Chapter 77 - 68: My Charm Only Works on Bad Women (3)

Chapter 77: Chapter 68: My Charm Only Works on Bad Women (3)

After Zhao Ci pushed the door open and stepped inside, the person escorting him promptly left.

"Greetings, Tenth Prince!"

Kan Luotang seemed to have been waiting for a long time. Seeing Zhao Ci enter, she immediately stood up and gave him a graceful bow.

Zhao Ci sized her up. She was still wearing her usual plain white dress, made of a comfortable cotton-linen blend. For an ordinary family, it would be considered high-quality fabric, but in the circles of the rich and powerful, it was a bit too simple.

"Miss Luotang, sorry to have kept you waiting."

Zhao Ci gave a slight smile and sat down across from her. "May I ask why you invited me here today?"

Although the woman opposite him was his fiancée, he only felt the pleasant yet distant regard one has for a decent stranger.

’She’s a nice person.’

’But it feels like we’re from two different worlds. Like back in high school—the gaming addict is obsessed with hitting the highest rank, while the class belle is studying for her level-ten piano exam. It’s not that one looks down on the other, it’s just that they’re not on the same wavelength.’

’Right now, my mind is all about building my career. I’m not against a little fun if the mood is right, but I’m not the type to start hitting on every pretty girl I see.’

’If Zhu Li hadn’t been so relevant to my career path, I wouldn’t have even bothered with much small talk with her.’

’As for Kan Luotang, she seems to have always had her own goals.’

’I wonder what she wanted to see me for.’

Kan Luotang poured the freshly brewed tea into a cup and pushed it solemnly before Zhao Ci. "To be honest with you, Tenth Prince, I’ve taken the liberty of inviting you today because I have a favor to ask!"

Zhao Ci gulped down the tea. As expected, it was fragrant and delicious.

He wracked his brain for a more sophisticated word, but in the end, just gave her a thumbs-up. "Delicious!"

Kan Luotang: "..."

Zhao Ci: "Please, feel free to speak directly."

Kan Luotang couldn’t help but smile faintly, and she got straight to the point. "Your Highness, the two hundred thousand taels’ worth of pills you requested for the common people yesterday was a truly righteous deed. I admire you for it greatly. I just wanted to ask, have you decided who this batch of pills will be given to?"

"Not yet."

Zhao Ci shook his head. He was only doing it to farm Insight Points. As long as it was someone who desperately wanted but couldn’t get Qi Cultivation Pills, their wish would surely register.

As for who exactly would receive them, he really had no preference.

"That’s wonderful!"

Kan Luotang took a deep breath. "If it’s possible, I’d like to request that Your Highness allow this batch of pills to be taken to the people of the Northern Three Prefectures."

Zhao Ci was a little surprised. "The Northern Three Prefectures?"

Thinking he was unwilling, Kan Luotang quickly took a piece of paper from her sleeve. "I won’t let Your Highness suffer a loss. I heard from Zhu Li that you’ve been facing obstacles in recruiting officials. According to my knowledge, there are still many talented individuals in Lingge who have not yet joined a Prince’s household. Although they may not compare to the geniuses who have already been recruited, they are all resolute in character and are sure to have limitless futures."

Whoa!

’She really came prepared!’

[Current Wish of Kan Luotang]: To have this batch of pills reach the hands of the people in the Northern Three Prefectures to ward off a calamitous evil. Wish Fulfillment Reward: Insight Points +1000, Stealable Skill: Hundred Arts of Evil Warding.]

Whoa!

’The recent rewards have been pretty generous!’

’But the difficulty isn’t low, either. Feng Kucha’s wish required fifty merit points.’

’This wish... will probably face some resistance.’

From Zhao Huan’s perspective, it would be best to give these pills to people with high potential. Persuading him would likely take some effort.

But since he was the one who had, in a sense, donated the pills, persuading him shouldn’t be exceptionally difficult.

Besides, once qi is generated, a hundred ailments vanish. The people of the Northern Three Prefectures were truly living miserable lives, and this batch of pills could bring them significant relief. Kan Luotang’s idea could be considered a good deed.

’I’ll just consider it an investment in good karma.’

"Alright! I agree."

Zhao Ci directly stuffed the list into his robes.

"Huh?"

Kan Luotang was stunned for a moment. She had originally thought she would have to put in a lot of effort to convince him, but she never expected him to agree so quickly. For a moment, she felt a little dizzy.

She couldn’t help but ask, "Your Highness, you really agree?"

Zhao Ci nodded with a smile. "The Xingyu Pill Association gained a great talent like Zhu Li thanks in no small part to your efforts. And this list is like sending charcoal in a snowstorm. You’re only making a small request, so why wouldn’t I help?"

Kan Luotang felt a little ashamed. She had only helped Zhu Li join the Pill Association so Zhu Li could fulfill her own obsession; it didn’t have much to do with Zhao Ci.

Besides, this list wasn’t actually that valuable.

However, she didn’t stand on ceremony, but solemnly gave Zhao Ci a cupped-fist salute. "Tenth Prince, you are truly righteous. On behalf of the people of the Northern Three Prefectures, I thank Your Highness!"

"Your thanks are enough. It’s you the people of the Northern Three Prefectures should be thanking!"

Zhao Ci waved his hand with a smile. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way. I happen to be heading to the palace, so I’ll bring this matter up with my father, the Emperor."

"Thank you!"

"Farewell!"

She watched Zhao Ci leave.

Kan Luotang was a bit dazed. She had told Zhu Li before that Zhao Ci was a gentleman, but Zhu Li had disagreed.

Seeing all of Zhao Ci’s underhanded schemes, she too had her doubts for a while.

But now she was more certain than ever that her judgment was not wrong. Zhao Ci was a true gentleman.

The genuine article.

...

「Imperial Study.」

Zhao Huan was still unhurriedly reviewing his memorials, his posture even more stooped than the day before.

The sight caused the minister reporting below him to feel a pang of anxiety.

He grew more worried and said, "Your Majesty, the matter of the Fourth Prince entering the Imperial Clan Court can be delayed no longer!"

"I know, I know!"

Zhao Huan was getting a headache from hearing this. It was the kind of thing the Crown Prince Faction would say, but he knew that the old minister before him was an out-and-out "clear stream" of the court.

He says whatever is on his mind.

Incredibly stubborn.

He had scolded him many times, but the man still dared to bring this matter up before him.

Fortunately, he only mentioned it privately in the Imperial Study and wouldn’t make a scene about it in the main court.

Zhao Huan waved his hand. "We are still in good health. In another two years, when We can no longer manage, We will lock up Old Fourth then."

The old minister: "But..."

At that moment, Eunuch Li’s voice sounded from outside the Imperial Study. "Your Majesty! Xiang Yunzhan requests an audience!"

Zhao Huan’s eyes instantly lit up. "Quickly, show him in!"

The person in whom he had placed such high hopes had finally arrived.