Yuan, and others were all in the courtyard. Unconcerned about being seen as rude, they lit a bonfire in front of the Fragrant Snow Pavilion, where plum blossoms were admired, and roasted two cleaned, fat sheep over a fire.

Of course, Jin Wuzhu and Leopard Head were also among the crowd. The two barbarian warriors, their mouths watering, kept swallowing hard. Seeing Hami Chi, whose fur was mottled, they rushed over, shouting, "Uncle!"

Hami Chi nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction in his single eye. He stuck his wooden staff into the ground, grabbed a whole sheep, and first tore off a hind leg for Leopard Head, then another for Blue-Faced Beast. The two large animals squatted nearby like big cats, eating with relish, occasionally stretching their heads to rub against Hami Chi's legs, their expressions happy.

Hami Chi then tore off a foreleg for Jin Wuzhu. Cheng Zongyang thought that would be the end of it after the last leg, but to his surprise, Hami Chi grabbed the sheep's head and ripped it off along with the neck bone, presenting it to himself with both hands.

Seeing Cheng Zongyang's stunned expression, Qi Yuan laughed, "This half-section is a good thing. Chief Cheng, take it quickly."

Cheng Zongyang took the sheep's head and, imitating the barbarian, took a bite. The old orc nodded in satisfaction, then tore off a leg of lamb, dismantled the remaining lamb skeleton, and handed a piece to each person.

When it was Kuang Zhongyu's turn, he slightly raised his hand, and the entire lamb rib seemed to be twisted by an invisible hand, the ribs cracking with a sound.

Cheng Zongyang held the lamb's head in one hand, watching Kuang Zhongyu with amusement. During the Battle of Jiangzhou, the Xingyue Lake camp and Qin Han's Beastman camp had clashed many times. Now, encountering a Beastman sorcerer, Kuang Zhongyu, the Xingyue Lake camp's dedicated mage, finally couldn't resist a contest.

Hami Chi lowered his eyes, letting the lamb rib be kneaded into a fist-sized meatball, and handed to Kuang Zhongyu as if he hadn't seen it.

Kuang Zhongyu had the upper hand, smiled reservedly, and then took a bite of the meatball. Unexpectedly, with a "sizzle," a burst of meat juice splattered out, instantly covering his face, and the roasted meat in the center of the meatball turned into broth.

Kuang Zhongyu's chest and sleeves were covered in steaming meat juices,

making him look utterly disheveled. The crowd, who had been somewhat apprehensive about the two's subtle rivalry, couldn't help but burst into laughter at Kuang Zhongyu's embarrassing state.

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Old Kuang, you've really embarrassed yourself this time!"

Kuang Zhongyu wiped the meat juices from his face with one hand, still reluctant to put down the lamb chops and meatballs in the other, and finally laughed himself, "This embarrassment was worth it! This broth is so delicious! I wouldn't trade it for a sheep's head!"

The crowd roared with laughter. Yi Biao picked up the wine jar, broke the clay seal with one hand, and Qi Yuan deftly laid out a row of earthenware bowls. The group sat down on the ground, one hand holding lamb, the other wine, and shouted in unison, "Cheers!"

The four barbarian beastmen were unsparing in their lamb consumption and even more so in their drinking. Even Cheng Zongyang, a man of considerable capacity, was thoroughly drunk. He tugged at Kuang Zhongyu's sleeve and said, "Old Kuang, I haven't settled accounts with you yet! Tell me! What despicable thing have you done!"

Kuang Zhongyu chuckled and said, "Congratulations, congratulations. Young master's luck with women is quite good."

Cheng Zongyang laughed and scolded, "I only found out after asking! It was all your bad idea. You're a fortune teller, how come you're also a pimp?"

"Major Cheng, that's not very kind of you to say." Kuang Zhongyu teased, "When we met by the lake that day, young master's lustful thoughts were clearly written on his face. I'm not blind, how could I not see it? That woman surnamed Ruan isn't exactly chaste and virtuous. I just went with the flow and played matchmaker for the two of you."

"You can even say something like 'a mother in place of a daughter,' have you forgotten all your morals since childhood?"

Kuang Zhongyu took a sip of wine and slowly said, "It's only right for those under the tutelage of the Bright Temple." Cheng Zongyang clung to

Kuang Zhongyu's shoulder, "What grudge do we, the Xingyue Lake camp, have against the Bright Temple?" Kuang Zhongyu raised his cup and took a swig, panting,

"Commander Yue is like a brother and a father to us, of course it's a blood feud for killing our father and brother!" ……… ...

