CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 55: EVERYTHING IS FINE

The next day, morning.

In the courtyard.

"Master, what happened last night is as follows."

Xiaowu is reporting.

"Good." Zhang Feng nodded, "I’ll take as many as he has, go to the accounting office and get the money."

"Yes, Master!" Xiaowu accepted the order.

Zhang Feng thought for a moment and then instructed, "See if that jack-of-all-trades has some skills; inquire him again at some point about what other secret manuals he has.

As for that Chen shopkeeper, if he can be useful, we can also make some connections with him in the future."

Zhang Feng wanted to build a long-lasting ’business network’ with Shopkeeper Chen, primarily to collect fruits.

Because Zhang Feng intended to open quite a few body parts, and he wasn’t sure if one would be enough.

Furthermore, using more fruits might also yield more insights.

Insights and knowledge are naturally beneficial.

"Yes!" Xiaowu asked no more questions and acted solely on his master’s orders.

"Go ahead." Zhang Feng directed him to proceed with the task.

After he left.

Zhang Feng adjusted his embroidered clothing a bit, readying himself to visit the Eldest Prince’s residence.

’Elder Brother didn’t come yesterday because of some matters, but in any case, according to courtesy, I ought to visit my brother.’

After tidying up his attire, Zhang Feng walked toward the front entrance.

Swish, swish—

A few guards inside the residence followed Zhang Feng in small steps.

Outside the residence.

As he was aided by the guards onto the carriage, Zhang Feng asked, "Did you send the visiting card to Elder Brother?"

"It was sent last night." A guard replied.

"Good." Zhang Feng nodded and settled himself into his large carriage.

"Drive~!" There was one driver, but they used two horses.

Of course, one tall horse could pull it alone, provided there are no other passengers inside the carriage.

...

Outside the Eldest Prince’s residence.

"Neigh~"

The carriage stopped, and Zhang Feng was aided by the guards as he dismounted.

"Greetings, Seventh Prince!" The guards in front of the Prince’s residence recognized the Seventh Prince immediately.

"Stand down." Zhang Feng flicked his sleeves, directing his guards to arrange the carriage, and looked toward the front door.

At this moment, a person dressed like a butler ran out.

"May prosperity attend the Seventh Prince!" Though the butler didn’t recognize Zhang Feng, the sight of the royal carriage and his stature spoke volumes.

"Please lead the way for me." Zhang Feng strode into the entrance.

Zhang Feng hadn’t yet been titled a king, hence he referred to himself as ’Me’.

Because Zhang Feng’s mother holds a prominent status, being the current Empress.

Other princes use terms like ’I’ or ’Me’.

"Your Highness is too kind!" While leading the way, the butler slightly retreated half a pace and humbly said, "Leading your Highness is a great privilege from past life blessings!"

Those serving in the Prince’s residence are eloquent.

Zhang Feng was accustomed to such eloquence and slightly nodded, displaying the demeanor befitting of a Prince.

After all, he was ’outside’ now.

Walking into the yard.

Turning past the courtyard.

The butler led the way inside.

Until they reached the door of a study room, where the butler stopped and presented his hands again,

"The Eldest Prince is in the study, let me bring in the Seventh Prince."

"Good, you may leave." Zhang Feng waved his hand.

"Yes!" The butler bowed and withdrew.

Once he left, the courtyard was empty again.

Noticing the study door was not fully closed, Zhang Feng agilely peeked inside, seeing his scholarly Elder Brother engrossed in reviewing some scripts.

His focused demeanor appeared as though he wished to dive into the scripts.

Zhang Feng didn’t disturb him, nor did he knock, quietly entering.

The Eldest Prince was utterly concentrated on editing the scripts and didn’t notice.

Zhang Feng glanced at him and then proceeded to a nearby bookshelf to look through some books on military strategy.

Nowadays, Elder Brother served in the Ministry of War, and concurrently in the Ministry of Justice, so there was no shortage of strategy and penalty related books.

Yet Elder Brother had no trace of martial prowess.

The whole thing is just a ’bookworm’.

Just like that.

The Eldest Prince is reviewing documents.

Zhang Feng is reading books nearby.

Unknowingly, it reached noon.

After finishing the last scroll of documents, the Eldest Prince rubbed his neck and prepared to fetch some tea.

But as he turned, he saw the ’human-sized hill’ in the room, and was taken aback, asking in surprise, "Hm? Xiaoqi? Why are you at my residence?"

"?" Zhang Feng was also taken aback by the question, then replied, "Brother, I paid a visit yesterday, and it was you who asked the steward to bring me here."

"Oh." The Eldest Prince remembered it was him who said that, then asked, "Waited for a long time? Hungry?"

...

The meal was at the Eldest Prince’s house.

A standard four dishes and a soup, but because Zhang Feng was present, the portions inevitably increased.

