Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 53 Gift Betting: A Box of Treasures!
Niuzhu Palace.

Delicacies were laid out like a flowing banquet; it was a night feast in the enchanting palace, with wine cups clinking and gilded plates being removed one after another.

"This catfish has a coarse texture, and it wasn't cooked quite right. Let's take it away!"

Lady Qingyao gently raised her fair wrist, picked up a crystal-clear slice with the tip of her jade chopsticks, parted her red lips slightly, and took a small sip.

She then covered her lips with a handkerchief and waved her hand dismissively.

The scallop maid then obediently removed the entire plate of meat.

She has always disliked greasy and meaty foods, and usually only eats jade, lingzhi, nectar, and fine wine. Today, this braised catfish is ultimately not to her liking.

Jiang Xingzhou sat quietly at the table, his gaze sweeping over the almost untouched braised catfish meat, and he sighed inwardly.

Memories of the past surged up, recalling the chilling words of a certain important figure: "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu!"

After several rounds of drinks, the banquet reached its climax.

Madam Qing was slightly tipsy, her cheeks flushed, when she suddenly raised her sleeve and slapped it.

"Someone, bring him up!"

As she finished speaking,

Demon soldiers filed in from outside the hall, carrying a heavy, dark treasure chest. The chest was engraved with bronze patterns, and the bronze lock was cold and heavy.

"Click!"

The brass lock popped open, and the lid of the box was lifted!
"Wow——!"

In an instant, glittering jewels burst forth from the box, illuminating the entire hall.

Gold and silver ingots were stacked in layers, luminous pearls rolled like stars, and there were also coral jade trees, water spirit pearls, and water-patterned coins, all dazzling and eye-catching.

Lady Qingyao leaned against the coral throne, her red lips slightly curved, and looked at Jiang Xingzhou, saying softly with a smile, "Since Young Master Jiang knows the details of my Niuzhu Palace, I don't need to make any more empty promises."

Jiang Xingzhou knew her inside and out how she made her fortune.

She also witnessed firsthand the "foundation" of Jiang Xingzhou, the scholar who was sent to the Imperial Academy.

Both sides knew each other's true intentions and true intentions.

There's no need to beat around the bush anymore.

This time, her invitation to Jiang Xingzhou to Niuzhu Palace was indeed for a purpose.

This box full of treasures is a testament to her "sincerity".

Jiang Xingzhou frowned slightly, slowly raising his gaze from the box full of pearls and jade, and asked, "Madam Qingyao, what is the meaning of this?"

Inside the hall, twelve whale-fat lamps swayed, illuminating Lady Qingyao's beautiful eyes, which shimmered with azure light.

She chuckled softly, picked up a gold ingot from the box with her delicate hand, and said in a melodious voice, "Young master, you have cultivated your literary path from a child student to a Jinshi, and you have participated in literary gatherings and poetry recitals, spending thousands of gold coins at a time. The amount of money you have spent is not small."
I have heard that you, sir, come from a poor family in Jiangyin and are now living in the residence of the Duke of Xue.

The Xue family has the largest library in Jiangyin County, from which your son has benefited greatly.

However, given the young master's arrogance, having already received favors from the Xue family, he would likely be unwilling to accept any more money from them, and his purse must not be very full.

These are nothing but gold and silver, common things.

This humble woman is willing to provide some financial assistance to the young master so that he may pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi!

Moreover, once he passes the imperial examination and enters the Hanlin Academy or Wenyuan Pavilion, and is appointed as a prefect, he will inevitably have to entertain guests and make arrangements for everyone.

Spending money like water!
The meager salary from the imperial court alone is insufficient to cover the costs.

The young master is certainly not one to embezzle, accept bribes, or prey on the people!

Since that's the case, you might as well accept these few treasures and meager funds from my Niuzhu Palace to alleviate my urgent financial needs.

Jiang Xingzhou's pupils contracted slightly.

The water demon sending gifts to humans is probably up to something.

"Madam is joking."

He said calmly, "I am but a lowly scholar, poor as I am. I cannot accept such a generous gift without merit."

"Does my lord think that I have ulterior motives?"

