Do You Know?: Rule the World

"We happen to be on the same route as Young Master Zhao. Why don't you take the birthday gift and the two girls and follow them to Bianjing? Once the boat is repaired, I will set off immediately."

Sheng Wei glanced at the quiet water surface, weighed it in his mind, and sighed softly.

"There's no other choice but to do this. Send someone to tell Master Zhao right away."

After that, Sheng Wei went in person to tell the sisters Shulan and Pinlan about this matter.

Pinlan blinked and tilted her head, "Dad, are you saying our ship is going to sink?"

"Pah, pah, pah, what nonsense are you talking about? You have no taboos."

After Sheng Wei finished speaking, he quickly clasped his hands together and bowed outside the cabin. "When we get to the Bai family's ship, you two must strictly observe etiquette and never act as casually as you did on your own ship."

Shulan answered obediently, but Pinlan tugged at Sheng Wei's sleeve and shook it, "Daddy, can you ask Young Master Zhao to teach me archery?"

"Girls spend their days either riding horses or shooting arrows. With your personality, I don't know what you'll do in the future."

Sheng Wei was helpless and had to turn his head to look at Shu Lan, "Shu'er, please take good care of this girl and don't let her lose her manners."

"Don't worry, Daddy." Shulan smiled and raised her hand to touch Pinlan's forehead.

Soon, Feng Xing came hurriedly.

"Young Master Zhao and Young Master Gu sent someone back to say that their ship will dock at the nearest Hong County dock for some supplies after daybreak. My Lord can bring the girls aboard then."

Sheng Wei frowned slightly.

"Okay, okay, hurry up and prepare the things we're going to take to Bianjing. We can't keep them waiting for us too long."

For a moment, there was a hurried pace on the boat, and the maids and the few remaining servants were busy.

As the morning light gradually rose, the sky turned pale, and a few rays of golden sunlight penetrated the clouds and sprinkled on the river.

The outline of Hongxian Pier is faintly visible in the mist, and the blue-gray stone steps wind down into the water.

After the ship docked, Zhao Han and Gu Tingye walked out of the cabin and stood on the deck.

After Sheng Wei instructed the servants to carry more than ten wooden boxes, he took Shulan, Pinlan and four female servants on board.

Shulan held the hand of the maid Yue'e and stepped onto the deck. Her lilac cloak was gently lifted and lowered by the river breeze, and it shone like pearls in the morning light. Pinlan followed happily.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you both again. When we arrive in Bianjing, I will personally host a banquet to thank you."

Zhao Han nodded slightly and said softly, "Last night, Uncle Sheng said that we are family and there is no need for formalities. Why is he being so polite today?"

Gu Tingye stood aside with his hands behind his back, his lips slightly raised.

"There are plenty of empty cabins on the ship. Brother Zhao has done me a favor, so his affairs are naturally my affairs as well."

As Sheng Wei listened to what the two said, a hint of gratitude flashed across his face, and then he smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"If you really have something urgent to do and need to go to Bianjing immediately, otherwise it's okay to wait at the dock for a few days."

"By the way, you two have already met my daughter last night. The one behind me is my eldest daughter."

As soon as she finished speaking, Shulan bowed slightly, and her voice was as clear and sweet as pearls falling on a jade plate.

"Greetings, gentlemen. Thank you for coming to help us last night."

Her drooping eyelashes cast a faint shadow in the morning light. The river breeze suddenly blew, and a strand of hair at Shulan's temple swayed gently.

Zhao Han smiled lightly and said, "Miss Sheng, you're too polite. It's windy outside, so let's go into the cabin and warm up first."

Shulan nodded gently and, led by the maid on the boat, walked straight to the inner cabin.

At noon, golden fragments floated on the surface of the river.

After the supplies were completed and everyone settled in, the ship slowly left the shore and headed towards Kaifeng Prefecture.

Originally, Gu Tingye had no intention of revealing his identity.

But after a long conversation, he found that Sheng Wei was quite strategic in business operations and had some scholarly qualities in his speech, so he no longer concealed it.

When Sheng Wei learned that Gu Tingye was actually the legitimate son of the Marquis's family, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

He also repeatedly told Pinlan to stay in the cabin obediently. If she behaved impolitely, she would be punished by being made to kneel in the ancestral hall and put in solitary confinement to learn the rules when she returned to Youyang.

As we head north, the scenery on both sides of the canal gradually changes from the gracefulness of the south of the Yangtze River to the vastness and richness of the north.

Ten days later, the ship arrived at Chenliu, the last stop in Bianliang.

There were masts like a forest on the river, and merchant ships from all over the country were docked here in an orderly manner waiting for inspection by the Inspection Office.

Because of Zhao Han's status as a juren and the flag hanging on the bow of the ship, the inspection office did not make things difficult for him and quickly let him go.

In the cabin, Pinlan sat beside Shulan bored, her fingers twirling around the tassels on the silk handkerchief.

"Second sister, when we get to Bianjing, I will definitely find an opportunity to ask Master Zhao to teach me archery."

"She is Sister Hualan's future husband. If she doesn't teach me, when he and Sister Hualan get married, I will have Third Brother and Changbai Brother stop him from entering the bridal chamber!"

Upon hearing this, Shulan and Yue'e's ears turned slightly red, and Bian's mother, who was standing beside them, couldn't help laughing and was bent over with laughter.

"Fourth Miss, you are not ashamed. Do you know what entering the bridal chamber means?"

Pinlan's dark and bright eyes rolled around, and then she shook her head.

