Even though Zhou Zeli was already drunk, the sudden appearance of another living person opposite him made him instinctively ask a single word:
“Who?”
The newcomer pulled his hood further up, revealing a face that, though lined around the eyes, was still handsome.
And that face bore a four-to-five-tenths resemblance to Zhou Zeli!
“Your eyebrows and your mother’s are exactly alike. Just looking at this face, this king can be sure you are the child born to me and Wanqing.”
“This king?
Who exactly are you?”
Although Zhou Zeli’s head was muddled from excessive drinking, he still possessed basic judgment.
Anyone who referred to themselves as ‘this king’ must have an unusual identity.
But which prince would be bored enough to condescend to deal with him, a penniless scholar with no fame or fortune?
As Zhou Zeli squinted with effort, trying to see more clearly, the newcomer introduced himself:
“This king is King Wucheng, Xia Yingze.
And also, your biological father.”
“Biological father?”
Zhou Zeli maintained the posture of holding his wine cup, his eyes blank.
“That’s right. Your mother, Qian Wanqing, was the sole daughter of Qian Baiwan, the richest man in Great Xia. We met at a banquet, and affection grew, leading her to pledge herself to me.
But just as I was preparing to marry your mother, I was drawn by my subordinates into the struggle for the throne with the previous Emperor, and was ultimately forced to swear never to marry again in this life.
However, your mother was already pregnant then. To avoid implicating her, I had to send word for her to leave the capital as soon as possible.
After giving birth to you, your mother returned to her hometown with your maternal grandfather, Qian Baiwan.
Who would have thought that the Qian family mansion would catch fire, leaving no one from the Qian family unscathed?
This king also sent people to investigate multiple times, but the results were always the same.
It wasn’t until recently, when you emerged as a popular candidate for the top scholar in this imperial examination, that you caught this king’s attention.
Only then did this king realize that you were blessed with great fortune and, with the help of the Zhou family, had actually survived that inferno!”
By the end, King Wucheng’s voice was a little choked.
Zhou Zeli, on the other side, quietly listened to the entire sequence of events. Still drunk, he opened his mouth without thinking to comment:
“So, to have the capital to contend for the throne with the late Emperor, you seduced the daughter of Great Xia’s richest man at the time, who is my mother.
After deceiving her heart and body, you casually found an excuse to send her away.
There’s a term for that…
Scumbag!
Yes, the Master once said that men who don’t offer sincere affection for affection, and who deceive women’s feelings, are called scumbags!”
King Wu · Scumbag · Cheng:…
After indignantly lecturing, Zhou Zeli slumped onto the table like a deflated ball, and muttered:
“But I’m not a scumbag at all. I sincerely like Miss Xu, but why won’t she give me a chance?
Because I’m a poor scholar with no power or influence?
Right, you said who you were just now?”
“King Wucheng.”
“King Wucheng?
Don’t tell me you’re the King Wucheng who the Master said is full of bad intentions and never says anything good?
*Hiccup*—”
Zhou Zeli let out a drunken hiccup, sat up unsteadily, and looked the person opposite him over again, then smacked his lips:
“Tsk, you look decent, but indeed you don’t look like a good person!
My mother’s judgment was really poor to fall for you.
It’s different for Miss Xu, though. She definitely won’t be deceived by your appearance or honeyed words.
Unfortunately, fate does not allow me and her to be together.”
…
King Wucheng, choosing not to bicker with a drunkard, took several deep breaths before patiently and persuasively saying:
“The Miss Xu you speak of, is she the daughter of Xu Changling, Xu Sijun?”
“You know Miss Xu too?!
Oh, right. She’s so outstanding, the top scholar, the first female top scholar in Great Xia. How could anyone not know her?”
King Wucheng, unable to listen any longer, couldn’t help but scoff:
“Isn’t it just a woman? Must you be so dejected?
You are this king’s son, destined for great things.
Then, not just one Xu Sijun, but Feng Sijun, Cheng Sijun, all of them would be yours for the asking!”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
King Wucheng patted his chest and guaranteed:
“Li, you are this king’s only son. All the foundation this king has built will be handed over to you. Therefore, this king will by no means lie to you.”
Zhou Zeli tilted his head and thought, “That’s right. I have nothing, except this life, so there’s no reason for a distinguished prince to stoop to deceive me.
What do you need me to do then?”
“Li, you don’t need to do anything. Just stay by this king’s side and study the lessons this king assigns you.
This king guarantees you that from now on, wealth and status, beautiful women and fertile fields, whatever you desire, this king will give you, including that Xu Sijun you yearn for.”
Zhou Zeli directly picked up the wine pot and drank the remaining half pot of wine.
His hazy gaze fixed on the empty wine pot on the table for a long time, then he slowly nodded:
“Alright, I promise you.”
“Wonderful! This king knew Li would not disappoint this king!”
Reunited with his son, King Wucheng was excited and wanted to grasp Zhou Zeli’s hand, but the latter dodged him.
King Wucheng, feeling his action was perhaps too abrupt and a bit petty, lamented in his heart that he was indeed getting old, no longer able to hide his emotions. He then recalled when he first met Qian Wanqing, she had also kept her distance from him…
At the same time.
Lin Qingge and the other two, having left the wine shop, did not return to the Lin residence but went to Renji Hall to see Lian Chengyi.
Before even entering Renji Hall, Leng Ningyue’s eyes suddenly turned cold.
Recalling Lu Huaiying’s previous words, Lin Qingge guessed that Leng Ningyue had detected hidden experts nearby.
“There are bugs. Shall I eliminate them?”
Hearing Leng Ningyue’s casual tone, Lin Qingge, who felt the former was becoming more and more genuine recently, twitched her lips hard, then hastily shook her head:
“Madam, today is a good day for the imperial examination results to be announced. It’s not suitable for killing. Let’s go in and see the patient!”
After speaking, she led the person inside Renji Hall.
However, as soon as she stepped into Renji Hall, the pleasant male voice of Murong Bai drifted over:
“Oh, isn’t this the Master.
I heard from Qin Han that you’ve been assigned many more tasks due to your persistent efforts on this trip.
So, I’d trouble the Master to settle the payment for Qin Han examining those corpses.”
“Coroner Murong, because those cases all occurred within Chengtian Prefecture, they are not under my jurisdiction. If you want the autopsy fees, you should go to the Prefect of Chengtian.
However, the position of Prefect of Chengtian is currently vacant, so Coroner Murong, you might have to wait a while.”
Murong Bai rolled his eyes ungracefully upon hearing this:
“Master, you are eloquent. I concede defeat.
However, there is one matter on which I need your guidance.”