"Your Highness, the Fifth Prince requests an audience, saying he has come to offer his congratulations."
The gatekeeper, who was responsible for delivering the message, ran all the way into the mansion.
"Congratulations? Are you here to ask for money directly?" Shen Yi'an shook his head and smiled.
In Tianwu City, from the emperor down to the beggar, who doesn't know the character of the Fifth Prince Shen Tengfeng?
"Bring him to me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Shen Yi'an left the room and instructed the servants to prepare some tea and snacks before walking alone towards the pavilion.
Shen Tengfeng...
This guy is the second male lead in the original work.
Despite being a playboy, his ability to move freely among princes and ministers is something few can possess.
"Sixth Brother!!!"
Before he even stepped into the courtyard, Shen Tengfeng started shouting at the top of his lungs.
The gatekeeper hurried forward a few steps, but was still overtaken by the fiery red figure behind him.
Shen Yi'an stood up and said with a smile, "Fifth Brother, what brings you here?"
"Hahaha, Fifth Brother has come to congratulate you!"
"When is the wedding? So that Fifth Brother can come and enjoy the celebration." Shen Tengfeng said with a carefree laugh.
Shen Yi'an deliberately glanced at Shen Tengfeng's empty hands.
Why did you come empty-handed to offer your congratulations?
Shen Tengfeng rubbed his clothes awkwardly with his hand: "Sixth brother, you know that Father always deducts my salary. I'm short of money lately. I'll definitely make it up to you when you get married, hehe."
"I'm already very happy that Fifth Brother came to congratulate us. Why do we need such mundane things to prove our brotherly relationship?" Shen Yi'an smiled calmly.
"Yes... Sixth Brother is right!"
This statement made Shen Tengfeng even more embarrassed, since he had originally borrowed money... no... he had swindled it.
"Fifth Brother, please sit down. Recently, Huaxiangzhai in the city has launched some new pastries, which we can enjoy together."
Shen Tengfeng clicked his tongue at the exquisite pastries on the stone table and said, "Sixth Brother's life is much more comfortable than Fifth Brother's!"
"These pastries must be worth at least a hundred taels of silver!!"
After Huaxiangzhai's pastries became an instant hit that day, they instantly became sought-after items among the upper class of Tianwu City. They were almost always in short supply every day, not to mention new products, which were priced at exorbitant levels!
"Fifth Brother is joking. Sixth Brother is fortunate to have a friend who knows the owner of Huaxiangzhai, so he got some for free."
"A master? Sixth Brother, you have quite the wide network of connections!"
"You also know that expert, Fifth Brother."
Shen Tengfeng, holding his teacup, stared wide-eyed and asked curiously, "Who is it?"
"Father."
"Pfft!" Shen Tengfeng turned his head and spat out all the tea he had just put in his mouth.
Huaxiangzhai's pastries were deeply loved by the concubines in the palace, and the palace would send people to pick them up every day. The royal family was Huaxiangzhai's most important customer.
"Huh? Father gave it to you?"
Shen Tengfeng looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"Fifth Brother doesn't have any?" Shen Yi'an blinked, looking completely innocent.
"Everyone...has a share?"
"Yes, they all came yesterday, sent by Father Emperor."
"The steward said that a eunuch in red was leading the group, followed by a carriage full of wrapped pastries."
Shen Tengfeng pressed his hand to his chest, and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart.
Logically speaking, since he lived in the palace, he should have been the first to receive the snacks, but he didn't receive even a single one!
Does Father Emperor really dislike him that much? Or has he simply forgotten about him?
Next, Shen Tengfeng, as if seeking revenge, angrily ate the snacks in large bites, choking several times in the process.
I must say, the pastries at Huaxiangzhai are really delicious!
It tastes sweet on my lips, but it hurts my heart!
"Since Fifth Brother likes it so much, and there are still quite a few left in the manor, Sixth Brother can't possibly finish them all by himself. Why don't you take them all back with you?"
"Waaah, Sixth Brother, you're so good to Fifth Brother." Shen Tengfeng wiped his mouth and said, moved.
"Sixth Brother, don't worry. You have Fifth Brother in your heart. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask Fifth Brother. Fifth Brother will definitely help you!"
After making his grand promise, Shen Tengfeng let out a satisfied burp, then leisurely left the palace carrying a large bag of pastries.
Passing by the gambling den, Shen Tengfeng suddenly snapped back to reality upon hearing the shouts of "place your bet!"
Wasn't he going to the Chu King's mansion to borrow money?
Why are you carrying a snack out like that!
Damn it! I got tricked by Lao Liu!
No, no, I need to find a bastard to take over.
"Hey, hey, hey! Brother, you look quite handsome. I have a bag of the newest pastries from Huaxiangzhai for you. I'll sell them to you for five hundred taels of silver. You won't lose out!"
The young man in fine clothes shook off Shen Tengfeng's hand with an expression that said, "Are you sick?! Where did this idiot come from!"
"Smack!"
Shen Tengfeng grinned upon hearing this, stepped forward, and brandished his golden waist badge, sneering, "Kid, see who you're insulting? The consequences of insulting royalty... hehehe..."
"I'll ask you one more time, five hundred taels, will you buy it or not..."
"You...you are the Fifth Prince?!" The young man covered his swollen face, looking as if he had just eaten shit.
"You just insulted me... do you understand?"
The young man was almost in tears, wondering how he could be so unlucky as to run into this menacing figure on the street: "Your Highness, all I have on me is a two-hundred-tael silver note..."
"It's alright. I enjoy making friends. I'll make you my friend today."
"Come on, I want to have a good heart-to-heart talk with you, my new friend~"
Shen Tengfeng stepped forward, put his arm around the young man's shoulder, and laughed even more wickedly.
I thought it was some small fish or shrimp, but it turned out to be a fat sheep, hehehe.
——————
"Mendu, go to Huaxiangzhai and get some freshly baked pastries, cakes, and a fruit platter."
Men hesitated for a moment before asking, "Your Highness, is there anything else to prepare?"
With this setup, it's safe to assume His Highness is preparing to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's residence.
"No need, by the way."
"Take this and show it to the owner of Huaxiangzhai. He'll know what to do."
Shen Yi'an threw a black iron token into Men Du's hand.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Shen Yi'an sat cross-legged behind the chessboard, closed his eyes, and extended his invisible divine sense outward until it touched an invisible wall before retracting.
"Still a little short..."
Legend has it that once you reach that realm, your divine sense can travel thousands of miles, and the vastness of the world is nothing more than a thought away.
The original plot can only serve as a reference now; its future direction is unknown.
Even when facing the unknown, as long as you have enough strength, you can be fearless.
"Hmm? Hidden Calamity is gone. I didn't expect it to be you. Want to play some chess?"
Shen Yi'an smiled with some surprise.
"Hidden Guard—Fu Sheng greets His Highness the King of Chu."
The man in the black scholar's robe, with his long sleeves trailing behind him, bowed and said.
The Hidden Guards, an organization of assassins trained by Shen Yi'an, includes beggars he raised from childhood, as well as talented individuals he recruited while traveling the world. Although not particularly large, it is sufficient to protect those he wants to protect.
Without saying a word, Fu Sheng knelt down in front of the chessboard and placed a black piece.
"Interesting." Shen Yi'an chuckled and slowly picked up a white stone.
"Smack!"
"Tianyuan!"