Chapter 120 The Heavenly Decree Gambling Game
Upon hearing Xuan Yao's words, Shao Yanzhe understood.
Perhaps because she had a bad impression of the people from Tianluozhao when she first met them, her first impression of the others from Tianluozhao was also negative.
The Tianluo Zhao organization held a similar position in the Dayong Dynasty as the Jinyiwei, Dongchang, and Xichang that he was familiar with.
However, the only difference is that the person who obeys the imperial edict is not the emperor, but the chief minister Gu Huiming.
Shao Yanzhe couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "This emperor of the Dayong Dynasty is not very capable!"
After sighing, he looked at Xuan Yao and asked, "What did that person smell like? Do you know what problem that person has now?"
Xuan Yao lay down and thought for a moment before saying, "It's an extremely strange smell, like the rotten smell that comes out of something that has been corroded over time."
Then, he said somewhat uncertainly, "I glanced at that person before and found that his soul and body didn't match. It looked like a soul possession? The soul in that young body seemed very old."
Upon hearing Xuan Yao's words, Shao Yanzhe's first thought wasn't about the other person's possession, but about himself.
Based on his previous experience in the dream world, he guessed that Xuan Yao and Zhou Jiming had probably already figured out that he did not belong to this world, so he directly asked.
"Can you tell that my soul and body are not compatible?"
Xuan Yao subconsciously looked up at Shao Yanzhe and saw the curiosity in his eyes. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Does this guy even know what he just said?!
When they emerged from the dream world, they didn't ask Shao Yanzhe why his dream world looked the way it did; wasn't that an unspoken understanding?
These two-legged creatures are really unreliable!
He stared at Shao Yanzhe and said very seriously, "You must never mention this matter again. Your situation is very special. Even I couldn't see anything wrong with you. If other people with ill intentions find out, you will be in danger."
Shao Yanzhe nodded seriously: "Okay! I understand, I won't mention it again!"
Seeing that the two-legged beast was so obedient, Xuan Yao couldn't help but sway its tail from side to side.
Shao Yanzhe smiled slightly and asked about the man surnamed Zhao in Tianluo Zhao: "So, that person was reborn through possession? What usually happens if someone like him is discovered?"
Xuan Yao racked his brains for information on this matter, and finally said somewhat uncertainly, "It seems there are no consequences, and no one will care about these things."
Shao Yanzhe asked in surprise, "Does this world not have underworld officials?"
"What is that? I've never heard of it before," Xuan Yao asked in confusion.
Shao Yanzhe then gave him a brief account of the legends about the underworld officials.
"Your world is amazing! There are even places that can control ghosts and monsters! But I don't know if there are any in this world. Judging from the current situation, there probably aren't. Even if there are, something must have gone wrong there, and they can't control the mortal world, which is why ghosts and monsters run rampant."
"Probably!" Shao Yanzhe said noncommittally. He glanced at the sky; it wasn't too late yet. Feeling hungry, he took Xuan Yao to find the others, intending to go out and get something to eat first.
Shao Yanzhe walked out of the room and saw Su Yuheng and the others sitting in a pavilion. He walked over.
When the group saw him, they all stood up.
"Brother Shao, you're finally out! We've been waiting for you for ages!" Liu Mingyuan said to Shao Yanzhe with a look of surprise and delight.
Shao Yanzhe quickly cupped his hands in apology: "I'm sorry for the delay. I imagine you must all be hungry. When Brother Zhou arrives, we'll go out for a meal together. This time, it's my treat!"
“That’s great!” Liu Mingyuan was the first to respond immediately.
He knew that Shao Yanzhe was currently quite well-off, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed so readily.
Zhou Jiming returned soon after, bringing some servants with him. After instructing them to clean the house, the group left the house.
Since it was Shao Yanzhe and his group's first time in Kyoto and they were not familiar with the city, they asked Zhou Jiming to take them to a restaurant that offered good value for money.
"Let me tell you, the chefs at Tai'an Restaurant are incredibly skilled, on par with the imperial chefs in the palace. Especially their signature dishes, they're so delicious you'll want to swallow your tongue!"
As Zhou Jiming walked, he said, "The signature dishes at Tai'an Restaurant require reservations, but with me here, I'll make sure you get to eat them today!"
"We're in for a treat today!"
"Hehe, I'm going to have a good taste of it later."
As they chatted and laughed, they arrived at Tai'an Tower.
"A rare guest indeed! It's been quite a while since Prince Zhou last visited! What would you like to eat today?"
As Zhou Jiming entered Tai'an Restaurant, the manager came out from behind the counter with a fawning expression.
Zhou Jiming glanced at him and said, "Bring me all your signature dishes, and you can bring out some other dishes as you see fit. You'll get your share of the benefits!"
"Yes, yes! Young Master Zhou, please come upstairs. I will make arrangements for you right away," the shopkeeper said, glancing at the waiter beside him.
The waiter was very quick-witted. After receiving a look from the shopkeeper, he immediately ran into the kitchen to urge the chef to hurry up with the order.
The innkeeper led the way, sideways, and led them to an empty room on the second floor.
After making the arrangements, he tactfully left.
After a few casual words, the dishes, emitting an enticing aroma, were served.
They were starving, and faced with such delicious food, they couldn't resist and started eating with their heads down.
