Chapter 19

Since Murong Fu began his journey to gain fame in the martial world and prepare for the restoration of his kingdom, Wang Yuyan should only be around twelve or thirteen years old. How could a seventeen-year-old youth from the 21st century not handle a little girl?

After making the necessary arrangements, Li She set off for Jiangnan alone. The Wang family not only possessed the coveted land of Langhuan, which Li She coveted, but also had assets that made him envious.

Why did Murong Fu want to marry Wang Yuyan? One reason was that he had his eyes on the Wang family's vast wealth. To rise up and restore his kingdom, how could he do without money? Throughout history, wars were not just fought with thousands of troops, but also with comprehensive strength. Without money, where would the provisions for the troops come from? Where would the weapons and horses come from? Where would the military pay come from? Could he gather thousands of troops with just a few slogans? That was impossible.

The reason Wang Yuyan's mother, Lady Wang, was repulsed by Murong Fu was that she saw through his intention to use the Wang family's wealth to restore his kingdom. Her daughter, Wang Yuyan, was still foolishly clinging to him. This made Lady Wang despise Murong Fu even more.

In Murong Fu's eyes, Lady Wang was just a wealthy woman, and Wang Yuyan was the only heir. If he married Wang Yuyan, wouldn't everything of the Wang family be his? But in Lady Wang's eyes, he was just a man who was using her daughter and had ulterior motives.

Arriving at the West Lake, they naturally stayed at the "Heavenly World Tavern." As soon as he entered, the innkeeper recognized Li She and respectfully led him to the inner quarters.

Closing the door, the innkeeper, who was usually authoritative, knelt before Li She and said, "Your humble servant, Sun Desheng, welcomes the master."

Li She sat on a stool and nodded. "Old Sun, how is the business recently?"

"Reporting to the master, our 'Immortal Drunkenness' is the only one of its kind, and other taverns can't brew it. The imperial title of 'The Best Wine in the World' has attracted many martial heroes and scholars. Business is booming. Plus, with your reputation for kindness, we follow your rules and provide convenience to those in distress in the martial world. We also handle the officials properly, so no one causes trouble."

Li She nodded in satisfaction. In the Song Dynasty, reputation, an intangible asset, could bring many unexpected benefits.

"Where is Murong Fu now? Do you keep track of his movements?" Li She asked.

"That Murong Fu is always under our surveillance. As a wealthy young man, he has high standards for his clothing, food, and lodging. Our 'