The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Seeing that Shen Tianjiao remained silent, Wang Yunzhi spoke again, "Although my nephew is an uneducated and unskillful playboy, he is not without strengths. He has had a business mind since he was young and has already accumulated an astonishing fortune at such a young age. However, being born into a family that values ​​poetry, literature and etiquette for centuries, his innate talent seems to be useless."

Shen Tianjiao frowned. How could such a coincidence really happen in this world? Someone handed her a pillow just when she was dozing off? Who would believe that this wasn't a calculated plot?

"Oh, that's really a pity." Shen Tianjiao looked at Wang Yunzhi calmly, hoping to get a glimpse of something from his expression, but to her disappointment, Wang Yunzhi behaved as usual.

"Yes, if he was born in a merchant family, with his talent, he would have become rich in time, but he was born in the Zuo family, and his talent became his original sin."

There was a rare hint of regret in Wang Yunzhi's tone, but this aroused Shen Tianjiao's curiosity. How great was Zuo Beichen's talent in business that even Wang Yunzhi, who always thought highly of himself, felt sorry for him.

Shen Tianjiao pondered for a moment and said, "Prime Minister Wang praised this Mr. Zuo so highly. I'm really curious about what kind of person he is. Seeing is believing. Prime Minister, please bring him here next time. I want to meet him in person."

"Your old minister, I would like to thank the Empress for her grace on behalf of Zuo Beichen." Wang Yunzhi breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Shen Tianjiao say that she wanted to meet Zuo Beichen. He finally lived up to the trust and could give Zuo Beichen an explanation when he returned.

In fact, the person who asked Wang Yunzhi to go to the palace to ask for this matter was not his brother-in-law Zuo Ziling, but his nephew Zuo Beichen.

At the beginning, he thought that Zuo Beichen was just fooling around. The Queen allowed Bai Qishan's son to enter the palace. Besides her favor, there must be some unspeakable reasons. How could they interfere?

Later, he calmed down and thought about it. If this thing succeeded, it seemed to be of great benefit to him. Although he had already made his heart clear and thrown himself into the Queen's camp, he was still fundamentally different from Bai Qishan and the others. Now that someone from his own family was willing to go to Shen Tianjiao, it would undoubtedly increase his bargaining chips and allow him to learn more about Shen Tianjiao's dynamics. This was the best thing.

Besides, Zuo Beichen is an extremely smart person. Keeping him by the queen's side will only bring benefits and no harm.

However, Shen Tianjiao had other plans in mind at this time. Regardless of whether Zuo Beichen had amazing business talent, she could not refuse today's request just because it was Wang Yunzhi's request. After all, no matter what, Wang Yunzhi was hers now. As long as it did not violate any principles, she was willing to help with such a small matter as long as it was her own.

Moreover, it is obvious that this matter was a trap set up by someone in advance. Since others have set up the trap, Shen Tianjiao can't waste other people's kindness. Keeping Zuo Beichen by her side can also help her better control the situation and avoid being confused by some unexpected events.

In short, regarding the matter of Zuo Beichen entering the palace, everyone had different thoughts and were calculating against each other.

After Wang Yunzhi left, Shen Tianjiao ordered Qiu Tong to call Bai Yunchi over. If you want to understand a stranger, you have to start with someone who is familiar with him.

Bai Yunchi was brought in very quickly. Although he was well taken care of during the past few days in the palace, he had finally learned to restrain himself and was no longer as reckless as he was at home or outside.

Shen Tianjiao looked at the kneeling Bai Yunchi. Judging from his appearance, Bai Yunchi could definitely be called a handsome man, with sharp eyebrows, phoenix eyes, thin lips, and skin that was fairer and more delicate than that of an average girl. If one didn't know his background, who would have thought that such a pleasant and polite young man was actually a playboy who roamed around the capital?

Bai Yunchi was kneeling there, and Shen Tianjiao's gaze on him was almost roasting him. Although he was usually nonchalant and not afraid of any situation or person, the person in front of him was not an ordinary person after all. This person was the Empress of the Central Palace.

Although he had never seen Shen Tianjiao before, he had seen Shen Tianjiao's brother Shen Yiyang many years ago, a young general who was awe-inspiring without even getting angry. He returned to the court victoriously after defeating the barbarians, riding on his horse like a god. With just one glance, the image of Shen Yiyang was fixed in the little Bai Yunchi's heart and could never be forgotten. He became the hero he relied on.

