You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 20 Half a Poem on Touching Fish

The sound of the Bian River could be faintly heard, its surface shimmering.

Inside the painted boat, red lanterns were everywhere, fragrant breezes wafted through the air, and decadent music, including singing, dancing, and playing instruments, could be heard all around.

The lobby was filled with many casual diners, all impeccably dressed, surrounded by beautiful women, chatting and laughing without restraint. However, their eyes kept glancing towards the high platform in the lobby, as if they were waiting for something.

Inside a quiet room, Chen Shao's face was flushed from drinking, and there was no one else around.

These past few days, he's been coming to the pleasure boat to drink and listen to music, and he's almost spent all the money he worked so hard to earn.

But Chen Shao wasn't in a hurry at all; he just wanted to spend all the money.

He had previously risked his life by rebuking Cai Jing at Cai's residence with a single sentence in order to attract Tong Guan's attention.

He only needs to notice himself.

Then they will send someone to investigate you.

Chen Shao had carefully analyzed the people around Tong Guan and found them to be a bunch of scoundrels.

He must be made aware of his weaknesses and feel that Tong Guan can control him; only then will Tong Guan be more likely to promote and give him important responsibilities.

Of course, this is also a gamble. Perhaps Tong Guan didn't even notice him, and Chen Shao was just entertaining himself.

Acting for blind people.

So he was also full of worries, and he really started to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

There was really no other way to go.

If you want to get ahead quickly, there are essentially two paths:

The path of imperial examination and officialdom can be crossed out directly. Let alone the imperial examination, I can't even recognize all the traditional Chinese characters.
Secondly, one could choose the military path, but this path of earning a living through hard work and fighting is out of the question, as Han Shizhong had already proven that it was a dead end.

Could I possibly be more formidable than Han Shizhong?

Therefore, the only option is to take this unconventional approach, a risky and unorthodox method.

Chen Shao tilted his head back and downed a glass of wine, sighing inwardly. If he failed this time and Tong Guan didn't notice him, then he could give up.

Let's go straight to Jiangnan to avoid the impending disaster, and then take things slowly.

After all, time waits for no one, and I don't have a second chance.

However, Chen Shao felt uneasy about actually doing so, and he really wanted to do something during the upcoming Jingkang Incident.

As Chen Shao sighed deeply, he suddenly heard the sound of clappers from downstairs, followed by the sound of string and wind instruments. In an instant, the hall was filled with the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments.

Many guests who were drinking looked excited and came to the railing.

A beautiful woman dressed in finery emerged from the dance floor below the stage. Her body was like carved jade, her face like piled flowers, and her slender figure was faintly visible beneath her expensive and gorgeous dress.

Holding two long, emerald-green pheasant feathers, the woman moved gracefully with delicate steps and swaying waist, dancing to the rhythm of the musicians' jade flutes.

The flute music was soothing, and in the distance, a woman's smile was faint, like peach blossoms in spring. Her dance was graceful, like willow branches in the wind, every move charming and alluring.

Many men seeking pleasure were mesmerized, their eyes fixed on the woman's voluptuous figure.

Suddenly, the pipes and strings tightened, the music became urgent, like a raging sea, magnificent and grand. The woman's delicate figure spun rapidly like a whirlwind, like a cluster of shimmering rainbows, a cluster of celestial flowers swaying and unfolding. Suddenly, a crane's cry rang out in the sky, the music stopped abruptly, the woman's skirt spread out, she reclined gracefully, breathing softly, a faint blush appearing on her fair skin.

A deafening roar of cheers erupted from upstairs and downstairs. The woman smiled and glanced around, then, without bowing to thank the crowd, she proudly withdrew from the hall.

Chen Shao's eyes lit up, and he quickly grabbed a waiter who was serving drinks and dishes, asking, "Who is that?"

"You, guest, don't you even recognize our Master Li?"

"Li Shishi?"

"Who else could it be but her! Li Dajia's dance is unparalleled in the world. If it weren't for her, none of us would have had this good fortune today."

The little turtle servant was smug, seemingly proud of himself, but Chen Shao heard something more from his words.

Judging from his words, Li Shishi came out to dance because Emperor Zhao Ji had come and asked her to dance.

Given Li Shishi's status, she didn't need to perform a dance; it was her emperor's job.

Chen Shao immediately nodded, thinking it was highly likely. For someone like Zhao Ji who loved to play, simply enjoying himself behind closed doors was no longer enough.

He could only gain greater pleasure by letting Li Shishi experience the infatuation of thousands. It's similar to how powerful and wealthy people in later generations enjoyed having affairs with celebrities.

There's nothing new under the sun, as expected.

Chen Shao quickly straightened his clothes and tried to get closer to the private room Li Shishi had entered, but halfway there someone grabbed his shoulder.

Several burly men in ordinary clothes looked him up and down, their eyes scanning him with hostility.

There were guards.
Chen Shao really wanted to meet Zhao Ji. If he could attract Zhao Ji's attention, perhaps he could do so without going through Tong Guan's connections.

He nodded to the guard, smiled, and left, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to attract the emperor's attention.
This is a rare opportunity.

Looking at the debauched patrons in the hall, Chen Shao rolled up his sleeves.

Fuck!
do not care!
He grabbed the railing and jumped suddenly from the second floor onto the stage, his heels going numb.

Ignoring all that, Chen Shao raised his hands and shouted:
"All eyes are on me!"

"Follow my example!"

The chaotic hall quieted down as everyone turned to look at him, wondering what he was up to.

"After Li Dajia finished her dance, I was so moved that I couldn't help but compose a poem!"

The people around immediately burst into laughter; this young man didn't seem like someone who could write lyrics.

In his haste, Chen Shao didn't have time to consider whether it was appropriate for the occasion, so he could only choose a well-known poem from the ones he had memorized.

Chen Shao shook his head and said loudly:

"How many storms and rains can it endure, and spring will soon be gone again."

Upon hearing this, everyone inexplicably felt that it was not bad, so they all quieted down to listen to him continue.

"I always fear the flowers will bloom too early in spring, let alone the countless fallen petals. Spring, please stay, for it is said that there is no way back for the fragrant grasses at the ends of the earth."

"Spring remains silent in its lament."

"Even with diligent care, the spiderwebs on the painted eaves attract flying catkins all day long."

Chen Shao was reciting his lines aloud when suddenly several burly men came up, grabbed him, and dragged him off the stage.

"Chen Shao?"

Chen Shao nodded, a surge of joy in his heart. Could it be that they've arrived?

"Come with us!"

Several people helped him down from the stage, and then quickly walked out of the courtyard.

Chen Shao then realized something was wrong. Where were they going?

"Who is looking for me!" Chen Shao had been practicing martial arts diligently these past few days, and the original owner of this body also possessed some martial arts skills.

However, he couldn't use his skills at all next to these big men.

"Commander Xuan is back and wants to see you," one of them said with a smile. In fact, Chen Shao was one of their own.

Upon hearing this, Chen Shao sighed inwardly, realizing that it was Tong Guan's man.

You better wait until I'm done pretending, or maybe that old emperor will take the bait!

Inside the private room, a refined middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in clean casual clothes, was listening to a stranger outside, tapping his chopsticks on the table with his eyes closed.

Suddenly the sound stopped abruptly, and then the noise outside resumed.

The man stood up and asked, "What happened?"

"Your Majesty, that man has been taken away."

"What a pity, what a pity, I only heard half of it, it's really a good poem."

Thinking of the phrase "All eyes are on me," Zhao Ji couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"He's an interesting person, though."

(End of this chapter)