Chapter 300: The idea he came up with must be good [Thanks to everyone for your support!]

"Peddler Uncle, how do you sell this silk thread?"

Hearing the question, Zhao Taifeng, who was watching Little Xiaotao, hurriedly looked up.

"This bundle of silk thread in your hand, it's a hundred copper coins."

Xiaodie looked at the quality of the silk thread and sniffed it under her nose:

"Will you sell it for fifty? Don't think we haven't bought silk thread from the Li family shop!"

"Deal!"

Zhao Taifeng reached out to take the copper coins Xiaodie handed over, counting them while looking at Qingcao:

"This young lady, what do you want?"

Qingcao hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to be picking things, and picked items from the cargo rack on the small cart in front of Zhao Taifeng.

"How much for this hair tie?"

"Just give me five copper coins."

After counting, Zhao Taifeng put the copper coins into the money pouch in front of him and took the copper coins Qingcao handed over.

Qingcao lowered her head, following Xiaotao's gaze, and happened to see a small tiger puppet made of wood that looked very new.

"Peddler Uncle, what kind of wood is this wooden hairpin?"

"Peach wood."

"I want four wooden hairpins, can you give me this small tiger as a gift?"

Qingcao pointed at the small tiger puppet.

Zhao Taifeng looked at Xiaotao, whose eyes were full of joy as she looked at Qingcao.

"Young lady, you are really good at business, this small tiger was carved by me personally..."

"You have to add money!"

Hearing what Zhao Taifeng said, Xiaotao tugged at Qingcao's clothes, and after Qingcao leaned over, she whispered:

"Sister Qingcao, I have money, I'll buy it myself!"

As she spoke, she went to untie the small purse at her waist.

After feeling around inside the purse, Little Xiaotao whispered: "Peddler Uncle, how much do I need to add for this?"

"Little girl, I'm old enough to be your grandfather, how can you call me Uncle!"

Xiaotao looked at Zhao Taifeng with her big eyes, turned them, and said:

"Grandpa, sell it to me cheaper!"

Zhao Taifeng pursed his lips, picked his ear, and glanced at Xiaotao.

"Peddler Grandpa, just sell it to me!"

Minglan, who was picking things on the other side of the cart, walked over, stood beside Xiaotao, frowned, and looked at the peddler:

"If you don't sell it, I'll have Sister Xiaodie return the silk thread!"

Qingcao nodded: "I don't want these four wooden hairpins either."

Zhao Taifeng hurriedly picked up the small tiger wood carving: "Don't, don't, don't, little girl, just give me... seventeen copper coins!"

"What! Seventeen coins!?"

Xiaotao widened her eyes, and Minglan immediately shouted to the side: "Sister Xiaodie!"

"Seven! Not seventeen!"

Xiaodie on the side nodded: "That's more like it! Add a red rope."

After the money and goods were cleared, Xiaotao held the small tiger in her hand, loving it to death.

Afterward, the four bought a few needles, two silver-drum-shaped candies, and several door god hanging pictures,

and then turned to walk toward the Sheng family side gate.

It was still Xiaodie and Minglan walking in front, and Qingcao and Xiaotao walking behind.

Before entering the gate, just as Xiaotao was about to step over the threshold, she looked back inexplicably.

Looking at the peddler who was smiling at her, she bowed slightly and turned to follow Qingcao into the Sheng family.

The Sheng family side gate was closed by the servant.

Zhao Taifeng pushed the cart full of miscellaneous goods and continued to shout as he walked forward.

And the seven copper coins that Xiaotao had taken out of her purse earlier were lying quietly in a separate pocket.

After changing his image several times,

Zhao Taifeng, now dressed as a wealthy Bianjing merchant, pushed open the door of the second-floor private room under the guidance of a waiter.

After Zhao Taifeng entered, Qingyun walked outside, closed the door from the outside, and stood by the door.

Zhao Meifeng saw his senior brother enter, stood up, and asked with a smile:

"Eldest Senior Brother, how was it? Is she? Was the item delivered?"

Taifeng smiled slightly and nodded:

"I have to thank Fifth Young Master for the idea, she took a fancy to the small tiger you drew at a glance."

"And even exchanged seven copper coins for it."

Xu Zaijing stood beside Zhao Meifeng, bowed, and said: "It is my honor to be able to contribute a little effort."

Taifeng looked at Xu Zaijing with some curiosity and said:

"Although I am old, I still have some confidence in my skills. Fifth Young Master, those Bai Gao Kingdom experts a few days ago, were they all... by you?"

Hearing his senior brother's words, Zhao Meifeng signaled for his senior brother to sit down while saying:

"Senior Brother, you probably don't know how the two hundred or so fierce soldiers Prince Yan hid in his fiefdom were wiped out."

Taifeng asked suspiciously: "He led people to wipe them out?"

Zhao Meifeng shook his head: "He wiped them out himself."

