Chapter 371: Not Enough Fate? Miss, Please Stay

The layout of the Yanxing Pavilion was different from other places; for instance, this private room appeared much more grand. The conversation between Xu Heng, Sun Xuan, and the others was actually not loud, and it could not reach the adjacent private room. However, there was a mystery within the walls: several eunuchs stood in the mezzanine, recording every word, which was then sent to the "Heaven" grade private room.

Walls have ears—in the physical sense.

Zhu Zhu Yijun saw the conversation between Sun Xuan and Xu Heng.

"Does Miss Zhou know how much the Great Ming's maritime tax is?" Zhu Zhu Yijun read a little. Sun Xuan's remark about Yin Yin Zhengmao's confiscation of the private market at Guiyan Bay being "outrageous" was already a path to self-destruction. Sun Xuan was different from Xu Heng; Xu Heng's father was a former Senior Grand Secretary, but Xu Heng had no official rank. Sun Xuan, however, was a Ming Jinshi from the fifth year of Emperor Wanli and a bureaucrat under the Great Ming's bureaucratic system, yet his stance was not on the side of the imperial court.

This was a path to self-destruction. Even if the Guiyan Port private market had no connection to Sun Xuan, Sun Xuan would only walk further and further astray in his future actions, eventually heading toward a path of ruin.

Upon hearing Young Master Huang's question, Zhou Zhou Dingzhi pondered for a moment before saying, "Six percent. Although my father has passed away, there is still some remaining wealth. Although my brother has no official rank, our family has some maritime trade businesses; this tax is not considered heavy. If it were the Red-Haired Barbarians, they would take thirty percent just for passing through the port. This is also why many wealthy households support the Ming Navy's Zhenwu."

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's answer was meant to show that her family background was still impressive, to show that she was not a sheltered young lady who never left her home and knew nothing, and to display her insight to add points for herself, striving to get married off.

Coming from the Penglai Huang clan of maritime merchants, asking these things was definitely not without purpose.

"Miss has extraordinary insight. The capital is thousands of miles away from Jiangxi; Jiangxi probably doesn't know about matters in the capital. Therefore, Miss, if you return to Jishui, Jiangxi, it is not impossible to have a good marriage." Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Yijun expressed his agreement with Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's words.

Not all wealthy households in the southeast opposed opening the seas; some even supported the Ming Navy's Zhenwu, precisely so that the navy could control key ports in the hands of the Great Ming, in order to enjoy the 6% tariff.

In the ports of barbarians, taxes were often thirty or forty percent, and there was also looting and plundering. Such a harsh business environment was not conducive to maritime trade.

On the vast and boundless ocean, the areas controlled by the Ming Navy were all high-security zones. Once they reached places the Ming Navy could reach, pirates would vanish. Merchant ships did not need to draw bows and load medicine; they could greet each other instead of being at daggers drawn, seeing each other through telescopes and hurriedly avoiding them to prevent trouble.

"Sigh." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi smiled helplessly and said, "Since you want to see me, you naturally know that I have a 'drag-along' 【a dependent child】. If I return to Jishui, I cannot take this drag-along with me. If I don't return to Jishui, I can only become someone's concubine."

A twenty-four-year-old mother with a sixteen-year-old daughter—this daughter was indeed a drag-along. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi returning to Jishui, Jiangxi, meant starting over from scratch. If she left, the drag-along would truly be without support. How would she live in the future?

Zhu Zhu Yijun took another piece of paper, and after reading it, he said, "You can leave her behind. You also said it yourself, she's just a drag-along."

"Her father died in the border wilderness, her mother died of grief, her brother is weak, and her sister-in-law is mean. She came to seek refuge with my family. Since I took her in because of my own affairs back then, I naturally have to see it through to the end. Since Young Master dislikes the drag-along, then there is nothing to talk about." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi rubbed her brow. If it weren't for this drag-along, she would have been married long ago, but she couldn't bring herself to abandon her.

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi intended to leave, just like her previous failed matchmaking attempts. Over the years, the Penglai Huang clan had become extremely famous due to the opening of the seas, with mountains of gold and silver at home. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi was naturally willing. To please others with her beauty—the young master in front of her had both appearance and temperament, worthy of the description "a gentleman like jade, naturally formed." Young Master Huang was clearly trained in martial arts since childhood; with that muscular body, she feared her "field" would be ruined in bed.

