Lai Fu prepared the carriage and walked cheerfully into the main hall, saying to ng Qianqian and Lu Yuan, "Young Madam Lu, Master Lu, the carriage is ready."
ng Qianqian noticed Lai Fu’s way of addressing them, always placing her first. Once or twice might be a coincidence, but since it was always this way, it seed to be the family custom of the Yu Family.
The status of the Yu Madam was above all else, and Lai Fu was accustod to it.
"Uncle Yu, we’re leaving now."
ng Qianqian said to Yu Dad.
Yu Dad smiled and said, "After unveiling the royal proclamation, if there’s still ti, you can let Lai Fu show you around the Imperial City."
This was exactly to her liking.
Who said only ng Qianqian defused awkward situations for Yu Dad?
Yu Dad was also ticulous and considerate.
The young couple boarded the Yu Family’s carriage.
Yu Zichuan lightly leaped up, holding his well-polished large bow, and sat on the carriage roof.
Lai Fu tilted his head up in confusion to look at his young master, "Young Master, why are you sitting there? The carriage is spacious! Or, you could sit next to ."
"I’m sitting here."
Yu Zichuan replied.
Lai Fu asked again, "Why though?"
Inside the carriage, ng Qianqian also asked Lu Yuan, "Yeah, why? Why is Yu Zichuan always either on the house roof or the carriage roof?"
Look at how this trip to Miaojiang tanned the child. Yu Dad didn’t even bla them for turning Yu Zichuan into a little charcoal doll, truly showing imnse kindness and generosity.
Yu Zichuan answered from the roof, "Archers should occupy the high ground."
ng Qianqian’s mouth twitched as she asked Lu Yuan, "Did you teach him that?"
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "Shangguan Ling taught him."
ng Qianqian pald her forehead.
One dares to teach, another dares to learn.
She thought Yu Zichuan had so unique habit or quirk, but it turns out he was misguided by the esteed Commander of the Jinyi Guard.
He’s a swordsman—how could you let him teach Yu Zichuan archery?
True, occupying the high ground isn’t incorrect, but blatantly sitting atop the carriage roof—weren’t you just offering yourself as a live target?
ng Qianqian asked softly, "Did he not realize there’s an issue with this? Hasn’t he been shot at yet?"
Lu Yuan replied, "Shangguan Ling told him this is a fundantal quality of an archer."
ng Qianqian: "..."
Suddenly, she felt a bit sorry for Yu Zichuan. How much bad luck did he stumble into to encounter such a group of tricksters?
And despite this, he managed to learn archery so proficiently, hitting a target with pinpoint accuracy. Should one say this was accidental success or comnd his exceptional talent?
Thinking of sothing, ng Qianqian hesitated to speak.
Lu Yuan noticed her expression and asked, "Speak your mind."
ng Qianqian glanced at the roof, "Is there a chance he just wants to figuratively be above you?"
Lu Yuan: "..."
The carriage wobbled as it set off.
Lai Fu was a smart and capable young man. Within two months, he had beco thoroughly familiar with the terrain of the Imperial City, so places by visiting, others by studying maps.
"Young Madam Lu, Master Lu, Young Master, we’re here."
Lai Fu said, "Pass the alley, this is the place. Too many people—the carriage can’t go through. Shall we stop here?"
Yu Zichuan looked down at Lai Fu, who was gazing up at him, "Why are you looking at ?"
Lai Fu shook his head. The young master goes out once and returns as clueless as ever.
ng Qianqian lifted the curtain, peered at the bustling street, and asked Lu Yuan, "Can we walk?"
Lu Yuan replied coolly, "We can’t walk. Want to carry ?"
ng Qianqian said, "Not impossible."
Lu Yuan: "..."
ng Qianqian stayed true to herself. Even now, she remained a loyal servant at heart.
Lai Fu pointed them toward the right direction, "The spot with the most people over there is where the royal proclamation is posted."
He wouldn’t join them, staying back to guard the carriage.
Yu Zichuan teased, "You really don’t want to consider borrowing money from ? After today, if you want to borrow, it’ll be four percent interest."
Lai Fu sighed, "Young Master, you’re not cut out for business. Stop trying."
Yu Zichuan persisted, "Are you sure you won’t consider it...?"
