On the carriage, Su Wen scrutinized the metal blade before turning to Zhao Jin with a smile, “Do you know that there are always some interesting people in this world? Although the quality of this sword is not good, the material is clearly made of Frost Iron. If something of this size is placed on the market, it would sell for at least ten thousand taels of silver, yet he sold it for half a bowl of noodles.”
Zhao Jin smiled and said, “His brain isn’t good. Probably had become silly from cultivation.”
Su Wen shook his head and declined to comment. To each their own.
Soon, the young man once again appeared in front of the carriage. He was walking towards the direction of the city gates.
Zhao Jin chased after him while Su Wen stuck his head out and shouted out with a smile, “Brother, where are you going? It’s so cold outside, why don’t you get on the carriage?”
That person raised his head and glanced at Su Wen before turning away. “Not interested.”
This person was just like an iceberg.
Su Wen pulled his head back into the carriage, and the carriage slowly followed behind the young man.
After a while, the young man turned around and asked, “Why are you following me?”
Zhao Jin rolled his eyes. “Why are you being so bad*ss? Does this road belong to your family? What’s this about following you, this daddy will drive as he pleases.”
The young man stopped talking and slowly ambled out of the city.
His speed was neither fast nor slow. He maintained the exact same pace he had the entire time.
Outside the capital city was a forested area. The youth searched for a suitable tree, before chopping down a branch from it.
Then, using his hand as a blade, he continuously hacked, and soon a wooden sword appeared in the youth’s hand.
At this moment, Su Wen poked his head out of the carriage and extended his hand to hand over the metal sword. He smiled and said, “I’ve bought your sword back for you. You now owe me a favor.”
Zhao Jin: “????”
You went through that effort to ransom him?
However, Zhao Jin would definitely not expose Su Wen.
The young man looked at the sword in Su Wen’s hand, but didn’t take it. Instead, he asked, “How much is it? I’ll go hunt some beasts to sell to redeem for the sword!”
“Redeem the sword?” Su Wen stroked his chin and smiled. “Alright, two copper coins then.”
After saying that, Su Wen gave him the address and got Zhao Jin to drive away.
“Young Master wants to take this person under as your subordinate?” Zhao Jin saw through Su Wen’s thoughts.
Su Wen nodded and said with a smile, “I don’t have enough manpower, and I can’t ask my father for everything. After all, the old man has already chased me out to live on my own.”
Zhao Jin pondered for a moment before he revealed his thoughts, “This person is a bit strange. He doesn’t release any aura, but at the very least, his cultivation feels like he’s at least in the Earth Rank. Logically speaking, if you want to obtain money, even if it’s difficult to be rich, he shouldn’t be in such a miserable state.”
Su Wen smiled and said, “He just doesn’t care about material objects. This person is very unyielding and doesn’t accept pity as well. He doesn’t like to owe others anything. At the same time, he has almost no desire to lead a lavish lifestyle. It’s very difficult to subdue such a person, but once he makes up his mind, he won’t even bat an eyelid even if he has to sell his life!”
Zhao Jin proclaimed loudly, “This subordinate will not frown even if I die for Young Master!”
Su Wen smiled and continued, “This person has an accent and is not from the capital. From the looks of it, he should be from a faraway place. Since he has entered the capital, he must have a motive. Humans always have weaknesses. It’s not too late to think of a way to get to know him better before taking action.”
“So, where are we going now?”
“Go home! I’ve been very busy these past few days and I’m a little tired. I’ll go back and rest today!”
In his own residence, Su Wen was half-lying on the heated kang[1] with a book in his hand. He was laughing as he read the book. As a special heating system originating from the north, Su Wen was very satisfied with this brick bed.
Cui Yumian was at the side peeling melon seeds for Su Wen. She smiled as she said, “I went out with Ning Shuang two days ago to buy quite a lot of New Year goods. We’ve gotten everything we need at this point. Does Husband have anything in particular you would like to buy?”
Su Wen smiled and said, “What can I possibly want to buy? Just do whatever you wish for our home.”
“I was thinking of making new clothes for all the servants in the residence before the new year. I’ll also reward them with some money during the new year. What do you think, Husband?” Cui Yumian asked.
Su Wen had no objections to this. He smiled and said, “Do as you deem fit. You don’t have to seek permission from me for such things.”
Cui Yumian took a glance at Su Wen and asked in a low voice, “Then, do you want to buy something to visit Sister Yan with?”
“What am I looking at her for? Haven’t I seen enough of her at the patrol office?” Su Wen rolled his eyes and said with a smile, “You don’t have to bother about her. What will eventually happen between us is still in the air. You and Ning Shuang can just take care of the inner residence.”
“Young Master, the Seventh Princess is here.” Just as the two were chatting, Ning Shuang came in to report.
Su Wen smiled. “Then let her in.”
Ning Shuang hesitated and said, “Young Master, isn’t it inappropriate to meet the Princess here? Let’s go to the sitting room instead.”
Su Wen waved his hand and said, “It’s alright, we’re all friends!”
Not long after, the Seventh Princess entered and saw Su Wen sitting cross-legged on the kang bed. He waved his hand and said, “This living room is not as comfortable as this kang bed even if it is heated. Princess, don’t stand on ceremony. Come sit on the kang bed!”
Zhao Wanrou blushed but rejected in a soft voice, “I’m giving the kang bed a miss. I came here just to tell you that Royal Father had asked me to come and talk to you. Why aren’t you going to the palace to listen to his teachings the past two days? He has requested your presence.”
Su Wen’s face immediately fell like a ton of bricks.
“Oh my God, can’t he just let me go?”
To be honest, Su Wen did not like staying near the emperor. He felt very restrained every time he was in his presence.
With that kind of anxiety, he could forget about going there to just daydream.
Hence, Su Wen chose not to go for the past two days.
After all, Su Wen did not believe that the emperor would reward him with something every day.
The Seventh Princess took a look at him and hurriedly said in a low voice, “Don’t talk nonsense. You’re lucky I’m the only one here. If someone else were to hear this, they would definitely bring this up to my Royal Father. By then, you won’t escape punishment.”
Su Wen smiled. “Precisely it’s because you’re here that I dare say such things! Alright, let’s set off!”
Since Emperor Zhou had already tasked the Seventh Princess to come, he had no choice but to go.
In the imperial palace, Su Wen and the Seventh Princess met up with Emperor Zhou.
Emperor Zhou gave him a sideways glance before he sneered, “You little brat, you took my elixir and secret manual, and you think you can disappear the next day? Don’t you know that you’re being punished? Or do you want to be like Xue Meng and be sent to the Northern Border to reform?”
Su Wen hurriedly said, “Didn’t I get injured during my fight with Vice Commander Fu An the other day? My body is weak and I had to recuperate the last two days.”
Emperor Zhou couldn’t be bothered to argue with him, “I’ll get Wanrou to teach you court etiquette in the next two days. I see that you’re always sloppy and don’t look proper. You have to learn the proper etiquette of a noble. Don’t embarrass me at the palace banquet in a few days!”
“Another banquet? How many dishes will there be?” Su Wen whispered, “This subject can’t sate his hunger with only a few dishes!”
The last two times he had eaten at the palace had completely dispelled Su Wen’s curiosity for palatial banquets. Although the dishes were not bad, the quantity was really too little.
Emperor Zhou raged. “Who even dares to eat their fill in the palace? Furthermore, cultivators all have huge appetites. How much food would we have to prepare for them? It would also look unsightly having so much on the table!”
[1] A type of heatable brick bed
