Chapter 20: Embarrass You to Death

Chapter 20: Embarrass You to Death

After Wen Ruan watched Li Yue'e leave, he strolled back slowly, wondering if Young Master Fang had arrived yet, and if this time he was rolling on the ground, begging for food with his pants pulled down by an evil cat...

He began to sense the atmosphere and observe what made this Temple of the Moon God so special that it was frequently mentioned by the young masters who enjoyed military strategy games.

As he walked, he truly did notice something different.

This place, though called the Temple of the Moon God, was actually a unique commercial street. The temple itself didn't occupy much land and wasn't even at the center, but its fame drew merchants who wanted to benefit from its popularity. With more people and more scenery, how could it not become lively?

There were many shops selling all sorts of goods, and numerous alleys, some well-lit, others dark. An unfamiliar visitor might find themselves in a dead end or circling around what they thought was one, only to discover that taking a few steps east or south would lead them to a new path.

With a large crowd, many entrances, hidden paths, and numerous believers, what phenomenon would occur?

Unfamiliar people would get lost, while those who knew the area could use the terrain to their advantage, easily evading pursuit or hiding themselves. A sea of people provided the best camouflage, and the believers could be used as helpers at will.

Li Yue'e, a girl from the inner quarters, had limited access to information. If she found her way here... Could her disappearance be related to this place?

If this Feng Guzi and the Temple of the Moon God engaged in such transactions, then when Chen Yongan was in trouble and all his money and provisions vanished without a trace, leaving only him captured and none of his attackers caught, could it also have been due to this location's advantages?

That would make Feng Guzi no ordinary person. To coordinate such forces and dare to do such things couldn't be mere coincidence. What was her purpose? Getting involved with the government wasn't something one could easily escape from.

And there was Chen Yongan. When the officials arrested him, he went along quietly, not defending himself, remaining remarkably calm. Did he know he was being set up? How much did he know, and why didn't he speak up?

"...this is a new product that the Huo family is developing, called fragrance, which is different from our incense. Can you smell it? Is it refined, clean, pleasant? This scent, just a dab on your wrist, can last for two full days! They say if you spray it on your clothes, it can last for over ten days without washing!"

"Wow, that's impressive..."

"Of course. When you wash your hands with scented soap, the fragrance disappears quickly, but this is different. Still, you should use scented soap to wash your hands; this is just for fragrance, not for cleaning..."

When Wen Ruan passed by a jewelry shop, he heard the intermittent conversation of female customers inside, realizing they were discussing perfume production.

Indeed, the Huo family was putting effort into it. Not bad.

Some were fleeing, some were chasing, some were enjoying tea, and some were promoting products. This small Temple of the Moon God truly encompassed the myriad facets of human life.

"How come I drew the same fortune as him? Isn't that cheating?"

"Lady, don't worry. The fortunes may be the same, but the people are different, their destinies are different, and thus the interpretations are different..."

"But I don't like her, I just don't want to have the same fortune as him!"

Suddenly, there was an argument ahead. Those who loved a spectacle crowded over, and someone running fast bumped into Wen Ruan.

Wen Ruan stumbled but managed to regain his balance. He didn't mind the collision, but his observational mood faded, and he headed straight for the teahouse where he had arranged to meet Fang Rui.

An old man carrying a basket suddenly blocked his path, offering him something. "Young master, have a fruit, please take one..."

The old man had snow-white hair and a face full of wrinkles, with grooves and cracks on his hands that spoke of a life of hardship. Old and weak, he was pushed around by the crowd, unsure if he could sell his fruits. Business might not be good, and his eyes were filled with eagerness, or perhaps desperation.

Wen Ruan felt pity and reached out to take the fruit.

But when he reached for his purse to pay, he realized it was gone. Had it been stolen?

Was it the person who bumped into him earlier?

"Sorry—"

Just as he was about to return the fruit, another wave of the shifting crowd collided with him, causing the fruit to fall to the ground and be trampled underfoot by passersby.

"My old man's fruit...picked at the third watch of the night, for my little grandson's medicine money..."

The old man stared blankly at the ruined fruit, then squatted down and burst into tears.

"What's going on? Bullying an old man?"

"This old man is so pitiful. If you didn't want the fruit, you shouldn't have taken it. You took it and didn't pay, and now you've crushed it."

