I changed the world.

He paused intentionally, hoping to see curiosity on An Huiling's face, but all he saw was her indifferent expression. However, An Huiling didn't deliberately act cold, and politely replied, "I've also heard that it's very difficult for newcomers to develop in this industry..."

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On the terrace, Jin Wang, who had been chatting with Zhang Jing, was thinking of saying goodbye and leaving to expand his business clients when suddenly, he heard a voice.

“Brother Hongjian, what a coincidence, we meet again…” Zhu Yingwei stood behind Jin Wang and said respectfully.

"Yingwei, please sit down." Zhang Jing reached out and pulled out a seat for her.

Turning his head, Jin Wang's eyes widened instantly. Then, his large body sprang to his feet as if electrocuted, and he bowed, saying, "Miss Zhu, I didn't see you just now, how rude of me..."

"Haha, Brother Fuyuan, there's no need for that. Come, sit down..." Zhang Jing laughed and reached out to pull Jin Wang. Jin Wang felt his legs go weak and sat down.

"Yingwei, this is Brother Fuyuan, one of my brothers. He's in the jade business," Zhang Jing said with a smile as he sat down in his chair and introduced Zhu Yingwei.

Jin Wang was still in shock, his mouth slightly open, watching his younger brother speak calmly to the noble lady of the Jingbei Marquis's family, his tone as casual as if they were old friends chatting.

He had just seen this noble lady chatting and laughing with the heir of the Duke of Wu, and now she was standing right in front of him. It all felt so unreal to him…

"So it's Brother Fuyuan, what a pleasure to meet you..." Zhu Yingwei thought for a moment, then took out a business card from her small bag and handed it to Jin Wang: "This is my business card, please keep it safe, brother."

"Oh...oh..." Jin Wang gradually recovered from his shock, hurriedly stood up and took the exquisite business card with its subtle patterns with both hands. Then, somewhat flustered, he pulled out his wallet, took out another business card, and handed it over with both hands: "Jin Wang, Jin Fuyuan, my family is in the jade business. It's truly an honor to meet you today..."

"Brother, you're too kind. Since you're Brother Hongjian's friend, you can just call me Yingwei." Zhu Yingwei smiled and stood up to accept the business card with both hands, then put it away.

At this moment, Jin Wang realized that his younger brother seemed to have an extraordinary relationship with this noble lady. In fact, being as perceptive as he was, he could even sense that Miss Zhu displayed a slightly respectful demeanor when facing Zhang Jing...

Could it be that this Miss Zhu and my little brother...

He was lost in thought, but fortunately, he was still a person of manners and had basic etiquette. After the great surprise, he began to try to strike up a conversation, telling some interesting stories about gambling on stones with Zhang Jing in Nanzhao.

“Oh… In that case, gambling on jade is quite interesting. A seemingly ordinary stone can turn into jade when cut open…” Zhu Yingwei listened with great interest as Jin Wang recounted these interesting stories. She had never known before that her senior brother had participated in such activities.

“Yes, as the saying goes, one cut can make you poor, another cut can make you rich. However, most rough stones, when cut open, are actually marble and cannot be considered jade. Only a small number of high-quality stones can truly be cut into jade,” Zhang Jing said with a smile.

Jin Wang also shared some stories about jade gambling, which made Zhu Yingwei, who had never heard of this before, eager to try it herself. She was very interested in buying a stone and cutting it herself...

"So... how was your harvest, Brother Hongjian?" Zhu Yingwei asked curiously.

“Your luck is not bad, haha, you should say you’ve made a fortune.” Ling Zhang Jingmeng laughed. His “luck” in gambling on stones in Nanzhao is still talked about in small circles, and it’s not a secret.

"Brother Hongjian, your luck is truly amazing... neighbor..." Jin Wangjiu chimed in from the side, clicking his tongue repeatedly.

"As expected of Brother Hongjian..." Zhu Yingwei had a matter-of-fact expression on her face. She knew her senior brother's unfathomable abilities. He was truly all-powerful. What was gambling on a stone compared to that?

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"By the way, Brother Fuyuan's Fuyuanzhai has quite a few branches in the southeast. Yingwei, if you need anything in the future, you can ask him to give you a discount." After chatting for a while, Zhang Jing casually said, which could be considered as fulfilling his previous promise to help Jinwang introduce customers.

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind the History Books: Chapter 1027 The Eldest Princess

Jin Wang's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this. A major reason for his visit was to expand his social circle, and it would be even better if he could meet some potential clients. However, given his current social circle and status, it was difficult for him to easily connect with the top tier of elites. Generally, even when doing business with noble families, he mostly dealt with lower- to middle-ranking nobles. As for the top-tier nobles and even royalty, they typically frequented the most established and prestigious establishments in their respective industries and rarely changed their patronage.

"Don't worry, Miss Zhu. Although our Fuyuanzhai is indeed less famous than established brands like Yuanbaozhai, our craftsmanship and products are just as good. Some of the top-quality items I have are things you can't even find in those established brands..." Jin Wang said, patting his chest.