For example, a usual palm-sized dish now replaced by a football-sized pot.

"Xiaoqi, eat slowly." The Eldest Prince seemed to have no smile on his face, looking like he was always thinking, making his words appear absent-minded.

"Okay." Zhang Feng didn’t care about him, continuing to eat and drink, not neglecting his stomach.

"Greetings, Seventh Prince."

At this time, the Eldest Prince’s primary wife passed by the dining hall entrance and bowed to Zhang Feng.

"Princess Consort." Zhang Feng stopped his chicken leg grabbing hand and returned the gesture.

His older brother has not been titled king, so she cannot be called a queen.

At this moment, there was a teenage girl behind her, looking about thirteen or fourteen, yet appearing brave and spirited.

She saw Zhang Feng with greasy hands didn’t laugh, but coolly saluted, "Greetings, Seventh Prince! This girl pays her respects!"

After speaking, she gave Zhang Feng a curious yet complex look.

"Hm." Zhang Feng also glanced at her, then thought she looked quite nice and had a cool demeanor, then took another look.

After Zhang Feng returned his gaze.

The Princess Consort patted the young girl’s sleeve, signaling her to leave.

Meanwhile, the Princess Consort seemed to have something to say and stood outside the dining hall, waiting for the Eldest Prince and Seventh Prince to finish their meal.

The Eldest Prince was too absorbed in his thoughts, eating in a mechanical manner, picking a few grains of rice with his chopsticks to his mouth.

Zhang Feng was like a whirlwind, eating everything, then looked outside the hall at the Princess Consort and said, "Sister-in-law, do you have something?"

Now there were no outsiders, calling her sister-in-law was okay.

"Seventh Prince." The Princess Consort didn’t dare call Zhang Feng Xiaoqi, but rather performed another bow, then carefully asked, "How does Your Highness find that young lady?"

"That young lady..." Zhang Feng spoke his mind, "Quite good, brave, and elegant, having the demeanor of a heroine from the storytellers."

"Hm." The Princess Consort smiled, then performed another bow, seeming ready to leave, "Since Your Highness has taken a liking to General Wang’s daughter, I will report to the Empress, and select an auspicious date for marriage."

"?" Zhang Feng looked at her, truly didn’t expect this was a matchmaking arranged by the Empress?

Wasn’t it just visiting his elder brother?

Then during lunch, he glanced at her once, and now they’re about to get married?

Isn’t this too straightforward?

"No." Zhang Feng hurriedly called out to the Princess Consort, saying, "I’m not interested."

"Ah?" The Princess Consort frowned slightly, a little puzzled.

’Didn’t His Highness seem quite satisfied just now? Did I hear wrong?’

She didn’t know what the Seventh Prince was thinking but continued, "If Your Highness isn’t interested in her, I will bring Lord Liu’s daughter over.

Right now she is in the side hall, I will call for her.

Also, I have already sent an invitation to Lord Wang’s daughter, she should be on her way."

"No need." Zhang Feng directly stood up and looked at the Eldest Prince still absorbed in thought, "Brother, farewell!"

"Alright." The Eldest Prince nodded while still thinking.

Simultaneously, Zhang Feng ignored the Princess Consort’s gaze urging for matchmaking and directly left the residence.

After Zhang Feng had left for about two minutes.

"Xiaoqi, eat slowly." The Eldest Prince, mindful of hospitality, habitually looked to the side.

At this sight, he saw his younger brother was nowhere to be found.

"Where did my younger brother go?" He looked towards his wife in confusion.

The Princess Consort sighed in frustration, muttered under her breath: ’Eldest Prince! Big dummy! Fool!’

But the Eldest Prince ignored his wife’s sulking gaze and realized belatedly, saying to her, "Quick! Send someone to catch up with my younger brother and tell him, in some days, he needs to follow me to Hu City!"

"Alright." Upon hearing there was a formal matter, the Princess Consort hurried out, first ordering someone to catch up, and upon returning asked, "Is there something important? The Ministry of Justice? Or the Ministry of War?"

"The Ministry of Justice." The Eldest Prince replied, "Investigating some old case about forbidden books."

"Forbidden books?" The Princess Consort nodded slightly, "Considering Seventh Prince’s age, his body has matured, so encountering forbidden books and forbidden fruit out of curiosity, wanting to cultivate magical arts of the martial world, should be no harm."

"Indeed." The Eldest Prince spoke solemnly, "Of course, magic of the martial world is minor.

This trip, Mother mainly wants me to use official duties as a remark, take Xiaoqi out for a stroll, perhaps Xiaoqi might meet a girl he fancies."

Talking about the lifelong matters of his younger brother, the Eldest Prince rare showed a smile, then wanted a bite of food, but realized apart from the rice in his bowl, all other bowls and pots were exceptionally clean.