[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Chapter 15

Chapter Five: The Big Exam

In the busy month ahead, Xu Ping was so busy he barely had time for sex. Sometimes, seeing Zhao Ling so busy she could barely keep her eyes open, Xu Ping naturally couldn't bear to make her serve him anymore. Liu Ziyi was also preoccupied with mundane affairs, and had only appeared twice this month before disappearing from sight. His biggest regret was that he had allowed his obedient little maid, Xiaomi, to remain a virgin by his side—it was truly tragic.

During this period, due to the refugee crisis, the Crown Prince's residence and the Ministry of Commerce enjoyed unparalleled prestige. The combination of merchants and commoners already represented a large portion of the population, and now, with them all gathered together, the influence was far-reaching.

Zhao Ling quickly amassed prestige by leveraging the refugee crisis, selecting large numbers of strong laborers from among the refugees to work in various factories. Although they weren't paid initially, the prospect of a stable meal attracted hungry refugees to eagerly sign up.

Moreover, for business purposes, she went so far as to seduce even the most eloquent doorman from the Crown Prince's residence. The Ministry of Crafts has now resumed normal operations, with Deputy Steward Xiao in charge. Xu Ping's intention was simple: provide the truly skilled craftsmen with everything they want, except for gold, silver, jewels, and women; otherwise, leave them to their own devices.

Although this order was rather strange, everyone wisely refrained from questioning it. Xu Ping's purpose in organizing the Ministry of Crafts was clear: to let these people fully utilize their talents and create more inventions.

Whether it was weapons, civilian goods, or agricultural products, whatever they wanted, they should be provided as much as possible. Weapons could be used in warfare to enhance the strength of his future army; other items with economic value could be given to Zhao Ling to make money.

As for those random inventions that had little practical use, they could be kept for personal amusement. To this end, Xu Ping also gave an order to Yu Qing, who was far away in Guangdong, to send a few of each type of goods traded with foreigners to the Ministry of Crafts for the craftsmen to study.

Because the Ministry of Works frequently produced a lot of smoke from burning materials, its location was chosen in the eastern suburbs of the city, in a converted mansion of a landlord. According to Zhao Ling, the Ministry of Works was practically a gathering place for madmen, all of them taciturn and often lost in thought, the only sound being the clanging and grinding of metal.

Xu Ping knew that such personalities were truly those of talented researchers, so he was even more pleased. However, since the establishment of this relatively unnoticed department, he had been too busy to even visit it.

Zhang Qinghe's reputation among the people had instantly soared thanks to the refugee issue, even though he was trembling with fear as Zhu Yuanzhang gave him thirty strokes of the cane in the imperial court. However, because it was the Ministry of Rites who started the trouble, and out of consideration for the refugees' feelings, no further punishment was given.

Although the people in the Ministry of Rites were somewhat resentful, they were now leaderless, each vying for the position of Minister, and no one wanted to be the first to step forward, so they could only swallow their bitterness.

When Xu Ping heard that Zhang Qinghe had been beaten so badly his skin was torn and bleeding, he was shocked. He cursed inwardly, thinking, "If I beat him badly, who will do my work?" But before he could even leave the house, Zhang Qinghe walked in first!

What was even more ridiculous was that he walked in by himself, and as he moved, a bloody piece of pork fell off his buttocks. Xu Ping was truly at a loss for words, unsure whether to laugh or curse. However, he also owed his father a small favor for this incident and had to be wary of him coming to extort money from him at any time.

This month has been busy indeed. Xu Ping lay back in his armchair, enjoying a massage from Xiao Mi while humming a little tune. So far, everything was going smoothly. It was just that Guo Ziwen, that little vixen, had vanished without a trace. If he hadn't been so busy, he would have checked on the results of his last lecture to teach her a lesson.

"Master, you seem to be in a good mood."

Xiao Mi smiled brightly and asked, "I haven't seen you smile so easily in a long time. Is there something fun you've been up to? Tell me about it!" Xu Ping smiled and countered, "I think you're in an even better mood. Tell me what's making you happy!" "No way!" Xiao Mi lowered her head shyly. Lately, she had often been alone with her master, even though he was so tired that he would fall asleep as soon as he got home. She was still a virgin, but thinking about the warm feeling of them embracing each other in bed, her grip on his hands loosened.

Zhao Ling was so busy that she was almost not eating or sleeping, and had only recently begun to rest. Cheng Ningxue and her daughter Lin Ziyan, out of kindness, went to the Ministry of Commerce's porridge kitchen every day to help out, while Liu Ziyi was often nowhere to be seen. Qiao'er and Ji Jingyue were always acting mysteriously, and no one knew what they were up to. There was also their fiery little niece, Zhu Yuchen, who had been under strict surveillance by Princess Changxiao since the sacrificial ceremony and had even been taken to the palace for some kind of etiquette training. The little niece was full of complaints, but there was nothing she could

do. During this time, the two of them were practically living in their own private world. Every time her master's hot hands played with her breasts, the tingling sensation and indescribable pleasure always made her eagerly anticipate him taking her. But each time she was disappointed. Despite this, Xiao Mi was still very happy, as cheerful as a little sparrow all day long.

"Master!" A little maid ran in with a joyful expression to report, "Young Mistress and Miss Liu are back."

Xu Ping was immediately overjoyed. The two women had been busy day and night, with almost no time for tenderness. Now, finally having a daytime rest, he quickly stood up and walked energetically into the room. As soon as Xu Ping pushed open Zhao Ling's door, he saw her chatting and laughing with Liu Ziyi.

Xu Ping chuckled and then called out loudly, "Beautiful ladies, your handsome husband has arrived! Come and greet him!"

"Brother Ping, you've been so busy lately, yet you still have so much energy! Go and rest a bit!" Zhao Ling knew Xu Ping was always busy, and feeling sorry for him, she quickly got up to greet him and helped him sit down, massaging his shoulders.

For some reason, among his women, Zhao Ling wasn't the most beautiful or the most considerate. But Xu Ping still loved her gentleness and her complete obedience. The feeling of her small hands gently stroking his shoulders instantly invigorated him, but he chuckled lewdly, "Who said I'm tired? Does a young master with an iron body need rest? My young mistress is free today too, so killing you without leaving a trace is no problem at all."