After a long while, Cheng Zongyang shook his throbbing head and got up from the bed. Neither Zhuo Yunjun nor Ruan Xiangning were in the pavilion. He walked to the railing of the waterside pavilion, gripped it with both hands, and gazed at the vast expanse of West Lake's blue waves. A sudden impulse welled up within him.

Cheng Zongyang pushed off with both hands and leaped directly into the lake from the third floor of the waterside pavilion. The lake water surged up, submerging his entire body.

A loud splash echoed in his ears as his body rapidly sank. In a daze, it seemed as if he were back in the night of his escape from Jiankang, only this time, Xiao Zi was missing from his arms. "

You brat, why aren't you here yet?"

Only when his lungs were empty of oxygen and he could no longer sustain himself did Cheng Zongyang surface, gasping for breath.

He swam for a quarter of an hour before returning.

The heat had dissipated, and his mind seemed much clearer. Cheng Zongyang lay on his back in the water, swimming slowly, feeling the silky smooth and cool lake water, his mind seemingly merging with the water.

Willow branches, like wisps of smoke, drooped to the outside of the Cuiwei Garden's wall, and faint voices drifted from the waterside pavilion.

"So you've climbed the social ladder," Madam Liang's voice sneered. "No wonder you ignore me."

Ruan Xianglin retorted angrily, "Aren't you the same? Besides, the Liang family has fallen from grace; it's not your place to lecture me."

"So you've really grown wings, not even putting our Liang family in your eyes!" Madam Liang retorted. "Even though our Liang family has fallen, I am still a titled lady! What are you? A lowly servant girl from a commoner's family! Even my servants are more noble than you!"

Ruan Xianglin, stung by her words, turned pale and fell silent.

"You think you have some beauty and can stand on equal footing with Young Master Cheng?" Madam Liang mocked. "Don't forget, you served my child. What if Young Master Cheng gets tired of you—" Madam Liang's sarcasm suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed on Ruan Xianglin's wrist.

Ruan Xianglin wore a gold bracelet with intricate patterns on her wrist. The ruby, the size of a longan, shone brilliantly against her snow-white wrist in the light.

Ruan Xianglin glanced at the bracelet with some surprise. Although the bracelet was valuable, given the Liang family's past power, it was unlikely they would be so astonished.

Madam Liang was first surprised, then suspicious, and then stared blankly at the gold bracelet as if she had lost her soul.

With a splash, Cheng Zongyang emerged from the water, shirtless, and walked into the waterside pavilion. He casually picked up a cloth and wiped the water off himself.

Madam Liang turned her face away, her gaze towards Cheng Zongyang filled with awe, like someone entering the palace to pay respects to a noble during a festival, not daring to utter a sound.

"There's a timber shop for sale in the north of the city," Cheng Zongyang instructed. "Go take a look. If it's a good deal, take it in your name."

Madam Liang whispered, "Yes."

"Also, this is my new concubine." Cheng Zongyang put his arm around Ruan Xianglin's shoulder, letting her lean against his bare chest. "Don't flaunt your little title in front of her."

Madam Liang paused for a moment before understanding, and timidly said, "Young Master..."

"Go."

Watching Madam Liang leave dejectedly, Ruan Xianglin was overjoyed, her eyebrows and eyes beaming with smiles.

"How's your etiquette?"

Ruan Xianglin bowed and said sweetly, "This humble concubine greets my lord."

"How did they teach you?" Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Quite well."

Ruan Xianglin showed a hint of shyness. "The maids by my aunt's side taught me step by step." Empress

Dowager Liu E, as the Grand Empress Dowager, was so concerned about her taking a concubine. It could only mean that she had been lonely in the palace for too long and finally had something she enjoyed doing.

Ruan Xianglin glanced at him with her watery eyes, "Does my lord wish for me to serve him?"

Cheng Zongyang sighed, "If I could spare another person, you wouldn't have to leave today. Let me see what your concubine has taught you. Where are Consort Zhuo and Consort Ning?"

Ruan Xianglin replied, "This servant has only been here half an hour and hasn't seen them."

He had forbidden Ruan Xiangning from leaving the waterside pavilion, and this was the first time the two of them had disappeared without a word. However, he wasn't afraid that Zhuo Yunjun would repeat his old trick and even abduct Ruan Xiangning—that brat wouldn't leave such a big loophole.

As Ruan Xianglin dressed her master, he groped her all over. After a few moments of intimacy, Cheng Zongyang, thinking about what he needed to do today, barely managed to suppress his lust.

