The Protagonist Wants to Enter Seclusion? I Turn Around and Launch a Grand Promotion Right Outside His Door [Extra 2]

Uncle Fu's throat moved.

"Does Your Highness intend for him to return to the stage?"

Gu Moran pressed the folding fan under his palm, the fan ribs against his palm, the coolness suppressing the heat in his hand.

The Poetry Platform won, but it cut off one of Ye Qingyun's paths.

In the original book, the person truly rose to prominence not on the poetry stage, but on the martial arts stage.

Gu Moran stared at Shun'an Lane on the map, the scene of the poetry gathering flashing through her mind.

Ye Qingyun's hands were red, as if his blood was rushing upwards.

That's not the kind of method that comes from nurturing.

It's more like a hard push.

Forcing things will come at a price.

Gu Moran called out in his mind.

"System."

[exist.]

"Check whether the Qi circulation route of Ye Qingyun's Bamboo Slip Technique is consistent with that of orthodox martial arts."

[Searching...]

[Bamboo Slip Exercise: Reverse Qi Circulation.]

[Mainstream Military Martial Arts: Following the Meridians and Channels.]

[If both are practiced simultaneously, they can be suppressed and practiced concurrently in the short term, but after more than a month, the risk to the internal energy circulation will increase.]

Gu Moran looked at the last line and tapped her finger twice next to Shun'an Lane.

pretty.

This book is practically an encyclopedia.

In that case, my plan is even more perfect.

He picked up his pen and drew a circle in another spot in the south of the city.

That place was only two streets away from Shun'an Lane, neither too far nor too near.

Being too close can easily arouse suspicion.

It's too far away; Ye Qingyun can't see it.

Two streets, just enough to hang someone.

" Uncle Fu."

"This old servant is here."

"Let Boss Zhao come."

Uncle Fu glanced at the sky outside the window.

"Now?"

Gu Moran put the pen back.

" Ye Qingyun won't wait for me to wake up before he practices his martial arts."

Half an hour later, Boss Zhao entered the side gate of the Prince's Mansion.

The tea was already brewed in the study.

The aroma of tea masked the smell of ink; the windows were closed, and the curtains were drawn.

Boss Zhao disguised himself as a scholar.

He looked through the window first, then through the door, and only after confirming that there were no outsiders did he bow with his hands clasped.

Your Highness.

Gu Moran pointed to the chair.

"Sit."

Boss Zhao sat down, didn't touch the tea, and took out a slip of paper from his sleeve.

"Your Highness, the martial arts school has been investigated."

"Someone bought that restaurant for eighty taels of silver, on a monthly lease, with a deposit of three months' rent and payment one month's rent in advance."

"The person who made the payment was named Zhang Defu, a courier for the Jizhou Chamber of Commerce in the capital. He usually collected mountain goods for the Chamber in the south of the city."

"The money will come from the Chamber of Commerce's accounts."

"The Chamber of Commerce's liaison in Beijing is Chen Zifang, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy."

"Since last December, Chen Zifang has frequently dined at Zhou Wenyuan's residence."

Gu Moran took the note and glanced at it.

Zhou Wenyuan.

Jizhou Chamber of Commerce

Ye Qingyun.

It circled around three times, and it was still the same rope.

"What about the martial arts school?"

"The signboard has been changed; it's now called Shun'an Martial Arts School."

Boss Zhao answered very quickly.

The venue has been cleared out.

"He hasn't consulted any instructors, nor has he taken on any disciples. Currently, only Ye Qingyun is practicing inside. It seems he's afraid of being disturbed."

" Shuhe used to go to East Street every night to buy four meat buns and a pot of soy milk."

"I bought extra coarse salt and three feet of white cloth tonight."

"The white cloth was cut, like something used to wipe sweat during martial arts practice."

Gu Moran looked up.

You even remember the white cloth?

Boss Zhao lowered his hands.

"His Highness instructed me to keep an eye on Shuhe, and I dare not neglect my duty."

Gu Moran placed the note into the candlelight.

The paper edges were blackened, and a burnt smell permeated the aroma of tea.

The firelight flickered twice, reflecting on Boss Zhao's fingers resting on his lap.

Those hands were short and thick, with thick knuckles, the result of years of kneading tea cakes.

In the original storyline, all ten of his fingers were eventually broken off, most of his teeth were knocked out, and one of his eyes was still bleeding.

The interrogator asked where the hidden agents of Prince Yi's Residence were located.

Boss Zhao full of blood, only said that he sold tea and didn't understand the language of important people.

Loyal servants are rare.

Gu Moran watched the note burn to ashes, then withdrew her fingers from the fire. She glanced at Boss Zhao, then at Uncle Fu.

Their fates cannot follow the original story.

" Boss Zhao, do you have connections with retired border troops? They need to be at least seventh-rank martial artists."

Boss Zhao answered immediately.

"Have."

" Liu Laosan from the West City Escort Agency used to be a corporal in the Northern Territory."

"The blacksmith surnamed Sun from the east of the city served in the western border military camp for eight years."

