The prince is more stable

Chapter 347: Visit
When you visit the victim... well, the injured person, you can't go empty-handed.

People with good manners will bring gifts to the door to express their concern for the injured person. If the injured person's conscience is not ruined, he or she should at least remember this favor.

Zhao Xiaoqian was born into a wealthy family and received elite education since childhood. He was not only not lacking in qualities, but also had more than enough.

Others bring gifts when they visit their friends, but Zhao Xiaoqian is different. He brings gifts even when he visits his enemies.

Look at their quality, wow!
After leaving Yanfu Palace, Zhao Xiaoqian took a carriage to Imperial Street and found a calligraphy and painting stall that he liked on the side of the road.

The Song Dynasty had a developed commercial society, and any demand of the people could be turned into an industry, including writing letters for illiterate people and selling a few worthless calligraphy and paintings made by themselves.

Of course, this industry is not large in scale. Scholars have always been aloof and cannot do business, especially using their knowledge and culture as commodities, which is unacceptable to ordinary scholars.

Only scholars who are so poor that they are about to beg on the streets will be forced to enter this industry and make a living by writing letters and selling calligraphy and paintings.

Zhao Xiaoqian easily found a calligraphy and painting stall owned by a down-and-out scholar on Imperial Street.

The stall was very simple, with only a table, a chair, and a set of four treasures of the study on the table. There was also a flag next to the table to attract business. Some scholars were even more shameless and also worked part-time in the business of mounting calligraphy and paintings.

Zhao Xiaoqian came to the calligraphy and painting stall and asked the down-and-out scholar to write a piece of calligraphy and have it framed.

This was a big customer, and the scholar was very enthusiastic. He wrote four big characters on the spot and mounted the paper with great care. Soon, a piece of elegant calligraphy was completed.

Zhao Xiaoqian's calligraphy is not very good, but it does not hinder his ability to appreciate.

The handwriting can only be said to be average, barely neat. No wonder this scholar is so down and out. If he were to take part in the imperial examination, the examiner would probably not be in the mood to read his answers after just one look at his handwriting.

But it was just right for Zhao Xiaoqian. The main thing about giving a gift was the thought. It didn't matter if the handwriting was not so good. It wasn't going to be hung in his room anyway.

After rolling up the mounted calligraphy and paintings, Zhao Xiaoqian enthusiastically ordered them to go to the Suining County Prince's Mansion.

Chen Shou followed him and asked in confusion, "Why did the prince give Zhao Ji calligraphy and paintings? With my temper, I would have thought Zhao Ji would die a quick death if I had killed him with a sword, but the prince still gave him gifts..."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "We didn't kill him. We must be polite to those who are lucky. Maybe he is the chosen one. This calligraphy and painting is my expression of goodwill to him."

Chen Shou was at a loss for words. Last night, he'd wanted to chop Zhao Ji into pieces, yet today, he was smiling and giving him gifts. Was this the world of the rich and powerful? So divisive...

"But why did the prince give him the four words 'God rewards hard work'?" Chen Shou asked puzzledly.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled smugly: "You don't understand this. The four words 'Heaven rewards hard work' are like the magic talismans painted by Taoist priests. Whoever hangs these four words in his house is doomed to bad luck."

"Those doing business will definitely go bankrupt, those studying will definitely fail the exam, officials will definitely be arrested, women will definitely be infertile, and men will definitely be impotent..."

Chen Shou opened his eyes wide and was instantly filled with awe for the calligraphy and painting in Zhao Xiaoqian's hands.

Is it so vicious? I thought the prince really intended to show goodwill to Zhao Ji, but I didn't expect a fatal magic attack.

"Just these four words, Zhao Ji..." Chen Shou said in disbelief.

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded solemnly. "Don't doubt its power. A thousand years from now, countless officials and bosses will have fallen victim to these four words. Others with comparable power include 'Virtue carries all things,' and 'Supreme good is like water.' They are all bloody curses."

Chen Shou was even more awed: "We have to check ourselves later. We can't hang these unlucky things in our palace."

Zhao Xiaoqian said proudly, "Of course not. I always hang 'Women's Treasure'."

…………

When he arrived at the Prince of Suining's Mansion, Zhao Xiaoqian entered smoothly.

Although the assassination last night caused a huge stir, no one in the entire Bianjing city knew the murderer's background except the person involved.

Zhao Hao and his son Zhao Xiaoqian would definitely not tell anyone about this kind of thing, and Zhao Ji would be even less likely to tell anyone about it. He knew very well what he had done. Even if he was sure that Zhao Xiaoqian was the murderer, he would never say a word about it even if he was beaten to death.