“I happen to have some close friends who really like this kind of jewelry, so I can take them to take a look next time…” Zhu Yingwei thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

“That would be great! Call me when the time comes, call me…” Jin Wang said enthusiastically, “We have a flagship store in Jiangling, near the Drum Tower, it’s easy to find.”

After a few more words, Jin Wang, sensing the situation, got up to leave: "Hahaha, Miss Zhu, Hongjian, excuse me for a moment, you two continue chatting..."

Although he still didn't know what the relationship was between Miss Zhu and Zhang Jing, he was as astute as he was and knew that it was probably inconvenient for them to talk while he was there. Being a third wheel would make him unpopular, so after making his presence known to Miss Zhu, he decisively left.

After Jin Wang left, Zhu Yingwei let out a soft breath, her expression becoming even more respectful. She whispered, "I didn't expect to see Senior Brother here... Did Senior Brother come with Senior Sister?"

“Yes, I haven’t had much to do these past few days, so I thought I’d come and participate in the abdication ceremony to broaden my horizons,” Zhang Jing said with a smile.

"Hehe...Junior Nephew Li will be very happy that Senior Brother is coming," Zhu Yingwei said obediently, playing the straight man.

It has to be said that Zhu Yingwei is really too eye-catching. Even on the terrace, many people still looked at her and some even went up to chat with her.

Zhang Jing frowned, made a hand gesture, and Zhu Yingwei noticed it. She vaguely guessed what her senior brother was about to do...

Soon, her intuition instinctively sensed a faint, almost imperceptible shielding, like the feeling of having a layer of shade over your head when you're sunbathing.

After that, sure enough, fewer people were looking at them, as if the two of them were being subconsciously ignored.

Zhu Yingwei chatted with Zhang Jing for a while, and then Wei Chengguang quietly walked over and respectfully said to Zhang Jing, "Greetings, Senior Brother."

"Sit down, relax, it's a banquet after all." Zhang Jing smiled and pulled out the chair next to him, gesturing for Wei Chengguang to sit down.

As a result, the social gatherings became increasingly lively, while the three senior and junior disciples sat quietly to the side chatting.

When the banquet was about a third of the way through, there was a noticeable commotion in the hall. It was clear that another distinguished guest had arrived. With the spiritual senses of the three disciples, even though there were many heads moving around in the hall, they could still clearly see what was happening at the entrance.

A dignified-looking couple entered hand in hand, accompanied by the heir of the Duke of Wu.

“That’s Her Highness the Eldest Princess…” Zhu Yingwei turned her head and looked for a while before introducing her. Zhang Jing and Wei Chengguang didn’t know much about the so-called high society, but Zhu Yingwei was quite clear about it.

"It seems that the Emperor really values ​​Yunxiao Temple very much..." Zhu Yingwei explained in a low voice, "Princess Chen Xuzhuo is the daughter of Consort Wan and is His Majesty's first child, so she has always been extremely favored."

After Zhu Yingwei's brief introduction, Zhang Jingshan roughly understood that the birth mother of this Princess was Consort Wan, who only had one child. However, precisely because she had no son, her status in the palace became extraordinary, and no one wanted to offend her.

Zhang Jing had read many history books in both his past and present lives, so he understood why Zhu Yingwei said that **** valued Yunxiao Temple.

Anyone with a discerning eye could easily understand the Emperor's intentions. Since His Majesty himself couldn't possibly come in person, if the eldest prince were to come directly, it would cause too much of a commotion. And if it were the other princes… well, it would be better to have the eldest princess come instead.

Of course, in Zhang Jing's view now, such subtle considerations are just topics for casual conversation. By the way, it is also an interesting experience to watch the performance of various people in the venue from the perspective of an outsider.

The three siblings continued their casual conversation. Zhu Yingwei, who was the most knowledgeable, would occasionally introduce the various people in the room, giving Zhang Jing a lot of gossip.

During this time, Wei Chengguang went to fetch a lot of food. Both he and Zhu Yingwei had excellent appetites at their current stage of cultivation. Zhu Yingwei, in particular, had previously been mindful of others' opinions and only drank a small amount of beverages in order to maintain her ladylike demeanor. Now, she simply ate without any restraint, and she and Wei Chengguang were like two hamsters, happily eating next to Zhang Jing.

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister seems to be entangled..." Wei Chengguang stuffed a piece of roasted pork chop into his mouth, chewed it up without spitting out the bone, and swallowed it. He then took a napkin to wipe his mouth and whispered to Zhang Jing.

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As Wei Chengguang said, An Huiling was feeling frustrated at the time, and she realized that she had encountered a persistent and clingy person.

Originally, she planned to politely chat with this young master Shen for a while and then part ways. To be honest, although many women were eager to attend such high-level social events, she was clearly not one of them. She wanted to find a quiet place to be alone.

However, even though she had already hinted twice, the young master Shen beside her pretended not to see it, while constantly changing the subject and chatting with her with great interest.

