Chapter 190 Wrong Person Sent
The weather has been sunny and warm lately, and not too cold.
After a long, quiet winter, there were still many boats on the river, and the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments filled the air.
"This boat is so stingy."
Xiao Lin leaned against the railing, looking quite disgusted with the small boat.
Fu'er somehow got hold of a fishing rod. "Let's see who catches more."
Meng Shilan glanced at the three children on the deck, then turned to look at Green Willow.
"Go down and keep an eye on them, and make sure they don't fall into the water."
"yes."
After Shuang'er saw her go downstairs, she approached her sister and whispered in her ear.
“I saw her get off a carriage yesterday; she might be up to something again.”
Meng Shilan smiled and said, "You were right."
Do you know why Fu'er wanted to come on the cruise?
"She overheard Green Willow and the other maids talking about the Feng River cruise."
"Children believe anything they hear, so naturally they beg for it to come."
Shuang'er thought back to the last time she went to Baima Temple to enjoy the flowers, which caused her sister to catch a cold for many days.
She couldn't help but mutter, "When will we be able to wipe them all out? Who can keep up with their drama every day?"
Meng Shilan blinked. "That's why I invited one more person today."
"Who did you call?"
The boat that Meng Shilan rented wasn't very big, but the cook on board was brought by Xiao Lin himself.
The aroma of food wafted out as soon as the small boat set sail.
The money bag lives up to its name; it uses only the finest ingredients.
The hook made people on the next boat stick their heads out.
"It smells so good! Which ship has such a good cook?"
The three children were fishing at the stern of the boat and did not hear what was being said next door.
The scholar on the next boat, who considered himself a romantic and talented man, looked up and saw a beautiful woman by the second-floor window. He immediately presented her with two sentimental poems.
"Where can I find a beauty? Let me see!"
Mu Shouzhen hurriedly pushed his friend's shoulder aside and peeked out to find that it was Meng Shilan.
He immediately pinched his friend's arm, "Don't talk nonsense."
Zhou Wanyan had said long ago that Miss Meng was his younger brother's destined one.
He couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead.
If his wife finds out that his friend flirted with Miss Meng, he won't be coming home tonight.
Mu Shouzhen's friend glanced at him and said, "You know her? Which family's young lady is she? I've never seen her before."
He quickly closed the window. "The Duke of Zhenguo's residence."
Everyone fell silent.
Their expressions were a mixture of emotions.
Before the group could react, the boat suddenly jolted.
"W-What happened?!"
Mu Shouzhen hurriedly ran down the deck.
Then a ship much larger than them was seen, and it pushed them out.
The bow of the small boat was also cracked.
The boatman looked troubled, while a servant jumped off the opposite boat, threw down a bag of silver without saying a word, and then jumped back onto the big boat.
There's plenty of money.
It could even buy a bigger ship.
The boatman happily put away his money bag, then turned to Mu Shouzhen and said, "Young Master Mu, I'm sorry, the boat cannot depart today."
A group of scholars returned home disappointed.
Only Mu Shouzhen stood on the shore, lost in thought.
If he wasn't mistaken, that boat was heading straight for Meng Shilan.
If his eyesight is normal, then the person on the boat appears to be Gao Zhian.
The two of them got into a fight at Baima Temple last time.
Now it's obvious they had ulterior motives!
This bastard has a wife and concubines, yet he still tries to steal his brother-in-law's woman!
He turned around and hurried back to his residence.
In front of Gao Zhian was the ivory and jade-carved crown.
The fire in his heart had never been extinguished since the day Zhou Congxian approached him and said he would recommend him.
"Your Highness, the ship has caught up."
The servant rushed up from the deck in a hurry.
Looking out the window, Gao Zhian could see Meng Shilan's smiling profile.
And there was his daughter beside him, with a face that looked exactly like Zhou Congxian's.
His hands, which were resting on the table, made a "crackling" sound as he squeezed them.
The servant dared not even breathe loudly.
He felt that the Crown Prince had changed a lot recently, becoming easily angered and prone to outbursts.
Although the former crown prince was strict, he was not harsh.
He is completely different from how he is now.
"Follow."
He heard Gao Zhian's cold command and hurriedly looked up.
A ruthless glint flashed in the prince's eyes.
"Wait until we're far enough from the shore before crashing into it."
"Hit...hit it?!"
The servant was startled and almost thought he had misheard.
"If anything happens to the young master, my entire family's lives wouldn't be enough to compensate for it!"
A cold glint appeared in Gao Zhian's eyes. "I told you to ram the ship, not to kill anyone."
"If you can't even handle this small matter, you shouldn't stay in the manor anymore."
The servant lowered his head; the young master was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with.
Is it a minor loss or a shipwreck?
How can he control this?
On the lake, a gentle breeze caressed the boats, causing the flags to flutter in the wind.
The boatman poled the boat, and it glided slowly across the lake.
Meng Shilan looked at the ship that was neither too close nor too far behind her.
This trick will have to be played out again.
Who did she offend?
"Shuang'er, go tell the boatman to stop at the covered bridge ahead."
Jinming Lake has an island in the middle of the lake, which is connected by a covered bridge.
Shuang'er didn't understand what it meant, but she did as she was told.
The small boat had just come to a stop under the covered bridge.
Two loud thuds came from above, and the boat dipped slightly.
Someone jumped off the bridge.
Before Shuang'er could react, the door opened.
Wei Xun and Zhou Congxian came in.
Shuang'er's mouth opened slightly; the people her sister was talking about were the two of them.
Before the group could speak, there was another loud bang.
Then you can hear the boatmen cursing and swearing below.
"How do you row this boat?!"
Meng Shilan raised an eyebrow as she looked at the two people who had just entered.
"Isn't this just a coincidence?"