"Brother Ping, Sister Liu is here!" Zhao Ling immediately understood what Xu Ping meant, and her face flushed red. The two hadn't been intimate for a long time, and the young woman, her heart fluttering with desire, naturally had high hopes.

"It's alright, Ziyi is also my wife, your sister. If you're worried about being alone tonight, you can always ask her for help!" Xu Ping said, winking at Liu Ziyi, making the beauty too shy to look up.

Liu Ziyi was even more alluring and sexy than before, her beauty radiant even without makeup. A dignified long dress accentuated her graceful figure, giving her a captivating yet noble air, and she appeared even more radiant under Xu Ping's caresses. She gave Xu Ping a shy glance with her beautiful eyes before lowering her head bashfully.

If it weren't for the long absence of intimacy with the two women, Xu Ping would have loved to press her down and pamper her again right now. However, she suppressed her impulse and asked doubtfully, "Where are the others? Haven't they returned yet?" "Auntie and Qiao'er are never seen all day long. That girl is really something now. She's found a backer and started acting wild. I wonder how much trouble she'll cause."

Liu Ziyi shook her head helplessly and said.

Now that her already mischievous apprentice had latched onto Ji Jingyue, she was getting more and more out of control. After all, it was her lover's elder protecting her, so she couldn't say anything, but she couldn't remain silent

either. Knowing that Qiao'er had been busy with Kong Hai's affairs recently, Xu Ping didn't say much. Instead, he questioned Liu Ziyi's attitude and asked curiously, "That's alright. Qiao'er is very sensible. My aunt is easily impulsive, so having them together is a good way to take care of each other. But I feel like you two, master and apprentice, are like enemies." "

No, we have a very good relationship."

Liu Ziyi's face was a little unnatural, and she quickly waved her hands to explain, "It's just that I think she's a little disobedient now, it's nothing."

They often shared a bed, so her little lie didn't escape Xu Ping's notice. He chuckled and said in an incredibly lewd tone, "Good relationship? Good enough that my disciple encouraged me to sleep with her master, and her master always speaks ill of her to me. What kind of logic is that?" Zhao Ling, listening from behind, blushed and gave Xu Ping a token pinch, softly scolding, "Brother Ping, don't be so rough."

"Sigh, these days! Even housewives are rebelling, how are we supposed to live? Poor little man, all alone, being bullied by a pack of she-wolves, where can I go for justice?"

Xu Ping pretended to be in pain, looking aggrieved.

His distressed expression made both women burst into laughter.

After laughing, Zhao Ling thought about the unusual relationship between the master and disciple and asked curiously, "Sister Liu, I'm also wondering why you always have to bicker with Qiao'er whenever you see her. Qiao'er is a bit mischievous, but she's also very sensible. She's quite likable."

"It's really nothing,"

Liu Ziyi stubbornly resisted, though her face was somewhat embarrassed.

Xu Ping secretly gave Zhao Ling a wink, and Zhao Ling smiled mischievously. Suddenly, the two rushed over together, each grabbing one of Liu Ziyi's arms. Zhao Ling tickled her armpits with a grin, saying, "Confess quickly, or you'll be subjected to torture later."

"Really, really nothing,"

Liu Ziyi was ticklish, and now she was laughing so hard she was convulsing. In fact, with her cultivation level, Zhao Ling couldn't possibly catch her, but since they were sisters, and she was afraid her lover would be angry if she used martial arts, she could only obediently submit.

Her mature breasts swayed with her charming laughter, her full body trembling wildly. Standing behind her, Xu Ping was practically drooling, especially since from this angle he could clearly see the deep cleavage between her breasts, half-hidden, even more alluring than when she was naked.

"Speak quickly, or I'll do it to you right here,"

Xu Ping said slowly, barely suppressing his drool, as he grabbed her hands and slid them down, as if to undo her belt.

"I'll talk, I'll talk. Stop tickling me!"

Liu Ziyi, who had been laughing so hard she was breathless, her charming face flushed, immediately cowered when she heard that Xu Ping was going to take liberties with her in this place.

Xu Ping smiled triumphantly, released her, and pulled the obedient Zhao Ling into his arms, kissing her cheek fiercely before laughing loudly, "Ling'er is so good, I love you to death!" "You're so annoying!" Zhao Ling said with a blissful restraint.

"Honestly, you all conspired to bully me. Why is my life so miserable?"

Liu Ziyi pretended to cry and fuss, tidying her disheveled clothes. But her pitiful appearance made Xu Ping wish he could just take her right away, so she wouldn't keep using her charm to entice his blood to flow into his corpus cavernosum.

After all the commotion, Zhao Ling went over and handed her a cup of tea to calm her down, asking sweetly, "Alright, sister, I want to hear you talk about Qiao'er!" Liu Ziyi took the tea, took a sip, and said with a wry smile, "The Demonic Sect is divided into three schools, and I originally belonged to the school of seductive arts. Moreover, I wasn't qualified to be a master back then. Qiao'er was originally a disciple of the Poison School within the sect. Later, I don't know how, she ended up as my disciple. To be honest, I have absolutely no experience teaching disciples. However, Sister Ruxue said that her innate allure is more suitable for our methods, so I had no choice but to accept her."

Xu Ping thought about it and agreed. Although Qiao'er was still just a lively little girl, every gesture she made possessed a captivating charm. Whether it was a gentle smile or a pitiful act of coquetry, she was always so endearing. He often couldn't even get angry at her; so this was the effect of her innate allure.

Zhao Ling felt the same way, always finding Qiao'er naturally endearing. Even though she was a girl, she was sometimes captivated by her childlike, sweet laughter.

Seeing that both of them agreed, Liu Ziyi sighed and continued, "Who knew her talent for poison was so frightening? She's always causing trouble, making a complete mess of the entire Meiliu sect. I had no choice but to ask the sect leader for permission to come to the capital. Unexpectedly, she said she wanted to follow her master and came after me. Don't let her obedient appearance fool you; everyone who knows her gets a headache just seeing her."

"Is that all? It's nothing serious,"

Zhao Ling nodded in agreement as Xu Ping spoke. After all, Qiao'er was naturally lively and mischievous; innocence and playfulness were in her nature.

