Chapter 195 - 104: Zhu Li: Chew It Up and Feed Me

Chapter 195: Chapter 104: Zhu Li: Chew It Up and Feed Me

But as for Zhao Ci...

’That man is a bit too ambitious.’

Furthermore, he’d heard that the main reason the Imperial Clan Court was offering a reward this time was that his father, the Emperor, had taken the Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk from his personal treasury and insisted on adding it to the Mansion Contest’s Merit Library.

It was self-evident who that was for.

He pondered for a moment before taking out a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone, then hunched over his desk and began writing furiously.

When Tan Kuang saw the letter’s contents, he couldn’t help but be astonished. "Your Highness, are you trying to persuade them to concede?"

"Of course!"

"But most of the participants in the Mansion Contest are proud and arrogant. 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 he manages to recruit a high-scoring scion from a major clan, it will be virtually impossible to catch up to Prince Lie’s Mansion.

Unless some genius suddenly appears in Lingge, challenges all the major mansions, sweeps up more than twenty points, and then joins the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.

Do you think that’s likely?"

Tan Kuang’s eyes widened in realization, and he said with admiration, "Your Highness is wise!"

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

However...

Alas!

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

’This Tenth Prince seems to possess a compassion that the other Princes lack.’

’It’s just a pity that we each serve our own master.’

’I can only do him this wrong.’

...

The night deepened.

Even Lingge, a city famed for its bustling nightlife, had fallen into a quiet slumber.

A curfew was in effect within the city walls.

All the city gates were closed.

「North City Gate」

A woman in coarse linen clothes slowly approached, leading a tall, limping horse by the reins.

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!"

Upon seeing the token, the wariness in the guards’ expressions vanished. This token had been bestowed upon the Kan Family by the Grand Ancestor Emperor. It granted them access to many forbidden areas to handle matters that outsiders couldn’t.

A mere curfew, of course, was no obstacle for her.

Of course.

Each token was limited to a single user; otherwise, it would cause a major problem.

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

"Thank you for the trouble."

Kan Luotang cupped her hands.

A moment later.

The city gate opened.

She led her limping horse into the city. After wrapping its hooves in thick cloth, she quietly made her way to the Kan Mansion.

She entered through the back door, thinking that since it was so late, she wouldn’t disturb Kan Tianji’s rest.

She didn’t expect, however, to find the lights in the main hall still on.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hurried to the main hall and, sure enough, found Kan Tianji waiting for her.

On the table.

A steaming hot meal was laid out.

"Grandfather!"

Kan Luotang’s eyes grew red.

Kan Tianji, a hint of exhaustion on his face, smiled and beckoned to her. "None of that sentimental nonsense. 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 famished.

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 quite. I have students in the Northern Three Prefectures. They sent a message by carrier pigeon telling me you had left leading your horse. I calculated your pace and figured you would arrive right about now."

Kan Luotang: "..."

’I thought it was divination.’

’Turns out it was just arithmetic.’

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

A smile touched Kan Luotang’s lips. "I have something important to tell you, Grandfather!"

’Tell me?’

’Not even ’discuss.’’

Kan Tianji stroked his beard, feigning 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 nonchalantly.

Seeing his reaction, Kan Luotang’s heart tightened. "Don’t you have any thoughts on the matter?"

"Of course I have thoughts on the matter!"

"Then your though—"

Kan Luotang suddenly felt her head spin. In a daze, she heard Kan Tianji say, "This is my thought on the matter," before she collapsed onto the table, unconscious.