63Masters sparring
AI Model: gemini-3.0-flash
Chapter 63: A Clash of Experts
Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess threw the chess pieces back into the box and stood up gracefully, gazing at the sky outside.
"Investigate him again, including his every action within the palace. Tell me everything, no matter how small. Use our remaining silver to find more 'ears'."
The maid, Qingqing, looked a bit hesitant. "Princess, your living expenses are already very frugal. If we reduce them further, I'm afraid..."
Zhao Siyi shook her head. "It's fine. One dish and one soup per meal is still much better than what ordinary people eat. As long as my clothes are comfortable, it's enough."
Qingqing sighed and could only follow the Princess's orders.
"By the way, send someone to tell Shen Yulou to come and see me. If he comes, I can go out and move about more freely."
Zhao Siyi was restricted from wandering out for no reason, but she could go out for official business.
If Shen Yulou visited, she could go with him to handle the wedding arrangements. Surely, Emperor Ren wouldn't make things too difficult for her then.
Qingqing nodded. "Yes, Princess."
...
Meanwhile, Shen Yulou was currently researching residences.
There were several vacant houses in the Imperial City. Emperor Ren had bestowed one upon him, and Shen Yulou could choose whichever he liked.
Looking at the houses on the map, Shen Yulou suddenly had the illusion that he was picking a property from a model in a sales office.
The locations of these houses were all mediocre, making it hard to pick the best one. Shen Yulou planned to ask Li Hui to help him choose.
Just as he was about to go find Li Hui, a Palace Maid suddenly approached Shen Yulou and whispered.
"Lord Shen, the Commandery Princess asks you to visit her when you have the time."
Shen Yulou was taken aback for a moment. Just as he was about to ask a question, the Palace Maid had already run away.
The Princess was taking the initiative to invite him?
Shen Yulou pondered for a moment; it wouldn't hurt to go see the Princess.
Although it was an arranged marriage by the Old Emperor, he should at least meet his future wife, right?
Shen Yulou was just worrying about how to approach Minister Hu.
Although he had Consort Qing's handwritten letter, he had, after all, poisoned Hu Chen to death.
If he were to walk into the Hu Family residence so brazenly, he might be hacked to death on the spot.
But with the Princess, it would be different. Shen Yulou could take her with him.
At this thought, Shen Yulou slapped his thigh. This news from the Princess came at just the right time.
Shen Yulou went to a room in the Imperial Heirs Residence and found Song Hu.
At that moment, Song Hu was embroidering. Holding an embroidery needle, he was working on it with gritted teeth.
Shen Yulou said, "Song Hu, come with me."
Song Hu quickly threw the things in his hands onto the table.
Now, as long as he didn't have to embroider, he would do anything.
Embroidering was simply a form of torture for him.
After Song Hu came out, he said warily.
"I'm telling you, don't even think about making me fight for your Hun Kingdom."
Shen Yulou replied, "I'm not a general, what fight? I'm taking you out this time, and your task is to be responsible for my safety."
Song Hu snorted coldly. "You certainly trust me enough. In the entire Hun Kingdom, you're the one I hate most. Heh."
Shen Yulou said, "You'd better think this through. If I die, Emperor Ren will definitely send you straight to the army. If you refuse to serve then, your only end will be death."
"I've bought you a month's time. During this month, you only need to follow me. If Lord Gongsun moves fast enough, after a month, your King might bring money to ransom you."
After Shen Yulou finished speaking, Song Hu frowned. What this guy said seemed to make some sense.
If Shen Yulou were to die now, he would probably be finished as well.
Although Song Hu wasn't very bright, he understood after Shen Yulou's analysis.
"Fine, I'll go with you."
It was just being a bodyguard for Shen Yulou, which didn't count as serving the Hun Kingdom, so it wasn't a betrayal.
Shen Yulou took Song Hu to the Princess's Residence.
Song Hu frowned and whispered.
"Your Hun Kingdom is quite interesting. There are even secret sentries outside the Princess's Residence."
Shen Yulou glanced around and noticed several people behaving abnormally.
Besides the guards at the main gate, there were indeed some secret sentries nearby who seemed to be monitoring the place.
Shen Yulou frowned. It seemed the Princess's situation was indeed not very good.
After the guard at the door announced them, the two entered smoothly.
Entering the Princess's Residence, Shen Yulou was somewhat taken aback.
This Princess's Residence was a bit too shabby.
At first glance, one would think it was a rural courtyard from the eighties.
There were actually some corn and chili peppers hanging on the walls, the courtyard was filled with odds and ends, and a row of green onions was planted at the foot of the wall.
Qingqing came out to greet them and was startled when she saw Song Hu. She had never seen such a strong and powerful man before.
"Lord Shen, the Princess is inside."
Shen Yulou cupped his hands toward Qingqing. This maid was quite beautiful, but her clothes actually had patches on them.
She was a princess's maid, after all; having patches on her clothes was a bit hard to justify, wasn't it?
As Shen Yulou entered the room, the scent of tea wafted toward him.
The massive room was empty, without even a single piece of furniture.
In the very center of the room was a small table, on which a chessboard and a tea set were placed.
Behind the small table sat a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
Her figure was like a slender crescent moon, and her eyes were like autumn waters.
Sitting there, holding a cup of tea, she was as beautiful as a painting.
Even though Shen Yulou had seen countless women in his past life, he had never seen a woman like this.
"Lord Shen is here. Please, have a seat."
Her voice was like tinkling jade, and her lips were like rosy clouds. She was simply stunning.
Shen Yulou came back to his senses and stepped forward to bow.
"Greetings, Commandery Princess."
After saying that, he sat down across from the Princess.
He had been a bit surprised to see patches on the maid Qingqing's clothes earlier.
But now that he saw patches on the Princess's clothes as well, Shen Yulou's mouth twitched.
A grand Commandery Princess—was she really this miserable?
Qingqing said, "Lord Shen, this is our Princess's treasured tea. If it weren't for your visit, she would never have brought it out."
Shen Yulou said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Princess."
He picked up a cup and took a sip. The tea's fragrance was overflowing; it was indeed extraordinary.
In this entire room, only this cup of tea was worthy of the Princess's status; everything else was simply not worth mentioning.
Song Hu, not understanding the situation, stood outside the door and couldn't help but curl his lip. He hadn't expected the life of a Hun Kingdom Princess to be so destitute. It seemed the Hun Kingdom's financial strength wasn't much to speak of either.
Just as Shen Yulou was wondering why the Princess had asked for him, Zhao Siyi suddenly spoke.
"I heard His Majesty rewarded you with five hundred taels of gold last time. Since we are about to become husband and wife, could you give me half of that five hundred taels of gold?"
Shen Yulou:...
Being this direct?
Even the older women on blind dates in modern times aren't as direct as you, are they?
Shen Yulou's entire net worth consisted of those five hundred taels of gold, and it hadn't even been delivered yet.
He hadn't even seen it, and the Princess already wanted half. Even being beautiful shouldn't allow one to be so willful, right?
Zhao Siyi stared into Shen Yulou's eyes, her face showing no sign of guilt.
It was as if asking Shen Yulou for money was perfectly natural.
Shen Yulou thought for a moment and said.
"How does the Princess view premarital sex?"
Zhao Siyi:...
He's also an expert!
When experts clash, they focus on striking the vitals; every move is a killing blow.
Since the Princess was being so direct, there was no need for Shen Yulou to be polite.