coobybook Chapter 1160 [The Wrong Couple 21]
Chapter 1160 [The Wrong Couple 21]
That day, Su Guangping came to visit Aolong Castle.
Su Guangping said earnestly, "The supply and market in the south are very stable. I have always wanted to expand my business, but I have never found a suitable way. So I came to visit the Lord of Stone Castle today, hoping that you can help me. You see, my daughter is the princess's companion, so I hope that the Lord of Stone Castle can give me some advice for this."
Shi Wuji looked at him expressionlessly and asked calmly, "What business do you want to start?"
Su Guangping quickly replied, "It's like this. The northern border is in urgent need of a large amount of silk. I think this is a good business opportunity, but I don't have any connections there, so I would like to ask the Lord of Stone Castle to help make this deal happen."
Shi Wuji was silent for a while, as if he was thinking about something. Seeing this, Su Guangping hurriedly continued, "Master Shi, you also know that the border situation is tense now, and cargo transportation is easily seized. But as long as you are willing to help, I will handle the rest of the matter properly. It will definitely not cause any trouble to Aolong Castle, you can rest assured. Moreover, even if something really happens, there is still the princess to support you. After all, you are still the current emperor's son-in-law. With this status, who dares to stop you?"
Shi Wuji looked at Su Guangping seriously and said slowly, "I married the princess not for these material things. The princess marrying me is the blessing I have cultivated for three lifetimes. You can certainly do this business, but you must not act in the name of the princess. If I find out one day, you will suffer the consequences!"
Su Guangping quickly responded: "Of course, how dare I do this."
As night fell, everything was quiet. Shi Wuji returned to his room and told Zhaoyang everything about Su Guangping's idea, and asked her whether this business was feasible.
Zhao Yang thought for a moment, then answered decisively: "Do it! How can we not do business that comes to our door? However, you have to pay more attention to that Su Guangping, he is definitely not a good person."
Shi Wuji nodded in agreement and said, "My lady, you are absolutely right. I have already sent people to secretly monitor Su Guangping."
Zhao Yang smiled slightly and suggested, "Do you need me to send someone to you? This person is good at hiding and will definitely be able to see Su Guangping's every move."
Shi Wuji was slightly surprised, but then nodded and said, "That's great. I'll trouble you, madam."
Zhao Yang responded easily: "It's a small matter."
……
Shi Wuji hosted a banquet for Master Yelu. After three rounds of drinking, Master Yelu said to Shi Wuji with his eyes half drunk: "Master Shi, you are very rich! As long as you spend some money to bribe a few officials from Song and Liao, they will definitely help you release those boxes of silk."
Shi Wuji smiled slightly and shook his head, saying, "This transaction is not as simple as you said. It involves my family, and I absolutely cannot take the slightest risk. Therefore, I must go through the official channel to ensure that there is no risk."
Su Guangping at the side interrupted and said, "Master Shibao, why do you have to make such a fuss? Besides, isn't Her Royal Highness the Princess here to help you with the aftermath? Even if something does happen, with Her Royal Highness the Princess here, nothing will happen."
Seeing this, Leng Ziyang hurriedly comforted Su Guangping, "Brother Su, don't worry. Even if it's not for those boxes of silk, the eldest young master will definitely do it just because the market must be opened. After all, once the market is closed, it will have a huge impact on the business of our Aolong Fort."
After hearing this, Master Yelu looked at Shi Wuji with a puzzled look on his face and asked, "Master Shi, I really don't understand what you mean. What do you want?"
Shi Wuji's face darkened and he said, "Master Yelu, your uncle Yelu Shu led his troops to invade the border of our Song Dynasty, which forced the market to close. So, I hope you can persuade your uncle to withdraw his troops so that the market can be reopened."
Yelu Gongzi rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "I see, but this matter... I can help you talk to my uncle, but you have to give me some benefits, right?"
Seeing this, Shi Wuji said nothing and pulled out a gleaming knife from his waist with a whoosh. He slammed it on the table and said sternly, "Master Yelu, I think you'd better not negotiate with me! If you don't agree, this matter today won't be so easy to resolve!"
Young Master Yelu was frightened by Shi Wuji's momentum and trembled. He said quickly, "No, no, no, Lord Shibao, don't be angry! I promise you, this is absolutely fair!"
Xiaoqing and Zhaoyang were walking on the way to see the shop when they suddenly heard a noise. They looked in the direction of the sound and found that an Oiran competition was being held not far ahead.
Zhaoyang's eyes lit up all of a sudden, and she said to Xiaoqing excitedly, "Xiaoqing, look over there, it seems to be an Oiran competition! This princess has never seen such a competition before, why don't we go over and take a look."
Xiaoqing was a little helpless, but still nodded and agreed, "Okay, Madam." Then the two of them walked to the scene of the Oiran competition together.
