ATPnovel Chapter 41, What to do then?
Chapter 41, What to do then?
"List of Talented Scholars"
Lin Zhou leaned against the shop doorframe and clicked his tongue. He couldn't understand why he was on this list, especially since it was written so confidently, even fabricating a whole story about his background.
He can't write lyrics or compose poetry, but he is knowledgeable and well-versed in the world, with the air of someone who has traveled thousands of miles.
He even produced a booklet overnight, in which he was ranked ninth. As for why he was ninth instead of tenth, it was mainly because the ninth and tenth were rarely seen. However, the tenth was the son of the governor of Raozhou, so the tenth was retained, and Lin Zhou took the place of the ninth.
What's the point?
He chuckled as he held the booklet, which even contained his portrait and biographical information.
Cao Wenda leaned against the wall, holding a bowl of noodles cooked by Lin Zhou, still wearing that smiling tiger look: "Little brother, do you know why?"
"I don't understand. In their eyes, someone like me is nothing more than a street performer. Why do they have to put me on such a pedestal?"
"Because of Princess Wanyan, have you been behaving intimately with her?"
"What do you mean we're intimate? Brother, don't talk nonsense." Lin Zhou put down the booklet: "She paid me to go over there, and I took the money to do her a favor. How can that be called intimate? Then, does that mean Brother Cao and I are inseparable?"
"Pah, pah, pah... Your foul mouth."
Cao Wenda, both amused and exasperated, interrupted him, then coughed and said, "Brother, things aren't as simple as you think. Today is Princess Rui's birthday, and Princess Wanyan's marriage will definitely be brought up again. This time, all the attendees are high-ranking officials and nobles, so the candidate will naturally have to be chosen from among their sons. She is Wanyan Zongbi's legitimate granddaughter; we can't just choose an illegitimate son to handle the matter, can we?"
"Oh?" Lin Zhou's eyes darted around. "But what does this have to do with me? She can't possibly marry me, can she? What am I anyway?"
"Those people are shrewd. They don't care who Princess Wanyan marries, as long as she doesn't marry into their family." Cao Wenda patted Lin Zhou on the shoulder: "Don't say your brother didn't warn you, you're definitely going to be in trouble."
"I fucking..." Lin Zhou laughed on the spot: "What did I do that makes things so bad?"
Cao Wenda laughed and walked into the shop. He placed the bowl of noodles on the counter, waved to Ying Ge who was waiting beside him, and told her to go wash the dishes. Then he turned to Lin Zhou and said, "Princess Wanyan has been having an affair with a common merchant. All they need to do is get rid of you. Then there will be no evidence. They can't exactly call a midwife to spread the princess's legs in front of everyone to see if she is a virgin."
He said it in a vulgar way: "Besides, even if we really did peel it off, Princess Wanyan has been riding and shooting since childhood. So what if the saddle is torn, the splits are torn, or the body is bruised from practicing martial arts?"
"Brother Cao, that's vulgar."
"Oh dear, we're both men, who wouldn't know about that?" Cao Wenda said nonchalantly. "She'll still marry him eventually, it's all about the goodwill between the Song and Jin. But if you're promoted, things will be different. You're a talented scholar from overseas, with a distinguished reputation. Even if the Wanyan family wants to get rid of you, those other noble families will protect you. You don't need to do anything, just live peacefully, and this goodwill won't last."
Why?
"Have some shame." Cao Wenda slapped his face with a look of exasperation. "If it's a respectable family, it's fine if others don't know. But if they know the princess is a slut and still insist on marrying her, what will they be seen as? Opportunists climbing the social ladder. Besides, a few years ago, this princess wouldn't have waited for you to step in and take the blame. There would have been plenty of suitors. But Wanyan Zongbi is nearing his end, and all those people are shrewd enough not to want to wade into this mess."
Lin Zhou roughly understood after hearing this, but he had no idea what to do. Although he didn't really care, since he was just on official business and being spread rumors wouldn't affect his normal life.
But this seems a bit unfair to Da Chuan'er's sister. But then I thought, that's just how these upper-class people are. They go through all this trouble for such trivial matters. They really don't mind the hassle.
"So what do I do now?"
"What to do? Just take it. It wouldn't be impossible if you could become the princess's lover, but the key is that her family might not be happy to see you. Wanyan Zongbi is the fourth son of Wanyan Aguda, a legitimate member of the royal family. What are you?" Cao Wenda rolled his eyes and laughed, "Brother, don't blame me for being blunt, but you're just a nobody from overseas, with no family background or official rank. Even if you were incredibly talented, they wouldn't even give you a second glance, let alone your pathetic abilities..."
