The prince is more stable

Chapter 260 The beautiful lady
A person who has lived two lives, not to mention his experience and knowledge, must have been deceived by women more than the average person.

Of course, you will learn more lessons after being deceived.

Although Zhao Xiaoqian was only nineteen years old, he had lived one life longer than others and seemed much more rational about matters between men and women.

With more experiences, you will inevitably lose more, such as the ability to love someone wholeheartedly.

Facing Niao Niao in front of him, Zhao Xiaoqian was briefly moved, but his mind quickly regained its composure.

Whether it is true or false, time will reveal everything.

If Niao Niao's feelings for him are real, Zhao Xiaoqian doesn't mind redeeming the courtesan again and taking her into his mansion.

If it's fake...

Of course, Zhao Xiaoqian was not someone who would suffer a loss, so he took advantage first and talked about it later.

He hugged Niao Niao and felt her warmth, fragrance and softness.

Niao Niao was still angry, as if Zhao Xiaoqian giving her money was a great humiliation to her, so she struggled angrily in his arms for a few times, but Zhao Xiaoqian was too strong and she couldn't break free.

"Okay, if you don't like asking for my money, I won't give it to you anymore. If I'm short of money one day, you can even give me a little subsidy..."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled: "I like money, and I am neither pretentious nor shameful. I especially like women to spend money on me."

Niao Niao didn't even have time to be angry. She opened her almond-shaped eyes wide and looked at him in astonishment, especially at his mouth, as if wondering how such shameless words could come out of his mouth.

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed: "Do you think I'm shameless?"

Niao Niao nodded subconsciously, then shook her head in panic.

"It doesn't matter. If you can't even handle this little shame, how can you help the Emperor govern the country? Since ancient times, courtesans have been obsessed with love and have loved supporting poor and talented men, creating a story of talented men and beautiful women that will be passed down through the ages. I think we can give it a try..."

While talking, Zhao Xiaoqian's hands started to behave unruly. Niao Niao shyly turned her face away and subconsciously pushed him away.

"Prince, don't move!" Niao Niao grabbed his hand tightly and rolled her eyes at him. "You're still calling me a poor and talented scholar? 'Talented' is fine, you truly deserve the title of Prince, but 'poor' has nothing to do with you. You're actually planning on me. I can't afford to support you."

Zhao Xiaoqian leaned close to her temples and gently inhaled the elegant fragrance of her hair.

"Niao Niao, you don't want my money, what do you want? Can I redeem you?"

Niao Niao's body trembled, and then she looked weak again, and said softly: "I have no other request to the prince, and I don't want him to spend too much on me. It's not cheap to redeem me. I only ask that you come to see me more often in your free time. That's enough."

An unfathomable light flashed in Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes, but the smile on his face deepened: "You really don't want anything from me?"

Niao Niao's crystal clear eyes looked directly into his eyes and said seriously: "Really. I have no requests for anything from you, my lord."

Zhao Xiaoqian hugged her tightly and sighed, "There is actually a woman like you in this world. I am so lucky to know you."

Niao Niao fell into his arms obediently and chuckled: "I am more fortunate."

After a passionate love affair and taking full advantage, Zhao Xiaoqian left Zuihuayin contentedly.

Niao Niao sent him out of the gate, and watched him get on the carriage and drive away reluctantly. She lifted the curtain and looked back, and saw that insane figure still standing inside the door, looking in the direction the carriage left.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed heavily for a long time, then suddenly said, "Chen Shou."

Chen Shou, who was guarding the carriage, immediately said, "I will be here."

"Send someone to greet Wei Jie of the Imperial City and ask for an investigation of the courtesan Niao Niao from Zui Hua Yin."

Chen Shou, who was outside the carriage, paused for a long time, seeming surprised by Zhao Xiaoqian's order.

But Zhao Xiaoqian clearly had no intention of explaining, so Chen Shou hurriedly said, "Yes. I will personally deliver the message."

Inside the carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian sighed again and murmured, "You are such a beautiful woman..."

They were so affectionate and inseparable just now, but he turned around and asked the Imperial City Division to investigate. Zhao Xiaoqian felt like he was a complete scumbag.

but……

Girl, you've revealed your flaws! Didn't you notice?

From the moment they met, when Niao Niao deliberately sprained her ankle to attract his attention, to her later deliberate flattery, her deep affection, the way she embroidered sachets, comforted his longing, and refused him money, she had no desires for him and looked like she was completely immersed in love and couldn't extricate herself...

I can only say that Niao Niao's acting skills are really impeccable. For a moment, Zhao Xiaoqian was fooled and thought that there really was a woman in the world who fell in love with him for no reason.

Unfortunately, truly falling in love with someone is not like Niao Niao.

If Niao Niao saw with her own eyes that after he and Jiang Miaoxian fell in love, this gentle fairy-like woman pinched his neck and kept asking when she would redeem him, then Niao Niao would find out where she had revealed her flaw.

If the love between men and women is true, how can it be possible to be without desire?

Only men who have experienced women can understand this truth, especially those who scanned the payment code before doing things in their previous life.

Now Zhao Xiaoqian is basically certain that Niao Niao's purpose of deliberately approaching him is not simple.

Where is there love without reason in the world?

Inside the carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian looked lost.

…………I originally planned to go into a brothel and have a few drinks with a girl, but after leaving the brothel, I felt even worse.

