Chapter 48 She's done it, and things have come!

  "The scorpion's sting is in its tail."

  Ever since witnessing Zhao Zun's mastery of the situation at the Chan Institute in Zhangren Mountain, where he effortlessly controlled the atmosphere with a flick of his wrist, and then calmly walked away from Dongfang Qingxuan, Xia Chuyi had been pondering the meaning of this phrase.

  That's tailor-made for Zhao Ziyu.

  Farewell to Dao Chang Lao and Shang, a group of people surrounded King Jin Wang down from Zhangren Mountain.

  At the foot of the mountain, a carriage had long been prepared to welcome Your Lordship.

  Yesterday's torrential flood has receded, but on this scarred and muddy ground, a black lacquer carriage with golden trimmings is parked, still looking out of place with its surroundings.

  Under the gaze of the villagers who were seeing them off on both sides of the road at the foot of the mountain, Xia Chuyi, as a rumored "extremely favored" little slave of King Jin's mansion, got onto the carriage with King Jin and set off on the muddy official road back to Qinggang County.

  "Aren't you afraid of being called a ladies' man and having a philandering nature?"

  Outside the curtain, it was packed with people who came to watch the excitement and novelty.

  But behind her was the man's unchanged calm and handsome face.

  "It doesn't matter," he replied.

  At the beginning of summer, Chu Qi's lips curled up and she smiled. "What you said is really true. You are indeed unharmed, but I am harmed? Sir, think about it, I, Chu Qi, was a perfectly fine man... oh no, a perfectly fine girl, and just like that, you defined me as your concubine, the imperial concubine of Your Highness. You didn't ask for my opinion, nor did you consider giving me any compensation. Your Highness, do you think this matter is fair to me?"

  Zhao Zun stared at her, "Not fair."

  "Hey, you still have a bit of conscience, so tell me how you plan to make it up..."

  "Chu Qi." He interrupted her, his eyes scanning the surroundings before adding, "There's never been fairness in this world."

  "Are you obviously cheating me?" Xia Chuyi's eyebrows were raised high.

  "It's only right. I'm your master, you're my servant, it's only natural that I bully you." Zhao Zun's tone was calm and collected, after speaking he didn't even look at her again, merely closing his eyes lazily and leaning back against the soft cushion, his majestic demeanor sending a chill from head to toe.

  The words may be ugly, but the reasoning is sound.

  At the beginning of summer, on the seventh day, I knew he was right.

  Not to mention that this is an imperial power supreme feudal dynasty, but the world she was in before, isn't it the same? Power and influence have always been a sharp tool for one person to look down on others. Especially the throne with diamonds at the top of power, any normal man, even some women, want to sit on it, feel the majesty above millions of people, write into history books, and be passed down for thousands of years.

  Moreover, a prince like Zhao Jun, who originally had his eyes on the world and was already someone that no one except the old emperor could ignore, would have all the people in the world kowtowing at his feet. If he wanted to, with his abilities, it's not impossible for him to become the number one person in the world someday, looking down on all living things.

  On the seventh day of summer, a strange and wonderful feeling suddenly arose in her heart.

  If Zhao Zhen really became emperor one day, he... would deal with her in what way?

  She shifted her gaze to the sharp angle of his jaw, thinking of the prosperous scene, and softly called out a name.

  Grandpa.

  Zhao Zun slightly raised an eyebrow and slanted a glance over, "Is the little slave not convinced in her heart?"

  She hesitated for a moment and replied quickly, "Of course."

  He pursed his lips and asked in a light tone, "What compensation do you want?"

  He's so glib, but one look and you can tell he's not very sincere. She rolled her eyes, Xia Chuqi hummed softly, thinking about gold and silver mountains in her mind, her big eyes blinked, and a hint of dazzling light flashed out.

  "What I want in compensation will be a lot more, old man, how many can you satisfy?"

  Zhao Zun lightly hummed a sound, staring at her greedy eyes, as if he had understood.

  "Feeling so taken advantage of, yet wanting to be your concubine?"

  "Ah!" Xia Chuqi was stunned.

  Do you have to be so narcissistic?

  She was so choked by his words that she started coughing violently, unable to swallow her saliva. After a while, she finally caught her breath, panting heavily and patting her chest, then bowed her head in respect.

  "Your Highness, the King of Jin, please don't scare me like that. I, Chu Qi, know my appearance is not good enough, how can I possibly enter your noble bed and become your concubine? Let's never mention this again, it hurts both our feelings, doesn't it?"

  She refused so quickly and thoroughly, obviously stunning Zhao Zun.

  "You don't like it?"

  "Nonsense, of course I'm not happy." Xia Chuyi's heart sank. Shouldn't he really want her to be a concubine or something? Although he was handsome enough, who knew how many women were in the Wangfu in the capital, and which woman was on his mind? A man as murky and unclear as this, she didn't dare entrust her life to him casually.

