[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Chapter 13

Chapter Two: Restlessness

The warm morning sun shone on his buttocks. Xu Ping, who had slept naked all night, was somewhat reluctant to be woken by the glaring sunlight. He turned over in bed, still wanting to hug his beautiful master, but after a few touches, he couldn't feel anything.

He reluctantly opened his eyes and saw that he was the only one sleeping on the large bed. Liu Ziyi had gotten up early and went out to run errands without disturbing his sweet dreams. The disheveled bedding seemed to still emit a pungent smell, the sensual and obscene scent of the previous night.

"Ah..." He yawned widely, feeling a surge of satisfaction thinking about Liu Ziyi, the sexy and charming beauty, moaning and submitting beneath him last night, her hair disheveled.

With a smug smile, Xu Ping slowly sat up and habitually called out, "Xiao Mi!" Xiao Mi, who had been waiting in the outer chamber, immediately ran over eagerly upon hearing the commotion. The little maid was dressed rather lightly today, her flowing skirt fluttering in the wind, making her look incredibly pure and lovely.

"Xiao Mi, come here, let me hug you,"

Xu Ping said with a lewd smile, rubbing his still-sleepy eyes.

Xiao Mi's pure, pretty face flushed slightly, and she obediently walked over, but didn't throw herself into Xu Ping's arms. Her bright, watery eyes glanced shyly at Xu Ping's astonishing erection, and she said sweetly, "Master, Qiao'er is waiting for you! It seems there's something you need. This servant will help you undress right away."

"No rush!" Xu Ping smiled lewdly, looking at her rosy, alluring lips, and then remembered that this lovely little maid was always the one he groped, yet she still hadn't even had her first kiss. Thinking about how such a lecherous man like himself could have such a bizarre thing happen around him, he absolutely couldn't allow it. "Ah..." Amidst Xiaomi's exclamation, Xu Ping couldn't resist pulling her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her delicate, fair neck, and lowering his head to kiss her.

Although Xiaomi was obedient and docile, she still had no experience with kissing, and for a moment she was so shocked that her eyes widened, somewhat at a loss. Xu Ping didn't care, and slowly slipped one hand inside her neckline, grasping her small but very firm and elastic breasts, gently teasing her small buds while licking her lips and prying open her teeth, which seemed to still exude a floral fragrance.

The tingling sensation from her chest made Xiaomi's face turn red instantly, and her breathing became rapid. Her body went limp, and she slightly opened her tightly closed lips, and Xu Ping immediately and without hesitation captured her warm and soft little tongue, savoring it wantonly.

A long, wet kiss left her weak all over, barely able to breathe. Xu Ping chuckled lewdly, still savoring the kiss, licking her delicate earlobe as he breathed hot air, "Xiao Mi, is this comfortable?" "Mmm, comfortable!" The little maid, her face flushed, nestled in Xu Ping's arms, her voice soft and passionate, her beautiful eyes half-closed, still immersed in the taste of their first kiss.

"Alright, help me change!" Xu Ping smiled lewdly, patting her pert buttocks.

Xiao Mi let out a shy moan, glancing at Xu Ping with affectionate eyes before quickly fetching new clothes and helping him put them on.

"Mmm! Good girl."

Xu Ping chuckled, kissing her cheek again before slowly leaving.

After a gentle smile, Xiao Mi quickly tidied up her master's messy bed. Seeing a large, dried puddle on the bedding, she couldn't help but chuckle.

Ah, what a pleasant morning! But the sun felt like midday; damn it, it was so hot!

Xu Ping pondered as he walked into the courtyard. Liu Ziyi's abilities were beyond doubt. Having her monitor Yao Lu and Yao Shuiru was a piece of cake for her. His lovely, beautiful master! She'd even started working without breakfast; her virtuousness was truly heartbreaking.

Reaching the pavilion in the courtyard, Xu Ping habitually sat down in the rocking armchair. He couldn't help but wonder who had sent these two women, and how Liu Ziyi had discerned their problems. Xu Ping had no idea, but he did have a simple understanding of the situation. On the way back to the manor, Xu Ping had noticed a glint of light in Yao Shuiru's disheveled hair. He casually glanced at her disheveled appearance, noticing a delicate hairpin standing out incongruously amidst the tangled mess.

Having lived in this era for a while, Xu Ping could immediately tell it wasn't ordinary. While not top-grade, it could easily fetch a dozen taels of silver. With such wealth, how could they be so hungry?