Liu Ziyi frowned, shook her head, and sighed, "When I arrived in the capital, I took over Zuixianglou. It was a time of expanding our influence, and she behaved herself for a while. I thought she had matured, but who knew that one time she actually put aphrodisiacs in the girls' water. They all went crazy, running through the streets while taking off their clothes. The others and I searched the whole city, pulling them all back. Zuixianglou only became famous after this incident."

Zhao Ling was immediately shocked and asked, "No way, she would do such a thing?" After all, although Qiao'er was active when she was with her, she was considered well-behaved and sensible. She never expected her to go so wild.

Xu Ping was also stunned. A group of young women running naked out of a brothel, shouting "I want a man!"—what a spectacular scene! Although they were brothel women, according to modern thinking, they probably wouldn't survive doing something like that.

Liu Ziyi nodded with a wry smile and said, "I'm not her master, I practically treat her like my ancestor. After that incident, some girls even wanted to commit suicide, and it took a lot of persuasion to convince them to give up their suicidal thoughts."

Xu Ping was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly his eyes flashed, and he asked, "To be honest, was it because you were afraid that you sent her to me?" Liu Ziyi lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly and said timidly, "Yes, I was a little afraid that she would cause any more trouble. It just so happened that Uncle Liu said he wanted to find a bodyguard for Sister Ling, so I took the opportunity to send this troublemaker over. Fortunately, she has been much more well-behaved since she came here."

"Oh! How dare you make a move on the young master! According to the law, this is adultery!" Xu Ping slammed his hand on the table, startling both women, but he said it in a theatrical tone.

The two women were stunned at first, but then they were amused by Xu Ping's lewd words and giggled.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, Xu Ping thoroughly enjoyed the warm feeling. Just as he was feeling happy, he suddenly felt a slight restlessness in his internal energy. It seemed as if something was drawing it in, causing it to boil. His expression immediately changed.

Liu Ziyi, much more perceptive than Zhao Ling, was startled by Xu Ping's serious expression and hurriedly asked, "Master, what's wrong?" "Nothing!" Xu Ping waved his hand solemnly. For a moment, he didn't know what had happened, but his internal energy, which had been calm since breaking through to the third level of the Battle Dragon Technique, suddenly began to boil restlessly, as if something in the dark was attracting it.

"Brother Ping, are you alright?" Zhao Ling asked cautiously.

Xu Ping sensed it briefly, and the internal energy in his dantian calmed down again. Feeling a slight unease, a feeling he'd never experienced before since cultivating the Battle Dragon Technique, Xu Ping thought to himself that he'd been busy for a long time and hadn't had much time to cultivate. He stood up and said, "It seems my martial arts are about to break through, so I'm going into seclusion for two days."

Before the two women could react, Xu Ping turned to them and earnestly instructed, "Just operate as normal. I won't be in seclusion for long. Three or four days at most!" "Okay!" Liu Ziyi, being a martial artist herself, naturally understood the importance of a breakthrough and hurriedly nodded. Xu Ping didn't explain further, and after bidding them farewell, he turned and went to a locked temple in the back courtyard. There, a statue of Guiguzi, brought from the Wanbao Pavilion, stood majestically in the hall.

After respectfully bowing to him, Xu Ping locked the door. He sat cross-legged on the straw mat, shutting down his five senses and beginning to organize his somewhat scattered true energy. Strangely, the true energy within his body was as calm as usual.

Xu Ping stretched out his arms, circulating the energy throughout his body several times, but still felt nothing different. He then tentatively practiced according to the mental cultivation technique, letting the abundant true energy flow through his extraordinary meridians, but there was no sign of any breakthrough in his cultivation level.

The absence of any abnormality was what frightened Xu Ping the most. The fear of the agitation of his true energy earlier, as if it had suddenly become uncontrollable, resurfaced. To be more cautious, he urged the true energy within his body, carefully practicing the mental cultivation technique of the Battle Dragon Technique.

His mind wandered into the void. Having not practiced for a long time, Xu Ping was completely immersed in a magical world, reliving the joy of each breakthrough and the anticipation of the next, his entire body radiating faint golden light.

He remained motionless, yet seemed to possess boundless power.

As the last wisp of true energy returned to his dantian, Xu Ping withdrew all his true energy and exhaled deeply. It was truly bizarre; everything seemed normal, nothing different. He reached out and touched his body, but still felt no change.

Sighing, Xu Ping didn't know the cause of his restlessness, especially the subtle, tugged feeling, which he couldn't understand at all. Helpless, he could only leave it as it was for now. He stood up, walked to the statue of Guiguzi, and gazed at it for a while, but still couldn't find the answer he sought.

On the roof of the temple, a graceful figure stood upright in the wind. A middle-aged man, around thirty years old, with a serious yet resolute expression, his long beard and hair fluttered in the wind. Dressed in a white Confucian robe, he exuded an ethereal, otherworldly aura, seemingly blending into his surroundings, his presence almost imperceptible.

As Xu Ping opened his eyes, the other man also opened his tightly closed eyes, a slight smile appearing on his face. He murmured, "Unexpectedly, I've actually cultivated to such a level. It's a pity I only have the method, what a pity!" He finished with a strange smile, and without moving an inch, his graceful figure moved with the gentle breeze. It wasn't the kind of leaping and bounding that martial artists do, but rather standing motionless in mid-air, hands behind his back, riding the wind away.

Xu Ping sat before the statue, pondering for a long time. His doubts remained unresolved. He tentatively activated the three layers of true qi throughout his body, only to find it still stagnant. According to the standards of a martial artist, he was still only at the mid-level of the Earth Rank, with no sign of even increasing his true qi.

After thinking for a long time without any clue, Xu Ping sighed and could only tell himself not to think so much; perhaps it was just a temporary illusion. He had been immersed in his own world for so long, not knowing how long this seclusion had actually lasted.

Pushing open the door, he took a deep breath of the unpolluted morning air of ancient times, instantly feeling his whole body relax. Looking towards the doorway, he saw a group of people slumped over, some sitting on the ground with their eyes half-closed, others leaning against pillars asleep. Zhang Hu was leaning against the wall, drooling. Liu Ziyi was also asleep, squatting on the ground, looking exhausted. Qiao'er was curled up on the ground, her body trembling slightly.