She wanted to marry, but she refused to abandon the drag-along.

Young Master Huang was likely also acting on his parents' orders to come and see her; he had little interest in her. In this short time, he had read four sheets of paper, and she didn't know what it was about, but he clearly didn't care much about whether she stayed or left.

Zhu Zhu Yijun still had some interest in Zhou Zhou Dingzhi. Liu Liu Mengshu and Li Jin were chosen by Empress Dowager Li; their looks were impeccable, but their figures were not as good as Wang Wang Yaozhuo's, who was slender but fruitful. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's figure could be summarized in one word: lush.

Zhu Zhu Yijun handed the paper to Feng Bao and continued, "That Sun Xuan is right next door. What is your opinion of him?"

"What young girl doesn't dream of spring? Hearing a few of his sour poems, I naturally liked him. Later, when he married someone else, it was hatred—I wished I could kill him, eat his flesh, and drink his blood. I hated him for wasting so many years of mine. But as time passed, it faded. I was just stupid." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi, who had lifted her buttocks, sat back down. Since the young master wanted to talk, then let's keep talking. She chose to tell the truth.

"Miss sees things clearly." Zhu Zhu Yijun said to Feng Bao, "Serve the food."

Hatred is also love. Hatred and love seem to exist in opposition, but in fact, both hatred and love are about caring. This is where they are unified. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi clearly no longer cared about Sun Xuan. Without caring, there is naturally no hatred.

Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't like that Zhou Zhou Dingzhi had this person living in her heart. Even if the two couldn't be together, trash like Sun Xuan wasn't worth remembering.

When the meal started, Zhou Zhou Dingzhi was stunned. The Penglai Huang clan was indeed an upstart, but their rules were not few at all. There were even specialized "tasters." The tasters were eunuchs specifically for tasting food. Every dish served would have a portion placed on a small plate. Zhang Hong and another eunuch began to taste the food, and they had to wait for a quarter of an hour to ensure nothing was wrong before the banquet could begin.

"I heard that women in Shandong don't sit at the table. Is there such a rule?" After Zhou Zhou Dingzhi sat down steadily, she asked with confusion while waiting for the tasters.

Zhu Zhu Yijun heard this, pondered for a moment, and said with slight helplessness, "It's a trend started by the Duke Duke Yansheng of Yanzhou, Shandong. Even Confucius didn't have this rule. This Duke Duke Yansheng's rules are even bigger than Confucius's. Now that the Duke Duke Yansheng is gone, this kind of rule will slowly disappear. Changing customs and habits—how could it be that simple?"

Ling Ling Yunyi had tried his best, but the Duke Duke Yansheng's mansion had existed for a long time; changing customs and habits could only be done slowly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was eating while also constantly looking at the notes being sent over. He was perfectly clear about the conversation next door, occasionally showing slight confusion.

The people Xu Heng brought were all wealthy households who had migrated from Xitucheng. The biggest characteristic of these people was that they were rich, and most of their families were involved in maritime trade. Sun Xuan, on the other hand, brought Hanlin scholars from the Hanlin Academy, Ming Jinshi, and students from the Imperial Academy.

"Since this year, the imperial court has continuously set up maritime defense inspection offices. Business is becoming harder and harder to do." Xu Heng's words resonated. Everyone had complaints about the imperial court's reach being too wide. For example, the raw silk ban that started in the first year of Emperor Wanli made the wealthy households very resentful. Previously, they could secretly sell it abroad, but with the improvement of maritime defense inspections, the cost of violating the ban was becoming higher and higher.

"The imperial court takes six percent of the value. Is it really that much?" Yao Xu Guangqi's younger brother, Yao Yao Guangming, asked in a low voice.

Yao Xu Guangqi was now the "Kelp King." Although it had nothing to do with the Yao family, Yao Yao Guangming always felt that the tax the imperial court took was not heavy at all. Six percent of the value—was the Great Ming Emperor playing charity here?

Everyone looked at Yao Yao Guangming. Yao Yao Guangming had no choice but to raise his wine cup to apologize. These words indeed shouldn't have been asked.