"People's lives are hard enough, waking up in the middle of the night to hustle for a living. This is money to save his little grandson's life..."

"This young man doesn't look poor. He's just bullying people, shameless and heartless, the morals of the past are gone!"

"No money, then what's the point of pretending to be kind..."

At first, the insults were subtle, but as everyone joined in, the words became increasingly harsh and vulgar.

Yu Zhen couldn't have been more pleased at this sight. He sipped from his small purple clay pot and nodded contentedly. "Go, add more money, make them shout louder, let them vent!"

He wanted to see if this seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy had the thick skin to endure this! Embarrass you to death!

Since you're ignorant, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders. You'll learn your place...

"Make way, make way, your grandpa is here—"

Fang Rui darted through the crowd like a monkey. Goodness, he was only a little late, and his good brother was already being bullied. How could he stand for that!

"Who said he has no money? My brother would be broke?"

Young Master Fang directly tossed a handful of silver notes into the air. The onlookers, forgetting their insults, scrambled for the money, and even the old man crying on the ground was stunned.

"It's just a rotten fruit. I'll compensate you with a whole basket. You can leave whenever you sell them all. If you can't sell them, then don't go!"

The old man trembled in fear. "Young master..."

"Enough of your tricks. Picking on the weak, specifically targeting innocent kids, right?" Fang Rui glared fiercely, spitting at him. "What kind of old swindler are you? Your shoes are new, without a single scratch. The black under your nails isn't from years of hard work, but just soot from the bottom of a pot, which washes off easily. Which gang are you from, who's your boss? Do you want me to send you to the authorities for questioning?"

Only then did Wen Ruan realize he had been deceived. He had been careless.

Careless indeed.

Yu Zhen nearly dropped the small purple clay pot in his hand. "How did Little Marquis Fang come here? How does he know this Wen Ruan, and why is he helping him in such a flustered state, looking like they have a close relationship?"

This couldn't go on.

However, if the young master of the Duke's mansion could be deceived so easily, he wasn't very bright to begin with.

Yu Zhen stood up and walked into the center, bowing with a smile to greet him. "Greetings, Little Marquis Fang. What wind brought you here today?"

As he greeted him, his gaze swept over Wen Ruan, neither a warning nor anything else, but certainly not friendly.

"Who the hell are you?" Fang Rui looked at Wen Ruan. "Do I know you?"

Wen Ruan shook his head. "He asked me before if I didn't recognize him."

Fang Rui exclaimed, "What's that supposed to mean? Is it illegal not to know you? You're bullying someone from out of town because they don't recognize your face? I grew up in the capital since I was a child, and I don't even know who you are!"

Yu Zhen's face stiffened.

He dared to come out directly because he had seen Little Marquis Fang once, but he hadn't expected that Little Marquis Fang wouldn't remember, or perhaps...didn't want to remember.

But this person couldn't be offended. This person's temperament was such that he dared to provoke even the Sixth Prince, let alone the Second and Third Princes, whom he never gave any face to. Even if he revealed his identity and said he was a man of the Second Prince, he wouldn't get any good treatment.

How could Yu Zhen dare to have a temper? Not only was he not angry, but he also smiled. "A small person like me, how could I be worthy of Little Marquis' recognition? But regarding today's matter, I wanted to give you a word of advice," he covered his mouth with his hand and leaned closer to whisper, "Don't get too close to people like this."

Fang Rui asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Yu Zhen's eyes swept over Wen Ruan. "This person doesn't understand etiquette, doesn't know when to advance or retreat. It's not that he's inherently bad, it might just be that his horizons have been limited since childhood, and his perspective is also limited. Even if he has no ill intentions, he might bring misfortune to the people around him..."

Fang Rui's eyes narrowed. "What's it got to do with you?"

Yu Zhen replied, "He couldn't even recognize the clothes and accessories on my body, can't handle etiquette properly, and isn't from the same world as you. In the end—"

"What's on your body? Is it very expensive?"

A beautiful woman nearby seemed unable to bear listening anymore and stepped forward. "Brocade with raised flowers, Suzhou embroidery, indeed good things, expensive, but as long as you're willing to pay, you can buy them anywhere. The jade on your waist is just Hetian green jade, not white jade or pale green, is it impressive to recognize it? Do you know what this young master is wearing? It's Huo Zhu, which is priceless. Others casually make it into clothes to wear, but you can't see it with your two eyes open, yet you dare to say others have no knowledge, no taste? I think your perspective is just like this, you'll spend your life picking up other people's discarded things as treasures!"

