Zhao Mian finally stayed in the Prince's Mansion. His trip to Shengjing was a sudden decision, and his personal affairs accounted for a larger proportion. The two countries in the north and south had frequent exchanges, and Nan Jing's embassy in Shengjing was also the busiest among the embassies. It was better not to disturb them unless necessary.
More importantly, the 300,000 taels of silver that Zhao Mian wanted was in Wei Zhenfeng's palace.
Yun Yong and Hua Ju each held a key and stood in front of the big iron door of the warehouse. After taking a deep breath, they looked at each other and nodded, then inserted the key into the keyhole at the same time.
Hearing the sound of the lock turning, Hua Ju immediately shouted, "Run!"
The two girls ran away, and the iron door of the warehouse was smashed open from the inside with a bang. The mountains of gold and silver wealth rushed out like an avalanche, rushing in all directions, bringing up clouds of dust. Even Zhou Huairang, who had seen a lot as a follower of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, couldn't help but make a raw egg-eating expression when he saw this scene: "Ah..." After the "avalanche" calmed down, Wei Zhenfeng leaned over and picked up a three-color jade bracelet that had rolled down at his feet, and said: "Look, Zhao Mian, your three hundred thousand."
Zhao Mian was slightly surprised: "So the three hundred thousand came from you?"
"Where else can I get it from? Beiyuan National Treasury? You wish." Wei Zhenfeng wiped the jade bracelet clean with a handkerchief. "You pressed me so hard during the negotiations. If I were to handle the matter impartially, I would have to report to the inner court and inform the Ministry of Revenue. How could I have the time to do that? Give it to me."
Zhao Mian saw that the jade bracelet was smooth and lustrous, and its color was natural and transparent. He thought it was just worthy of him, so he gave his hand to Wei Zhenfeng: "Where did you get all these?"
"Some were robbed, some were awarded by my father, and some were left to me by my mother." Wei Zhenfeng lowered his head and put the jade bracelet on Zhao Mian, just covering the red line on his wrist. "How about it, I have money, right?"
Zhao Mian took a quick look at the pile of gold and silver and said, "Nanjing has everything you have here. I can't find anything rare. I'm afraid it won't catch my eye."
Wei Zhenfeng asked: "Then what can catch your eye?"
Zhao Mian looked at him.
Wei Zhenfeng acted very generously: "Well, you can walk around and look around in my palace freely, and take whatever you like."
"Take whatever you want?" Zhao Mian smiled slightly, "I hope you won't regret it."
Wei Zhenfeng looked at Zhao Mian's beautiful yet evil smile and said slowly, "I have a feeling I will regret it."
Wei Zhenfeng’s premonition was correct. If Zhao Mian didn’t make a move, it would be fine. But once he did, he would hit his weak spot.
He watched Zhao Mian walk into the main house where he lived. After looking around, his eyes fell on the spear that was placed horizontally on the storage table.
Wei Zhenfeng took a breath and said, "What do you want to do?"
This spear was named Youlong, and it was his sidekick on the battlefield, accompanying him through life and death for many years. He always cherished it, and when he was away from home, he was afraid that it would be bored alone in the palace, so he would order people to read poems to it every day.
"'A wandering dragon throws a spear and the universe breaks, it soars up to the sky and opens up a thousand miles'," Zhao Mian said admiringly, "Your spear is great, it's mine now."
Wei Zhenfeng said without thinking: "No, it's my baby, it will be with me forever."
Zhao Mian sneered, "Who just said that I can just take whatever I like?"
"I don't know."
"He who does not keep his word is not a man."
Wei Zhenfeng thought to himself, "If you don't keep your promise once, you are not worthy of being a human being. Your standards for being a human being are too high."
"Can you speak a little more quietly?" Wei Zhenfeng scolded, "You scared my baby." After that, he gently stroked the gun, "Baby, don't worry, no one can take you away, not even the Crown Prince."
Zhao Mian thought Wei Zhenfeng was sick and said jokingly, "No, I will be loud. You cherish your baby so much, don't take me to your grandparents' house, take it there instead."
Wei Zhenfeng asked: "How do you know I haven't taken it there?"
Zhao Mian was silent for a moment, then turned around and told Zhou Huairang, "Go and clean up."
Wei Zhenfeng asked: "What are you going to do?"
Zhao Mian turned and left: "Go back to Nanjing."
Wei Zhenfeng chased after him and grabbed him: "No, no, no, I'm wrong, I'm wrong." Wei Zhenfeng's apology was not sincere at all. He was even laughing: "But I really can't give you this gun. I also have principles."
Zhao Mian originally just wanted to tease Wei Zhenfeng, not to really take away his treasure. The significance of the Youlong Spear to Wei Zhenfeng far exceeded its own value. It was useless to him, he wanted something truly valuable.