Ruan Xianglin leaned against him, taking out a piece of paper from her pocket. Cheng Zongyang glanced at it and saw it was Chief Escort Li's resume. He couldn't help but smile, pinching Ruan Xianglin's round buttocks before casually stuffing it into his sleeve.

Chapter Eight

"Master! I've been waiting for half a day!" Gao Yanei said excitedly, "Let's go now!"

"Where to?" "

About the Buddhist Heart Nunnery!" Gao Yanei immediately became anxious, "Didn't Master say I should come today?"

"Oh. I almost forgot." Cheng Zongyang teased him while saying, "Master Feng!"

Feng Yuan came over and said, "Boss Cheng."

"Do you remember what I told you last time?"

Feng Yuan chuckled, "Everything's ready!"

Cheng Zongyang said to Gao Yanei, "This is Master Feng, you go with him."

"Master, aren't you going?" Gao Yanei asked. "I'm worried if you don't go, Master..."

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "Don't worry. Feng Dafa is enough. How about I bring two more beast warriors for you? Now you're more confident, right? But if you bring beast warriors, you can't bring any of your guards; you'll have to go by yourself."

Upon hearing that there were beast warriors, Gao Yanei was immediately relieved. "Okay! I'll listen to you, Master!"

Gao Yanei excitedly went to call for someone to prepare the horses. Cheng Zongyang stopped Feng Yuan and whispered, "After we leave Lin'an City, no matter how much he throws a tantrum, don't pay any attention to him. If he really doesn't listen, tie him up. Remember, don't treat him like a young master; just treat him like your caravan's lackey. If this brat dares not to work, beat him if you need to, scold him if you need to! Just don't hit his face."

Feng Yuan laughed, "Boss Cheng, don't worry! We'll take the back roads after we leave Lin'an; we'll keep a close eye on him."

“Old Ao has changed course and is heading north. You will meet him within the territory of Han. Take plenty of money, but don’t let him see it. Once you reach Han, say you have no money and let him make the decision. If he can’t make a decision, you will eat quietly and let him go hungry.”

“Boss Cheng, is it really okay to be so repressed? No matter what, Gao Yanei is a young master, he can’t compare to us.”

“A person’s martial arts will improve when he is repressed. As long as he doesn’t die from repression.” Cheng Zongyang then instructed, “Be careful on the road. Don’t let anything happen to him. Old Shu and Old Leopard will stay in Lin’an. Green-faced Beast and Hami Chi will go with you. If something serious happens, listen to Hami Chi.”

“Alright!” Feng Yuan said again, “Boss Cheng, as you said, I made more than a dozen small ones. All the Dragon Eye Jade is used up. I’ll take six, and I’ll keep the rest for you. They’re under Old Feng’s bed, on the fourth brick from the west. Carefully dig them open, there’s a box inside. I’ve wrapped each one in cotton.”

"Alright." Cheng Zongyang patted his back. "Take care on your journey. I'll be in Canglan for a maximum of three months. After three months, no matter how business is, you all have to come back."

Feng Yuan hesitated. "Isn't three months a bit long?"

"Just three months!" Cheng Zongyang sighed. "If I don't handle him well this time, I'm out of options."

Gao Yanei sat astride his horse, looking smug and full of ambition, completely unaware of the tragic fate that awaited him.

" Fine

!"

Inside the post station in Lin'an, Zhang Shaohuang slammed his fist on the table in anger, shouting, "You lot are having your own fun without even calling me! Do you even consider me a brother?!"

"My lord, please calm down!" Cheng Zongyang laughed, "You just arrived in Lin'an, and I heard that Han Jiefu of the Privy Council personally entertained you and gave you a welcome feast. Even if I called you, could you leave all the Song officials in the post station and sneak out on your own?"

"What's so difficult about that? I've seen enough of the faces of these Song officials! Today I'll feign illness! I'll deal with them again at the Thousand Autumns Festival!" Zhang Shaohuang said, "I heard you drank Lanqiao Fengyue at Yulu Tower last night? I have to try that. What are you waiting for? Hurry up! Lead the way!"

Cheng Zongyang smiled wryly, "My lord Zhang, it's not even noon yet. Didn't you hear that last night the young lord drank dozens of girls in Yulu Tower under the table? He probably hasn't woken up yet."

"You!" Zhang Shaohuang pointed at him, then after a long pause, flung his hand away, pacing around in anger.

"Seriously," Cheng Zongyang said, "What important matter brings you to Lin'an this time?"

