Chapter 500 - Deal

Chapter 500: Deal
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Mm, let him in after he has stood outside for exactly four hours.
Fang Zhengzhi rubbed his tummy and nodded.

Okay.
The soldier in golden armor answered and took his leave. 　 Then, the manager of the residence and the servants took turns to report their respective issues. These weren’t issues regarding the residence, they were ‘tabloid’ news from the capital. 　　 After Ping Yang heard the reports, the orderlies left and the three of them were left in the garden once again. 　　
Ah!!! I can’t take it any longer! Are you going to tell me where you’ve been over the past year?
Ping Yang couldn’t hold it back any longer.

You really want to know? Sure, but you must beat me first. Only the winner has the right to ask questions. The loser can only answer questions.
Fang Zhengzhi said dismissively.

Humph! I can definitely defeat you!
Ping Yang pouted. 　　
Now you can answer my question! Who does King Liqin like the most?
Fang Zhengzhi queried.

You’re asking about King Liqin? He likes me the best and Sister Yan is a close second. He also has a good relationship with Xing Yuanguo and his dad.
Ping Yang blinked.

Chi Guyan?
Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
He couldn’t believe everything that Ping Yang said. She only said that she was his favorite because she was narcissistic. King Liqin probably liked Chi Guyan best. 　 About that… 　 That was clearly evident during the incident over a year ago in the throne room. 　 At that time, he had just come out of the World of the Sage. He held the Traceless Blade which the officials, the Crown Prince, and King Duan fought over. In the end, Chi Guyan had brought in King Liqin to resolve the issue. 　　 However, Fang Zhengzhi didn’t have much information on King Liqin at that time. Naturally, he had not interacted with this man before. 　
Are you thinking of having Sister Yan plead your case to King Liqin and ask King Liqin to tell the Emperor to acquit you? You can forget about it. King Liqin never interferes with politics! Furthermore, Sister Yan has isolated herself in the Heavenly Dao Pavilion!
Ping Yang said triumphantly! 　　
How do you know that she has isolated herself?
Fang Zhengzhi queried. 　
Of course I know. If Sister Yan wasn’t isolating herself, why wouldn’t she reply to my mails?
Ping Yang replied definitively. 　
Reply to you? Hmm… when was the last time you communicated with her?
　
Three months ago.


Oh, what were the contents of that letter?
　　
That has nothing to do with you! I’m not telling you anything! However, Sister Yan did mention that she needed some time to cultivate because the deadline for a deal was coming up. She said that the person would not miss the date a second time. When I asked her about it, she didn’t reply!
　　
A deal?
Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
The Heavenly Dao Pavilion selections should be coming soon. In the last selection, Nangong Hao had successfully made it there. 　 Fang Zhengzhi did a quick calculation. The Imperial Examinations were about to begin. After that came the court examinations. Then, it would be the Heavenly Dao Pavilion selections! 　　 The Heavenly Dao Pavilion! 　 When Fang Zhengzhi heard this name a year ago, it was no more than just a name to him. However, it meant more now.
One Pavillion, Four Sages, 13 Constabularies. 　 This was a common saying in the Great Xia. The Pavillion was placed above the Four Sages in the hierarchy.

Three months should be sufficient!

… 　 Whilst Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang discussed the Heavenly Dao Pavillion, Wen Dabao was becoming redder by the moment. 　 He had stood outside without food or water for almost four hours. This was a nightmare for someone as pampered as him. 　　 Lucky for him, it seemed like his nightmare was about to end. 　 The guard who had taken his silvers was walking back towards the gate. Then, the guard came to stand beside him. 　 However…
The guard continued to remain silent for 15 minutes. 　 Just as Wen Dabao was about to ask the guard if he could enter again, the guard turned around, looked at the sky, and then at the clock at the residence. 　　
Okay, you may enter now.
　
I can enter?
Wen Dabao nearly jumped out of his skin. He never expected that Fang Zhengzhi would be this busy. 　 However, he was not too affected by this. After all, he was lucky to be able to meet with Fang Zhengzhi. However, if he knew that Fang Zhengzhi had been suntanning for the past four hours…
His reaction might have been different. 　　 Wen Jiabao was led to the entrance to the garden by the soldier. Then, the soldier went in to announce his arrival. 　　
Young Master Wen, please.
　　
Thank you!
Wen Dabao nodded and thanked the soldier. He licked his dry lips, swallowed his saliva, then walked in. 　 The moment he entered, he was greeted by the fragrance of the flowers. This caused Wen Dabao to feel slightly intoxicated. His house was one of the more luxurious ones in the city.
However, it was still a far cry from Ping Yang’s residence.

Your Highness, Young… Young Master Fang, Young Master Yan!
Wen Dabao learnt his lesson. He decided to not call Fang Zhengzhi by name. 　　
Your dad asked you to come?
Fang Zhengzhi asked, skipping the formalities. 　　
Mm…
Wen Dabao was stumped. His eyes glittered and he smiled at Fang Zhengzhi. At that moment, he felt slightly flustered. 　 Over a year ago, Fang Zhengzhi, Yan Xiu, and Ping Yang had made him treat them to many meals. However, today…
He had a feeling that Fang Zhengzhi had changed drastically over the past year.
A year ago… 　 Fang Zhengzhi would have never asked such a question. Yet, merely a year later, that was the first question Fang Zhengzhi had asked him. 　
Yes!
Wen Dabao nodded after some hesitation.

