Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 105: A No-Update Due to a Disagreement! (Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets)

at dusk.

Whenever Wang Xi's carriage stopped in front of his house, Wang Facai would always be there first to wait at the door, almost without fail. This was actually quite a skill.

"Young Master is back."

"Ah."

Wang Xi nodded and then asked, "Is Father home?"

"exist."

Wang Facai nodded, then carefully reminded him, "However, the young master seems to be in a bad mood today. He even had a little wine with the prince just now."

Feeling down? That's a good thing. It proves Dad's got ambition now, and he's not a hopeless case. Wang Xi pondered for a while, then suddenly asked, "Where's Dad?"

"They are resting in the back room."

"I'm going to see Father."

"Young Master..." Wang Facai said with a hint of worry.

"Don't worry, Father has been drinking, so he can't catch up with me."

"???"

Upon arriving at the back hall, Wang Xi stood in the courtyard, leaning to the side and peering inside. He saw Wang Shou lying half-reclined on the couch, covered with a blanket, while Princess Xue stood guard beside him.

This is quite rare. In the past, if Wang Shouyi got drunk, Princess Xue would simply hand him over to the servants. She wouldn't see it and wouldn't be bothered. How could she possibly stay by his side?

This is enough to show that Princess Xue understood why Wang Shouyi got drunk this time.

"mother!"

Wang Xi pretended to be reckless and ran inside.

Princess Xue was startled and quickly reached out to stop Wang Xi, then pointed at Wang Shouyi, signaling him not to shout.

"Is that brat back?"

Wang Shouyi suddenly spoke up.

“Father, your son is back.” Wang Xi nodded.

Wang Shou didn't even open his eyes, but simply said, "I heard that your performance today was very successful, and His Majesty was very happy."

"It was a success, I'd say."

Wang Xi spoke in a condescending tone.

"Ok?"

Wang Shouyi opened his eyes and looked Wang Xi up and down. "But why do you look a little unhappy?"

Wang Xi glanced at Wang Shouyi furtively and asked, "Father, why did you drink so much?"

Wang Shouyi snorted, "What? You're starting to boss your father around now? Have you grown up?"

Wang Xi then said, "Father is drinking because His Majesty has not agreed to give you that job."

Princess Xue frowned and said, "You children shouldn't pry into this matter."

Wang Xi said with a disdainful look, "Father, what's so special about that lowly job? Father is destined to become a high-ranking official."

Princess Xue said, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

“The sparrow is right.”

Wang Shouyi suddenly sat up. "That damn job? I don't want it at all."

"that is!"

Wang Xi said, "I'll have a few more drinks with Father to celebrate properly."

"it is good!"

Wang Shouyi said, "Let's have a few drinks, father and son, to celebrate!"

He paused mid-sentence, then asked curiously, "What are we celebrating?"

Wang Xi shook his head proudly and said, "Of course, we're celebrating the child's successful performance."

Wang Shouyi's lips twitched a few times.

A moment later, Wang Xi came running out of there, tumbling and crawling, with a boot flying out right behind him.

Then they heard Wang Shouyi roaring from inside, "What are you so smug about? You didn't even go on stage to perform. If you're so capable, go up there and perform yourself!"

"This brat."

Wang Shouyi gritted his teeth and said, "One day, I will be driven to my death by this brat."

Princess Xue, standing to the side, chuckled and asked, "Are you sober now?"

Wang Shouyi glanced awkwardly at Princess Xue and sighed, "Actually, what I'm upset about isn't this job, but that His Majesty isn't even willing to give me this job, which is enough to prove that!"

If Li Longji only thought he was incompetent, he wouldn't be so distressed. After all, he was used to shirking his duties. He was afraid that Li Longji was not giving him this job because of Empress Wang, with the aim of deposing her in the future.

Princess Xue nodded gently, "I know, but His Majesty only said he would consider it, not that he refused. So please don't be discouraged."

