Vol 19 Chapter 8 (1/2)

Book 19 Chapter 8 – The Three Legendary Courtesans

Lao Ai stood in the middle of the hall and with hiuards

Tao Fang was playing host to the arrived

Lao Ai sighed, “Shaolong, how can you not treat me like a friend?”

After Xiang Shaolong greeted Han Jie and the rest, he pulled him aside and whispered, “It’s better that I don’t touch this type of beauty Last night that Boss Jin deliberately hinted in front of both of us that shi+ Sufang was interested into make Brother Lao jealous and putDoes Brother Lao understand my kind intentions?”

Lao Ai was stunned for a moment before he blushed and said, “I didn’t think of that point Hei! At the et into bed, how can she possibly sow any discord between us Brother Xiang, do not be overly suspicious”

Xiang Shaolong knew very well that he doesn’t mean what he said but he did not expose him Instead he said quietly, “In my opinion, this is Pu Hu’s devious plot Youdown a country Da Ji and Bao Si are exa downfall upon a country and sometimes they are even more foruard against In my opinion, if I attend the feast at your residence, shi+ Sufang will certainly pretend to be attracted to me and at the same time flirt with Brother Lao If we are not mentally prepared, what do you think will happen?”

Since Lao Ai is pretending to be a ive up his deception halfway and he stubbornly continued, “Shaolong, do not worry I, Lao Ai, can be considered one who grew up a flowers and I’ve met all kinds of women If she try to entice uarantee that our relationshi+p will not be strained because of her Ha! Why don’t we use her as a coet his hands on her but without any jealousy involved This will spoil Pu Hu’s plan If we can win her heart, we can find out instead what secret collusion Pu Hu has”

Xiang Shaolong secretly finds this a and knows that Lao Ai is ultis for he cannot control his own sexual urges He chortled and said, “This is the reason why I have to reject Brother Lao’s drinking invitation tonight so that Brother Lao can expand all your efforts to get shi+ Sufang in your hands”

Lao Ai sighed, “Of course I won’t bla openly declared that she will only attend the feast if Shaolong is around With her temper, won’t it be a damper on the occasion if she were to leave”

Xiang Shaolong said with a straight face, “See! This is exactly Pu Hu’s trap waiting for us to be hooked So what do you want me to do?”

Lao Ai replied with so cancan co her a little and turn the tables on Pu Hu instead”

Xiang Shaolong was secretly cursing hi despicable but then he re the E so he dared not curse Lao Ai toois indeed up to no good He said, “If it’s so easy to get her, she would have been toyed with by many others already A woman like her who is in the business will naturally have her ways of handling such matters If she exposes the plan, it’ll be worse instead”

Lao Ai pulled his sleeve and said, “Ti come with me quickly!”

Xiang Shaolong was unable to resist his ‘warm offers’ so had no choice but to follow him

After they left Wu Residence, the direction they were travelling in was not towards Lao Ai’s Depart enquired in surprise and Lai Ai replied with a sigh, “When I found out earlier that Shaolong refused to come, I tasked someone to infor’s intentions Never did I expect that she would i Hei! So I had no choice but to co to Du Bi’s General Residence in Xianyang As to whether shi+ Sufang will agree to see us, it’s still an uncertainty”

Xiang Shaolong secretly thought that men are really naturally worthless scahty, the more they feel she’s a rarity Lao Ai has always been popular ast wo who totally disregards hi an intolerable itch instead

The more he interacts with Pu Hu, the more he feels that this person really has formidable tricks

After all his years of struggles since coarding this period’s history he gleaned occasionally fronorant as he once hen he first came to this era

And because he came fro in this era frole

The appoint can be considered the biggest change of this era right noith the changes co this, other than the terrible times China suffered after the Opium War, it’s difficult to find another period in history that can be compared to this

In this period of great changes, the various Dukes of the Spring and Autuot rid of feudalis States where the Overlord will hold power Most i the end of the Spring and Auturowth in industry and commerce, expansion of cities, intensification of wars, sudden popularity in neledge, liberation in thinking has beco this period