Zhang Shaohuang replied irritably, "Nothing important, just a show." The fact that

Jin sent an envoy to Lin'an to offer birthday greetings while the war in Jiangzhou was raging already demonstrated Jin's official stance. But Cheng Zongyang didn't believe Wang Maohong's purpose was so simple.

"Really?"

"Prime Minister Wang also asked me to deliver a gift to Grand Tutor Jia."

Cheng Zongyang became interested. "What gift?"

Shaohuang had someone bring a scroll, a calligraphy piece written by Wang Maohong himself.

Cheng Zongyang opened the scroll and saw four magnificent characters: Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruits.

"That's quite a vulgar phrase." Cheng Zongyang had only smiled halfway when he sensed something was amiss and clicked his tongue.

Jia Shixian had held absolute power in Song for over ten years and was already at the pinnacle of officialdom. The wise course of action would have been to relinquish power before the conflict escalated, ensuring a life of uninterrupted wealth and honor for retired ministers, given the generous treatment Song courts offered.

Wang Maohong and Jia Shixian were of similar status, both having served as prime ministers for many years. Even when serving a ruler who was utterly incompetent, Wang Maohong feigned ignorance and bided his time. Instead of advising Jia Shixian to retire gracefully, his calligraphy excessively praised him—if that pretty-boy Song emperor knew, he'd want to kill Jia.

However, Wang Maohong's calligraphy was extremely tactful; it could be interpreted as an affirmation of Jia Shixian's achievements. It could even be interpreted as the harvest being plentiful, and it was time to rest—these four words were open to interpretation by the various ministers of Song, each with their own agendas. Wang Maohong's true intentions were neither important nor cared about.

Cheng Zongyang held the calligraphy for a long time before saying, "Our Prime Minister Wang is afraid that the Song Dynasty is too peaceful, so he specially sent this knife, right? He'll only be satisfied if there's a life-or-death struggle in the Lin'an court, won't he?"

"Nonsense! What life-or-death struggle?" Zhang Shaohuang picked at his nails and said, "If you ask me, it would be better if none of us lived."

“Is such deep-seated hatred necessary?”

Zhang Shaohuang sighed. “What hatred is there? It’s just self-defense.” He put down his small silver knife and said in a low voice, “This spring, Jiankang suffered a severe drought, and a poor harvest is inevitable. It would be good if we could collect 40% of the autumn taxes this year.”

Cheng Zongyang was startled. “That bad?”

Zhang Shaohuang nodded slightly, then said, “Of the three northern dynasties, Han and Tang were first-rate powers. Qin, though slightly smaller, had the most resilient army and was not to be trifled with. Of the three southern dynasties, Zhaonan dominated the south, leaving Jin and Song, each with its own troubles. But in any case, Jin cannot be the weakest sheep.”

Cheng Zongyang thought for a long time, then smiled and said, “It’s rare to see Lord Zhang so insightful about the current situation.”

“I have no patience for these things,” Zhang Shaohuang said. “Prime Minister Wang specifically asked me to tell you this.”

Cheng Zongyang was astonished. “Telling me these important military and national affairs? Prime Minister Wang isn’t mistaken, is he?”

"I think Prime Minister Wang intends for you to use the Yun family's wealth to stabilize the situation."

This was just Zhang Shaohuang's guess, but Cheng Zongyang was certain that Wang Maohong didn't mean that—with those two old foxes, Prime Minister Wang and Grand Tutor Xie, squeezing some oil out of the Yun family would be a piece of cake.

Leaving the post station, Cheng Zongyang ordered, "From now on, all merchants should purchase grain with all their might."

Qi Yuan asked in surprise, "Boss Cheng, are you going to speculate on grain?"

"To save our lives." Cheng Zongyang said briefly, "Try not to alarm the outside world and avoid raising grain prices. Also, following the example of the Song Dynasty, establish a granary in Jiangzhou, the larger the better. Also, ask Lord Xiao to set one up in Ningzhou as well."

Qi Yuan asked, "Should we set one up in Jiankang as well?"

"I guess you can't set one up in Jiankang." Cheng Zongyang said, "The land in the counties surrounding Jiankang is all in the hands of powerful families, the grain business is simply impossible—do it!"

Cheng Zongyang suddenly realized why Wang Maohong had Zhang Shaohuang relay his message. The powerful clans of Jin were deeply entrenched, each with their own agendas. Even with the Wang and Xie families leading the charge, it was unlikely they would contribute grain to weather the crisis. In contrast, the scions of these powerful families he had befriended shared only drinking and dining ties; there was no need for loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, or moral obligations. Their business partnerships were purely based on naked self-interest, making agreements much easier to reach than the power struggles of the court.

