「In front of the Tenth Prince's Mansion.」
Zhao Yong's performance wasn't over, but the people with him could no longer stand the burning stares from the street. They frantically hauled him into the carriage and sped away from the Tenth Prince's Mansion.
「In a nearby alley.」
The two young women's expressions were a bit strange. They both knew that with Zhao Yong's temperament, he would definitely come knocking after learning about the marriage.
But they never expected it to end like this.
"Luotang!"
Zhu Li said indignantly, "Just a moment ago, you were telling me not to stir things up in case it hurt Zhao Ci. But look! If Zhao Ci and His Majesty hadn't teamed up to set a trap, how could he be calling her 'my dear wife' over and over? It's despicable!"
Kan Luotang was at a loss for words. "This..."
'Actually, she was still willing to trust Zhao Ci. She had met him before, and while she found him somewhat unremarkable, he didn't seem like a bad person. He didn't seem like the type to conspire and set traps.'
'Great Yu suffers many disasters, and fundraisers are often held. Zhao Ci always donates a considerable amount. Doing it once or twice could be for show, but after so many times, one could only say he was kind by nature.'
'She had come this time hoping to have a proper discussion with Zhao Ci about the marriage.'
'In truth, she didn't have many requirements for her future husband. He just had to be a good person and not restrict her career. The Lingge Northern Three Prefectures were plagued by diseases, and the common people were too poor and destitute to find doctors. She felt she had to go.'
The only reason she resisted this marriage was because it might drag the Kan Mansion into muddy waters.
'Since the Emperor had decreed the marriage, it was likely impossible to refuse. She had come this time just to hold Zhu Li back and, while she was at it, explain the pros and cons to Zhao Ci to try and stay out of the mess.'
'But who would have thought...'
'One moment, Zhao Ci was crying about honoring his parents; the next, he was all smiles, calling her 'my dear wife' again and again.'
'It would be hard to argue it wasn't a setup.'
"No! I have to find a chance to beat him up!"
Zhu Li couldn't help but roll up her sleeves.
Kan Luotang quickly stopped her. "Zhao Yong is a Prince. You need a pretext just to make trouble for him. Are you trying to get yourself killed by attacking him directly? Seeing isn't always believing. Let's go back and discuss a plan with Grandpa first. Besides, Zhao Ci is coming to the Kan Mansion tonight."
"Fine!"
Zhu Li was frustrated but could only get into the carriage with her.
As they were leaving, she subconsciously glanced back. The servants of the Tenth Prince's Mansion were cleaning the filth from the entrance.
She couldn't help but chuckle. "But seeing Zhao Yong and Zhu Yan looking so miserable today was really satisfying!"
Kan Luotang pursed her lips. 'Sometimes, she really envied Zhu Li's personality. Anger was anger, and happiness was happiness; one never got in the way of the other.'
But it made sense.
Although by blood, those two were her cousins, no one in the Zhu Family, aside from her father, the Patriarch, had ever genuinely treated her well.
No wonder she found it so satisfying.
...
"Heh!"
Zhao Ci was overjoyed. He never expected the Money-Eyed Talisman and the On-Spot Relief Charm to be so effective.
The former was a soft crowd-control ability, perfect for diverting attention. Whether for running away or fighting, its effect would be excellent.
The latter was a powerful single-target control with the added effect of social death. Even if an expert assassin came for him, it wouldn't be so simple.
'After all...'
'Zhao Ci really couldn't imagine an expert chasing him down while taking a dump. Even if they managed to hold it in, their movements would be severely affected.'
Of course, this talisman had a weakness.
If the target's bowels were already empty, the effect would be greatly diminished.
'A pity.'
'Such a precious Talisman Paper was gone. I have to find a way to farm a few more.'
Just then.
[Notification]: Wish fulfilled. Reward granted: Comprehension +10, Insult Talisman x1.
[Insult Talisman]: Adhere to the target to double their humiliation and halve their resistance to humiliating acts.
"Hmm?"
'Zhao Ci thought for a moment. This must be the reward for fulfilling Cuiyun's wish. Her wish was that she wouldn't be humiliated, if I recall.'
'But what's the use of this Insult Talisman?'
'Can't think of anything for now. I'll save it.'
The Tenth Prince's Mansion wasn't far from the Imperial Palace, and the carriage soon came to a stop.
Zhao Ci hopped off the carriage and saw the group of guards again.
"Tenth Prince, you've come again?"
The guards all bowed in salute.
"Yes! I have some business to discuss with my Father Emperor."
Zhao Ci replied with a smile, his eyes subconsciously sweeping over their foreheads. He found their wishes were all over the place.
One hoped the new Yang Supplementing Medicine could help him last ten more breaths. Another hoped to book Miss Yu Que at the brothel tonight. And another hoped his wife at home would go to sleep early and not pester him.
'They were a motley collection of small wishes, but none were suitable for me to fulfill.'
'Why doesn't a single one of them wish for me to give them money?'