Not long after they started eating, the door to the room was violently kicked open from the outside.
The wooden door slammed against the wall with a dull thud. The group of people who were enjoying their food instinctively looked up at the doorway and saw three young men dressed in fine silks and satins standing there. They held folding fans in their hands and gently fanned themselves in front of them. If it weren't for the current temperature, they would have been considered handsome young men.
However, judging from their expressions, they probably don't have good intentions.
Sure enough, the boy standing in the middle of the three raised an eyebrow and looked inside.
"Hey! Isn't this the future young master of the Marquis of Changping's mansion?!"
After he finished speaking, he snapped his folding fan shut and looked at Zhou Jiming with hostility in his eyes.
"What? Now you finally realize you're a good-for-nothing and are finally willing to come out? Why don't you stay home and study so you can take the imperial examinations in the future?"
"Hmph! It's none of your business! I, the young master, have a marquisate to inherit, how could I possibly take the imperial examination!" Zhou Jiming said with a dissatisfied look.
The boy crossed his arms and looked at Zhou Jiming with eyes that were almost overflowing with sympathy.
"How come I heard that Marquis Changping recently submitted a memorial to His Majesty requesting the appointment of a crown prince, but the crown prince was not you!"
Zhou Jiming's smile froze for a moment, then he gave a dismissive snort.
"Hmph! Do you think I care about the position of heir? I'm not like a spoiled brat like you. I'm capable of passing the imperial examinations on my own. Just you wait, I'll definitely pass this time, and then I can become an official on my own."
As he spoke, he glanced at the boy opposite him, his eyes full of disdain.
"But you can only rely on your family!"
The boy's face immediately turned bright red, and his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes were filled with anger. He immediately pointed at Zhou Jiming and started cursing.
"You? Who do you think you are? You're the most notorious playboy in the capital! You think you can pass the imperial examinations?"
"I think you're the one who's dreaming!"
"We grew up together, I know you perfectly well. If you get into university, it'll be raining blood!"
Zhou Jiming was so angry that he jumped up and was about to hit the boy, but was pulled back by Shao Yanzhe standing behind him.
"Don't be angry."
Shao Yanzhe's calm voice calmed Zhou Jiming down, and he immediately snorted and turned his head away from the boy.
The boy was surprised to see that Zhou Jiming was actually being held back. They had grown up together since childhood, and both knew each other's tempers.
Zhou Jiming, in particular, was greatly favored by the emperor. In addition, his father, Marquis Changping, was also among the upper echelons of the nobility. He was showered with love and affection, and from a young age, he was lawless and did whatever he wanted.
When he's enraged, practically no one can control him.
Now, someone only said one sentence, and Zhou Jiming obediently listened.
This is truly unbelievable.
The boy looked at Shao Yanzhe curiously, and after looking him up and down, he could tell that he was a weak scholar. Judging from his thin, bamboo-like appearance, he probably didn't have much strength.
"Hey! Who are you?"
Shao Yanzhe smiled slightly at the young man: "I am Brother Zhou's friend. Brother, what you said earlier was really a bit too much. Brother Zhou is very knowledgeable and will definitely pass the imperial examination this time."
The boy curled his lip, his eyes full of disdain: "Whatever you say, then it is!"
After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhou Jiming and said, "I'm waiting for you to pass the imperial examination with flying colors. If you fail, then you can shout three times on the city gate that you, Zhou Jiming, without the status of a prince, are nothing but a good-for-nothing!"
“Fine! You just wait! I’m sure I’ll pass the exam!” Zhou Jiming retorted immediately.
Shao Yanzhe felt somewhat helpless, but since Zhou Jiming had already spoken, he couldn't refute him.
He looked at the somewhat smug boy and asked, "And what about you?"
The boy looked at him in confusion: "What's wrong with me?"
"You only said that if Brother Zhou fails the exam, he will shout three times on the city gate. If Brother Zhou passes the exam, what price will you have to pay?"
Zhou Jiming also realized what was happening and glared at the boy with dissatisfaction: "So, whether I pass the exam or not, I'm the one who'll suffer! If I pass, you can run around the capital city while shouting that I'm a good-for-nothing."
The boy hesitated for a moment: "This..."
"If you don't agree, then what you said before is null and void!" Shao Yanzhe said immediately.
He didn't want Zhou Jiming to gamble on such things; winning would bring no benefit, and losing would be shameful.
Of course, Zhou Jiming wouldn't say anything if he thought the bet was good.
The boy glanced at Zhou Jiming and saw the provocation in the other's eyes. He immediately became angry and agreed without hesitation.
"It's a deal! I'll also participate in this imperial examination. If I pass, you, Zhou Jiming, will be embarrassed!"
The boy left after saying those words, turning around and taking his men with him.
Shao Yanzhe then looked at Zhou Jiming: "Brother Zhou, don't let others stir things up in the future, it won't do you any good."
"Well, I was a bit reckless before, I'll be more careful in the future. Even if I don't pass the exam, it's fine, I won't keep my promise anyway," Zhou Jiming said nonchalantly.
Shao Yanzhe looked at him seriously and said, "No! You must pass the exam!"
Zhou Jiming was immediately dumbfounded. Pass the exam? Him? He couldn't possibly do it!
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