Chu Yuanchen asked: "How many people have been here recently?"

As he asked, he casually gave a silver coin. The waiter was overjoyed and answered the questions: "There are always four or five people every day. Some come by themselves, and some are servants. The door is almost broken by them. Some of them can't find anyone, so they go around to ask. I heard that the government closed down the shop because of selling fake goods, but I didn't believe it. Yesterday, a young man gave a silver note of 100 taels to inquire about Mr. Wu's residence. Our shopkeeper happened to know it and made a lot of money."

"I don't know what this Shiquan ointment is." The waiter was extremely curious. "A while ago, the shopkeeper of Linlang Pavilion brought some over and wanted our shopkeeper to try it, but our shopkeeper said that he was not willing to give it to us, so he didn't take it."

"In the past, not many people went to buy the Shiquan ointment, but after closing, it was crowded with customers."

Seeing that he had nothing else to ask, the waiter served the dishes, said warmly, "Enjoy your meal, sir," and left.

Sheng Xiyan looked outside and saw that the person knocking on the door was a young man in luxurious clothes, with a thin back and a servant supporting him. He knocked hard on the door of Linlang Pavilion. Even if a clerk from the shop next door came to him and told him that Linlang Pavilion was closed, he didn't believe it. It took the servant to persuade him for a long time before he left in despair.

Sheng Xiyan was about to look away when she suddenly noticed that a carriage parked opposite Linlang Pavilion looked familiar. Before she could take a closer look, a young girl in a pink dress jumped out of the carriage.

Xigui said, "Miss, it's the third lady."

It was indeed Sheng Xiyun.

Sheng Xiyun led her maid across the street and arrived in front of Linlang Pavilion. She first knocked on the door, then asked the next door, and returned to the carriage without staying for long.

The moment the curtain of the carriage was lifted, one could vaguely see that there was someone inside the carriage.

The distance was quite far, so I couldn't hear what they were saying or what the man looked like. The carriage drove away very quickly.

Chu Yuanchen joked, "Once Linlang Pavilion closed, the business on Zhaowen Street became better."

After Linlang Pavilion closed, the surrounding foreign goods shops became visibly more crowded, as if Linlang Pavilion was really selling fake goods, which had offended the nobles and was being retaliated against.

Hearing the rumors, Wu Jianjian was almost going crazy. When the incident happened, he went to find Prince Cheng and asked for help. However, Prince Cheng asked someone to investigate and advised him to give up. Only then did he know that the one causing trouble was Prince Zhenbei.

I don't know what these princes are thinking about all day long. They don't do their jobs but instead come to cause trouble for these serious businessmen.

Prince Cheng advised him to prepare expensive gifts and go to the Zhenbei Palace to apologize. He went there for several days in a row, not only taking a large sum of money, but also including the deed to Linlang Pavilion on the gift list. He didn't even want the shop anymore, just asking the master not to bother him again. As a result, he couldn't even enter the palace, didn't see a steward, let alone the Zhenbei Prince himself.

He was so angry that he didn't show any good face to the customer who came to buy the Shiquan ointment. He said with a fake smile: "Second Master Han, you know that Linlang has closed down. Without the King of Zhenbei's approval, I dare not open the door to do business, right? The Shiquan ointment is all in Linlang Pavilion. I don't have a single box left."

The second son of the Han family, Han Shenzhi, looks about the same as Han Qianzhi. He is thin, pale and looks sick.

Han Shenzhi licked his lips and pleaded, "Boss Wu, one box, just give me one box. Is one thousand taels enough? If not, two thousand taels!"

"It's really gone." Wu Jian said with his hands spread out, "Second Young Master, you might as well go ask the King of Zhenbei for help. It's useless to ask me. If the King of Zhenbei would just give in, let alone one box, you can even have ten boxes if you want."

Han Shenzhi pestered him for a long time, but when he saw that he really couldn't produce the Ten-Herb Cream, he left in despair.

Zhenbei Palace... Han Shenzhi recited silently in his heart. Zhenbei Palace also represents another name "Chu Yuanchen".

Chu Yuanchen had beaten them many times in the past. Even after so many years, they still felt pain all over their bodies when they thought of him.

but……

Han Shenzhi covered his aching head and staggered back.

