Chapter 37: Twenty million—the Wu family will pay it!
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Meanwhile, Shen Lang followed Zhou Yu to the Zhou residence.
Yet before he even entered, he sensed more than a dozen terrifying auras sweeping over him.
Shen Lang understood at once. The Zhou family had deliberately arranged this show of force to intimidate him.
Their goal was to make him wary and thereby strengthen their bargaining position in the negotiations to come.
But Shen Lang was no greenhorn fresh out of society.
As a seasoned veteran of the political world, he saw the Zhou family’s methods as nothing more than children playing house.
They were hardly worthy of mention.
Indeed, to dispel the Zhou family’s suspicions and let them destroy themselves in their own arrogance, Shen Lang deliberately lowered his stance and asked in a soft voice, “Brother, will your father see me tonight?”
Seeing Shen Lang’s cautious, timid expression, the corners of Zhou Yu’s mouth curled upward.
“That’s hard to say. We’ll have to try.”
“After all, far too many people have sought an audience with my father in the past.”
“Father finds it terribly troublesome.”
“So, Brother Lang, if Father agrees to see you later, get straight to the point and try not to waste his time. Otherwise…”
Zhou Yu stopped there without finishing his sentence.
But anyone could understand what he meant.
He was plainly warning Shen Lang not to harbor unrealistic hopes or anger his father.
Shen Lang obediently nodded, putting on a simple-minded smile. “Yes, yes, of course!”
Soon, Shen Lang followed Zhou Yu through the front courtyard and arrived at the Zhou family’s reception hall.
Zhou Yu glanced at Shen Lang and Nalan Yanran before saying in a solemn tone, “Wait here for a moment. I’ll report your arrival to Father.”
With that, Zhou Yu turned toward the main hall and called respectfully, “Father, Shen Lang and Miss Nalan have arrived.”
After his words fell, not a sound came from inside.
Zhou Yu deliberately looked at Shen Lang with a grave expression. “Father may be cultivating.”
“Why don’t we come back tomorrow?”
As an old hand, how could Shen Lang fail to see that this was the Zhou family’s second attempt to put him in his place?
Their aim was to suppress his pride.
Thus, too lazy to continue acting along with Zhou Yu, Shen Lang immediately clasped his hands and called into the main hall, “This junior, Shen Lang, requests an audience with the Zhou family patriarch!”
“Come in.”
Hearing Zhou Huaian’s voice, Shen Lang smiled at Zhou Yu.
He then took Nalan Yanran by the hand and entered the reception hall.
Zhou Huaian was seated at the head of the hall, his eyes closed as though dozing.
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Shen Lang bowed once more. “This junior pays his respects to Patriarch Zhou.”
“Hmm.”
Zhou Huaian opened his eyes with evident satisfaction. “I have long heard of your great reputation, Lord Shen. Now that I see you in person, I find that you truly are a fine-looking young man.”
“Yet there is something I do not understand. Rather than going to the city lord to collect taxes, why have you come to my Zhou residence so late at night?”
Seeing Zhou Huaian putting on airs, Shen Lang sneered inwardly.
Just wait. That smug old bastard won’t be laughing for long.
On the surface, however, he put on an innocent smile. “Everyone knows that Wu Yong is merely a dog at your side. Even if I asked him for a single spirit stone, he wouldn’t be able to produce one.”
“If I am to complete His Majesty’s assignment, I must rely on Patriarch Zhou!”
“Hahahaha…”
Zhou Huaian laughed heartily, clearly pleased. “No wonder you dared accept His Majesty’s decree seeking worthy men. You really are clever, boy.”
“However, why should my Zhou family help you?”
Seeing that Zhou Huaian was asking for benefits, Shen Lang immediately delivered the offer he had prepared long ago.
“Once I complete the mission, I can help the Zhou family secure two third-rank positions at court. What do you think?”
Hearing the offer, Zhou Huaian, whose true intentions lay elsewhere, gave a cold laugh. “My Zhou family has no interest in official positions within Great Qin!”
