spoiled brat

Chapter 71, Section 70: Xiu Ning (Part 10)

With a loud crash, Xu Feng smashed the wine cup in front of the two minor officials and yelled, "Get out of here!"

The two minor officials scrambled away, and now it was Zhao Zhao's turn to be frightened. She heard Xu Feng call her over, and she walked into the pavilion with her head down.

Staying in the Xu family mansion was not a path to success; all that awaited her was a fate worse than death.

She had to gamble, gamble that the information she possessed would be valuable to Xiu Yi, gamble...

"Why are you here?!" Xu Feng's furious voice rang in my ears.

He went to great lengths to slip a fake over last night, and now the real thing is showing up in front of the rightful owner. Isn't that a slap in the face for him?

Xu Feng glanced at Xiu Yi and saw that he looked indifferent and didn't seem to recognize Zhao Zhao as the pipa player from last night. He immediately turned his anger into laughter and pulled Zhao Zhao to sit on his lap.

Zhao Zhao suspected she was trapped in a lump of lard when Xu Feng handed her a glass of wine and commanded, "Drink it."

One cup after another, and then another. Zhao Zhao felt like her insides were burning from the spiciness. She understood why Xu Feng had kept her around. When men are frustrated and disappointed, they always like to abuse women, just like a helpless child likes to stomp on insects on the ground.

After drinking about seven or eight cups, Zhao Zhao became dizzy, and the people and things in front of her began to blur. She saw Xiu Yi looking at her indifferently, without any sadness or joy, and without any emotion in his eyes.

Yes, yes, how could such a noble person, who despises prostitutes as dirty, feel pity for her plight?

Seeing Zhao Zhao's lungs burning from the alcohol, Xu Feng's mood improved, and he said meaningfully, "Your Highness, if I send troops to the northern suburban camp now, could I find the grain that was lost from the official granary?"

From beginning to end, Xiu Yi didn't even glance at Zhao Zhao: "Lord Xu, how about I point you in the right direction and you can go find it?"

"Oh?"

"Last night, every household in the southern part of Yunzhou received a bag of grain."

Xu Feng jumped up, and Zhao Zhao, who had passed out drunk, fell to the ground. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily, "This is outrageous!"

Just as he was about to curse, another servant knelt outside the pavilion to report, this time with a grin: "Master! Congratulations, Master!"

Xu Feng turned his head and asked, "What is it?"

The servants were beaming with joy. When they saw that Xu Feng was facing Xiu Yi, they deliberately opened their mouths to announce the good news: "There are dense crowds of people kneeling at our gate. They received the grain you distributed and are calling you a benevolent magistrate. The people are begging you to come out and meet them!"

Xu Feng was so angry that his vision blurred and he almost fainted. Xiu Yi sipped his wine and said casually, "Lord Xu, the stage is set up, aren't you going to go up and perform a play?"

A commotion arose outside, audible even by the lake in the backyard, indicating a significant disturbance. Xu Feng straightened up, leaning against a pillar, and decided to be frank with Xiu Yi: "Young Master, what exactly are you planning to do? And what is Prince Ning planning to do? Are you plotting a rebellion against the court?"

Xiu Yi sneered. If his family really had ulterior motives, would Xu Feng be shouting and yelling here?

"You are resigning and must get out of Yunzhou." The message was finally made clear!
Xu Feng dropped the pretense, ripped off his official hat and threw it to the ground, cursing, "I'm here on behalf of Minister Wu! You think you can get rid of me so easily? From now on, let's fight it out, with the emperor far away and the sky high, let's see who bites whom to death!"

Remembering that he would have to meet the people later, he bent down to pick up the official hat from the ground and put it on, staring intently at Xiu Yi as he said his last words: "Young Master, please go ahead!"

After saying this, Xu Feng turned and left, and the servants followed him. No one dared to stay and chase Xiu Yi out of the mansion.

A gentle breeze blew in, dispelling the gloom of the past few days. Xiu Yi then realized the wine on the table was quite good. He poured himself the last glass, drank it all in one gulp, and was about to leave when someone grabbed his leg tightly: "Don't go..."

It is Zhaozhao.

She was so drunk her insides were burning. Barely maintaining her fading consciousness, she looked up at Xiu Yi and cried out, "Save me, take me away..."

"Let go." Xiu Yi looked down at Zhao Zhao and said coldly, "Since you were willing to let your good godfather send you to Xu Feng's bed, why are you acting all wronged now?"

Zhao Zhao's feverish drunkenness cooled down by half. She knew she had been forced into this situation, but to outsiders, she and You Ming were both Xu Feng's dogs, capable of anything to curry favor, a den of snakes and rats.

Xiu Yi tried to shake off her leg, but Zhao Zhao held him even tighter, as if she wanted to glue their bones together: "I was forced! If I were really on You Ming's side, why would I have leaked the news to you in the first place?"

Zhao Zhao's lipstick and face powder were all smeared onto Xiu Yishuang's white clothes. He was obsessively clean and never got too close to anyone, let alone a prostitute that Xu Feng had been with.

“Little prostitute,” Xiu Yi said condescendingly, “I paid money for information and reminded you to leave. I owe you nothing, neither morally nor logically.” His expression turned cold: “I’ll say it again, let go.”

Zhao Zhao wouldn't let go; this was her only way out, and letting go meant death. She practically clung to Xiu Yi, using both hands and feet, struggling to clear her mind despite being drunk: "I have some information to sell you… Shi Gang, Shi Gang…"

Upon hearing Shi Gang's name, Xiu Yi stopped pulling Zhao Zhao away and said, "You speak."

He was curious where Zhao Zhao had heard the news. Logically speaking, ever since she leaked information last time, You Ming should have been wary of her. How could he have let her know more?
“He’s not dead.” Zhao Zhao was dizzy from the alcohol, but she still made sure to look around to see if anyone was there. “He’s still alive.”

With no one around, Zhao Zhao continued, "I can find him."

Her words lacked conviction, and Xiu Yi saw right through her: "You?"

“Through my friend.” Zhao Zhao pinched her palm, trying to stay awake: “My friend used to be the daughter of a forestry worker. She was oppressed by the government and became a prostitute. She always wanted to avenge her father and wanted to assassinate Xu Feng. Shi Gang secretly helped her, and they have always been in contact.”

Xiu Yi straightened his posture and asked seriously, "Where is your friend now? What's his name?"

"Take me out of here, and I'll tell you."

Those eyes are so bright and clear, and even when they're sincere, they have a hint of cunning.

Xiu Yi recalled the fake goods Xu Feng had given him last night. A little girl who could recite her tragic past more fluently than a poem. Who could guarantee that Zhao Zhao wasn't another trap?
She both tripped up You Ming and showed up at Xu Feng's birthday banquet. Just a quarter of an hour ago she was nestled peacefully in Xu Feng's arms, but now she's clinging to his leg and crying out for justice. Her fickle behavior makes people inexplicably wary.