  Seeing her not like a lie, Zhao Zun nodded, as if he had finally let out a sigh of relief.

  "Very good."

  His relieved expression once again hurt Xia Chuqi's delicate heart.

  She's a narrow-minded person, although she doesn't like him, but can't bear others not liking her either. It's clear that this ancestor also has a guilty conscience and knows that his family has done some "unseemly" things to her, afraid that she will hold him accountable, and with so many people witnessing it, he must be afraid of being entangled by her, so he deliberately said this to test the waters.

  Son of a bitch!

  With a heavy sigh, she suddenly had an idea in her mind.

  "Hey, old man."

  "Father is father, not food." He corrected in a cold tone.

  Shaking his hand, Xia Chui Seven lowered his voice and slowly approached him a few steps closer. "Don't pretend anymore, there's no outsider here, just the two of us. I have a proposal, you see that we two are now birds of a feather, why not make a blood oath and become sworn brothers... or something like that, how about it?"

  “……”

  Under the vast sky, those who can call themselves stinky and set up a stall, except for her, are probably only Chen Daniu who doesn't understand idioms.

  Zhao Zun swept a cold glance over her, seemingly too lazy to bother with her again, and flipped up the hem of his robe, stretching out his legs.

  "Come on, give grandpa a shoulder massage and press his head."

  "What's going on here?" Xia Chuqi glared at him with a cold eye, as if she wanted to rebel.

  "That mirror is actually a good item..."

  Zhao Zhu said slowly and reasonably, but Xia Chuqi's throat was blocked.

  "Go, go, go, sir."

  Nowadays, Xia Chuqi's only two weaknesses are a mirror and an idiot. But Zhao Jianren can always grasp her weakness and throw out this soft rib to force her to do things.

  She slowly leaned in, at an angle where he couldn't see her, and gave him a fierce stare before placing her hands on his shoulders and massaging them with moderate pressure.

  She massaged for a while, then slowly moved to his head, doing acupressure on his brain. A restless mouth, with a soft and gentle voice filled with resentment and anger, brought warm and hot air from her breathing, gently brushing against Zhao Zhu's cheek.

  "Hey, let's have a chat."

  With a comfortable "hmm", Zhao Zun did not refuse.

  The next moment, before she could even open her mouth, he simply tilted his head and leaned against her thigh, making it more convenient for her to massage him. The look of satisfaction on his face made Xia Chuqi want to strangle him to death.

  "You said we've known each other for so long, right? In your heart, I might just be your little servant, but in my heart, since you saved my life, you're my brother. What's a brother, you know? It means good friend."

  "Hmm." He actually responded with a grunt.

  I don't know if it's cool or I just agree with what she said.

  Xia Zhong Qi rolled her eyes and continued, "But as the saying goes, 'it's better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes than to be together in misery.' Now that our 'Pū Lòu' is almost over, I should also retire and leave the Jianghu. So, when we return to Qing Gang, you can return my mirror to me, take back your slave contract, and if you're willing, create a household registration for me in the yellow book, allowing me to take the fool away with me, okay?"

  She rambled on and on, but Zhao Zhu only caught one key mistake after a moment of silence.

  "Wet fingers, foamy fingers, mutually wet with foam, often used to describe husband and wife."

  He was choked again, and Xia Chuyi had some resentment, "I understand idioms. Isn't this making an analogy? Where did you get so many things from? What are you comparing for real?"

  Zhao Zhu closed his eyes and didn't make another sound.

  Xia Zhong Qi rolled her eyes and whispered to him again.

  "Look at the current situation, your moral character is even better than a monkey's, and compared to my IQ, it's only slightly worse. I think you can achieve great things without my help, right? And as for me, I'm a lazy person who loves to eat and loves handsome men, and with the beautiful scenery of the world, I'd rather live a carefree and comfortable life, so it's not suitable for me to be your loyal follower..."

  On the one hand she was pinching him, on the other hand she was explaining the pros and cons.

  Every word she writes is sincere and full of feeling, down-to-earth.

  Unfortunately, she had spoken until her saliva was about to dry up, but the ancestor lying on her leg didn't make a single move. Slowly, with long breaths, it was clear that he had taken her words as a lullaby and had fallen asleep.

  "Hey......" She shook his head.

  "Continue." He frowned in displeasure, his voice a little hoarse, "Louder."

  "Damn it, you're not responding when I talk to you. Am I talking to a ghost or something?"

  I thought he wouldn't respond, but I didn't expect him to not only answer, but also go completely off topic.

  "Little slave, have you seen a tamed beast?"

  "What's it got to do with me?" She was about to lose her temper.

  Zhao Zun pursed his lips and said lightly, "In my opinion, you are just a sharp-toothed little beast with claws all over your body. As for me, I have no other hobbies, but I like to tame beasts. The more fiercely the wild beasts struggle, the more interesting it is. In the end, they will be tamed."

