Chapter 683: After Binding the Childbirth System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 684: Background Board Rabbit Demon (56)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Hiss

These jade demons are truly filthy rich!

Not only was the System dazzled by the choices, even Shen Yao was no exception.

"Do you have more of this pill? Give me another bottle," the jade demon was lavish with money, opening with a bottle at a time, the price multiplied several times over the original.

"Welcome back anytime."

Shen Yao, smiling cheerfully, completed the transaction with one hand taking money and the other handing over goods, then turned her back on the jade demons and happily counted her extra income.

"Host, it's a pity we have to leave Qin Tai Cheng; otherwise, this kind of trade could have continued."

The System's normally unchanging mechanical voice rarely revealed tonal fluctuations.

"Do what? Leaving now is just right. There are only so many jade demons; no matter how they digest the pills, there's a quantity limit. They can't walk around everywhere and trade anytime like we can."

"Here, this is your share." Having divided and stashed the money, Shen Yao dusted off her palms and turned to ponder what business could be done in the next city.

"You mean Zhu Ying Town? They mainly produce bamboo paper, bamboo brushes, and a whole series of bamboo products; there should be bamboo demons there, right?" The System thought about the benefits on a bamboo demon. Mm, forgive it — aside from bamboo shoots, it discovered nothing else.

"Zhu Ying Town. Its scale doesn't compare to Qin Tai Cheng, but the environment there is beautiful, the scenery naturally formed; it's a place where certain scholars and great families often go to relax."

Because Zhu Ying Town's bamboo paper, bamboo brushes, and such have always been distinct from other cities' output, they count as the town's pillar industry — Zhu Ying Town's primary source of income every year.

"Oh oh oh, I remember now!" The System suddenly cried out loud, and conjured a wall covered in poetry. "There are verses praising Zhu Ying Town on it. At the time, Host even said they were fishing for fame!"

That's right. The System truly remembered everything now. After all, Zhu Ying Town isn't far from Qin Tai Cheng — one is zither, one is bamboo; both can be linked to refined arts like zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Therefore, their audiences have a certain probability of overlap in some aspects.

In other words, people who come to Qin Tai Cheng wouldn't mind a trip to the not-far-off Zhu Ying Town.

Just like our group. Although currently still in Qin Tai Cheng, they're also planning to set off for the next city. Zhu Ying Town lies on the necessary southern route, so naturally they won't miss it.

"Fishing for fame? Yeah, fishing for fame!"

Shen Yao suddenly smiled with amusement, then ignored the System and turned to leave the carriage, heading for the study not far away.

When the carriage left Qin Tai Cheng, the weather had already turned cool. However, the southern climate has never been very distinct; Shen Yao still wore her light gauze thin shirt, leaning lazily against the carriage wall. Her gaze drifted through the gaps in the curtain lifted by the bumpy road.

Green mountains, green waters, cloud layers encircling.

As the carriage entered Zhu Ying Town's vicinity, visibly more bamboo groves appeared around them.

Connected into a stretch, the bamboo groves formed a bamboo sea of waves. A gentle breeze brushed over, bringing a ground full of bamboo fragrance.

Inside the bamboo groves, cooking smoke occasionally rose — travelers out sightseeing, enjoying the spring scenery, brewing tea. In twos and threes they gathered companions, utterly at ease.

The System especially likes to ruin the atmosphere at times like this, chattering away to assert its presence.

Shen Yao: ……

"Really, how can Host not trust the System? They *are* fishing for fame — learning that thing, what's it called... 'willingly take the bait'!

Right right right, it's 'willingly take the bait,' waiting for an overnight success opportunity."

The System grew more and more excited as it spoke, until it realized their group was also being treated as an opportunity.

System: …… Damn!

Paper carrying the fresh scent of bamboo leaves drifted into the carriage on the wind, caught precisely in Shen Yao's hand.

Seeing this, Shen Yao raised an eyebrow. "Look, the ink on it hasn't even dried yet. Shows how fleeting the opportunity is. Nobody's a fool."

The group's inspection route isn't a secret; anyone with intent would pay attention and inquire.

Besides, what can a poem prove? Just wanting to show off one's talent. Whether one gains a Noble's favor depends entirely on the Noble's own preference.

"Host, the poetry on this is pedantic," it felt it was no good.

"Not necessarily. Lin Xingzhi's public persona has always been loving elegance and associating with the refined. The poem on the paper is perfectly tailored to Lin Xingzhi's taste." Calmly flipping it front and back, "Never mind the rest. The fact they waited here in advance means they definitely did their homework."

