Chapter 59: Five Days to Compete, One Decree to Bind

Chen Zhou took a few deep breaths and forcibly held back.

He glared at the manager and asked, “Among our storybook authors, isn’t there even one or two who are good-looking?”

 

The manager shook his head helplessly.

“I’ve met all of them.

They’re all average-looking.

Liu Wenyuan is considered the best-looking among them.”

 

Chen Zhou sucked in a breath of cold air.

Liu Wenyuan’s looks were only passable, yet he ranked first among these people.

Chen Zhou already had a general idea of the appearance level of the others.

 

He pinched the bridge of his nose and spoke.

“Are any of these people willing to sell their storybooks outright?

That is, sell the books to us without putting their names on them.

Of course, we can offer more silver.”

 

The manager’s eyes immediately lit up.

“This is a brilliant idea, young master.”

 

The manager immediately gave Chen Zhou a thumbs-up.

Chen Zhou, very pleased, raised his head.

 

If Wei Lan could hold a signing event, then so could he.

Wasn’t it just about looks?

He wasn’t bad-looking, was he?

 

Many of those authors were scholars who wrote storybooks just to make a living.

Their true ambition was still to pass the imperial examinations.

But the cost of taking the imperial examinations in ancient times was very high.

Therefore, when Chen Zhou sent people to ask these scholar storybook writers, many were willing to give up the right to have their names on the books.

After all, Chen Zhou was offering double the usual price.

 

Just like that, Chen Zhou bought the rights to two sets of books.

Then he had it announced that he would hold a signing event in five days.

At the same time, he hired a group of scribes, spending a large sum of silver.

 

The news soon reached Wei Lan.

It was afternoon before Wei Lan felt a little energetic.

She and her wife had played too hard last night, expending too many pheromones.

It was almost lunchtime before Wei Lan stopped feeling so sleepy.

 

She stretched and was about to go nap on the soft couch again when a voice came from outside.

“Master, someone from the bookstore has something to report to you.”

Matron Li’s voice sounded outside.

 

Wei Lan was stunned for a moment.

She didn’t manage these businesses.

Why were they coming to her?

“Let him in.”

 

Since there was business, Wei Lan didn’t lie down on the soft couch.

Instead, she sat by the round table and waited for the person from the bookstore.

 

The man soon entered the bedroom, bowed respectfully to Wei Lan, and then spoke.

“Master, the Chen residence must have heard about our signing event.

They also held a signing event today, but it didn’t go well.

Hardly anyone bought storybooks from them.

However, Chen Zhou says he will hold a signing event in five days at the main branch of Chen Ji Bookstore, selling storybooks written by Chen Zhou himself.”

“Chen Zhou?

That’s interesting.”

Wei Lan smiled.

She thought for a moment and roughly understood.

Someone as arrogant as Chen Zhou wouldn’t stoop to writing storybooks.

He most likely hired a ghostwriter and put his own name on the books.

This kind of thing was very common.

 

But Wei Lan wasn’t afraid of him.

Since Chen Zhou wanted to compete with her, she wasn’t scared.

She just needed to make sure Chen Zhou was furious.

 

Wei Lan calmly took a sip of honey tea before speaking.

“It’s fine.

Go back and tell your manager to urge the printing workers to print as many books as possible.

In five days, I will also hold a second signing event at the main branch of the Lu family bookstore.

And this time, I will prepare a little surprise for everyone.”

“Yes, master.

Hearing you say that gives us confidence.”

The servant quickly smiled.

“Mm, go.

Just make sure to print plenty of storybooks.

I’ll handle the rest.”

“Yes, this lowly one will go back and tell them.”

The servant bowed again and left.

 

Wei Lan drank a few more sips of tea, then leisurely lay down on the soft couch.

Last time, she gave out bookmarks.

What should she give out this time?

 

Wei Lan thought for a moment and decided to make a large cream cake.

She had made these herself in her modern life.

It wasn’t actually complicated.

And people in ancient times definitely hadn’t seen anything like this.

Wei Lan thought the young girls who came to the signing event would like it.

Thinking this, Wei Lan had a plan.

She lay leisurely on the soft couch, resting.

 

Meanwhile, Lu Zijin had just finished her work.

Her thoughts drifted to her cousin Fan Chuan, who had already gone to the capital.

She wondered how her sister was doing in the capital now.