After entering the manor, Xu Ping had Zhao Ling keep an eye on them. They noticed that while the women didn't ask many questions, their eating habits were clearly not those of starving people. These two points combined were enough to confirm that the two women had approached him with ulterior motives.

He just couldn't figure out who had planted these two women in his manor, and what their purpose was. So, he continued to monitor them discreetly, trying to find out who was behind it all.

"Your Highness, please have some soup."

After tidying the room, Xiao Mi, accompanied by a group of maids, brought breakfast with smiles, placing a pot of steaming soup on the table.

"So good!" Xu Ping patted her little face approvingly. Although he was hungry in the morning, his appetite wasn't very good. As soon as the pot lid was opened, a fragrant aroma wafted out.

"Master, what are you eating?" Before Xu Ping could even take a bite, Qiao'er, dressed in a silk dress and exuding her playful nature, skipped over, calling out greedily, "I want some too!"

The little girl was wearing a pink dress today, her long hair simply combed. Her childlike innocence and adorable smile made one want to take a bite of her.

Xiao Mi had just served Xu Ping a bowl when she saw Qiao'er coming over. Knowing that this little girl, though always playing around, was the most favored maid in the mansion, she quickly served her another bowl and then stood obediently beside her.

Xu Ping ignored Qiao'er, picked up the bowl, and took a small sip. His eyes lit up; the soup had a unique bittersweet flavor reminiscent of ginseng, combined with the freshness of the pheasant and the perfect slow simmering, resulting in an immediately fragrant aroma. After finishing the bowl, he gestured for Xiaomi to serve him another, asking approvingly, "Young Master, I've never had the habit of drinking soup. Who suggested this?" "Aunt Ji instructed the kitchen to make it. It's said to be gentle and nourishing without causing internal heat,"

Xiaomi explained as she handed the bowl to Xu Ping.

Just then, Ji Jingyue walked over. The beautiful aunt was still wearing a rather revealing short top, bright red and looking particularly energetic. Her delicate and charming cheeks were flushed, and her face and hair were covered in fragrant sweat. She was slightly panting, indicating she had been practicing martial arts.

"Hehe, Aunt, why did you think of nourishing me?"

Xu Ping asked with a lewd grin as he drank. Indeed, people in the South have a habit of drinking soup. According to modern science, the nutrients in soup are most easily absorbed by the body, and the soup tastes really good.

Ji Jingyue took the maid's towel to wipe her sweat, and then unceremoniously picked up the teapot and drank it in large gulps. After catching her breath, she saw Xu Ping and Qiao'er wolfing down their food and felt a surge of smugness, but she still said irritably, "Isn't it because I'm afraid someone might accidentally die in the middle of the night and no one will know? Too much debauchery and too much sex, be careful you don't empty your body."

Her rosy lips opened and closed as she spoke, looking particularly sexy. Xu Ping leered at her, and said with a lewd expression, "Hehe, why are you more concerned about this kind of thing than my wife? Do you have some ulterior motive? Young master may not have anything else in this area, but he has talent, so you don't need to worry about him."

"Get lost! I was just worried that before you even entered the palace, you'd already... you'd already..." Ji Jingyue trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. The topic was far too sensitive and not something she should be discussing. She shut her mouth, glared at Xu Ping who was secretly laughing, and sat down.

"Was it because you couldn't sleep last night that you wanted to make up for it?"

Xu Ping finished his drink and wanted more, but the bowl was already empty. He then looked at Qiao'er, the little girl, who was patting her tummy contentedly, looking at him with an embarrassed expression.

Xu Ping could only wipe his mouth, somewhat reluctantly, and say, "Brother, I'm as strong as an ox, and I sleep well, so you don't need to worry about me."

"I slept better than anyone last night,"

Ji Jingyue said angrily, her pretty face full of rage. "I only occasionally heard ghostly cries in the middle of the night."

"Impossible! Last night I clearly heard Master's moans from my room. She was shouting so loudly, how could you, living next door, not hear her?"

Before Xu Ping could speak, Qiao'er, looking at Ji Jingyue with a mischievous grin, said...

Ji Jingyue hadn't expected Qiao'er to speak so unreservedly. She couldn't help but spit out the soup she had just drunk, coughing violently. Xiao Mi quickly patted her back.

"Hehe, Qiao'er heard you from so far away, but you couldn't? I think you need to get your ears checked."

