"Hmm, then let him in after he has stood there for four hours." Fang Zhengzhi rubbed his tummy and nodded.
"Yes." The soldier in golden armor replied and left.
Following that, the housekeeper came forward to report, the servant girl came forward to report, and so on and so forth. However, it wasn't about Tranquil Sun Residence. Instead, it was about the 'interesting' happenings in Flame Capital City.
After Ping Yang heard everything, the housekeeper, servant, and servant all left. Only Ping Yang, Fang Zhengzhi, and Yan Xiu were left in the courtyard.
"Ah ah ah, this princess is suffocating. Are you going to tell this princess where you have been for the past year or not?" Ping Yang waited for all the servants to leave before she finally could not hold it in any longer.
"You want to know? No problem, but you have to beat me first. Only the winner has the right to ask questions. The loser can only answer. "Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ping Yang with disdain.
"Humph, I will definitely beat you!" Ping Yang pouted.
"Now, tell me, who is King Liqin's favorite person?" Fang Zhengzhi ignored Ping Yang and asked.
"You're asking King Liqin's grandfather? Of course, he likes me the most, followed by Sister Yan. Xing Hou is also on good terms with King Liqin's grandfather. "Ping Yang blinked, as though she was willing to admit defeat.
"Chi Guyan?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
He did not believe Ping Yang's words completely. He was most likely narcissistic. If he was right, King Liqin's favorite person was Chi Guyan.
As for this...
He could see it in the throne room more than a year ago.
At that time, he was in the World of the Sage. He brought the Traceless Sword to the throne room and was "robbed" by the officials, the Crown Prince, and King Duan. In the end, Chi Guyan and King Liqin arrived to ease the tension.
However, Fang Zhengzhi did not know much about King Liqin at that time. As such, he did not have much of a relationship with him.
"You're not thinking of asking Sister Yan to help you plead with King Liqin's grandfather and then ask him to help you clear your name in front of my father, right? Don't even think about it. It's impossible. King Liqin's grandfather never interferes with politics. Furthermore, Sister Yan is still in seclusion in the Heaven Dao Pavilion! "Ping Yang seemed to have thought of something.
"How do you know that Chi Guyan is in seclusion?" Fang Zhengzhi was confused.
"Of course I know. If Sister Yan wasn't in seclusion, why wouldn't she reply to me?" Ping Yang said matter-of-factly.
"A reply? Hmm … how long ago did you and Chi Guyan communicate? "
"Three months ago."
"Oh, what do you say in your letters?"
"What does it have to do with you? This princess is not going to tell you! However, in Sister Yan's last reply, she mentioned that she might need to cultivate for a period of time. She said that it was almost time for an appointment. She also said that since she missed the appointment once, she wouldn't miss it again. I even wrote to Sister Yan to ask about the appointment, but she hasn't replied yet! "
"Appointment?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head.
According to the time, the Heaven Dao Pavilion's biennial selection was approaching. In the previous selection, Nangong Hao had successfully entered the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
Calculating the time, the Imperial Examinations were about to begin. After the Imperial Examinations, it would be the Court Examinations. After the Court Examinations, it would be the Heaven Dao Pavilion Selection Examinations.
Heaven Dao Pavilion!
More than a year ago, when Fang Zhengzhi heard of this name, he only treated it as a name. However, that was not the case now.
One Pavilion, Four Sages, Thirteen Constabularies.
This was an ancient saying in the Great Xia Dynasty. It was not something that could be casually said. Furthermore, the fact that one Pavilion could stand above the Four Sages was not something that could be casually made up.
"Three months should be enough!"
…
While Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang were discussing the Heaven Dao Pavilion, Wen Dabao, who was standing outside the Ping Yang Residence, was as pale as an eggplant.
He had stood outside the mansion for four hours without eating or drinking. This was simply a nightmare for a disciple of an aristocratic family who was used to living like a prince.
Fortunately, the nightmare was finally coming to an end.
