Zhutian: My skills are not serious

Chapter 408: Will you be my concubine and lead a team?
That night.

Siman Bo's Mansion.

In the courtyard at the end of the chain of moon-shaped gates, starlight and candlelight shone brightly. Fan Ruoruo looked at Fan Xian, who was sitting silently in front of the waterwheel humidifier, and told him what happened at the gate of the imperial palace in the afternoon.

The key is actually in Chu Pingsheng's hand? !
As early as when he was in Danzhou, Fan Xian wanted to open the box to see the things his mother left for him, but he had no key and could not open it. The key point was that the box was very sturdy, and he tried all kinds of methods, including knives, axes, and saws, but to no avail.

He asked Wuzhu, but because of the loss of relevant memory, Wuzhu didn't know where the key was. Until the battle with the Western Hu Grandmaster Bai Feng a few days ago, Wuzhu was stimulated and had an emotional breakdown. After leaving the city, he went to Taiping Villa, where he stayed for a while and slowly calmed down. Until Emperor Qing brought people there and discovered Wuzhu's existence, Yan Xiaoyi drove him away.

After Wuzhu returned to Sinanbo's mansion, he told him a piece of news that the key was not in Taiping Villa, but should be in the hands of the Queen Mother, but the Queen Mother was dead.

Now Chu Pingsheng told Fan Ruoruo that the key was the Queen Mother's relic, which was related to the three major workshops, and was the dowry given by the Queen to him and Lin Wan'er for their wedding. Then the logic made sense.

"You guessed right. Chu Pingsheng made a mistake. The key has nothing to do with the three major workshops. It is used to open that box."

Fan Xian nodded at the long box in the tool room that couldn't be opened.

"So brother... should we accept this bet or not?"

"Shouldn't!"

"Shouldn't?"

Fan Ruoruo said with a sad face, "No, this box can never be opened. Brother... you are not worried that you can't win... that's right, Zhuang Mohan is a great writer in Northern Qi."

"Ruoruo, I'm not worried about not being able to beat Zhuang Mohan. When it comes to commenting and interpreting, I may not be as good as him. But when it comes to poetry and writing, no one in the world can be my opponent. I just don't want to risk your happiness."

If Chu Pingsheng had not been scheming, he would have made a bet directly with Fan Ruoruo. He would have been nervous and cautious, suspecting whether the Western Hu barbarian was hiding his true power. However, the plan that the other party came up with was to use the Northern Qi literary giant Zhuang Mohan to attack him. This was in line with the logic and thinking of an intelligent person.

It’s a pity that the Western Hu people didn’t know that any Tang and Song poems in his mind could amaze the world.

Fan Ruoruo was very touched. She held her hand tightly and said, "Brother, since you are so sure, why don't you take this opportunity to get the key back? As long as you can win, it won't be considered risking my happiness."

Fan Xian was firm: "If I say no, then it's no. This is not a question of winning or losing, it's a question of principle."

"Then...if I don't make a bet with him, what should I do with the key? Should I just watch him take it to Xihu?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll find another way."

What could he do? Nothing.

In the past, he could let Wuzhu snatch it violently without any psychological pressure, because it was his mother's thing. However, after the last fierce battle, the method of violent snatching was no longer feasible.

Chu Pingsheng is protected by Bai Feng, the great master of Western Hu. Bai Feng's strength is not inferior to Wu Zhu. And no one knows what's wrong with his uncle Wu Zhu. Now he falls into confusion whenever he recalls the last battle. His state is so bad that he can't even listen to what he says.

Unless the situation improves, he doesn't want Wu Zhu to fight Bai Feng again.

Fan Ruoruo snorted heavily: "The Queen is the same. She actually handed over your mother's inheritance to a Western barbarian. She is selling out her country. I will ask Dad to tell His Majesty."

"Ruoruo!" Fan Xian stopped her, "You also said that the Queen has already given the key to Chu Pingsheng as Wan'er's dowry. The matter is done. Your Majesty can do nothing about it even if he knows about it. Moreover, I suspect that the Queen did it on purpose."

"What do you mean?"

"She wants to see Chu Pingsheng and I fight to the death over my mother's inheritance."

Fan Xian stood up and glanced at the night sky: "Okay, it's getting late, you should go back to your room and rest. Don't worry about the key, I'll take care of everything."

"Oh, then I'll be leaving. Brother...you should also go to bed early."

"it is good."

Fan Ruoruo walked forward a few steps, turned around to look at the figure in the skylight, feeling very distressed.

Of course she could see that Fan Xian had no way out of the impasse, and his words just now were just to comfort her.

Chu Pingsheng first snatched away his chicken leg girl, and now he has got the key to Ye Qingmei's relic box. There is no doubt that this is another heavy blow to her brother.

As Fan Ruoruo walked towards her room, she secretly made up her mind that she couldn't just let this matter go and she must help her brother.

……

Chu Pingsheng, the current Western Hu envoy, the Jinzi Guanglu Doctor, the Inspector of the Ministry of Rites, and the Prince's Grand Tutor, came to the palace to pay a visit to the ladies. He became furious because of Concubine Shu's words that he was not as good as Fan Xian, and took his anger out on the female official Hong Zhu, slapping her and scolding her, showing his brutality.