At that time, Bai Yunchi secretly swore here that one day in the future he would become a person like Shen Yiyang, fighting in the battlefield to kill the enemy and defend his country. However, he didn't know since when, this young master who wanted to be a hero suddenly changed his style and turned into one of the three uneducated playboys in the capital.

The Empress is General Shen Yiyang's sister, so she must be no less majestic and powerful. The more Bai Yunchi thought about it, the more anxious he became.

"Get up."

Shen Tianjiao spoke and rescued Bai Yunchi from his panic. He stood up with his head lowered, and even forgot to express his gratitude.

Shen Tianjiao looked at the nervous and flustered Bai Yunchi and couldn't help but wonder. Not only did Bai Yunchi not look like a playboy, but his personality also didn't seem like the kind of person who rode a horse through the streets, played with cats and dogs, and was a philanthropist. How did he get the nickname "one of the three most frivolous playboys in the capital"?

"You are in the palace now, so I will call you by your courtesy name Jinzhi." Bai Yunchi did not hold any position in the palace now, and Shen Tianjiao had nothing else to call him, so she simply called him by his courtesy name Jinzhi. This seemed both friendly and harmless.

That's right, Jinzhi is Bai Yunchi's courtesy name. His surname is Bai, his given name is Yunchi, and his courtesy name is Jinzhi. It's a good name, and the courtesy name is also good, but it's a bit inconsistent with the current Bai Yunchi.

"Your Majesty, please feel free to do as you please." Bai Yunchi's nervousness and panic became more severe as Shen Tianjiao asked more questions. He could even feel his legs trembling slightly.

Shen Tianjiao nodded slightly and signaled Chunchao to bring a stool to Bai Yunchi. "There's no outsider here, sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Her Majesty, for the invitation." Bai Yunchi finally remembered to express his gratitude.

"I called you here because I have something to ask you." Shen Tianjiao looked at Bai Yunchi's well-behaved appearance at this moment, and she even doubted whether the rumors about this one of the three most dissolute playboys in the capital were false.

"Your Majesty, please ask, and I will tell you everything I know." Although he said so, Bai Yunchi felt nervous. What could he, an uneducated and uncultured playboy, have to ask?

"I heard that you are familiar with Zuo Beichen, the son of Zuo Ziling, a Hanlin scholar, so I wanted to ask you about him." Shen Tianjiao may not believe Wang Yunzhi's words, but she felt that she could still believe Bai Yunchi's words.

When he heard that they were asking about Zuo Beichen, Bai Yunchi breathed a sigh of relief. Although their relationship was not very good, they grew up together after all, and they knew each other well. He still knew something about Zuo Beichen.

"What does the Queen want to know about Zuo Beichen?"

Shen Tianjiao thought for a moment and said, "Everything, everything you know about him."

Since she had already agreed to let Zuo Beichen enter the palace, Shen Tianjiao felt that it was still necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of this person. Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win every battle.

A woman's unique intuition made Shen Tianjiao feel that Zuo Beichen, whom she had yet to meet, was definitely not a simple person. Maybe even his reputation as a playboy was just a disguise to deceive others.

"What can I say about Zuo Beichen? The Empress knows that Zuo Beichen, Yan Jun'an, and I are known as the three most dissolute men in the capital."

"I received this title because I was unlearned and enjoyed hanging out in the streets of the capital, listening to music and entertaining myself. Yan Jun'an was given this title because he indulged in extravagant feasts and spent his days in brothels and prostitutes."

"Zuo Beichen is different from me and Yan Jun'an. He earned the nickname dandy because he's ruthless enough. He never plays by the rules, making him incredibly unpredictable."

Although they are collectively known as the three most dissolute playboys in the capital, in fact, Bai Yunchi, Yan Junan and Zuo Beichen not only have a bad relationship in private, but they are also not familiar with each other.

"Ruthless enough? He doesn't play by the rules?" Shen Tianjiao muttered to herself. She looked up at Bai Yunchi and asked, "How ruthless is he?"

"Actually, I can't say Zuo Beichen is cruel. It's just that the way he handles things is a little, well, how should I put it?" Bai Yunchi scratched his head. "Yes, it's a little extreme."

"Zuo Beichen's mother died young. The current lady in the Zuo Mansion is actually Mr. Zuo's second wife and Zuo Beichen's stepmother."