This was because the soldier in golden armor who took his silver slowly walked out of the residence. Then, he walked to his side.
However …
Why hadn't he answered his question or opened his mouth after a quarter of an hour had passed?
Just as Wen Dabao was about to ask again, the golden-armored soldier finally raised his head. He looked at the sky, and then at the sand clock hanging outside the mansion.
"Alright, you can go in now."
"I can go in now?" Wen Dabao almost jumped up when he heard this. He did not expect Fang Zhengzhi to be so busy the moment he arrived in Flame Capital City.
However, he did not take it to heart. After all, to be able to see Fang Zhengzhi was already a huge blessing. Of course, if he knew that Fang Zhengzhi had been lying on the chair and basking in the sun for the past four hours...
He would not know how he would feel.
The soldier in golden armor led Wen Dabao to the entrance of the residence. Then, the soldier went in to report to Fang Zhengzhi before returning.
"Young Master Wen, please enter."
"Thank you!" Wen Dabao thanked the golden-armored soldier politely, licked his dry lips, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and quickly walked in.
The moment he entered the courtyard, a light floral fragrance wafted over. Wen Dabao felt refreshed. In Flame Capital City, Wen Dabao had visited many of the residences of the aristocratic families.
However, compared to Tranquil Sun Manor, they paled in comparison.
"Your Highness, Young … Young Master Fang, Young Master Yan!" Wen Dabao had learned his lesson. He did not address Fang Zhengzhi as Official Fang. In fact, he was afraid that he would make a mistake again.
"Did your father ask you to come?" Fang Zhengzhi asked directly, not bothering to exchange pleasantries.
"Erm …" Wen Dabao was stunned. His eyes glimmered as he looked at Fang Zhengzhi, who was smiling calmly. He felt a little flustered.
More than a year ago, Fang Zhengzhi, Yan Xiu, and Ping Yang had dragged him out to eat and drink. He still remembered it vividly. However, for some reason …
He suddenly felt that after not seeing Fang Zhengzhi for more than a year, Fang Zhengzhi gave him a completely different feeling.
If this was a year ago …
Fang Zhengzhi would never have asked this question. However, after more than a year, Fang Zhengzhi actually asked it. Furthermore, it was the first time he opened his mouth.
"Yes!" Wen Dabao hesitated for a long time before nodding.
"Hmm, what about you?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded and continued to ask.
"Of course I wanted to come. After I heard that Young … Young Master Fang had come to Flame Capital City, I wanted to welcome you … but at that time …" Wen Dabao was speechless.
He had come up with many excuses before he came. However, now that he saw Fang Zhengzhi, he realized that he could not bring himself to say any of them.
"It's good that you have thought about it." Fang Zhengzhi was not angered by Wen Dabao's words. Instead, he pointed to a chair not far from him.
Wen Dabao immediately understood and quickly walked to the chair and sat down.
"Actually, I don't know what my father is thinking. I wanted to invite the princess, Young Master Fang, and Young Master Yan to … ahem, but my father insisted that I come to Ping Yang Residence to look for you." Wen Dabao's body relaxed after he sat down. His expression became more casual.
"Why?" Fang Zhengzhi asked casually.
"My father didn't say anything. He just wanted me to talk to you and tell him what we talked about." Wen Dabao did not hesitate this time.
"Are you sure he didn't want you to look for Yan Xiu and Ping Yang?" Fang Zhengzhi asked again.
"No, he just wanted me to look for you." Wen Dabao confirmed.
"I understand. You can go back now."
"Ah?!"
"Don't tell me you want to stay at Tranquil Sun Residence for lunch?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Wen Dabao's shocked expression, and his lips curled into a smile.
"Erm … no, no!" Wen Dabao replied hurriedly.
"Then you can stay for lunch. You must have brought quite a bit of silver with you today, right?" Fang Zhengzhi glanced at Wen Dabao's wallet as he spoke.