"The Quanzhou Zhao clan's foundation is also on the sea. Today, let's set a tone: are we still going to run this private market?" Another Xitucheng disciple asked. They were all businessmen. Now, the cost of breaking the law was higher than the profit gained. For this six percent tax, it wasn't worth taking the risk.

Sun Xuan wiped his mouth and said, "We must do it. If we don't, what if the imperial court suddenly issues a decree banning all ships from going to sea? What should we do then?"

The Great Ming's maritime ban had been in effect since the sixth year of Emperor Hongwu and was enforced until the second year of Emperor Longqing, when the Emperor Longqing opening of the seas occurred. Once the Great Ming imperial court—or more precisely, the Great Ming Emperor—issued a decree, wanting to monopolize the thick profits of maritime trade for official ships and official trade, what would the wealthy households do?

"The imperial court is now gathering wealth and seeking profit. Plus, that 'Master' is greedy by nature. Now that the 'Master' 【referring to Zhang Zhang Juzheng】 is in the court, that 'Master' 【the Emperor】 won't go too far. If the 'Master' 【Zhang Zhang Juzheng】 is gone, I'm afraid the maritime ban decree will arrive. Don't forget, the Ming Navy is firmly grasped in that 'Master's' hands." Sun Xuan made his point very clear. That "Master" was the current Emperor.

Yao Yao Guangming said weakly again, "But that 'Master' keeps his word. In these seven years, not a single word he said has fallen to the ground."

"We can't count on the 'Master's' conscience." Xu Heng immediately retorted. Conscience—they, the wealthy households, didn't have it. Expecting the biggest wealthy household in the world, His Majesty the Emperor, to have conscience and credibility—wasn't that wishful thinking?

Yao Yao Guangming just muttered a few words about "the country losing its great trust, people's hearts becoming suspicious, power flowing from top to bottom and also from bottom to top," which drew sneers from everyone. Yao Yao Guangming could only raise his wine cup repeatedly to apologize.

"Did Young Master Yao read 'On Contradiction'?" Sun Xuan looked at Yao Yao Guangming, who was apologizing repeatedly, and thought of a possibility.

Yao Yao Guangming nodded and said, "Yes, when my brother came back mid-year, he instructed me to read it."

"Read less of those heretical doctrines. That's just the bewitching words Zhang Zhang Juzheng used to fool that 'Master'." Sun Xuan shook his head. That "On Contradiction" stuff was somewhat evil. People who had read it and those who hadn't looked at problems in completely different ways. Sun Xuan didn't read it, so he couldn't become a supervisor or an official, and he couldn't pass the official selection. Sun Xuan had been looking for connections everywhere, but unfortunately, the power of the Ministry of Personnel was all grasped in Zhang Zhang Juzheng's hands.

Sun Xuan was somewhat dissatisfied with Zhang Zhang Juzheng. He filled his own stomach and didn't even leave a drop of soup for others.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Sun." Yao Yao Guangming said hurriedly.

"This private market must still be run, but now the Ming Navy is strong and sturdy. To run it, we must go to places the navy cannot reach." Xu Heng discovered that the private market under Great Ming's rule simply couldn't grow big. The Ming Navy had to exist because there were pirates, natives, Japanese pirates, and Red-Haired Barbarians on the sea. But under the navy's rule, the private market had no room for survival at all. Even if they gathered together, they would be wiped out by the imperial court in one go.

"It infuriates me! This time the loss was so great, and that Yin Yin Zhengmao even went to Luzon—he's still the imperial court's dog!" Sun Xuan slapped the table. He couldn't quite understand Yin Yin Zhengmao's approach, which could be described as doing things to the extreme, leaving no room at all.

"But places the Ming Navy cannot reach are not safe." Yao Yao Guangming said weakly again. He wanted to express his opinion because he felt that what these people were saying was wrong. How could they have all the good things for themselves? They didn't want to pay taxes and wanted safety—this didn't conform to the basic viewpoint of "On Contradiction," where contradictions succeed each other.

Yao Yao Guangming felt that the people who came today looked at problems very one-sidedly. For example, Sun Xuan said Yin Yin Zhengmao was the imperial court's dog. Yao Yao Guangming felt it was wrong. Standing in Yin Yin Zhengmao's position, if he didn't do things to the extreme, his Luzon Governor's Mansion would lose the imperial court's support, and if the Red-Haired Barbarians made a comeback, how would Yin Yin Zhengmao deal with it?

