Jiapingguan Chronicle

"Uncle Wang!" Master Jiang sighed helplessly, "This is a serious matter, please stop teasing people!"

"What kind of talk is that? This isn't teasing, it's a perfectly legitimate request." Chu Han glanced at Master Jiang indifferently, warning him not to cause trouble, then turned to Shen Cha with a smile and said, "Xiao Cha, tell me, if you want my help, to use my people, shouldn't you be begging me? Is this teasing you? Well, think about it the other way around, if I wanted your help, wouldn't I be begging you too, right?"

“Yes, Uncle is right. If you want to ask for help, you really have to ask properly.” Shen Cha stood up calmly, bowed to Chu Han, and said, “Then we’ll ask Uncle to help us find these people in Jiangnan and keep an eye on them.”

After speaking, she bowed to Chu Han again before sitting down again.

Chu Han was taken aback by Shen Cha's lack of resistance; she actually asked for his help. He was a little stunned and didn't know how to respond.

When Master Jiang saw him like that, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and secretly chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?" Chu Han rolled his eyes. "You have no manners!"

"Uncle Wang, you're just getting angry and embarrassed! You wanted to play a trick on someone, but you ended up getting caught instead, didn't you?"

"I never expected that Xiao Cha would actually..."

"Really what?" Shen Cha looked bewildered. "Shouldn't you have to adopt a humble attitude when asking for help?"

"What if you resist a little?"

"Why resist?" Shen Cha asked, puzzled. "Isn't this normal?"

“Uncle Wang, you don’t know this.” Master Jiang sat down next to Chu Han, chuckled, and said, “Our Xiao Cha has always been filial to her elders. As long as it’s not an unreasonable request, she will fulfill it.”

"Actually, this level of coquetry is nothing to Xiao Cha," Xue Ruitian raised an eyebrow at Chu Han. "There's something even more impressive!"

"There's something even more amazing?" Chu Han was taken aback. "What's it like? Can you let me experience it?"

"Then let's not." Song Yaojia shuddered as she recalled the scene she had witnessed. "After seeing it, you'll remember it for a lifetime."

"That's terrifying?" Chu Han looked at Shen Cha. "Look!"

"You really want to see?" Seeing Chu Han nod, Shen Cha shrugged, grabbed Shen Haolin's sleeve, shook it gently twice, and called out in a drawn-out tone, "Brother!"

"Hey!"

Chu Han couldn't help but exclaim. He never expected that Shen Cha's coquettishness would be like this. This voice of the dignified and iron-blooded general was quite different from her image.

As for others who had experienced it before, they all covered their ears and closed their eyes, not wanting to experience that shock again.

"I never expected that Xiao Cha would act like this when she's being affectionate." Chu Han said, expressing his amazement, and looked at Shen Cha. "I'd better not do it again. I'm not worthy of such treatment."

"This..." Shen Cha released Shen Haolin's sleeve, shrugged helplessly, and looked at Shen Haolin, "Is it really that scary?"

"No, they're just making things up." Shen Haolin reached out and patted Shen Cha's head. "I'm happy as long as I like her." Hearing Shen Haolin's words, the others exchanged glances and rolled their eyes in unison.

"Alright, since Xiaocha has asked me for help, I'll do you a favor."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

“However, our Jingwang Mansion alone is not enough.” Chu Han looked at Yingjun, then at Shen Haolin. “Eagle King’s influence in Jiangnan is even stronger than ours, and his influence is much deeper. If we could get help from Eagle King’s men…”

“Your Highness is right. The affairs of the two young masters are our affairs, and we have an inescapable duty to help.” Eagle Leopard, who had just returned from delivering the message, heard Chu Han’s words and continued, “If we stand idly by, our Prince will probably punish us with military rods. But…” He looked at Shen Cha, “Is the only thing they want to open a dance hall?”

"I don't know yet. It seems there's only one type: the dance studio." Shen Cha handed him the portrait belonging to Eagle Leopard. "Is there any explanation?"

“Young master doesn’t know yet, half of those money-burning dens in Jiangnan are owned by our prince. Sixty percent of the profits from these businesses go to the Eagle King Army, and the other forty percent goes directly to the royal treasury.” Eagle Leopard smiled. “The Ministry of Revenue has always coveted this forty percent of the profits and is constantly impeaching the prince, saying that he is competing with the people for profits, but every time His Majesty scolds him mercilessly.”

"Brother?" This was the first time Shen Cha had heard of this. She looked at Shen Haolin and then at Song Yaojia.

“That’s right!” Song Yaojia and Shen Haolin exchanged a glance and nodded at her simultaneously. “This was one of the conditions we discussed back then.”

"Oh I see."

"None of that matters!" Chu Han waved his hand and looked at Eagle Leopard. "Why don't we join forces to investigate? Otherwise, we might end up fighting among ourselves instead of finding these people, right?"

“I agree.” Eagle Leopard nodded. “I will discuss it with Your Highness later.”

"Hmm!" Chu Han smiled, glanced at the board, and said, "Is there anything else you want to ask me?"

"I only have one question now," Shen Cha said, holding up one finger, "What are the chances that they'll be tricked into coming here?"

"You mean you tricked him into coming here by using the Empress Dowager's nephew?" Seeing Shen Cha nod, Chu Han thought for a moment, "Fifty percent, depending on how much the Empress Dowager means to Little Mudskipper." He looked at Shen Cha and smiled, "The Empress Dowager is a very useful person to him, and their relationship is indeed quite deep. He's also very willing to do his part for the Empress Dowager. But..."

"Whether the Empress Dowager's nephew has that kind of influence is uncertain."

“There’s a limit to how much you can love someone just because they love them. If your own safety is threatened, then it’s a different story. But…” Chu Han thought for a moment, “the news of your death has already spread?”

“Hmm!” Shen Cha nodded. “After all, he is a renowned figure in the Great Xia Dynasty, so we should tell the truth.” She sighed softly. “However, even if he escapes this time, there will be another time. We are not in a hurry.”

"What he cares about most is Wanyan Qingmu. Whether Wanyan Qingmu is still under his control or still listens to him is what he cares about most."

“Speaking of which, I have another question.” Shen Cha stroked his chin. “How did he get in touch with the Japanese?”

"You didn't know?" Seeing Shen Cha gently shake her head, Chu Han frowned slightly and said, "You've never heard of the previous dynasty's royal family colluding with the Japanese for many years, filling the royal treasury with looting?"

(End of this chapter)