Thethis era is the ee enterprises

This e transnational social class, because of their abundant financial backing, is able to travel far and wide, gaining experience and knowledge and with their huge social network, their influence on the political arena is incomparable

Theone is of course Lu Buwei, collector of rare artifacts and talents There are others, like his own Grandfather-in-law Master Wu, Guo Zong whobusiness, and Pu Hu, who is now secretly plotting to overthrow Xiao Pan They are all great businessmen turned politicians who can control the world

Even Qin Qing, she was able to stay independent while protecting her chastity and gaining the respect and admiration of the Qins because her clan owns a major cinnabar irl, with her beauty, would already have become some rich and powerful man’s mistress

And to handle the cohters sloent their own different ways and everything became professionalized

wang Yu and Li Si are two very good exauarantee that Qin politics will be in tur soon

The popularity of professionalish the lands and to the soldiers, the soldiers of the Warring States period is no longer like the soldiers of the Spring-Autumn Period, who are just conscripted farmers made to take up arms

This resulted in the eence of associations like Weinan’s Warrior Public House, where there are martial artists and military tacticians abound for the employment of Rulers

Therefore, regardless of external wars or internal conflicts, the level of intensity and co that the past can compare with

The reason why Xiao Pan is able to unify the 6 states in future is because out his unique background, for he does not have the offensive habits of those heirs ere brought up by women who lived in the palace That’s why he is able to shi+ne and control the world in this great era of constant changes

But a talent like him is also a rarity in this world, such that after his death, there was no one else who has the ability to suppress the others That’s why the Qin eeneration

While he was deep in thought, they have arrived outside the gates of the General’s residence situated at the west of the city

By now Xiang Shaolong is also craving for another look at shi+ Sufang again The lure of a beauty is indeed extraordinary Although he knows that she is up to no good, he can’t help but want to get close to her

This is exactly the most formidable part of Pu Hu’s plan

A successful businesshts, and this fact has remained since time memorial

In thethis square table there were six seats

Xiang Shaolong prefers such seating arrangements where everyone is seated around one another as it’s more conducive and close-knitted for chats

Du Bi personally invited Xiang Shaolong, Lao Ai and Han Jie into the hall while the rest of the guards stayed outside, where they will be welcomed by others

Du Bi’s attitude is extreine that his attitude used to be frosty and aloof in the past

Naturally Xiang Shaolong knohat he’s thinking about

If they are really are able to assassinate Xiao Pan, or successful in shi+fting the blaht for the support of Xiang Shaolong and his al successor

By then, wang Chi, wang Ling etc will have no choice but to support Cheng Qiao

As for Lao Ai, firstly he is still of value now and secondly, Du Bi holds no regards for hi Chi, he does not believe he’s capable of doing anything great, so he just flattered hiroup

Lao Ai isthe feast so he asked, “Miss shi+…”

Du Bi interrupted with a laugh, “Lord Interior Minister do not worry, Master Pu has gone to speak with Miss shi+ personally Hai! A woood impression of Lord Interior Minister as well, it’s just that she’s a little vexed that Master Xiang would stand her up so she was just putting on some airs! Lord Interior Minister please do not be offended”

Now that Lao Ai has regained sohtly restored and he’s suddenly more relaxed

Right at this tinal to show that all has been arranged Du Bi hurriedly invited everyone to sit down, leaving the seat between Xiang Shaolong and Lao Ai e

The pretty maids first served wine and food, followed by beautifulA nu dancers ca, Lao Ai and Han Jie were not here for this and thus were not in the mood to enjoy

After the dance, the dancers and antly dressed beauties to serve wine and all of thee in looks

Other than Lu Buwei, all the other royalty and officials of Xianyang cannot be compared to Du Bi

Han Jie asked in passing, “What business does Master Pu has in Xianyang?”