Xu Ping saw Qiao'er secretly gesturing to him, knowing that the little devil was teaming up with him to tease her aunt, and immediately gave her an approving look.

"That's right!" Qiao'er teased, "She kept me awake all night. I was thinking of getting up early to make something to offer to Master, but I was afraid she'd hurt her throat from all that yelling."

Xu Ping grinned lewdly. Seeing his aunt glaring at him, he ignored her and turned to Xiaomi, asking, "Xiaomi, can you hear me?" "Yes, I can hear a little."

Xiaomi's face immediately turned bright red. She thought to herself, how could she not hear me when she was waiting in the outer chamber? That embarrassing voice made her heart itch and her body felt hot. Wasn't her master asking a question she already knew the answer to?

Ji Jingyue blushed, realizing that everyone was teasing her. She glared at Xu Ping and stopped talking.

Xu Ping couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, saying with a hint of teasing, "Auntie, as a relative, I have to kindly remind you, you couldn't hear those loud moans last night? Is there something wrong with your hearing? Don't worry, there are the best doctors in the capital, I'll cure you." "

Get lost! Making such a racket in the middle of the night, trying to kill everyone! Can't I just move somewhere else? How dare you say something like that? So shameless!"

Ji Jingyue was on the verge of exploding, gritting her teeth as she spoke, looking like she wanted to devour Xu Ping alive.

Xu Ping observed her carefully, noticing she wasn't carrying a whip, and seeing her embarrassed and angry expression, he couldn't resist teasing her further: "Just between you and me, did you change your underwear last night?" "I'll kill you, you shameless little lecher!"

Ji Jingyue shouted angrily, igniting the powder keg. The whip was concealed at her waist, and with a swift, almost imperceptible flick of her small hand, the dark leather whip lashed out at Xu Ping with a whooshing sound.

How could she not hear the cries of pleasure from last night? Those high-pitched moans pounded like a hammer on Ji Jingyue's heart, which had been lonely for so many years, keeping her awake at night. Her body writhed restlessly, and she found herself growing hot. Lost in her passion, she couldn't help but touch her already damp private parts with her delicate hand. She hadn't expected Xu Ping to ask such a blatant question. Remembering how she had touched her body last night, her mind was filled with images of this lewd nephew, and how, at the moment of climax, she had fantasized about being pinned down by him—the thought still made her uneasy.

"Did you forget to bring a change? I should have told you so I could have someone prepare some absorbent ones for you."

Xu Ping laughed, dodging a lash and leaping onto the roof. He continued teasing his increasingly exasperated aunt, but felt a pang of heartache for the flowers and plants she had snapped with her whip—they were all Xiao Ling'er's hard work. He'd have to give her a good talking to when he got back.

"I don't need them,"

Ji Jingyue retorted, both embarrassed and angry. Her whip whistled through the air as she lashed out at the roof.

Xu Ping leaped away, looking at the broken corner of the roof she had smashed with her whip. Although he still wanted to tease his beautiful aunt, he was afraid she might go berserk and demolish the house. After all, it was his property, and he'd have to pay for the repairs himself. He decided it was best to run away for now.

Ji Jingyue panted heavily, her full, sexy breasts heaving with each breath. Xu Ping felt a surge of desire; though he decided to run away, he was still reluctant. With a quick wit, he dodged another of her whips and leaped in front of her, planting a fierce kiss on her pink cheek.

Ji Jingyue felt her nephew suddenly disappear from the rooftop, and just as she was wondering what was happening, his face suddenly reappeared in front of her. Before she could even be startled, she felt a wetness on her face, and a tingling sensation as someone brushed against her chest.

Xu Ping chuckled heartily, licking the fragrant taste from his lips while reminiscing about the elasticity of his aunt's beautiful breasts. His figure flashed past and disappeared behind the wall. He ran quickly, not forgetting to leave a teasing message: "I meant well, haha! Don't be so angry so early in the morning. Young Master has something to do, so he can't keep you company. Auntie, you're quite bouncy, keep it up!" Ji Jingyue was stunned for a while before she came to her senses and realized she had been harassed by him again. Her pretty face flushed red, but she was also furious. Although she could no longer see Xu Ping, she still shouted angrily, "You little rascal, I'll tear you apart!"

Her sharp voice, filled with anger, echoed throughout the entire Crown Prince's residence. Xu Ping landed safely outside the gate, feeling a chill run down his spine at the sound of her voice. He felt she really meant what she said; he'd better be careful in the future, because this shrewish aunt might actually do something like cutting off his penis in the middle of the night.

