The Prodigal Son

After entering the house, Qin Yu had someone bring Dong Liu a jar of wine.

Dong Liu was quite casual; he didn't even bother with the wine bowl, grabbing the wine jar with one hand and gulping it down.

Under their watchful eyes, Dong Liu quickly finished a five-jin jar of wine.

Setting down the wine jar, Dong Liu said like a lord, "Find me a place to sleep!"

"OK!"

Qin Yu's lips curled into a smile, and he immediately ordered Qi Dachui, "Take him to the stables!"

"what?"

Qi Dachui stared at Qin Yu in astonishment.

Luo Qingyi quickly pulled Qin Yu up as well.

This is a distinguished guest whom the Duke invited with a favor, and he just lets him sleep in the stable?

If the Duke finds out about this, he'll beat him to death!

Go!

Qin Yu urged Qi Dachui to hurry up.

"oh."

Helpless, Qi Dachui could only bow to Dong Liu, "Master, this way please!"

"Get lost!"

Dong Liu chuckled and cursed, then walked straight toward the east wing, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

That little brat from the Qin family is quite interesting.

He's much more interesting than his deadbeat father!

Watching Dong Liu's retreating figure, Qin Yu nodded secretly.

Yes, it's clear that Dong Liu is quite familiar with the mansion.

This is certainly not his first time visiting your residence.

That's right!

Since this isn't our first time here, and he's an old friend of the old man, let's just order whatever we like.

He's casual, and so am I!

After watching Dong Liu's figure disappear, Luo Qingyi also went out to attend to her work.

Qin Yu didn't disturb Dong Liu, and after resting for a while, he started practicing martial arts again.

However, he hadn't practiced for long when Shangguan Youyi arrived.

Qin Yu greeted Shangguan Youyi with great enthusiasm, "Oh! Lord Shangguan, what a rare guest! What brings you here?"

Shangguan Youyi replied with a smile, "Of course, it's Lord Qin's talent and demeanor!"

Upon seeing Qin Yu again, Shangguan Youyi was filled with mixed emotions.

Yesterday's defeat was utterly humiliating!

Qin Yu truly embodies the saying: A full jar of water makes no sound when shaken; a half-full jar makes a loud clattering noise!

He is intelligent and talented, yet he is content to be regarded by the world as an uneducated and dissolute playboy.

Compared to him, I am still far behind!

Qin Yu feigned madness, "Lord Shangguan, it's not even noon yet, and you're already trying to humiliate me?"

"I wouldn't dare to embarrass you!"

Shangguan Youyi smiled and said, "Lord Qin, you certainly made a name for yourself yesterday, but you've ruined everything for me. I was drunk all day yesterday, and this morning, His Majesty summoned me and lectured me for half an hour! Shouldn't you make it up to me?"

As she spoke, Shangguan Youyi winked coquettishly at Qin Yu.

Even though Qin Yu had seen countless women, he almost got hooked.

These intellectuals have a unique way of hooking people.

Suddenly, he understood Secretary Yuliang.

That Xiao Gao is really good!

Fortunately, Qin Yu's mind was still relatively clear.

This is definitely not some Xiao Gao!

This is one of the two henchmen by the side of the female demon!

If you dare to lay a hand on her, you're already on your way to death.

Qin Yu quickly composed himself and feigned ignorance, "What's going on? I was drunk yesterday, I don't remember anything!"

Shangguan Youyi's lips twitched, and she suddenly felt an urge to kick his stinky face.

Could you be any more fake?

"Alright, stop pretending!"

Shangguan Youyi, too lazy to beat around the bush, directly took out the paper with his poems written on it, "His Majesty has ordered that you complete these poems!"

"Complete?"

Qin Yu took the paper and unfolded it. "How am I supposed to complete this? Aren't you making things difficult for me?"

Want to get something for free?

no way!

There aren't even windows!

"This is a poem you wrote yourself, and you can't even complete it?"

Shangguan Youyi, of course, did not believe him.

"Did I do this?"

Qin Yu's eyes widened suddenly. "Impossible! How could I possibly have written these poems?"

"Hurry up and fix it!"

Shangguan Youyi didn't want to waste time arguing with him. "His Majesty is waiting!"

