Chapter 451: Chapter 451. A Major Crime of Extermination
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation n)(0velB1n
Xiao Zeyu immediately recovered his severe expression and wiped his hands with a towel. The person who came in was the boss. Behind the boss were three or four waiters carrying large trays with exquisite refreshments.
“Young Master Xiao, this is our shop’s signature Xiaolongbao. The fillings are high-quality prawns and pork forelegs. This is white sugar cake, sweet but not greasy. This is...”
Whenever the boss placed a plate of refreshments on the table, he would introduce them. He wanted to praise his refreshments to the heavens so that he could talk more with Young Master Xiao.
Young Master Xiao was a handsome, extremely noble man with an extraordinary bearing. Now that the world was in a mess, Young Master Xiao might become the ruler of a country in the future. If he were to build a good relationship with him and give him a royal plaque, wouldn’t he be rich?
“Thank you, Boss.”
Xiao Zeyu smiled and thanked him. He could already see Su Qing’s impatience, so he said to the boss,
“Just leave it here. We still have something to discuss!”
His words were very tactful. The waiter understood immediately and immediately nodded and bowed with a smile. Before leaving, he asked Xiao Zeyu expectantly,
“Young Master Xiao, can I trouble you to bring a plaque to the store later?”
“No problem.”
Xiao Zeyu readily agreed. Su Qing looked up at the boss. He was brilliant, knowing to ask for the words in advance. If Xiao Zeyu became the emperor, he would personally write this plaque. If Xiao Zeyu became a prisoner, he could hide the plaque and pretend nothing had happened.
Scholars, farmers, merchants, and businesspeople were at the bottom. It was too slippery and unpleasant.
“Qing’er, 1 remember you like eating sweet things. Try the white sugar cake.”
Xiao Zeyu remembered all of Su Qing’s preferences. He cared about her. He picked up a piece of soft and translucent white sugar cake and placed it in Su Qing’s bowl.
“Alright.”
Su Qing smiled and agreed. Anyone would be happy to be remembered by others. She also picked up a small steamed bun for Xiao Zeyu,
“You like meat, eat more.”
After being fed by Su Qing, Xiao Zeyu’s smile was so broad that it reached his ears. He was smiling very happily.
The table was full of refreshments, and they ate it clean. It was apparent how hungry they were.
“Do the soldiers have food to eat?”
Su Qing still remembered those soldiers. She had gone through life and death with them and could not go hungry.
“I’ve already ordered people to cook and buy meat buns to eat and drink.”
Xiao Zeyu replied while asking the boss to buy 200 meat buns. Their shop was filled with exquisite refreshments that looked pleasing to the eye, but they were not filling.
Xiao Zeyu gave the boss ten taels of silver, along with the refreshments he and Su Qing had just eaten. The boss said that he didn’t want money,
“It’s my honor to have Young Master Xiao come to my restaurant for a meal. I only ask Young Master Xiao for a set of calligraphy.”
“Take it. I’ll write the words for you.”
Xiao Zeyu wanted to show that he loved the people like his children. Naturally, he couldn’t give the people the image of a greedy person. Wouldn’t that be the same as the Wan Family Army?
“Alright then!”
The boss was very emotional. Young Master Xiao was just like General Xiao Heng back then. Unlike those imperial court officials who wanted to blow up the people, he did not take a single needle or thread from the masses.
The boss had already prepared a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Xiao Heng asked the boss for the name of the plaque. He picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. He focused his energy and wrote the name on the plaque in one go. He signed his name and the date.
Su Qing stood at the side and watched Xiao Zeyu write. His words were like a horse soaring into the air and a dragon flying into the sky. The strokes were unrestrained and flowing like water.
This was the first time she had watched Xiao Zeyu write so calmly. Most of the time, she had seen him draw his sword. She hadn’t expected his handwriting to be so elegant and authoritative, just like him.
“Good calligraphy, good calligraphy!”
The customers in the teahouse gathered around to watch Xiao Zeyu write. Seeing this unrestrained calligraphy, everyone cheered. Among them, a man in his thirties looked at Xiao Zeyu with shining eyes.
This person had the temperament of a scholar. His clothes were very shabby. The robe on his body was patched and washed very clean. His eyes were filled with lofty aspirations. His body was as straight as a pine and cypress. He was not as weak as an ordinary scholar.
“It just so happens that everyone is here. I’m preparing to hold a winter examination. Those who can enter the top three and have great talent will be entrusted with important tasks. I hope that everyone will spread the news. Later, the government office will issue a notice. I hope those with talent and those loyal to the people will participate in the winter examination.”
Xiao Zeyu cleared his throat and announced he would hold a winter examination to select the best talents.
The eyes of the man in his thirties instantly lit up. He looked at Xiao Zeyu with excitement. He had been waiting for this opportunity for so many years.
“I’ll participate.”
He did not hesitate to raise his hand to sign up. Xiao Zeyu smiled at him.
“What’s your name?”
By looking at this person’s appearance and bearing, Xiao Zeyu was very fond of him. Anyone with a lofty character could tell from his eyes that this person had an extraordinary bearing. Although he was dressed shabbily, his bearing was not something ordinary people could have.
“I am Chen Qingzhou.”
Chen Qingzhou clasped his hands and bowed respectfully. Xiao Zeyu nodded, “I look forward to your good results.”
“I will not disappoint you.”
Chen Qingzhou answered confidently. Su Qing had been watching him from the side. Chen Qingzhou’s eyes were firm and determined. He was neither servile nor overbearing. He was a talent.
The teahouse owner ordered the waiter to go out and buy 200 buns. The waiter returned, carrying two large oil paper bags in each hand. Panting, he said to Xiao Zeyu,
“Young Master, the buns you ordered.”
“Thank you.”
Xiao Zeyu took the bun and left with Su Qing. The customers and the owner of the teahouse kept thanking him. Chen Qingzhou stood in the crowd, his eyes full of pride and ambition.
“How dare Young Master Xiao conduct the imperial court’s exam?”
“Are they rebelling?”
As soon as Xiao Zeyu left, some people in the teahouse began to whisper. Cowardly scholars wouldn’t dare to participate in the examination. Wouldn’t that be equivalent to openly opposing the imperial court? He had directly become a traitor.
“Haven’t you all been disappointed enough in the imperial court? The current emperor is a usurper and a traitor. Everyone should destroy him.”
Chen Qingzhou stood up when he heard everyone’s discussion and said righteously. The teahouse owner heard Chen Qingzhou’s impassioned speech and hurriedly came over to dissuade him,
“Scholar Chen, don’t talk about politics.”
Oh my god! Could it be that Young Master Xiao wanted to rebel? If that was the case, then his inscription could not be left.
The boss quietly ordered the waiter to take the plaque that Xiao Zeyu had just endorsed to the fire room and burn it. Chen Qing Zhou stood up immediately when he heard that.
“You were the one who begged Young Master Xiao to help you with the inscription, and now you are so cowardly that you destroyed this calligraphy. This is the behavior of a vile person. Give it to me if you don’t dare to take it.”
This piece of calligraphy became a hot potato in the hands of the boss. Seeing that Chen Qingzhou wanted him to give it to him immediately, he even instructed,
“Young Master Chen, 1 advise you not to participate in the winter examination. If the Imperial Court finds out, your entire family will be executed..”
