Chapter 137 Beating Up the Ninth Prince
Zhao Lü mumbled the lyrics Shen Yulou had written, savoring them.
He instantly felt that his own writings were truly rubbish compared to Shen Yulou's.
Although he was convinced, he still refused to admit it verbally, stubbornly asking,
"Where did you learn this method of composing lyrics?"
Shen Yulou tossed his brush aside.
"Learn?"
"This Official has thoroughly studied the Four Books and Five Classics, and is full of knowledge; these things come naturally to him.
As for Your Highness, you will likely never be able to write such profound lyrics in this lifetime."
To deal with Zhao Lü, a little goading was necessary.
Although Zhao Lü knew it was goading, he was still provoked.
He slammed the table: "Who says so! This Prince will definitely compete with you!"
"Alright."
Shen Yulou was waiting for that very sentence.
"Since we are competing, then it's perfect. Suyin, the courtesan queen of Drunken Immortal Tower, no one has been able to win her over to this day. Does Your Highness know why?"
At the mention of Suyin, Zhao Lü was somewhat exasperated.
"That woman is impervious to persuasion!
This Prince spent so much money on her, yet she wouldn't even give a smile, only saying she liked talented people.
She recently composed a new tune and is looking for someone to set it to lyrics. Whoever's lyrics satisfy her will become her intimate guest.
This Prince has already written half of his lyrics and was planning to finish them in the next few days to win her over!"
Shen Yulou had Zhao Lü's musicians play the tune and then had Zhao Lü recite the half-finished lyrics he had written.
After listening, Shen Yulou shook his head.
"No, no, it's too vulgar. Your Highness's lyrics, one can tell at a glance, were written by someone who frequents brothels too much."
Zhao Lü:...He picked up a brush and filled in a new set of lyrics on the score: "Love and hate in an instant, raising a cup to the moon, emotions like the heavens, love and hate vast and boundless, asking when you will love..."
After writing, he handed the lyric manuscript to Zhao Lü: "Use this, and I guarantee you'll win over that courtesan queen tonight."
Zhao Lü was half-believing, half-doubting, but he still put on a brave front.
"This Prince still thinks what he wrote is better!"
Although he said this, Zhao Lü still folded the lyrics Shen Yulou had written and tucked them into his pocket.
Shen Yulou didn't expose him. After tonight, Zhao Lü would be thoroughly convinced.
Shen Yulou changed the subject, "Your Highness, where has the Ninth Prince been playing recently?"
"Old Ninth?"
Zhao Lü pouted, "That kid is probably walking his bird in the East Market right now.
Mr. Shen, Old Ninth's temper is much more explosive than This Prince's, he's not easy to provoke. This goading method of yours won't work on him."
"Oh? How is he not easy to provoke?"
Zhao Lü shook his head, "Forget it, I'm too lazy to say. You'll know when you see him."
"Old Shen, take care, I won't see you out. I'm going to continue writing my lyrics."
Shen Yulou was speechless.
No respect for elders.
A teacher for a day is a father for life.
He should at least call him 'father'...Shen Yulou, accompanied by Song Hu, left the Eighth Prince's residence and headed directly for the antique market in the East Market.
The antique market of this era was far less bustling than in later generations.
The streets were sparsely populated, and stalls on both sides displayed items like pottery jars, bronze ware, and jade pendants.
They looked poorly made and of low quality; if placed in a two-dollar store in later generations, no one would buy them.
After all, they were all purely handmade items, incomparable to those machine-produced goods of later generations.
However, one thing was certain: there were fewer fakes, and they were easy to identify.
From a modern perspective, one would generally not be cheated here.
Unless it was by those top-tier craftsmen specializing in counterfeiting, though such craftsmen were also relatively rare.
Shen Yulou had no interest in these trinkets; he was just here to find the Ninth Prince.
He led Song Hu towards the busiest part of the street.
He saw a crowd gathered around a stall, and intense arguing could be heard from within.
Shen Yulou squeezed in and saw a young man in brocade clothes, holding a dog that was already stone-dead, spitting at a vendor.
"Your mother's! You scoundrel merchant! I just bought this dog from you last night, and it died this morning! Pay up!"
This young man was none other than the Ninth Prince, Ninth Imperial Prince.
The vendor had a mournful face, almost kneeling.
"Young Master Zhao, I told you when I sold it that this dog is timid and cannot be kept with other dogs.
Look at these teeth marks on its neck, it was clearly bitten to death by another animal!"
The Ninth Prince had a notorious reputation in this area, and the surrounding people dared not speak out.
Yesterday, they had heard this Ninth Prince mention that he kept a young wolf at home.
The teeth marks on the dog's neck today indicated that he had gone back and put the wolf and dog together to fight, otherwise, how could a perfectly fine dog die so easily?
The Ninth Prince roared, "This dog of yours clearly died of illness! Hurry up and pay, or don't blame this Young Master for being impolite!"
As he spoke, several guards surrounded them, and the peddler trembled with fear.
With a mournful face, he took out silver from his Huai and was about to pay.
Although the other party was unreasonable, he couldn't afford to offend him.
Those who frequented this circle knew that this Young Master Zhao was actually the current Ninth Prince.
Although he was a wayward one, who dared to provoke a Prince?
"Wait!"
Shen Yulou suddenly shouted, then walked in with Song Hu.
"Boss, you don't need to pay for this dog. You can go."
The Ninth Prince was furious.
"What are you?"
Shen Yulou gave him a cold glance.
"Disrespectful to your teacher. Song Hu, hold him down."
At his command, Song Hu seized the Ninth Prince.
Several guards tried to attack Song Hu, but Song Hu kicked them all away, one by one.
The Ninth Prince was pressed onto the table, and Shen Yulou pulled down his pants with one swift motion.
The Ninth Prince was furious.
"Bastard! This Prince is the Ninth Prince, how dare you treat me like this?!"
Shen Yulou sneered, "It is precisely the Ninth Prince who is being beaten! This Official is the Imperial Tutor personally appointed by the Emperor, Shen Yulou. Do you accept my discipline?"
"I accept your mother!"
"You tiny official, if you dare touch a single hair on my head, I'll exterminate your entire clan!"
Shen Yulou grabbed his hair, pulled hard, and a lock of hair came off, making the Ninth Prince scream in pain.
"I touched your hair. What can you do?"
"I'll f*** your mom..."
Shen Yulou picked up a stick from the side and fiercely struck the Ninth Prince's buttocks.
"Still daring to curse me?"
"Ah!!"
The Ninth Prince shrieked.
It wasn't just pain, but extreme humiliation.
A dignified Prince, publicly having his butt beaten, and with his pants down no less—it was utterly disgraceful.
Shen Yulou took out the imperial edict, held it high, and said to the surrounding commoners,
"This Official is the Imperial Tutor personally appointed by the Emperor. Today, by imperial command, I am instructing the Ninth Prince. All idlers, quickly step back!"
Seeing the imperial edict, the Ninth Prince's guards immediately dared not move.
And the commoners also pointed and whispered.
Beating a Prince in the street—this was truly unprecedented.
But it was truly satisfying! The Ninth Prince was like a bully in this area.
Finally, someone was dealing with him. Heaven has eyes!
The Ninth Prince howled as he was beaten, intimately greeting Shen Yulou's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Shen Yulou also showed no mercy, striking him again and again until his skin was torn and bleeding.
"I submit, I submit! Stop hitting me!"
"Mr. Shen! Lord Shen! Father Shen! I beg you!