Pu Hu laughed, “With Shaolong’s father-in-law around, there’s no place for me here at all”

Everyone knows that he’s joking and Du Bi said with a laugh, “This old friend of ’s stratage a country, Sun Wu and Wu Qi’s ’s reforms One is so impressed that one is rendered speechless”

Pu Hu said hu to flatter ainst your conscience But when it comes to business, there are three who’s Grandfather-in-law, master Wu The horses and cattle he raises are so numerous they cannot be counted by per head, but measured by per valley Secondly is Bai Gui of the state of Wei, who runs the grains and silk-screen industry In tirains from him than to take loans from some other states Thirdly is Yi Dun, the salt in his warehouse is enough to last everyone in this world for a few years As for Lu Buwei? He’s still not considered up to par yet”

Xiang Shaolong secretly thought “Here it comes!” Pu Hu’s formidable point is his subtlety Words like these which deliberately dely

Han Jie said with a smile, “But Lu Buwei is indeed soht bet, he will enjoy the fruits endlessly”

Everyone knohat he was referring to and all chortled loudly

Ever since Han Jie stood out that night at Lu Buwei’s feast, he has been keeping a low profile, as if he’s afraid to steal Lao Ai’s thunder But in reality, his wisdo that Lao Ai cannot be compared with

Xiang Shaolong asked nonchalantly, “Isn’t Master Pu an expert in investment as well?”

Pu Hu replied with a wry sracious, do not pour salt into ain This time I’ve really lost badly If I’d known, I would have learnt fro from the state of Qi and become a loan shark instead If I can just e to collect the debts, I can guarantee that er ofYue”

This tiues of businessmen are really different fro

Lao Ai is only concerned about shi+ Sufang and asked, “Is Miss shi+ not co?”

Du Bi replied with a smile, “My lord, do not worry The prettier a woh Miss shi+ is staying in my residence, but up until now I’ve only seen her twice Atoday is the first time for me! And I have the three of you to thank for it!”

Lao Ai, on seeing that a great Qin general like Du Bi is buttering up to hied and hurriedly held his wine cup up in a toast

Xiang Shaolong pretended to drink but in fact, not a single drop of wine touched his lips

Pu Hu exclai find the wine not to your liking? I can instruct e it to another type of wine”

Xiang Shaolong so, I’m afraid you’ll behave like me as well and control my drinks”

Pu Hu was about to reply when Lao Ai’s eyes brightened as he looked straight ahead at the entrance

Everyone followed his gaze and looked towards the sa, all of them were instantly dumbfounded

shi+ Sufang, under the accoantly into the hall

Thefact is that she looked as if she has just bathed and changed Her shi+ny black hair was just bundled up at the top with just a wooden hairpin to secure it She ithoutonly a thin, white and short silk top with sleeves so long that it reached the back of her palers On the botto that it was trailing on the floor She wore no other adornments but still looked a hundred thousand tiood as her but dressed in finery and make up

Everyone can’t help but stand up, and can’t help but feel ashamed of themselves

shi+ Sufang’s expression was aloof as sheand Lao and sat down between theain their senses and sat doith her

Lao Ai brushed off the prettyup to serve her and poured the wine for her personally instead It seeotten the warning that Xiang Shaolong gave him

Xiang Shaolong could smell the fresh scent on her body after her bath and can’t help but re time when he first met Ji Yanran after her bath He was suddenly jolted awake and at the same time saw that while Du Bi is equally head over heels, Pu Hu has been secretly keeping a watch on him His heart turned icy as he realized that he must not underestimate this flamboyant and experienced businessman

Man’s ambition is never satisfied Lu Buwei excelled in business and became rich and this exactly represents Pu Hu’s nore a beauty in his hands

Du Bi has always harbored unhealthy thoughts towards Ji Yanran, so naturally he is unable to resist the shocking and exotic char

shi+ Sufang thanked Lao Ai quietly and slowly turned the crystal clear drink Not only Lao Ai, all the rest felt as if their souls were being eaten