Chapter 60 Reencountering You People in Southern Zhou: People Like This Are Like Mirror Polishers
Hazar moved slightly toward Zhao Liangxu. Before the banquet had even started, she cupped one cheek in her slender hand and continued the previous topic: "You know, we businessmen always hope to maximize our profits. If we can use the power behind you to intimidate them, it will make things much easier for us."
Since the invitation has been delivered to Zhao Liangxu's residence, it means that Azar already knows Zhao Liangxu's identity and the rumors circulating about her, such as her ambiguous relationship with An He.
Sure enough, Hazard's next words were: "My dear friend, I apologize for my rudeness to you at the banquet that day. You must have been angry when I asked you about the eunuchs."
She said sincerely, "You think it's right to be angry. You don't want to mention that powerful eunuch, do you? You must hate him."
She hesitated again. At this moment, Hazard frowned slightly, showing concern, and said, "To be honest, we are surprised that you accepted this invitation. If you hate him and don't want to be associated with him, you should have refused us. Now I still want to ask you, are you willing to appear at this small banquet? If you feel that you will be offended by the other party or punished by that eunuch, you can tell me directly."
"If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave directly. I don't want your failure to refuse me today to harm our future friendship, my friend."
It was only at this moment that Zhao Liangxu realized that Hazard had some businessman qualities. They like to make friends with people, maintain good relationships with everyone, try their best to keep each friend, and gladly accept the resources behind that friend.
Hazard's current concern for him stems from both genuine worry about his new friend in Southern Weekly and a desire to ascertain whether this friendship is genuine, lest it abruptly end in the future.
While showing concern for friends, it's also inevitable that considerations of self-interest will be involved.
However, Hazard was wrong; she did not dislike Anhe, the eunuch.
Zhao Liangxu said, "Hazar, sometimes rumors from the outside world are not necessarily true. People say that I am a woman who has lost my chastity but still survives, and that I am even living under the influence of eunuchs. Do you believe them?"
Azar first refuted the previous statement: "What do you mean by 'surviving by clinging to life'? I've heard about your experiences, which should be even more admirable. And then there's the matter of chastity. It seems that neither the Southern Zhou nor my hometown can escape the constraints placed on women. I've always heard that the Southern Zhou is a powerful and prestigious country, but it still has just as many restrictions. In this respect, it's not as good as some of the smaller countries that our caravan has visited."
She continued, "I don't know if all these rumors are true, but if I were a Southern Weekly employee, I would also feel that you were very uncomfortable under this eunuch. But I admire you because you don't seem tired or depressed because of anything."
She pondered Zhao Liangxu's words for a moment, then asked, puzzled.
“I initially thought that you at least had a real relationship with that eunuch, but after hearing your question, I’m not so sure anymore,” Hazard’s curiosity was reignited: “So what exactly is your relationship with that eunuch? Do you want me to scold him?”
Zhao Liangxu shook her head, and said without hesitation, "I like him."
Hazard pressed his face against Zhao Liangxu's, touching her cheek and then her forehead. The gold jewelry in his hand sent a chill through Zhao Liangxu. Hazard tilted his head in confusion: "You're not sick."
"?" Zhao Liangxu almost laughed.
“There are no eunuchs here, so you don’t need to worry about him hearing what you say. I won’t say anything.” Azar thought that Zhao Liangxu was intimidated by An He’s power and didn’t dare to say anything bad about him. After all, when she first asked An He, Zhao Liangxu stopped her with a serious expression. Combined with the information she had gathered in the capital, it seemed that Zhao Liangxu appeared glamorous on the outside, but in reality, she had a very difficult time getting along with An He in private.
Zhao Liangxu repeated, "I said I really like him."
Azar showed a compassionate expression and placed his hand on her forehead. The woman from a foreign land bowed her head and prayed for her: "Poor child."
Will anyone believe her if she tells the truth?
Zhao Liangxu rubbed her forehead.
"Anyway, you can certainly use Anhe's reputation without worrying about my situation." This is truly a case of the fox borrowing the tiger's power; Hazard wants to use Anhe's prestige behind her.
Zhao Liangxu believed that An He wouldn't blame her. If she did, it would just give her a chance to get closer to An He.
Hazard looked at her guiltily: "You should have refused my invitation, my friend."
She then took off a silver bracelet from her wrist, which was inlaid with small pieces of black jade, and said, "I didn't prepare a suitable gift for you, and this is at least another apology from me."
Zhao Liangxu was surprised to find a valuable bracelet inexplicably placed in her hand, and she was inwardly amazed.
Do you Persian merchants use gold and silver jewelry as commas when giving gifts?
As the banquet began, the Vice Minister of Works, dressed in an expensive casual outfit, sat at the head of the table. He arrogantly glanced at the Persian caravan he was planning to fleece that day. He looked at the group of barbarians adorned with gold and silver, his eyes filled with greed. But when he swept his gaze over the seat next to Azhar, his eyes widened. He spotted an anomaly among the group of brown-skinned foreigners.
Isn't this Zhao Liangxu?