"Let’s go."
Lu Yuan dragged Yu Zichuan away by the arm.
At the proclamation site, citizens surrounded it layer upon layer.
Most were just there for the spectacle. Each ti soone unveiled the proclamation, the crowd burst into excited exclamations.
Unveiling the royal proclamation, however, had its conditions. Either you were already renowned, or you needed to purchase the qualification with silver.
"A thousand gold!"
An enthusiastic old man announced.
"That expensive?"
ng Qianqian questioned.
Setting a high bar to prevent reckless unveiling was understandable, but a thousand gold for entry seed rather outrageous.
ng Qianqian chuckled, "Don’t you think this royal proclamation is quite interesting?"
Lu Yuan’s gaze swept across the people ceaselessly unveiling the proclamation. He replied calmly, "Definitely interesting."
Yu Zichuan said, "I don’t get it."
ng Qianqian explained with a smile, "The conditions for unveiling the proclamation—the first kind of contestant should’ve already registered in the first three days. Those left are all buying their qualifications for a hefty price. A thousand gold isn’t trivial, so why do people keep unveiling it? It’s likely because so are being instructed to. Soone might be using the guise of buying qualifications to bribe those involved in selecting fine wines."
Yu Zichuan understood, "Bribery."
ng Qianqian replied, "Exactly, bribery—but bribes that leave no trace."
Yu Zichuan looked at Lu Yuan, "You should learn from this."
Lu Yuan, expressionless, asked, "Are you seriously looking to end your life early?"
Yu Zichuan quietly moved to ng Qianqian’s other side.
"Should we still go?"
ng Qianqian asked Lu Yuan with a smile.
Lu Yuan replied, "Suit yourself, I’m fine either way."
His mother had said that won spend money not necessarily to buy sothing—it’s just that they want to spend.
ng Qianqian laughed, "How about we take a look first?"
Lu Yuan nodded lightly.
Then Yu Zichuan began pulling out silver notes.
ng Qianqian stopped him, "What are you doing?"
Yu Zichuan asked, "Don’t you want to go in and take a look?"
ng Qianqian said with amusent, "That doesn’t an you should pay."
Yu Zichuan solemnly replied, "I’m only paying for you—he stays outside."
Lu Yuan: I think you’re asking for it!
ng Qianqian couldn’t help but laugh, "Wait a mont, let ask around."
On either side of the royal proclamation stood four guards.
ng Qianqian approached one guard and politely said, "Guard brother, we’re from Witch Mountain and hope to unveil the proclamation. May I ask a few questions?"
The guard, initially impatient, softened his attitude upon hearing Witch Mountain, "Madam, go ahead."
ng Qianqian silently nodded in approval. Using Witch Mountain’s na was indeed the right move.
She asked, "After purchasing the qualification, where should we go to compete?"
The guard replied, "The preliminary selection is at the nearby Lingyue Restaurant. After the restaurant’s screening, you’ll go to the Crown Prince Mansion. But whether you’re ultimately selected depends on the wine’s quality."
ng Qianqian glanced around discreetly and slipped him a gold ingot, "I just want a glimpse of the scene. Selection doesn’t matter—I just want to enter the Crown Prince Mansion to broaden my horizons."
The guard’s eyes flickered. He quickly pocketed the gold, suppressing his guilt and nervously whispered, "Go to Lingyue Restaurant and find Assistant Shopkeeper Liu."
"Thank you."
ng Qianqian expressed her gratitude.
"Even if you get in, you won’t be selected."
Lu Yuan told ng Qianqian.
ng Qianqian chuckled, "This ti, it has nothing to do with the Thousand chanism Pavilion. I just want to acknowledge the Crown Prince as family."
"Family recognition?"
Lu Yuan frowned.
ng Qianqian asked, "What’s the surna of Liang Country’s Crown Prince?"
Lu Yuan replied, "Lu."
ng Qianqian said, "Before Pri Minister Xun passed away, he ntioned your father also had the surna Lu."
Lu Yuan gave her a suspicious look, "You’re not saying..."
ng Qianqian raised her brows, "The story of Prince Jian’s lineage gave the idea. The truth isn’t always what matters—the key is making the Crown Prince believe. If Thousand chanism Pavilion can find him a son, why can’t we?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)