Qin Shi: I only work eight hours

Chapter 319 Nongyu is willing to accept defeat in a bet.
"It's easy to know a person's face, but hard to know their heart."

Xu Lindao.

"Sir, you know him very well?"

Nongyu's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"I wouldn't say I know it very well."

"He and the king were once hostages in Handan, the capital of Zhao."

"The king has long since come of age and assumes power, yet he remains the crown prince and holds no real authority. Put yourself in his shoes; if you were him, wouldn't you be jealous of the king?"

Xu Lin asked.

"Power is earned, so what's the point of jealousy?"

Nongyu's thin lips parted slightly.

She is kind-hearted and has never been jealous of anyone since she can remember.

"If everyone in the world were as kind as you, there would be no such word as jealousy."

Xu Lin smiled.

Then he handed Nongyu a bowl of tea.

Nongyu's lips are prone to dryness, which is likely related to her constitution.

In this respect, Nongyu and Madam Hu are completely different. Madam Hu's lips are rarely dry because she has a lot of moisture.

"Comparison is the thief of joy."

"When both the King and Yan Dan were hostages in Handan, the capital of Zhao, they had a good personal relationship."

"Now, more than ten years have passed, and the two are worlds apart. With Yan Dan's magnanimity, how could he not be jealous?"

Xu Lindao.

"Your Majesty's current status is indeed largely due to my efforts."

"Therefore, Yan Dan naturally could not tolerate me."

Xu Lin added.

"Although the Qin state has achieved great power, it has only destroyed one of the six states east of the mountains, Han. If I am suddenly killed..."

"It's really hard to say whether Qin can take down the other five states in one fell swoop."

Xu Lin continued.

He wasn't just boasting; his presence changed many things.

“What you say makes sense.”

"But I don't think Yan Dan is a treacherous or cunning person."

Nongyu blinked her beautiful eyes and said.

After speaking, she took a sip of light tea.

"You consider him a gentleman?"

Xu Lin asked with a smile.

"His words and actions truly reflect the demeanor of a gentleman."

Nongyu did not deny it.

"In that case, we can make a bet."

Xu Lin suggested.

Nongyu was naive and inexperienced in the ways of the world. She had been living in Zilanxuan for a long time and had not met many people. She actually thought that Yan Dan was a gentleman. He was more like a hypocrite!
"How would you like to bet, sir?"

Nongyu asked.

She didn't like gambling, but Xu Lin was family, so it was okay to gamble once in a while.

"If Yan Dan is a true gentleman, I will help you break through."

"If Yan Dan is a hypocrite, you can give him a massage."

Xu Lin said as he thought.

The kneading was secondary; the main purpose was to help Nongyu recognize Yan Dan.

"it is good!"

Nongyu readily agreed.

……

The next day.

Twilight Quadruple.

Yan Dan arrived at Xu's residence by car.

Xu Lin was playing chess with Nongyu in his study at that moment.

Nongyu fought and lost repeatedly, but she fought on despite each defeat.

Boom boom boom!
Yan Dan's trusted confidant knocked hard on the wooden door.

"Hold on."

Nongyu said irritably.

After saying that, she put on her coat and walked quickly toward the door.

Squeak.

The wooden door opened in response.

Yan Dan, who came into view, was wearing a black robe and looked refined and easy-going, much like a gentleman.

"Last night Dan was busy killing Xiongnu bandits and didn't greet the young lady."

"I hope you won't take offense, young lady."

Yan Dan bowed respectfully.

His humility and gentleness made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"It doesn't matter."

Nongyu waved her hand and then returned the greeting.

"I wonder what I call the girl?"

Yan Dan asked calmly.

“My name is… my surname is Li, and I am Xu Linyi’s sister.”

Nongyu answered while thinking.

Before she came, Xu Lin had told her not to easily reveal her real name to outsiders.

Although she had never met Li Kai since she could remember, she knew that Li Kai was her biological father, and Madam Hu had told her about what happened back then.

"Is the young lady Mr. Xu's sworn sister?"

"I see."

“You look very much like Mr. Xu. If you hadn’t said so, I would have thought you were Mr. Xu’s younger sister.” Yan Dan pretended to realize something.

After chatting for a while, he entered the Xu residence.

Before long, Yan Dan met Xu Lin.

"Brother Xu."

"What happened last night was all Dan's fault."