Looking at problems, one cannot just look at one's own interests; one must consider multiple aspects before making a decision.

"On Contradiction" was a kind of meme pollution produced under the collision of thoughts between Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Once in contact, one would become strange.

Yao Yao Guangming was that strange person. He pointed out the fundamental problem in Xu Heng's words: places the navy couldn't reach were very dangerous.

"Anyway, it's just some poor people and laborers with nowhere to go who died." Xu Heng's face flushed red, but he still stubbornly insisted.

Yao Yao Guangming asked blankly, "But the silver lost is our own."

Sun Xuan was a bit tired, and Xu Heng was a bit regretful. He shouldn't have invited this Yao Yao Guangming. The younger generation of the Yao family had all grown crooked. However, Yao Yao Guangming's words still reminded everyone. It was indeed poor people and laborers who died, but it was they, these wealthy households, who suffered the losses.

"Let's talk about the private market later. Anyway, the Quanzhou Zhao clan took the lead, and it's them who will be beheaded. It has nothing to do with us. We aren't the masterminds. That 'Master' can't behead all of us together, right?" Sun Xuan waved his hand, skipping the topic.

Xu Heng stared hard at Yao Yao Guangming before saying, "Let's talk about the next thing: building a shipyard. A shipyard isn't something you can just build. A shipyard needs at least three or four thousand craftsmen, involving all walks of life. To succeed, we must work together. One family has ship planks, another has rivets, and another has tung oil. We must work together to succeed."

Yao Yao Guangming wanted to speak again, but was forced back by Xu Heng's gaze. Yao Yao Guangming actually agreed with Xu Heng's statement very much. Building a shipyard—Yao Yao Guangming agreed with both hands and feet. His family was a major tung oil household, and after supplying the imperial court's five major shipyards, there was still plenty left.

Even though the Yao family had a secret method to preserve tung oil, which could extend its usage time from three months to two years, it was better to sell it off.

This secret method was actually known to the imperial court—it was just sealing it and adding a few slices of ginger, just like peach leaves preventing insects. The principle was unknown, but it worked.

Xu Heng wouldn't let him speak, so he had to shut up. Some time ago, Wang Daokun, the Governor of Songjiang Prefecture, wrote to Yao Yao Changxing and others that the shipyard would increase production next year. The Yao family decided to build four more tung oil gardens. This was a big order from the imperial court, a big piece of fat meat that must not be lost.

The matter of building a shipyard sparked a heated discussion. A ship was a long industrial chain; the upstream and downstream could support many people. The key was that once the ship was built, there had to be goods for maritime trade, which involved countless industrial chains and the livelihoods of thousands of households.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was dining very quietly on his side. There weren't many dishes—for two people, four dishes and one soup, plus some dry rations. These dishes weren't considered expensive, but they were a mix of meat and vegetables, made extremely exquisitely. A dish of "texture-less tofu soup" opened Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's eyes; the tofu threads could be cut like that, showing exquisite knife skills.

"Finished eating?" After Zhu Zhu Yijun rinsed his mouth and wiped it, he asked with a smile.

"Thank you, Young Master, for your hospitality." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi said hurriedly. Young Master Huang's eating was truly too particular. When Young Master Huang didn't speak, Zhou Zhou Dingzhi didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"My family has many rules, and I have no good way to deal with this drag-along." Zhu Zhu Yijun explained the result of today's matchmaking. He liked this very "lush" Zhou Zhou Dingzhi very much, but the sixteen-year-old daughter was a bit of a problem. The Great Ming truly didn't have this kind of ancestral rule.

"I like the Young Master very much, but in the end, we have fate but no destiny." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi said with extreme regret. She really liked this Young Master Huang. Even if she became a concubine, with the Penglai Huang clan's family background, she wouldn't suffer much.

But the bigger the wealthy family, the more rules there were. But in a small family, Zhou Zhou Dingzhi could endure this suffering herself, but this daughter was somewhat troublesome.

