The prince is more stable

Chapter 70 Idle Man Xiao Yi
Developing spies for the Imperial City Bureau among the common people is actually a form of external expansion.

Zhao Xiaoqian thought it was very necessary.

Now that you are in this position, you should work for your boss. The future of the Song Dynasty is full of crises, with internal and external troubles.

A complete and pervasive intelligence system is extremely important to Zhao Xu and himself.

Zhao Xu's original intention in appointing Zhao Xiaoqian to handle official affairs was to exclude the old party. Now it seems that this purpose is not so important.

The sun sets and the moon rises above the willows.

Zhao Xiaoqian was wearing an elegant round-necked gown, a white jade belt around his waist, and walked out of the Prince of Chu's Palace with his hands behind his back, looking like a handsome young man in troubled times.

When he got on the carriage, Chen Shou led dozens of imperial guards and followed closely behind.

After the last assassination attempt, the level of security around Zhao Xiaoqian increased a lot. Originally, Zhao Xiaoqian didn't like the pomp and circumstance of being surrounded by people, but now he has to use it.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian reached into his arms, weighed the dozen or so gold ingots in his arms, and couldn't help but sigh.

I'm going to invite Su Che to visit a brothel tonight, and the thought of it makes me upset.

The Imperial City Bureau arrested people indiscriminately, but asked me to pay for the compensation out of my own pocket. Why?

Then Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly remembered something. The Imperial City Administration should have a budget every year, right? The money spent on visiting the brothel was considered public funds for eating and drinking. Could it be reimbursed?

If not, I wonder if Su Che can accept the AA system...

The rules of the entertainment venue are that the host of the box pays for the drinks and the princess is responsible for her own tips. There are so many rules that have remained unchanged for thousands of years, and this one must be the same as in the previous life.

…………

Zhang Xiaoyi walked out of the dilapidated wooden house that looked like a pigeon cage, raised his head and squinted his eyes, looked at the quietly rising crescent moon, and then touched his belly.

My stomach is half empty. I just ate, but it feels like I haven't eaten anything. A bowl of millet porridge and a roll, but after eating them, it only barely fills my stomach.

There was a sound behind him, and an old woman groped her way out of the wooden house. Zhang Xiaoyi hurriedly held her hand.

"Mother, your eyesight is not good, so please don't go out casually." Zhang Xiaoyi said.

The old woman handed over half a roll and said, "Son, I can't finish all of this. Eat it quickly and don't waste it. Be careful when you go out. If you meet someone you don't want to mess with, don't stay away."

Zhang Xiaoyi didn't take the roll, but smiled and said, "Don't worry, mother. I know what's going on. If I'm lucky tonight, I might meet someone kind enough to give me a few cents to buy some ointment for you."

After saying that, Zhang Xiaoyi turned and left.

Zhang Xiaoyi is almost thirty years old. He is not a native of Bian Jing, but fled from the north ten years ago.

After escaping to Bian Jing, his mother fell seriously ill. After she recovered, she became blind and could not leave anymore, so Zhang Xiaoyi stayed in Bian Jing to make a living.

Yes, Zhang Xiaoyi was a common scoundrel outside the brothels of Bianjing City. He made a living by running errands for customers, delivering takeout, and acting as a pimp...

In short, he will do anything as long as he can make money.

Over the past ten years, he has managed to build up some connections in the lower-level circles of Bianjing. Most of the idlers would call him "Brother Xiaoyi" when they saw him. This title probably represented his qualifications in this circle.

However, ten years later, he and his mother's life is still difficult and they are still struggling to make ends meet.

When the weather was bad, he had no income and could only live with his mother in the dilapidated hut and collect rainwater to fill their stomachs.

Zhang Xiaoyi, a northern man who should be tall and strong, is skinny and looks malnourished.

Fortunately, his mother was blind and couldn’t see him, otherwise she would have been so heartbroken.

The moon is above the willow branches. It is the time when guests come out to spend money and enjoy themselves, and it is also the time for Zhang Xiaoyi to work.

The breeze at night is a bit hot, summer is almost here.

Zhang Xiaoyi straightened his coarse linen shirt. Although his life was so difficult, he still wanted to make himself look decent so that the guests would not be disgusted by him.

Finally, Zhang Xiaoyi half-bent his body and walked into the night.

In the cool moonlight, I crawled like an ant.

…………

Drunk in the shade of flowers.

