I am Emperor Shizu of Song

Chapter 41: A good planner may not have great achievements
Yang Zhi asked his clever confidant to spend money to get a wig from a newly ordained monk.

At the same time, Zhao Zicheng also did two small preparatory tasks on his side.

He first rode his horse quickly to the Directorate of Works, and on the way caught up with Jia Dan, who had just left, and pretended to meet him again by chance.

It was Jia Dan who had helped him connect when he came to Daxiangguo Temple to sign the contract and withdraw the money. However, Zhao Zicheng and Yang Zhi met the imperial envoy and chatted for a while. Jia Dan was not familiar with the imperial envoy, so he left first, but he didn't go far.

The horse Zhao Zicheng rode was a BMW gift from Liang Shicheng. It was much faster than Jia Dan who rode a donkey, so he could catch up naturally.

Zhao Zicheng called the other party and chatted with him for a few minutes, thanking him for helping him connect with the down quilt business.

Jia Dan didn't think much about it, but just sighed that Zhao Zicheng's horse was really good.

After Zhao Zicheng finished thanking him, he naturally changed the subject and casually mentioned, "By the way, Brother Jia, I just ran into a friend who used to be in the Imperial College at Daxiangguo Temple..."

Then, he casually made up a friend who had premature gray hair and was balding, and said that there were many skilled craftsmen in the Ministry of Works, and he had seen them gluing fake flowers and leaves to the exotic flowers and trees of Genyue a while ago. He wondered if anyone knew a secret material that could be used to stick hair.

Zhao Zi said that this question is definitely relevant to his profession, because there are few wigs in this era and no one is professional in this field. Moreover, most of the wigs on the market are put on after they are made, and almost none of them are directly glued to the scalp.

The Chief of Works often had to make many novel and forged things for the emperor, and they were good at splicing and making things look old, so this aspect might also be included. Zhao Zi said that if he didn't ask Jia Dan, there would be no one else to ask.

Unexpectedly, Jia Dan was indeed knowledgeable and experienced. He did not doubt him, but thought about it for a moment and then said ostentatiously:
"Most wigs on the market are made on leather covers and then put on the head. If they are glued directly to the scalp, they will not be durable enough and will fall off after a short time. Otherwise, they will damage the scalp and have a fishy smell."

Zhao Zicheng also knew that there must be wigs that were put directly on the head, but that thing would fall off if pulled. Even if it was not pulled, the flaws could be seen if it was slightly turned over, and it could not withstand close inspection.

So he made a tactful excuse, saying that his friend was only partially bald and didn't want to cover his entire head, so it would be better to use glue because only a small area needed to be glued and it was flexible.

Seeing that his persuasion was ineffective, Jia Dan could only think it over carefully and come up with some practical advice: "If you don't mind the fishy smell, then use fish bladder glue. This thing is also often used to stick fake hair in the Ministry of Works.

But be careful, fish bladder glue is harmful to the skin and has a persistent fishy smell that won't wash off. If you ever completely wash away the fishy smell, the stickiness will also be gone."

Zhao Zicheng thought to himself, if the fishy smell is too obvious, it definitely won't work. There must be people on the market who have used fish bladder glue. If Lu Zhishen is caught in a crime and encounters strict patrols when leaving the city, the police will definitely be on guard and alert at the strong fishy smell.

"Is there no other good stuff that can satisfy both demands?" Zhao Zicheng said unwillingly.

Jia Dan: "Yes, there is, but not today. Deer antler glue is actually OK, it doesn't have the fishy smell compared to fish bladder glue, but it's expensive. Even the Chief of Works would have to pay a large sum to get it. I remember the Jurchen Kingdom in the northeast sent a batch a few years ago. We brewed it secretly and didn't use it up, so we need to look for it."

"Thank you very much. I'm not in a hurry anyway. I just asked casually."

Zhao Zicheng was certainly anxious, but he had to say he wasn't anxious. And after hearing about this rare and valuable item, he felt even more confident.

Something that is so rare that even the Chief of Construction can only obtain it, ordinary people in the market have definitely never heard of it.

After getting the deer antler glue and hair, the rest is the work of the miracle doctor An Daoquan.

It is better to be safe than sorry. Zhao Zicheng is just that steady.

……

After bidding farewell to Jia Dan, Zhao Zicheng returned to the inn he rented.