Panyang City was still quite far from the capital; even if there was news, it couldn’t travel back this quickly.

 

Lu Zijin was very worried about Fan Chuan’s situation in the capital, but there was nothing she could do to help.

 

She sighed and asked Qianxue, who was standing nearby, “What has the master been doing today?”

“The master didn’t get up until noon.

According to the shadow guard in her courtyard, the master bathed, had lunch, and then slept until dinner time.”

Qianxue quickly replied.

 

Lu Zijin smiled and shook her head.

That’s right.

Her little Qiankun’s stamina seemed only average.

Last night, she had been played with until her pheromones were completely depleted.

No wonder she slept all day.

 

Thinking of Wei Lan made her happy.

But she was tired today, and worried about Fan Chuan.

Lu Zijin didn’t have the energy to go see Wei Lan.

She simply instructed Qianxue, “Pick out some of the best ginseng and bird’s nest from my stores and send them to the master.

Her little body is too weak.

Have the cooks in her courtyard prepare these every day to help her nourish her body.”

“Yes.”

Qianxue quickly replied, then took some people to the warehouse to select the ginseng and bird’s nest.

 

After dinner, Wei Lan felt her bedroom was too hot.

She simply had someone make iced cheese and ate a bowl.

Just then, Qianxue arrived with a group of maidservants.

 

The maidservants quickly bowed to Wei Lan.

Qianxue then said, “The young lady specifically sent us to bring you these tonics.

She said you need to nourish your body.”

 

Hearing this, Wei Lan’s earlobes immediately turned red.

Her body was very good, okay?

She was a very fierce Qiankun.

Last night, she had only lost her strength because her wife had played away all her pheromones.

On normal days, she was very strong.

“My body is just fine.”

Wei Lan murmured softly.

 

Qianxue naturally had to hold back a smile.

She quickly composed herself and said, “What the master says is true.

But eating more tonics can’t hurt.

This servant will have these stored in your courtyard’s warehouse.

When you want to eat some, just have someone get them.”

“Mm, alright then.”

Since it was a gift from her wife, why not take it?

 

Wei Lan looked at Qianxue and asked, “Is my wife very busy today?”

“She is a bit busy.

She just finished handling matters.

She’s probably already gone to sleep.”

Qianxue quickly replied.

 

Wei Lan nodded.

“I see.

You all go back.”

“Yes, master.”

The group of maidservants withdrew.

Wei Lan also prepared to go to bed.

She had noticed that after her gland opening was played until deflated, it took a day or two to regain her strength.

She thought that after another night’s sleep, she should have the energy to go carve jade tomorrow.

 

***

 

On the other side, Fan Chuan had just arrived in the capital.

Due to inconvenient transportation, she also had two thousand soldiers with her, so their speed was even slower.

 

When they reached the capital, Fan Chuan had her soldiers camp in the wasteland on the outskirts.

She couldn’t bring these troops into the capital to see the emperor.

 

She only brought eighteen of her personal guards with her into the capital.

The Fan family had a Marshal’s residence in the capital.

But since they were stationed in Mobei, they only came back to stay for a few days each year when reporting to the emperor.

Moreover, the Marshal’s residence in the capital was most likely already infiltrated with spies.

She needed to be very careful on this trip.

 

In the evening, Fan Chuan and her entourage finally returned to the Marshal’s residence.

As soon as she arrived, she attracted attention from all sides.

 

In the palace, the old emperor Zhou Nanfeng was lying on his sickbed.

He had just recovered from a serious illness and was only now feeling a little better.

Soon, his personal eunuch came to the bedroom to report.

“Your Majesty, Marshal Fan has arrived in the capital with a dozen or so guards.”

The head eunuch said respectfully.

“Is that so? Cough, cough. Good.

Good that she’s back.”

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Zhou Nanfeng’s somewhat cloudy eyes.

Now that the three-year mourning period had passed, Fan Chuan was already twenty-one years old.

If he bestowed a marriage upon her, she would have no more excuses to refuse.

 

Zhou Nanfeng sighed.

His body felt like a bellows, leaking air everywhere.

But he couldn’t die.

His several sons were ambitious and were probably already hoping for his early death.

And generals like Fan Chuan, whose achievements overshadowed their masters – these were all problems.

The Great Zhou appeared prosperous on the surface, but in reality, it was in turmoil.