"This is one thousand silver. Miss, you have raised the descendant of a loyal martyr for seven years regardless of your reputation; this is what you deserve." Zhu Zhu Yijun had Feng Bao bring over the silver coins he had prepared long ago. A wooden box was lifted up. One thousand silver was 62.5 catties. This weight was not something Zhou Zhou Dingzhi could lift. The box was open, and inside were rows of silver coins wrapped in red silk, eye-catching.

The impact of real gold and silver was much stronger than silver notes. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi was stunned for a moment and said, "If the Young Master wants me, I will take this silver. If the Young Master doesn't want me, then forget it."

"A descendant of a loyal martyr—it's only right. And I can't let Miss come for nothing, right?" Zhu Zhu Yijun unscrewed his water cup and said with a smile, "Miss, don't be afraid of trouble. I'll send someone to deliver it to your mansion."

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's situation in the Zhou mansion was not good. If she took the silver notes, she wouldn't be able to get the silver. Zhu Zhu Yijun sending someone was actually to provide support for Zhou Zhou Dingzhi. In the end, with this sum of silver, Zhou Zhou Dingzhi wouldn't have to wrong herself too much.

As for this one thousand silver, it was a reward. Pei Chengzhu and his twenty-four subordinates died in Fushun. A Shrine of Loyalty and Bravery had been built for them. They died for the interests of the Great Ming. Li Li Chengliang destroyed the Gule Fortress and avenged Pei Chengzhu and the others, but the pension was given to the drag-along's family members—the mean sister-in-law and the weak brother. In the end, the drag-along could only drift from place to place.

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi refused to abandon the drag-along. If Zhu Zhu Yijun truly took Zhou Zhou Dingzhi as a concubine, wouldn't he, at seventeen, have a sixteen-year-old daughter? How would the Ministry of Rites define this daughter? A princess? No matter how well Wan Wan Shihe could "wash the floor," this wasn't easy to wash.

The Great Ming Emperor wasn't someone who could do whatever he wanted. Emperor Wu Sect was so absurd that he forcibly took Liu Liangnu and even gave Liu Liangnu's husband, the musician Yang Teng, one hundred taels of silver.

Zhu Zhu Yijun really wanted to "plate" Zhou Zhou Dingzhi, but as Zhou Zhou Dingzhi said, they had fate but no destiny.

"Thank you, Young Master, for your hospitality." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi was knowledgeable. Her father was Zhou Yan, the Left Censor-in-Chief during the Emperor Jiajing era. She had seen many things. The meal made her have some doubts about the identity of Young Master Huang, Zhu Zhu Yijun. How could the Penglai Huang clan be so particular to this extent?

Likely imperial relatives.

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi put on her veil and walked to the door. Two eunuchs opened the door, and two Embroidered Uniform Guards lifted the silver. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi suddenly stood still, turned her head, and looked at that Young Master Huang. This look was full of regret.

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi forgot to wear the fox mask, and she didn't know if it was intentional or on purpose.

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi walked out of the room, walking step by step. She walked very slowly, hoping to leave a silhouette in Young Master Huang's heart, at least so he could occasionally think of her. She had also left that mask intentionally.

The concubine is like fallen flowers, the gentleman's heart is like flowing water. Fallen flowers intend to follow the flowing water, but the flowing water has no heart to love the fallen flowers.

Fate is wonderful and unspeakable.

"Yo? Isn't this Miss Zhou?" Sun Xuan's voice sounded in the corridor. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi stood still and said extremely calmly, "Move aside, you're blocking my way."

"Did you sell yourself? One thousand silver?" Sun Xuan was in a bad mood and had drunk quite a bit of wine, so he was naturally a bit drunk. He had a feeling of hatred for Zhou Zhou Dingzhi that he couldn't get.

In the fifth year of Emperor Wanli, he passed the imperial examination. For the sake of his future, he married someone else. He had also been to the Zhou mansion, wanting to take Zhou Zhou Dingzhi as a concubine, but was beaten out.

The Great Ming Law clearly stipulated that one could only take a concubine if one had no offspring at forty. The Great Ming Law might not be able to restrain everyone, but it was more than enough to restrain him, Sun Xuan. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi agreeing at that time would have been breaking the law!

That was why Zhou Zhou Dingzhi asked Young Master Huang if he was afraid of the Southern Yamen finding trouble.

