Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2176: Chapter 2174: People Around the Princess

”Which Zhou Gongzi?” Bai Ruozhu feigned ignorance and asked.

The guard smiled apologetically and said, ”You’ll know once you go there.”

It’s said one shouldn’t hit a smiling face, let alone the other party being a government soldier; she wasn’t foolish enough to expose her identity because of this. After a quick thought, she nodded and agreed.

As they walked along the road, Jianqi said with some concern, ”Master, that Zhou Gongzi doesn’t seem to have good intentions. Why don’t I go distract him later, and you escape the city first?”

Bai Ruozhu shook her head and whispered, ”No need for that. If he wanted to harm us, he wouldn’t need to go through all this trouble or wait until now.”

”Then what does he want?” Jianqi asked.

Bai Ruozhu laughed, ”I’m a merchant now, naturally he wants to talk business with me.”

Jianqi felt there was more to her words; the business talk surely wasn’t as simple as it appeared.

The guard took them to the bustling area of the city, where it was clear that the people living here were either rich or noble. Before long, they stopped in front of a separate courtyard with a plaque on the entrance inscribed with three large characters: ”Leisure Residence.”

Usually, a separate courtyard wouldn’t have a sign like a main residence, but such a name was rare; perhaps it was a retreat for vacation and recuperation.

The main gate opened, and a middle-aged steward came out, greeted Bai Ruozhu and the others, then gave the guard a red envelope. The guard left with a smile to return to work at the city gate.

”Where is Zhou Shibin?” Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to indulge in the steward’s small talk and directly asked.

”I’ll take Master Li to see the Second Young Master right now,” the steward said respectfully.

Bai Ruozhu and her group followed him into the mansion. For safety, Jinglei held Little Dengdeng in his arms.

Soon, they reached a reception hall where the sound of silk and bamboo music played leisurely, carrying a bit of the elegance of scholarly gentlemen.

Bai Ruozhu spotted Zhou Shibin at a glance. He sat behind a low table, elbow resting on it, supporting his chin with one hand, and holding a cup of wine in the other, squinting slightly as he raised his head to drink.

His demeanor appeared very lazy with a hint of wicked charm.

”Second Young Master, the guests have arrived,” the steward said, bowing.

Zhou Shibin looked up, his eyes lighting up upon seeing Bai Ruozhu, followed by a warm smile. He stood up and said, ”Master Li, you’ve had a long journey. Please sit down and rest; let this younger generation accompany you for a few drinks.”

Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched. What is he up to? Does he have to put on such an act?

”Since it’s disrespectful to decline, I will indulge,” Bai Ruozhu cupped her hands, then went to sit at a low table on his lower left.

The others took their seats under the guidance of the maids, while Bai Ruozhu discreetly signaled Jinglei to sit furthest from Zhou Shibin.

Zhou Shibin seemed genuinely intent on catching up, smilingly toasting and asking if the journey had been smooth.

Bai Ruozhu carefully checked; the drinks were not poisoned, and there was no poison in the room. What on earth was this guy up to?

”Zhou Shibin, let’s not beat around the bush. Why did you invite me here?” Bai Ruozhu said directly.

Zhou Shibin laughed, ”To talk business. You are in business, right? I’m here to discuss business with you.”

”Please speak, as long as the terms are right, any deal can be discussed,” Bai Ruozhu said with a stern face.

Zhou Shibin waved his hand, dismissing the servants around, leaving only one steward with them, seeming very trusting of Bai Ruozhu and her group.

”You didn’t like the last deal I proposed, so how about a different request this time?”

Bai Ruozhu raised an eyebrow, ”Go ahead, let’s hear it.”

Zhou Shibin smiled and walked over. His face was slightly flushed, and he swayed as if he were truly drunk.

”I know you want to rescue Tang Feng and also know Fu’an’s little tricks. So why don’t we cooperate? I’ll help you find Tang Feng and rescue him, and you help handle that woman Fu’an. I don’t want to kill her, just put her under house arrest,” Zhou Shibin said.

”Such a thing requires my help? If Princess Fu’an’s power is great, I, an outsider, wouldn’t have much strength, right? And if she’s evenly matched with you, then you wouldn’t need an outsider like me to help, would you?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

Zhou Shibin laughed heartily, ”It seems you’re not well-informed. Then how do you know Tang Feng is not at liberty?”

Bai Ruozhu frowned slightly. Zhou Shibin knew a lot?

”Tang Feng wrote me a letter inviting me to develop in Chengshui Country. The letter detailed various benefits here and his affection with Princess Fu’an, but it also hid a code asking me to rescue him,” Bai Ruozhu concealed the special ”SOS.”

”I said so, Tang Champion is not an ordinary person, and he devised such a method,” Zhou Shibin said, his expression suddenly turning serious, ”There are very capable people around Princess Fu’an. If you don’t help, I can’t catch her.”

”What kind of capable person?” Bai Ruozhu became curious.

”They seem to have some sky-reaching skills, can hide Fu’an so well that we can’t find them, as if they’ve vanished into thin air,” Zhou Shibin said.

Bai Ruozhu’s heart raced. Was Zhou Shibin talking about space? Did someone around Fu’an possess space?

She suddenly thought, if Tang Feng had space yet couldn’t escape, could it be taken from him? Just like how Jian Zhen had schemed against her before?

She had been lucky enough to have the Curse Tree in her space; Jian Zhen couldn’t stand the black fog from the Curse Tree and failed. If it had been before the Curse Tree, she might never have reclaimed the space.

She remembered Jian Zhen mentioning ”Jian Family people,” which showed he wasn’t the only one capable of seizing someone’s space, or that others knew about it. It seemed likely that the people around Princess Fu’an had unpredictable power, combined with a space to hide in, making them very difficult to deal with.

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment and looked at Zhou Shibin, asking, ”What grievance do you have with Princess Fu’an? Or is it that solving her, and then...”

She stretched out her words, not intending to say them so explicitly.

”That’s right. Now outsiders see the little emperor ruling, but it’s actually that woman Fu’an manipulating the court. She doesn’t appear as honest as she seems, nor as deeply in love with Tang Feng. She even secretly killed my fifth brother!”

Zhou Shibin gritted his teeth and continued, ”Even though my fifth brother was my half-brother, he always worked with me, and we were very close. This vendetta, I must avenge for him. You don’t have to reveal Danliang’s spy list, just help me deal with that woman Fu’an.”

”What’s in it for me? You don’t think just offering some information will suffice, do you? I can save Tang Feng and escape; there’s no need for me to deal with that woman. You’ve also said she has experts around her, I’d naturally take fewer risks if possible,” Bai Ruozhu said.

”I’ll give you five hundred men from the Capital; use them as you please,” Zhou Shibin offered.

Bai Ruozhu raised her hand to stop him from saying more, ”No need, I am not accustomed to using your people. Besides, sometimes numbers don’t mean strength; leading a large group only draws a bigger target.”