Chapter 187 The Beauty Trap?
Zhou Kui sneered, looking at him as if he were an idiot.
"How do we gamble?"
Shen Yulou extended a hand, showing five fingers.
"If I can make Song Hu willingly stay in Da Hun, then you'll give our Imperial Academy five thousand taels of silver for renovations and to improve the children's learning environment, how about it?"
"Five thousand taels?!" Zhou Kui's face instantly turned green.
Five thousand taels!
That was no small sum!
His annual salary wasn't much, he relied on his illicit income, and these five thousand taels would be a major blow.
If he lost this, wouldn't he have to sell his property?
Zhou Kui's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and he stiffened his neck, questioning,
"What about you? What will you bet against This Official?"
Shen Yulou had a calm expression, as if speaking of a trivial matter.
"If I lose, Jinbang Tower is yours."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed.
Jinbang Tower!
That was the most popular restaurant in the capital right now!
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it earned a fortune daily!
As long as he got his hands on Jinbang Tower, let alone five thousand taels, he could earn back fifty thousand taels within a year!
This deal was a huge profit!
His other colleagues showed excited looks, wondering why Shen Yulou wasn't betting with them?
Zhou Kui had just gotten a bargain!
Zhou Kui hardened his heart and made a decision on the spot.
"Good! Since Lord Shen is so confident, This Official will bet with you!"
Emperor Ren on the dragon throne was intrigued, a playful smile on his face, like watching a cricket fight, and said with a laugh,
"Then We shall be your witness."
Immediately after, he gave Shen Yulou a meaningful glance, carrying a subtle warning.
"Minister Shen, don't disappoint Us."
Emperor Ren still owned twenty percent of Jinbang Tower, so of course he didn't want Shen Yulou to lose.
Dog emperor!
Only cares about money!
Shen Yulou ranted wildly in his heart, but on the surface, he respectfully accepted the decree and returned home after court... Princesss Residence, backyard.
"Bang! Bang! Clap!"
The sounds of fists and feet colliding were incessant, accompanied by Song Hu's heavy grunts.
Li Hui's figure darted around Song Hu like a ghost, dazzling the onlookers.
Song Hu had immense brute strength; every punch carried the sound of wind, powerful and heavy, yet he couldn't even touch Li Hui's clothes.
In contrast, Li Hui's every move landed precisely on Song Hu's weaknesses.
After a dozen more moves, Song Hu truly couldn't endure it anymore.
He was kicked in the butt by Li Hui, stumbled, and fell to the ground, lying like a dead dog, panting heavily.
"No more fighting! I surrender..."
Song Hu lay on the ground, bruised and swollen, feeling as if his body had fallen apart.
Li Hui withdrew his stance, calmly returning to the house without even a single gasp.
He poured himself a cup of tea, then looked at Shen Yulou and the Princess, asking,
"Why all of a sudden did you make me train him so harshly?"
Shen Yulou recounted the matter of the Wulin Kingdom Envoy coming to court today.
The faces of the few people in the room grew solemn upon hearing this.
The Princess's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she worried, "Given Song Hu's current situation, if someone really comes from the Wulin Kingdom, I'm afraid... he will go back."
"Indeed,"
Li Hui also nodded, "This fellow pretends not to care, but he has never truly integrated into our Hun Kingdom."
"Then what do you plan to do?" The Princess looked at Shen Yulou.
Shen Yulou smiled mysteriously, took a sip of his tea.
"As things stand, there's only one way."
He slowly uttered three words.
"Honey trap."
"Honey trap?"
Li Hui and the Princess exchanged glances, both seeing utter bewilderment in each other's eyes.
"That won't work, will it?" Li Hui was the first to express disbelief.
"That Song Hu fellow, although he goes to Brothels to see beauties, women don't seem to have much attraction for him."
Shen Yulou remained noncommittal, turning to ask the Princess,
"Has Su Qian returned?"
Su Qian was the one who had previously impersonated the Fake Princess.
She had gone to investigate the matter the Imperial Preceptor spoke of and should have returned these past few days.
The Princess nodded.
"She's back, has completed her mission, and is waiting in the backyard."
Shen Yulou snapped his fingers.
"Perfect, the candidate for the honey trap is already here."
At this, even the Princess couldn't maintain her composure.
"Husband, you're not joking, are you? A honey trap, as the name suggests, you should at least find a beauty!"
Li Hui also frowned.
"Although Su Qian is also quite good-looking, she is, after all, a mother, and not young anymore.
Song Hu doesn't even fancy those fresh young maidens; can she... captivate Song Hu?"
Isn't this just making trouble?
Shen Yulou shook his head, a profound smile on his face.
"You don't understand."
"That's just what you think a honey trap is."
"This time, to deal with Song Hu, we need a high-level approach.
I want to give Song Hu a goddess, a 'white moonlight' he'll never forget in this lifetime!"
He looked at Li Hui and instructed, "Starting today, you will train Song Hu to death every day.
If he's unwilling, you'll use taunts to provoke him, saying he's a weakling.
Being able to spar with an expert like you, even if he gets beaten every day, he'll be happy in his heart."
Then, he said to everyone, "Also, from now on, everyone's attitude towards Song Hu should be cold; don't be too nice."
Although they didn't understand, everyone still nodded.
Afterward, Shen Yulou called in the travel-worn Fake Princess.
He first routinely inquired about the mission's progress.
The Fake Princess respectfully replied, "Reporting to This Official, what the Imperial Preceptor said was true. The location he mentioned indeed hid a large group of children being guarded."
Shen Yulou nodded with satisfaction, pondering in his mind.
He needed to find a way to get all these children into the Imperial Academy.
By then, wouldn't this vast martial arts force have to obediently serve him?
Collecting his thoughts, Shen Yulou looked at the Fake Princess before him.
"Well done. Now, I have a new mission to give you."
He beckoned, signaling the Fake Princess to lean closer.
Shen Yulou whispered detailed instructions into her ear.
The Fake Princess was startled at first, then her pretty face flushed slightly.
Finally, she nodded heavily.
"I guarantee to complete the mission!"
...Song Hu was trained by Li Hui for an entire day.
Although sparring with an expert was exhilarating, he lost truly terribly.
Li Hui was indeed the third on the fengyun ranking... now he was second.
Even though Song Hu had a physical advantage, compared to Li Hui, he had no chance of winning at all.
Qingqing walked past Song Hu, pinching her nose.
"You're too smelly, hurry up and wash, or you'll stink up our Princess later."
Song Hu:... Song Hu opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.
Having been trained by Li Hui all day, how could he not stink? He was covered in sweat and sticky.
Did he really deserve to be so disliked?
Just as Song Hu was about to get up, Su Qian walked over, carrying a basin of water.
She placed it next to Song Hu.
"Lord Song, wash up.