"It smells so good!" Despite his thoughts, Xu Ping couldn't resist raising his right hand to smell it. He could still faintly smell his aunt's milky scent. After chuckling a few times, he hummed a little tune and turned to go shopping.

Xiao Mi wanted to laugh, but seeing Ji Jingyue's angry face, she immediately suppressed it, though it

was making her uncomfortable. Qiao'er sat obediently to the side, looking innocent, but secretly chuckling to herself. Of course, she didn't dare provoke Ji Jingyue, after all, although Ji Jingyue always suffered in front of her master, her martial arts were still top-notch. If she were to be used against her, she would have nowhere to cry.

Watching Ji Jingyue whipping a bunch of branches in a fit of rage, and seeing that she seemed to have vented her anger... Qiao'er then stepped forward, grinning, and said, "Auntie, you two are really making a ruckus, turning the whole house upside down so early in the morning."

"I'll never forgive him!"

Ji Jingyue gasped for breath, gritting her teeth as she tried to calm herself down before sitting back down at the table and taking a large gulp of tea.

"Auntie, honestly, what did you do last night when you couldn't sleep?" Qiao'er asked innocently, but couldn't hide the sly glint in her bright eyes.

Ji Jingyue panicked a little at the question; she couldn't very well say she was masturbating in her room. She casually replied, "What else could I be doing? Covering my ears and cursing that lecherous man."

"But I peeked into every room, and you seemed to be…" Qiao'er chuckled mischievously, but before she could finish, Ji Jingyue covered her mouth.

"You brat, you're actually learning to peep! Who taught you that?!" Ji Jingyue was completely flustered. The thought of Qiao'er seeing her like that made her feel embarrassed, but she also had a strong urge to kill her.

Qiao'er's mouth was covered, so she couldn't say anything. Seeing the fierce look in Ji Jingyue's eyes, she felt a chill run down her spine. Suddenly, she stuck out her tongue and licked Ji Jingyue's palm.

Ji Jingyue hurriedly let go, not expecting the little girl to do that. A tingling sensation spread from her palm; this must have been taught to her by that lecherous Xu Ping, who deserved to be torn to pieces. Poor little girl, completely corrupted by this scoundrel.

"Why did you cover my mouth?!" Qiao'er took two steps back warily, complaining innocently.

Ji Jingyue thought for a moment, trying to soften her expression. Although it looked a little unnatural, she still spoke in the gentlest voice, "Qiao'er, be good, don't tell anyone about this, okay?"

"Okay, Qiao'er won't tell anyone. But I'm a little hungry. I want to eat Kangtai Lou's braised pig's trotters, Deshengzhai's stir-fried bamboo shoots, braised chicken with mushrooms, and four-happiness meatballs. Dongtai Pavilion's red bean paste cakes, red bean cakes, and malt preserves. I think after eating, Qiao'er has been sleeping well all night and hasn't gone anywhere."

Qiao'er had seized this opportunity and it would be unreasonable not to try and get some money out of her. She looked at Ji Jingyue with an innocent face as she spoke.

"No problem, Auntie will take you there right away."

Ji Jingyue immediately nodded in agreement. Although it wouldn't cost much, being ripped off was really unpleasant. Only then did she realize that this girl was definitely not just corrupted; she was in cahoots with her scoundrel nephew. Eating meat and sweets, wasn't she afraid of growing into a chubby ball?

"Okay, Auntie! Let's go now."

Qiao'er smiled innocently, taking Ji Jingyue's hand with a "I'm being good" attitude.

Ji Jingyue sighed helplessly, comforting herself that it was just a chance to relax. However, thinking about how long her nephew had teased her, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed and resentful, asking in a resentful tone, "Qiao'er, were those poisons you used really that effective?"

Qiao'er raised her head proudly, grinning, "Of course! I did spend some time with Master Poison King, after all."

Her smile was radiant, revealing cute little tiger teeth through her slightly exposed cherry lips; she looked innocent and kind no matter how you looked at her. If Ji Jingyue hadn't heard about this little devil's prowess, she would never have believed that she was a master of poisons.

"Is there any medicine that makes someone impotent?" Ji Jingyue thought of Xu Ping's face, which was full of "cheap" when he teased her, and her blood pressure seemed to rise again.

"Yes, but Master's skill is so profound that he could easily force out this minor poison."

Qiao'er immediately guessed her meaning and shook her head with a sympathetic look.