Wang Maohong's status and position made it difficult for him to speak freely. By using Zhang Shaohuang to spread the news of the severe drought in Jin, he was both leveraging his own power and setting a trap for himself—a trap he was not only willing to fall into, but willingly one at that—after all, it was a highly profitable business. "

Men die for wealth, birds die for food"—this saying was absolutely true. If he let this opportunity slip by, his shareholders would curse him to death. Moreover, with him in charge, the situation would be far more favorable than those powerful clans who were exploiting the situation to the point of selling grain at pearl prices. So, with just one sentence, Old Wang managed to get him to put in a tremendous amount of effort to handle things for him, while the old man only needed to fan himself in the Prime Minister's residence.

"That old fox!" Cheng Zongyang chuckled and cursed, thinking to himself: Want to be idle? Not so easy! I'll live in the Jin Palace for half a year, sleeping from the East Palace to the West Palace, and make you clean up my mess!

"Boss Cheng," Qi Yuan reminded him, "shouldn't the date for the shareholders' meeting be set?"

"A few major shareholders haven't arrived yet, let's wait until everyone is here." Cheng Zongyang reined in his horse, "You guys go back first, I have an appointment, I'll return to the garden later."

………………………………………………………………………………………

Cheng Zongyang waited at Oak Roof for half an hour before Gao Qiu finally appeared.

"Master Su, have a taste!" Cheng Zongyang said enthusiastically, "Authentic Jiankang fish sauce! Just transported from thousands of miles away."

Gao Qiu snorted, poured himself a cup of hops wine, and said in a deep voice, "What business do you have with me?"

"Master Su, why is your face so long? Did I disturb your good time with Meiniang?"

"Enough nonsense!"

"It's like the matchmaker has been thrown over the wall after the new bride is in bed—Master Su, don't glare at me! I won't tease Meiniang anymore, okay? Speaking of which, Master Su is really quite attentive to Meiniang. This is the first time I've seen Master Su get so angry over a woman."

Seeing Gao Qiu's face darken again, Cheng Zongyang said with a grin, "Although Meiniang is a beauty, Master Su wouldn't turn against me for a courtesan, would he?"

Gao Qiu's face stiffened for a moment, then he forced a smile and said kindly, "What are you saying! I have no daughters of my own, and I've always treated Meiniang like a daughter. Hahaha..."

Cheng Zongyang drawled, "Really? How about you make me your son-in-law?"

Gao Qiu slammed his tin wine cup heavily on the table.

Cheng Zongyang raised his hands, "I won't talk about Meiniang anymore! I absolutely won't!"

Cheng Zongyang personally picked up a piece of fish sauce and placed it on a plate. After Gao Qiu calmed down, he bent down and took a piece of paper from his boot and placed it on the table. "This person, help promote him."

Gao Qiu glanced at it. "Head of the escort agency? Where is he from?"

"Weiyuan Escort Agency, an old hand, his skills are decent."

"Easy." Gao Qiu said, "Have him send his resume tomorrow, give him a ninth-rank military officer position first. The Beijing garrison suffered heavy losses this time and needs to replenish its manpower. Make sure he brings more money during the assessment, a seventh-rank military officer is a sure thing."

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "Master Su is indeed fair and honest, no cheating the young or old."

Gao Qiu's expression returned to composure, and he said generously, "In business, of course, fairness must be upheld."

"Speaking of business, I wonder if Master Su would be interested in some shares?"

"What shares?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled slightly. "A small business, ten shares in total in the Song Kingdom. Each share is worth twenty thousand gold coins."

"Where are the shares?"

"The Cheng family of Panjiang."

Gao Qiu smiled reservedly. "Twenty thousand gold coins is no small sum."

Cheng Zongyang said, "To be honest, Master Su, this is the third batch of shares. The first batch of ten shares was a year ago, without a single coin in cash. The second batch of ten shares was four months ago, priced at two thousand gold coins per share. Now this is the third batch, twenty thousand gold coins per share."

Gao Qiu's expression shifted slightly. "Ten shares in total in the Song Kingdom? Has anyone bought them?"

"Yes," Cheng Zongyang said without hesitation, "Grand Tutor Jia has one share, Han Jiefu and Shi Tongshu each have half. Cai Yuanchang is quite wealthy, he directly took one share. Master Su, are you interested in taking one share?"

Gao Qiu snorted coldly, "Give me two shares. Both in Shang'er's name."

Cheng Zongyang gave him a thumbs up admiringly, "Master Su, you've done a really good job as a godfather."

