RPAGF Chapter 92 Your Highness, would you like a drink?
Chapter 92 Your Highness, would you like a drink?
“I’ve searched the surrounding area. There was a fresh snowfall last night, and all traces in the area have been buried by the snow. I can’t find any useful clues at all.”
Xu Ning said, panting.
His lightness skill was impressive, but he couldn't withstand such recklessness. He trudged through the snow, one step deep and the other shallow, which exhausted him. Sometimes, when he tried to find a tree to use as leverage to fly further, he would get covered in snow.
Xu Yang handed him a water bottle and said, “We met a hunter who said that people are heading south. If they want to return to the Northern Barbarians, they shouldn’t be heading south. But if they want to hide people somewhere in the Great Zhou, they will be hard to find.”
After Xu Yang finished speaking, Xie Wanru's expression became noticeably more serious.
She had already thought of this. The Great Zhou Dynasty was vast and rich in resources, making it too easy to hide someone. The only clue might be that the person who kidnapped her third brother was a tall northern barbarian.
The problem is that the Northern Barbarians and Xiao Yan's people colluded, and once the handover was completed, the only clue would be gone.
"We must hurry, we can't let the Northern Barbarians hand my third brother over to Xiao Yan's men."
After Xie Wanru finished speaking, she mounted her horse, and Xu Ning and Xu Yang quickly followed.
Xuancheng.
Shen Cong'an was drinking tea in a teahouse, but surprisingly, Xiao Yan was sitting opposite him.
He had already sent people to the border to meet the Northern Barbarians. The kidnapping and hiding of Xie Yanting was something he had planned long ago, when Xie Yanting was escorting disaster relief to the northern border.
“Shen Cong’an, what Xiao Long can give you, I can give you too. I know that someone as smart as you would be more willing to follow the strong.”
Xiao Yan was full of confidence. "I heard that your Shen family is short of money recently, and your second brother has even started selling off his land."
Shen Cong'an, sitting opposite him, remained calm and composed. When Xie Wanru and Shen Nian'an divorced, it was he who used all the cash in the mansion to compensate them and even pawned some things to cover the losses.
Therefore, he knew the Shen family's situation better than anyone else.
Xiao Yan, however, took it as a matter of consideration, since choosing a new master was not something that could be decided immediately.
“I understand that you are unwilling to compromise your principles for a meager living, but I can tell you very clearly that I will definitely be stronger than Xiao Long in the future and will be able to provide you with better treatment.”
As he spoke, Xiao Yan took out a thick stack of silver notes.
As you can see on the surface, each note is worth one hundred taels; if you add them all up, you could have several thousand taels.
"With this money, you should be able to solve the current problems of your Shen family. I can also provide you with funds in the future, enough for your Shen family's expenses. Of course, I'm not asking you to betray Xiao Long and work for me completely. I just want you not to help him, and to tell me about his plans from time to time."
Xiao Yan finally finished speaking, sat down, looked at Shen Cong'an, and waited for Shen Cong'an's reply.
Across from him, Shen Cong'an remained calm, diligently washing, pouring, and tasting the tea...
"Would Your Highness like a drink?"
Shen Cong'an didn't look up, but continued to fiddle with the tea set, as if the person he was talking to was just an ordinary friend.
Xiao Yan, who had just been confident of victory, suddenly turned grim. He knew very well that Shen Cong'an's attitude meant that he would not agree to his conditions and was even ignoring his existence.
"Shen Cong'an, don't be so stubborn! You know very well that Xiao Long and I can't get along peacefully, and I won't tolerate him having talented people under his command. If you can't be of use to me..."
Xiao Yan's expression turned slightly angry. For a fleeting moment, he had truly wanted to eliminate the person before him.
It is undeniable that Shen Cong'an was indeed outstanding. Before he fell into a coma, he held a very high position in front of his father and was recognized as a talented person.
Although he was not the top scholar in the imperial examination, he still achieved excellent results, which is why his father, the emperor, directly appointed him to an official position, and no one objected.
Moreover, his plans have been going wrong ever since he came back. Shen Cong'an is too smart. If he can't win him over, he'll only ruin his plans!
Shen Cong'an did indeed smile slightly, showing no fear.
"Your Highness, tea doesn't taste good when it gets cold."
After discarding the old tea, Shen Cong'an poured him a fresh cup.
Seeing his behavior, Xiao Yan became furious and swept the teacup to the ground. "Shen Cong'an!"
He stood up and almost lost control of himself and tried to strangle Shen Cong'an.
"Do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"
At worst, he could just spend a little more money to kill someone; it was something Xiao Yan could do quietly.
"If Your Highness does not like tea, I am willing to accompany you with wine."
Shen Cong'an remained the same as always, adopting a "you say what you want to say, I don't understand and I don't want to listen" attitude.
Xiao Yan could no longer control himself, but when he got close to Shen Cong'an, Shen Cong'an looked at him with a resolute gaze, which startled him, and he had no choice but to stop.
Why? How could someone struggling to survive possess such terrifying courage?
"You're ruthless! Shen Cong'an! I won't let your Shen family get away with this. You'll pay the price for your arrogance today."
After uttering those harsh words, Xiao Yan turned and left, cursing Shen Cong'an's name countless times in his heart.
After the person left, Shen Cong'an realized that his right hand, which was pouring tea, was trembling uncontrollably. He took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Stay with me to the end!"
Shen Cong'an managed to utter four words before his trembling body gradually calmed down.
His composure just now was all a facade. He couldn't agree to Xiao Yan's request. He was on Xie Wanru's side, and he would never bow down to Xiao Yan. But that didn't mean that a weak scholar like him wasn't afraid of the other party.
When Shen Cong'an returned to his residence, his legs were still a little weak.
"Big brother."
Shen Nian'an passed by the entrance of the East Garden and greeted him politely when he returned. However, Shen Cong'an was still in a daze and was almost startled by him.
"Uh-huh."
Shen Cong'an nodded in response and went into his own courtyard.
His side wasn't burned and is still intact, while Shen Nian'an's side is under reconstruction and is still in ruins. Shen Nian'an came to check on the progress of the reconstruction. He might not be able to move back easily, but he hopes that when the repairs are finished, his father will agree to let Shen Yanzhi move back in.
"What are you so arrogant about? Humph!"
Shen Nian'an snorted coldly.
Upon entering the courtyard, Shen Cong'an saw Shen Mo practicing martial arts and suddenly felt a strange sense of descent in his heart. He had already died once, and he was not afraid of Xiao Yan harming him, but Mo'er was different!
"Father!"
Shen Mo called out to him happily, but didn't move, continuing to maintain his horse stance.
He has caught up in his studies and has been approved to learn martial arts.
Shen Cong'an gave him a gentle smile, but he already had a plan in mind.
He sent Shen Mo to stay in Void Mountain, at least until the internal strife was resolved, so that he could not remain in the Shen residence.
So he consulted with Dongzhu.