Usually, it was Young Master Huang who found trouble for the Southern Yamen. The Southern Yamen wished that this "Master" Huang would never see them.

"A dignified Ming Jinshi, humiliating an old maid who can't get married—do you think that's appropriate?" Zhou Zhou Dingzhi asked with a bitter smile. Her hatred for Sun Xuan had long faded; she just felt it was somewhat absurd. A Ming Jinshi, with so many people around—wasn't he ashamed?

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi was an old maid. Her affairs were all gossip on the streets. She had long since lost all face.

Sun Xuan hiccuped. If he hadn't been drinking, he would have noticed some abnormalities. Loving to watch the fun was human nature, but after arguing for a few sentences, there wasn't a single shadow in the entire corridor, only twenty-some fierce men with knives, all staring at him fixedly.

Sun Xuan was different from Wan Wan Wenqing and Wu Wu Weizhong; Sun Xuan really wanted to "advance."

In the capital, one brick could hit a high official, two court officials, and seven wealthy households. If Sun Xuan hadn't drunk that catty of "horse urine" 【cheap liquor】, he wouldn't have caused trouble in the Yanxing Pavilion.

If Sun Xuan had been a bit more generous and drank "National Cellar" 【high-end liquor】, he would have been dead drunk by now.

"Two thousand taels! You come back with me." Sun Xuan stretched out two fingers and shouted loudly.

"I won't sell to you." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi thought for a moment and said, then smiled like a flower.

This one thousand taels behind her was from Young Master Huang, who gave it to her casually after seeing she had raised the descendant of a loyal martyr for seven years. She liked this one thousand silver very much, just like she liked Young Master Huang. With this money, she could arrange for her daughter to find a good family, rather than herself.

The old maid can just die old. Young Master Huang has already bought her.

Actually, in the private room, she was a bit hesitant, just feeling that she was seven years older than Young Master Huang. Even if she became a concubine, she wasn't worthy of the Young Master, so she didn't pester him.

Sun Xuan was nothing more than that.

"You! Prostitute! Prostitute!" Sun Xuan stretched out a finger, pointed at Zhou Zhou Dingzhi, and shouted extremely angrily, "Without a shred of propriety, righteousness, integrity, or shame! A woman showing her face in this brothel—you don't know shame! How can your father rest in peace in the underworld!"

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi looked at Sun Xuan with a playful expression. She wasn't very angry. She discovered that these scholars were truly shameless. Why did she show her face to go out for matchmaking? Wasn't it because of the jerk in front of her? But this scholar, Sun Xuan, could still accuse her of not observing the way of women so righteously.

"I accompanied someone for a meal, and he gave me one thousand silver. I won't sell to you. Not to mention, do you have the money? If your wife knew you were arguing with me here and wanted to spend two thousand taels to buy me back, I'm afraid she'd twist your ears off!" Zhou Zhou Dingzhi covered the corner of her mouth and chuckled, her tongue extremely poisonous.

As soon as Sun Xuan heard Zhou Zhou Dingzhi mention his wife, he sobered up a bit and couldn't help but shiver. He pointed at Zhou Zhou Dingzhi, his face turning even redder. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi scolded him for being poor and for being afraid of his wife. The key was that she scolded him correctly.

Sun Xuan held it in for a long time before shouting loudly, "Sharp-tongued! Let's see who dares to marry you!"

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi couldn't be bothered to argue with Sun Xuan. Mainly, this Sun Xuan was a dignified scholar but couldn't out-scold her, which made it meaningless. Zhou Zhou Dingzhi moved aside, preparing to bypass Sun Xuan. Sun Xuan's drunken energy came up, and he took a step forward, blocking Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's path.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had already walked out of the "Heaven" grade private room. He was actually here to return the mask.

The Great Ming Emperor saw Wang Qian walking out of the private room at the end of the corridor. As soon as Wang Qian saw His Majesty come out, he shrank back, but wanting to watch the fun, he just stretched out his head.

Zhu Zhu Yijun laughed directly. Watching the fun was indeed human nature.

"A good dog doesn't block the way!" Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's mouth twitched. Being blinded by love and getting involved in such karma truly made her want to slap herself hard.

