Get Rewards by Fulfilling Others' Wishes

Chapter 83: Chapter 72: Asylum for Problem Children

Zhu Yan was a little surprised, because this sort of thing was obviously better done in secret.

After all, Bao Longtao was a disciple from a branch of the Zhu Family. Although his surname wasn’t Zhu, anyone who put their mind to it could easily find out the connection.

Still, it wasn’t a huge deal if people knew. As long as he and Zhao Yong didn’t show up, no one would expose them, even if they were aware of the situation.

But if the two of them showed their faces, wouldn’t they be met with ridicule?

”I’ve figured something out!”

Zhao Yong’s voice was a little low.

Zhu Yan asked curiously, ”What is it?”

Zhao Yong took a deep breath. ”Why do people care so much about face?”

Zhu Yan: ”...”

Zhao Yong snorted. ”Look at Zhao Ci. Everyone knows he’s shameless. After the auction, we rounded up all those people spreading rumors. The whole of Lingge knows Zhao Ci was the one behind it all, but he got his Pill Furnace anyway and doesn’t give a damn about the people cursing him.

In private, he’s even more foul-mouthed, speaking as crudely as a street ruffian. And what effect does it have on him?

I think the reason we suffered such a huge loss before was that we cared too much about face.

Even if we ruin this banquet, what’s the worst that can happen? A bit more gossip? Will it affect our achievements?

Besides, our Ninth Prince’s Mansion recruits Mansion Officials too.

If there were a real chance to build a career in the Ninth Prince’s Mansion, do you think all those people would be content just getting by on pills in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion?”

He really couldn’t take it anymore.

Why could Zhao Ci get away with fighting so dirty?

While he himself had to maintain his so-called princely demeanor.

’What damn use is a demeanor! I want some satisfaction! I want to see the look on Zhao Ci’s face like his mother just died.’

Zhu Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded. ”Your Highness has a point! In that case, I’ll go make preparations and accompany you to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion!”

Zhao Yong nodded. ”Tell Bao Longtao to put on a good show. If he performs well, he’ll be handsomely rewarded!”

After Zhu Yan left, Zhao Yong took a booklet from his drawer.

On the cover were five large words: *Zhao Yong’s Reflections on Life*.

This was a habit he had cultivated since childhood. Whenever life wasn’t going his way, he would reflect on himself. Each time, he would gain new insights that would serve him well in the future.

He took a deep breath and flipped past the first ten pages, which were covered in dense writing.

He picked up his brush and put it to paper.

On the blank eleventh page, a new line of text appeared.

A man cannot care too much about face!

...

Dusk fell, and the lanterns were lit.

As the most prosperous city in the world, Lingge considered any time before Midnight to be daytime.

However, this varied by district. The places that remained brightly lit were typically the bustling downtown areas.

The districts where high officials and nobles resided, while often hosting banquets, were generally much quieter.

Tonight, however, the Tenth Prince’s Mansion was exceptionally lively.

The banquet had yet to begin, but hundreds of guests had already arrived. The mansion’s gatekeepers and guards had all been pulled out to welcome them, and they were all bustling about happily.

”Whoa! So many people. The Tenth Prince’s Mansion is going to rise up in the future!”

Feng Kucha was dressed in tight-fitting martial attire, the collar of his clothes already embroidered with the insignia of a Tenth Prince’s Mansion Official. Three days ago, once he had confirmed his decision to become a Mansion Official there, he immediately urged his family to compensate the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

The compensation process, which should have taken three days, was completed in half a day thanks to his urging.

Then, the very next day, he had his second uncle write a letter of recommendation.

Feng the Second was naturally unwilling. The Zhu Family had made that mistake before, sending Zhu Li, a publicly acknowledged failure at Alchemy, to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion, only for her to rise to prominence right after.

However, Feng Kucha pestered him relentlessly. The Feng Family didn’t have the same internal strife as the Zhu Family, and Feng the Second still respected Brother Feng. Brother Feng had always felt guilty about making Feng Kucha go to Lingge in place of the main heir—and whether that guilt was genuine or not, he at least acted very guilty.

Besides, Feng Kucha’s uselessness was multi-faceted, unlike Zhu Li, who was only bad at fire control.

So, after long deliberation, Feng the Second wrote the letter of recommendation.

As soon as he got the letter, Feng Kucha ignored the fact that the roosters hadn’t even crowed and the sky was barely cracking with dawn. He kicked down Zhao Ci’s door, dragged him out, and went to squat by the entrance of the Imperial Clan Court, waiting for it to open.

Now... he was a legitimate Mansion Official.

”Hmph...”

Zhu Li, separated from him by Zhao Ci, snorted resentfully.

’What right does he have! To be a Mansion Official in the same mansion as me?’

She remembered it clearly. The day she had just become a Mansion Official, Feng Kucha had looked at her like he’d seen a ghost, clearly thinking she was useless.

’But he’s obviously even more useless than I am.

No, wait!

I’m not useless at all. I’m the number one Alchemist of the Xingyu Pill Association! Even Zhao Ci has to address me warmly as Tributor Zhu.

I had been in high spirits today.

Zhao Ci was sitting at the head of the banquet, and as the First Mansion Official, I was in the second-most important seat. It was all very prestigious. But then Feng Kucha, who had contributed absolutely nothing, took the other second-most important seat.

I feel like he’s lowering the standard.

I want to sit at the same table as Zhao Ci, but I’m afraid people will think I got my position through my looks.

If I weren’t afraid of making Zhao Ci lose face, I would have already made a scene.

So unhappy!’

Zhao Ci saw her sulking and could guess her petty thoughts; it was only natural that the assembly-line queen would look down on a slacker who got in through connections.

’Still, the young lady is sensible.

She’ll get over it in time.’

He glanced down at the scene below. Great Yu had suffered many hardships, and while nobles had their luxuries, they mostly weren’t reflected in daily life like food, clothing, and housing. Even the Emperor led the way in frugality, so the Tenth Prince’s Mansion could hardly be called extravagant.

However, in a country where everyone revered martial arts, private sparring for entertainment was a common affair. Having a Martial Arts Arena in every mansion was practically standard.

A few circles of dining tables arranged around the Martial Arts Arena were enough to host a banquet for hundreds.