Turning zero into 20,000 gold coins in a year, others might think it's a joke to buy a share that was originally worthless with 20,000 gold coins, but Gao Qiu saw the huge profit behind it. In fact, Cheng Zongyang had been persuading the officials he had befriended in the past few days, and it didn't take much effort to get Jia Shixian, Cai Yuanchang, Han Jiefu, Shi Tongshu and others to take shares, not because he had enough influence, but because those men all saw this point. In this respect, these men could be considered to have the same insight as these cunning heroes.

Gao Qiu said, "As I grow older, I must leave some inheritance for my son."

Cheng Zongyang didn't reply, only lowered his head to peel fruit, and the atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Gao Qiu was also a seasoned veteran, his ability to read people's expressions was already superb. He held a cup of hops wine in one hand, seemingly about to drink but not quite, patiently dealing with Cheng Zongyang.

In the end, Cheng Zongyang couldn't hold back any longer. He put down the fruit, "I have something to apologize to Master Su—the young master has already left Lin'an."

Gao Qiu picked up his wine cup and took a sip, saying calmly, "Where did you take Shang'er to fool around again?"

Cheng Zongyang coughed and honestly replied, "He went to the Han Kingdom to learn how to do business."

"Pfft!" Gao Qiu spat out a mouthful of wine.

"Absurd!" Gao Qiu slammed his fist on the table. "Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants! Merchants are the lowest of the four classes! Merchants have businesses, so they can hire servants to manage them. Why do they need to learn business themselves! The Han Kingdom—" He roared, "The Han people are fierce! There are many lawless tyrants! Cunning and tyrannical officials! Brave and violent wandering knights! How can my son go to such a place!"

Gao Qiu unleashed a torrent of abuse, and Cheng Zongyang, sprayed with spittle, didn't dare wipe it away. He had to force a smile and refill Gao Qiu's teacup. "Master Su, please calm down. Have a cup of tea to cool down."

"Enough!" Gao Qiu snapped. "I must return to the manor immediately and summon the Imperial Guards to chase after Shang'er!"

Cheng Zongyang handed the teacup to Gao Qiu and said seriously, "This time, if you bring him back, Gao Zhishang will be completely ruined."

Gao Qiu glared at him angrily.

"The Grand Commandant's meticulous care for the young master is evident to all. But the Grand Commandant must have heard about the things the young master usually does, right?"

Gao Qiu sneered, "It's just some petty dealings with a few friends he gets along with. What's wrong with that? Shang'er's prestige among the young people doesn't come from me!"

Cheng Zongyang almost spat out his words. Prestige, indeed... Gao Qiu's favoritism is beyond measure.

“Grand Commandant, I’m serious—the young master isn’t stupid; in fact, he’s quite clever.”

“Nonsense!” Gao Qiu retorted, “He’s the child I raised from childhood!”

Cheng Zongyang ignored his boasting. “But if Grand Commandant weren’t here now, could the young master support this family business?”

Gao Qiu hesitated for a moment. “It’s not impossible.”

“Frankly—impossible.” Cheng Zongyang said, “Grand Commandant, you must know that among those nobles in the court, while not all are beasts in human clothing, half are wolves in sheep’s clothing! You know more about the Wei Gouhou affair than I do. He was simply overestimating himself, coveting a title, and ended up like a lamb entering a wolf’s den, his body vanished without a trace, and even his wife and daughters became a laughingstock.”

Gao Qiu said, “His pawnshop committed too many evils; this retribution is only to be expected.”

"Pine trees don't grow in greenhouses, and eagles don't grow in cages," Cheng Zongyang said. "Young Master Gao is not lacking in intelligence, but in experience."

Gao Qiu remained silent for a long time before saying in a deep voice, "No matter how eloquently you speak, I am still worried. This journey to the Han Kingdom is long and arduous. If Shang'er suffers even the slightest mishap, how can I face my benefactor? Your suggestion of experience is indeed valid. I will have Fu An lead a whole unit of elite Imperial Guards to accompany Shang'er on his training journey..."

"Stop!" Cheng Zongyang quickly interrupted him. "A whole unit? This is for war, isn't it? At most, five people!"

"Do you know that the chivalrous knights of the North are ruthless and cunning? They value promises above all else, disregard life and death, and will draw their swords at the slightest disagreement!" Gao Qiu said, "Under no circumstances can there be fewer than fifty Imperial Guards!"

"Ten!" Cheng Zongyang gritted his teeth and said, "And they can't show their faces! They can only guard from the shadows! Otherwise, this matter is over. You can beat me to death, but I won't tell you where the young master is."

