pdf-ebookys Chapter 162 Expediency
Chapter 162 Expediency
"Yaoyuefang? You really don't know how to live or die?" Just as everyone was dispersing to work, a cold voice came down.
I don't know when Prince Duan Fengrui appeared behind the crowd.
Everyone suddenly quieted down and silently made way for Prince Duan.
"Why is Brother Duan Wang here?" Zhou Chang did not hide his disgust.
Prince Duan's eyes were still on the top of his head, his chin raised high: "The court has already issued a ban. During the war, the whole country is forbidden to entertain. How can we still go to Yaoyuefang? Prince Yi is not talking nonsense."
After being reminded, everyone became suspicious and stopped their actions.
"Why not?" Zhou Chang didn't know why Prince Duan suddenly showed up to pour cold water on him, but he didn't hesitate, "Brother Prince Duan should know more about Yaoyuefang than I do."
"Don't talk nonsense." Prince Duan lowered his chin and said, "This is just a kind reminder. Anyone can say empty words, so don't waste your time in the end."
"Monkey, go now and ask Yaoyuefang to book a night, tomorrow, no..." Zhou Chang stared at Prince Duan and instructed the skinny monkey, "After we finish the work tonight, everyone must be exhausted. We need to take a day off first, recuperate and then have a good time. Then the day after tomorrow or the day after tomorrow will be fine. In short, it will be done within three days."
"Yes." The skinny monkey agreed immediately.
Zhou Chang took out another 10,000 taels of silver note that he had "snatched" from Qian Liang, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and handed it to Shou Hou: "First, give it as a deposit to Yao Yue Fang and make sure they agree to it."
"Yes." The skinny monkey responded promptly.
Zhou Chang's solemn gaze fell back on the faces of the imperial guards: "Everyone, rest assured, I will keep my word. Everyone, get moving first, and we will have good news soon."
The imperial guards looked at each other, but neither of us moved.
Prince Duan watched coldly, still aware that it was a joke: "Is this all that matters? Do you know how much it costs to book the Yuefang for a night?"
"I don't know, after all, I haven't been there yet. But I believe Brother Duan Wang knows more about it than me. Can you give me some advice?" Zhou Chang naturally remembered that the Duan Wang was the umbrella behind Yaoyuefang.
But it’s different now. Yaoyuefang still belongs to the Yuan family after all. Wouldn’t they stand on my side at this time?
"You..." Prince Duan was furious.
"Brother Prince Duan, what are you doing here?" Zhou Chang still wanted to get rid of Prince Duan as soon as possible to prevent him from disrupting the morale of the army.
Prince Duan was stunned for a long while before he remembered to clasp his hands and raise his fists to the sky: "Father is worried and asked me to come and take a look. If I delay the delivery of military supplies, it will be a serious crime."
"Oh?" Zhou Chang was suspicious, his face still showing anger. "Then Brother Duan can go back and report now. This batch of frostbite cream must be completed on time before all the supplies are dispatched tomorrow morning."
"Really? In my opinion, why is it so difficult to say?" Prince Duan's eyes flashed and he looked in all directions.
Zhou Chang's chest was already thundering, but he could not show it on his face: "Since Brother Duan is worried, why not let you take over now? If Brother Duan has the ability, you can finish it earlier than me. I don't want any credit for this, I will give it all to you, how about it?"
Prince Duan has always been a talker, so he is not capable of doing such things. However, he has always prided himself on being noble and disdainful of doing such things, so he raised his chin to the point of almost dislocating it, and said with disdain: "Such a lowly and mean thing is worthy of my action, but Prince Yi, you are always 'the wind leaves a mark, the goose plucks feathers', so you have to seek such things."
Prince Yi Fengming was furious and was so angry that his head was rushing to his head.
Zhou Chang was so angry that his hands turned cold, his eyes were as cold as frost, but there was a hint of sneer on the corner of his mouth: "Some people are like urinals with gold rims, they only have good words, but they can't do much."