It must be said that this third young master of the Shen family has quite a wide range of knowledge, from entertainment industry gossip to high society gossip, to the appreciation of various wines and spirits, to his overseas study and hunting experiences... If his female companion were not An Huiling, but an ordinary girl, she might have already been attracted to him and had a very pleasant conversation with him.

“Second Sister Ling, let’s go and say hello to Princess Wu Chang. I’m an old acquaintance of the Prince Consort, and it’s been a long time since we last saw each other…” Shen Hanming smiled as he looked at An Huiling beside him.

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind the History Books: Chapter 1028 A Lesser God Pays Homage to the True Lord

According to the rules established by Emperor Taizu, the selection of a consort for Princess Zhao was originally a rather complicated process, in which the princess herself had no say. The whole process was similar to a selection process, handled by special personnel from the Ministry of Rites and the Directorate of Ceremonial. Before the marriage, the princess herself could not even meet her future husband.

However, in modern times, due to the sweeping reforms of many court rules, in order to demonstrate the royal family's approachable style, the selection of consorts became more free, allowing the princess herself to participate in the selection. Of course, when publicizing it, it was directly promoted as "free love." In fact, the royal family still considered many factors when considering the relevant circumstances.

As for the current prince consort, it is publicly stated that he was the princess's classmate in university, and they finally got married after an eight-year courtship. It is considered a beautiful story that is widely talked about. However, what many people do not know is that this prince consort, Lü Jing'an, was born into a prominent family in the southeast, a typical official family.

Given the social circle of the Shen family in Linzhou, Shen Hanming was indeed an old acquaintance of his. Of course, their relationship wasn't as close as he made it out to be, but exchanging greetings and pleasantries was perfectly fine.

To be honest, An Huiling wasn't particularly interested in the princess and her husband, but Shen Hanming's invitation was perfectly reasonable and polite, so she could only nod in agreement. However, her expression was flat and she didn't show much joy.

However, An Huiling was unaware that her indifferent demeanor held a kind of aloof and restrained allure in Shen Hanming's eyes, like a hundred claws scratching at his heart. As the saying goes, what you can't have is always the best. In Shen Hanming's previous life, with his looks, demeanor, and family background, no woman had ever been able to resist his pursuit...

In Shen Hanming's eyes, this young lady had undoubtedly aroused his desire for challenge...

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"How about I go and help my senior sister out of this predicament..." Zhu Yingwei had undoubtedly noticed her second senior sister's situation, so she volunteered to stand up.

But Zhang Jing waved his hand: "No need, there's no need for that..."

Zhang Jing recognized Shen Hanming at this moment. He lived in Linzhou and this was not the first time he had met the third young master of the Shen family. With his current cultivation level, he would never forget someone he had met once.

In his memory, the third young master of the Shen family did not leave a good impression on him. Even Jin Wang had reminded him that the third young master of the Shen family had a poor reputation... far worse than his elder brother.

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"Where are the night patrol spirits of this place?" Seeing Zhu Yingwei sit down again, Zhang Jing tapped the armrest of the chair with his finger and said calmly.

Just as he spoke, in the empty void behind him, an ancient longsword faintly appeared, emitting a clear ringing sound.

Both Zhu Yingwei and Wei Chengguang felt as if a sword intent swept past them like a gentle breeze. Although they didn't feel it, they subconsciously felt a chilling sensation on their backs...

The longsword appeared and disappeared in an instant. About two or three breaths later, on the terrace not far from the group, large gushes of mist rose up like a spring. Then, a huge figure emerged from the ground, looking rather flustered.

This man was over two meters tall, lean but with strong muscles and bones, and had a dark complexion. He held a vermilion brush in one hand and a scroll in the other. He wore a classic-style black robe and a gauze hat. The words "Patrol at Night" were embroidered on his chest.

At this moment, both Zhu Yingwei and Wei Chengguang's bodies tensed up instinctively upon seeing the "person" in front of them, putting them in a state of emergency ready to be activated at any time.

Who is this?

Or rather, at this moment, Wei Chengguang and Zhu Yingwei had already realized that this was not a "human", but a ghost or deity!

With Wei Chengguang and Zhu Yingwei's cultivation and spiritual perception, they were completely unable to notice where this ghost was hiding before he revealed himself!

"This humble deity is the Night Wanderer of this place, paying respects to True Lord Zhang." This ghostly deity had a ferocious face, eyes like copper bells, thick eyebrows raised, and fangs protruding from his lips. If an ordinary person saw him, they would be scared half to death. However, at this moment, he suddenly flashed, directly crossing several meters and appearing beside Zhang Jing. He bowed deeply to the ground, and his somewhat terrifying face stretched into a deliberate smile, clearly displaying an extremely humble posture.

Then, he looked at Wei Chengguang and Zhu Yingwei beside him, his posture clearly not as humble as when he faced Zhang Jing, he simply cupped his hands and bowed: "Greetings to the two immortal masters..."