Zhou Congxian said in a deep voice, "I'll go take a look."
Meng Shilan stopped him, "Don't rush, don't show yourself yet, I'll go and take a look."
Gao Zhian was already standing on the bow of the ship.
Their prows were encased in iron and remained intact.
The small boat had already been rammed and a hole had been made in it.
Xiao Lin's face was extremely ugly, and he walked angrily from the stern of the ship.
"Who's blind? How dare they ram my ship!"
Zhou Jiafu, that little girl, has already caught three fish, while he hasn't caught a single one.
Just as a fish took the bait, the boat was rammed!
Zhou Zhian said calmly, "So it was the Seventh Prince's ship."
"I apologize for disturbing Your Highness's enjoyment."
"If Your Highness does not mind, why not come and visit this place?"
He had barely finished speaking.
Fu'er came running over excitedly, carrying another fish.
"Your Highness, I've caught another one!"
Xiao Lin looked at the tiny fish, no bigger than his palm, and became even angrier.
If the boat hadn't been hit, this fish would have been his.
He turned and glared at Gao Zhian, "If you have nothing better to do, go guard the city gate! I'll bring you to the palace tomorrow and report you!"
Meng Shilan got down and feigned surprise, saying, "What happened! How did you get hit?"
The boatman, having finished inspecting the boat, said, "Miss, it might not be safe to continue sailing."
"There's a small dock in front of this covered bridge. I'll let you on."
Gao Zhian immediately spoke up, "It was my men who were reckless and damaged your boat."
"If you don't mind, come aboard this ship."
Meng Shilan looked at Xiao Lin, "What does Your Highness think?"
Xiao Lin curled his lip, "You've ruined my mood, and now you want me to go to your ship."
He turned and ordered, "Dock, I want to disembark."
Gao Zhian gritted his teeth and watched the small boat row away.
He originally planned to damage the boat after it reached the middle of the lake.
Then you can take the opportunity to invite them onto your ship.
Whether it's coercion, bribery, or...
He pursed his lips, having planned everything, but he hadn't anticipated that Xiao Lin, that little tyrant, would follow him.
After the small boat docked, Gao Zhian also docked and got off the boat.
"Miss Meng, please wait."
Seeing that they were about to leave, Gao Zhian hurriedly spoke up.
Meng Shilan turned to look at him, "If you want to apologize, Prince Gao should talk to the boatman."
"That's natural."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "I really shouldn't have disturbed Miss's enjoyment today."
"If Miss would do me the honor, please come to Dexing Tower."
Xiao Lin leaned out of the carriage and bluntly exposed him, "Tsk tsk, a beautiful lady is sought after by gentlemen."
"Look at your despicable face, you're nothing like a gentleman!"
Gao Zhian's lips twitched, but he forced himself to continue, "The collision was truly an accident."
"It would be truly unfair if His Highness misunderstood me because of this."
Meng Shilan didn't beat around the bush with him. "There's no need for a meal. If Prince Gao feels bad, just give the boatman some extra money."
Undeterred, Gao Zhian ordered his servant to remove the ivory and jade-carved headdress from the boat.
"Then this is my apology, please accept it, Miss."
Shuang'er's eyes widened when she saw the ivory and jade carving headdress.
It turns out he bought it.
Looking at the magnificent crown before her, Meng Shilan said, "Your Highness has given it to the wrong person. Such a valuable item should have been given to your wife."
“That crown…”
He hadn't finished speaking.
A lithe figure flew out of the second-floor window of the small boat.
Zhou Congxian reached out and took the ivory and jade carved crown.
"Brother Zhian's kindness is too much to refuse."
“Your shop happens to sell jewelry, so this should be placed there as the shop's prized possession.”
His words were full of sarcasm.
As she spoke, she looked up at him and asked, "Brother Zhi'an, don't you agree?"
Gao Zhian's expression changed.
When did Zhou Congxian board the ship? I didn't see him at all.
If he had been secretly pitying him the previous two days, then...
Now, his eyes were filled with undisguised mockery.
Zhou Congxian had been on the ship the whole time, watching him as if he were a clown.
His eyes burned with even more hatred. "Zhou Congxian, very well indeed!"
Zhou Congxian was still holding the ivory and jade-carved headdress in his hand, and he weighed it in his hand.
"Does your sister-in-law know?"
Gao Zhian paused for a moment, then smiled, "It's just a crown; an apology should be sincere."
"Could it be that Lord Zhou can't even produce a crown?"
Their gazes collided in mid-air, like sparks flying.
Whether I can afford it or not has nothing to do with Brother Zhian.
Zhou Congxian's eyes turned cold. "Moreover, I will not buy a crown to give to my sister-in-law."
Gao Zhian wasn't angry. Instead, he looked at Zhou Congxian and laughed.
"Lord Zhou seems to be angry."
"What I give Miss Meng as an apology has nothing to do with Brother Congxian."
He then relayed that same sentence to Zhou Congxian verbatim.
He took two steps back, his smile widening, and pointed to the crown in Zhou Congxian's hand.
"I look forward to seeing Miss Meng look stunning in this crown at the Princess's Spring Banquet next month."
After saying this, he jumped back onto the boat and told the boatman to row away.
Meng Shilan turned to look at him, "Are all your friends like this?"
It turns out it was just a simple trick.
Even if they try to retaliate, they can't be punished with a serious crime.
Zhou Congxian glanced at her. "We might have been friends before, but not anymore."
"I'm taking this with me, you're not allowed to use it."
Meng Shilan was reluctant to part with the hard-earned silver, saying, "This is worth eight thousand taels!"
Zhou Congxian said, "Stop being so greedy. I'll go to the palace and present it to His Majesty."
"Get Gao Zhian a position in the Southern Border Army, and get him out of the capital!"
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