In just this past year alone, there had been multiple rebellions, and the court had to send troops to suppress them.

 

Meanwhile, the northern barbarians were eyeing them covetously.

If not for the Fan family army guarding the northern border, the Great Zhou would already be finished.

Therefore, dealing with Fan Chuan was very difficult.

After all, the Fan family army could only be commanded by a member of the Fan family.

If Fan Chuan was dealt with improperly, the northern border might completely collapse.

For now, Zhou Nanfeng had to stabilize Fan Chuan and find a way to plant his own people around her.

 

As for who, he already had someone in mind.

 

Meanwhile, the various princes also received news that Fan Chuan had returned to the capital.

The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Ninth Prince all sent visiting cards to the Marshal’s residence, but all were refused by Fan Chuan.

 

Given the tense situation, if she saw any of them privately, she might be labeled as belonging to a certain faction.

For now, the best course was to see no one, and just wait for tomorrow’s audience with the emperor, hoping to return to the northern border to handle military affairs as soon as possible.

 

Fan Chuan didn’t sleep much all night.

One moment, she was thinking about the treacherous depths of the capital.

The next, she was thinking about what Wei Lan had said to her before.

Now that she was in the capital, the scales in her heart were increasingly tilting towards the direction Wei Lan had suggested.

 

Rather than being anxious and uneasy every year, it would be better to simply solve the problem.

However, she needed to return to the northern border as soon as possible to make early preparations.

 

Early the next morning, Fan Chuan, dressed in her armor, rode a maroon horse, followed by her attendants, and headed towards the palace.

 

Pedestrians and carriages on the street moved aside to make way.

At that moment, in a carriage, a Kunze with a white gauze veil covering her face was resting with her eyes closed.

Feeling the carriage stop, she opened her clear, bright eyes slightly.

“What’s the matter?”

“Miss, it’s Marshal Fan.

She’s probably on her way to the palace to see the emperor.”

The young maidservant replied.

 

The young lady closed her eyes slightly and nodded faintly.

“Mm.

Then we’ll wait for a moment.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The maidservant named Xiao Tao quickly replied.

She didn’t dare disturb her young lady further, trying to minimize her presence.

 

After a moment, the carriage moved again.

It didn’t stop until it reached a bookstore.

 

The Kunze entered the bookstore.

The manager, seeing her, immediately bowed.

“Miss Shen has arrived.

Please come in.

We’ve copied quite a few new books these past few days.

Please take a look and see if any catch your eye.”

 

The young lady nodded faintly and walked among the rows of bookshelves, casually flipping through the books.

 

This was Shen Lingwei, the daughter of the current Prime Minister.

She was a famous talented lady in the capital.

It was said that her appearance was ethereal and extraordinary, arguably the best in the capital.

But Shen Lingwei was already eighteen years old and still unmarried.

 

Rumors had it that several princes were interested in her, but Prime Minister Shen Fangzhou had never agreed, which was why she was still unmarried.

 

As for Fan Chuan, she had ridden quickly to the Imperial Avenue.

Only at the palace gate did she and her attendants dismount.

They handed their horses to the attendants at the gate.

Fan Chuan and her two guards handed over their weapons before entering the palace.

 

They headed towards Xuan Yuan Hall, where the grand court assembly was held.

But Fan Chuan still had to wait outside for the summons.

 

Sure enough, before long, someone announced that Fan Chuan was to enter the hall for an audience.

 

Fan Chuan straightened her armor and then walked proudly into the hall.

 

She knelt and bowed to Zhou Nanfeng.

Zhou Nanfeng coughed a few times before speaking.

“Rise, my beloved minister.

My body is failing me.

It’s up to young, talented people like you to carry the future.”

“I dare not, Your Majesty.

You are full of energy, in the prime of your life.

How could we compare?”

Fan Chuan said cautiously.

 

Zhou Nanfeng laughed loudly, then said, “The reason I summoned you back was for you to report on your duties, and also for your marriage.

The Fan family is full of loyal martyrs.

Now that your family and elders are gone, I am your elder.

You are already twenty-one, and the three-year mourning period has passed.

Your marriage can no longer be delayed.”

“Whatever Your Majesty decides.

However, there are constant battles in the northern border.

I fear I cannot stay in the capital for long.

I would be afraid of wronging the other party.”

Fan Chuan said respectfully.

