You'd Really Do Anything for Money!

Zhou Wanwan looked at Gu Sinian with a smile; this book was written by Gu Sinian.

Gu Sinian never expected the book to become such a hit; it alone had earned him over 500 taels of silver.

He never mentioned it to anyone.

Zhou Wanwan chuckled. In just one night, her fruit, the plays she had rehearsed, her Rainbow Robe Pavilion, and her Wenchang Pavilion were probably all going to be in high demand.

In fact, she knew when she went to Upper Capital that doing business would be fraught with difficulties.

So she doesn't just do takeout; she does everything she can.

Moreover, there are both overt and covert locations.

Although everything in the open was ruined, the things in the shadows remained completely unaffected.

Anyway, Zhou Wanwan has plenty of people; if she wants to do business, isn't that easy?

Princess Jianing stared blankly at Gu Sinian, who, despite Gu Sinian young age, was already showing his sharp wit.

She asked Shangguan Wan'er in a low voice, "What's the background of this Gu Sinian?"

Shangguan Wan'er glanced at Gu Sinian and said, "I heard he's very close to Zhou Wanwan. Anyway, he's staying at Zhou Wanwan's house, so their relationship is quite close."

Princess Jianing frowned and said, "It's Zhou Wanwan again. Who are those men next to Gu Sinian?"

Shangguan Wan'er sneered, "Zhou Wanwan's eldest brother, second brother, and third brother."

Princess Jianing exclaimed in surprise, "Zhou Wanwan has so many brothers? Aren't they all just country bumpkins? They don't seem like it to me."

Shangguan Wan'er sneered, "They're just a bunch of peasants, they can't hide it, they just reek of poverty."

Princess Jianing nodded.

It was Zhou Qingyan and his group's first time attending a banquet at the imperial palace, so they were inevitably a little reserved.

The emperor was engrossed in listening to the story when an envoy stood up and challenged him:

Why do you people of Great Xia like to listen to this nonsense?

I've heard that your Great Xia is declining year by year, and the court is full of weak scholars; not a single one is capable of leading the army to secure the country's peace and stability.

The emperor looked at him coldly and said, "Insolence! This is utter nonsense! The men of my Great Xia Kingdom are brave and skilled in battle; how could you possibly compare?"

The envoy laughed heartily and said:

"Look at you young generation, all of you so weak and frail, hahahaha..."

"You dare to claim to be brave and skilled in battle? Why don't we find some of the younger generation to compete with?"

They came prepared!

Zhou Wanwan watched the show while drinking her beverage.

The eldest princess said softly, "This is an envoy from the Mobei, and the one speaking is the young prince from the Mobei, Amur. He is brave and skilled in battle, which is why he is so arrogant."

The emperor, also angered, said calmly, "Let's have a competition then. You all happen to have several young men among you, so let's have a contest."

Amur smiled smugly and said, "Alright, it's a deal."

You're kidding, his men are all top-notch. How could these weaklings possibly be a match for them?

The envoys from the other countries also smiled; they too had come prepared, selecting only their best military commanders.

Each country should send five people. The emperor coldly looked at the young noblemen in the hall and asked, "Which family's sons are willing to fight?"

The hall was completely silent. Amur spoke in the Northern Desert language:

"I told you, a bunch of spineless cowards trying to fight us? It's utterly laughable."

Their generation has absolutely no talent; they're a bunch of useless people.

The emperor's expression instantly darkened.

Can't they even gather five normal people?

Xie Cheng'en wanted to show off, but he knew his own limitations.

He's not good at martial arts, but he can manage to compete with his literary talent. However, that's not how people play the game!

The emperor said calmly, "Whoever truly defeats them will be richly rewarded by me."

Some people were tempted, but their families stopped them, because they knew very well how terrifying the younger generation could be.

They're no match for them at all; going there would only be suicide.

The emperor clenched his fists; this was an utter disgrace.

The envoys chuckled inwardly; this was the result of their deliberate negotiation— the Great Xia Kingdom was truly in decline.

Meanwhile, those countries are thriving.

They came today to humiliate and discredit the Great Xia Kingdom.

The emperor was trembling with anger, and Noble Consort Ning beside him frowned as she looked at Xie Cheng'en, Xie Cheng'en turned his head away.

He only knows some fancy moves; does he think he'd go up there and be a punching bag?

The eldest princess looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"Our younger generation is all all show and no substance; the atmosphere in Beijing is not good."

There are more and more spoiled brats these days, but very few are actually learning kung fu properly.

The emperor's face turned ashen. They had come to their doorstep, and in his entire Great Xia Kingdom, there wasn't a single person willing to stand up for them.

It's utterly ridiculous.

Zhou Wanwan said calmly:

"Your Majesty, I think the reward you gave was not enough."

If the reward is good enough, I believe there will still be people willing to step forward!

The emperor snorted coldly and said, "Then what kind of reward do you think should be given?"

Zhou Wanwan coughed and said, "That depends on your preference."

The emperor thought for a while, and only after receiving the imperial decree did the eunuch beside him speak:

"If we can capture them, I will reward the young marquis with a token and allow him to study at the Imperial Academy."

Each person will be rewarded with a thousand acres of fertile land and ten thousand taels of silver.

This is a real and tangible benefit.

Amur sneered:

"Then aren't we, the countries that have come from afar, at a disadvantage?"

When you rewarded them, did you not think of us young men?

The Emperor said calmly, "Whoever comes in first place will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver."

Amur was delighted. Zhou Wanwan looked at Amur and said, "You've come here to take advantage of us? What if we get first place? Wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

Amur looked at her and said, "Who do you think you are? A peasant, you dare to talk to me?"

The rest of the speech was in the Northern Desert dialect.

The second prince of Khotan in the Western Regions was completely dumbfounded. How dare Amur? Had he gone mad?

Zhou Wanwan glanced at Amur indifferently and retorted directly in the Northern Desert language, "And what are you? A barbarian, a weakling, a defeated opponent of Pei Yong."

Upon hearing this, Amur was so angry that he jumped up and down, roaring like a ghost:

"Get your ass over here, or I'll kill you right now!"

Who is Pei Yong's defeated opponent? He's nowhere to be found now. Who does he think he is? He dares to compare himself to me!"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "I clearly beat you into submission. Alright, are your countries so poor that they don't want to contribute anything?"

In the end, each of the last few countries contributed 10,000 taels of silver, totaling 100,000 taels of silver, along with a precious sword.

That's more like it.

Zhou Wanwan gave her brothers a wink, and Zhou Qingyan slowly stood up and said, "I'm willing to compete with them."

Zhou Qingchen, Zhou Qinghe, and Gu Sinian also stood up.

Xie Cheng'en burst into laughter:

You guys will do anything for money!

I'm dying of laughter. People like you dare to stand up and compete with others.