A wave of emotion washed over Xu Ping, and he felt a surge of warmth. With such caring people around, what more could he ask for? He only needed to cherish this life and be worthy of those who loved him.

"Ah, you little rascal, you're finally out! We were so worried!" Ji Jingyue walked over, unable to hide her joy. Her flowing skirt fluttered in the wind, making her look like a fairy in the morning sunlight.

The others woke up at the sound of her voice, rubbing their still-sleepy eyes, and gathered around, chattering excitedly.

"Master, are you alright?" Liu Ziyi was the first to approach, and seeing Xu Ping's refreshed appearance, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's good that you're alright, I'm going back to sleep now."

Qiao'er got up but didn't come over. Instead, she rubbed her eyes, which she didn't want to open, and staggered away. However, Xu Ping could tell from her tired expression and dark circles that the little devil was indeed quite concerned about him. Zhang Hu

stood to the side without saying a word, but that kind of concern between men didn't need words to express it.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry to have worried you."

Xu Ping, contrary to his usual lecherous behavior, hugged Liu Ziyi in his arms and said gently to his aunt beside him, "How long have I been in seclusion?" "Two days!" Ji Jingyue said deliberately indifferently, but after saying that, she couldn't help but yawn repeatedly.

"Master, you haven't eaten for two days. Various breakfasts have been prepared in the courtyard, please have some first!" Liu Ziyi said gently. At this moment, being held by her lover felt natural and blissful, without any sense of shyness.

"You little rascal, you're already trying to take advantage of me as soon as we're out! Hurry up and eat something."

Ji Jingyue, unusually, didn't argue with Xu Ping, perhaps because she was tired, or perhaps because the worries of the past two days had left her with no energy for jealousy.

"Okay, let's go!" Xu Ping chuckled and pulled Liu Ziyi to the pavilion. He saw that Xiao Mi was still asleep by the table, and the group of maids beside her were also too sleepy to keep their eyes open.

Knowing that this girl had been preparing to serve him, Xu Ping went over and lovingly woke her up, gesturing for her to rest first. However, Xiao Mi was delighted to see Xu Ping but insisted on not resting, running around arranging the food and drinks for everyone, and as always, standing behind Xu Ping to serve him.

"The dishes today are quite plentiful, but something light is better."

Xu Ping smiled as he looked at the dishes on the table. Xiao Mi was quite considerate, arranging a uniform set of light snacks for breakfast today. Shrimp dumplings, congee, and some exquisitely prepared vegetarian dishes of unknown origin looked even more tempting than the Cantonese morning tea he'd seen on TV in his previous life. More importantly, there was a pot of fragrant broth, its color a deep, milky white. It was clearly his aunt's cooking.

He gently picked up the bowl and took a sip; instantly, the aroma of dozens of Chinese herbs assaulted his taste buds. His mouth was filled with a cacophony of flavors, and Xu Ping's eyes lit up. He drank the entire bowl, wiped his mouth, and exclaimed, "Auntie's soup is truly unparalleled! Even the imperial physicians in the palace probably couldn't make it. Being your husband is pure bliss!" "Get lost! You're already trying to flirt with me as soon as we come out. I should have added some arsenic in it!"

Ji Jingyue, feeling embarrassed by the teasing in front of Xiao Mi and Liu Ziyi, scolded him with a hint of reproach, but also with a touch of glee.

"Hehe, I'm serious! Everyone else should have gone to rest!" Xu Ping, not in the mood for a verbal battle with his aunt, slowly said after taking a bite of vegetables.

"Well, Zhao Ling and Yao Lu were both busy with their own things during the day. I didn't want them to be too tired, but they stubbornly insisted on waiting at the door. Last night, I had no choice but to put them to sleep and have Qiao'er take them back to their rooms. Ning Xue and her mother were also waiting outside. It wasn't until my aunt came back in the evening that we persuaded them to go back. But Qiao'er and my aunt didn't sleep at all last night either. Xiaomi has been cooking hot dishes for you these past two days without taking off her clothes."

Liu Ziyi said gently as she refilled Xu Ping's soup, her tone very natural, as if these things were supposed to happen.

"Hmm, I'm sorry to have scared everyone. Actually, I'm fine."

Xu Ping said somewhat apologetically. He hadn't expected that two days of seclusion would frighten them like this. Thinking of how the women had stayed by his side, completely clothed, filled him with warmth. He just wondered what kind of expression his beautiful mother-in-law, Lin Ziyan, had on her face, worried about him.

"By the way, Zhang Hu, how's the matter with Xiao Ye going?" Xu Ping suddenly remembered that Zhang Hu was back, so the matter with Xiao Ye should be settled by now.

Upon hearing that there was important business, Zhang Hu immediately perked up and replied, "Master, I sent men with her to the Jiangnan Po Jun camp. With your ultimatum and General Ji's seal, things went exceptionally smoothly. After gathering all the weapons, because they didn't have enough manpower, I contacted Liu Hong, whom I knew in Hebei, and borrowed some men from him to help with the transport. I also secretly dispatched several loyal brothers to go to Japan to gather intelligence." "

Hmm, you must be tired too. Go and rest! Come back to work tomorrow."

Xu Ping noticed the bloodshot eyes in Zhang Hu's eyes and knew he had been working very hard lately. Some of the refugees he had selected were all trained by Zhang Hu, and now he was busy with other things during the day but had to come back to guard them at night. After listening, Xu Ping nodded and told him to go back and rest.

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

Zhang Hu bowed and went back to rest. He was now extremely exhausted, and his once strong and powerful steps had become somewhat unsteady.

Xu Ping thought for a moment; it seemed that today was the first day the scholars were going to the capital for the imperial examinations. Should he go out and take a look around? Seeing the three women beside him looking exhausted, he coaxed and scare them into resting, then took some silver and strolled out, intending to first visit the market.

Walking through the bustling morning market, although he had already eaten breakfast, Xu Ping couldn't resist the allure of the fragrant street food and ate two bowls of delicious tofu pudding. His restless inner turmoil had long been buried by the women's affection. Although they spoke of it casually, it filled Xu Ping with a happiness he couldn't express.