The first round of the competition was a piano performance, and several contestants showed off their piano skills. In the end, Ma Xianmei won unanimous praise for her superb piano skills and unique style, and successfully advanced to the next round.
The second round was a calligraphy and painting performance, where the contestants showed off their calligraphy and painting talents. However, Ma Xianmei's calligraphy and painting were still superior and she won again.
After two rounds of fierce competition, Ma Xianmei won the championship of the Oiran Contest without any suspense. Just as everyone was cheering, some beauties began to mock Ma Xianmei.
"Oh, this courtesan may be beautiful, but she's not young anymore."
"That's right. You're so old and still participating in the Oiran Contest. How shameless."
Faced with these humiliations, Ma Xianmei was not angry. She smiled slightly and then asked the men in the audience: "Gentlemen, are there any of you willing to marry me?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the men in the audience were excited and scrambled to marry Ma Xianmei. Ma Xianmei looked at these men and felt a little disappointed.
She said slowly, "Gentlemen, I appreciate your kindness, but I don't want to marry any of these people. I already have my ideal husband in my heart, and he is the one I really want to entrust my life to."
Then, Ma Xianmei turned to the beauties and said confidently, "Besides, I will not participate in the Oiran Contest next year. Because by then, I will be a wealthy lady."
Zhaoyang watched all this and couldn't help laughing. She said to Xiaoqing, "Xiaoqing, look at this Ma Xianmei, she must be Wuji's confidante. Look at her, she seems to be very interested in the seat where I am sitting."
Xiaoqing's forehead was covered with sweat, and she secretly complained in her heart. She was very conflicted and didn't know how to answer Princess Zhaoyang's question. If she told him, what if the princess got angry because of this matter and divorced the young master in anger? But if she didn't tell him, it seemed that she was hiding something from the princess. This was really a dilemma!
Just when Xiaoqing was hesitating, Princess Zhaoyang suddenly said, "Xiaoqing, you don't have to be so embarrassed. I know everything clearly. Ma Dongmei is deeply in love with Wuji!" When she said this, there was no anger on Princess Zhaoyang's face. Instead, she looked very calm.
Seeing this, Xiaoqing felt relieved and said quickly, "Princess, in fact, the fort master does not have any special feelings for Ma Dongmei. At most, they are just siblings."
At the same time, the servants had already invited Shi Wuji to Huixian Cottage according to Ma Xianmei's instructions. It turned out that Ma Xianmei won the first prize in the Oiran Contest and specially held a banquet to invite everyone to celebrate. However, when Shi Wuji learned the news, he declined the invitation on the grounds that he had already married and did not have time.
On the other side, when Master Yelu learned that Shi Wuji had rejected Ma Xianmei's invitation, he took him to the tavern. But when Wuji learned that the person he was going to meet was Ma Xianmei, he immediately turned around and wanted to leave. Seeing this, Ma Xianmei hurriedly chased him out and asked with a face full of resentment: "Wuji, why haven't you seen me for a long time? Is it because I did something wrong?"
Seeing this, Master Yelu quickly advised: "Brother Wuji, since you are here, go up and have a drink. It will also be considered as giving Miss Ma some face."
At this moment, a man who was traveling with him suddenly smiled and said to Shi Wuji: "Brother Shi, you came here to support Ma Xianmei. Aren't you afraid that Madam Shi will be jealous when she finds out?"
Shi Wuji said expressionlessly, "My feelings for the princess have never changed, and my vows to her will never waver."
When Ma Xianmei heard this, her face suddenly turned extremely ugly. She widened her eyes and looked at Shi Wuji in disbelief, as if she had never expected him to say such a thing.
"You...how can you say that?" Ma Xianmei's voice trembled. She pointed at Shi Wuji, her face full of astonishment and disappointment. "Didn't you say you liked me?"
Shi Wuji looked at Ma Xianmei expressionlessly, his voice calm and firm: "Never."
Ma Xianmei's lips trembled slightly, her eyes gradually became moist, tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't accept this fact. She originally thought that she could become the second wife of Aolongbao and enjoy wealth and glory, but now everything has become a bubble.
Xiaoqing stood aside, watching this scene nervously, she was worried that Ma Xianmei's words would anger Zhaoyang and cause an unnecessary conflict. However, when she looked at Zhaoyang, she found that Zhaoyang was not as angry as she imagined, but looked at Ma Xianmei with interest, as if enjoying a farce.
"Hmph, Shi Wuji, don't think you can get rid of me like this!" Ma Xianmei suddenly raised her voice, tears welling up in her eyes, "Since you are so heartless, don't blame me for being rude!"
After saying that, Ma Xianmei turned and left, leaving everyone in shock.