At this point, Ji Jingyue couldn't help but wonder what level her nephew's martial arts had reached. She really couldn't say for sure, nor could she understand it. He always seemed so lazy, and even when he was scaling walls, she hadn't sensed a trace of his aura. After dealing with him for so long, she really didn't know how high his cultivation level was.

Moreover, she had never seen him seriously fight once; he always acted nonchalantly. She herself had been more talented than most people since childhood, and it had taken her a long time of hard work to reach the level of a first-rate master. Thinking back, she realized she'd always been the one being toyed with, never seeming to gain the upper hand. Although she was angry, Ji Jingyue couldn't help but ask curiously, "Qiao'er, what do you think of this little lecher's martial arts skills? What school of martial arts does he practice?" "I don't know!" Qiao'er, though mischievous, was also a clever girl. Ji Jingyue hadn't brought it up, and she was momentarily speechless.

In her memory, the only time her master had ever acted was reluctantly, seemingly during their first meeting. The feeling then was completely different from usual; she always felt her master was playful and cheerful, like a lively boy. But now, that experience involuntarily came to mind.

His eyes, cold as a wild beast's, his words devoid of any emotion. Although the hand gripping her neck wasn't very strong, her instinct told her that if she said the wrong thing, her life would be over. Recalling what happened, Qiao'er felt a slight sweat creep down her back. Two years ago, if he'd glared at her like that, she probably would have wet herself.

"What's wrong?" Ji Jingyue asked with concern when she saw Qiao'er stop, her cute face turning pale with fear. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine!" Qiao'er shook her head, "I'm not really sure, but at least I've reached the Earthly Realm!" Qiao'er felt her back; it seemed damp with sweat. She was secretly surprised that the terrifying memory had faded so quickly. Was it because her master spoiled her too much, or had she truly been fooled by his seemingly carefree demeanor?

"Earth-grade? How did this freak achieve that?" Ji Jingyue couldn't help but mutter. With the power of an Earth-grade cultivator, one could easily become the core member of a sect in the martial world. But which one didn't spend decades cultivating to that level? This little nephew is just too much!

The two chattered away as they walked out. Ji Jingyue instinctively focused all her attention on Xu Ping, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was talking about him. However, Qiao'er, though also lost in thought, took in all of Ji Jingyue's smiles and quips, secretly amused that her aunt was about to succumb to her charms.

Xu Ping, while searching for beautiful women on the street, couldn't help but sneeze. He touched his forehead; he didn't even have a cold. "Which girl is so immoral, thinking about me in the middle of the day instead of at night?"

he thought. He glanced at the kites, then at the street food. Xu Ping seemed to be casually strolling, but his mind was highly alert, searching for the person following him in the dense crowd.

After wandering the streets for about half an hour, Xu Ping was certain that at least four people had been following him since he left the mansion. Some of them even changed their identities frequently, dressed so well that they were almost impossible to spot in a crowd.

After suspecting Yao Shuiru, Xu Ping felt that he would definitely be followed whenever he went out, and if that was the case, Zhao Ling and the others would likely suffer the same fate. Qiao'er was rather elusive, and he estimated she could shake them off herself, but he didn't know who had sent these followers. Even Ji Long wouldn't be so foolish.

He had so many informants in the capital; why would he be so stupid as to send people to follow him all the way? Xu Ping walked and pondered, but couldn't quite make sense of it. Having confirmed his suspicions, he quietly turned into an alley.

"Where is everyone!" A porter carrying walnuts on a shoulder pole followed him in, only to be dumbfounded when he saw that the long alley was deserted.

"Where did they go? They definitely turned into this alley!" A young man who looked like a scholar, who had followed behind, was also very surprised. There were at least a hundred or so households in the long alley; they couldn't possibly search every single one of them.

A few more people arrived, huddled together and whispered for a while before dispersing, looking dejected.

After they left, Xu Ping lightly leaped from the backyard of a house to the alley entrance, gazing thoughtfully in the direction they had disappeared. These people really put in a lot of effort; besides peddlers and laborers, they had everyone selling steamed buns and candied hawthorns. He himself was still... He'd been a little careless, but judging from this, it seemed easy for someone like Yao Shuiru, who tried to sneak in through trickery, to track him down.

Who could it be? Xu Ping pondered, head bowed. He'd finally shaken them off and didn't want to be followed again. He quickly turned into the bustling city and disappeared into the crowd in no time.

