Chapter 35

Wei Luo's competition was certainly not just a simple contest; he wasn't just doing it for fun.

The men who challenged Shen Fan were all from prominent families. They were either sons of noble families or relatives of officials or eunuchs. They were lazy and arrogant in their daily lives, perfunctory in their training, but proficient in eating, drinking, gambling and whoring.

Within the Eastern Palace Guard, there were more than a few people like this; in fact, they made up more than half of the guard, leading to lax discipline, low combat effectiveness, and turning the guard into a "gilded" institution.

Wei Luo had long wanted to make changes, but he couldn't find a good opportunity because of the emperor's suspicion. Now, however, the time was ripe.

The first few guards from the Eastern Palace to fight were all defeated and suffered a humiliating defeat. After consulting with Wei Luo, the head guard selected ten sons of noble families to challenge Shen Fan in turn.

Shen Fan wasn't stupid. He recognized three of the opponents who were accepting the challenge; they were all sons of powerful relatives. By analogy, the identities of the others were self-evident.

The Eastern Palace Guard has always been a hotbed of favoritism, and now he has finally witnessed it firsthand.

How wicked the Crown Prince is! He uses others to teach people a lesson and shifts the blame eastward. In the end, those people will hate him, while the Crown Prince will be left clean and undignified.

Shen Fan was immediately terrified.

He thought it best to back down and admit defeat to avoid offending those young masters and causing trouble later. Just as he was devising a plan, a familiar face rushed over.

This man was tall but extremely foolish, charging blindly forward without any flexibility. Shen Fan simply turned around and kicked him to the ground with a light kick.

This person is too stupid. Shen Fan is also helpless. After knocking down several more people, Shen Fan felt that the salary of the Crown Prince was too easy to obtain.

Shen Fan single-handedly defeated thirteen guards of the Eastern Palace, winning glory. Sitting in his chair, Wang Zhen was overjoyed. The humiliation he felt when he was humiliated by Wei Luo earlier had long since vanished. He looked at Shen Fan with satisfaction and decided to host a banquet for him that night.

Over there, Wang Zhen was already considering which restaurant to go to for the celebration that night, while Wei Luo was furious.

They knew the Crown Prince's guards were weak, but to this extent, it wasn't just a matter of saving face; it concerned their own safety. What use would such a bunch of good-for-nothings be if they encountered villains outside the palace?

It's probably just a matter of having a numerical advantage.

Upon returning to the palace today, he will use this competition as a pretext to petition the emperor to personally instruct the Eastern Palace Guards. If the emperor refuses, it would be disregarding the safety of the crown prince.

Moreover, there's an accomplice, Grand Scholar Liu Shen. He doesn't believe Liu Shen can't see the purpose behind this move.

The outcome is decided, the objective has been achieved, and there is no need for further competition. Wei Luo stood up and said with a smile, "Commander Shen is truly valiant, defeating thirteen men single-handedly. I have certainly broadened my horizons today, and he deserves a reward!"

The Crown Prince offered a reward, and the eunuchs hurriedly brought over a tray. Lifting the red silk, neat rows of silver snowflakes shimmered before Shen Fan.

Shen Fan's eyes widened, not with joy, but with fear.

Shen Fan dared not accept the reward from the Crown Prince. He quickly bowed his head and refused, "Thank you, Your Highness. As a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it is my duty to hone my skills. I would rather die than accept the reward."

Having already offended more than a dozen people, Shen Fan didn't want to take any more reward money from the Crown Prince, and besides, he wasn't short of money.

But since it was a gift from the Crown Prince, there was no reason to take it back, yet Wei Luo insisted that he take it.

Wei Luo stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and insisted, "Commander Shen is too modest. You have won the contest, so you should accept the reward.

As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuch stuffed the reward money into Shen Fan's hand. Instantly, envious and jealous gazes were directed at Shen Fan, who felt immense pressure and unease.

Now that things were clear, Wei Luo should return. The Eastern Palace's entourage came in a grand procession and left in a grand procession as well.