A wall separated them, yet they remained two different worlds. Compared to the refugees scattered outside the city, the capital maintained its vibrant, decadent atmosphere. Fortunately, Zhang Qinghe, in order to further win over the people, had been running soup kitchens under the guise of the Ministry of Commerce, burning through cash, so there hadn't been any unrest. This had stabilized the refugees and earned him widespread praise.

Today, the capital city was unusually bustling. Besides the usual crowds and vendors, there were also many scholars of all kinds. Some looked worried, while others walked along, head bobbing, engrossed in their books, occasionally bumping into pedestrians. Even when scolded, they remained absorbed in their own worlds. Xu Ping, seeing this, couldn't help but angrily say, "Bookworms, why don't you just smash your head against a wall and die?"

After walking for a while, he saw a group of scholars gathered ahead, indignantly cursing things as immoral and uncivilized. He couldn't resist joining the crowd to see what was going on. Reaching the front, he patted a scholar who was merely watching without speaking, bowed, and asked, "Brother, what brings us here?"

The scholar turned around and saw that Xu Ping was quite handsome, with red lips and white teeth—the kind of man one would normally have to be. Seeing that Xu Ping was also dressed like a scholar, he humbly returned the greeting and asked, "Brother, have you just arrived in the capital?"

"Indeed, I would be grateful if you could enlighten me."

Xu Ping couldn't stand this flowery way of speaking and wished he could just grab his arm and interrogate him.

The student, with a mysterious air, lowered his voice and said, "No wonder you didn't know. A while ago, a madman named Hong Shun appeared in the capital. After a heated debate with a group of scholars, he went on to humiliate the old scholars of the Ministry of Rites. Many of the talented students who came to the capital this time are their students, and in their anger, they wanted to seek justice for their teachers. The day before yesterday, a student named He Jin openly stood up to support Hong Shun, which naturally angered everyone. This fellow is extremely arrogant; he even set up a challenge in the Anfu Teahouse, where Hong Shun was favored by the Crown Prince, challenging all the students who disagreed."

Xu Ping immediately became interested and asked curiously, "Oh, such a thing happened? Since this person is so arrogant, wouldn't it be a perfect opportunity for you students to showcase your talents?" "Alas, unfortunately, we are all too inexperienced and have been defeated by He Jin,"

the student shook his head. "If we could beat him, we wouldn't be discussing strategies here," Xu Ping said somewhat dejectedly.

Looking at the group still arguing loudly, Xu Ping couldn't help but curse them inwardly. However, he was intrigued by another madman who had suddenly appeared. He had such talent; regardless of whether he was a pragmatist or not, his arguing and cursing alone were quite useful.

"Thank you for your explanation, brother. I was just about to go see if He Jin has three heads and six arms. Farewell,"

Xu Ping said, bowing slightly before glancing at the group of guys who couldn't do anything to him but were still putting on airs. He then headed towards Anfu Teahouse.

As soon as he entered, a waiter rushed up. Seeing Xu Ping's wealthy and noble attire, clearly resembling a scholar on his way to the imperial examinations, the waiter greeted him with a fawning smile, "Please come in, sir! Are you here to challenge the talented? We have a private room on the second floor. Would you like to have a couple of pots of tea first, or go straight up? Our third floor has been visited by the Crown Prince himself. If you can absorb a little of his good fortune, becoming the top scholar is no problem!"

Seeing the waiter's quick wit and the fact that he even displayed his name so prominently in the shop, Xu Ping was both amused and annoyed. He handed the waiter a piece of silver and said, "Go find your manager. Tell him an acquaintance has arrived."

The waiter accepted the silver with a smile, and seeing that Xu Ping didn't seem to be lying, he quickly went back to tell the manager that someone was looking for him.

"I'm here, Mr. Liu. May I ask which friend has come to see me? Too…" The middle-aged shopkeeper, who had been all smiles as he walked, suddenly saw the young master standing in the hall. He had seen Xu Ping several times before, so he remembered him. Seeing that Xu Ping was alone and without any attendants, he knew he had come discreetly. He swallowed the "young master" after saying "Too," but his legs felt slightly weak.

"Shopkeeper Liu, how have you been? I apologize for coming without prior notice!" Xu Ping always referred to himself by his previous life's name when he left, but few found it strange, since he was disguised as a commoner.

"Yes, yes, Young Master Xu's presence is an honor to our humble shop! This way, please."

Shopkeeper Liu hadn't expected Xu Ping to suddenly appear and was too nervous to speak. Xu Ping smacked the waiter on the head, who was still gleefully collecting his money, and snapped, "You little brat, don't you know we have VIPs? Hurry up and prepare the best private room!" "No need for that trouble," Xu Ping said with a smile, stopping the waiter who was about to leave.

"I just heard a scholar is holding a martial arts competition here , so I came to check it out. Please, Manager Liu, arrange a seat for me on the second floor." "Yes, yes, but the scholar hasn't gotten up yet. The second floor is packed. How about we arrange his competition on the third floor today?" Manager Liu said, cautiously watching Xu Ping's expression. "Alright, bring me a few pots of 'Ten Mile Fragrance' wine and some snacks to go with it. I'll enjoy the view while I wait." Xu Ping didn't object; doing this kind of clandestine investigation was quite fun anyway. He nodded and headed upstairs. "Don't worry, Young Master Xu, our shop will definitely bring out our best craftsmanship," Manager Liu assured him nervously from behind. "Manager, who is this? I've never heard of a young master in the capital who looks like this. Why are you being so polite to him?" As soon as Xu Ping left, the waiter asked impatiently. "You don't need to worry about this. Go upstairs and serve him well. If he gets angry, even our boss can't afford to mess with him." The manager angrily tapped the waiter on the head again and shouted, "If he wants to demolish the building, help him find someone; if he wants to burn the restaurant down, help him set it on fire! Do you understand?!" "Why so fierce! Is it really that exaggerated?" The third waiter muttered innocently, rubbing his head. Manager Liu quickly told the chefs to be at their best. Thinking that the Crown Prince was used to delicacies, he figured the chefs' skills wouldn't meet his standards. He sent a few waiters with silver to buy some other signature dishes from the best restaurants in the capital, and then quickly sent someone home to inform Zhang Qing and His Highness the Crown Prince.

