As night fell, countless lights illuminated the moat.
The entire riverbank is reflected in the water, exuding a sense of peace and prosperity.
Laughter and music filled the air, as if the entire Zhou Dynasty was in a state of peace and prosperity.
Inside the cabin of an unassuming pleasure boat, Qin Minglang, wearing a half-mask, was drinking with someone.
He looked closely at the half-drawn sketch of the tank modification on the table, feeling his blood boil with excitement.
"Sir, you are truly a man of great talent!"
With this, why would he need to ask Luo Jiu for help?
The person sitting opposite him was dressed in a black robe that covered his eyes. A scar ran from the bridge of his nose down to his mouth. Hearing this, he chuckled evilly, "I will make the product to the best of my ability, but the price will not be less than a single coin."
Ten thousand taels.
Qin Minglang felt a pang of heartache.
That damned Jiang Qingwan has been missing for the past few days, forcing him to sell the shop to redeem the property deed.
Where would I possibly come up with 10,000 taels right now?
Seeing his hesitation, the man opposite him snatched the blueprint away.
"No money, no discussion."
After saying that, he prepared to leave.
Qin Minglang quickly pulled the person back.
"Ten thousand taels it is, but I need the complete blueprints for the chariot modification, and I must guarantee that it can be made."
The man picked up his glass and drank it all.
"Get the money ready, I'll contact you again."
After speaking, he bowed and left the cabin, boarded a very ordinary wooden boat, and disappeared into the night.
Inside the most beautiful and largest pleasure boat not far away, Guo Hao was drinking with two courtesans in his arms.
"The taste of thirteen-year-old Daughter Red wine is absolutely superb, no wonder it costs a hundred taels per jar."
Gao Yuchuan drank a cup with him and was already a little drunk.
"It's a pity there are only two jars left. The boatman said that the rest were bought by a beautiful woman. A woman with such taste must be a remarkable person."
Guo Hao squinted, thinking of Jiang Qingwan again.
"This wine isn't for nothing. You must find her for me. I, the young master, will definitely have a good talk with that young lady."
Everyone burst into laughter and echoed in agreement.
Just as things were getting lively, the boat suddenly came to a stop with a jolt.
"What happened?"
Guo Hao staggered to his feet and walked out, with the others following behind him. Just as he reached the deck, a rotten fish fell from the sky and hit Guo Hao squarely on the head, spilling its entrails all over his face.
Laughter erupted from the opposite ship.
"Hahahaha, Guo Hao, you dared to steal my woman, throw them all away!"
The speaker was Huo Zhen, the son of the Minister's family. He and Guo Hao were from different backgrounds: one was from a military family, and the other from a family of literary giants. Both were only children and were arrogant and unwilling to submit to each other.
One rotten fish after another.
Guo Hao dodged awkwardly, pointing at the other side and cursing loudly.
"Don't you dare run away."
Although he was unwilling to learn martial arts, he was of good aptitude due to his family's martial prowess. He picked up a pole from the deck and started hitting the other side.
While the other side was in a flurry of activity, Gao Yuchuan placed the horizontal plank, and the group rushed over.
Both sides had been drinking, and although their fighting was all show and no substance, they were all young and full of vigor, so they were wrestling and tumbling around in a fierce battle.
Suddenly, there was a thud.
Someone immediately shouted, "Oh no! The young marquis and young master Huo have both fallen into the water!"
The pleasure boat was in the middle of the river. The water was deep, and neither of them could swim. They dragged each other along, gulping down mouthfuls of river water mixed with the smell of rotten fish, which was nauseating.
Huo Zhen grabbed a pole extending from the boat and climbed up, kicking Guo Hao in the stomach in the process.
"Once I get up here, you'd better apologize to me properly in the water, and from now on, if you see me in the Imperial Academy, you must turn around and hide..."
Guo Hao, kicked and forced to drink several more mouthfuls, refused to admit defeat and tried to pull Huo Zhen's leg. The already unstable pole wobbled even more, and a wooden barrel rolled off the deck, hitting Guo Hao squarely on the head, causing blood to flow instantly.
His vision blurred, and he suddenly remembered Jiang Qingwan's words, "You must avoid water today."
Just as the man was about to faint and sink into the water, Huo Zhen grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Why are you so heavy?"
He struggled to support himself, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Help!
...
After leaving the moat, Qin Minglang carried half of the drawing, his mind heavy with worries.
Just as he was thinking about how to raise money, he saw Li Dou and Lian'er walking forward, chatting and laughing, next to a carriage.
Jiang Qingwan must be inside that carriage.
His first instinct was to grab the person.
Then, on second thought, he stopped.
The servant he sent to guard Puheng Money Shop said he hadn't seen Jiang Qingwan go to withdraw money.
In the past two days, he had people check many inns, but there was no trace of Jiang Qingwan.
He was determined to find out where this woman was hiding tonight.
He followed the carriage all the way until it entered Chang'an District, when he suddenly remembered that the steward had said that Jiang Qingwan might live in Chang'an District.
How is that possible?
How could a lowly merchant, an abandoned orphan, possibly live in Chang'an District, where the powerful and wealthy reside in the capital?
That can't be true.
There must be more to the story.
He chased after the carriage until it stopped, watching as Lian'er helped Jiang Qingwan inside, while Li Dou carried several jars of wine out of the carriage and into the courtyard.
Qin Minglang was not familiar with the terrain of Chang'an District, so he intercepted the driver halfway.
"What kind of place was that woman who just went into?"
In the complete darkness, the driver was startled.
Seeing him blushing like a madman catching his lover in the act, she quickly whispered, "That's the backyard of the Ninth Prince's mansion. Don't go looking for trouble."
After saying that, he left quickly.
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