Before he could figure out what to do, as soon as he got home, he saw Marquis Jingwei said happily, "Shen'er, come with me to the Zhenbei Palace."

When he heard about Zhenbei Palace, Han Shenzhi's heart skipped a beat, thinking that his father had discovered something. But then he changed his mind and thought, it was just buying some Shiquan Paste to eat, not visiting a kiln, so it shouldn't be a big deal, just spending more money.

He was lost in thought when he heard Marquis Jingwei continue, "I got a piece of news that Han Qianzhi has been deposed."

Han Shen was startled and repeated, "Han Qianzhi is dead?"

Marquis Jingwei stroked his beard and nodded.

He had waited for so long, and originally thought that Han Qianzhi would die on the battlefield, but in the end he did not die, and he even had the support of the Zhenbei Palace.

Finally, Han Qianzhi is now useless.

God has really treated him well!

"Shen'er," Marquis Jingwei said proudly, "Don't worry, this title will be passed on to you!"

"Let's go to the Zhenbei Palace now."

Marquis Jingwei asked someone to prepare the carriage and hurried out.

After delivering the visiting card, the carriage waited outside the mansion for about an incense stick of time before they were finally brought in and led to the side hall in the front yard, where they were served tea.

Marquis Jingwei frowned unhappily, feeling that the Zhenbei Palace was somewhat neglecting him.

He suppressed his displeasure and said, "Where is Qian'er?" He sighed, "Qian'er has been back to Beijing for such a long time, and he didn't even come back for the New Year. I really... have always wanted to come to the palace to see him, but I was afraid it would be inconvenient, so after thinking about it, I put it off until today."

"Mr. Han will be here later." The steward said gently and stepped aside to wait.

Han Shenzhi kept yawning and looked listless.

Marquis Jingwei glared at him, and he quickly sat down.

Not long after, the sound of wheel was heard outside, and Han Qianzhi was pushed in by Mo Jiu sitting on a four-wheeled cart covered with thick cushions.

When Marquis Jingwei saw Han Qianzhi, a look of disgust flashed across his eyes, but he still showed appropriate surprise on his face. He said in shock: "Qian'er, what's wrong with you? How did you get hurt like this?"

He was horrified, looking Han Qianzhi up and down, and then said, "Why didn't you tell us that you were injured like this? No, I have to take you back and take good care of you. Don't let anything happen to you again. If something happens to you again, how can I face your parents who passed away so early in the future?"

After listening to his eloquent speech, Han Qianzhi said calmly, "No need. Just tell me what you want to do."

He didn't want to see him at first, but he knew his second uncle's personality. If he didn't see him, he would be angry every day, which was really annoying. That's why he wanted to meet him and talk things out.

Marquis Jingwei said, "Nothing much. I just heard that you were injured, so I came to take a look." He then changed the subject, "I heard that your spine was broken by a horse. You won't be disabled, will you?"

At this point, his face lit up with surprise, but he managed to hold back his sigh, "There is a law in the Dayong Dynasty that disabled people cannot inherit the title. Alas, I promised your parents something back then, what should I do now?"

He sighed and said with a heavy heart: "Our Jingwei Marquisate was obtained by our ancestors at the cost of their lives. We can't just take it away for nothing. Your father also gave his life for it."

Marquis Jingwei said this, raised his sleeves and wiped his face, and said worriedly: "I promised your father that I would return the title to you, but things are unpredictable."

Han Qianzhi smiled but didn't smile. His second uncle's whole set of tricks was really a big deal.

After all, isn't it just about asking him to give up his title?

Han Qianzhi said bluntly: "I won't give in."

Marquis Jingwei’s face darkened.

Han Qianzhi continued, "Second uncle, you said it yourself that the title belongs to the eldest son. Even if I am disabled now, the title can be given to my son. Second uncle, you don't think you will live to see that day, right?"

These words really made people feel upset. It was as if if he didn't agree, it meant that he would die soon and would not be able to see Han Qianzhi's son grow up. Marquis Jingwei frowned and said unhappily: "You are useless, Han Qianzhi. Who else would be willing to marry you!"

Marquis Jingwei hoped that he would die on the battlefield every day, but he didn't die. This time, he came back to compete with them for the title.

"Han Qianzhi," Marquis Jingwei stressed, "you are already useless."