Wang Shouyi remained silent; in his view, there was no hope left.

However, Wang Xi believes there might still be a chance for things to turn around.

The next day, Wang Xi arrived at the academy and went straight to find Tao Mo.

"Old Tao, give the order to temporarily suspend the charity performance."

Before Tao Mo could speak, Li Jieman, who was standing next to him, asked curiously, "Why is that?"

"What else could it be?"

Wang Xi snorted, "We've been putting on this charity performance for our dad's sake, and now he hasn't gotten anything out of it, so what's the point of performing? Do they really think I'm some kind of philanthropist? Damn it!"

Wang Shuang asked curiously, "Brother Que, what exactly does this 'cao' mean?"

Wang Xi said dejectedly, "Brother Shuang, that's not the point."

Huangfu Sengnian nodded and said, "I agree with that. If we can't get this job, then there's really no need to go to such lengths. Moreover, given Mr. Wuming's personality, after causing such a big commotion, it's only reasonable for him to want to tone it down now."

Wang Xi smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right. To the outside world, we can say that the book was written and told simultaneously, and that all the current drafts have been used up, so the performance date has to be adjusted. Anyway, that's what Lao Tao said to His Majesty yesterday. But we can secretly spread the word that you actually want to keep a low profile."

Li Jieman asked with slight concern, "Won't this affect my father?"

"will not."

Wang Xi said, "The only thing that could affect your father is that my father didn't get the job."

Li Jieman then asked, "Will doing this help your father get this job?"

"do not know."

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "But there's a saying that goes, 'No one gets up early for nothing.' If we're not going to get any benefits, why are we working so hard? Do we really need that little bit of reward? Do we really lack that money?"

Then he said to Tao Mo, "Old Tao, later you should send someone to invite the owners of those restaurants to let us know that all the manuscripts we have are used up. Also, the students have to rehearse the Dream of the Red Chamber play, so it's impossible to perform it every day. Hmm, how about once every two weeks?" Tao Mo said awkwardly, "Wouldn't two weeks be a bit too long?"

Wang Xi rolled her eyes and said, "If I wasn't worried that everyone would forget the plot, I would have been thinking of extending it by a month."

"Yes, I understand."

Tao Mo first convened a meeting with the students, stating that they still needed to prepare for the Dream of the Red Chamber drama and could no longer frequently go out to perform for charity. The specific schedule needed to be rearranged.

This did not arouse any suspicion.

Because this was already part of the plan, both Hongxiu and the students knew that storytelling was just a prelude to future opera.

The students were somewhat disappointed.

After all, they had just performed in front of the emperor and were in the limelight. Now that they were at the restaurant, they would be the center of attention.

But they dared not question the man's decision.

In addition, Tao Mo sent people to invite the owners of various restaurants and told them the truth: the storylines for these frequent charity performances were no longer keeping up.

Therefore, the performance must be held at least once every two weeks, and the students also have schoolwork to complete, so they can only perform in various restaurants in rotation.

This sudden and devastating news caught the owners of various restaurants off guard.

Money is secondary; if you suddenly stop performing, the customers will tear down the shop.

This is not possible!

Add money!

Is it because we don't have enough money? We're willing to add more!
But Tao Mo said it wasn't about the money; he simply meant that he had made up his mind and there was no room for negotiation.

Because the contract they signed only stipulated how much money would be paid per show, but it didn't specify how often they would perform.

The restaurant was also worried that if they signed a contract for a certain number of shows, they would still have to pay if no one came.

Therefore, this part was ignored.

This has resulted in the initiative now being completely in the hands of the nameless academy, which they have no choice but to accept, even though they are unwilling.

And they are not just worrying unnecessarily.

As soon as the news was released, there was an uproar outside.

The shouts and curses were incessant.

Just when we were really enjoying it, you suddenly decided to change the performance to once every two weeks. That was absolutely infuriating! I yelled at the shopkeeper. If you can't bully Wuming Academy, you can at least bully us.