After all, if you dig deeper into some things, you may not know whether Zhao Xiaoqian is okay or not, but Zhao Ji must be in trouble, and his end will be irreparable.

So when Zhao Xiaoqian was led into the Prince's Palace by the eunuchs, the palace guards and servants he met along the way bowed respectfully to him. No one knew that the murderer who had nearly taken Zhao Ji's life the previous night was none other than this smiling Prince of Chu. The Suining Prince's Palace was comparable in size to the Chu Palace, and its area was not too large. After all, the imperial palace in Kaifeng was rather shabby, and the ministers' residences did not dare to overstep the boundaries of the emperor's.

The eunuch led the way and respectfully told Zhao Xiaoqian as they walked that Zhao Ji had been seriously injured last night and was recuperating in the backyard of the palace.

Judging from the eunuch's tone, the injury seemed to be really serious. Several imperial physicians and several famous doctors invited from the public had been guarding Zhao Ji non-stop since last night, acting as human life detectors, fearing that Zhao Ji would die if they were not careful.

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately showed concern and expressed his extreme condemnation of the murderer in front of the eunuch.

As I entered the backyard, a strong smell of medicine hit me as soon as I stepped into the yard. There were several small charcoal stoves in the yard. Several maids were staring nervously at the steaming medicine jars on the charcoal stoves. People were coming in and out of the east wing from time to time, and the air around me was extremely depressing.

The eunuch led Zhao Xiaoqian into the side room, and the first thing he saw was Zhao Ji lying weakly on the bed.

Zhao Ji's face was as pale as a dead body. If his chest had not been still moving, Zhao Xiaoqian would have almost thought that he was attending a funeral.

Several imperial doctors were sitting beside the bed, one of them put his hand on Zhao Ji's wrist and closed his eyes to take his pulse.

As if with telepathy, Zhao Ji, who had kept his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, turned his head with difficulty, and immediately saw Zhao Xiaoqian standing at the door with a smile on his face.

Zhao Ji blinked hard in disbelief, and then his face became even uglier, his eyes emitting a strong murderous intent and extremely suppressed anger.

"You...you...!" Zhao Ji raised his hand with difficulty and pointed at him.

Zhao Xiaoqian hurried forward, first pushed away the imperial physician who was acting as a human life detector, then held Zhao Ji's hands with both hands, and said with concern: "Brother Ji, Brother Ji! Are you okay? I'm here to visit you!"

Zhao Ji's eyes were filled with anger. He stared at his face intently, his teeth chattering.

Zhao Xiaoqian, however, emphasized his tone and said angrily, "I don't know which damn murderer could have harmed my brother like this!"

"Don't worry, brother Ji. The emperor has ordered the Imperial City Bureau to investigate this case. I, your brother, will avenge you and bring the murderer to justice, chopping him into pieces. I will make you smile... well, applaud!"

Zhao Ji was so angry that he was almost numb and even wanted to laugh.

The government asked the Imperial City Bureau to investigate this case. Is this any different from the thief crying "stop thief"? It's so fucking ironic.

Zhao Ji took a deep breath and tried to calm his anger.

After being provoked by Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhao Ji actually calmed down and became the smart boy he was before, without any change.

Turning his head to look at the imperial physician and servants standing in the room, Zhao Ji waved his hand and asked everyone to leave the room.

The door of the wing room was closed, and only Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhao Ji were left in the room.

Zhao Xiaoqian finally got out of the act at this time. He was too lazy to pretend anymore, and his concerned smile instantly turned into a sarcastic sneer.

Zhao Ji also smiled, but his smile was colder than the knife used to kill fish in RT-Mart.

The air in the room suddenly became icy cold.

"Zhao Xiaoqian, why don't you continue pretending? Weren't you very sincere just now? I was almost moved." Zhao Ji said with a smile.

Zhao Xiaoqian dragged a chair over and sat beside the bed, saying calmly, "Of course we have to pretend in front of outsiders, but now that they've left, there's no need to pretend anymore. You and I might as well keep a good mood and continue to act like brothers in front of the emperor in the future."

"Why did you come to visit me today?"

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to visit you today. I'm here to admire my own masterpiece." Zhao Xiaoqian stared at him and smiled maliciously.

Zhao Ji felt a blockage in his heart when he heard this, and felt a suffocating feeling of being extremely angry but having no way to vent.

After a long while, Zhao Ji suddenly smiled again, and generously spread out his hands, revealing his miserable appearance with bandages all over his body, and said with a smile: "Are you satisfied with your masterpiece?"

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head regretfully: "I'm not very satisfied. It seems like something is missing..."

(End of this chapter)