After the waiter led Xu Ping up to the third floor, someone immediately ran to tell He Jin that the second floor was booked for the day, and he was to set up his duel on the third floor.

When He Jin came up, Xu Ping's heart sank. He looked even worse than when he first met Sun Zhengnong, his entire body as thin as bones. His eyes were lifeless, with some sleep clinging to them. Seeing Xu Ping scrutinizing him, he opened his mouth and grinned, yawning to reveal his large, dark yellow teeth.

Xu Ping felt a chill run down his spine.

He Jin didn't seem to care, picking up the wine jug and taking a swig. A gurgling sound followed, initially thought to be him rinsing his mouth. But to his surprise, he swallowed the entire jug, letting out a satisfied burp before grinning lewdly.

Damn, what an absolute slob! Xu Ping cursed under his breath as he sipped his wine, deciding not to talk to him yet and to see how things went. The waiter quickly filled the table with a variety of exquisite stir-fries, including braised pork ribs and sour jujube cake. Even Xu Ping's mouth watered at the sight.

"It smells so good! This must be Shili Xiang's pure brew!" He Jin, like a dog smelling delicious food, even twitched his nose. His eyes gleamed, and drool dripped from his mouth as he leaned close to Xu Ping and asked.

"Go away! Go do what you're supposed to do! Don't disturb our boss's distinguished guest."

The waiter, disgusted by He Jin's behavior, covered his nose and shooed him away.

"Oh, how did you know it was Shili Xiang?" Xu Ping knew his wine production was limited and the price extremely high. Even the cheapest variety was beyond the reach of ordinary people. This He Jin didn't look like someone from a wealthy family, yet he could tell immediately by the smell.

"It's fragrant and rich. The moment you open the lid, an aroma that no other wine can match wafts out. Hehe, I've smelled it before! And this kind of wine is incredibly rare; it's practically nonexistent in my hometown. I only heard of such a divine brew when I came to the provincial capital."

He Jin didn't hide his greed, acting like a typical drunkard. As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Xu Ping's cup.

"Oh, how about this! I'll test you with a question. If you answer correctly, I'll treat you to a bottle. If you lose, well, it's simple: you go wash it quickly, the taste is really bad!" Xu Ping was already trying to win him over. People like him, so unconventional, were often either idiots or geniuses. Since he could debate with so many scholars, he certainly wasn't an idiot.

"Speak! Hurry up and speak,"

He Jin urged confidently, as if the bottle of wine was already at his lips, subtly looking down on Xu Ping.

"Someone lit ten candles on the windowsill. When his wife came home, she thought it was wasteful and blew out two. How many were left the next day?" Xu Ping had originally intended to test his literary skills with something more sophisticated, like couplets or riddles. However, a quick thought revealed his lack of ability; any talented person could easily outwit him. In desperation, glancing at He Jin's bulbous nose, the image of Uncle Zhao's sly grin flashed through his mind, and a modern riddle blurted out,

"Eight!" He Jin confidently declared, reaching for his wine.

Damn, he fell for that! Were these ancient people truly incapable of thinking outside the box? Xu Ping hadn't been sure when he asked the question, wondering how he could have asked such a stupid one! Now, seeing that He Jin had answered incorrectly, he was speechless with shock. Did being a master of literature not include common sense?

Xu Ping burst into laughter, slapped his hand away, and said, "Go wash up. The correct answer is two. The ones that weren't blown out are all burned. Even if you have knowledge, you should have some common sense."

"This, this!" He Jin didn't expect to be stumped by such a simple question. Seeing the wine he was about to get taken away, he looked utterly frustrated, as if he wanted to commit suicide to atone for his misery. Helpless, he walked dejectedly towards his room.

"Master, why didn't you inform this servant before you came!" As soon as He Jin left, Zhang Qinghe came running up, panting. Although he had lost some weight, he looked much more energetic.

"Go away, my name is Xu Ping now! Do you understand?" Xu Ping said with a smile, without a trace of reproach in his tone.

"Yes! Yes! I'm old, my mind isn't what it used to be."

Zhang Qinghe gave the puzzled waiter a look and then went to the side to pour wine for Xu Ping.

"Sit down!" Xu Ping invited.

Zhang Qinghe hesitated and said, "This servant wouldn't dare."

"I've noticed you're talking more and more nonsense."

Xu Ping glared at him, annoyed. Zhang Qinghe then sat down tremblingly, but only dared to sit on half his buttocks.

"You're quite ruthless!" Xu Ping took a sip of wine, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, yet also with a hint of a smile.

Zhang Qinghe smiled awkwardly, but he didn't know if his master was referring to his performance at the South Gate or to the incident a few days ago when he used his imperial fan to send several old scholars to the imperial prison at the Ministry of Commerce's gate, so he didn't dare to answer.

"Young Master Xu, I heard that you are the chief examiner for this year's imperial examination. I have a good-for-nothing son. Could you perhaps find him a sinecure?" Zhang Qinghe asked cautiously, observing Xu Ping's expression.

"Hmm, let me see! I'll use anyone talented, and I'll skip the useless ones."

Xu Ping wasn't averse to this kind of backdoor dealing and connections. After all, he had lived in the 21st century and knew that this was something that had been unavoidable in China for thousands of years. Having someone else in would mean having his own trusted subordinates, so why not?

"Thank you, Young Master Xu. I'll have my son come over right away."

Zhang Qinghe thanked him profusely while already calling over the waiter and giving him instructions.

After sitting for a while, watching the pedestrians coming and going on the street, Xu Ping asked somewhat boredly, "Anything interesting lately?" "Well, nothing seems to be happening. The chambers of commerce in various regions are almost ready to be established. Currently, they are still taking a wait-and-see approach to paying any more taxes to the Ministry of Commerce. However, I heard that Liu Dong has already organized three batches of goods to be transported to the Northeast for trading. When he returns, our Ministry of Commerce's first tax payment will be issued."

Zhang Qinghe replied after thinking for a moment.

"Well, although the quantity isn't large, it's the first time after all. When he returns, tell him that I, this young master, will reward him."

Xu Ping was pleased to hear that the Northeast caravan was so efficient; they had already shipped several batches of goods as soon as other places were completed. As long as it was a good start, that was enough.