"Brother Cao, you look down on people."
"Then why don't you improvise a verse about butterflies and flowers?"
"grass……"
"Alright, I won't say any more. Just keep it in mind and don't fall into their trap. Becoming a 'talented scholar of Lin'an' is no big deal. In two years, once Wanyan Zongbi is dead, you won't be able to become one even if you want to."
Lin Zhou was about to ask a question after hearing his words when Cao Wenda suddenly spoke up: "Didn't you say you wanted to choose a few maids? Why haven't you chosen any yet? Are you really waiting for me? You have 30,000 strings of cash, you're quite wealthy, there's no need for you to be so stingy."
"It's not that I can't find any good-looking ones," Lin Zhou sighed. "I've looked all around, and they're all just ugly ducklings."
"Go to a brothel and see if there are any good ones. Just redeem one. As long as she's not the most beautiful courtesan, it'll only cost a hundred or two hundred strings of cash. Someone like Ying Ge'er would cost about that much. You can't handle someone too beautiful."
"Okay... I'll go check it out when I have time."
Cao Wenda waved his hand: "I'm leaving. These past few days, news of that demonic star's descent has been everywhere in Lin'an City. The master is getting a little agitated. I have to keep an eye on things. You'd better take care of yourself."
"clear."
After seeing Cao Wenda off, Lin Zhou looked at the list of talented people in his hand, chuckled, and threw it aside. Then he went to the counter to take stock of the things he had bought over the past few days.
Now that he had some money, all he could think about was how to settle Xiao'e and the other children. He couldn't gamble that no one would ever find them, nor could he gamble that there wouldn't be a traitor in the Imperial City Guard. So, the safest course of action was to move them away as soon as possible.
However, he himself is currently trapped in Lin'an City and unable to move, and has no better way to deal with their problems.
Around noon, Lin Zhou went to the door, flipped the sign over, hung it up to indicate "Lunch Break," and then closed the door. This was also a secret code between him and Cheng'er; seeing "Lunch Break" meant he was calling for Xu Cheng.
Sure enough, less than fifteen minutes after the sign was put up, Xu Cheng quietly entered his room.
"You're something else! I heard you've gotten involved with the Jin princess?"
"Go ahead and talk nonsense." Lin Zhou was too lazy to explain and went straight to the point: "How's Xiao'e doing?"
"It's not good. Things are tense lately. Qin Hui has mobilized the Imperial Guards to investigate the rumors of the demon star, and the Ministry of Revenue is on edge. This is mainly because many areas along the Yangtze River suffered from floods last autumn, and many Yangzhou refugees poured into Lin'an. Now, household registration and travel permits are being checked very strictly." Xu Cheng sighed, "If you rashly bring Xiao'e here, it will definitely attract Cao Wenda's attention. Once he sets his sights on you, you're finished."
"That person is truly disgusting." Lin Zhou paced back and forth in the room, hands on hips. "Does your father have anything to say to me?"
"Father is also in a terrible predicament. The Qin faction is powerful right now, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. You should continue as you are for now. However, news of your medicine distribution in the South City has already spread, and some people now know that the little fairy is you."
"Huh?" Lin Zhou was taken aback. "How did this rumor get out?"
"You're not covering your face! People in the south of the city aren't dead, the news will spread soon enough, won't it?"
"Oh dear..." Lin Zhou sighed as he sat down in his chair. "What am I going to do? I just made it onto the celebrity list, and they're already spreading my 'Little Immortal' title. How am I supposed to keep a low profile?"
"You must keep a low profile, so you still need to be careful. Father wants me to move Xiao'e and the other orphans out of Lin'an and settle them in the neighboring countryside first."
"Alright..."
Lin Zhou nodded helplessly, while Cheng'er silently reached out her hand.
"What for?"
"Give us the money!" Xu Cheng didn't mince words at all: "Over a hundred people, do you think food, clothing, and supplies are free?"
"I'll give it to you?"
"Otherwise what? Should I give it to you? My monthly salary plus allowance is only fifty guan! I don't have any official land or rewards."
Lin Zhou sighed, stepped forward, and took out the remaining 15,000 strings of cash from the box: "Take it, take it... I don't have much left."
"Speaking of which, Xiao'e's family used to be very wealthy. Commander Yue's annual salary was over 70,000 strings of cash. Now they're making her live such a hard life..."
Lin Zhou then pulled out two thousand strings of cash: "This is for Xiao'e alone!"
"Tsk, you really know how to be considerate. I'll tell Xiao'e later that you're cheating other women out of their money to support her."
"How shameless of you...!"