Mm, what about yourself?
Fang Zhengzhi nodded. 　
I wanted to come here as well. When I heard that Fang… Young Master Fang was in the capital, I wanted to… but at that time…
Wen Dabao couldn’t find the words to express his thoughts. 　　 He had come up with many reasons before this. However, when he saw Fang Zhengzhi, he realized that he couldn’t bring himself to say any of them.

It’s the thought that counts.
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t seem angered by the reaction. He simply pointed to a chair nearby.
Wen Dabao got the hint and took his seat.

I don’t know what my dad is thinking either. I thought he wanted the Princess, yourself, and Young Master Yan to… ahem, he just wanted me to come here to visit you.
Wen Dabao seemed a lot more relaxed after sitting down. 　　
Whatever for?
Fang Zhengzhi asked. 　　
He didn’t say anything. All he said was that I should come over and chat with you. I was to tell him what we talked about.
Wen Dabao replied without hesitation. 　
Are you sure he wasn’t asking you to look for Yan Xiu or Ping Yang?
Fang Zhengzhi asked.

No, he specified you.
Wen Dabao asserted. 　　
I understand. You can go back now.
　
What?!


Were you thinking of staying for lunch?
Fang Zhengzhi smirked as he asked. 　
Erm… no, no!
Wen Dabao was flustered.

Actually you can stay for lunch. Did you bring money today?
Fang Zhengzhi looked at the waist pack on Wen Dabao.

No, no… actually, I did bring a little with me. Not much, not much, really not much… just 10,000… no, 20,000 silvers!
Wen Dabao wanted to hide some away but decided against it. 　 He knew that any attempt to hide the money would be useless when Fang Zhengzhi was on the other side. 　
Mm, just enough for a meal.
Fang Zhengzhi nodded. 　
What?! 20,000 silvers for one meal?


Were you planning on eating two?
　
Haha… Young Master Fang, am I going to be one of King Duan’s people after this meal?
Wen Dabao asked excitedly.

Did you dad have you ask this question?
　
No, my dad didn’t ask me to ask any questions. He simply asked me to come over for a chat.
　　
You can go back after lunch. If you want to come back for lunch tomorrow, bring another 20,000 silvers.
Fang Zhengzhi had no intention to continue the conversation with Wen Dabao.

Okay. How about we go to the Seven Stars Lane tonight? Ever since the fire at the Intellectual Loft a year ago, the Seven Stars Lane has become the new hot spot.
Wen Dabao smirked when he saw Fang Zhengzhi’s expression. 　
You still have money?
Fang Zhengzhi smiled and looked at Wen Dabao.

I do, of course I do! I have a small vault of gold!
Wen Dabao pounded his chest. 　
Yan Xiu, are you coming?
Fang Zhengzhi turned to ask Yan Xiu without answering Wen Dabao. 　　
I can go.
Yan Xiu hesitated for a moment before replying.

Okay then, we will go to the Seven Stars Lane tonight.
Fang Zhengzhi nodded after he heard Yan Xiu’s reply. 　　
Why didn’t you ask me if I wanted to go?
Ping Yang was rather annoyed that Fang Zhengzhi didn’t invite her. They were in her house! 　 How could they just ignore her in her own home?

I don’t have to. I know you will definitely come.
Fang Zhengzhi waved her off. 　　
What if I don’t go?
　
That’s even better.
　
You must be joking! I will definitely be going!

… 　　 Wen Dabao arrived at noon the next day. However, he was in worse shape today than he was yesterday.
His back was hunched and he was bruised in multiple places. He couldn’t even stand up straight. 　　
Brother, I am here to see Young Master Fang. Please help me inform him.
Wen Dabao limped over to the gate and spoke to the guard.

What happened to you, Young Master Wen?
The guard was shocked to see Wen Dabao in this state.
He knew that Wen Dabao had gone to the Seven Stars Lane with Yan Xiu, Ping Yang, and Fang Zhengzhi.
In fact, every noble family and official in the city knew about this. 　 After all, Fang Zhengzhi had a spotlight on him wherever he went. There weren’t many questions asked when he stayed inside the walls of Ping Yang’s Residence.
However…
When he appeared at the Seven Star Lane with three others, two of whom are high profile individuals…
That was a completely different story. 　　 That was equivalent to courting death! 　 However, what was even more shocking was that nothing had happened in the Seven Star Lane yesterday night. 　　 Since nothing had happened, why was Wen Dabao in this state? 　 Was there something that happened in the Seven Star Lane that no one knew about? 　 The guard looked at Wen Dabao doubtfully. 　 When Wen Dabao heard the soldier’s words, his face contorted in pain. He shuddered, almost as if he was reminded of something terrifying.
He had been embarrassed and humiliated. 　 Wen Dabao’s lips twitched as tears began to well up in his eyes. He looked up at the guard. 　　
Young Master Wen, were you beaten?
The guard asked again when he saw Wen Dabao trembling with tears forming in his eyes.

Mm.
Wen Dabao nodded and a tear rolled down his cheek. This was a tear that resulted from a man’s sadness after being struck when he was most vulnerable.
The golden armored soldier was stunned to hear this. Did something really happen at the Seven Star Lane yesterday night?