It took only a day for the news to spread throughout the city. The celebrities in Kyoto were all indignant, saying that he was arrogant and vulgar. It was an indisputable fact that Fan Xian was talented and well-known in the court and the country. Wasn't what the imperial concubine said wrong? He was the prince's grand tutor, but he didn't have the tolerance to tolerate others. He actually acted wildly in the harem because of this matter. It was really shameful.

In fact, it was not only the socialites who thought this way. The customers of Danbo Bookstore had similar thoughts. After all, Master Fan was their idol. He had won countless praises with his book Dream of the Red Chamber. What was Chu Pingsheng? He was an uneducated and unskilled person who spent his days drinking and partying and listening to music in brothels. How could he compare with Master Fan? Was he worthy?!

Outside the court, people were excited and public opinion was surging, but inside the court, it was very calm because the officials were all afraid of Bai Fengsha. The princess and the prince consort could kill anyone they wanted, and they used such drastic means as annihilating the entire family. Unless they were tired of living, no one would take the lead.

Two days later.

The moon is like a hook, the water is like silver, the lights of the flower boats are reflected in the bay, and the playboys on the bank of the crystal river are the lovers in the dreams of many girls.

Chu Pingsheng left the boat and went ashore with the help of two girls.

"Master Chu, are you sure you can walk? Otherwise...Qing Shang will take you back to the Protocol Courtyard?"

The actress, wearing a transparent gauze skirt that revealed half of her breasts, had a worried look on her face, fearing that he would end up like Mr. Fu, who had drunk too much and returned home alone a month ago, stepped on empty air and fell into the Flowing Crystal River and drowned. This separation would be a farewell for her and she would never see him again.

"I'm fine, you can go back. It's cold outside. If you catch a cold, who will sing Nian Nu Jiao with me tomorrow, and who will drink wine with me?"

"Then... Lord Chu must be extremely careful and not walk near the river."

"I know, I know."

Chu Pingsheng waved his hand, signaling her to hurry back to the boat, turned around, and walked towards the northwest with one foot deep and one foot shallow. There were few pedestrians on Niulan Street, and the red lights reflected his backs, sometimes long and sometimes short.

Dadada...dong...

"Close doors and windows to prevent fire and theft."

Dadada...dong...

"Close doors and windows to prevent fire and theft."

Not far away came the night watchman's reminder and the sound of gongs.

Halfway through Niulan Street, Chu Pingsheng suddenly stopped and leaned against a nearby lantern-hanging pillar and said, "There are a lot of mosquitoes by the river. You've been waiting outside for half a night. You must have suffered a lot, right?"

Not long after he finished speaking, two women walked out from the alley behind him, one wearing a tight plain dress with a yellow shawl, and the other wearing a fiery red dress and holding a sword, both looking at him coldly.

"Fan Ruoruo? Ye Ling'er? What? You guys also want to imitate Si Gu Jian's disciple and assassinate Fan Xian, and create another Niulan Street assassination case?"

Ye Ling'er said in hatred: "Killing you... I'm afraid of dirtying my sword."

"Then why have you been following me?"

Chu Pingsheng curled his lips, ignored them and continued walking forward.

Fan Ruoruo took the opportunity to scratch the mosquito bites on the back of her hand and hurriedly stopped him, "Don't leave. I agreed to the bet you mentioned before."

laugh.

Chu Pingsheng turned around as his leather shoes scraped lightly on the ground, exhaling a breath of alcohol.

"If Zhuang Mohan's skills are better, you will marry me as my concubine. If Fan Xian's literary talent is amazing, I will give you the key left by Ye Qingmei."

Fan Ruoruo answered very straightforwardly: "That's right."

After discussing the gambling with Fan Xian that night, she decided to help her brother. Fan Xian was absolutely sure that he could defeat Zhuang Mohan in terms of poetry and prose, but he refused to give in because the bet was her happiness. However, in her opinion, the risk was worth taking.

The subsequent conversation with her father Si Nanbo further strengthened her confidence.

Fan Jian said that soap, glass, sugar, magnifying glass, perfume... these rare items used by the aristocracy were all created by Ye Qingmei. As a mother, she is a legend, full of secrets. As a son, isn't it normal for him to write Dream of the Red Chamber and Climbing the High Mountain, and his talent moved the capital? He would not be surprised at how outstanding Fan Xian is.

Now that Fan Jian had said so, why should she hesitate?
Fan Xian has principles and doesn't allow her to gamble with Chu Pingsheng, but she doesn't. So... she just needs to keep this matter a secret from her brother.

Ye Ling'er asked, "How do you know that Zhuang Mohan would compete with Fan Xian in poetry?"

Chu Pingsheng smiled faintly, "Have you forgotten my identity? I am the Junior Inspector of the Honglu Temple and the Inspector of the Ministry of Rites. Of course, I can't hide the affairs of the Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites. For example, the Minister of Rites Guo Youzhi once had a secret meeting with Zhuang Mohan, and the son of the Minister of Rites Guo Baokun has always wanted to avenge Fan Xian for plotting against him in Niulan Street... At the banquet in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in a few days, remember to remind Fan Xian to be careful of the troubles caused by Minister Guo and his son."

She was stunned for a moment, and a trace of doubt flashed across her heroic face. Everyone said that Chu Pingsheng was an incompetent official, sleeping with all kinds of women, indulging in alcohol and sex, and was a guy with no ambition. But why did he know so much about the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple?
Did Xin Qiwu tell him?
(End of this chapter)