"This lady is Zuo Beichen's mother's half-sister. It was Master Zuo who married her back home after his wife passed away."

"This Madam Zuo is paranoid, short-sighted, and selfish."

"Anyway, her character isn't very good. After she married Lord Zuo, although she never abused Zuo Beichen openly, she used shady tactics to harm him behind his back. In fact, Zuo Beichen hasn't had it easy these years. Not only does he have to be wary of his stepmother, but he also has to face humiliation and scolding from his father."

"Zuo Beichen is said to be ruthless because he accidentally discovered that his stepmother and his father's concubine had colluded to secretly embezzle his mother's dowry. It is also said that his mother died because his father favored the concubine over his wife and allowed the concubine to do whatever she wanted, which led to his mother's death."

"With all the new and old grudges coming together, how could Zuo Beichen not feel resentment? He knew that Lord Zuo knew all about this, and it would be useless for him to speak out. So he went to beat the drum, hoping to see His Majesty and personally expose Lord Zuo's true face in the court, seeking justice for his mother. This matter caused a huge uproar at the time, and in the end, it was Prime Minister Wang who intervened and used some unknown method to stop him, preventing the situation from getting any worse."

"But the day after this incident settled, news broke out in the Zuo family that a fire had broken out. Master Zuo's concubine was burned to death, and even Madam Zuo was disfigured."

"Although everyone in the Zuo family claimed it was an accident, anyone with a discerning eye knew it was Zuo Beichen who did it. From then on, Zuo Beichen moved out of the Zuo family and lived alone in a house left by his mother in Chang'an. He never returned to the Zuo family again."

Don’t ask how Bai Yunchi knows so much about the Zuo family. The reason is that he has an old mother who loves to listen to gossip and even more so to inquire about it.

Shen Tianjiao frowned after hearing Zuo Beichen's experience. This Zuo Ziling is no good. Not only did he favor his concubine and kill his wife, he also condoned a concubine to harm his wife. His behavior is not even qualified to be a scumbag. He is simply not a human being.

Speaking of which, Zuo Beichen is also pitiful. How could he be born into the Zuo family and have such a father?

What on earth was Wang Yunzhi, this old fox, planning? It looked like Zuo Beichen had clearly asked him to do him a favor, so he could have just said it directly. Why did he have to beat around the bush and ask for help from Zuo Ziling? Who was he trying to disgust?

Shen Tianjiao has lived in the deep palace for a long time and knows little about what is happening outside the palace, but she is not a fool. If she wants to know something, she can just send someone to inquire. Is there anything she doesn't know?

This kind of low-level mistake should not happen to Wang Yunzhi, but does he have his own unspeakable reasons for doing so, or does he have other motives?

Was Zuo Beichen's appearance really a coincidence or a carefully planned trap to lure her into a trap?

What is the connection between these things?

Shen Tianjiao was so engrossed in her thoughts that it was hard for Bai Yunchi, who was sitting there uncomfortably. He didn't dare to leave until Shen Tianjiao gave the order, and could only sit there and wait obediently.

Chunchao noticed Bai Yunchi's uneasiness and quietly reminded Shen Tianjiao. Shen Tianjiao then came to her senses and looked at Bai Yunchi and said, "Okay, Jinzhi, go down and rest first."

With Shen Tianjiao's permission, Bai Yunchi hurriedly stood up and took his leave, then disappeared from Shen Tianjiao's sight at the fastest speed in his life.

Bai Yunchi's appearance made Chunchao laugh. Even Qiutong, who was usually serious, couldn't help but raise the corner of her mouth. It seemed that this playboy was not as powerful as they heard.

Shen Tianjiao and Qiong Niang also laughed. This Bai Yunchi was not only not annoying, but rather somewhat likable. It seemed that his nature was not bad, but he had just not received the correct guidance in the past. As long as someone could guide him, he would definitely be a promising person in the future.

Shen Tianjiao turned to look at Qiu Tong and said with a smile, "General Bai has left the capital today. From now on, you can attack Baiyun Pond, as long as you don't damage it."

"Yes." Qiu Tong smiled with her head down, feeling a little embarrassed. It seemed that her cold-blooded and ruthless image had been deeply rooted in people's hearts. She would probably never be able to get rid of it in this lifetime and would have to be bound to herself like this forever.