Chapter 190 - 104: A Real Man Can Be Long or Short

Chapter 190: Chapter 104: A Real Man Can Be Long or Short

After a moment’s thought, he took out a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone, and began to write furiously at his desk.

When Tan Kuang saw the letter’s contents, he couldn’t help but ask in surprise, "Your Highness, are you trying to persuade them to surrender?"

"Of course!"

"But the Mansion Competition is full of proud, arrogant people. Will they even listen?"

"Some of them will."

Zhao Yong smiled faintly. "As long as three or four of them listen, the Tenth Prince’s Mansion will be all but hopeless. Even if they manage to recruit some scion from a major clan with a lot of points, it will be practically impossible for them to catch up to Prince Lie’s Mansion.

Unless some genius suddenly appears in Lingge, challenges several of the great mansions, racks up over twenty points, and joins the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.

Do you think that’s likely?"

Realization dawned on Tan Kuang. He said with admiration, "Your Highness is brilliant!"

Zhuge Xiao also glanced at Zhao Yong with a faint smile. ’This Prince’s temperament is even better than I expected.’

’It’s just...’

’Sigh!’

He sighed to himself. ’To be honest, I have a rather good impression of Zhao Ci, especially after hearing about the incident in the Northern Three Prefectures where he gifted those pills.’

’This Tenth Prince seems to possess a sense of compassion that the other princes lack.’

’Unfortunately, we each serve our own master.’

’I can only do him this wrong.’

...

Night deepened.

Even Lingge, a city with the most vibrant nightlife, had fallen into a quiet slumber.

A curfew was in effect within the city.

All four city gates were closed.

「North City Gate.」

A woman in coarse linen clothes slowly approached, leading a tall horse that had a lame leg.

The city guards on night duty hurried forward to stop her.

The woman pulled a token from her robes and gave the city guards an apologetic smile.

"Ah, it’s Miss Kan!"

The wariness on the city guards’ faces vanished the moment they saw the token. It had been bestowed upon the Kan Family by the Grand Ancestor Emperor, granting them access to many restricted areas to deal with matters that outsiders couldn’t handle.

A mere curfew was certainly not going to stop her.

Of course.

Each token was limited to a single user. Otherwise, there would be huge problems.

"Miss Kan, please follow me. I’ll open the gate for you."

"Thank you."

Kan Luotang cupped her hands in thanks.

「A moment later.」

The city gate opened.

She led her lame horse into the city. After wrapping its hooves in thick cloth, she made her way silently toward the Kan Mansion.

She entered through the back gate, hoping not to disturb Kan Tianji’s rest since it was so late.

But to her surprise, the lights in the main hall were on.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hurried to the main hall and, just as she’d suspected, found Kan Tianji waiting for her.

On the table,

was a spread of steaming hot food.

"Grandfather!"

Kan Luotang’s eyes reddened.

Kan Tianji looked slightly weary, but he smiled and beckoned to her. "None of that now. Come and eat first!"

"Okay!"

Kan Luotang smiled and nodded. After washing her hands and face, she sat down at the table.

She hadn’t ridden her horse on the journey, which had cost her a lot of time, and she was truly starving.

Once the worst of her hunger had subsided, she asked in amazement, "Grandfather! Your divination arts must have improved again. You actually foresaw my return."

Kan Tianji chuckled and stroked his beard. "Not at all. I have students in the Northern Three Prefectures. One of them sent a carrier pigeon to inform me that you had left, leading your horse. I just calculated your pace and figured you’d arrive around now."

Kan Luotang was speechless.

’I thought it was the art of divination.’

’But it turned out to be simple arithmetic.’

Kan Tianji glanced at her and asked with a smile, "You should be in the Northern Three Prefectures treating the sick right now. Why did you return to Lingge ahead of schedule?"

Kan Luotang smiled, pressing her lips together. "I have something important to tell you, Grandfather!"

’Tell me?’

’Not even to discuss it with me.’

Stroking his beard, Kan Tianji feigned curiosity. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Kan Luotang took a deep breath. "I’m going to join the Tenth Prince’s Mansion as a Mansion Official!"

"Oh..."

Kan Tianji replied flatly.

Seeing his reaction, Kan Luotang’s heart tightened. "Don’t you have anything to say about it?"

"Of course I do."

"Then what is—"

Suddenly, Kan Luotang’s head started to spin. In a daze, she heard Kan Tianji say, "This is my opinion," before she slumped onto the table, unconscious.