"It can't be fixed!"

Qin Yu flatly refused, "Even if I wrote these poems, they were just a flash of inspiration. You should know that inspiration is fleeting; how can I possibly fix it?"

Seeing Qin Yu's aggrieved look, Shangguan Youyi couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed.

No wonder His Majesty always wanted to punish Qin Yu.

He really deserves a beating!

"Hurry up and fix it!"

Shangguan Youyi composed himself and said, "Once you finish completing these poems, the Wang brothers will send them to you."

"real?"

Qin Yu instantly perked up.

However, when he saw the sly smile on Shangguan Youyi's face, he knew he had been tricked.

"Not pretending anymore?"

Shangguan Youyi looked at him with a smile.

Depend on!

The women in the palace are tigers!

This is absolutely true!

"I can't fix it! That inspiration just vanished again."

Qin Yu decided to drop the pretense and lay his cards on the table: "If you send the Wang brothers over, I might be in a better mood and get some inspiration!"

Shangguan Youyi narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're really something! Aren't you afraid His Majesty will hang you upside down again!"

"Why are you hanging me up?"

Qin Yu was indignant. "I can't complete the poem, so you're going to hang me up? There's no such logic in the whole world!"

He admitted that there was a reason he hanged himself last time!

What's the big deal this time?

He's the ruler of a country, after all. Why is he so rude while playing a game?

Might makes right?

If she's going to do this, she'll risk having her legs broken by that old man, just to let her experience the devastation of artillery fire.

Even the best martial artist is afraid of a kitchen knife, right?

"Alright! I will convey your message to His Majesty."

Seeing that Qin Yu was determined to negotiate with Zhao Luan, Shangguan Youyi said no more, left the paper with Qin Yu, and then took his leave.

Back at the palace, Shangguan Youyi relayed Qin Yu's words to Zhao Luan without missing a single one.

Zhao Luan was annoyed and subconsciously reached for her lower abdomen again, but then suddenly stopped.

never mind!

It's better to have a headache yourself than to torture yourself.

I figured my period should be coming soon.

Let him suffer then!

Shangguan Youyi glanced at her expression and suggested, "Your Majesty, I believe that Qin Yu is so talented, yet he so desperately wants those two people; perhaps they are of great use to him! Why don't we give them to him?"

"No!"

Zhao Luan refused without hesitation, "He just wants to ride that so-called divine bird to the sky! That thing is so dangerous, what if something happens? How will I explain that to Wei Guogong?"

"this……"

Shangguan Youyi was speechless, unsure of what to say for a moment.

Qin Yu is courting death, and there are plenty of ways to do it!

Your Majesty is clearly being overly cautious!

"Forget about these poems for now!"

Zhao Luan waved his hand, then his face darkened as he ordered, "Hurry up with the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Mirror Bureau, and tell them to investigate the Holy Fire Cult as soon as possible! I don't have that much time to waste on a cult!"

The imperial court needs to launch military campaigns abroad, so it must quickly eliminate this cult.

Otherwise, this cult will definitely take advantage of the court's military campaigns to expand and grow stronger.

This kind of hidden danger must not be allowed to remain!

"yes!"

Shangguan Youyi accepted the order and said, "The first batch of long-staple cotton cloth has been dyed. I will bring people to take your measurements later."

"good!"

Zhao Luan nodded. "Send someone to investigate the merchants who are speculating on pepper prices and report back to me as soon as possible! Make sure you find out everything about them, including as many of their family members as possible!"

Pepper was an important commodity in trade between Daning and the State of Chu.

Pepper is both a medicinal herb and a spice.

Pepper was even used by the imperial court to offset officials' salaries.

It wasn't until the imperial court purchased large quantities of pepper from the State of Chu that the price of pepper gradually dropped.

Even so, pepper prices remain relatively high in many remote areas of Daning.

Daning already had a lot of pepper in stock, and could also purchase large quantities from the State of Chu.

Pepper perfectly fulfills the conditions for Qin Yu's magnolia flower scam!

This was something she discussed several times with Song Zhuo and Su Yu before deciding on it.

"yes!"

Shangguan Youyi accepted the order...