Prince Duan had come to ask for trouble, so he had to get back at the court: "If Yaoyuefang dared to openly accept this business, not only would it be banned for violating the ban, but even court officials were not allowed to visit prostitutes in public. You gathered a crowd to let these people go to Yaoyuefang, which was a blatant violation of the court's ban. Who would dare to go there?"
"Who said Yaoyuefang is a brothel? I said it was a pure music house," Zhou Chang looked around without any fear, "Who said we were going there to visit prostitutes? We were just borrowing a place to bathe. The court has a ban on entertainment, but hot springs are not included in the list, right?"
After hearing this, the imperial guards, under the pressure of Prince Duan's power, did not dare to speak, but nodded one after another.
"Is Yaoyuefang just a music house?" Prince Duan said in a sarcastic and cold tone.
"Is that right? Prince Duan must know better than me." Zhou Chang stared at Prince Duan with a cold gaze. "By the way, Prince Duan will report to the emperor later. Please also tell me that although going to the music house during the war is against the ban, it is just a temporary measure as it is a last resort. I hope the emperor will forgive me."
Prince Duan was so angry again that he pointed at Zhou Chang's nose but couldn't say a word.
"Your Highness Prince Yi, don't be embarrassed. The brothers are not all for this." Although Tang Mao's voice was low, his eyes were full of enthusiasm.
Zhou Chang had come to this point. If he didn't move forward, he would have retreated. He would not be able to save face. He might as well make a concerted effort and look at the imperial guards under the torches with a serious look: "No, I said within three days, and it means within three days. Just like this batch of frostbite cream, I said it would be completed tonight, and it will be completed, right?"
"Yes, yes..." The imperial guards present were aroused and responded one after another.
After all, the desire to go to Yaoyuefang and experience it all outweighs everything else.
Some people may never have the chance to walk into this kind of place and take a look in their entire life.
A gust of night wind blew over him, making his whole body feel cool, but Zhou Chang's chest felt hot. He no longer had any concerns: "As for if anyone has any objection to going to Yaoyuefang, let him come to me."
Prince Duan's face turned pale and he was extremely angry: "Don't be so arrogant. I will report this to my father right away."
"Brother Prince Duan, you have to think it over before you speak." Zhou Chang's eyes were deep and dark, and the smile on his lips became more intense. He leaned close to Prince Duan's ear and said, "If you don't admit that Yaoyuefang is just a music house, then you have to let father hear about the people who protected Yaoyuefang in the past, the relationship between Yaoyuefang and former Minister of Revenue Minhang, and the relationship between Minhang and brother Prince Duan."
"Are you threatening me?" Prince Duan looked chilly but showed no fear.
Zhou Chang's eyes flashed, and he smiled warmly, making another concession: "Brother Duan, please don't misunderstand. We each get what we need, and no one is bothering anyone. Brother Duan, why do you always care about such trivial matters? Could it be that the golden nanmu coffin that is more than hundreds of years old has been found? If not, it is better to focus on looking for it. If you can find it, the emperor will be very happy. I am really happy for you, brother Duan."
When Prince Duan mentioned the golden nanmu coffin, his mind suddenly became much clearer.
Yes, it’s not like he doesn’t have important things to do.
What's more, he has always been proud of his status. I don't know what has possessed him recently, but he has been targeting Prince Yi and even came here today to cause trouble. It's really not worth it.
After realizing this, Prince Duan flicked his sleeves and strode away with his men.
If you keep showing weakness, people will only think that you are easy to bully.
People may not sympathize with the weak, but they will learn to compromise under the oppression of the strong.
Zhou Chang watched Prince Duan's back, turned back and immediately felt sad that he had wasted so much time, and quickly shouted, "Don't just stand there, move quickly, and don't stop."
When he turned around and saw the skinny monkey still standing there, he couldn't control his emotions, "Why don't you go quickly? Why are you still standing here?"
Tang Mao also hurriedly urged: "Brothers, what's the matter today? Show your spirit to fight the enemy."
"Yes, yes..." A low roar finally came from the imperial guards, and their morale was greatly boosted. "Happy Dragon Boat Festival!"