Outside the Liu residence, there were more than twenty Imperial Guards. Wang Zhen took them all back to the Northern Garrison Command. As for Shen Fan, he took the Crown Prince's reward money and asked for half a day's leave to go home.

*

Inside the Shen residence, Shen Yao had just finished lunch and hadn't even cleaned up the food when she saw Shen Fan return.

Shen Yao was surprised and was about to ask when she saw Shen Fan toss a bundle over, "Little sister, this is for you."

It was hard and heavy. Shen Yao opened it and was immediately dazzled, exclaiming in surprise, "So much silver, where did you get it, brother?"

"I won the contest against the Crown Prince's guards, and this was a reward from the Crown Prince."

Wei Luo?

Shen Yao frowned: "Your Highness has left the palace?"

"Um."

"Didn't he just go back this morning?" Shen Yao muttered to herself.

"What did you say?" Shen Fan asked.

"Ah, it's nothing." Shen Yao weighed the silver in her bosom, her face beaming. "Since it's the reward money you won, brother, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to take it?"

That's what she said, but Shen Yao made no move to return it.

Seeing this, Shen Fan smiled and said, "Your birthday is coming up soon, go buy whatever you like."

Oh, it's my birthday!

So Shen Yao accepted the birthday gift from Shen Fan without any qualms, saying, "Thank you, brother."

Shen Fan started eating, and while eating, she asked, "What are you going to do about Han Yu's matter?"

Shen Yao left the palace and returned to the Shen family for this very reason. She sighed and said, "Now Han Yu is in Xu Xuan's hands, and his family members have also been arrested and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice. It's difficult for us to get involved anymore."

So you don't want to deal with it anymore?

Shen Yao gave a soft "hmm", then shook her head and sighed, "No, actually I don't know what to do either."

A few days ago, the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested Han Yu, and this morning, Xu Xuan went to the Imperial Prison to snatch him away. With such a big commotion, and the other side not being stupid, the Ciyun Temple matter is most likely to fall through.

Seeing her younger sister looking dejected, Shen Fan comforted her, "Don't be upset. Maybe Ciyun Temple is just something Han Yu made up. Since no one can corroborate it, he can say whatever he wants."

As the two were talking, Madam Shen suddenly arrived. The two stood up and bowed. Madam Shen waved her hand, looked at Shen Yao, and asked, "Are you busy this afternoon?"

"fine."

"That's good. I'll go shopping with Mother. In a few days, it will be the birthday of the Dowager Lady of the Duke of Xin's Mansion. We'll pick out some gifts to send over."

Madam Shen had her daughter accompany her to choose a gift.

Now that she had no say in the matter of the demonic book, Shen Yao thought for a moment and decided to go shopping instead. Since she had transmigrated here, she hadn't had a proper chance to experience life in the capital. So she nodded and replied, "Okay, I'll go with Mother."

Because she was going out, Shen Yao went to do her hair and makeup first. When Shen Fan saw his sister leave, he also wanted to slip away, but Madam Shen immediately called out to him, "Where are you going?"

Shen Fan's eyes flickered slightly. "You guys go shopping, I'm going back to my room."

Madam Shen stood up, snorted, and said, "Didn't you ask for half a day off? Then let's go together and choose a gift for Miss Zhao."

Mentioning the marriage, Shen Fan was annoyed. He turned his back, clearly resistant, and said, "Why don't you just decide? What do you need me to do?"

"You're the one getting married, not us. Get your attitude straight."

Shen Fan turned around, looked at her mother, and said coldly, "Who I marry is not up to you to decide. Do I have the right to choose? I have already cooperated enough."

"What did you say?" Madam Shen glared at her son, her voice filled with displeasure. "Why are you so resistant every time the topic of marriage comes up? Could it be that you're seeing someone else?"

Shen Fan's expression changed, and she hurriedly explained, "I didn't. It's not that I don't want to get married, it's just that I don't want my life's most important matter to be manipulated like a pig by you."