Gao Qiu pointed at him and shouted angrily, "You!"

Cheng Zongyang pulled open his collar, patted his neck with a roguish look, and said, "If you have the guts, take the Dragon-Slaying Saber and chop it here!"

Gao Qiu stomped his foot angrily and left.

Having acted first and reported later, he had finally forced Gao Qiu to let Gao Yanei go and train. Cheng Zongyang felt a sense of relief. The path had been paved for Gao Yanei. How he walked from there was up to his own fate. If Gao Yanei was really Yue Niaoren's son, then he had done right by his father-in-law.

Seeing that it was already noon, Cheng Zongyang ate something quickly and then hurried back to Cuiwei Garden.

The garden was quiet. Under the willow shade in the inner courtyard, two women sat talking. One, a middle-aged woman, still alluring to the bone—it was Lan Gu. The other, with a supple figure and wanton manner, was You Chan, the former casino owner.

Cheng Zongyang walked over and laughed, "I was just about to introduce you, but you two started chatting first."

The two women stood up and said, "Young Master." As they spoke, Lan Gu gave them a flirtatious wink.

Cheng Zongyang waved his hands repeatedly, "Lan Gu, please spare me. Save that wink for Fourth Brother; I can't handle it."

Lan Gu laughed and spat, "So, Young Master is just a pretty face."

"You know such a private secret of mine?" Cheng Zongyang cried out, "Lan Gu! Please don't tell anyone!"

You Chan, having been crippled by the Black Demon Sea as a traitor, only managed to get up after several days of recuperation. Although she wore light makeup, her face still appeared pale from blood loss. She watched this scene with a mixture of surprise and amusement. During their earlier conversation, You Chan had already learned of Lan Gu's background, but she hadn't expected the original owner of the "Flying Bird Jonin" to be so easygoing.

Cheng Zongyang asked, "What are you talking about? You seem so happy."

Lan Gu smiled and said, "Isn't it all because of that big promise you made, young master? It's completely captivated me. We just happened to meet Manager You today, and the more we talk, the more we click."

“Great! Your brothel and You Chan’s casino can be neighbors in the future.” Cheng Zongyang laughed. “Why don’t you two partner up and set up a brothel-gambling den, with all the dealers being naked young girls? I guarantee the gamblers will be ecstatic and scrambling to lose money.”

The two women laughed. “Being completely naked is less alluring; the more revealing, the more seductive.”

Cheng Zongyang generously said, “You two are experts in this, so I’ll just offer my opinion. The businesses in Lin’an will be temporarily managed by Qin Huizhi. If you have any ideas, just tell him. Don’t worry about saving me money, but you will need the space.”

Lan Gu smiled and said, “Don’t worry, young master. I understand.”

Cheng Zongyang took You Chan’s hand and felt her pulse. “Take good care of yourself. The gambling den won’t open for at least half a year, so there’s no need to rush.”

"Yes. I understand."

Cheng Zongyang smiled slightly, then whispered in her ear, "Find a good family and marry her."

You Chan trembled, her eyes filled with doubt, then turned resentful.

Cheng Zongyang sighed inwardly. Given his kindness to You Chan, anyone would consider it a matter of course to take her into their household, and no one would utter a single word of objection. But Cheng Zongyang knew that while he might gain some advantage, it would ultimately harm You Chan.

He had no interest in building a vast harem, taking every woman he encountered into his possession, perhaps only seeing them once a month, and then clinging to them. Rather than letting these women remain idle, causing a great waste and risking being cuckolded, it was better to part amicably and leave each other with some goodwill.

"Young Master." Wang Hui rushed out, trying to remain calm, but a hint of anxiety showed in her eyes. She said urgently, "Shishi is missing."

Cheng Zongyang was stunned for a moment. "How could she be missing?"

"Shishi usually gets up very early, but this morning when I went to talk to her, I didn't see her. I thought she had gone out on business and didn't pay much attention. But by noon, she was still nowhere to be seen, so I started to feel strange. When I asked everyone, they all said they hadn't seen Shishi."

First Zhuo Yunjun and Ruan Xiangning disappeared, and now Li Shishi was missing. The more Cheng Zongyang thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. He comforted her, "Maybe she went to the money exchange. I'll send someone to check."

Wang Hui's next sentence was like a bucket of cold water being poured over Cheng Zongyang's head, "Eunuch Guo is also missing!"

"Qingpu! Lao Shu! Han Yu!"