Zhao Mian and his men searched the palace. Wei Zhenfeng no longer cared about these material possessions. Seeing that the property he had worked so hard for was being moved away in boxes and the warehouse was almost empty, he couldn't help but feel a little pain: "You are really ruthless."
Zhou Huairang happily recorded every item in the book: "I'm afraid the young prince won't have the money to marry a princess in the future."
Zhao Mian took off the jade bracelet on his hand and put it in the box, and said absentmindedly: "You are good-looking, and I like you too, but I like the silver that can be sent to Nanjing more."
Wei Zhenfeng: “…”
Is this revenge
Wei Zhenfeng is good at making friends and has many friends in Shengjing. After he came back, invitations and visiting cards came in every day. After two days of refusing, Wei Zhenfeng couldn't stand it anymore and asked Zhao Mian if he could go out with his friends.
Zhao Mian was very surprised: "This is your territory in Shengjing, why are you asking for my opinion? Even if you want to ask, you should ask your baby."
Wei Zhenfeng said, "Now you are the most distinguished guest in the mansion, so of course I have to consider your feelings. How can I leave you alone to have fun? I want to take you with me. Do you like the hustle and bustle?"
Without waiting for Zhao Mian to answer, Wei Zhenfeng said, "I used to think you wouldn't like it, but now I don't think so."
Zhao Mian asked: "Why?"
Wei Zhenfeng smiled and said, "Since you like being hugged, it's not impossible that you like being lively."
Zhao Mian sneered: "You are smart. But do you have the money to treat us?"
Wei Zhenfeng: “.”
Although Nan Jing had taken away more than half of Wei Zhenfeng's property, he could afford to treat him to a meal. The banquet was scheduled for the evening. When Zhao Mian woke up from his nap, he was dragged out to the street by Wei Zhenfeng.
The two of them were strolling through the most prosperous streets of Shengjing. If there was any place in Shengjing that was not so monotonous in color, it was undoubtedly the restaurants. These restaurants were decorated lavishly, the tallest of which had four or five floors, with colorful pavilions and gates in front of them, and green curtains and wine flags hanging under the eaves, which could be seen from afar.
Zhao Mian said: "The restaurants in Shengjing are very similar to those in Shangjing."
"They were not similar originally." Wei Zhenfeng said, "More than a decade ago, someone went to Nanjing for business and saw the prosperity and bustle of Nanjing Restaurant. He was amazed and opened a restaurant in Shengjing based on the style of Nanjing Restaurant. After the business became prosperous, other restaurants followed suit."
Zhao Mian said, "Oh," "So you guys are learning from us—learning from the smart people."
"Yes, yes." Wei Zhenfeng didn't think it was shameful to learn from other countries' strengths. "So, after this tour, can you admit that Shengjing is not inferior to Shangjing?"
Zhao Mian said “hmm” and immediately added: “But the food in Shengjing tastes bad.”
The happiest person shopping was Zhou Huairang, who found everything he saw new and interesting. He poked his head in front of a shop called "Tianxiang Bathhouse" and asked in surprise: "'Bathhouse', is it what I imagined?"
Wei Zhenfeng said, "Which one do you imagine?"
Zhou Huairang swallowed his saliva and said, "I heard that you Beiyuan people like to bathe together. Is that true?"
"Yes," Wei Zhenfeng said deliberately in an exaggerated tone, "We must bathe with others. We will never bathe alone. How can we bathe without someone to wipe our backs?"
The people from Nanjing present: "..."
Seeing the disgust in Zhao Mian's eyes about to overflow, Wei Zhenfeng was ready to do something bad. He grabbed Zhao Mian's hand and said excitedly: "Since Lord Xiao is here, why don't you go and experience it? I'll treat you."
Zhao Mian said sternly, "Let go."
Wei Zhenfeng smiled brightly: "Don't be shy, we are all men."
Zhao Mian stood still, being pulled forward by Wei Zhenfeng's wrist, like a cat that was stubborn and refused to go out but was forced by its owner. Wei Zhenfeng was stronger than him, and seeing that he was really going to be forcibly dragged into the bathhouse, Zhao Mian couldn't help but get anxious: "Wei Zhenfeng, let go - Shen Buci, protect the emperor!"
Shen Buci drew his sword and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please respect yourself."
Wei Zhenfeng: "...Okay, I was wrong."
After strolling for half a day, the group arrived at their destination, Guangjuxuan, the largest restaurant in Shengjing. When they arrived, all of Wei Zhenfeng's "friends" had already arrived.
Wei Zhenfeng said they were "bad friends", Zhao Mian thought they were some idle and unsuccessful young men. Unexpectedly, all the visitors were handsome young men with extraordinary appearance and good character.
Among them there are many newly-appointed Jinshi who have passed the imperial examination at a young age, the son of a general who has made great achievements following Wei Zhenfeng, the young master of the number one merchant family in Shengjing, and the young master of Fujian Villa, the number one sword school in Jianghu... It must be said that Wei Zhenfeng is very capable in bringing together these people of very different identities, status, interests and hobbies.
