Chapter 2108: An Unexpected Encounter

In the eyes of the Does Bailie people, Lu Laoliu was an important member of a great aristocratic clan, possessed of vast wealth and universally revered; but in the eyes of the Nine Nether Great Emperor, wealthy beyond the four seas, he was merely a provincial moneybags. What rare thing could he possibly produce that would be worth the Nine Nether Great Emperor sending troops to exchange for it?

Listening up to this point, Lu Zhenxian actually already had some suspicions. Could it be……

"But if it is the Nine Nether Great Emperor who takes the initiative to send troops to assist, then there is no need for you to bankrupt yourself."

Lu Zhenxian choked for a moment, as if meeting Mo Shubai for the first time, looking him up and down, his face full of sudden realization: "Good, good, so that's how it is. This trip back, you're acting as a lobbyist for the Nine Nether Great Emperor!"

Mo Shubai immediately gave him a bow.

"Old Mo, you, when did you get mixed up with Cangyan State?" Mo Shubai had served him for nine years, an old retainer by his side. At that time, He Xiao had not yet come to Bladeport.

"The current chief steward of the Yangshan Archipelago, Guan Ke, is my fellow townsman and good friend. We meet for drinks whenever we have the chance." Mo Shubai said seriously, "Don't think I've taken benefits from Cangyan State. This so-called 'lobbyist' business was something I volunteered for and fought to get. Ya State eyes Does Bailie like a tiger, sharpening its knives; Mou State has no heart to protect it. Right now Does Bailie is rocking in the wind and rain, and the most promising Young Master Bang is being made things difficult for by the clan like this…… These difficult, bitter problems should be borne by the clan head, not you! The Old Master showed me the grace of recognition; I am willing to exert my utmost to help you pass through this crisis!"

Lu Zhenxian scratched his head. This He Xiao really was formidable; he'd even infiltrated connections to his side.

But in his heart he instead felt a leap of joy, because since the Nine Nether Great Emperor had dispatched Mo Shubai, it showed the old man truly had the intention to act; this matter had a seven or eight out of ten chance of success!

"Then I, then what price must Does Bailie pay?" Lu Zhenxian was not naive. He had been a businessman for most of his life; he knew well there was no free lunch under heaven.

"The Great Emperor said, you will certainly be able to guess."

Lu Zhenxian listened and felt his heart turn cold.

He believed the Nine Nether Great Emperor looked down on his little bit of family assets. So, it was Does Bailie that had to pay the price?

What did the Nine Nether Great Emperor want to obtain from Does Bailie? He, Lu Zhenxian, would certainly be able to guess?

What did Does Bailie have that was worth the Nine Nether Great Emperor sending troops to give the Ya people a thorough beating?

Mo Shubai gave two more hints: "The Great Emperor dislikes Lu Zhensheng and his son, because they go back on their word, repeatedly seizing opportunities to plot the seizure of Yangshan. Therefore, Lu Zhensheng cannot remain in the position of clan head any longer; also, you think carefully — why did Mou State previously help Does Bailie resist Ya State?"

He Lingchuan had managed the Yangshan Archipelago with great success; Lu Zhensheng and his son were envious, inciting the Bailong people to rebel and seize the islands — this was the first plot to seize them;

Taking advantage of He Lingchuan being occupied suppressing Yao State and unable to look west, Does Bailie, instigated by Mou State, again came to "reclaim" the Yangshan Archipelago — this was the second plot to seize them.

The Nine Nether Great Emperor is not a soft persimmon who lets grudges go unavenged; Lu Zhensheng did the first, so don't blame him for doing the fifteenth.

Regardless of what the Great Emperor truly thinks in his heart, this set of rhetoric, presented to Lu Zhenxian, was very effective at stirring his resonance.

A flash of inspiration crossed Lu Zhenxian's mind, and he was horrified to the extreme: "Th-this……"

Seeing he seemed to understand, Mo Shubai immediately said: "Therefore, Does Bailie can accept Cangyan State's assistance with peace of mind, but Does Bailie must first request aid from the Nine Nether Great Emperor!"