“You are the pillar of the nation.

Your future wife will naturally understand your situation.

As for the dangers of the northern border, the wedding will be kept simple.

You will be married within this month.”

 

The old emperor smiled at Fan Chuan and continued, “Marshal Fan, receive your decree.”

“Yes.”

Fan Chuan knelt again, preparing to receive the decree.

Her face was calm, but her heart was in turmoil.

She didn’t know who the old emperor would plant by her side.

“Fan Chuan, Marshal of the Northern Border Army, for your meritorious service in guarding the northern frontier, I hereby bestow upon you the hand of Shen Lingwei, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister.

If I recall correctly, Shen Lingwei is also eighteen.

It can be delayed no longer.”

As Zhou Nanfeng spoke, he smiled at Prime Minister Shen Fangzhou.

 

Shen Fangzhou could barely manage a smile.

He had originally intended his daughter to be matched with a future emperor.

But now, in front of everyone, the emperor had betrothed her to Fan Chuan.

And he could only grit his teeth and endure.

 

At the same time, in the court, the faces of Crown Prince Zhou Xiao, Second Prince Zhou Ji, Fifth Prince Zhou Xun, and Ninth Prince Zhou Yang were progressively worse.

All four of them had been interested in Shen Lingwei.

And now their father had betrothed her to Fan Chuan.

 

Of course, the old emperor had his own calculations.

Since his four sons all liked Shen Lingwei, he would betroth her to Fan Chuan.

That way, the four sons would hate Fan Chuan.

Fan Chuan would then be unable to support any of them.

This was the best outcome for him.

Moreover, Shen Fangzhou was his man.

Marrying his daughter to Fan Chuan would make it easier for him to plant people around Fan Chuan.

 

Emperors were contradictory like that.

They were afraid their sons and daughters were useless, yet also afraid they were too capable.

Hence, they needed checks and balances in all things.

This was his way of being an emperor.

“Marshal Fan, why do you not accept the decree?”

Zhou Nanfeng said with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

 

Fan Chuan immediately kowtowed and accepted the decree.

“Your servant thanks His Majesty for his great kindness.”

 

Crown Prince Zhou Xiao’s hands were clenched into tight fists.

He wished he could go up and fight Fan Chuan to the death.

He had always wanted Shen Lingwei to be his Crown Princess.

But now, everything had fallen through.

 

The other princes’ expressions were also unpleasant.

An eerie silence fell over the court.

It was the old emperor who broke the silence.

“Marshal Fan, you have worked hard guarding the northern border.

You don’t need to worry about the wedding.

I will have the Imperial Household Bureau handle it.

When the time comes, you can just go and pick up the bride.”

“Your servant thanks His Majesty for his favor.”

Fan Chuan quickly thanked him.

 

After court, Fan Chuan hurried back to her residence.

She sent her guard, Yun Heng, to the palace to find Eunuch Liu.

She gave Eunuch Liu a five-thousand-tael silver note, hoping he would speak well of her to the emperor, so she could return to the northern border as soon as possible.

 

Eunuch Liu was the head eunuch by the emperor’s side, deeply trusted by him.

However, he was extremely greedy and loved to stir up trouble in the court.

Thus, he wasn’t a good person.

But as long as the silver was sufficient, anything could be arranged.

 

Moreover, Eunuch Liu knew that the Fan family was full of loyal martyrs.

Therefore, he didn’t see any problem in helping her.

After all, given the Fan family’s character, it was absolutely impossible for them to rebel.

The old emperor was worrying over nothing.

 

He sat by the desk drinking tea and smiled as he agreed.

“I thought it was some big deal.

Marshal Fan is concerned about the battles in the northern border.

I will certainly keep it in mind and find an opportunity to put in a good word for her with His Majesty.”

“Then, I thank you, Eunuch.”

Yun Heng bowed to Eunuch Liu.

The smile on Eunuch Liu’s face grew even wider.

No matter how high-ranking the official, they still had to bow respectfully to him.

Although Fan Chuan was a military general, the people around her were quite respectful.

This point made Eunuch Liu very happy.

 

After finishing this task, Yun Heng hurried back to the Marshal’s residence.

 

Fan Chuan saw her return and quickly asked, “How did it go?”

“Eunuch Liu accepted the silver note.

He seemed to be in a good mood.”