“Dan is to blame for this incident occurring within the territory of my Yan state.”

"Fortunately, it was a close call, and neither you nor your sister were injured, otherwise Dan..."

Yan Dan feigned self-reproach.

Seeing Yan Dan's sincere attitude, Nongyu turned to look at Xu Lin.

Xu Lin remained silent and let Nongyu come behind him.

Yan Dan is an excellent actor; if he hadn't lived two lives, he might have been fooled by him.

"Brother Xu, Miss Li."

"This is the head of Yan Qing, a border general in Liaodong."

"It was he who let Touman and the other Xiongnu bandits into the city."

Yan Dan opened the wooden box and began to explain.

“I have never met him before, nor do I have any grudge against Touman.”

Why did he let Touman into the city?

"Why did Touman want to kill me?"

Xu Lin looked puzzled.

"Well... Dan isn't too sure either; the matter is still under investigation."

"Brother Xu, rest assured, Dan will definitely give you an explanation for this matter!"

Yan Dan thumped her chest loudly.

Xu Lin smiled upon hearing this and let Yan Dan into the study.

"Brother Xu is the Grand Preceptor of the Qin State, second only to the emperor."

"After what happened last night, Dan originally wanted to apologize with a bundle of thorns on his back, but thinking that Brother Xu is as magnanimous as the sea, so..."

"It's not that Dan didn't want to carry the thorns; the thorns were right outside the door and inside the carriage."

Yan Dan said solemnly.

"If that's the case, why doesn't the Crown Prince carry the thorns on his back?"

"Your Highness thinks too highly of me. I am but a vulgar man, greedy for money and lustful, with a narrow mind."

"The mere fact that the Crown Prince had a pleasant conversation with my sworn sister has already displeased me. My sworn sister is still young, yet the Crown Prince is so eloquent. What is his intention?"

Xu Lin looked displeased.

Nongyu wanted to say that Yan Dan had not done anything improper, but Xu Lin stopped her.

"Are you going to side with outsiders?"

Xu Lin placed his hand on Nongyu's leg and lowered his voice.

Nongyu shook her head.

"Brother Xu, you've misunderstood!"

"Dan has no other feelings for your sister."

"Dan is a man of self-awareness. Your sister is so beautiful, how could Dan dare to dream of such a thing?"

"As for carrying the thorns... since Brother Xu has already spoken, Dan... Dan will do it now."

Yan Dan said.

After saying that, he suddenly stood up and reluctantly walked towards the door.

He did bring thorns, but if he really did plead guilty with thorns on his back, what would others think of him if word got out?

He is the Crown Prince of Yan, the future King of Yan, while Xu Lin is merely the Grand Tutor of Qin!

Yan Dan walked very slowly, lingering for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, without even carrying the thorny branch on his back.

"how?"

Do you still think he's a true gentleman?

Xu Lin saw Yan Dan use the excuse of going to the restroom, looked at Nong Yu, and asked.

"Sir, you have truly discerning eyes."

"I lost."

Nongyu's thin lips parted slightly.

She was very disappointed in Yan Dan.

This experience taught her that she shouldn't easily trust others.

If Xu Lin hadn't forced Yan Dan to apologize with a bundle of thorns on his back, Yan Dan's words and actions would have made him seem like a gentleman.

"You should both read books and walk around."

"The more people you meet, the better you can tell whether someone is a true gentleman or a hypocrite."

Xu Lin said in a deep voice.

Nongyu nodded vigorously.

She usually stays at Zilan Pavilion; where would she get such opportunities to gain experience?

If Xu Lin hadn't been there, she probably would have been completely fooled by Yan Dan.

"You go and rest first."

Xu Lin said gently.

"it is good."

Nongyu nodded and returned to her bedroom.

After Nongyu walked away, Xu Lin waved to Yan Dan, who was still dawdling, indicating that he didn't need to carry the thorns anymore, it was just a joke.

Yan Dan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

Xu Lin is indeed a tough guy to deal with!
Although she thought this way, Yan Dan's face was full of smiles.

"Thank you, Brother Xu."

Yan Dan cupped his hands in greeting.

"Brother Xu."

"Do you think it's possible that the mastermind behind the Xiongnu thieves was a Wei or Zhao person?"

After chatting for a while, Yan Dan began to shift the blame eastward.

(End of this chapter)