Chapter 501: Growing a little fast
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Wen Dabao had no intention of answering the unspoken question in the guard's mind. The guard didn't ask either.
Then, the guard went to announce his arrival whilst Wen Dabao waited outside. This time, he didn't have to wait very long.
Wen Dabao entered Ping Yang's residence soon after and was led to the garden. It was no different from yesterday.
Fang Zhengzhi was sipping his tea when he saw Wen Dabao run in. He spat out the tea in his mouth.
"Sh*t!"
Wen Dabao didn't even have time to react before the tea splashed all over his face. He felt extremely humiliated...
"What happened? Who beat you up?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"My dad!" Wen Dabao cried.
"Your dad? Oh, why would your dad hit you? Tell us, entertain us." Fang Zhengzhi seemed to understand what had happened.
"He said that I shouldn't have brought you to the Seven Star Lane." Wen Dabao wiped the tea off his face.
"That was the only reason?" Fang Zhengzhi chuckled.
"Yes."
"As a man, you need to have some freedom."
"What do you mean?"
"I have a plan that will stop your dad from hitting you. From now on, you can also go to the Seven Star Lane openly! What do you think?"
"Are you for real?"
"Of course."
"Tell me."
"Let's go again tonight. I want to see how many times your dad can hit you."
"What?! Wen Dabao's eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets. He looked at Fang Zhengzhi in disbelief. Fang Zhengzhi wasn't the one who was going to be beaten up!
However, Wen Dabao couldn't find the words to express his frustration. He looked at Fang Zhengzhi, "do you have another plan?"
"No." Fang Zhengzhi rejected him equivocally.
"..."
...
Nighttime. The Seven Star Lane welcomed back four guests. However, this time, Wen Dabao was significantly less excited. In fact, he was extremely bitter.
Wen Dabao walked out of the Seven Star Lane without incident. When he returned, there was a figure waiting for him at the gates.
The figure held a metal pole in his hand.
"Dad, don't hit me!"
"You rascal, you deserve it!"
"Erm... dad, please stop. Fang Zhengzhi... Fang Zhengzhi asked me to tell you something." Wen Dabao screamed after being hit the first time.
"He asked you to tell me something? Okay, tell me what it is."
"Fang Zhengzhi said that he would return to the Seven Star Lane tomorrow. He will go every day at the same time for the foreseeable future."
"He really said that?" The figure's eyes glittered.
"Yes, word for word."
"I understand. You should probably tag along with him every day. I have already prepared the money for you. You can just ask for more if you need it." The figure nodded.
"Dad, you're not going to hit me?"
"Nope. Get some rest. Entertain Young Master Fang tomorrow at the Seven Star Lane."
"No way?! That worked?!" Wen Dabao couldn't believe his eyes when he saw his dad turn and leave. He knew that his dad was a strict person.
But today...
Why would he say something like that?
Fang Zhengzhi's method worked! Not only wasn't he beaten by his dad, his dad had asked him to go to the Seven Star Lane! What just happened?!
...
Inside the Left Prime Minister's residence...
A servant dressed in black knelt in the study. His head was lowered as he heard the knocking sounds next to him.
"Fang Zhengzhi went to the Seven Star Lane again?" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping's voice rang out.
"Yes, he went with Wen Dabao, Yan Xiu, and Ping Yang. They went and left at about the same time as yesterday." The servant replied.
"Has King Duan and Chi Hou visited Ping Yang's residence recently?"
"No, King Duan has been in his own residence. As for Chi Hou, other than the first day he spent in King Duan's residence, he has been at the Stabilization Constabulary."
"I understand. You may leave now." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping nodded.
"Yes, sir!" The servant replied, bowed, and took his leave.
Just as the servant left, a respectful voice could be heard from outside. "Prime Minister, Wen Chuan of the Ministry of Law has requested for an audience with you."
"Wen Chuan?" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping frowned. Then, his eyes glittered, "Mm, let him in."
"Yes, sir!"
Then, he heard light footsteps before the door to the study was opened. A middle-aged man in black walked through the doors.
He was a stern looking man with thick eyebrows. His eyes seemed closed half the time, and this only served to accentuate the stern aura he exuded.
"I am Wen Chuan from the Ministry of Law. Greetings, Prime Minister!" The middle-aged man bowed as he entered the room.
"Official Wen, you may do away with the formalities. May I know why you're looking for me so late at night?" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping walked over and helped him up.
"Something small has come up." Wen Chuan nodded hesitantly.
"Oh? Please tell me what it is. If I can, I will definitely do my best to help." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping replied.
"Prime Minister, please save my son!" Wen Chuan fell to his knees.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping extended his hands to help Wen Chuan up once again. His eyes were filled with concern.
"Official Wen, what is it? You have served in the courts for many years! Your son is like my son! Just tell me what it is!"
"My son... he doesn't know what he's doing. Over the past two days, he ran off to play with Fang Zhengzhi without informing me, I... I..."
"Oh? You didn't know that he had gone to the Seven Star Lane with Fang Zhengzhi?"
"I only knew about it last night! I gave him a harsh beating after that! I even told him never to do it again! But kids at this age... aish... I pamper him too much usually. I never thought that he would go to the Seven Star Lane with Fang Zhengzhi again today. My... aish..." Wen Chuan sighed.