"Hmm!" Zhang Qinghe reported while sorting through the complex matters in his mind, "The Guangdong Chamber of Commerce is progressing the fastest right now. The docks and markets are built. Everything is developing according to Master's plan, but since it's just the beginning, we can't see much progress yet. Other regions are also calling for action."

"Hehe, that's for the best!" Xu Ping smiled with satisfaction, but after a while, he asked with a mischievous grin, "You've received quite a few gifts lately, haven't you?"

"This..." Zhang Qinghe didn't hide anything, smiling as he said, "Ever since the Ministry of Rites incident, with the founding emperor personally overseeing the Ministry of Commerce, merchants from all over are flocking to it. Many want to govern a region and obtain an official position. To be honest, Master, I'm now avoiding visitors like the plague."

"So you've struck it rich now!" Xu Ping's eyes lit up. Those who could come to Zhang Qinghe to bribe him were definitely rolling in money. If he didn't take advantage of such people, who would he take advantage of?

Zhang Qinghe guessed his master's thoughts, smiled slyly, and said, "I accepted all the gifts that were due, but they were all handed over to Master Ling. After all, opening a soup kitchen requires a lot of money. As for those who are really too rich, I've arranged for them to have the honor of meeting Master Ling."

Xu Ping couldn't help but laugh. Zhang Qinghe really knew how to handle things. Not only did he exploit some people, but he also pushed them from the jaws of wolves into the jaws of tigers. Using the handling of the affairs of various chambers of commerce to amass wealth was truly ingenious.

Zhang Qinghe laughed along, feeling a surge of pride seeing his master so pleased. He continued to flatter him, saying, "Although I am currently weak and powerless, I am at least the Minister of Commerce. I have dealt with some unscrupulous merchants hoarding grain, and of course, all of this money has been used for disaster relief."

"Good!" Xu Ping smiled approvingly. After a while, he said gently, "From now on, you are an official of the court. When you see me, just refer to yourself as your subordinate or humble servant. You don't need to act like a slave, understand?" Zhang Qinghe's eyes reddened, and he hurriedly knelt down, kowtowing and saying in a trembling voice, "This servant dares not. Everything this servant has is given to me by my master. No matter if Zhang Qinghe is a man or a ghost, he will always be my master's slave."

"Get up, Minister of Commerce! What kind of behavior is this?"

Xu Ping said sternly, having confirmed from various aspects that Zhang Qinghe was originally just a small merchant with no connection to anything else. Because he was a man of great loyalty and affection, Xu Ping felt comfortable entrusting all this matter to him.

"Yes, yes, this servant has been impolite!" Zhang Qinghe quickly wiped away his tears and sat up, only then remembering that Xu Ping was in disguise, and inwardly scolded himself. While

the two were talking, a large group of more than ten well-dressed scholars came up. Each of them had a gentle and refined appearance, but their faces showed some indignation. They were probably here to disrupt the proceedings. Xu Ping pulled Zhang Qinghe's ear and quietly told him to write down the names of all these people.

No way! Most of these people were the old-fashioned students. If they were allowed into the court, would they even be able to live a normal life? People like this were out of the question. Even if there were a few with real talent, they could only blame themselves if they were unlucky.

"Brother, what a coincidence!" The scholar who had asked Xu Ping about the matter earlier immediately ran over to greet him when he saw Xu Ping there.

"Yes, brother, you've arrived so quickly. I've prepared a little wine; why don't we have a drink together?"

Xu Ping raised his hand in return, of course, he had to be polite.

"It would be impolite to refuse such a kind invitation. Thank you for your kindness, brother."

However, the other party didn't have that awareness and immediately sat down.

"Brother, may I ask how I should address you?" Xu Ping had no choice but to ask the waiter to bring more bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups, but in order to find out their background, he might as well try to establish a rapport! Anyway, he had nothing better to do, and he wouldn't let them eat him out of house and home.

"My surname is Ouyang, and my given name is Tai. My parents gave me the courtesy name Liqiu."

The scholar accepted the wine cup without ceremony, took a light sniff, and praised, "Excellent wine! This must be the legendary 'Three Grades, Ten Miles of Fragrance.' I've only heard of it but never tasted it. Today, thanks to your honor, I'm fortunate to be able to taste such a fine wine!" "Hehe, Brother Ouyang, you're too kind."

Xu Ping couldn't help but feel a little pleased whenever someone praised his wine. Although the winery didn't seem very important at the moment, it was his first time starting a business, so he couldn't help but feel a little smug.

"Truly excellent wine! Such fine wine is priceless."

Ouyang Tai slowly took a sip, closed his eyes, and savored the taste while praising it. However, Xu Ping didn't think it was anything special. It was probably just ordinary wine; the better ones were kept in his home and the palace.

"I wonder who your teacher is, Brother Ouyang, on your journey to the capital for the imperial examinations?" Xu Ping had picked up their literary and somewhat pedantic way of speaking, and actually found this guy quite agreeable; he didn't want him to be a rigid person like him.

"To be honest, my family owns a bookstore and a stationery shop! I've been studying on my own since childhood and have never had a teacher,"

Ouyang Tai said softly, glancing back at the other students.

Zhang Qinghe had been pretending not to recognize him, but the more he looked at the student, the more familiar he seemed. He couldn't help but cup his hands and ask, "Is your father Ouyang Xun of the Sihai Trading Company?" "Yes!" Ouyang Tai looked at Zhang Qinghe with a puzzled expression and respectfully asked, "And this uncle is...?" "I've met your father a few times; you two continue your conversation,"

Zhang Qinghe said with a smile, waving his hand, but secretly giving Xu Ping a wink.

"Oh, so why are you hanging out with them, brother?" Xu Ping asked curiously, having guessed from Zhang Qinghe's expression that this man wasn't one of those scholars.

"Hehe, just to watch the show, to see if any of them die of anger. I've lived so long and I've never seen anyone die from vomiting blood."

Ouyang Tai's voice lowered, and he couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle as he spoke. Xu Ping

was certain this guy had nothing to do with those old fogies and was just pretending to be refined like himself. Xu Ping couldn't help but feel a surge of amusement, raising his glass and saying, "Good, that's a good reason. Let's drink to that reason."