Madam Qingyao suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled softly, the coral hairpins on her hair rustling.

She lightly tapped the edge of the box with her fingertips, the sound of metal striking stone, "Today I invited you to the palace for a banquet, but I have a request."

"With Young Master Jiang's talent and courage, he is truly extraordinary!"

He will surely be extraordinary one day, achieving great success in his official career, passing the imperial examinations, and becoming a high-ranking official in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

As for my Niuzhu Palace, survival in Jiangyin is not easy.

In a few years, the three-hundred-year period of peace that I agreed upon with the Jiangyin Confucian Temple will soon arrive. Once Young Master Jiang passes the imperial examination, he will surely rise to prominence and become a influential figure in Jiangyin County.

At that time, I would appreciate it if Young Master Jiang could put in a good word for me and help us renew the contract for a hundred years of peace!

She managed the Niuzhu Palace for hundreds of years, and the aquatic creatures under her command offered tributes of rare and precious treasures.

A mere box of treasures meant nothing to her.

But if this box of gold and silver treasures could be used to gain the favor of a virtuous judge, it would be a sure-fire deal!
Having a road laid out in advance is definitely worth the money.

Lady Qing smiled, recalling the tricks she had learned from the human race over the years.

"The martial arts world is not just about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and social interactions!"

Since she understood this principle, she no longer acted like those reckless demon generals and commanders, only knowing how to fight and kill and seize territory.

She learned how to give gifts, befriend humans, and even place bets in advance.

She once offered a [Yu Wang Zun] (a type of ancient bronze vessel) to the Jiangyin Confucian Temple, in exchange for three hundred years of peace.

With this gift, she was betting on Jiang Xingzhou's future.

"Only ensure the safety of Niuzhu Palace?"

Jiang Xingzhou raised his eyes and looked directly at Madam Qingyao, speaking in a deep voice.

"Exactly.

"Please use this box of treasures for now, young master. I will present it to you again if needed in the future."

Lady Qingyao smiled slightly and said, "What I seek is nothing more than a quiet place for cultivation."

In the palace,

A silence fell for a moment.

Only the chest full of jewels cast shimmering shadows on the water.

Jiang Xingzhou's eyes flickered slightly.

Over the past few centuries, Lady Qingyao has had no bad deeds and has indeed had no conflicts with the scholars of Jiangyin.

Those demons and grottoes that did not know how to restrain themselves, and those monsters who were ignorant of human relationships, had long been repeatedly wiped out and exterminated by the county government and county school students.

The fact that Niuzhu Palace has survived to this day is due to its own way of dealing with the world.

That promise is one I can accept.

"it is good!"

He finally nodded, each word carrying immense weight.

"Thank you, sir!"

Lady Qingyao's beautiful eyes immediately sparkled with a smile, and with a light wave of her wide sleeves, the copper lock on the treasure chest clicked shut.

The deal is now finalized.

"Alas, what a pity."

Madam Qingyao suddenly sighed softly, her fingertips tracing the gilded wine vessel, a hint of unfathomable melancholy flashing in her eyes.

"What's a pity?"

Jiang Xingzhou raised an eyebrow.

"It's impossible to say what will happen in a few years, if fate allows..."

She didn't answer, but covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her coral hairpin swaying slightly, concealing her unspoken words in that smile.

What a pity!

If the person before you is already a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of the Great Zhou Dynasty, or a Hanlin Academician of unparalleled nobility, their status in the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture, and even in the Jiangnan Circuit (Prefecture), is at its zenith, a literary giant.

She would not hesitate to bow her head—to offer herself as a gift to the Niuzhu Palace.

Having a true backer secures a brighter future.

Such a promising and extraordinary young man as Jiang Xingzhou, who caught her eye, was a rare sight in the past three hundred years.

But now.
She lowered her eyes, her gilded nails lightly tracing the wine glass.

The young man was ultimately just a junior scholar, with several more advanced literary ranks to overcome. Soon after, he would need to travel to Jiangzhou Prefecture to take the imperial examination for the title of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar).

She can only make a small bet, not risk her entire fortune.
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(End of this chapter)