Chapter 208 That old geezer is really wicked
Pfft—
Shen Yulou, inside the carriage, nearly spat out a mouthful of tea.
Did you hear that? Is that what a human says?
Is this the world of a top student?
Just casually studying, and he's the best in the country, with a tone full of Versailles.
A poor student like Shen Yulou, who works himself to death every day, has only made slight progress in Lightness Skill.
Yet, Sister-in-law, just by casually studying, became a top expert.
Comparing people truly makes one furious!
Shen Yulou poked his head out, a fawning smile on his face.
"Sister-in-law, the journey is long, and we're just idle. Why don't you teach me a few moves with hidden weapons?"
"Alright."
Madam Li was concise, "If you want to practice hidden weapons, the most basic thing is to practice finger strength. Start by flicking date pits."
Shen Yulou nodded, preparing to get some dates.
As the carriage passed a bustling market street, there happened to be a peddler selling dates by the roadside.
Shen Yulou looked closely and was amused.
This peddler was none other than Old Eighth Hu, who had sent his entire family to be beheaded!
That old fellow had been imprisoned by the commander for several months, suffering greatly.
He had lost a lot of weight, now looking like a shriveled monkey, and was weakly shouting to sell dates.
What a narrow road for enemies to meet.
Shen Yulou motioned for Madam Li to stop the carriage, and he walked over himself.
"Fellow countryman, do you still recognize me?"
Old Eighth Hu looked up, and when he saw Shen Yulou's half-smiling face, his soul nearly flew out of him.
Shen Yulou, before him, was dressed in luxurious clothes, with an extraordinary demeanor, clearly a high official or noble, not someone common folk could offend.
Moreover, he had long heard that Shen Yulou was now a third-rank official of the imperial court, the steward of the Imperial Academy, and a teacher to princes and princesses!
He was a truly powerful figure!
It's over! It's BBQ!
He had sent the man's entire family to prison, nearly getting them beheaded.
Now that enemies meet, their eyes are particularly red. His own small life would probably end here today.
Thud!
Old Eighth Hu's legs gave out, and he directly knelt on the ground, kowtowing like pounding garlic.
"Lord Shen... Lord Shen! This humble one deserves to die! Please, Lord, spare this humble one's dog life!"
Shen Yulou looked at his cowardly appearance, but a thought stirred in his heart.
This trip to Yan State was clearly a banquet at Hong Gate, fraught with danger.
Although Old Eighth Hu was not a good person, at a critical moment, he would be excellent as a pawn to scout the way or a scapegoat.
"Alright, stop kowtowing."
Shen Yulou kicked him up.
"Move all your dates onto This Official's carriage. And you, come with This Official as well."
"Go do an errand. If you do it well, I'll spare your life."
Old Eighth Hu was stunned but dared not utter a single word of dissent. With a mournful face, he carried a basket of dates and followed behind.
Once in the carriage, Shen Yulou casually threw out a set of his spare clothes from his satchel.
"Change into these."
Inside the carriage, Zhao Qi looked at the smelly peddler and pinched her nose in disgust.
"Sir, why did you bring such a character up here?"
"Just in case."
Shen Yulou winked at her, then turned, his gaze cold as he stared at Old Eighth Hu.
He warned him, enunciating each word.
"Old Eighth Hu, I'm telling you, no one sitting in this carriage is an ordinary person."
"This one."
He pointed at Zhao Qi, "is Her Royal Highness, the Seventh Princess of my Great Hun."
Old Eighth Hu had just finished changing clothes, his legs went soft, and he knelt again, kowtowing to Zhao Qi with loud thumps.
"This humble one greets Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
Shen Yulou then lifted the curtain and pointed to Madam Li, who was driving the carriage outside, saying.
"The Sister-in-law driving the carriage outside is the number one expert on the fengyun ranking. Killing people is as easy as drinking tea and eating meals, effortless."
As soon as his words fell.
A whoosh was heard.
Madam Li, who was concentrating on driving, didn't even turn her head. She casually picked up a pebble and flicked it with her jade-like finger.
In mid-air, a sparrow flying by didn't even have time to utter a cry before it fell straight down.
It landed with a thud on the carriage roof, utterly dead.
"..."
Damn it!
He's trying to scare me!
Old Eighth Hu's eyes nearly popped out. He trembled like a sieve, and a warm current uncontrollably rushed downwards.
He nearly wet his pants!
Shen Yulou watched his reaction with satisfaction, patted his face, and smiled like a devil.
"See? So, you'd best be honest and don't entertain any crooked thoughts.
Otherwise, without the Princess saying a word, that Sister-in-law will just move a finger, and you'll have an extra hole in your head."
"Understand?"
How could Old Eighth Hu dare to say half a word of dissent? He shook his head like a rattle-drum, almost breaking his neck.
"I wouldn't dare! This humble one would never dare again!"
He now looked at Shen Yulou as if a little devil had met the King of Hell.
That place, the imperial prison, was dark and damp, with rats bigger than heads.
Life there was like years, becoming a lifelong psychological trauma for him.
Now, as long as he could live, let alone go on an errand with Shen Yulou, even entering the palace to become a eunuch, he wouldn't bat an eyelid.
Looking at Old Eighth Hu after he changed into the luxurious clothes, Shen Yulou said.
"From today onwards, you are Shen Yulou, Lord Shen.
Remember, if anyone asks, you stand tall and show the same spirit you had when you reported me back then.
If you're exposed..."
Shen Yulou didn't finish, merely glancing meaningfully outside the carriage curtain.
Old Eighth Hu followed his gaze and saw Madam Li crack her whip.
The whip precisely killed a fly.
He shivered, instantly feeling a chill down his neck, as if it had already been twisted off by that delicate jade hand.
He quickly nodded and bowed, then straightened his already hunched back and said, "Yes, yes... This humble one... no, This Official understands!"
...The carriage rumbled along for an entire day.
Shen Yulou even felt a bit carsick.
He used to think carsickness was due to the smell of gasoline.
Now, he realized it had nothing to do with gasoline.
As the sun was about to set, an inn finally appeared ahead.
Before getting out, Shen Yulou leaned close to Qingqing and lowered his voice.
"Qingqing, go, give the Waiter a few taels of silver. Later, if the Princess asks, just say there are only two rooms left."
Qingqing:...This trick is so familiar!
Her big, round eyes glared fiercely at Shen Yulou.
The old man is very bad!
He used to coax her into a room, wanting to mess around all night, but now he wouldn't even do a hat trick.
Scumbag!
She was fooled by this trick back then!
History always repeats itself in surprisingly similar ways!
Qingqing grumbled under her breath, annoyed.
"Hmph, when we get back, I'll definitely tell the Princess!"
"Don't worry,"
Shen Yulou smiled faintly, leaned into her ear, and said in an even softer voice.
"This master, I will definitely use good things to thoroughly block that little mouth of yours that loves to tell tales."
"You!"
Qingqing's face instantly turned red, from her cheeks all the way to her earlobes.
She was experienced enough to quickly understand the suggestive meaning in his words.
Both shy and angry, she lightly spat at Shen Yulou.
"Pah! Master is truly shameless!"
Though she cursed him, her watery eyes clearly held a hint of playful indignation.
The group entered the inn, and Qingqing, as instructed, went to negotiate with the Waiter.
Soon after, the Waiter came over with a professional fake smile, rubbing his hands, and said with a face full of apology.
"Honored guests, what a coincidence, our inn is full today. There are only two superior rooms left."