This useless fee can't earn you a penny
craftsman.
A business where the upper limit is as high as the sky and the lower limit is as low as the ground.
Qin Shu was the former. After all, "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature" was one of the five volumes that protected the country. Qin Shu had the profound knowledge of the royal classics at his disposal. At the starting line, Qin Shu had already left his peers far behind.
As for Qin Shu's exact level, Ren Xuan guessed that only Qin Shu himself knew.
Qin Shu is a pure black, and he is extremely skilled at pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger.
In Ren Xuan's memory of his previous life, the thing Qin Shu did most at this stage was making flower pots and cages.
The reason is simple. Lu Xiyun, the prince of Xifu, does not form cliques or factions in the imperial city. He just likes to grow flowers, plants, and open a zoo.
Even the first time Qin Shu hooked up with Lu Xiyun, he used this excuse.
"Your Highness's plum blossom is very beautiful, but the pot doesn't quite suit the scene. So, I'll make one and send it to your residence someday."
'Don't bother.'
Thinking back to Lu Xiyun back then, he was still quite alert. As for now...
Ren Xuan looked at Qin Shu with sympathy. Prince Lu had gotten used to his job, and a master craftsman had become a gardener. Qin Shu was like an extra employee of the Lu Mansion all day long.
Sighing secretly at the waste of his talent, Ren Xuan left the Lu Mansion with his tools and cat in his arms, having gained a lot.
Qin Shu was confused by Ren Xuan's look.
What’s even more incredible is that Ren Xuan, who looks quite fierce, actually likes cats.
With Ren Xuan's facial features, most people would avoid him. But when he turned around, he saw that he had a kitten in his sleeve, a furry and baby-sounding kitten.
The contrast is really quite big.
Qin Shu sincerely hoped that Lu Xiyun's preferences could be more normal.
What tigers, leopards, jackals, or wolves? These things can never be tamed, at least not to Qin Shu.
At this moment, the guy who was baring his teeth at Qin Shu had bright fur, and was stepping on a piece of meat aggressively. His eyes were still fixed on Qin Shu who was guarding the door, and there was a gurgling sound in his throat, which was quite creepy.
I've fed him several times, but this ungrateful wolf is still aggressive towards him. Sooner or later, I'll chop this beast into pieces and stew it in soup!
Of course, just talk.
In the Western Territory, there's a tradition of keeping wolves registered in the household register. This beast in front of me is of the same generation as Lu Xiyun...
After all, when Lu Xiyun kept calling him "my brother", Qin Shu misunderstood him for a long time.
He even thought that Prince Jingxi was still strong and had brought a new member to the palace. Until one day, Qin Shu saw with his own eyes the wolf appear at the Lu Mansion with a piece of meat in its mouth.
Qin Shu, who was standing alone against the enemy, said patiently, "Mu Feng, I'm not telling you not to come in. Look, my brother is injured like that, and you still throw yourself on him. Do you think that's appropriate?"
The wolf stared at Qin Shu fiercely for a while, as if evaluating whether the two-legged beast was worth wasting its fangs on. Finally, it picked up the meat under its feet and left.
Qin Shu raised his eyebrows - you're smart.
It was late at night and the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching. From afar, the full moon in the sky was shining brightly.
When full, there is emptiness. Qin Shu's gaze fell on the bright moon in the sky, but his eyes were deep and dark, as heavy as water.
In the past two days, the guys in the house can sleep for six or seven hours a day.
Qin Shu's old habit of being extremely suspicious was like the grass on the graves in a mass grave, growing out eerily.
He recast the Xuanpu Arrow and even asked his confidant to take it to the Ministry of Justice to test it on the culprit.
The news sent back described the assassin's condition, which was very different from the medical officer's description of Lu Xiyun's current situation.
Variable...where does it come from?
At present, it is still unknown what the King Jing’s purpose is in this assassination.
Even though the person in charge was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, there was still no progress on the part of the three divisions.
If nothing unexpected happens, after a while, my father will call me a waste and kill some people, and this case will become an unsolved case.