Taifeng looked at the young man who was not old, had a handsome face, and was smiling innocently on the side,

and reached out with a thoughtful look in his eyes: "Fifth Young Master, let me see your hand."

Xu Zaijing extended his hand as requested. Taifeng held Xu Zaijing's hand with his left hand and slowly touched his palm with his right hand.

Suddenly,

Taifeng's right hand struck toward Xu Zaijing's throat with lightning speed.

Without seeing Xu Zaijing's movement, Taifeng's incoming fist was already held motionless by Xu Zaijing's palm.

At this time, Zhao Meifeng's smile was still on his face.

"Senior Brother, you are..."

Taifeng nodded and said: "Fifth Young Master has good reflexes."

Zhao Meifeng looked at his senior brother and then at the calm Xu Zaijing.

"You are also still vigorous in your old age."

As he spoke, he let go of the hand holding Zhao Taifeng's fist. The heavy brick was like paper in Xu Zaijing's hand.

If he hadn't felt no killing intent, this person's hand might have been crushed.

Zhao Taifeng withdrew his hand, re-examined Xu Zaijing, and shook his hand at his side.

Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Taifeng and said: "There is one thing I would like to ask you about."

Zhao Taifeng nodded: "Speak."

"The assassins who went to my house two days ago, did they participate in the slaughter of the Bai Gao Li clan royals?"

Zhao Taifeng nodded.

"Then, can you tell me, was it you who gave the order?"

Zhao Taifeng looked at Xu Zaijing and shook his head:

"Those experts only take orders from the former Bai Gao Minister, the current Bai Gao Emperor Liang Yifu."

"Did the Li brothers ask you to ask?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "I wanted to ask myself. Seeing the Li brothers so distressed that day, I had to give them an explanation."

Zhao Taifeng nodded and said:

"Your question reminds me. In a few days, I will have Meifeng give you the specific process of how the Mi Mu and Mie Mi families were killed."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Zhao Meifeng waited for a gap in the conversation and said:

"Senior Brother, should I help you take Little Xiaotao..."

Taifeng shook his head:

"Let her stay in the Sheng family for now. It can be seen that the little girl is living very comfortably. Taking her away rashly and leaving the familiar environment might not be a good thing."

"Senior Brother, you can just put her in my house. Master will definitely notice and ask."

Xu Zaijing interjected: "Actually, I know quite a lot about this Concubine of the Sheng family."

Looking at Zhao Taifeng's interested look, Xu Zaijing briefly explained Concubine Wei's background.

After listening, Zhao Taifeng said:

"Hmm, she is a smart and kind-hearted person."

"In the future, if there is a chance, you take care of her and help her remove her registered status, there is nothing else to force."

Xu Zaijing and Zhao Meifeng looked at each other, and Zhao Meifeng raised his wine cup: "For this matter, Senior Brother, you should do it yourself!"

Zhao Taifeng froze, smiled, and clinked glasses with the two.

After saying a few more words, Zhao Taifeng left the restaurant first.

Xu Zaijing and Zhao Meifeng only sent him to the door of the private room. After sitting down again, Zhao Meifeng said:

"Fifth Young Master, why does my senior brother keep looking at you?"

Xu Zaijing pondered for a moment and said: "Perhaps after testing, he knows what my skills are like, and he has some ideas."

Hearing this, Zhao Meifeng froze, then suddenly realized, and said hesitantly: "Is he wanting you to go to Xing..."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Zhao Meifeng shook his head: "Going is easy, how to come back is the problem."

Xu Zaijing sat at the table without speaking. Before at the Jin Yang Mountain stronghold, he was able to kill in all directions because he had the advantage of a surprise attack, and he had no enemies behind him.

If he really went to Xingqing Prefecture and there was even a slight mistake, being blocked somewhere, he wouldn't be able to withstand the crossbow volleys from all sides.

Unless the Bai Gao Kingdom Emperor left the deep palace...

But the Bai Gao Kingdom Empress was backstabbed because she left the palace to meet a lover in secret. Would Liang Yifu make the same mistake?

Zhao Taifeng didn't say anything, perhaps he also had this consideration.

But, if I can't kill the Bai Gao Kingdom Emperor, can't I kill the Bai Gao Kingdom generals?

We'll see when the time comes. The Great Zhou's dispatch of troops will have to wait until April or May, when Northern Liao and the Jin Kingdom start fighting in the east.

Xu Zaijing shook his head. He is now a scholar, just with a little bit higher martial arts skills.

Zhao Meifeng on the side looked at Xu Zaijing and said:

"Today, the ins and outs of the two assassins have been clarified. One of them infiltrated half a year ago."

"People who plan like this in the Bai Gao Kingdom will definitely understand, and naturally they will be on guard. Fifth Young Master, don't think too much!"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

"Senior Brother should have gone far, let's go too."

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing and Zhao Meifeng walked out of the restaurant together.

The two separated downstairs.

Amidst the shouting of the vendors,

Xu Zaijing and Qingyun rode on their horses, heading toward Quyuanjie.

