La vie des gens de la campagne en ville sous la dynastie Song

Chapitre 10

Master Fan chuckled, and Zhao Gou perked up as well. He really wanted to know what had angered Cai Jing, whose cunning was as deep as the ocean.

It turns out that Qin Zhen and Zhao Gou had planned to help Zhao Huan win over Cai Jing. When it came to Cai Jing, Qin Zhen thought of her senior brother, Master Fan, because she remembered that Zhao Gou had said that Grand Tutor Cai had wanted to see Master Fan, but had not been able to. So she wrote a letter asking her senior brother to help her.

Cai Jing had his reasons for wanting to meet Master Fan. Not only was the Fan family's business so large that it had affected his ability to amass wealth, but more importantly, Cai Jing's eldest granddaughter had fallen for Master Fan and insisted on eating all three meals a day at Fan Lou. This caused quite a stir in Bianjing back then and was a great embarrassment to the Cai family.

The cunning Cai Jing originally planned to take Master Fan as his granddaughter's husband, thereby seizing the Fan family's wealth and power and fulfilling his granddaughter's wishes. This would be a win-win situation, but he did not expect that Master Fan would not even see him!

Cai Jing held back this anger for several years, trying every means to cause trouble for the Fan family, but it was like punching cotton, with no effect. Gradually, he stopped mentioning the matter.

To Cai Jing's surprise, this Master Fan dared to invite him to a gathering a few years later. Cai Jing snorted and ordered the invitation to be torn up. But the next day, Master Fan sent something else—none other than a jade pendant belonging to the Cai family, which each of his sons possessed.

The jade pendant caught Cai Jing's attention. He recognized that the jade pendant with the character "一" carved on one corner belonged to his eldest son, Cai You. How could it be in his hands? Since he was curious, Cai Jing had no reason not to come. However, after arriving, Cai Jing almost fainted from anger.

Because Master Fan told Cai Jing that the reason he was unwilling to become Cai's grandson-in-law a few years ago was because someone was interfering, and that person was none other than Cai You.

No one knows a son better than his father. Cai You had a penchant for homosexuality since his youth and liked to act recklessly. How could Cai Jing not know this? After Fan Erye explained it to him, Cai Jing understood completely. The situation back then was that his son was fighting with his granddaughter for a man!

With a "pfft," Qin Zhen, who was gnawing on a chicken wing, couldn't help but laugh. She looked at the serious-looking Second Master Fan and said, "Big...Senior Brother, you're so talented! How did you come up with something like this? That old fox must be furious!"

"I'm just telling the truth."

Qin Zhen stared wide-eyed and asked, "Is this true?"

Master Fan, fanning himself, said in a serious tone, "I just added some seasonings, which changed the flavor a little."

"That old fox will definitely ask his son about this when he gets back. Aren't you afraid of being exposed?" Qin Zhen asked with some concern.

Master Fan said as if nothing had happened, "You don't understand them at all. They will never speak frankly. Even if my matter is based on evidence, or even if it's fabricated out of thin air, his suspicions will create evidence for me."

Seeing the two children's puzzled expressions, he explained, "Cai Jing and Cai You have been at odds for several years. The struggle for power between fathers and sons is not unique to imperial families."

Qin Zhen and Zhao Gou both nodded seriously, sighing that the most terrifying thing was not a conspiracy, but the seeds of suspicion that had been sown long ago, which would sprout as soon as they were watered.

The adult and two children were enjoying themselves in room number one, eating, drinking, chatting, and having fun. Meanwhile, in room number two, the four men were restless and preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Zhao Huan had already expressed his intention to win over the Cai family, as planned, but Cai Jing did not give a clear answer, only making some vague and perfunctory remarks.

The banquet ended rather uneventfully. It was true that Cai Jing was old and frail, so Zhao Huan said nothing more, only instructing Cai Xiao to escort Cai Jing home safely. Watching the departing figures of the Cai father and son, Zhao Huan clenched his fists, trembling with anger. He never imagined he would have to curry favor with this old scoundrel again!

Cai Jing was helped into the carriage by his son and lay half-asleep inside. Cai Xiao served him tea and water with utmost filial piety. Cai Jing felt all of this, thought for a long time, and finally made up his mind and said, "Yuezhi, I am an old man now, you should also learn to do something. I can't take care of you forever."

Cai Xiao said sincerely, "Father, please don't say that. You are in good health and will surely live past a hundred. Besides, my elder brother is taking care of things outside. I only want to stay by your side and fulfill my filial duty."

"Your older brother? Humph! He... Don't mention him again. Over the years, how many things has he done to betray me, openly or secretly? Does he think I don't know? Does he really think I'm senile? His wings have long since grown strong, and he thinks I'm blocking his future... He doesn't even think about who gave him all of this! Since it was given to him by me, and I'm not happy about it, I'll just take it back and give it to you."