System: ……

Is that so? Could it be it just doesn't understand? It's just a few lines of pedantic poetry — can it really represent so much significance?

Mm-hmm~

Shen Yao casually tossed the paper aside, ignoring it. Meanwhile, Lin Xingzhi in the front carriage, smiling, had his subordinate deliver an invitation. The implication: he had just arrived, it was inconvenient to receive guests now; once settled, he would certainly invite them again.

"Just going with the flow. To be valued by Prince Jing is this student's honor."

A common scholar with no official post, calling himself 'student' was already taking advantage; he wouldn't dare ignorantly climb higher.

Moreover, today's progress was very encouraging. Having already received Prince Jing's invitation, regardless, he would get to see Prince Jing. It was time to prepare for what comes next.

"Congratulations, Zheng Xiong. Joy to Zheng Xiong. Today Zheng Xiong came out on top — don't forget us brothers."

"Indeed, indeed. Brother Jiang spoke so nicely back then — said he'd never forget us benefactors when he paraded through the streets after passing. Now Brother Jiang's a high official in the capital with a generous salary, beauty in his arms — how could he still remember us brothers who shared hardship?"

"Sigh. At a fine time like this, why bring up those killjoys? You should know today is Zheng Xiong's lucky day. Gaining Prince Jing's favor, soaring to success — the future is bright."

"……"

This scholar surnamed Zheng had just returned to the bamboo grove when he was surrounded by the others. Some envious, some jealous, some happy, some resentful — all the flavors of life, self-evident.

"Tsk tsk tsk. They say nice things to your face but hate they can't take your place. People love saying the opposite of what they mean — insincere."

The System mocked these people, including the scholar surnamed Zheng.

"As the saying goes: a gentleman judges by deeds, not thoughts. Don't look at what they think or say; look at what they do."

Shen Yao tapped the overly indignant System, indicating the scholar surnamed Zheng had read the sages' books for years only to sell himself at a good price.

Taking Lin Xingzhi's path is the most convenient and quickest choice for southern scholars. Otherwise, truly thousands of soldiers crossing a single-log bridge — the cost wouldn't be just a few poems.

"Seems Host accepts this well. Thought" you'd be unhappy.

The System hadn't finished when Shen Yao rebutted in a clear, cold voice, "Overthinking. I'm a demon. Human affairs — what do they have to do with me?"

Not to mention these scholars choosing to send poetry and prose to curry favor with Lin Xingzhi, even if these scholars personally took the field to deploy schemes, Shen Yao would still remain perfectly composed.

She is a demon, a Great Demon with long life and powerful mana; why contend with humans who are invariably short-lived? If life is comfortable, she continues living it; if uncomfortable, she leaves — could Lin Xingzhi possibly have a way to restrict her?

Lin Xingzhi: ……

Lin Xingzhi naturally had no way to restrict her, but Lin Xingzhi possessed an advantage that made Shen Yao unable to refuse — that face of his was truly bewitching enough.

At least for now Shen Yao still could not give up; such a bewitching face, to encounter another countenance on par with it, the difficulty coefficient was by no means ordinary.

System: …… Big lecher!

The lecher Shen Yao spoke brazen words about staying if things went well and scattering if they didn't, yet in action she behaved remarkably honestly, not showing the slightest intention of letting go.

Zhuying Town is famous for its bamboo, including the architecture here which is predominantly bamboo-made, even the courtyard residence they stayed in; the bamboo fragrance lingering at the tip of the nose did not dissipate for a long time.

Shen Yao circled the courtyard again and again, finally nodding in satisfaction; if there were more flowers and grasses it would be even better.

【Why?】

【No reason, but if you don't go find the bamboo demons, who will trade with us?】

【I'm going to find them right now!】

The System hadn't rested two days before it started searching for bamboo demons; the demons of Zhuying Town are all plants that gained sentience, timid by nature and rarely entering the city, most living deep in the bamboo forest.

Telling the Host this news, the System muttered to itself what the Host could possibly trade with these poor demons? Plant demons, hah — to call them penniless is praise; they are clearly beggars.

"Nonsense, the seeds we bear ourselves, or our roots, stems, and leaves, are all rare good medicines."

"Oh? So what is their value?"

"……"

This human speaks so annoyingly, why must he speak such vulgar, coarse words? How can the things of us demons be measured by cold, hard prices!

Shen Yao wore a smile, but her words were cold enough to make demons tremble, "We are doing a transaction; if we don't discuss price, what do we discuss?"

It couldn't be they want to white-loot her things, right? The previous demons didn't have that ability; do these plant demons before her really have to be so suicidal?