"I don't care. I just want to learn archery. I saw with my own eyes that Master Zhao shot down a pirate with a single arrow from a hundred paces away. If I can learn even 30% of his skills, I'll definitely be able to shoot a lot of prey when I go hunting in the mountains in the spring!"

Shu Lan smiled and said softly, "Young Master Zhao is going to Bian Jing to prepare for the imperial examination. He doesn't have time to fool around with you."

"Have you forgotten what Daddy said again?"

Pinlan pursed her lips in great reluctance. If she were to be confined and made to kneel in the ancestral hall to learn the rules, it would be more painful than killing her.

Please read it~ Thank you to the big guys who voted for the monthly ticket and recommendation ticket~

Chapter 25: Showing More Favors

After the boats entered the Bian River and sailed downstream, they could see the towering city walls of Bianjing in just three days.

At this time, they had already passed through the East Water Gate and were about to arrive at the Zhouqiao Wharf in the inner city of Bianjing.

On the deck, there were only Zhao Han and Sheng Wei, their figures reflected in the rippling waves.

"I wonder if my nephew has prepared accommodation in advance for his trip to Bian Jing to take the exam?" Sheng Wei stroked his long beard and glanced at the restaurants and shops lined up on both sides of the river.

Zhao Han bowed slightly and answered truthfully, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I'm ashamed to tell you this."

"This is my nephew's first time in Beijing, and he's unfamiliar with the place. He originally planned to find a reliable broker after the ship docked and rent a quiet courtyard to study for the exam."

When Sheng Wei heard this, a gleam of light suddenly appeared in his eyes.

He could tell from Sheng Hong's letters that the Sheng family had high hopes for Zhao Han.

If he was not sure of passing the imperial examination, Wang Ruofu, who valued family background so much, would definitely not be willing to marry the eldest daughter.

Being able to establish connections with scholars is the dream of every businessman.

There is a potential stock right in front of us. If we show him more favor now, he will benefit countless benefits in the future.

"In that case, if you don't mind, my dear nephew, you might as well stay with me for a while."

"I bought a house in the capital many years ago. Although it's not as well located as Brother Hong's house, it's quieter and more suitable for preparing for the exam."

Sheng Wei's eyes sparkled and a smile appeared on his face.

Sheng Hong had a five-courtyard house in Jiying Lane, in the inner city, only three miles away from the imperial palace.

Jiying Lane is considered one of the best locations in Bianjing City, and most of the people living here are officials of the third rank or above.

When the old master of the Sheng family won the third place in the imperial examination, he spent almost all his money to buy this courtyard with five entrances in order to marry the old lady Sheng, the legitimate daughter of the marquis's family.

Otherwise, with Sheng Hong's official position and salary, it would be impossible for him to live in Jiying Lane in Bianliang City, where powerful and wealthy people gathered.

Faced with Sheng Wei's proposal, Zhao Han thought secretly in his heart.

When he came to Bian Jing this time, he originally had the intention of purchasing a house, but because the imperial examination was approaching, buying a house would inevitably take up some time and effort.

After much thought, I decided to rent a quiet place first and then slowly choose after the trial.

By then he will have the status of a Jinshi and will have more areas to choose from.

While thinking about it, Sheng Wei smiled and said, "My dear nephew, please don't be polite with me. If Brother Hong knew that we were traveling together and you had to worry about accommodation in Bianjing, you would definitely blame me, as your elder, for not taking good care of you."

These words were said sincerely, directly bringing up Sheng Hong, so Zhao Han couldn't refuse at all.

So, he said in a gentle voice: "In that case, I will bother Uncle Sheng for a while."

Sheng Wei waved his hand with a heroic look.

"What are you saying? If I hadn't met you last night, I'm afraid everyone on the boat would be feeding the fish in the river right now."

Zhao Han hurriedly bowed, "Uncle Sheng, you're joking."

About two hours later, the ship docked steadily at Zhouqiao Pier, and a scene of prosperity and tranquility came into view.

On both sides of the river, red buildings and embroidered houses are scattered everywhere, and colorful gauze lanterns are hung under the flying eaves and brackets. Although it is not yet dusk, the splendor of the night market has already begun.

"Brother Zhao, when you settle down, I will take you to a good place."

"I've been dreaming about Yangzhou for a long time!"

Gu Tingye and Zhao Han walked off the boat side by side, with unprecedentedly bright smiles on their faces.

Zhao Han raised his eyebrows, "What good place could make you, Zhong Huai, so worried?"

"You'll know when the time comes. I won't let you down." Gu Tingye said, then laughed twice.

He had not taken a few steps after getting off the boat when he saw the carriage from the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion.

There are brokerage firms at every port in Da Zhou, which are responsible for coordinating matters such as ship docking and cargo loading and unloading.

If you are waiting for an important person or cargo, you can also ask a broker to keep an eye on the movements of the ship, or even hire porters to wait in advance and report to your residence immediately when the ship is about to dock.

As soon as Xiao Qin received the news at the Marquis' Mansion, she immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks and impatiently ordered the servant to prepare the carriage and come to wait for Gu Tingye.

Anyone who sees this behavior will praise her mother's kindness.

In the carriage, Xiao Qinshi had delicate eyebrows and eyes, and her well-maintained face was lightly powdered.

She was wearing a purple embroidered robe, her hair was tied up high in a bun, and a few glass hairpins were inserted diagonally.

There was a gentle and warm smile on her lips, showing the calm demeanor of a lady from the Marquis's Mansion.

At this moment, she also saw Gu Tingye, who was waving to him very cordially.