“Big brother…Big brother he…” Cai Xiao lowered his head, and his expression was not visible. He said, “Although big brother is a bit reckless, he is deeply loved by His Majesty. How can I compare to him?”

Cai Jing glanced at his youngest son and sighed, "You should have experienced some things by now. This isn't a matter of being reckless or not. Even if he has committed the worst evil deeds, as long as he remembers his surname, he is still my son. But now, he has gained the Emperor's favor and has forgotten that he is surnamed Cai. What use is he to me?"

He glanced at Cai Xiao, who had his head bowed, and comforted him, saying, "I still believe in your abilities. It's just that your elder brother has overshadowed your brilliance all these years. From now on, just go for it. This time, the Crown Prince is showing goodwill; he's realized the threat posed by the Third Prince and has finally seen the light. From now on, you should stay by the Crown Prince's side. Also, it's time for you to marry a principal wife. Let me think about which princess would be suitable... (Note 1)"

In the shadows, a slight smile appeared on Cai Xiao's lips.

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Note 1: Imperial Princess - During the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the term "princess" was changed to "imperial princess," referring to the emperor's daughters.

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Thank you everyone for your support! Thank you to all my friends and fellow readers for your support!

Volume One: Fate Destined 018 - A Banquet for Guests at the Prince of Yun's Mansion

In late spring and early summer, as all things change, the Jiawang Mansion, which had already been built, was renovated and renamed "Yunwang Mansion," welcoming its master, the third prince Zhao Kai, who was enfeoffed as the Prince of Yun.

With the new residence of the Prince of Yun settled in, countless officials naturally came to offer their congratulations, and for several days the place was bustling with guests. After waiting for more than a month, and finally when everything in the residence had settled down, Zhao Kai chose a day to hold a grand banquet, and also invited his brothers from the palace, including Zhao Gou.

Under the blazing sun, the garden of the Prince of Yun's mansion was filled with towering trees and lush greenery. The dignitaries who came to visit strolled around in twos and threes, chatting from time to time, so they did not feel the oppressive heat.

In a guest room provided for guests at the Prince of Yun's residence, Zhao Gou and Qin Zhen stared at each other, seemingly engrossed in something. Qin Zhen, restless, kept glancing outside and occasionally complaining, "So slow! Why haven't they arrived yet!"

"Are you sure your fourth senior brother will come?" Zhao Gou asked, not entirely convinced.

Qin Zhen said with certainty, "I have already asked my senior brother to send him a message, and he will definitely come."

Zhao Gou was somewhat speechless. He trusted Master Fan to a certain extent; although he only ever wore a smile, making him seem unfathomable, he gave people a sense of security. However… Zhao Gou didn't particularly like the person he was to meet today. Qin Zhen's fourth senior brother, the eunuch and treacherous minister Liang Shicheng… Zhao Gou just couldn't understand how Qin Zhen had connections with all sorts of people.

"You've never even met your fourth senior brother, yet you trust him so much?"

"He's my senior brother. If I don't trust him, who can I trust?" Qin Zhen answered without hesitation.

Zhao Gou sneered, "You haven't even met my senior brother, so you probably don't know what kind of person he is, do you? He's not a good person."

Qin Zhen turned his head from the window and looked at Zhao Gou, saying, "So what if he's a bad person? When did I ever say my senior brother was a good person? If you don't want to see him, fine, but I went to all this trouble for you!"

Zhao Gou felt a little uneasy. He knew that Qin Zhen had been helping him contact all sorts of people these days, so that the Crown Prince and he could gradually become familiar with all the factions in the court. Only by going deep into them could they understand them and then undermine them from within.

Just as the two of them were getting impatient, a maidservant came in carrying some snacks and curtsied to Zhao Gou, saying, "Your Highness has asked me to bring you some specially made snacks."

Zhao Gou waved his hand, signaling the maid to put the snacks on the table.

The maid left, but Zhao Gou found a note under the plate of snacks. He picked it up, glanced at it, gave a cold laugh, and then gave it to Qin Zhen.

Seeing Qin Zhen's disappointed face, Zhao Gou said, "I told you he wouldn't come, but you insisted he would. You're really stupid to choose Third Brother's house as the rendezvous point."

Qin Zhen was disappointed but stubbornly said, "Everywhere you go, people will know. Is there a better place? Little do you know that the most dangerous place is the safest place."

"There are eyes everywhere, where is it safe?"

After waiting for a long time without hearing Qin Zhen retort, Zhao Gou felt a little uneasy. Was she really sad?

Qin Zhen wasn't heartbroken, just a little sad. In her heart, her master and six senior brothers were family she had had since the moment she was born. She never imagined that one day they would treat her so coldly.