What he meant was, don't cling to the title.

Han Qianzhi served tea to the guest and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Uncle."

He smiled and said, "Second Uncle, I am also temporarily staying in the Zhenbei Palace now. It is really inconvenient for you to come all the time. If you have nothing else, please don't come in the future."

Marquis Jingwei flicked his sleeves, stood up unhappily, and shouted, "Shen'er, let's go."

Han Shenzhi was yawning drowsily, but he suddenly woke up after hearing this. He pretended to catch up slowly, then turned around and ran to Han Qianzhi and said, "Brother, I can help you get the title, as long as you get me a box of Shiquan ointment from the prince. Just one box. I will come to you tomorrow, brother, you must help me."

Han Qian was confused. Before he could figure out what this meant, Han Shenzhi hurriedly chased after him.

Seeing his son catching up, Marquis Jingwei didn't say anything, and the two of them were led by the servant to the ceremonial gate.

The more Marquis Jingwei thought about it, the angrier he became. He said angrily, "Does he think that I will be afraid of him just because he relies on the Zhenbei Palace?"

"Don't you think about it? He is just a cripple. Now the King of Zhenbei is still thinking of the past friendship and is willing to take care of him a little. In the future, we will see what use this little bit of friendship will be."

"A cripple."

Marquis Jingwei always mentioned the word "disabled" in his words.

Seeing that his son didn't respond, he turned around and saw his son yawning lazily.

"Shen'er!" Marquis Jingwei scolded unhappily.

Han Shenzhi shuddered and said hurriedly, "Dad, I was so absorbed in reading last night."

He glanced towards the side hall, not knowing whether Han Qianzhi understood what he meant.

Marquis Jingwei continued disdainfully, "You useless man still wants a title? Dream on. I will submit a memorial when I return home today."

He deliberately spoke loudly, wanting the prince's servant to pass the message to Han Qianzhi.

Han Shenzhi: "S-submit a memorial?"

"Yes, the late emperor said that the title would be returned to Han Qianzhi after he got married and had children. But now, he is paralyzed, who would marry him? This was said by the late emperor himself. Even if it is Governor Xiao who is in charge of the country now, he cannot go against the late emperor's wishes." Marquis Jingwei spoke even louder, "The disabled should be obedient. In the future, the marquis' mansion will still give him food to eat..."

"What did you say!"

An unhappy voice interrupted him. Cheng Chuyu rushed over from the ceremonial gate in two steps, waved his clenched fist at him, and said, "Say it again if you dare."

"How dare a little girl talk to me like that?" Marquis Jingwei sneered, "Why, do you want to marry him? He is..."

Before he could finish his words, he felt a sudden pain in his knee and fell to the ground.

The servant who led the way kicked him in displeasure. He had endured it all along. Did he really think that the people from the Zhenbei Palace were easy to bully? !

Marquis Jingwei was stunned by the kick. He spoke so loudly on purpose, relying on the fact that no servant would dare to be rude to guests without permission!

The servant was still not satisfied, and kicked Jingweifu two or three times in a row, making him scream and wail. He did not forget to say to Cheng Chuyu, who was stunned, "Miss Cheng, you go in first. I will beat him for a while longer. Captain Han is in the side hall in front..."

Cheng Chuyu smiled, ignored them, and walked forward on her own, feeling a little heavy in her heart.

When she walked to the side hall, a servant came out pushing a four-wheeled cart.

Cheng Chuyu walked over as if nothing had happened and said with a smile, "I just met your second uncle and cousin. Why does your cousin look like he has tuberculosis?"

Han Qianzhi had just noticed that, after sitting for less than a cup of tea, Han Shenzhi had already yawned seven or eight times, as if he hadn't woken up for several days.

Cheng Chuyu asked casually and said, "So you are the prince of the Marquis of Jingwei Mansion."

Han Qianzhi said casually, "No, the Marquis of Jingwei's mansion has no heir. My parents died saving the emperor, and I was less than three years old, so I couldn't inherit the title. The late emperor issued an order to let my second uncle inherit the title, and stated that after I came of age, married and had children, the title would be returned to me."

"Later, the late emperor agreed."

It's like he's talking about someone else's business.