Storytelling teahouses were everywhere in the capital, and good venues were plentiful. Xu Ping leisurely walked into the second floor of one, booking the entire floor, listening to storytelling performances he didn't enjoy at all, though outwardly he appeared quite content.

"Sir, what would you like?" The waiter rushed up to serve him eagerly. After all, in a small place, there weren't many wealthy patrons; those who could book an entire floor were usually there to support a star.

"A pot of local wine and a steamed fish!" Xu Ping said slowly.

The waiter, who had been bowing and scraping, suddenly had a hint of seriousness in his eyes, but he immediately resumed his obsequious manner, saying apologetically, "Sir, this is a teahouse, not a restaurant. We don't have those things!" "Oh, is that so? Then bring four catties of pears!" Xu Ping said without the slightest annoyance.

"Sir, please wait a moment!" The waiter immediately adopted a respectful demeanor, ran over to give a few instructions to the others, and then stood guard at a distance along the passageway to the second floor.

A moment later, a middle-aged man resembling a shopkeeper walked onto the stage. He was as burly as an iron tower, his face serious and resolute. He went straight to the second floor and knelt respectfully before Xu Ping, saying, "This servant greets Master."

"Rise!" Xu Ping replied indifferently, his gaze still fixed on the stage.

"Master, what brings you here?" The shopkeeper rose and stood respectfully behind Xu Ping, speaking with a serious expression. From his earlier somewhat vulgar demeanor to his current slightly murderous aura, he seemed like a completely different person.

The shopkeeper's name was Lou Jiu, formerly the head镖师 (chief镖师) of the Cheng Family Escort Agency. His external martial arts skills were already at a first-rate level, only a step away from the Earthly Rank. After rescuing Cheng Ningxue, Xu Ping originally intended to see if he could do her a favor, so when he went to the palace to inquire, he learned that the assassins were still alive. At the time, these survivors were being interrogated and taken to the imperial prison.

Looking across the martial arts world, Lou Jiu, though a rare master, couldn't even last three moves against Shi Tianfeng. His bandit henchmen were naturally no match for the imperial guards, hence their capture and escape from death.

The group of over sixty men, even the weakest possessed third-rate martial arts skills. Xu Ping, immediately impressed by their talent, secretly rescued them all. Of course, outwardly, and even to Cheng Ningxue, he was told they had been killed, but secretly, he allowed them to recuperate for a period before gradually spreading out throughout the capital, forming a new hidden intelligence network. Lou Jiu was

upright and loyal, yet also shrewd, maintaining connections with people from all walks of life. His life-or-death friendship with Cheng Ningxue's father was why he risked his life to assassinate Zhang Yulong in the palace. After Xu Ping showed him Cheng Ningxue from afar, he promised to avenge them, thus successfully taking in this group of outlaws, strong in their martial arts ways but also loyal and righteous.

"How's the investigation going?" Xu Ping asked with a glint in his eyes after a long pause. "I've noticed things are getting a bit unsettled in the capital lately."

Lou Jiu bowed respectfully and whispered in Xu Ping's ear, "Your Majesty, we still don't have a clear understanding of the background of those monitoring the Crown Prince's residence. However, we're certain they're not officials; they're likely from the martial arts world, just of unknown origin. I've recently recalled many of my former disciples and acquaintances, as well as those who have had life-or-death relationships with the Cheng family in the martial arts world. I roughly know that more and more martial arts figures seem to be stirring up trouble."

"Why?" Xu Ping asked with interest. It's true that martial arts practitioners might break the law, but such people are a minority. Many in the martial arts world know they can't oppose the imperial court, after all, no matter how strong their martial arts are, they can't defeat a large, well-organized army. So they're relatively well-behaved, but it's not impossible that these guys get itchy for a fight whenever there's internal strife.

Lou Jiu lowered his voice and said seriously, "It's said to be caused by the Green Robe Sect. Their leader, Lin Yuan, went into seclusion three years ago and his whereabouts are unknown. He passed the position to his eldest disciple, Song Yuanshan. According to our sources, Zhang Danian, who came to Beijing, visited Tianfang Mountain and reportedly stayed overnight. The two had a very pleasant conversation."

"Oh…" Xu Ping couldn't help but glint in his eyes. It seemed the Green Robe Sect and Ji Long had colluded. Although even the largest sect couldn't defeat the imperial army, there was still Lin Yuan, rumored to have reached the Heavenly Rank. If such a master launched a sudden sneak attack, how many people in the world could defend against it?

