Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 34: Large-scale Hero Competition
"How could you be so shameless?" Jiang Liuyun raised his voice. "Although your piano playing is not pleasant, your chess skills are questionable, and you are not proficient in calligraphy and painting, but with me here, I will definitely help you get the first place!"

Lin Zhiqing, who was stabbed again and again: ...

If Jiang Liuyun's smile hadn't been so sincere, she would have suspected that he did it on purpose.

Before she could speak, Lu Huai came back with a laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" Lin Zhiqing was speechless.

Lu Huai patted Jiang Liuyun on the shoulder and said, "Prince Jiang, I think you have a great advantage, and that is honesty. I still need to learn more from you in this regard."

Jiang Liuyun put his arm around Lu Huai's shoulders and said, "Just because of what you said, Brother Lu Huai, you and I will be brothers from now on. I also need to learn more about the art of calculation from you."

"That's certainly no problem." Lu Huai agreed immediately.

However, when Lin Zhiqing looked at the bright smile on his face, he always felt that he was up to something bad.

As soon as this thought came to mind, Lu Huai's eyes returned to Lin Zhiqing's face, and his smile became even wider: "Lin Zhiqing, the Spring Banquet includes the method of calculation. Take me with you, and I will help you win first place!"

Jiang Liuyun's smile froze at the corner of his mouth, and his hand around Lu Huai dropped: "Are you going to the Spring Banquet?"

"Isn't it possible?" Lu Huai blinked and showed a harmless smile.

"But one post can only bring one companion." Jiang Liuyun's voice became louder, and he was obviously anxious.

"Prince Jiang, aren't we brothers? There are so many noble ladies inviting you to the Spring Banquet, you don't need this invitation, right?" Lu Huai held a small wooden abacus in his hand and turned it twice smoothly.

Seeing Jiang Liuyun about to explain, he pinched his chin and said, "Who was it? Oh, right, didn't the daughter of the Left Capital Censor come to see you a while ago?"

Jiang Liuyun was so anxious when he heard this that he scratched his head and cheeks. He looked at Lin Zhiqing with a somewhat awkward look in his eyes: "Qing'er, the daughter of the Left Capital Censor did look for me, but I rejected her."

Lin Zhiqing didn't know what expression to make. She gave Lu Huai a look and asked, "Are you okay?"

Lu Huai understood what he meant and pointed at his abacus.

You are such a good guy, Lu Huai... Lin Zhiqing realized that he was threatening her with her money-making business.

But Jiang Liuyun is his nominal fiancé after all. If Lu Huai hadn't interfered, she would probably have gone with Jiang Liuyun.

As if noticing her hesitation, Jiang Liuyun couldn't help but take a step forward and stare at her like a wounded puppy.

Lin Zhiqing held his forehead with his hand and said, "This is a serious matter. Please let me think about it."

trouble!

Lu Huai is such a huge trouble!

After returning to the yard, Lin Zhiqing was so angry that he pounded the door.

Recalling Jiang Liuyun's back that kept looking back and Lu Huai's leisurely stroll in the garden, she patted her head a few times.

If Lu Huai attended with her, her already terrible reputation would definitely be further damaged.

Jiang Liuyun is such an old fiancé, Lin Zhiqing definitely can't ignore him.

But offending Lu Huai means having money, and you can't have anything without money!

Lin Zhiqing never thought that the "Xiong Jing" clip that he had only seen on a certain audio platform would appear in front of him.

She was depressed for the whole afternoon, but still felt that she couldn't offend anyone.

"Miss, please eat something first." Aunt Mu brought in a few side dishes.

Because of his ability to make money, Lin Zhiqing's food has improved a lot recently.

Although she had no appetite now, she decided to turn her grief and anger into appetite in the belief that food should not be wasted.

Aunt Mu has been either inquiring about news or on her way to inquire about news these days.

Lin Zhiqing didn't have the idea that servants shouldn't eat at the table, so the two of them had been eating together during this period. However, every time they ate, it was Lin Zhiqing who listened while Aunt Mu talked.

"The Spring Banquet was hosted by Miss Hua's grandmother, the Grand Secretary's wife. The Grand Secretary's wife's niece is the virtuous concubine in the palace."

"Every year at this time, young men and young ladies from every family can form teams and randomly draw to compete in skills like music, chess, calligraphy, painting, martial arts, and calculation. The winner will receive a prize..."

"Miss Yangyang woke up once today at noon. When I went there, Master Shi'an was there too, so I didn't want to disturb her too much."

"Fourth Master..."

Wait… Lin Zhiqing paused as he picked up the food: “Cousin, do you have any official business to attend to recently?”

Lin Shi'an had an obscure background and although he wanted to join the army, the imperial court would be uneasy about him holding a high position as his family had witnessed the treason committed by Lin Shi'an.

Therefore, Lin Congli could only use his connections to find him a minor job in the Ministry of Personnel.

Aunt Mu shook her head. "Master Shi'an has been on leave for a long time. He must be worried that something might happen to Miss Yangyang."

Lin Zhiqing understood, and suddenly felt that the rice in her bowl smelled much better. "Aunt Mu, take out the ginseng that Prince Jiang sent. Now that my cousin has woken up, it's my responsibility as her younger sister to go and take a look."

"That's absolutely not possible!" Aunt Mu put down her chopsticks. "Miss, that ginseng was sent to you by Prince Jiang to nourish your body. It's extremely precious. How can you just give it to me?"

"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child." Lin Zhiqing quickened his eating pace, already having an idea in mind.

……

After noon, Lin Zhiqing brought ginseng to Lin Yangyang's yard.

As she approached, she heard a strange voice:

"My master has gone out to seek medicine. He asked me to tell you, young master, that Miss Yangyang is fine now and will be fully recovered within half a month. You can prepare some supplements to nourish her body first."

"Really?" There was a hint of joy in Lin Shian's voice.

After Lin Zhiqing entered the yard, he saw a man who looked like a doctor and nodded.

She didn't say anything and stood aside silently.

When Lin Shian escorted the doctor out of the hospital, he glanced at Lin Zhiqing.

Soon, he turned back and asked, "What do you want?"

There was no expression on his face. Lin Zhiqing smiled and said, "I came to see my cousin."

As she spoke, she handed the box of ginseng to the servant beside her: "This is the best ginseng."

"I thank you on behalf of my sister, but we can't accept this." Lin Shian flatly refused.

"I have to thank you for investigating the case last time, but I don't like to owe favors to others." He softened his tone for fear that Lin Zhiqing would misunderstand.

"Why would my sister ask this? Besides, I came here today to ask for a favor." Lin Zhiqing stuffed the box into the servant's hand.

After the servant left, Lin Shian finally spoke: "What's the matter? My sister hasn't woken up yet. I'm afraid we'll have to wait for half a month..."

"Cousin." Before he could finish, Lin Zhiqing interrupted him: "I want to ask you for a favor."

A trace of doubt flashed across Lin Shian's face: "Me?"

Lin Zhiqing nodded: "I got an invitation to the Spring Banquet, but I'm short of a partner."

"Spring Banquet? No." Lin Shian refused without hesitation: "I have to stay with my sister."

The smile on Lin Zhiqing's lips disappeared immediately: "Is there really no room for negotiation?"

Lin Shian had a blank expression on his face and said decisively, "No."

(End of this chapter)