However, he was so young at that time that he could not remember exactly what happened. Since he could remember, his uncle and aunt gave him whatever he wanted. If he did not want to go to class, they would let him skip it. If he could not do his homework and scolded the teacher, they would fire the teacher and replace him with another one. They treated him better than their own son, even though he was causing trouble all day long and showing off his power in the capital.

Later, he realized that this is called flattery.

He threw up his hands and said, "That's the way it is now. Believe it or not, I don't actually want this title."

"I believe it." Cheng Chuyu said, "He's just a marquis. He can get this title by making a few more military achievements. Only a bunch of incompetent people insist on treating him as a treasure, thinking that everyone else is the same as them."

"Right, right, right!" Han Qianzhi clapped his hands and said, "What you said makes a lot of sense."

He really has no intention of winning this title.

If Second Uncle had spoken to him nicely instead of trying to flatter him, suppress him, or intimidate him, he would have given it to him if he really wanted to.

Even now, he still refuses to give it to me.

After telling this sad story, Han Qianzhi asked again: "Why are you here?"

"I came to see you." Cheng Chuyu's eyes were gloomy for a moment, but he immediately returned to normal, not letting Han Qianzhi notice. "My father said that he knows an orthopedic doctor. He is very skilled and has cured many people who were injured by horses. My father has already sent someone to invite him. Don't worry, he will definitely be able to cure it."

Han Qianzhi agreed readily, not feeling depressed at all because of his own affairs, as if he had just fallen.

Speaking of horses, Han Qianzhi's mind moved, and he asked, "Has Qingping not caused you any trouble yet?"

Qingping is a princess. If she intends to cause trouble, Cheng Chuyu will inevitably suffer.

"I told her that Fu Junqing and I had announced our engagement, and she was so happy that she didn't bother to cause trouble for me."

"Ah?" Han Qianzhi turned his head to look at her, "You broke off the engagement?"

"Yes." Cheng Chuyu said as a matter of course, "Fu Junqing is not worthy of me."

She has always been open-minded. Once she figures something out, she thinks it through completely without any regrets.

Cheng Chuyu followed the four-wheeled vehicle and talked to him in a random manner, saying that she had stabbed Qingping, and then that Yongan had brought his daughter to cause trouble. She said, "If Qingping comes to provoke her again, she will not cancel the engagement." Qingping was so scared that he took Yongan away...

She spoke with great enthusiasm, and Han Qianzhi gave her a thumbs up.

As they were talking, they arrived at the martial arts arena. Chu Yuanchen and Sheng Xiyan were both there. There were a lot of bows and arrows, swords and other things placed on the stone table. In the martial arts arena, Jiaoyang and Sheng Yan were practicing archery with a bow each. The target was placed fifty steps away from them, with a red heart and feather arrows around it.

Jiuyang shot another arrow right into the bull's eye, and Sheng Xiyan shouted, "It's a draw."

Just as he finished speaking, he saw two people coming over. Sheng Xi frowned and said, "Han Qianzhi, who told you to sit up? You have to stay in bed and rest, do you understand?!"

Sheng Xiyan was angry, and Chu Yuanchen also frowned. Han Qianzhi's heart was pounding when he saw this, and he said quickly: "It was my second uncle who came to see me. He specially asked someone to put a thick cushion in the seat and put the back of the chair down, so it was no different from lying down... Yes, it was no different."

He wiped the cold sweat from his head. The prince was very scary when he got angry!

I don't know if the prince will beat him again now that he is injured... He changed the subject with a sense of crisis, trying to divert his attention, "Prince, my second uncle just came to talk to me about the title, and then my cousin, while my second uncle was out, quietly told me..."

He recalled for a moment and said, "He said that he could make my second uncle return the title to me, but he asked me to ask you to give him the Ten Perfect Cream."

He had been recuperating these days and didn't know about the Shiquan ointment. He was completely confused when he heard it.

He quickly added, "I knew you were here, so I hurried over to tell you." He was not just running around!

Chu Yuanchen sneered and said, "He was hooked by the Ten Perfect Ointment."

Han Qianzhi didn't understand, but that didn't stop him from listening: "So what should I do?"

Chu Yuanchen smiled and said, "If you ignore him, he will naturally come to me."

He was waiting for someone to come to him, and Han Shenzhi was a good choice.