"No, no … Actually, I only brought a little. Not much, not much, really not much … Just ten thousand taels … Uh, twenty thousand taels of silver!" Wen Dabao subconsciously wanted to cover it with his hand, but just as he was about to do so, he let go.
That was because he knew very well that in front of Fang Zhengzhi, there were some things that no matter how hard he tried to hide, there would never be anything left.
"Mm, just enough for one meal." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"Ah?! Twenty thousand taels of silver for a meal? "
"Do you want to eat two more meals?"
"Haha … Young Master Fang, after I finish this meal, will I be considered as one of King Duan's men?" Wen Dabao said as he revealed an expression of anticipation.
"Did your father ask you to ask this?"
"No, my father didn't ask me anything. He just wanted me to chat with you."
"You can go back after lunch. If you want to come back tomorrow, bring another twenty thousand silvers." Fang Zhengzhi had no intention of discussing this matter with Wen Dabao.
"Okay, how about we go to the Seven Star Lane tonight? Ever since the Intellectual Loft was burned down, the Seven Star Lane has been the best in the capital. " When Wen Dabao saw that Fang Zhengzhi did not want to talk about this anymore, he changed the topic and smirked.
"You still have silvers?" Fang Zhengzhi chuckled as he looked Wen Dabao up and down.
"Yes, of course I do! I have a small stash!" Wen Dabao thumped his chest.
"Yan Xiu, are you coming?" Fang Zhengzhi didn't answer Wen Dabao directly. Instead, he turned to look at Yan Xiu.
"I can go." Yan Xiu paused for a moment before replying.
"Okay, let's go to the Seven Star Lane tonight." Fang Zhengzhi nodded when he heard Yan Xiu's words.
"Why didn't you ask me if I wanted to go?" Ping Yang was a little displeased. After all, this was the Ping Yang Residence.
How could one speak in the Ping Yang Residence without asking for the owner's permission?
"I don't need to ask. You will definitely go." Fang Zhengzhi waved her off.
"What if I don't want to go?"
"That's even better."
"You wish! Why wouldn't I go?"
…
The next day, Wen Dabao appeared at the gates of the Ping Yang Residence around noon. However, he was in a much worse state than the day before.
His thick waist was bent like a humpback shrimp. His entire body was bent, and there were a few deep bruises on his face.
"Brother, I am here to look for Young Master Fang. Could you please inform him?" Wen Dabao limped over to the gates of Tranquil Sun Manor and spoke to the golden-armored soldier standing at the gates.
"Young Master Wen, how did you become like this?" The golden-armored soldier looked at Wen Dabao with a hint of surprise on his face.
He knew that Wen Dabao had gone to the Seven Star Lane with Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu.
In fact, he wasn't the only one who knew about this. Almost all of the aristocratic families and officials in the capital knew about it.
After all, Fang Zhengzhi was like a "bright pearl" in the Flame Capital City. As long as this bright pearl stayed quietly in Ping Yang Residence, there wouldn't be too many problems.
However …
When this pearl appeared in the crowded Seven Star Lane, and a group of four people at that …
That was a completely different story.
Because such an action was equivalent to courting death!
However, the strange thing was that nothing happened in the Seven Star Lane. Because of this, the soldier in golden armor didn't understand what was going on.
If nothing had happened, how did Wen Dabao end up like this?
Was there something going on at the Seven Star Lane last night?
The golden-armored soldier looked at Wen Dabao in confusion.
When Wen Dabao heard the golden-armored soldier's words, his face was filled with grief. It was as if he had thought of the most terrifying thing in the world. His entire body trembled.
This was a grievance that came from the depths of his heart.
Wen Dabao stared at the golden-armored soldier in front of him. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly as his eyes sparkled faintly.
"Young Master Wen, were you beaten up?" The golden-armored soldier asked again when he saw how Wen Dabao was trembling and how his eyes were glistening.
"Mm." Wen Dabao nodded, and a tear finally fell from the corner of his eye. It was the tear of a man who had been touched in the most vulnerable part of his heart.
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