TRWSB – Chapter 140 The Intrigue of the Nobility

Yi Fan’s Residence

“Young master, are you leaving in such a hurry?” Mu Tingxuan asked.

Yi Fan nodded. “Yes, I am.”

Mu Tingxuan frowned deeply. “The ruler is too much. This isn’t grace; it’s outright malice.”

Yi Fan shook his head. “Perhaps it’s because I’ve made him uneasy. From now on, we must act more discreetly.”

Mu Tingxuan nodded. “You’re right.”

The news that Qi Shaorong had been appointed as the lord of the Blue Sea Plains spread rapidly.

Zhuang Renquan looked at Zhuang Hao. “Are you accompanying Qi Shaorong to his new post?”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Yes, the place is too dangerous. I can’t rest easy.”

Zhuang Renquan smiled knowingly. “I figured as much.”

“The ruler went too far this time.”

Zhuang Renquan chuckled. “The ruler is wary of Qi Shaorong, but he’s also wary of you.”

Zhuang Hao lowered his head, a shadow crossing his eyes.

Zhuang Renquan added, “You don’t need to worry too much. For now, the ruler likely won’t go overboard.”

When they returned to Qi Shaorong’s manor, they saw Qi Yao storming out, clearly angry.

“What was your father doing here?”

Qi Shaorong turned back. “He came to chat about family matters.”

“Family matters?”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “He was subtle, but he essentially suggested that if I were to die in the Blue Sea Plains, I should arrange my affairs in advance.”

Zhuang Hao frowned. “Qi Yao is truly outrageous.”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “I don’t think so. His concerns are valid. The mortality rate for lords in that region is alarmingly high. I told him I’d already arranged everything for my passing. I even said my subordinates would inherit everything. He called me ungrateful and stormed off.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

“Don’t let it bother you,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaorong smiled. “I won’t.”

After handling his affairs, Qi Shaorong left the capital.

Shen Yuan sighed as he rested his chin on his hand. “Zhuang Hao has gone off with Qi Shaorong again.”

Tang Tianying looked at Shen Yuan. “Isn’t that a good thing? You used to say that once Zhuang Hao left the capital, it’d be your time to shine.”

Shen Yuan: “…”

“The ruler actually exiled Qi Shaorong to the Blue Sea Plains,” Shen Yuan said, visibly upset.

Tang Tianying forced a smile. “I didn’t expect my father to make that decision either.”

It was clear the ruler was wary of Qi Shaorong. Despite his estrangement from his family, Qi Shaorong was still part of the influential Qi family. With his abilities, he could easily claim the position of family head. Yi Fan, too, was completely loyal to Qi Shaorong.

Even Zhuang Hao, a future heir, followed Qi Shaorong’s lead.

If Qi Shaorong so desired, he could control three of the four major families in the capital with ease.

Shen Yuan scratched his head. “While Qi Shaorong’s defiance regarding the Fengyuan matter was wrong… Never mind.”

Tang Tianying chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

“Still, when I bid farewell to Qi Shaorong today, he seemed to be in good spirits,” Shen Yuan added.

Tang Tianying: “…”

Two carriages traveled along the road.

A raspy singing voice echoed, grating on Zhuang Hao’s ears.

“Shaorong, Bi Liuyun has been singing for hours. Doesn’t he need a break?”

“Liuyun loves singing, especially since we’re heading to the Blue Sea Plains. It’s said that mermaids there are excellent singers. Liuyun is practicing to match them.”

“Some things depend on talent. Effort alone won’t suffice,” Zhuang Hao muttered, rubbing his tormented ears.

Qi Shaorong glanced at him and frowned. “Ah Hao, you’d better not say that in front of Liuyun. If he gets upset, he’ll leave his carriage and squeeze into ours.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Taking a deep breath, Zhuang Hao remarked, “Bi Liuyun’s skill with the zither is unparalleled, so many assume his singing is just as extraordinary. It’s said that he refuses to sing, even when offered a fortune. Rumor has it that his songs are reserved for someone he admires, and only they can hear him sing.”

Qi Shaorong widened his eyes in surprise. “I’ve never heard such rumors! Liuyun never mentioned this.”

Zhuang Hao smirked. “I doubt even he knows about it.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

“Some truths,” Zhuang Hao mused, “are better left unsaid.”

Once, people believed Bi Liuyun viewed money as worthless. Now, it seems… well, not quite.

The carriage came to a halt. Qi Shaorong looked at the scenery outside and said, “Looks like we’ll have to camp out in the wild again tonight.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “I’ll go hunt for some game.”

Qi Shaorong nodded as well. “I’ll go with you.”