"Master!" Lou Jiu continued, "This alone isn't enough to cause turmoil in the martial world. It's just that Song Yuanshan seems to be making some subtle moves, arousing suspicion from other sects. After all, although Lin Yuan, the former leader of the Qingyi Sect, has been a powerful figure in the martial world for decades, he is a low-key person and has always been indifferent to worldly affairs. This Song Yuanshan, however, is an ambitious and cunning man, so it's inevitable that everyone has to be on high alert and wary of him."

"Can't you find out what the specific unusual movements are?" Xu Ping asked somewhat angrily.

Lou Jiu looked ashamed and shook his head, saying, "To be honest, Master, it's very difficult to gather information about these major sects. Now that we can't use our original identities to travel, it's even more difficult. However, it's certain that the disciples of the Green Robe Sect have been moving around a lot lately, their activities are quite frequent."

"Sigh, continue investigating!" Xu Ping finished speaking and stood up to walk upstairs. Suddenly, he stopped and, without turning his head, instructed, "But be discreet, understand?" "This servant respectfully sees off Master."

Lou Jiu knelt down solemnly.

Xu Ping quietly slipped out through the back door. After confirming that no one was following him, he turned and walked through the bustling market, pondering Ji Long's actions. From what he could see, Ji Long definitely had rebellious intentions, but he didn't know when it would happen or the specific methods he would use.

Xu Ping had also discussed this matter privately with Zhu Yunwen. After much deliberation, they concluded that they still had to consider Ji Zhongyun's 100,000-strong army. The Hungry Wolf Camp was so powerful that even his grandfather felt his own dilapidated army wouldn't stand a chance in a direct confrontation. Although they didn't know Ji Zhongyun's intentions, everyone would be wary of such a formidable force.

The final decision was to wait for Ji Long to rebel. Constant vigilance was the most desperate measure, though risky, because they couldn't predict how many hidden agents Ji Zhongyun had. This seemingly foolish approach was the only way to eliminate any future worries.

"Sigh!" Xu Ping sighed, the complex relationships and the intertwined power struggles were truly a headache. He had initially thought it would be a peaceful and prosperous era, but the hidden dangers couldn't be ignored. Ji Zhongyun, that old codger, what was his attitude? The Hungry Wolf Camp, stationed in the Northeast for twenty years without ever disarming, did they really possess such formidable fighting power?

Upon returning home, Xu Ping deliberately attracted the attention of his spies by swaggering around. He always liked to contemplate in the armchair in the backyard, and upon arriving home, he immediately lay down, closing his eyes in deep thought.

Xiao Mi, always so obedient, saw her master with his eyes closed but a slight frown on his brow, and wisely stood aside, not daring to speak, gently fanning him with a fan, trying to dispel the worries that were more irritating than the scorching weather.

"Call Uncle Liu in!" Xu Ping said softly, his eyes still closed.

Xiao Mi quickly put down the fan, nodded, and went out. Xu Ping's mind continued to race, feeling that he might have been neglecting his duties lately, acting like a hands-off manager, with Zhao Ling handling most of the business. He wasn't quite sure how much wealth he actually had, so he decided to call Uncle Liu to inquire.

"Young Prince, you summoned me?"

Uncle Liu still looked as weak as if he were about to enter a coffin.

"Sit down, Uncle Liu."

Xu Ping always treated his old steward with utmost respect.

Seeing Xu Ping's stern expression, Uncle Liu sat down in a chair without hesitation and quietly observed him.

Xu Ping thought for a moment and then asked directly, "Uncle Liu, I want to know how much silver we have in the accounts right now?" "Right now? Is it all together?" Uncle Liu countered.

"All?" Xu Ping opened his eyes in confusion.

Uncle Liu slowly nodded and said gently, "Some silver isn't in the household accounts, which is why I'm asking."

"Oh, then tell me!" Xu Ping asked with interest, the specific amount in his secret stash of money certainly piqued his curiosity. After all, everything involved money, and the matter of Lou Jiu had already cost him 100,000 taels of his private savings.

Uncle Liu, after all, wasn't a computer, and with so many accounts to manage, he frowned and thought for a while before slowly saying, "Currently, the Crown Prince's residence has a surplus of about 200,000 taels from the Emperor's legacy, rewards, and our stipends. According to the accounts reported by the young mistress, the Shili Xiang Winery, after deducting funds used to expand production, has already submitted 1.16 million taels to the Crown Prince's residence."