“Then what is it that Patriarch Zhou desires?” Shen Lang asked, deliberately turning to Zhou Huaian with a solemn expression.
Zhou Huaian’s amused gaze swept over Shen Lang from head to toe.
“I want to know what you, as a candidate, will obtain after becoming the Divine Firmament Emperor’s disciple.”
“This…”
Shen Lang pretended to hesitate before looking toward Nalan Yanran.
Nalan Yanran understood that it was time for her to take the stage.
She immediately snapped at Shen Lang, “Useless fool. Haven’t I taught you even this little thing?”
“Why are you looking at me?”
“I…”
Shen Lang lowered his head in feigned panic.
Seeing this, Nalan Yanran suddenly seized Shen Lang and pulled him behind her. With an expression of displeasure, she said, “Old Master Zhou, let us dispense with all pretense. My master is on the verge of breaking through and leaving Great Qin.”
“If Shen Lang becomes my master’s personal disciple, then the realm of Great Qin will belong to him in the future!”
“When that time comes, the Zhou family’s standing will surpass even that of the Zhao clan!”
A flicker of astonishment crossed Zhou Huaian’s eyes at her words.
But he soon realized that they had been mistaken all along.
The true strategist behind Great Qin was Nalan Yanran.
Shen Lang was merely her puppet.
Otherwise, how could the infamous wastrel and good-for-nothing have changed so dramatically overnight?
It was obvious that Nalan Yanran had been secretly instructing him.
With this realization, Zhou Huaian looked at Nalan Yanran with a grave expression. “How am I supposed to believe you?”
“Old Master Zhou, you must have already confirmed matters with the Zhao clan. There is no need to continue speaking in riddles here!”
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“Let us be direct. Will you place your bet on Shen Lang? Or, to put it another way, will you support me in becoming the next empress?”
The instant Nalan Yanran said this, the entire Zhou family’s main hall fell deathly silent.
Zhou Yu stared at Nalan Yanran in stunned disbelief.
At that moment, Zhou Huaian became even more certain that his earlier deduction had been correct.
However, as an old fox, Zhou Huaian naturally would not believe her so easily.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes. “You are already the Divine Firmament Emperor’s disciple. It is only right that you should become the emperor.”
“But why put Shen Lang forward?”
Seeing that Zhou Huaian’s question was exactly the same as the one Shen Lang had taught her to expect, Nalan Yanran immediately adopted a cold and aloof bearing.
“Womanhood is the original sin!”
“If my master were a man, would Great Qin still be in such turmoil?”
“Therefore, my master refuses to allow me to become emperor. I had no choice but to choose Shen Lang as my pawn!”
Hearing this explanation, Zhou Huaian nodded subconsciously.
Indeed, the Divine Firmament Emperor’s inability to resolve Great Qin’s internal and external crises was closely related to her gender.
Nearly every major power believed that as long as they caused enough trouble, the Divine Firmament Emperor would eventually compromise to preserve her position.
There was even a possibility that she might enter into a political marriage.
At that point, they would not only win the beauty’s hand, but might even gain Great Qin itself.
Realizing that Nalan Yanran was the true decision-maker, Zhou Huaian saw no reason to continue testing her.
In a solemn tone, he asked, “How many spirit stones do you intend to borrow from our Zhou family?”
“Twenty million.”
“Impossible!”
At that figure, Zhou Huaian immediately shook his head.
Nalan Yanran remained perfectly calm. “Not a single spirit stone less than twenty million.”
“However, to show my sincerity, I can leave the divine artifact bestowed upon me by my master here as collateral.”
“Once I have gathered enough spirit stones, I will redeem it. How does that sound?”
Seeing that Nalan Yanran had finally mentioned the divine artifact, Zhou Huaian forcefully suppressed his excitement and continued shaking his head. “No. It is too much!”
“Then…”
Nalan Yanran was just about to follow the prepared script and continue haggling in order to stall for time.
But before she could finish, a thunderous shout came from outside the door:
“Twenty million? Our Wu family will provide them!”
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