“Cough, cough,” Zhao Gou broke the silence, “If he doesn’t come to see us, we’ll go to see him, just exchange a few words, and no one will suspect anything.”

Qin Zhen was happy for a moment, but then felt disappointed: "But I don't know what he looks like. Do I have to ask someone else?"

Zhao Gou was speechless. He couldn't help but tap Qin Zhen on the head: "Aren't you a child prodigy? How can you be so stupid? He's been in the palace for so many years, do you think I don't recognize him?"

Qin Zhen grinned. Yes, she didn't know Liang Shicheng, but Zhao Gou did!

But then she realized that Zhao Gou had just tapped her on the head, so she immediately retaliated and retorted, "Who says a child prodigy can't be confused?"

The two girls ran swiftly into the courtyard like joyful birds. The palace was bustling with guests, and their small figures weaved through the crowd. Everyone saw the Ninth Prince and a little girl dressed as a palace maid playing together, and assumed it was just children playing, so no one paid them any special attention.

They ran and jumped around, searching everywhere for Liang Shicheng. When they came to a pond, Zhao Gou immediately spotted Zhao Kai and Liang Shicheng standing on the stone bridge over the pond.

“Look, that’s the man in the blue robe on the bridge, the one without a beard,” Zhao Gou said softly to Qin Zhen as they sat down by the rocks near the pond.

Qin Zhen looked at it carefully for a while, and then said to Zhao Gou, "It really is my fourth senior brother, very fitting."

"Meets what criteria?"

"That's exactly what a treacherous official should look like..."

Zhao Gou was speechless again. How could anyone talk about their senior brother like that?

However, Qin Zhen's words were also true. Liang Shicheng was pale and beardless, with small eyes and thin lips, and he was fawning over Zhao Kai with a sycophantic expression. Seeing him so busy currying favor with the Prince of Yun, it seemed unlikely that he would find an opportunity to speak with him today.

Qin Zhen unconsciously shook her head and was about to stand up from the pond when she accidentally stepped on Zhao Gou's robe. When Zhao Gou saw her getting up to leave, he also stood up. With that tug, Qin Zhen lost her balance and was about to fall into the pond. Zhao Gou instinctively reached out to grab her, but he also lost his balance, and the two of them fell into the water right before their eyes.

Qin Zhen was extremely anxious. The moment she fell backward, she wanted to use her lightness skill to jump ashore, but with so many people around, wouldn't it be too conspicuous for a little girl to know lightness skill?

No, I need to keep a low profile. Okay, I'll just go for it. Here I come, green water! Fish, catch me!

Qin Zhen thought in despair, closed his eyes and plunged into the embrace of the pool. At this moment, Zhao Gou also regretted why he had learned everything but swimming.

The two were unexpectedly of one mind, but in the next moment, a blue shadow flashed on the lake, and Qin Zhen and Zhao Gou were saved!

Who is it?

Qin Zhen opened her eyes gratefully. Her face was pale, she had no beard, small eyes, and thin lips. It turned out that this face could be quite cute!

Zhao Gou slowly exhaled and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for saving me, Lord Liang!"

Liang Shicheng bowed and smiled, "This old servant cannot accept Your Highness's gift of gratitude. Protecting Your Highness's safety is this old servant's duty."

His small eyes were almost invisible from smiling. Qin Zhen stood aside without saying a word. She was Zhao Gou's personal maid now, and she had no chance to speak here.

A crowd gathered around at the commotion, including Zhao Kai and his group who had come down from the bridge, as well as Zhao Huan and his group who had come from the other side of the garden. Zhao Kai and Zhao Huan both looked surprised; neither of them had expected Liang Shicheng to step in so chivalrously. Wasn't he always a cautious and meddlesome person?

Zhao Kai, as the host, spoke first: "Is Ninth Brother alright? If something had happened to him in my residence, Third Brother would never have been at peace with himself. It's all thanks to Lord Liang for his rescue; Lord Liang is truly a man of few words!"

Liang Shicheng clearly sensed Zhao Kai's displeasure, not because he had saved Zhao Gou, but because of Zhao Kai's lack of understanding of his ally. However, with everyone present, he could only remain silent, deciding to remedy the situation later.

Zhao Gou took Qin Zhen and followed Zhao Huan away. Qin Zhen happily hummed a little tune and skipped around. Zhao Gou knew without asking that she must be overjoyed. Her fourth senior brother risked exposing his martial arts skills to save her. How could she not be happy?

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I haven't stayed up all night in a long time, but I have to go out early tomorrow morning to run errands, so I'm rushing to finish this chapter now to update everyone.

I'll update another chapter when I get back tonight, around nine o'clock.

Volume One: Fate Determined 019 - The Application of Infernal Affairs

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and gradually dispersed after seeing the two children being taken away by the Crown Prince.