The shopkeepers were so frightened they trembled.

Some people even demanded a refund.

Indeed, some people booked long-term seats at the restaurant specifically to see "Dream of the Red Chamber." If the show stops, what am I supposed to eat there?

Fortunately, the restaurant was prepared for this and would refund if you really wanted to. However, the restaurant was also willing to recalculate the time limit, and your reservation could be counted only for this charity performance.

But there was also an unexpected bonus: this hiatus made the students of the Nameless Academy even more popular, and they became highly sought-after. People lined up from the East Market to the West Market to invite them for drinks.

They suddenly realized that this hiatus was actually quite good.

An unnamed academy.

"look."

Huangfu Sengnian, who had just entered the room, handed a piece of white cloth to Wang Xi.

"What is this?" Wang Xi asked curiously, taking a look. "Huh? Who wrote this?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Someone is taking this manuscript and claiming it's Lao Tao's manuscript, and is going around swindling money from people."

"It's not badly written." Wang Xi looked at it for a moment, then asked, "Did it fool you?"

Huangfu Sengnian laughed and said, "Unfortunately, Dou E and his men ran into him and almost beat that swindler to death."

Just then, a chorus of complaints was heard, and Wang Shuang and Li Jieman entered the room.

Wang Xi asked again, "What is it?"

Wang Shuang said, "Just now, a few petty thieves tried to climb over the wall and came in, but I spotted them. If Xiaoman hadn't tripped and fallen, blocking my way, I would have captured those petty thieves alive."

Li Jieman exclaimed excitedly, "Why did I fall? Didn't you push me?"

Wang Shuang said, "You fatso can't catch up with me and you always squeeze in front of me. Who can you blame for that?"

"Although I'm fat, I'm not slow at all."

"You haven't run enough, so I'll give you a fifty-step head start."

Wang Xi and Huangfu Sengnian exchanged a knowing glance, then quietly left.

As soon as Dream of the Red Chamber stopped updating, all sorts of strange and unscrupulous people emerged, trying every possible way to find out news about the novel.

Many people also use this to commit fraud.

Walking along the corridor, Wang Xi said, "The academy needs to strengthen its defenses recently; those people are really too crazy."

Huangfu Sengnian nodded. "But, is what we're doing really going to work?"

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "Whether it works or not, this is the only thing we can do right now. As things stand, there aren't many ways for His Majesty to hear Dream of the Red Chamber again."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "And you are one of them."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Last time when we were acting out the capture and release of Cao Cao, I deliberately asked Lao Tao to praise me a few more times in front of His Majesty. As long as I can see His Majesty, this matter can be turned around."

His entire plan actually consisted of two lines: first, assisting his father in attacking the outer court; and second, his own attack on Li Longji, as he was destined to become a favored minister.

Earlier, the groundwork had already been laid for this, and this hiatus was only to reduce Li Longji's access to Dream of the Red Chamber, so that Li Longji would think of him on his own initiative.

Just then, Cui Gu'er walked over quickly, "Brother Que, I've finally found you."

Wang Xi asked, "What is it?"

Cui Gu'er said, "Your Empress Aunt has sent someone."

Wang Xi couldn't help but exchange a glance with Huangfu Sengnian.

Huangfu Sengnian asked, "Does the Empress see you often?"

Wang Xi shook his head.

Huangfu Sengnian laughed and said, "It seems that His Majesty loves Dream of the Red Chamber even more than we imagined."

Upon arriving at the front hall, they met Chen Liang, the eunuch who served the Empress.

"Chen Zhongguan, you were looking for me!" Wang Xi asked casually.

Upon seeing this lively character, Chen Liang chuckled and said, "It's not me who's looking for you, it's the Empress."

"What does the Empress want with me?"

"I don't know that. I'm just following the Empress's orders to send you to the palace."

(End of this chapter)