Cheng Zongyang called everyone over in a row. Hearing that two people were missing from the garden, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Cheng Zongyang had a difficult situation to explain. He had kept Ruan Xiangning and Zhuo Yunjun's affair a secret from everyone—after all, it was really inappropriate to talk about Lin Niangzi in his room. Of course, everyone knew that he had a woman in his room, but no one asked any questions.

This commotion also alerted the outer courtyard. Cui Mao, dressed in a blue robe, slowly approached. Hearing Cheng Zongyang questioning Li Shishi and Guo Huai, he took a sip of wine and nonchalantly said, "They left early this morning."

Jin Wuzhu exclaimed, "Impossible! I can sleep with my eyes open!" "They didn't go through the main gate

; they went by the lake, " Cheng Zongyang said . "

Sixth Brother, how do you know so clearly?" "Fifth Brother Lu came back this morning and saw them off," Cheng Zongyang exclaimed. " Why didn't he tell me? Where did Fifth Brother Lu take them?" Cui Mao said, "Most likely to Yuntao Temple." ……… ... Since being labeled a traitor by the Song Dynasty, the Xingyue Lake Camp and the Song Dynasty had become bitter enemies. However, the degree of hostility between the Xingyue Lake Camp and the Song Dynasty varied, with Si Mingxin and Lu Jing being the most vehement. Xiao Yaoyi mentioned that the two of them had once broken into the Song Palace to question the Empress Dowager about the whereabouts of Yue Shuai's eldest daughter. Although they got no results, their attitude was evident. He wouldn't be surprised if Lu Jing caused trouble for Guo Huai—but what did that have to do with Li Shishi? Cheng Zongyang arrived at Yuntao Temple in a daze, only to find the gates tightly closed. The eunuch inside said that there were matters to attend to at the temple that day, and no one was allowed to enter. Cheng Zongyang didn't waste any words with him and found a secluded spot to climb over the wall and enter. Yuntao Temple was located at the foot of Nanping Mountain and covered a vast area. Fortunately, he had been there before and roughly knew the location, so he headed towards the place where Liu E had taken a concubine for him. Just as he rounded the corner, a sudden gust of wind rushed from behind, followed by a searing heat as if his back were being burned by a palm strike. Cheng Zongyang shifted his body to the side, bracing himself against the courtyard wall to neutralize the threat from behind, before unleashing a palm strike. Opposite him was an elderly Taoist priest, but judging from his bald chin, he was most likely a palace eunuch. Their palms clashed, and the eunuch let out a muffled groan, retreating while clutching his bleeding hand. Before Cheng Zongyang could fully unleash his power, he drew a coral dagger from his sleeve, piercing a transparent hole in the eunuch's palm. The eunuch let out a shriek, and moments later, the faint sound of clothes rustling through the air could be heard in the distance. Several eunuchs guarding the Taoist temple arrived instantly, surrounding Cheng Zongyang. These eunuchs were all quite skilled, though still a step below Guo Da Diao Dang, but with several of them attacking at once, escape would be difficult. The leading eunuch was about to speak when Cheng Zongyang suddenly released his grip, tossing aside the exceptionally sharp dagger. He then raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm here to find someone, not to fight!" Suddenly, someone behind him exclaimed sharply, "So it's Young Master!" Chen Lin stepped forward from the crowd, knelt down, and bowed. "This servant greets Young Master." Cheng Zongyang asked, "Your concubine has arrived too?" "She arrived just half an hour ago." "No wonder the gate was so tightly closed." Chen Lin said, "This servant went to fetch Young Master, but I didn't expect you to have arrived already. This way, please." Only then did the other eunuchs realize Cheng Zongyang's identity. They bowed respectfully and then withdrew, even the eunuch whose hand he had injured earlier showed no resentment. Cheng Zongyang picked up the dagger and asked curiously as he walked, "What business requires your esteemed presence, Aunt?" Chen Lin bowed and led the way, replying, "It is Her Majesty's master." Cheng Zongyang was surprised. "Are you mistaken, or did I mishear? The Empress Dowager's master? Could it be that your late emperor has risen from the dead?" Chen Lin said respectfully, "You will know once you arrive, young master." As Cheng Zongyang was pondering this, he suddenly felt a chill. There was only one person whom Liu E could consider her master: the founder of the Xingyue Lake camp, the traitor from the Song Dynasty who was imprisoned on trumped-up charges, the Yue general everyone called, the thief Yue mentioned by Black Demon Sea, the scoundrel Peng in Yu's mouth, the Martial King Yue Pengju! Please continue reading "The Song of the Six Dynasties" Chapter 10

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