Yun Heng said.

 

Fan Chuan nodded.

For now, this was all she could do.

This feeling of being at the mercy of others was very uncomfortable for Fan Chuan.

Perhaps she really should do as Wei Lan had said and prepare early.

“Marshal, I heard your future wife is the most beautiful woman in the capital, and a talented lady as well.

So, you’re not really losing out.”

Yun Heng said.

“Heh.

Just a chess piece His Majesty is planting beside me.

It doesn’t matter who it is.

I certainly won’t open my heart to her.

Our top priority now is to leave the capital as soon as possible.”

Fan Chuan sighed.

She had also heard some things about Shen Lingwei.

It was said that several princes liked her.

Now, the old emperor had used just this one move to create a rift between her and the princes.

“That’s true.

This subordinate will go out now.

You rest early.”

Yun Heng bowed and withdrew.

 

The reason they dared to speak so openly was that this small courtyard was filled entirely with guards Fan Chuan had brought back from the northern border.

They were all trustworthy, and the courtyard was guarded.

That was why they could speak so freely.

 

Fan Chuan sighed.

Being back in the capital was really hard.

You had to consider whether someone might be listening through the walls with every word you said.

 

***

 

On the other side, at the Prime Minister’s residence, Xiao Tao ran in, flustered.

“Young lady, young lady, it’s bad!”

 

Shen Lingwei’s brow furrowed slightly.

“What is it?”

“His Majesty, His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon you!

What are we going to do, young lady?”

Xiao Tao was almost in tears.

Her young lady had been betrothed to Fan Chuan, a rough military general.

How could such a person care for her young lady properly?

 

Shen Lingwei took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, they were completely clear.

“To whom did His Majesty betroth me?”

“His Majesty betrothed you to Marshal Fan, that Fan Chuan who guards the northern border.”

Xiao Tao quickly said, almost crying.

The northern border was dangerous.

If Fan Chuan died young, what would her young lady do?

 

Hearing this, Shen Lingwei instead breathed a sigh of relief.

To her, marrying anyone was the same.

Compared to marrying into the royal family and being dragged into a miasma of intrigue, marrying Fan Chuan and leaving the capital with her might actually allow her to live a freer life.

But the emperor’s bestowal of marriage definitely had a purpose.

He might ask her to monitor Fan Chuan.

 

Shen Lingwei sighed.

Fan Chuan probably understood that too.

So she wouldn’t trust her, let alone open her heart.

But that was fine.

They could live their own lives, like well water and river water, not interfering with each other.

 

The situation was complex, but Shen Lingwei only wanted to live a peaceful, ordinary life.

She sighed and said slowly, “To me, marrying anyone is the same.

It’s all just a transaction.”

 

After saying this, she didn’t mention the matter again.

 

Later that evening, Shen Fangzhou sent for his daughter to come to him.

“Lingwei, sit down.”

 

Shen Lingwei nodded to her father, then sat upright on a chair to the side, motionless as a mountain.

“I didn’t expect this matter either, daughter.

But His Majesty later summoned me secretly.

He arranged for you to marry Fan Chuan so that you can report her every move in the northern border to him, to keep her from slipping out of control.

Of course, His Majesty will arrange for people to accompany you as attendants.

You just need to truthfully report Fan Chuan’s actions.

The accompanying guards will handle the rest; you don’t need to worry about it.”

Shen Fangzhou said.

 

Shen Lingwei nodded faintly.

“Daughter understands.

Father, is there anything else?

If not, daughter will withdraw.”

 

Shen Fangzhou looked at his daughter, wanting to say something but stopping.

At some point, he had stopped being able to fathom Shen Lingwei’s thoughts.

“Lingwei, this matter has indeed wronged you.

If you have any requests, I will do my best to compensate you.”

 

Shen Lingwei shook her head.

“No need.”

 

After speaking, she got up and left.

To her, marrying anyone was the same; she didn’t like any of them anyway.

Qiankuns were all vulgar, just beasts driven by pheromones.

Just thinking about them disgusted her.

 

Marrying Fan Chuan would be a little more comfortable.

At least she disliked female Qiankuns less than male Qiankuns.

 

Shen Fangzhou, however, sighed heavily.

He increasingly couldn’t see through his daughter, who showed neither sorrow nor joy.

She was as calm as if the one being betrothed wasn’t her.

 

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