"Cheers!" Ouyang Tai grinned lewdly, raising his glass to clink with Xu Ping's.

The others were also interested in the banter, but everyone was too proud to speak up, each maintaining their air of scholarly refinement. No one stepped forward to join the conversation, and Xu Ping and Ouyang Tai both gave them disdainful looks.

Just then, another commotion erupted downstairs, and a group of scholars, clearly from wealthy families, walked up, each dressed in luxurious clothes and looking quite imposing.

"See that one? That's Ji Kaiwen, the grandson of the current General of the North. He's the top scholar in Zhili this time, but everyone who knows him knows he's a complete idiot. He's the kind of guy who gets ripped off even in brothels; an old harlot could easily fool him into thinking he's a virgin. This time, it's said he's become a disciple of Lord Kong Hai to prepare for the imperial examination. There's even a rumor that after the Crown Prince appoints him, his father, Ji Long, will help him get the third-highest rank."

Ouyang Tai pointed to a young man sitting by the window and whispered, "That sly one, see him? His eyes are practically pointing to the sky when he looks at people, surrounded by a bunch of sycophants."

Xu Ping glanced at him out of the corner of his eye; the guy did indeed resemble that old fellow Ji Zhongyun in some ways. It's a pity that the phoenix begets the peacock, and the peacock begets the roc. It seems each generation is worse than the last. Ji Zhongyun was brave and resourceful, carving out his own territory with his broadsword; even his grandfather often called him the foremost military general of the dynasty. Ji Long, however despicable, was at least a man who thrived in the officialdom. Even if he wanted to rebel, Xu Ping still admired his years of meticulous management and the forbearance beneath his burgeoning ambition.

The Ji Kaiwen before him, however, had lifeless eyes, weak legs, and was completely overwhelmed by the flattery of a group of sycophants, yet he still put on an arrogant act. He was clearly a man whose body had been ruined by wine and women, and he looked like a fool.

But where did Ouyang Tai get so many inside stories? Thinking of this, Xu Ping couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother Ouyang, don't talk nonsense. If this gets out, it'll cause chaos. You know Ji Long is a high-ranking official; how could his son be so incompetent?"

Seeing Xu Ping's disbelief, Ouyang Tai became anxious, leaning on the table and lowering his voice, "Brother, don't disbelieve me. My family has quite a few businesses in the capital; collecting such information is easy for us. Besides, Ji Kaiwen, who can barely read, became the top scholar in Zhili. You can imagine how capable his father is."

"Oh, if that's true, how many candidates have been disappointed! Brother, haven't you missed out on a chance this year? Why aren't you worried?" Xu Ping asked, feigning heartache, but secretly chuckled to himself. With a son like that, even if you succeed in your rebellion, how can you hold onto the throne?

"Hehe, I just couldn't disobey my dad, so I took the exam for fun! Although I've read books since I was little, I read all kinds. Books like *Jin Ping Mei* and *Bai Huan Tu* are my favorites."

Ouyang Tai's previous refined demeanor vanished, replaced by a lewd grin. His gossip instantly transformed into a lewd expression.

"Ah, brother, you're truly learned! I admire you!" Xu Ping was slightly taken aback by his rapid change.

"If you're not familiar with the capital, you can always come to me for directions. I know exactly how many hairs each girl has, which brothel girls are virgins, and I know better than they do when they start their periods."

Ouyang Tai boasted with a sly grin, his shamelessness making Xu Ping nostalgic for Lin Wei, who was far away in Yunnan.

"Dad, why did you drag me out of bed so early!" At this moment, a lazy-looking young man walked over. He was quite handsome, with a fair complexion, but unfortunately, he had a carefree attitude and kept yawning as he spoke.

"You brat, what time is it and you're still so early?"

Zhang Qinghe stepped forward, grabbed his son's hand, and pulled him in front of Xu Ping with a look of disappointment. He introduced him obsequiously: "Young Master Xu, this is my son Qihua. He has already obtained the title of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations)." He

then turned to him and sternly said, "Quickly greet Young Master Xu."

Zhang Qihua's eyes darted around. He didn't know which of the two men in front of him was the Young Master Xu his father was talking about, so he simply stepped forward and stood in front of them, bowing and saying, "I am Zhang Qihua, greetings to you both."

"Young Master Xu, I have cleaned up the largest private room on the fourth floor. You can see the street view from there. Shall we move there?" Zhang Qinghe wanted to give his son a chance to show off, but the messy environment in front of them was definitely not a suitable setting. With a quick thought, he stepped forward and asked,

"Hmm, it's getting a bit noisy here. Let's go upstairs! Brother Ouyang, why don't you join us for a chat?"

Seeing Zhang Qihua's reluctant expression, Xu Ping didn't say anything and cheerfully invited Ouyang Tai to join him.

"I'd be honored!" Ouyang Tai said politely, then followed Xu Ping upstairs.

After entering the private room, Zhang Qinghe had already prepared the food and drinks. He made an excuse to leave, but before leaving, he kept winking at his son.

"Hehe, the old man's gone! We young people shouldn't be so reserved."

Zhang Qihua breathed a sigh of relief as soon as his father left, filled the glasses of all three of them, and said. He looked much more energetic than before, a far cry from his previous dejected appearance.

"A master, a master's insight."

Ouyang Tai was enjoying the free drinks today and was naturally quite happy.

"Come on, have a drink first."

Xu Ping felt as if he had returned to the environment of drinking with his buddies, and his mood immediately relaxed. The three clinked glasses and downed their drinks.

"Hey, you two are taking the exam this year too?" Zhang Qihua asked, picking at his food after finishing his drink.

"I'm just taking it for fun! I don't know about you, Brother Xu,"

Ouyang Tai said, relaxing and unceremoniously opening his somewhat bulky coat.

"Same here, same here!" Xu Ping replied cheerfully, hoping to get more information from these two spendthrifts.

[Last edited by jaychou2011 on 12-18 00:59]

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/10411.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=10411&aspx=1

Previous Page : Entertainment Empire Tour (Complete) - 15

Next Page : [Wuxia] Wandering Freely in the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - Chapter 40 (End)

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Chapter 15

comment Open a new window to view comments