But Qin Shu didn't want to let it go. Three fourth-grade masters, what a big deal.
Qin Shu felt like he had a thorn in his back, and he could no longer stay in the mansion.
Qin Shu calmed himself down and returned to his room.
The charcoal fire danced slightly, casting a jumping flame, and the slight crackling sound of firewood in the brazier could be heard.
It's freezing outside, but at least this room is warm.
"Listen to me, this is business, I don't mean to go out and fool around."
Qin Shu smiled cautiously, trying to explain the concepts of 'house arrest' and 'going out' to the point where a white horse is not a horse.
The effect was as useless as throwing ice cubes into a fire pit. Lu Xiyun didn't buy it at all: "You are like this now, and His Majesty has already turned a blind eye. If you give those imperial censors an excuse, I will not protect you anymore."
Qin Shu swore confidently, "Listen to me, I have those old scholars on my radar. I won't let the censor's spies see me."
Then he frowned and said, "I have a feeling that I have been targeted recently. If I don't deal with it, there will be a big mess."
Once Qin Shu showed this state, Lu Xiyun stopped interfering in his affairs.
Lu Xiyun didn't know why, but Qin Shu's premonitions about some things were often ridiculously accurate.
After going through so many fatal situations and having many people around him die, Qin Shu is still alive and well.
Lu Xiyun even suspected that this guy might know some forbidden spell of words.
Prince Lu leaned back on the couch again and said, "Remember to come back on Mid-Autumn Festival night."
My parents are not in the capital, and my uncle and aunt are not coming out for the palace dinner. I can only spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with Mu Feng. It’s so miserable just thinking about it.
Unlike Lu Xiyun, Qin Shu had no idea about the word "home", let alone the Mid-Autumn Festival.
But since the other party had mentioned it, Qin Shu agreed: "Do you want me to bring mooncakes?"
Lu Xiyun was not polite: "Okay."
···
Changhua Street, Lu Mansion.
Ren Xuan continued his hypocritical public-funded love affair.
He spent ten sentences to inform Lu Jie that the King of Jin had agreed to attend the banquet and asked him to make good preparations. Then he went into the backyard with the cat in his arms without looking back.
It was late at night, and a pale yellow light was shining from the half-open study door.
Lu Shian glanced through the files without even giving this "idle" "strange person" a second glance, and of course he didn't even bother with the kitten he was pregnant with.
Ren Xuan leaned against the door, not saying a word, looking unusually content.
From Ren Xuan's position, the figure cast by the oil lamp looked sharp yet gentle.
He was intoxicated by the young man's eyes. Those dark eyes were as deep as a well, as if he had already seen through the vanity of the world and seen through all the hardships.
But when he is moved, there is a sharp edge hidden in his smile.
After being stared at for so long by the gazes outside the door, Lu Shian was the first one who couldn't stand it anymore.
The young man under the lamp sighed softly, with that man's unique aloofness: "General Ren, what's the matter?"
Ren Xuan raised his hand and picked up the kitten in his arms, a smile on his face: "Isn't it obvious? It's a gift."
Ren Xuan looked relaxed. Although he was in the Lu Mansion where the enemies and friends were unclear, he seemed particularly relaxed: "The Queen picked it for Lu Shizi and gave it to me. Now it's yours."
Lu Shi'an frowned slightly, and turned his cold eyes to Ren Xuan: "Lu Xiyun? I advise you to take a leave of absence recently. Be careful not to get caught up in the factional disputes."
Ren Xuan felt a warm feeling in his heart, but he smiled disapprovingly. He had already been trapped in it a long time ago, how could he possibly escape unscathed?
Ren Xuan smiled and said lazily, "Don't worry, even if all the big ships up there are flooded, my little boat won't capsize."
The coldness between Lu Shian's brows had not faded, and his eyes were filled with both inquiry and confusion: "Ren Xuan, what exactly are you planning?"
Ren Xuan still maintained his cynical attitude, the smile in his eyes deepening: "I said it was you - do you believe it, Brother Lu?"
Lu Shian said nothing.
