Bai Shicheng breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he wasn't here to ask for the 50,000 taels of silver.
Bai Shicheng said: "It's Miss Yun."
"I understand."
Bai Shiyuan looked up at the leaves again, not knowing what he was thinking.
Bai Shiyuan and Yun Zhiyi had a relationship, but that relationship ended after something happened to the Yun family. Although Bai Shiyuan had an agreement with Yun Zhiyi, he seemed to have broken it. He never visited Yun Zhiyi and did not help Yun Zhiyi at all, which made many people curse Bai Shiyuan behind his back.
Seeing this, Bai Shicheng quickly told the story of the Oiran Contest.
Bai Shiyuan's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Not a bad poem."
Bai Shicheng said indignantly: "If you were here, big brother, he wouldn't have the chance to stand up..."
"Don't go to places like that anymore."
Bai Shiyuan interrupted Bai Shicheng without further ado and asked, "How is the matter between you and Miss Fu?"
Bai Shicheng said angrily, "Miss Fu is obsessed with Zhao Lin."
Bai Shiyuan said: "That's because you are incompetent. You are not even as good as a beggar."
Bai Shicheng said indignantly: "What I learned are the ways to govern the country and maintain peace. Poetry is just a minor subject. It's normal for me to lose to him."
"It's all you need to know." Bai Shiyuan said calmly, "Study hard and strive to pass the imperial examination next year. Then your family can arrange a position for you, and Minister Fu won't say anything. As for women, as long as you have enough status, it won't be easy to get anyone you want."
"yes."
Bai Shicheng hadn't expected his elder brother, who had always been as indifferent as a cloud, to say such a thing. No wonder he had stopped contacting Yun Zhiyi the moment the Yun family's misfortune arose. He said carefully, "But I still owe Zhao Lin fifty thousand taels of silver..."
Bai Shiyuan said calmly, "Come back and get it from me. Remember this lesson well. When you become an official, you will understand that all this is just empty talk."
"Brother is right."
Now that the fifty thousand taels of silver were secured, Bai Shicheng breathed a sigh of relief. He listened obediently to Bai Shiyuan's lecture and respectfully saw him off. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and stand up straight.
"The eldest master is so kind to you, young master." Bai Guang complimented.
"Haha." Bai Shicheng smiled complacently and said, "Not everyone has a brother who is the top scholar."
…
Compared to Bai Shicheng, although he was criticized, he still had a source of 50,000 taels of silver. Jiang Yichen was a bit miserable.
Not only did he lose fifty thousand taels of silver on a trip out, he also lost face and was laughed at by others, and even the Jiang family lost face.
So as soon as Jiang Yichen arrived at the mansion, he was called over by his father, who scolded him and told him to find a way to pay back the 50,000 taels of silver himself.
Poor Jiang Yichen had some money, but he couldn't come up with so much silver. He was frowning for a moment, not knowing what to do.
…
"Mom, I'm back."
Zhao Mingyu returned to the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion and met Han Yuehua.
Han Yuehua was thinking about the day when Zhao Chenhan would return. She was in a good mood and asked, "How was the Oiran Contest? Is there anything new?"
Seeing that Han Yuehua was in a good mood, Zhao Mingyu tentatively asked, "The top courtesan this time is Yun Zhiyi."
"That girl from the Yun family?" Han Yuehua also knew the Yun family. Upon hearing this, her brows furrowed slightly and she said, "She's been in the brothel for two years, right? I didn't expect her to become the most popular prostitute."
Zhao Mingyu said, "Originally, the top courtesan this time wasn't her, but Zhu Wanting. But Zhao Lin wrote a poem for her, which shocked the whole audience, and that's why they unanimously elected her as the top courtesan..."
"That rebellious son again!"
Hearing Zhao Lin's name, Han Yuehua's face was filled with disgust and impatience: "What has he done again?"
Zhao Mingyu didn't dare to neglect the matter and quickly recounted the whole story. When Han Yuehua mentioned the two poems written by Zhao Lin, she clenched her hands and said angrily, "Where did this rebellious son get these poems? Did he really write them himself?"
Han Yuehua had said this countless times. Zhao Mingyu didn't actually believe that Zhao Lin had written it himself, but the fact was so, no one could deny it, so he could only say, "Yes. If Jiang Yichen and Bai Shicheng hadn't forced him, he wouldn't have written a poem for Yun Zhiyi."
"These two losers, not only did they make someone famous for nothing, they also gave away 100,000 taels of silver. What can't they do with that kind of money?"
The more Han Yuehua thought about it, the angrier she became.
The entire Zhenbei Marquis Mansion's annual income is only more than 10,000 taels, and it still has to do various things. If Zhao Jingzhou did not have other income in the north, the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion would have gone bankrupt long ago.
Even so, the total amount for a year is only 30,000 taels.
And Zhao Lin could earn 100,000 taels of silver with just one poem, which was enough to cover the income of the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion for more than three years.
And this is a no-cost business.
Who wouldn’t be jealous?
Not to mention Han Yuehua, who has always had a grudge against Zhao Lin.
Zhao Mingyu said, "He has so much money, I'm afraid he will be even less willing to come back."
Han Yuehua sneered, "What's money? There are so many rich people, how many are still alive? These rich people are just leeks, batches of them, when they are not needed, they are allowed to grow, when they are needed, they are killed. One hundred thousand taels? Humph, if the Jiang and Bai families don't give it, it's fine, but if they give it, it will be his death warrant, and he will die for it."
"Besides, even if he wants to come back, he has to see if I agree."
Han Yuehua angrily picked up the teacup and wanted to drink tea, but found that there was not a drop of water in it. She immediately cursed: "They are all dead, there is not even anyone to pour water."
The maid hurried forward to pour tea and stood by nervously serving.
Han Yuehua took a sip of tea and said, "It's only 100,000 taels of silver. What can you do with it?"
Zhao Mingyu said nothing.
Han Yuehua said angrily, "He's causing trouble for our mansion. It's fine if he's already offended Bai Shicheng, but now he's provoking Yun Zhiyi, which will definitely offend Bai Shiyuan. Do you really think that Yun Zhiyi has been left alone in the brothel for two years because Miss Fu saved her? It's Bai Shiyuan! He's a favorite of His Majesty now, and no one wants to offend the top scholar for a prostitute."
Zhao Mingyu was surprised. "Didn't they say that since the Yun family incident, Bai Shiyuan and Yun Zhiyi have lost contact and haven't seen each other since?"
Han Yuehua sneered, "It's true, but so what? Let alone a woman, who would dare to humiliate him even if it was a pair of shoes he wore or a pen he used? Yun Zhiyi is those shoes and that pen. Although they have nothing to do with Bai Shiyuan now, who will know about them in the future? What if he suddenly remembers and wants to get those shoes and pen back? Who can afford it?"
"I see." Zhao Mingyu suddenly realized and said, "Then why didn't Bai Shiyuan speak up to protect her?"
Han Yuehua said disdainfully, "Just because he has an influence on Yun Zhiyi doesn't mean he's not heartless. It's just that he hasn't publicly stated that he's severing ties with Yun Zhiyi, so others don't dare to gamble."
Zhao Mingyu said, "Doesn't that mean that if Zhao Lin and Yun Zhiyi get together, it will offend Bai Shiyuan?"
Han Yuehua said angrily, "Why else would I say he brought disaster to the Marquis' Mansion? This rebellious son has the will to harm our Marquis' Mansion!"
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