The reason for Cangyan State sending troops must be in response to Does Bailie's request for aid. Otherwise, what difference would it have from the invading Ya State? Mou State absolutely could not tolerate it.

"The first hurdle for Does Bailie to request aid from Cangyan State is Lu Zhensheng and his son." As Lu Zhenxian grew agitated, sweat poured from his forehead, "It would be best if they agree; if they don't agree……"

He, Lu Zhenxian, was no saint either!

For A Bang, for Does Bailie, he was going all out!

$$$$$

Today there was no wind; Mudu was somewhat humid and stifling. A few more steps on the street and one would be drenched in sweat.

You Huan, a Hall Scholar of the Futai Pavilion, also did not wish to sit in a carriage, so he rode a tall horse, bringing several dozen guards, intending to cut through the bustling market to return to his residence.

The guards moved to clear the way ahead; You Huan waved his hand to stop them.

He traveled light with a simple retinue, and now was a sensitive period; he did not want the common people to think his entourage was too grand.

However, Mudu these past few days was holding the Lotus Opening Festival; the main street was exceptionally lively. Here they sold not only lotus seeds, lotus root starch, and small lotus pouches, but also lotus-scented lamps and late-lotus fireworks; goods were dazzlingly arrayed.

You Huan walking on the street felt very crowded.

Walking past the halfway point of the main street, from the side came sudden urgent hoofbeats, followed by a woman's startled cry.

Immediately after, a rider on a startled mount charged over.

This Bo beast was extraordinarily robust, a full circle larger than ordinary horses; its door-plank-like body knocked over two peddlers, trampled several baskets of fruit to pulp, even overturned a carriage, and headed straight for You Huan.

"Protect my lord!" The guards shouted in unison, leaping forward to intercept.

You Huan had capable men under his command; in a few moves they seized the crazed Bo beast and forcibly calmed it down.

The rider was a delicate young miss, about sixteen or seventeen years old, beautiful of face, now frightened pale.

You Huan asked her with a gentle expression: "Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?"

"Ah, seems not." The young miss slowly came back to herself, subconsciously lowered her head to check herself, and when facing You Huan she appeared pitiful and touching: "Lord You, Lord You, I didn't mean to crash into you! My horse was startled!"

A perfectly fine fine steed — how could it suddenly go mad in this busy market?

The young miss recognized him; You Huan was not surprised in the least, only asking: "Which household's Young Lady are you?"

The little miss recognized him, and Yu Huan was not surprised in the least, only asking: "Which mansion's Young Lady are you?"

At this moment, Sun Miss's servants finally caught up, panting heavily.

"I'm fine, but so many people were affected by you." You Huan pointed at the street center; the fruit juice on the ground was red like blood, "You must get the injured treated, and compensate for their losses."

"Yes!" Sun Miss saw he turned his head away after speaking, and couldn't help feeling a bit lost.

You Huan, however, did not spare her another glance.

He was born handsome, famous from a young age, the youngest Hall Scholar of the Futai Pavilion. The noble ladies of the capital often used all sorts of ways to "chance encounter" or "run into" him, some with lingering affection, some with extreme methods.

Like this, galloping a horse on the street to crash into him, hoping to create a chance for contact and leave a deep impression on him — this was not the first time either.

You Huan had long since grown weary of such tactics, and with court affairs still turning in his mind, he couldn't be bothered to say more to this Sun Miss.

But just as he turned around, he happened to see two people emerge from the overturned carriage.

They were being helped out.

They were two women, appearing to be mistress and servant.

The younger was only fourteen or fifteen, wearing a maid's double buns; the slightly older seemed not yet twenty, frowning, a trickle of fresh blood flowing down her cheek from her forehead.

The strangeness lay here: others with blood all over their faces are terrifying, but she was like a red plum in snow, possessing a heart-stopping beauty. That strand of fresh blood was like vermilion tears, adding countless bewitching allure to her delicate, pretty face.

It's strange, really—others with blood streaming down their faces look terrifying, but she is like a red plum in the snow, possessing a startling beauty. That strand of fresh blood, like a vermilion tear, added countless allure to her delicate, lovely face.