Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1536: Chapter 1536: Change a Prince_1

The dishes and drinks were quickly served. Gao Zhou and Jianqi started drinking cup for cup, with Gao Zhou also chatting with Bai Ruozhu. However, he didn’t inquire further about Prince Saihan’s matter, which greatly relieved Bai Ruozhu.

”Young man, drinking in such a dry manner is no fun. Come on, let’s play a finger-guessing game. Whoever loses, drinks,” Gao Zhou said as he rolled up his wide sleeves, exposing his forearms.

He was clearly dressed like a refined gentleman with his wide robes and always holding a folding fan, resembling the attire of a Weijin scholar-official. But all of a sudden, he changed his style and wanted to play the finger-guessing game common in the marketplaces?

It should be noted that this was not modern times; finger-guessing games were not a thing of refined circles. They were only played in marketplaces or military camps.

”I do not know how to play finger-guessing games,” Jianqi said in a deep voice. Bai Ruozhu even saw a flash of embarrassment cross his face; he really didn’t know how to play.

”No worries, I’ll teach you; I’ll teach you. Ruozhu, you watch too,” Gao Zhou said, starting to teach without paying any attention to others.

Jianqi had no choice but to grit his teeth and learn, and Bai Ruozhu also paid close attention, wanting to see what distinguishes the finger-guessing game mentioned by Gao Zhou from the modern version.

After being taught, Bai Ruozhu deeply felt that the ancient people’s thinking was ignorant. How could this be seen as crude? Uncle Gao’s finger-guessing movements were very elegant.

While explaining, Gao Zhou observed Bai Ruozhu’s reactions with a smile, noting that she didn’t show any disdain due to prejudices and was even plainly willing to learn. His estimation of her rose even higher.

Several rounds passed, and Jianqi was already swaying slightly, but Gao Zhou remained clear-headed and spirited, showing no signs of drunkenness.

”Elder really has a strong tolerance for alcohol!” Bai Ruozhu praised sincerely, then couldn’t help but say, ”If it were Elder who competed with Prince Saihan in drinking that day, perhaps you could have won against him.”

Gao Zhou waved his hand, ”No, no, my tolerance might seem good, but it is only because I was once gravely injured and took a medicine. That medicine just happens to counteract the effects of alcohol, so I don’t get drunk. The slight buzz is rather pleasant. But I can’t exceed the limit, otherwise, even if I don’t get drunk, my body can’t handle that much alcohol.”

Bai Ruozhu looked puzzled after hearing this. ”Prince Saihan can drink exceptionally well and seems to have no issues. Could it be because he has consumed some precious medicinal materials?”

Gao Zhou stroked his beard, appearing to recall something, ”Once I traveled to the southwest for business, I visited a Gumiao tribe where many people practiced raising Poisonous Insects, and there were also those who had been afflicted by such insects but could not resolve the issue. They had to drink vast amounts of alcohol daily to suppress the Poisonous Insect’s effects and alleviate their own pain. Such a person would never get drunk no matter how much they drank.”

Bai Ruozhu finally figured it out—it must be the work of the Poisonous Insect within Prince Saihan.

He himself had mentioned that the Poisonous Insect moved his internal organs, causing him constant pain, so drinking in that manner was only to suppress the pain caused by the Poisonous Insect’s outbreaks!

”I wonder what kind of Poisonous Insect it is. Elder, do you know something about Poisonous Insect Techniques? Is there any Poisonous Insect that renders one immune to all poisons?” asked Bai Ruozhu.

Gao Zhou shook his head and then tipped back his head to drink a glass of wine, ”The Poisonous Insect Techniques of Miaojiang are not imparted to foreigners. Don’t say I understand much; just accidentally seeing it would result in having one’s eyes gouged out and tongue cut off.”

Bai Ruozhu had no choice but to accept the situation and could only hope to find Elder Shougu to learn more.

Seeing Gao Zhou and Jianqi drinking merrily, Bai Ruozhu stood up and excused herself for a moment, allowing the two to continue. Jianqi knew what Bai Ruozhu was going to do, nodded, and resumed playing the drinking game with Gao Zhou. Despite being a beginner, he was clever, managing to break even with Gao Zhou and not losing out too much.

Bai Ruozhu left the private room and went straight to the backyard of the inn, entering a small house on the side. A woman inside hurriedly greeted her with a bow and asked anxiously, ”My lady, I just heard that the Turkic prince caused you trouble, I am incapable and failed to protect you by your side.”

The speaker was Xiu Cuicui. Bai Ruozhu initiated her into intelligence work because she understood the language of animals. Xiu Cuicui now had a clandestine identity, so her meetings with Bai Ruozhu were always secretive in the inn.

”It doesn’t matter, he ended up injured and fled,” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Xiu Cuicui’s face brightened with joy, ”That’s great, truly satisfying! By the way, my lady, I’ve heard some news related to that Prince Saihan. It was leaked out by people from the Turkic Envoy Group while they were drinking in the brothel.”

Bai Ruozhu knew Xiu Cuicui was capable and said happily, ”Tell me everything in detail.”

”A few Turkic envoys were drinking and one of them started arguing with another, accusing him of being a spy sent by Prince Duoho of Turkic Country. They said that Prince Duoho had already lost to Saihan in the competition and thus had no right to wish for an alliance marriage with Danliang Country anymore. It was also mentioned that Rakshasa Country to the North is coveting this opportunity with keen interest, as whoever could secure the marriage alliance with Danliang would secure their position as the Crown Prince,” detailed Xiu Cuicui.

Prince Duoho is Prince Saihan’s brother, known as the most cherished son of the King of Turkic, a successor outstanding in both civil and military talents, even previously considered as the partner for the alliance marriage with Danliang.

Back then, Princess Diao Bin volunteered for the marriage alliance, and Tang Yin originally disagreed but relented after learning that although Prince Duoho was ambitious and cunning, he was very restrained in matters of men and women and did not lead a chaotic life like other Turkic princes.

Unfortunately for Duoho, the law of the fittest ruled in Turkic Country, and losing to the cunning Saihan cost him the chance of an alliance marriage with Danliang Country.

As for Rakshasa Country, it was the first time Bai Ruozhu heard of it, and Xiu Cuicui didn’t know much either, only mentioning it seemed to be a newly rising nation with a Westerner as its ruler, according to what she heard from those envoys.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes narrowed as she listened. It appeared that the situation within Turkic Country itself was not so stable. So the marriage alliance was an absolute necessity, perhaps even more urgently sought by Turkic? Was Li Yi so brazen in provoking her just to gain maximum advantage in the alliance?

If the marriage alliance with Turkic was inevitable, then any prince would do, wouldn’t it? Li Yi could insist the agreement was specifically with Princess Diao Bin, while Danliang could argue that the original agreement was with Prince Duoho.

Of course, the matter couldn’t be pushed back and forth so simply. She had to discuss with Achun, to find a way to make Turkic change their prince for the alliance marriage. Surely Prince Duoho would be keeping an eye on any faults of Saihan, eager to replace him.

”I understand. Continue to gather information on the Turkic Envoy Group and don’t miss any leads. Should there be an urgent situation, signal Jianqi and the others,” Bai Ruozhu instructed, pausing for a moment. ”Remember what I told you at the beginning: even if you can’t complete the task, you must not let yourself fall into a desperate situation. One can only do more things as long as they’re alive!”

Xiu Cuicui knew Bai Ruozhu was concerned for her safety; her eyes moistened as she responded, ”My lady, I’ve taken note of everything.”