Xu Ping rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache, and asked, "What about the Chamber of Commerce?" Uncle Liu shook his head helplessly and said, "I never concern myself with that. I only learned about the winery's accounts when the young mistress reported them. Why don't you call Zhang Qinghe over and ask him?" "Go ahead!" Xu Ping closed his eyes again. Over a million taels—it certainly sounded like a lot. But the actual expenses were no joke. Although the distillery was making a fortune every day, the Ministry of Works, which was about to start operating, would be a place where money only went out and no money came in. The distillery's money might only be enough to keep it in balance.

About half an hour later (I think this would give more readers a sense of time), Zhang Qinghe came in panting. After paying his respects, he asked, "Master, what are your orders for summoning this servant?"

"How is the situation with the Chamber of Commerce?" Xu Ping asked with his eyes closed.

Zhang Qinghe glanced cautiously at Xu Ping, feeling a pang of unease at his expressionless face. He continued his rapid-fire recounting of accounts: "The Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, though officially established, hasn't generated any revenue yet. They collected 160,000 taels in donations and membership fees, but haven't submitted them to the Ministry of Commerce. Yu Qing used all 160,000 taels for port construction, and even took 500,000 taels from his own savings to speed things up. At this rate, the dock won't be completed for another half month."

"What about other places?" Xu Ping knew these people had a habit of reporting only good news, so hearing that the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce's income and expenses were balanced made him uneasy.

Zhang Qinghe looked troubled and said with some guilt, "Other places are still under construction. Since the founding of our dynasty, merchants haven't been valued. Many people treat this as a joke, and many are still observing, so the establishment of chambers of commerce in various places has been fraught with difficulties."

Xu Ping's face darkened; this was far too slow. Since his secret talk with his father, Zhang Qinghe's views had changed considerably. He realized that relying on inventions and the like was too slow a way to amass wealth; policy intervention was the best approach. However, judging from the current situation, his influence as the crown prince seemed lacking; even a small group of merchants were not buying into his schemes.

Seeing Xu Ping's cold gaze, Zhang Qinghe's heart pounded with anxiety, sweat beading on his forehead, fearing his master's anger and punishment for his incompetence.

"Alas, ideals are good, but implementation is difficult!" Xu Ping sighed deeply. After all, the hardest thing to change is people's stubborn beliefs. Seeing Zhang Qinghe's trembling legs, Xu Ping realized he couldn't blame him and could only comfort him, saying, "It's alright, these things aren't your fault."

"Master!" Zhang Qinghe relaxed completely, then knelt down, tears streaming down his face, and cried out in remorse, "This servant has failed in his duties; please punish me, Master!" He

trembled as he finished speaking, his head hitting the ground.

Since ancient times, the imperial family has been ruthless; killing Zhang Qinghe was as easy as slaughtering a pig. Xu Ping knew that society was actually even more cruel, and those who could remain calm like him were rare indeed. In the capital, which official hadn't beaten or killed a servant? It was commonplace. But only Xu Ping's Crown Prince's residence could punish, but not kill. This was why Xu Ping had earned a reputation for benevolence.

"Get up!" Xu Ping said calmly.

Zhang Qinghe remained kneeling, trembling as he said, "This servant dares not."

Xu Ping remained silent, and the atmosphere grew even colder. Just then, Zhao Ling, seemingly having finished a task, entered the hall and overheard their conversation. She stepped forward and said softly, "Lord Zhang, your master has told you to get up, so please get up!" Zhang Qinghe then stood up tremblingly, his face filled with self-reproach and guilt.

Zhao Ling knew they still had things to discuss, so after greeting Xu Ping, she sensibly withdrew.

"What exactly is the reason?!" Xu Ping asked coldly. Zhang Qinghe's abilities were beyond doubt; the lack of progress over such a long period must be due to other factors interfering.

Zhang Qinghe wiped away his tears and said angrily, "Your Majesty, although the Ministry of Commerce is called a ministry, it is despised by other officials in the court. Especially the Ministry of Rites, which causes trouble every few days, issuing official documents to various provinces. Officials have practically come to regard it as nothing, so it's no wonder that businessmen avoid it for fear of getting caught in the crossfire. Yu Qing's ability to make such a big move in Guangdong is also due to his extensive connections." "

So he's taking a gamble?" Xu Ping had expected resistance, but he hadn't anticipated it would be this severe. It seemed everyone was treating his Ministry of Commerce as a joke to the Crown Prince.

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