This is not the first time that Ren Xuan has acted in an unethical manner.
This capable subordinate of Qin Shu had come to him every now and then ever since he had misbehaved at the Qionglin Banquet, not for revenge or political matters, but simply to "make friends".
The first time is new, the second time is familiar.
What's more, it's rare to find someone as determined and persistent as Ren Xuan for such a long time.
Although Lu Shi'an was a man of few words, he still had some tolerance for this general who was so smooth in public and so shameless behind people's backs. Half a friend, after all, he deserved it.
However, Qin Shu's character is unfathomable and he is a complete quagmire.
Lu Shi'an met Ren Xuan's gaze, his eyes calm, full of concern and caution: "Ren Xuan, are you going to follow that Prince Xiang all the way to the end?"
Ren Xuan's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, but the kitten in his arms lazily turned over, its tail brushing across his wrist and resting softly in his palm.
He smiled lightly and calmly replied, "This is a crucial question. Ability has its price. Loyalty, of course, has its price."
Ren Xuan paused for a moment, looking meaningfully at the man before him. He spoke casually, yet also asked seriously, "The question is—Brother Lu, can you afford the price?"
Lu Shian didn't even raise his eyebrows, and glanced at him indifferently, with his eyes full of the four words "I don't want to bother with you".
However, Ren Xuan didn't take it as an offense at all. He was used to this person ignoring him in his previous life.
"Minister Lu is very busy, but with Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, perhaps he should spend it with his family."
Ren Xuan glanced across the table and casually snatched away the candlestick with smooth movements.
"The road back home is quite dark. The cat is yours, and this is mine. Don't stay up late."
The night was as dark as ink, the light was dim, and Ren Xuan strode away in the night.
He only delivered the message here. Lu Jie had to choose the path himself.
···
Ren Xuan left the Lu Mansion through the small door on the east side of the Mansion.
The moonlight is like water, quietly spreading on the stone road.
The cold wind rustled, and Ren Xuan sensed something strange behind him. He quickened his pace, and the footsteps hidden in the darkness became clearer.
At the corner of the alley, more than ten black shadows appeared together. They were warriors who specialized in martial arts prohibitions.
In the Imperial City, the most strictly forbidden place for martial arts in the world, Ren Xuan could not gain any advantage.
He was pressed to the ground and his joints were dislocated. His body began to spasm uncontrollably. Ren Xuan clenched his teeth, but still broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.
When the rag covering his head was removed, Ren Xuan saw the culprit.
If his mouth hadn't been blocked, Ren Xuan would have already cursed out loud.
Damn you, dog emperor! I'm going to kill you sooner or later!
However, his joints were dislocated, and he had to have his arms twisted by two military officers on his left and right, so that he could barely kneel in front of Qin Shu.
He looks like he is at the mercy of others.
The prince before him was no longer as calm as he was during the day. "General Ren came out of the Lu Mansion late at night. Should he give the young prince an explanation?"
Explain your ass!
Ren Xuan gritted his teeth, sweating profusely. The situation was stronger than he was, so he had to bow his head when he needed to. "This was all planned by the prince. If your highness doesn't believe it, you can go to the palace and ask."
Qin Shu's expression softened somewhat: "Uncle Wang?"
Qin Shu waved his hand, and his left and right men immediately loosened the shackles on Ren Xuan.
Ren Xuan twisted his wrist, which had been reconnected, and tried to calm himself down frantically—he couldn't do anything, this bastard was fate.
Qin Shu, who was staring at him, was still waiting for the next words. Ren Xuan did not hesitate and simply told Qin Huaizhang and his plan.
Qin Shu seemed to be lost in thought. "The Hongmen Banquet—since the emperor's uncle didn't inform me, I won't ask any more questions."
Bullshit! You've already asked all the questions, you idiot.
Ignoring Ren Xuan's angry look, Qin Shu continued, "Thank you for your hard work, General. I will compensate you for today's misunderstanding someday. I just want to remind you that you're not the only one looking for Lu Jie today."
Qin Shu handed over a list and said, "I hope it's useful to you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