"You, your alchemy pills, what price?"

Plant demons are not only timid and fearful but cowardly to death; white-looting? They fundamentally dare not even think of it.

Stiffening their necks to indicate if the price is too high, they demons aren't forced to do it either; worst case, worst case they'll just starve, anyway it's not like they haven't starved before.

Shen Yao: ……

Truly, just this little amount of promise~

"Rest assured, my transactions have open and transparent prices, fair to young and old alike.

Here, have a taste first to see how the flavor is? Similar pills applicable to you plant demons, my stock here isn't too plentiful either."

So if you want to buy, you must seize the time; whether scraping together money or whatever, you must manage it before she leaves.

Alright then

But "These pills are willing to be sold to us?" It's not that your words don't count, teasing us.

"Of course, but the quantity is truly limited, with so many demons here," Shen Yao could only shake her head helplessly at this, everything understood without words.

Plant demons: ……

"Mine, mine, I bought first."

"No, clearly I want it, you can't snatch it from me."

"Based on what? Didn't you say first come first served? I'm going to find someone."

"You, so despicable, watch out or your leaves, roots, and stems will all go bare."

"……"

Privately, in order to purchase the pills Shen Yao traded, these plant demons came to blows, wishing the entire depths of the bamboo forest had only themselves able to buy.

Pity this was merely their beautiful fantasy; the plant demons' martial force was half a catty versus eight taels — neither had the absolute ability to suppress the other; no matter how sharp their verbal cannons, they could not subdue the enemy without a fight; demons running to Shen Yao's front came in an endless stream, terrified a late step would mean unable to buy.

System: ……

The System once again felt it was truly wrong; these plant demons aren't poor at all — such leaves and stem-roots overflowing with demonic qi, plus fruits and flowers containing their own breath — tsk, clearly they are wealthy demons~

"Pleasant cooperation"

Shen Yao collected money with one hand, goods with the other; in just a few short days she had already filled the space she had specially cleared out beforehand with these plant demons' belongings.

Anyway, she still needs to transmigrate to different worlds later; putting things away, there will always be a time they come in useful.

【Host, stop busy with these, better go care about Lin Xingzhi.】

Wow, there's a person, no, a demon who actually wants to dig the Host's corner.

Seeing this, the System jumped anxiously; this demon has such huge dog guts, clearly doesn't want to live anymore.

Shen Yao: ……

【Quiet, don't disturb my inventory sorting,】 these are all the rewards she exchanged through hard work.

【Host】

What time is it already, how can you still have the mood to sort these goods that won't spoil in a short while? Look at the person — your possession is about to be dug away.

【Not urgent, he is a person, not anyone's subordinate; he has his own thoughts, and understands even more clearly what consequences his actions will bring,】 so Lin Qinghuai cannot be dug away; at least before the three children grow up, he won't make a clean break with Shen Yao.

【But, but】 right now Lin Xingzhi's state is clearly not quite right.

【Wait a bit more, he will speak,】 Shen Yao is confident.

System: ……

The System didn't know where the Host's confidence came from; it was still thinking of watching the excitement, but unexpectedly, barely half a day after its words finished, Lin Xingzhi took the initiative to run over and confess to Shen Yao.

Ah?!

Does it have to be this painless?!

"……Yao Niang, do you feel they have some unspeakable scheme?"

So urgently wanting to use a beauty trap to win him over, yet the beauty found has every move resembling Shen Yao — does he dislike the legitimate version and uniquely satisfy himself with the counterfeit?

"Xingzhi, perhaps they simply admire you," she thought someone like her could achieve twice the result with half the effort.

"No, Yao Niang is purely good; these spirits have deep schemes," Lin Xingzhi did not feel there was anything on his own body that spirits would covet, only the power bestowed by the Imperial Court and the Emperor.

Shen Yao:...

'Right, this is the source of my confidence,' on one hand their affection remained, still in the honeymoon period; second, Lin Xingzhi's authority was not small, let alone spirits wielding hoes to dig at his corner, even a mosquito flying into his sight had to accept Lin Xingzhi's baseless speculation and suspicion.

This was no longer the Lin Xingzhi from back in Floating Cloud City; now Lin Xingzhi bore too many responsibilities on his back, leaving him unable to think of matters too simply.

System:...

Not only did they fail to gain Lin Xingzhi's favor, they instead provoked deeper suspicion; not only were they themselves damaged, they also lost the initiative, and their backers behind them suffered misfortune along with them.

Tsk tsk tsk, this is truly failing to steal the chicken and losing the rice, losing both ways.