"I don't think that it's a big deal. He is just playful. No harm done." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping waved him off.
"Prime Minister, you are magnanimous! As for the Crown Prince..."
"Official Wen, don't worry. I will personally explain things to the Crown Prince. He's just a kid. It is only normal that he goes out to play. This is no big deal." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping waved him off.
"But..." Wen Chuan hesitated.
"Is there anything else?" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping asked.
"It's like that. I heard from my son that Fang Zhengzhi threatened him and asked him to continue accompanying them to the Seven Star Lane. As you know, my son wouldn't be afraid if it was just Fang Zhengzhi. But with Princess Ping Yang and Yan Xiu..."
"Damn it! This Fang Zhengzhi is incredibly shameless! How dare he threaten a son of one of our Law Ministry officials?! Damn him!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping raged.
"Yes... I'm just worried that my son..." Wen Chuan said hesitantly.
"How many days does Fang Zhengzhi want Wen Dabao to accompany him for?"
"He asked my son to accompany him every day! The money is not the issue here. I am just afraid that the Crown Prince would misunderstand..."
"Official Wen, please rest assured! I will explain everything to the Crown Prince!"
"Thank you, Prime Minister!"
"You're most welcome. I will draft a letter to the Crown Prince right now."
"Thank you Prime Minister! I... I'll take my leave now!" Wen Chuan bowed respectfully and left the room.
"Take care!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping nodded but he didn't help Wen Chuan up this time.
After the study had quietened down once again, a figure walked into the study from a space behind the room. This figure sat down on a chair.
"When do you plan to strike?"
"I am in no hurry." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping looked at the figure and waved him off.
"Do you really plan on passing on such a golden opportunity?" The figure asked again.
"Opportunity? Haha... Fang Zhengzhi is going to the Seven Star Lane every day. He is asking Wen Chuan to report to us because he wants to lure us out. If we strike now, we will be playing right into his hands." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping frowned.
"Prime Minister, are you scared?"
"What do you mean?"
"Fang Zhengzhi is accompanied by Ping Yang, Yan Xiu, and Wen Dabao when he goes to the Seven Star Lane. Apart from Yan Xiu, there is no one there who can stop you."
"You can just speak your mind. Don't beat around the bush."
"Prime Minister, you missed two opportunities here! Do you really plan on missing a third, a fourth, or even a fifth?
"I have my plans! You don't have to worry!"
"Okay then. I was just giving my two-cents worth. If there is nothing else, I'll be leaving. You should have an early rest, it has been a long day."
"Go ahead!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping snorted.
The figure smiled, stood up, and disappeared into the space where he had come from.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping frowned as he looked at that space.
"Fang Zhengzhi, I will tolerate your actions for a few more days! When the Emperor goes to the Ten Mile Lake for the banquet, I would like to see if you have the confidence to have fun so openly in the city!"
...
Time passed quickly...
Fang Zhengzhi, Yan Xiu, Ping Yang, and Wen Dabao continued to go to the Seven Star Lane at the same time every day. The banquet was set to start on the fourth day.
Emperor Lin Mubai left the city, flanked by the Royal Guards. Countless citizens gathered on the streets to see him off!
This was a grand event!
Countless sons from the noble families stood at the gates to witness this. They were reminded of their ancestors' adventures and feats.
Nightfall...
The city was even more vibrant and bustling than usual.
Maybe it was because most of the noblemen had left for the Ten Mile Lake... or maybe the atmosphere at the Ten Mile Lake had spilled over to the capital.
It was a bustling night in the city. The lights were bright and countless people snuck out of their houses and onto the streets.
Inside Ping Yang's residence...
Wen Dabao was growing a little bit tired of waiting. He had already managed to get himself into one of the VIP rooms based on how much he had been spending.
As long as he continued going there, he would get lucky.
"Let's go, let's go. We should get going." Wen Dabao urged. He thought about how nice it would be to have a girl heaving and panting next to him.
"Is it time yet?" Fang Zhengzhi opened his eyes and looked at the sky.
"Who cares about the time? We can go earlier to have some fun! Let's go, let's go!" Wen Dabao was getting anxious.
"Yan Xiu, what do you think?" Fang Zhengzhi ignored Wen Dabao and looked to Yan Xiu.
"It's okay." Yan Xiu nodded after some thought.
"That's great! Young Master Yan has agreed! Shall we go?" Wen Dabao never liked Yan Xiu more than he did now! That was music to his ears.
"Okay, let's go." Fang Zhengzhi stood up from his chair and looked at Ping Yang. Ping Yang's eyes were closed.
She wore a fiery red dress. Her dress looked like a ball of fire in the garden.
"Are we leaving?" Ping Yang heard what Fang Zhengzhi said and opened her eyes. She stretched and adjusted her bra.
Then, she realized that Fang Zhengzhi was looking at him. He was looking at a particular spot on her body.
"Shameless!" Ping Yang chided.
Fang Zhengzhi smiled and looked down at Ping Yang's slim waist and perky butt.
"People always say that women change a great deal when they mature. Why have you changed so much when you're not even 16?" Fang Zhengzhi felt as though Ping Yang had grown much quicker than he had expected.
He wondered...
How was Chi Guyan like now?