Han Qianzhi agreed without even thinking about it. He didn't even ask what the Shiquan ointment was. He was just thankful that he had finally escaped. But before he could praise himself for being smart, he heard Sheng Xiyan's face darken and said, "So, you can wander around now? If your spine doesn't grow properly, you're done!"

Han Qianzhi shuddered, feeling that what she meant was not "the spine will be crooked", but the literal meaning: he will be beaten.

Wait. Isn't he injured?!

But seeing Chu Yuanchen's cold glance at him, he dared not say another word and hurriedly urged the servant to push him back.

Cheng Chuyu couldn't help but laugh. After he left, she asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"

She said she went out for a walk like this.

"It's okay." Sheng Xiyan shook her head, "But it's better for me to stay in bed for now."

Cheng Chuyu felt relieved.

Chu Yuanchen let them talk and went to the martial arts training ground to teach the two children archery.

Cheng Chuyu said, "The Fu family was in mourning the day before yesterday, and Zhao openly said outside that she wanted to arrange a new marriage for Fu Junqing."

The engagement between the Cheng and Fu families was a done deal, but the cancellation had not yet taken place. Zhao openly said this with the intention of stepping on the Cheng family.

Sheng Xiyan frowned unhappily.

Nowadays, the harm caused by breaking off an engagement is far greater to women than to men. In previous years, she would have been spitted to death and it would have been more difficult for her to get married in the future.

Originally, it would have been better for the two families to break off the engagement with the woman making the announcement to others, but what Zhao did was simply despicable.

Sheng Xiyan couldn't help but ask, "The Fu family has no say about the incense burning matter?"

"Uncle Fu said that after the mourning period is over, he would send Zhao to the family temple and not let her return to Beijing." Cheng Chuyu paused and said, "Uncle Fu and my father saved each other's lives on the battlefield."

"When we were in the Northern Frontier, my father once told me that there were not many of those who had served with him in the army who were still alive. Uncle Fu had the best relationship with him. That year, Uncle Fu was seriously injured, but he still dragged him back, who was unconscious and covered in blood. Otherwise, my father would have died in the battle by then."

"It's really not easy for them to survive together with each other. I don't want them to die without any contact because of the younger generation's affairs."

"So, when Uncle Fu said to send Lady Wu'an to the family temple, I agreed."

Sheng Xiyan nodded silently.

Cheng Chuyu has always been daring and never just thinks about herself. She does whatever she wants. She always has a ruler and a degree in her heart.

Although Sheng Xiyan had never been to the battlefield, when she saw Chu Yuanchen, Han Qianzhi, and Ji Mingyang, she knew that it was really not easy to survive, especially for comrades who had supported each other all the way and had their backs to each other.

Sheng Xiyan: "Did the Fu family regret it?"

Cheng Chuyu shook her head: "It shouldn't happen. Uncle Fu is a man of his word. I'm afraid something happened to the Fu family, and Zhao took advantage of the chaos to stir up trouble. My parents passed by today."

Cheng Chuyu blinked and suddenly smiled, "Sister Yan, Fu Junqing is actually the third person that Qingping has taken a fancy to."

Seeing Sheng Xiyan's surprised face, Cheng Chuyu guessed that she definitely didn't know yet, so he counted on his fingers and said, "The first one was her cousin, the second one was the youngest son of the Dali Temple Minister, and now it's Fu Junqing's turn. In the past, when the other party was negotiating marriage, she went to beat up the girls of the bride's family, some whipped them, and some ruined the family's reputation, so that the marriage could not be completed. Fortunately, Princess Yong'an helped her."

"I don't know why, but the first two didn't work out. It seemed like Qingping suddenly didn't like it anymore."

So, the last time Qingping deliberately hit her with the polo ball, she knew that Qingping had set his eyes on Fu Junqing again.

This matter was actually not a secret in the capital. It was just that Sheng Xiyan seldom went out and the Wu'an Marquis's Mansion had just returned to the capital, so no one knew about it.

Cheng Chuyu originally planned to let it go for the sake of the life-and-death friendship between Wu Anbo and his father, but Wu Anbo's wife had caused this trouble again, and she didn't want to suffer the loss anymore.

Cheng Chuyu raised the corner of his mouth with a hint of cunning: "Mrs. Wu'an likes Qingping so much, it would be good to fulfill her 'motherly love'."