The two rode horses, and the speed was relatively fast. Soon, a very familiar carriage appeared in front of them.

Qingcao sat in the carriage with a frown, seemingly thinking about something.

"Bang bang!"

Hearing the sound of knocking on the carriage, she curiously lifted the curtain.

Looking at Xu Zaijing riding a horse outside, Qingcao froze, squeezed out a smile, and called out hesitantly: "Young Master..."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Well done!"

Qingcao twitched the corners of her mouth and squeezed out another ugly smile.

Sheng family.

Jina'an Studio.

Qingcao had already bid farewell and left.

Concubine Wei took a roll of pink silk thread from the drawer and said:

"Xiaodie, did you and Qingcao just meet a peddler outside the gate earlier?"

Xiaodie, who was tidying things up, said: "Yes, Concubine, it's so cold, and that peddler didn't look young either."

Concubine Wei pondered for a moment and said "Hmm."

She also didn't quite understand why Qingcao wanted to find an excuse to go out after hearing the peddler's shouting.

"Perhaps the Marquis Mansion has strict rules? Or something else?"

"Xiaodie, do you know about Qingcao's parents?"

Xiaodie stopped what she was doing and shook her head: "I only heard that her hometown is in the south. For anything else, you have to ask Xiaotao."

Concubine Wei nodded: "When the time comes, you should also ask Qingcao if she has any childhood sweethearts or anything."

Xiaodie: "Oh!"

"Don't just 'oh'! They are all people who have been removed from the register. A Madam of a Viscount's family is personally worrying about your affairs, you shouldn't decline!"

"Understood, Concubine!"

"Right, that small tiger Xiaotao bought today is quite cute. I'll make a cloth doll based on it, I need some red cloth."

"I'll go find it."

Quyuanjie.

Walking on the way back to the courtyard,

Qingyun went back to accompany his wife.

Qingcao followed behind Xu Zaijing carrying the bamboo basket:

"Young Master, you are truly amazing, the Old Madam really called me in."

"Hmm! Do you know how to do the embroidery painting?"

"I know, Concubine Wei gave me guidance!"

"Young Master, actually this servant feels that Concubine Wei might have seen through my thoughts."

"This servant thought on the way back, the reason for going out seems..."

Xu Zaijing stopped and said: "What's wrong? What reason did you find to go outside the gate?"

Qingcao walked with her head down and almost bumped into Xu Zaijing. She hurriedly stopped, looked up at Xu Zaijing, and said:

"Buying silk thread... Sister Xiaodie said they have everything in their courtyard, but Concubine said one color was missing..."

"Silly girl, couldn't you have said you were going to see if there was anything fun?"

"This servant forgot... this servant is dull."

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Don't cry, you didn't delay your Young Master's business!"

Qingcao wiped her teary eyes and sniffed: "Really?"

Xu Zaijing patted her head and walked forward with his hands behind his back: "Really...!"

Qingcao wiped her tears and hurried to follow.

The sky grew dark.

Chai Zhengzheng, sitting behind the table, put down the brush in her hand.

Just as she stretched fiercely,

a maid collected the account books on the table and placed them on a very ordinary bookshelf on the side.

Another maid placed a steaming teacup on the table.

"Da Niangzi, be careful, it's a bit hot."

"Hmm! Is Miss Yun Mu back?"

"Reporting to Da Niangzi, not yet."

Chai Zhengzheng picked up the teacup, blew on it slightly, took a beautiful sip, and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes to recover.

The maids began to light candles. Because they were on a thick carpet, the maids made no sound walking on it.

"Sister Miss Yun Mu is back!"

Hearing the announcement, Chai Zhengzheng opened her eyes.

Looking at Miss Yun Mu, who handed her warm cloak to other maids, Chai Zhengzheng said:

"How was it? Did the shopkeeper say what changes the Four Treasures Studio has?"

Miss Yun Mu walked close, bowed, and said:

"Da Niangzi, the shopkeeper said, there are changes."

Chai Zhengzheng's mouth curled slightly, her eyes curved as she nodded:

"I said, the idea he came up with must be effective! How much better is the business?"

"Miss Yun Mu, what does that expression of yours mean?"

Miss Yun Mu pursed her lips and said:

"The shopkeeper said, the change is that customers are asking which head musician is playing the zither in our shop... it's the end of the year, there's no big change in business!"

Hearing this,

Chai Zhengzheng: "..."

Then she sighed, frowned at the bowing Miss Yun Mu, and her eyes turned:

"How much money did we spend on the head musician playing the zither?"

"This servant remembers, it seems the mansion found a connection with the Teaching Workshop, only three hundred strings of cash per month."

Chai Zhengzheng patted the table lightly: "Then how much does it cost for this head musician to perform outside?"

"I heard it's at least sixty strings of cash, but that's the price for one day."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled: "Then buy stationery in the shop, and get music and tea as gifts."

"Send someone to notify the shopkeeper immediately."

"Yes."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 301 =====