Zhao Xiaoqian had always thought the name of this brothel was well-chosen, both elegant and ambiguous. It was like the later consumer places that were clearly bathhouses but had names like "Langtaosha" or "Haiyuntian," so elegant that it seemed only worthy of consumption by those with the caliber of professors.

After getting off the carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian arrived outside the brothel in advance, but did not go in. He stood beside the carriage and waited quietly for Su Che's arrival.

When entertaining guests, one should have the proper attitude. Waiting for guests outside the door is social etiquette, and Zhao Xiaoqian must abide by it.

After waiting for an incense stick of time, Zhao Xiaoqian frowned and felt a little impatient.

Is this old man so arrogant? He eats, drinks, and plays for free, yet he's still late...

Forget it, he’s my idol’s younger brother, I’ll just have to endure it.

A thin figure approached cautiously at this time. Chen Shou behind him immediately looked over vigilantly, and his left hand unconsciously pressed the hilt of the knife at his waist.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Zhao Xiaoqian also realized that something was wrong. He turned around and saw a thin man with a forced smile on his face.

Of course, he also saw the alert looks of Chen Shou and the imperial guards, and was so frightened that he stopped in his tracks. He secretly regretted that he should not have stepped forward, as if he had disturbed the nobleman.

Zhao Xiaoqian only took a glance and knew that this person was not an assassin, so he waved his hand at Chen Shou and said, "No need to panic, relax."

Chen Shou smiled, but his eyes were still fixed on the man, ready to attack at all times.

Zhang Xiaoyi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately planned to apologize and leave. But after thinking about it, he felt that it would be a pity to give up this guest. What if the guest needed him?

So Zhang Xiaoyi mustered up the courage to step forward again, a smile on his face.

"Xiao Yi greets the distinguished gentleman. The distinguished gentleman has an extraordinary appearance and a dignified demeanor. He must be a powerful and influential figure..."

Zhao Xiaoqian waved his hand to interrupt his endless flattery.

Everyone likes to hear good words, but the good words must be said nicely, the words must be plentiful and plentiful, and the person must be thick-skinned.

For example, Zhao Xiaoqian dared to compare Zhao Xu with Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi. Let’s not talk about whether the flattery was strong enough, but just ask yourself whether he was thick-skinned enough.

Zhang Xiaoyi's flattery was obviously much inferior, and Zhao Xiaoqian had no interest in listening to it.

"Tell me, what do you do?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

Zhang Xiaoyi bowed and smiled, "Your Excellency, I live in Bianjing City and dare not boast in front of you. I think I have some abilities, and my friends nearby praised me and gave me a nickname, 'Little Divine Power'."

Zhao Xiaoqian realized that this man was just an idler trying to make a living, so he immediately lost interest.

"I don't need anything, please help yourself." Zhao Xiaoqian refused indifferently.

Zhang Xiaoyi looked a little disappointed. Thinking of the half pancake his mother handed him before he left, his heart ached and he gritted his teeth and was unwilling to leave.

"Don't be so hasty to refuse, my lord. I have some connections in Bianjing City. I know all the shops, food, and singing girls in and around the city. No matter what you want, I will bring it to you in a moment."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled: "Are you really going to do this deal with me?"

"You are joking, my lord. I just want to share your worries and help you solve some trivial matters."

"The plum blossom buns from Wanglou Mountain, the meat pies from Grandma Cao, the silver bottle wine from Quyuan Street, the tea and cooked mutton from the Xue family on North Street, the fruit shops on Zhouqiao West Street, the Zheng family's fried cakes on Desheng Bridge, and oh, there are also the musicians and singing girls from Dasheng Mansion, whose looks and melodies far surpass those of the girls from Panlou Street."
"No matter what you want, I will buy it for you."

After saying this, Zhang Xiaoyi bowed and smiled ingratiatingly.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at him in surprise. What he had just said was like a crosstalk. Apart from anything else, he was indeed very professional in the job of running errands.

He hadn't originally planned to buy anything, but because of the professional attitude, Zhao Xiaoqian became a little interested.

"Forget it, I suddenly want to eat the soup dumplings on the first floor. Go buy some. I'll be in this brothel." Zhao Xiaoqian said with a smile.

Reaching into his bosom, Zhao Xiaoqian pulled out a small silver ingot and said, "The extra is yours."

Zhang Xiaoyi was so delighted that he almost knelt down and kowtowed. Then he said cautiously, "Are you not afraid that I might take your money and run away?"

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked: "Can you run?"

"I won't!"

"That's it, go and come back quickly."

(End of this chapter)