The Vice Minister of Works certainly recognized Zhao Liangxu. If he dared not to recognize her, he would be offending the current emperor and the emperor's favorite, and he would probably be the one to be dismissed and exiled next.
I really don't understand why Anhe, that disgusting eunuch, didn't keep the woman locked up in the mansion, but let her out to flaunt herself.
Is he really not afraid that this woman will run off with someone else?
Even eunuchs can be lustful. What can a man like him do to women?
The Vice Minister of Works inwardly scorned Zhao Liangxu, but he did not overlook why she was there.
Could it be that Zhao Liangxu's presence here signifies Anhe's intention? She truly is a eunuch who treats everyone as objects to be used.
In the eyes of these officials, Zhao Liangxu was, to put it nicely, An He's woman, and to put it bluntly, just An He's plaything. No one believed that Zhao Liangxu could survive in An He's hands for long. After all, everyone knew that Zhao Liangxu was originally used by Zhou Feng to humiliate An He's status as a eunuch. It was a miracle that Zhao Liangxu had survived this long.
Therefore, the Vice Minister of Works only restrained Zhao Liangxu, but did not take Zhao Liangxu seriously.
He would definitely give the Persian caravan a good beating today.
"Thank you all for coming. To entertain you, I have also invited the girls from Zuihua Fang, who are most skilled in stringed instruments. Please enjoy the vocal music of Nan Zhou."
A group of women dressed in delicate and beautiful attire walked gracefully in from outside the door. However, in the early April weather, there was no rush to use thin and soft fabrics such as silk gauze. The guests in the seats were still wrapped in thick clothes, but several girls had already exposed their arms and shoulders, holding pipa and guqin, ready to offer songs and dances to the distinguished guests.
The woman at the head of the group was dressed in red, holding an ancient wooden pipa. A soft red veil draped over her body, revealing her figure. Who else could it be but Yu Yan?
Zhao Liangxu's brows twitched when she heard the name Zuihua Fang. Yu Yan was now the most beautiful courtesan in Zuihua Fang, and sure enough, she saw Yu Yan.
She still remembered Yu Yan's charming appearance, but now, sitting among the nobles, she was meek and submissive, no longer displaying the bright and cheerful demeanor she had when talking with Xiao Liu'er.
The melodious string music flowed back and forth among the seats. After playing a few pieces together, they were each assigned to serve the guests. As for Yu Yan, she naturally served next to the Vice Minister of Works.
Although Azar didn't know what the Drunken Flower Pavilion was, she could tell from the women's attire and arrangement where they came from. She said to Zhao Liangxu, "I think Lord Zhang's actions are targeting our caravan."
The Azhar caravan primarily sold rare and exquisite items. Treasures were common in all countries, and rare treasures were even more sought after. In a large country like Southern Zhou, there was no shortage of officials and nobles who enjoyed collecting unusual items.
However, the caravan was led by the Adhar couple, and Adhar was mostly responsible for negotiations. This inevitably made the Southern Zhou look down on them a bit. These officials always felt that the leaders of the Persian caravan were somewhat useless, and they felt that there was profit to be made. Their arrogance made them even more arrogant in their actions.
The girls from the Drunken Flower Pavilion who were invited each accompanied the leaders of the other caravans. The Vice Minister of Works said, "Madam Azar doesn't need another girl by her side. If you want, I can arrange for Miss Yuyan to accompany your husband."
After throwing a "He's targeting me" at Zhao Liangxu, Azar straightened up and replied with a smile: "Southern Zhou values fairness. How can I not have what other friends have? Besides, I am representing my husband's and my caravan in communicating with Lord Zhang. Since you are so generous, then let this Miss Yuyan come to my side."
The people seated at the Southern Zhou banquet whispered among themselves, and the Vice Minister of Works joked, "It seems that Lady Azar is a jealous woman. Her character is a little lacking compared to the others."
Azhar had the urge to look up and curse the Persians, but he restrained himself and said with a smile, "That's not true. Men in the Southern Zhou Dynasty have three wives and four concubines. I have more power in the caravan, just like the status of men in the Southern Zhou Dynasty. If I have several beauties by my side besides my husband, it shouldn't be a big deal."
“Besides,” Hazar said casually, “what’s your Southern Zhou dialect for? Oh! Mirror polishing. Well, I’m a mirror polisher too. Isn’t it the same as sitting next to you if Miss Yu Yan is sitting next to me?”
The entire room was filled with shock. The Vice Minister of Works almost lost his composure and exclaimed with a slight sneer, "You, you are a married woman!"
Benna glanced at the various gazes falling on him, but ignored them and silently drank his wine.
He seemed used to Hazard's words until Hazard asked Bena to make a statement, at which point Bena uttered a very fast Persian sentence.
The Vice Minister of Works asked his attendant what Benna had said.
The attendant looked distressed and replied, "He... he said 'I understand.'"
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Author's note: Everyone present was heterosexual (seriously).
I've been too busy these past few days to reply to comments, but I've seen all of your comments, dear readers. And thank you all so much for your incredibly generous donations of nutrient solution! [kissing emoji]
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