Sun Xuan was a bit unable to step down. The Xitucheng wealthy households and his classmates were all watching him. He had to do something, otherwise, he would lose all face.

"Come with me!" Sun Xuan stretched out his hand, wanting to grab Zhou Zhou Dingzhi.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's left hand suddenly grabbed Sun Xuan's outstretched hand, twisted it hard, extended his left foot, and kicked Sun Xuan's knee. His right hand suddenly drew a three-foot blade, and with a flash of cold light, it was placed on Sun Xuan's neck.

Sun Xuan fell to the ground in pain and felt the chill on his neck. The blade was very cold and sharpened. The stinging sensation made him sober up immediately.

"Sobered up?" Zhu Zhu Yijun's blade pressed down slightly and said with slight helplessness, "It's just that I don't have an arrest warrant, otherwise you'd already be dead."

Getting an arrest warrant from the Ministry of Justice was a bit troublesome. Even with an expedited application, it would take a day. Zhu Zhu Yijun put away the blade with slight regret and looked at Sun Xuan's leg. Zhu Zhu Yijun's kick was the embodiment of seven years of standing-post training; it broke Sun Xuan's leg in one go.

The number one expert in the youth group was truly the number one expert. It was just that Zhu Zhu Yijun felt that people were fooling him. That Luo Luo Sigong was the one with the best acting skills!

"Young Master Wang, clean this up?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Qian, who was watching the fun.

"Master Huang, please go ahead. I'll clean this up!" Wang Qian promised loudly. Cleaning up the mess for His Majesty was Wang Qian's honor.

Everyone didn't recognize Young Master Huang, but everyone recognized Wang Qian even if he turned to ash. Wang Qian was so fawning over this Young Master Huang, which showed that this Penglai Huang clan was indeed a family member of the Grand General's mansion, Qi Qi Jiguang.

Can't afford to offend, truly can't afford to offend.

Sun Xuan, lying on the ground, still wanted to say something, but Yao Yao Guangming had already covered Sun Xuan's mouth tightly. Stop talking, damn it! With this kind of judgment, you still want to "advance"?

Yao Yao Guangming wasn't someone Wang Qian had bought off. The one Wang Qian bought off was a "cheap scholar," Sun Xuan's classmate and fellow villager.

"Originally, we had fate but no destiny, so I was going to let Miss Zhou go, but I wasn't reconciled. With Sun Xuan making such a scene, Miss, you have no choice but to come with me." Zhu Zhu Yijun held Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's hand and left the Yanxing Pavilion.

Not enough fate? Sun Xuan makes up for it.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had originally intended to let Zhou Zhou Dingzhi go. With Sun Xuan making such a scene, if he let go now, wouldn't it mean he was afraid of these "cheap scholars"?

"Young Master, this iron waist of yours, be gentle with this slave." Zhou Zhou Dingzhi was a bit excited—both mentally and physically. Young Master Huang's skills were truly too handsome!

In the blink of an eye, he had placed the blade on the other's neck. The Yanxing Pavilion often had scenes of jealousy, but Zhou Zhou Dingzhi never expected that she would become the one being fought over.

Zhu Zhu Yijun left from the back door. The carriage turned onto the imperial road and headed toward the detached palace.

"Your hand is a bit dishonest." Zhu Zhu Yijun felt the hand on his waist and reminded Zhou Zhou Dingzhi. Don't be so obvious about wanting his body; she was already drooling.

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi's body softened, and she whispered, "Young Master Huang, take your hand off my butt; you're pinching it until it hurts. If Young Master likes it so much, tonight I'll let you 'plate' it properly."

In a private space, Zhou Zhou Dingzhi became very bold. Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't like "clear soup and light water"; he liked the kind that was "burning and sultry," the kind that could melt a person.

"Young Master, where are we going?" Zhou Zhou Dingzhi became more and more confused. The surrounding street scene looked more and more like they were heading toward the palace.

"The detached palace, my home." Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't pretend anymore at this time and laid his cards directly on the table.

Zhou Zhou Dingzhi was a bit dizzy and stunned. Looking at the iron armor of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, she was stunned for a long time before hesitating and slowly opening her mouth to say, "Ah?"

Shiver or shudder? I specifically checked, and it said both can be used. Please vote, Awoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 372 =====