"Children's marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Didn't your father and I also have our marriages decided by our parents? You've been poisoned by those fictional novels, and you're always thinking about unconventional things."

The ideas of the older generation and those of the younger generation are ultimately different. Shen Fan sighed and didn't want to argue with his mother anymore. If his mother complained to his father later, he would be in big trouble.

Shen Fan compromised, saying repeatedly, "Alright, alright, I'll go, please stop talking."

Despite losing the argument, Madam Shen became even angrier. Seeing this, a maidservant quickly interrupted, saying, "The young lady has arrived."

Madam Shen glanced at him sideways and then let her son off the hook.

After lunch, it was a perfect time for a stroll. Shen Yao and her mother rode in a carriage, while Shen Fan rode a horse, and headed towards Chessboard Street.

Chessboard Street mainly sells luxury goods such as silk, porcelain, jewelry, and the Four Treasures of the Study, making it a high-end consumer market. Since the Dowager Lady of the Duke's Mansion is celebrating her birthday, the gifts must be high-end, hence their visit to this area today.

When the group arrived, they saw hundreds of guards standing at the street entrance, with various flags fluttering in the wind, creating a grand spectacle.

Shen Fan looked at the flag and said that the Crown Prince was here.

They were originally allowed to enter the street by carriage, but the Eastern Palace guards were strict and did not allow carriages to enter, so they got out of the carriage and walked in.

Guards were stationed along the way, including many Imperial Guards, some carrying swords and others halberds, looking extremely imposing. In front of one particular restaurant, the guards were especially numerous, almost completely surrounding the restaurant; even a fool could guess that the Crown Prince was there.

Wei Luo did indeed dine here.

After leaving Liu's residence, it was just past noon. He was still hungry. Thinking that it was not easy to leave the palace, he did not want to return to the palace immediately. So he came to Qipan Street and ate and strolled around like an ordinary commoner.

The Juxinglou restaurant has been cleared out.

Wei Luo found a private room on the second floor by the window. While sipping wine, he listened to someone singing a song. The song was a Jiangnan folk tune, melodious and graceful. Wei Luo was so engrossed in the song that half an hour had passed before he realized it.

After the song ended, Liu Heng rewarded Wei Luo with silver and then dismissed him, urging him to return to the palace, "Your Highness, it's time to go back."

"What's the rush?" Wei Luo had someone continue pouring wine. "It's still early. The palace gates don't close until 7-9 PM. Let's make sure we get back just in time."

Wei Luo continued to drink slowly, and even asked someone to find some more musicians.

Liu Heng immediately objected and hurriedly advised, "Your Highness, this is a commercial street after all. We can't guarantee safety if we stay here too long..."

“There are so many guards here.” Wei Luo interrupted him and laughed, “Besides, when has the security in the capital ever been so bad?”

Liu Heng was speechless. He could tell that Wei Luo was just playing around and only wanted to use this excuse to urge him to return to the palace, not that he was really worried about his safety.

So Wei Luo did not go as he wished. After dinner, he still wanted to go shopping. "The princess is going to have her birthday. Let's go pick out a gift for her first."

It was Wei Luo's first time visiting Qipan Street, and everything was new and exciting. As she walked downstairs, she asked Liu Heng, "Do you know which shop sells calligraphy and paintings well?"

Liu Heng was completely bewildered. Wei Luo rarely left the palace, but as the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace, he almost never left either. He couldn't answer Wei Luo's question.

"This...this servant doesn't know either."

Wei Luo understood. He walked out of the restaurant. The streets were bustling with people. Wei Luo no longer deliberately looked for calligraphy and painting shops. He would just go and take a look at any shop, no matter what it sold.

All sorts of things, none of which I'd ever seen before, so it was all about novelty.

One of the parrot shops caught Wei Luo's eye. Just as he was about to go in, a voice suddenly came from behind him, "What a coincidence, to run into Your Highness here."