The beautiful woman quickly finished her speech, then turned to Wen Ruan, her face instantly breaking into a smile, as gentle and intimate as could be. "Are you Ah Ruan? My husband's family name is Liang, people outside call me Lady Liang. A year and a half ago, I went to Sizhou and met you outside the He family's shop."

Wen Ruan felt somewhat apologetic; he didn't remember.

Lady Liang explained, "I was wearing a veil that day and didn't speak to you, so naturally, you wouldn't recognize me. Every time I think about it, I deeply regret not coming forward to greet you. At that time, there was a disaster in the north, and the capital was in chaos for a while. It was you who managed to bring food to the capital, saving countless lives..."

She spoke very vaguely, probably unsure if Wen Ruan would find it convenient to make it public. In any case, she knew these things and kept them in mind, being very grateful and regretting not getting to know him earlier.

...

Wen Yu didn't know that while he was wholeheartedly chasing after future top scholar Jing Yuqing, the Liang Lady he was eager to meet and befriend, to cling to her leg, was now trying to meet and befriend his despised younger brother.

He also didn't notice that Jing Yuqing's gaze actually glanced far over here. Amidst the whispers of the crowd, repeating what Lady Liang had just said, his keen eyesight allowed him to see Wen Ruan.

So the lifesaving grain his mother received back then was due to the grace of this young master.

Like a cypress tree, like the moon emerging bright and clear, its radiance shining brilliantly...only to be admired from afar, not to be trifled with.

Jing Yuqing lowered his eyelids.

On the third floor of the teahouse across the street, a large black dog watched the door intently, making low growling sounds in its throat.

"What are you sulking about," Zhu Yan kicked its butt, "do you see that you're needed?"

The dog barked at him, seemingly blaming its owner for not being capable enough.

"Alright, go on, do your job."

Zhu Yan stood up, slowly tightening the cuffs of his sleeves.

The chaotic situation at the Temple of the Moon God had already formed, and he didn't bother opening the door, instead jumping straight out the window and landing lightly on the ground. He locked onto Pan Peng's men and played a game of cat and mouse on the streets.

After all, what's hunting without a little excitement?

Pan Peng felt a headache coming on as soon as he saw the Sixth Prince. He couldn't be caught; the Sixth Prince had said that if he was caught, he was dead! What could he do then, except run, not even bothering to look for women, gathering everyone around him to protect him.

He tried to create a bit of a small disturbance, such as pulling passersby to block his way, destroying roadside stalls, but he found that this method was unworkable. Not only did it have no effect on the Sixth Prince, but it also made him bite down harder. If he just ran away without affecting others, the Sixth Prince was more willing to play along, enjoying the process of hunting...

Well, this person was a freak to begin with!

Being stared at by the hunter was indeed an unpleasant feeling. No matter how much he ran, in any direction, it seemed as if there were nets all around, not knowing where death would descend, when it would arrive...it was too unbearable! That young master of the Duke's mansion must have suggested this to save him, not wanting him to die too easily!

They were all scum!

And the dog, the dog too! Where did it pop out from, appearing and disappearing mysteriously, driving away his people with its sharp fangs, dangerous enough, but not biting anyone, just chasing them away, as if helping its master to encircle and hunt...

When he realized it, his own people had already entered a huge empty house, unusually quiet, free from the disturbance of outsiders. How did they get in here!

"What are you all standing around for, attack him! So what if he's the Sixth Prince, I'm your master. If I die, none of you will live!"

Pan Peng commanded the people around him to resist the Sixth Prince while he ran hard, screaming loudly. "Wang Liu—shouldn't you make a move now! If I die, how will you explain to my father!"

A middle-aged man, dressed differently from all the guards, wielding a ring knife, with bulging temples and a murderous aura, dropped down from the roof beams.

"You go ahead."

He faced Zhu Yan alone.

The corner of Zhu Yan's lips curled slightly, as if he finally found it somewhat interesting. "Nice collarbone, worth appreciating for a quarter of an hour."

He drew the sword at his waist, his figure moving as fast as a shadow, rushing forward.