"They all obey you? I need people I can completely trust," Gu Moran said.

"Your Highness, please rest assured, they are from my hometown and have been following me since they were young."

"In a way, their lives also belong to His Highness."

"Fifteen years ago, I led them to Beijing as they fled famine."

"We were starving to death when the Imperial Concubine's carriage happened to pass by. Your Highness was still young at the time, and seeing my pitiful state, you threw down some silver without saying a word and even smiled at me."

"Your Highness shouldn't remember this. Those two skinny monkeys hiding behind me back then were them."

Gu Moran was stunned. Fifteen years ago? When he was five?

Who remembers that? But he didn't leave the palace often when he was young; he probably accompanied his mother to offer incense.

Never mind, none of that matters.

He composed himself and tapped the circle he had drawn.

"It's been too long, I can't remember clearly."

" Boss Zhao."

"The two of them aren't enough; I need three who can teach."

Not the kind of street brawl where you throw punches.

"They must have military martial arts training and be able to teach stance training, fist techniques, and basic sword and spear techniques."

Boss Zhao stared at the circle, his fingertips pressing against his knees.

"No problem, Your Highness, are you also opening a martial arts school?"

"Right."

Gu Moran pushed the pen forward.

"Call it Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School."

Uncle Fu coughed.

"Your Highness, this doesn't sound like a martial arts school."

Gu Moran looked at him.

"Like what?"

Uncle Fu swallowed the second half of his sentence.

Boss Zhao answered quickly.

"It looks like they're recruiting soldiers and buying horses."

Gu Moran looked at the two of them with disdain.

"That's called a fierce tiger?"

Boss Zhao immediately shook his head.

"There are already three Tigers in the city: one Flying Tiger, and one Tiger Within a Tiger."

The third one, which was thriving, just went bankrupt a few days ago.

Gu Moran paused for a moment.

"Are martial arts schools in Beijing really this competitive in their naming?"

He pushed the map towards Boss Zhao.

"Let's call ourselves Dragon Abyss, and open our business here."

"Make the signboard bigger."

"A sentence is displayed below."

Boss Zhao picked up a pen.

"Your Highness, please speak."

"We don't care about background, we only care about aptitude."

Boss Zhao's pen stopped on the paper.

These eight words struck Ye Qingyun squarely in the chest.

Gu Moran noticed his pause and tapped the table with her finger.

"Write."

Boss Zhao put down his pen.

The only sound in the study was the scratching of the pen on the paper.

Gu Moran waited until he finished writing before speaking.

"The first month is free."

"We only accept young people."

"Put the poor first."

"One bowl of meat porridge every day."

Boss Zhao looked up.

This is not about opening a martial arts school.

This is to gather all the poor boys from the south of the city to Ye Qingyun's doorstep for a meat feast.

"Your Highness, there needs to be an explanation for taking people in for free and providing meals. Has a great philanthropist suddenly appeared, opening a martial arts school?"

Boss Zhao put down his pen.

"Those local bullies in the south of the city aren't stupid. They won't ask questions for the first three days, but after five days, someone will definitely come to inquire about the mastermind."

Gu Moran had already made up her mind.

"Tell the outside world that Liu Laosan of the West City Escort Agency is fulfilling a vow."

Boss Zhao was stunned.

"What wish are you fulfilling?"

"He was a corporal when he fought in a war; most of his brothers died, and those who survived all changed careers."

Gu Moran tapped the fan rib against his palm.

"He burned incense every year, wanting to pass on his skills to his fallen brothers, and over the years he finally saved enough money."

Boss Zhao took a breath.

"That sounds believable."

Gu Moran picked up his teacup.

"Those who believe will believe, and those who don't will investigate the escort agency and Liu Laosan."

"But Liu Laosan really did serve in the army. As for whether he burned incense and made vows every year, who can know?"

Boss Zhao realized what was going on.

"Go and tell Liu Laosan."

"Bring an extra jar of wine with you when you say that." Gu Moran took a sip of her herbal tea.

"Those who have served in the military are all loyal and righteous. When it comes to fallen brothers, you don't need to ask them; they'll do it willingly on their own."

Boss Zhao nodded.

"Making a vow is a good excuse; the neighbors in the south of the city fall for that kind of thing the most."

Gu Moran continued, "On the first day of the event, don't pay any attention to Ye Qingyun."

"First, recruit porters, water carriers, and dockworkers. Then, recruit a few proper apprentices from security escort agencies. The poorer they are, the more they can eat, the better."

"The coach should teach them first."

"Solid stance training, straight punches, and proper weapon and spear stances."

"Remember, don't close the door too tightly, especially when distributing porridge."

Upon hearing this, Boss Zhao had already followed.

"The door wasn't closed completely so that Shuhe could see it first. Ye Qingyun is cautious, but Shuhe is different; he loves to listen to gossip and also loves to take advantage."

"Whenever they see something free, meat porridge, or someone offering them a tip, they'll definitely go back and keep nagging Ye Qingyun about it."

"But Your Highness, Ye Qingyun has a quiet place to practice martial arts, so why should he switch martial arts schools?"