  “……”

  His whole family is beasts.

  Her hands paused for a moment, she leaned back and lay on the carriage wall, lazily teasing him, "Alright, even if I'm a beast, I'm a man-eating beast, sooner or later I'll swallow you whole. Heh, with such a high-risk beast like me, do you have what it takes to tame me?"

  "Time is still long."

  "What if it can't be tamed?"

  "There is no beast that cannot be tamed by a grandfather."

  "What if?"

  "Then just turn it off for good."

  "Will he never be tamed in his whole life?"

  Zhao Zhu didn't even raise an eyebrow, pointed to his head, indicating that she should continue pressing down. Only then did he slowly say, "Then I'll lock it in a cage, first clip its claws, and knock out its sharp teeth. If it still doesn't work, I'll skin it and pull out its tendons. Let's see if I can tame it or not."

  The brain supplement and association of chopping claws, knocking teeth, peeling skin, and drawing tendons made Xia Zhongqi's body feel a chill.

  He is very honest.

  The aristocratic men of the feudal era indeed have crooked hearts and minds.

  He's completely abnormal and doesn't seem like a normal person at all.

  In her heart, Xia Chuqi was cursing, but her expression remained calm and gentle, with a hint of a smile. "Ah, you scared me to death. So if you tame it successfully, what do you plan to do with it? Sell it to the zoo for exhibition, let people pay to see it, and make money?"

  Perhaps the term "zoo" was too novel, Zhao Zun paused for a long time, as if he had just grasped it, and glanced at her with an expressionless face.

  "What Grandpa has tamed can be dealt with as one pleases."

  "...Your whole family is something. No, they are nothing."

  Xia Zhong Qi was right there, flattering him, when he heard him say, "However, I've always liked obedient and well-behaved ones. If that little beast pleases me, introducing it to a good family and arranging a good marriage for it isn't impossible either."

  Consent? Arranged marriage?

  She believed his nonsense and it's weird...

  At the beginning of summer, Qī made an effort and pressed his temples with a smile on his small face.

  "Never mind. One's marriage is one's own affair, you'd better not interfere."

  Zhao Zun thought for a moment and glanced at her, then suddenly spoke up again.

  "You little slave, you're suited for a fool, it's really somewhat humiliating."

  On the seventh day of summer, her heart skipped a beat. Could it be that this gentleman had actually found a Zhang San Li Si Wang Ma Zi for him and was going to marry her off?

  She smiled and said, "Alright, alright, I just like my silly husband that way. He's so good, pure, kind, lovely, and especially good to me. He won't even mind that I've been hugged, touched, and seen by those scoundrels... He can wholeheartedly love me..."

  He cast a sideways glance over here.

  "Grandpa's meaning is exactly the same. Foolish you... He was indeed wronged."

  Early summer seventh almost didn't fart on the spot!

  ……

  ……

  Regarding the topic of taming beasts and compatibility, it was too bloody and cruel. After massaging Zhao You for a while, Xia Chuyi felt a bit tired, with sore hands and feet, especially her stomach wasn't feeling well, occasionally stabbing pains. This condition had been present since they came down from Zhangren Mountain, but she knew that this man didn't have much sympathy, so she didn't mention it in front of him.

  This time, Zhao Zun didn't make things difficult for her. He waved his hand to let her rest and leaned lazily against the soft cushion on one side, holding a thread-bound book of "Huolong Jing" and quietly reading it by himself.

  The horse carriage swayed back and forth.

  On the seventh day of summer vacation, I didn't feel well in my stomach and was still a bit drowsy.

  To be honest, looking at these feudal princes' pitiful entertainment activities, she couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude.

  What if he became king?

  Have you played computer? Do you know the internet? Have you played CS? Have you been to a bar? Have you taken a train, plane or ferry? Have you seen rockets, aircraft carriers and satellites in the sky?

  Hmph! Still just a country bumpkin.

  Thinking so, her confidence inflated a bit more.

  The sky will not cut off a man's path, she doesn't want to be a beast in Zhao's cage. She is the least able to bear constraints, must obtain freedom and rebirth... Buy land, buy houses, raise little white faces, bring fools together, and walk towards the peak of life.

  The horse carriage didn't move slowly and it was unknown how many miles had passed before there were movements outside.

  "Master, we've arrived at Chongning County." Zheng Er Bao's sharp and fine duck-like voice was always recognizable.

  "Hmm." Zhao You leaned lazily against the carriage wall.

  "It's noon, sir. Are you going to have lunch before continuing on the road?" Zheng Erbao hesitated for a moment, then said, "The magistrate of Chongning County sent someone ahead to report that he has prepared wine and food at the auspicious Ruyi Building in the county seat, and invites you to join him for lunch. He went ahead to make arrangements, and I reckon by now, he's already waiting there."