Zhuang Hao looked at Qi Shaorong in surprise. “You’re coming with me?”

From what Zhuang Hao knew, Qi Shaorong was notorious for being lazy. On previous hunting trips, Qi Shaorong would always stay behind, avoiding any hard work.

Before Zhuang Hao could respond, Bi Liuyun approached them. “Young Master, I think I’ve improved! Would you like to hear me sing and give me your feedback?”

Qi Shaorong quickly grabbed Zhuang Hao’s arm and said, “I’m going with Zhuang Hao to gather ingredients.”

Bi Liuyun glanced at Zhuang Hao and said, “Why not let Young Master Zhuang go alone? Why trouble yourself, Young Master?”

Without hesitation, Qi Shaorong shook his head. “No, he doesn’t know what I like to eat!”

Bi Liuyun sighed in disappointment and nodded. “Alright then.”

Zhuang Hao, who had been pleased with Qi Shaorong’s apparent change of heart, suddenly realized the real reason for Qi Shaorong’s enthusiasm. Even so, Zhuang Hao felt somewhat happy.

Qi Heng watched Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao leave, resignedly carrying a bundle of firewood to prepare a campfire.

Bi Liuyun gazed in the direction they had gone and curiously asked, “Ah Heng, since when did the Young Master and Zhuang Hao get along so well? They’re even going to gather food together.”

Qi Heng glanced at Bi Liuyun and thought to himself, Their relationship wouldn’t have improved this much if it weren’t for you!

Tilting his head, Qi Heng said, “I don’t know. By the way, what kind of life do sea tribes lead in the ocean?”

Bi Liuyun rolled his eyes. “Life in the ocean is boring! There’s no cooked food, and it’s just fish, fish, and more fish. It’s dull.”

Qi Heng looked at Bi Liuyun. “Liuyun, have you ever lived in the ocean?”

“Nope!” Bi Liuyun answered firmly.

Qi Heng gave him a skeptical look. “Really?”

Bi Liuyun nodded earnestly. “Of course! I can’t even swim.”

After trekking for over half a month, Qi Shaorong’s group finally reached the Azure Plains.

Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao changed into simpler attire, intending to scout the area first.

Qi Shaorong showed off his outfit to Bi Liuyun. “Liuyun, how do I look?”

“Gaudy, outdated, and shabby… but it’s perfect,” Bi Liuyun replied.

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Walking into the Azure Plains, Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao discovered that the sea tribes and humans were holding a quarterly exchange fair.

Originally, Qi Shaorong had thought the Azure Plains would be desolate, but to his surprise, it was bustling with activity.

The sea tribes offered materials highly sought after by humans, and humans in turn provided goods valuable to the sea tribes. The exchange fair had naturally become a tradition.

On the beach, sea tribes like the Spiral Clan, Crab Clan, and Shell Clan had set up stalls.

The sea tribes’ stalls displayed pearls, corals, and sea gems, while human stalls featured ceramics, scrolls, and food items.

Many sea tribes and humans moved between the stalls, selecting items to trade.

Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao, having altered their appearances, wandered through the exchange fair, astonished by what they saw.

“Hey, it seems your ruler sent another person to be the lord here! I hear he’s just a pretty boy,” a crab-shell-wearing sea tribe member said to a human customer.

“I wonder what kind of person this lord is. The last one tried to capture mermaids to sell—what a death wish,” a Shell Clan man added.

Mermaids were renowned for their beauty and melodious voices, making them highly sought after by human nobles. However, as the royal family of the sea tribes, mermaids were rare and protected. On the black market, their value was astronomical.

“I heard this time, the lord is the owner of the Allure Cosmetics Shop,” someone said.

“Really? The products from Allure Cosmetics are great! Many sea tribe beauties use them, but they’re not waterproof. To use them underwater, you need a water magic barrier or have to float on the surface. It’s so inconvenient,” a Spiral Clan merchant commented.

Listening to the exchanges between the sea tribes and humans, Qi Shaorong felt he had gained new insights.

He began to consider the possibilities. If I establish myself here, I could open an Allure Cosmetics branch. Who knew my products were popular even among the sea tribes? But if I want to market them to sea tribes, I’ll need to develop waterproof cosmetics. That sounds challenging.

“What are you thinking about?” Zhuang Hao asked, tilting his head.

“I’m wondering how to make cosmetics waterproof,” Qi Shaorong replied.

“Just inscribe a water-repelling array on the products,” Zhuang Hao suggested.

Qi Shaorong turned to him in amazement. “You’re brilliant!”

Zhuang Hao smiled smugly. “It’s nothing.”