'Then again, I just gave them a reward this morning. Only a few hours have passed. If they were already thinking about it again, they'd really be no better than beggars.'
All except one.
[Huang Duzhe's Current Wish]: I hope I don't get the urge to relieve myself before my shift ends. Reward for Completion: Comprehension +1, Hold Urine Talisman x1.
Zhao Ci: "..."
'This guy is truly one of a kind. He's either holding it in, desperate for the latrine, or on his way to fearing the latrine.'
'As I recall, the palace gate guards work in twelve-hour shifts. Each shift is split into two rotations, swapping every two hours to ensure they remain focused. You can't use the latrine during your two hours on duty.'
'He can't even hold it for two hours?'
'Still, this guy seems to be a stable quest mob for farming talismans.'
'A true treasure!'
'However, the Hold Urine Talisman wasn't what he needed.'
Zhao Ci's eyes darted around. He casually tossed his money pouch to his driver. "It's hot out. Go buy the guys some Yangzhi Ganlu from Diansu Manor! Two bowls each, don't be stingy!"
The guards' eyes lit up. Diansu Manor was the best dessert shop in Lingge, and their Yangzhi Ganlu was to die for, but the price was ridiculously high. They could never afford to buy it for themselves.
'The Tenth Prince is just too nice!'
Huang Duzhe was also deeply moved. 'The Prince is such a good guy. I must keep his secret about his weak stream.'
...
Zhao Ci didn't linger and headed straight for the Imperial Study.
'Although he was now full of ill will toward Zhao Huan, he couldn't deny that Zhao Huan was a good Emperor. He worked at least fourteen hours a day, a true model of a diligent ruler who loved his people. It was no wonder all the ministers and common folk felt he alone could lead the Great Yu to rise again.'
'Case in point, the purple wish was back on his forehead.'
[Zhao Huan's Current Wish]: For the Royal Pill Workshop to rise and be free from the great clans' control. Reward for Completion: Comprehension +1000, Top-Grade Imperial Extreme Pill x1.
'Another one I can't complete. Isn't this just pure temptation?'
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
He knocked on the door.
Zhao Huan looked up, a pleasant surprise in his eyes. "Ci, what brings you here again?"
'Zhao Ci was a little baffled. He really couldn't figure out Zhao Huan's mentality.'
'On the one hand, if you said he truly doted on me, he was also planning to draw my blood and harvest my Waizi, and he even instigated Zhao Yong to mess with my head.'
'On the other hand, if you said he didn't dote on me, his performance didn't seem fake. After all, I have nothing worth fawning over. Although I have the background of the Jing Chu Xiang Clan, the Xiang Family is full of warmongers and aren't that close with me or Gu Xiangzhu, my supposed mother concubine.'
'At least for now, my value for him to exploit doesn't seem that great.'
'People... what strange creatures.'
Zhao Ci cupped his hands. "Father Emperor, I have some official business I'd like to consult you about."
Zhao Huan smiled and waved him in. "Come in and speak!"
After Zhao Ci took a seat in the chair to the left of the desk.
He then asked with a smile, "Go on, what is it?"
Zhao Ci grinned. "There are two things. First, I wanted to ask if Father Emperor has arranged a marriage for me."
Zhao Huan put on a surprised expression. "After you left, I did indeed settle the marriage with Kan Qing. I haven't had the chance to inform you yet. How did you find out?"
'Acting!'
'Keep up the act!'
Zhao Ci feigned a look of sudden realization. "So it's true! No wonder Ninth Imperial Brother came rushing to my door!"
Zhao Huan's face immediately darkened. He asked with concern, "That rebellious son is an absolute scoundrel! Ci, he didn't do anything to you, did he?"
"He didn't do much!"
Zhao Ci nodded. "He just took a dump in public at the entrance of the Tenth Prince's Mansion. Nothing else!"
Zhao Huan: "???"
He was baffled.
He had considered many possibilities, but never this one.
'What is this situation?'
'Could it be that Yong has a special constitution and takes a massive dump when he's extremely angry?'
'Or was he trying to launch a psychological attack on Ci?'
'Strange! So very strange!'
He rubbed his head. "That scoundrel is getting more and more arrogant. I'll teach him a lesson later so he doesn't harass you over this marriage!"
"Thank you, Father Emperor!"
'Zhao Ci thanked him solemnly. Though he knew it might not be effective, bringing it out into the open would at least make Zhao Yong cause him less trouble.'
Zhao Huan's tone was gentle. "Didn't you say there were two things? What's the other one?"
Zhao Ci took a deep breath. "I want to ask Father Emperor about establishing my own mansion!"
"Establishing your own mansion?!"
Zhao Huan's eyes lit up, and the wish on his forehead refreshed.
[Zhao Huan's Current Wish]: For Zhao Ci to be filled with confidence and resolve to establish his own mansion. Reward for Completion: Comprehension +100, Courage Talisman x1.
'It's red.'