  Jixiang Ruyi Building is the most famous wine house in Chongning County.

  Zhao Zun furrowed his brow and stopped talking.

  The horse carriage continued on its way and before long, it arrived at the foot of Ruyi Building.

  Zheng Er Bao came over and pulled back the curtain, brought a horse stool to support Zhao Zhuo getting off the carriage, holding his body, gentle and careful.

  "Father, we've arrived."

  Under the auspices of Ruyi Building, apart from Chongning Magistrate who came to welcome, there were also a group of county officials including county lieutenant, chief clerk, historian and catchers who came to kneel down to meet Wang Gong.

  Apart from this, it's just the ordinary people packed tightly together on that entire street.

  From the moment he got off the carriage, the unmarried young ladies in the crowd couldn't help but stare at him, their eyes shining brightly and not leaving his face for a single moment.

  How many girls, just took a glance, and their hearts were secretly promised, their eyes were stuck.

  In this small county town, when can we see such a god-like figure? Moreover, a man with extraordinary good looks, plus maturity, power, heroism, coldness and aloofness, how can these naive girls resist his charm?

  After a routine kneel-down ceremony, Zhao Zhuo was visibly annoyed and strode upstairs with a flick of his sleeve.

  "Your Highness, wait!"

  At this time, a very pretty girl squeezed out of the crowd, about 16 or 17 years old, with a pair of big eyes that seemed to be enchanted, suddenly appeared in front of Zhao Zhu and knelt down with a thud, knocking her head on the ground.

  "Please, Your Highness, do justice for this ordinary woman."

  Zhao Zun's face sank, and his displeased eyes scanned Chong Ning Zhizhou. However, no matter how unhappy he was, in such a situation, if he didn't pay attention to this ordinary citizen who seemed to be here to plead for justice, it would not match his status.

  "What's your business?" he said coldly.

  The girl's shoulders shook violently as she suddenly lifted her head and stared straight at him.

  "Your Highness, don't you remember me?"

  A sudden commotion arose on the street, with many curious voices rising up. Many people who were squeezed in at the back couldn't see what was happening and were poking their heads through the gaps, all eyes fixed on this side. And Xia Chuqi, who had been following Zhao Zun's side, also stared intently at the girl with a distinctive bun, wearing a straight-collared embroidered jacket, her curiosity almost reaching her throat.

  Judging from Zhao's indifferent expression, he really didn't remember.

  Under the gaze of a group of onlookers, the young girl continued, "Your Highness, my name is Ying Ge. Two years ago when you were on your way to conquer Wu Na, you passed through Chong Ning County, and I once blocked your war horse, asking you to do me justice, so that I wouldn't be sold into a brothel by my evil brother."

  She spoke in a disjointed manner, and by this point her voice had become choked with emotion.

  "But my elder brother is addicted to gambling and refuses to change his ways. After leaving the temple for over a year, he fell back into his old habits, owing people money... He even sold me into that Spring Breeze Pavilion, making me a courtesan... But yesterday, that old procuress... forced me to receive guests, I swore to die rather than submit and managed to preserve my chastity... Alas, now that I've met you again, it's truly heaven's pity on me... I want to request your lordship's permission... to let me follow you and serve as a slave or servant, entirely at your discretion."

  The crowd erupted in an uproar, pointing and staring.

  Wow... Xia Chuqi was struck by lightning on July 7th.

  What a great legendary story of hero saving beauty!

  A courtesan who dares to block the king's horse on the street and is willing to sacrifice herself as a slave to the king, whether in ancient times or modern times, must be considered an extraordinary woman.

  She thought it was a melodramatic plot, but it evoked a lot of sympathy from everyone, who all felt that this was a "pitiful" good girl, willing to enslave herself for the sake of repaying kindness and avoiding calamity, and looking so lovely and charming, naturally making people sigh in admiration.

  It is said that when saving someone, one should see it through to the end, and send the Buddha to the Western Heaven. Zhao Zhu had already saved this family two years ago, so how could he just stand by and watch their daughter jump into a fiery pit?

  The curiosity died on the seventh day of summer.

  But let's see how the king will deal with such a beauty.

  Zhao Zun's tightly furrowed eyebrows relaxed, as if he too had recalled past events. He glanced at the woman kneeling on the ground and suddenly turned his head, throwing this thorny problem to Xia Chuqi.

  "Little slave, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

  How much does he respect her opinion?

  On the seventh day of summer, she really wanted to shout "get out", this guy made everyone think she was his "darling", is that okay? She really didn't understand why he had to do this, creating a good impression in front of people, pretending to be very "loving" to her.

  Especially with this pampered gaze, in the midst of thousands of staring eyes, she glanced over and provoked those nakedly jealous gazes, which almost pierced through her back.