Indeed, he had been in Bianjing for nearly two weeks, and had been staying in an inn. Since he would only be staying for less than two months, renting a private house with its own entrance and courtyard was too much trouble.

Bianjing had a vibrant commercial atmosphere, and businesses were very flexible. Monthly room packages at inns offered generous discounts and were convenient for guests to leave at any time. For example, in the original Water Margin, when Yang Zhi was released from prison after being pursued by Gao Qiu, he returned to the inn and was hounded by the innkeeper for the room he had reserved for him during his imprisonment. Unable to pay, he was forced to sell knives.

Even someone like Yang Zhi who has been working steadily in Bian Jing for a while would stay in an inn, let alone Zhao Zicheng.

After returning to the inn, Zhao Zicheng did not go back to his room, but politely knocked on the door of Murong Yan's residence next door.

When Murong Yan opened the door, she pouted and looked unhappy.

Zhao Zicheng knew that it must be because he had been too busy since he came to Bian Jing that his sister had a bad temper.

Zhao Zicheng didn't point it out, but just coughed lightly and took the initiative to say, "Tokyo is prosperous. Have you had enough of enjoying it these days, my dear sister?"

Murong Yan originally wanted to ask why she hadn't been taken out to broaden her horizons these days, but Zhao Zicheng spoke first, leaving her speechless.

Indeed, she was dressed as a man. With her appearance and clothing, she looked like a handsome young man, except that she was slightly shorter than a normal man. It was very convenient for her to enjoy the city of Bianjing alone.

Murong Yan had been staying in Jiangnan before, and it was a rare opportunity for her to see the prosperity of the north. When she first arrived in Bianliang, she didn't care that Zhao Zicheng left her behind, and she really visited many places.

It's only in the last two or three days that I've visited all the places I should visit. I just got some free time and felt bored, so I started thinking about the good things about Zhao Zicheng.

Zhao Zi said that the wicked complained first, and explained his neglect as giving his virtuous sister freedom. Murong Yan could only agree with him and said, "I've had enough fun! I've been idle these past two days. It's not as fun as when I was on the road. Although it was dangerous, at least I could do good deeds."

Zhao Zicheng couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. He had thought about it before he came. When it comes to chivalry, Murong Yan, who is fearless and has a lively personality, is much easier to use than Yang Zhi.

Yang Zhi is a man who knows how to protect himself, while Murong Yan is at the other extreme.

She was the kind of person who would save someone she didn't hit, even if she knew she'd be blackmailed. She was even more impetuous and decisive than Shi Xiangyun in Dream of the Red Chamber. If she hadn't been like that, she wouldn't have sent her men to rescue the person when she saw the Hua Shi Gang ship capsize on Taihu Lake.

In this case, Zhao Zicheng gave her a chance to perform, which was both making the best use of her and catering to her preferences.

Zhao Zicheng deliberately said, "Today I went to Daxiangguo Temple and indeed encountered an injustice, but the victim was a woman who was forced to divorce. As a grown man, it is not convenient for me to draw my sword to help. I wonder if my dear sister is interested."

Murong Yan really perked up when she heard that. Before she could answer, she turned around and took the sword hanging on the head of the bed: "Hurry up and tell me!"

Zhao Zicheng then told the story of the Lin family, especially Mrs. Lin's experience.

When Murong Yan heard that the young master of the Taiwei Mansion wanted to force her husband and did so many things to frame her husband, she immediately got angry.

"Where is this bastard Yanei? Let me kill him!"

"How can we just kill the son of the Taiwei Mansion?" Zhao Zicheng saw that she was impulsive and didn't know the seriousness of the matter, so he quickly gestured to her to be quiet. Seeing her unwilling expression, he made up a lie, "Even if we want to kill him, we have to wait until we have completed everything, left Bianjing City, and have a perfect opportunity before we act. Firstly, we will avoid suspicion, and secondly, we will not bring trouble upon ourselves."

Zhao Zicheng certainly didn't think of killing Gao Yanei now, and these words were just to appease the woman first.

When Murong Yan heard that there was still a chance to be a hero in a different way, she felt less unwilling: "So what do you want me to do now?"

Zhao Zi said, "Sister, are you wearing women's clothes? I want you to find an opportunity to change back into women's clothes, put on a veil that no one has ever seen, and go to the Lin family to tell Madam Lin to be careful, to believe our good intentions, and to move away quickly."

(End of this chapter)