Zhao Mian wanted to ask, do these people know that in the young prince’s mouth they are all “bad friends”.
The young talents were eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the young prince. When they heard the announcement outside the door that the prince had arrived, they all went to greet him. They were all stunned when they saw the strange beauty that the young prince brought with him.
The young master of Fujian Villa was the first to come to his senses and asked, "My Lord, who is this young master..."
"It's Lord Xiao Jue from Nanjing," Wei Zhenfeng introduced to his friends generously, "Lord Xiao is a friend in need that I made while I was away."
Zhao Mian nodded and said, "Everyone, I have heard a lot about you."
Everyone quickly returned the greeting to Zhao Mian.
"'Nanjing has always produced beautiful women'. I didn't believe this at first, but now I have to believe it."
"The young prince has brought so many people here, and Lord Xiao was the most impressed at first sight. This small restaurant is not worthy of Lord Xiao at all."
"Looking at Xiao Lang's demeanor, one can see the glory of Nanjing and Shangjing."
"If Sir Xiao is free someday, please come to my Fujian Villa to have a chat. I have a treasured 'Jinghong Sword' in my collection, which is a perfect match for Sir Xiao's temperament."
Wei Zhenfeng stood aside, looking at the crowd surrounding Zhao Mian with a smile, as if they were showing off some great treasure.
Zhao Mian rarely gets together with so many people of the same age, but he still handles it with ease. State banquets are commonplace for him, so this scene is nothing. Besides, with Wei Zhenfeng around, there will never be a dull moment.
Zhao Mian found that these people were all very eloquent and seemed to be no different from the scholars in Nanjing. Soon, he realized that he was wrong.
After a few drinks, the scene became unrestrained, the young talents "showed their true colors", and their conversation became more and more ordinary. The young master's laughter was so loud that the kitchen staff thought a chicken had flown out and searched for it in the restaurant for a long time without success. When they were chatting excitedly, they were arm in arm, and there was no difference in status in their eyes, and they didn't care about etiquette at all.
It turns out that his previous gentle and polite appearance was all pretended. It is true that birds of a feather flock together.
However, no matter how presumptuous the people of Beiyuan were, they did not "offend" the newly arrived Lord Xiao. Logically speaking, the most honorable person at the banquet should be the young prince, but Lord Xiao's every move was so dignified that people looked at him and thought about him, but did not dare to get close to him.
Zhao Mian didn't want to get close to these people. It was true that he liked to hug, but only to those close to him.
Wei Zhenfeng was different. Zhao Mian watched him walking among the wine glasses, laughing, scolding, and letting his emotions run wild. Among so many talented people, he was still the most brilliant one.
The scratches on his face had mostly healed, leaving only two slight scars that formed a crooked “X” on his cheek. This minor injury not only did not affect his appearance, but made his face look more lively and vivid.
When he is with his good friends, there is openness in his eyes and unrestrainedness in his smile.
Zhou Huairang drank a lot of wine, his eyes were blurry and his face was red: "There are so many people..."
"He has a lot of friends." Zhao Mian's tone was filled with unexpected envy, "His friends all seem to like him very much."
Wei Zhenfeng seemed to sense his gaze and looked up at him. The two looked at each other for a moment across the noise, and Wei Zhenfeng smiled, abandoned his friend who was talking to him about military strategy, and walked over with a wine cup full of wine.
"Master Xiao, I'll offer you a drink." Wei Zhenfeng leaned over and hooked his shoulders, smiling in his ear, "Thank you for accompanying me back, I'm very happy."
Zhao Mian raised his glass and clinked it with Wei Zhenfeng's: "No thanks, I can't help it."
Everyone drank and chatted happily, toasting each other, and the feast lasted until dawn, and they never got tired of it.
Zhao Mian didn't drink much, so he was sober. Although Wei Zhenfeng wasn't completely drunk, he was already walking unsteadily, and kept asking Zhao Mian why the moon was curved. Zhao Mian slapped him symbolically before he calmed down. Finally, he fell asleep on Zhao Mian's shoulder in the carriage back to the palace.
The next morning, Zhao Mian was having dinner in his room when Yun Yong came to him and said that the young prince wanted to ask him to come over.
"He actually got up so early," Zhao Mian said, "so something happened."
Yun Yong said worriedly, "Someone is coming from the Jinzouyuan."
"It's as expected." Zhao Mian said calmly, "What is coming will come."
When Zhao Mian arrived, Wei Zhenfeng had just dressed. The hungover boy was listless, with a lazy look, and he was too lazy to open his eyes. Zhao Mian couldn't help but wonder if he could handle the inquiries from the Jinzouyuan in this state.
"Here we are." Wei Zhenfeng looked at him, "A good show is about to begin, do you want to go and see it?"
Zhao Mian asked: "Can I go?"
"Why not?" Wei Zhenfeng said lazily, "We can find a way."
(End of this chapter)