Zhao Xiaoqian felt that he might be in Mercury retrograde recently, so it would be better for him to stay at home and not go anywhere.

After returning to the palace, he was still feeling melancholy when a servant came to report that Cai You had come to visit.

"I'm heartbroken and don't want to see you!" Zhao Xiaoqian waved his hands irritably.

The servant who reported it was stunned. This reason... was so reasonable!

Just as he was about to turn around and refuse Cai You, the servant was stopped by Zhao Xiaoqian.

"Let's meet, since we're here..." Zhao Xiaoqian sighed.

The irresistible reason engraved in the genes of the Chinese people is, "Since we are here, we are here too."

As for the feeling of heartbreak... let's pause for now and feel sad after meeting Cai You.

Cai You was still dressed in a white Confucian robe, looking particularly elegant and refined, the kind who could enter a brothel for free.

When he thought of the "brothel", Zhao Xiaoqian's mood became bad again.

They exchanged greetings when they met. Cai You was about to speak when he saw that Zhao Xiaoqian looked disappointed and haggard, and he was stunned for a moment.

"What's wrong with the Duke? Why are you so upset?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said quietly, "You've figured it all out? My life has been like walking on thin ice..."

Before he could finish his words, Cai You decisively continued, "For a woman?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was finally surprised: "How did you know?"

"I was once heartbroken for a woman, too. The Duke looks so dead... well, I'm sorry. The Duke's dejected look is exactly like mine back then."

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and didn't bother with him because he was his aide and his father was Cai Jing.

"Let's talk business. Why did you come to my house?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

Cai You's expression suddenly tensed, and he whispered, "My Lord, there are students from the Imperial College colluding and appearing to be targeting the Chu Palace. To be more precise, they're targeting you, my Lord."

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned: "Why? Have I offended students from the Imperial College?"

Cai You smiled bitterly and said, "The four imperial edicts bestowing rewards upon the Duke have already offended most of the officials in the court. Is the Duke unaware of this?"

Zhao Xiaoqian frowned, his expression growing colder. "I don't like to brag about my military exploits, but I consider myself a meritorious official of the Song Dynasty. There's nothing wrong with the government rewarding me. How did I offend them?"

Cai You sighed, "It's easy for the government to appoint the Duke of the County as a scholar of the Duanming Palace and a pillar of the state, as these are honorary titles after all. Even if they appoint him as the prefect of Zhending, it's reasonable, as the prefect's rank is not high after all."

"But the government also gave him the title of 'Secretary of the Privy Council,' a position that made people hate him."

"Your Excellency, this position has actually been vacant for three years. In the early years, when the old and new parties were fighting, and the Empress Dowager was in power, many people were eyeing this position. Later, when the Empress Dowager passed away and the emperor took over the government, and Prime Minister Zhang was busy purging the old party, this position remained vacant."

"After the Song-Xia War, the court finally calmed down a bit. No one expected that the emperor would actually leave this position to you, the Duke of the County. This has caused many people's plans to fall through."

"The third most powerful position in the Privy Council has unexpectedly fallen into your hands, Duke of the County. How can those court officials not hate you?"

The Privy Council is in charge of the military affairs of the Song Dynasty. The third-ranked person has a very heavy weight. Sitting in this position is not just about getting benefits. It has a significant impact on everything from recruiting soldiers, military equipment, military pay, promotion and demotion of generals, and even whether to go to war or make peace with foreign countries. The attitude of signing documents on the Privy Council matters has a crucial impact.

This also includes the power struggle between the old and new parties, the balance of power, and even many other issues such as diplomacy and military affairs, all of which are related to the person in this position.

Obviously, such an important position was given to Zhao Xiaoqian, and the court officials were finally stepped on.

Zhao Xiaoqian angrily said, "Are they all blind? The imperial edict clearly has the word 'Ling' on it. It's clearly an honorary title. I have nothing to do with it!"

Cai You laughed, "My Lord, it is wrong to deceive yourself. Even a blind man can see that the word 'leading' in the official's name will be removed sooner or later."

"In short, court officials are now submitting petitions one after another, requesting the emperor to revoke his decision. Meanwhile, some are resorting to underhanded tactics, secretly inciting students at the Imperial College to riot, claiming that the emperor is incompetent and has made arbitrary decisions for his favorite ministers."

Zhao Xiaoqian's face was as gloomy as water. He didn't care about the so-called reward. It didn't matter whether he was promoted or not.

However, perhaps neither Zhao Xu nor he had expected that a Privy Council position would provoke such a fierce backlash from court officials.

"Have I become a 'favored minister'?" Zhao Xiaoqian laughed angrily, pointing at his nose.

Cai You nodded and sighed.

Zhao Xiaoqian gradually calmed down.

Whether he likes it or not, he seems to be involved in a dispute now.

"Brother Cai is also a student of the Imperial College. Do you know who is secretly instigating students to cause trouble?" Zhao Xiaoqian said coldly.

Cai You was stunned and said, "The Duke is planning to..."

Zhao Xiaoqian sneered: "After returning from the battle, I knew there was a lot of gossip outside, so I had to hide at home to avoid it. I didn't expect that gossip would still find me."

"Since that's the case, I don't need to hide anymore. I'll let those officials know whether I, Zhao Xiaoqian, am a pushover or not!"

(End of this chapter)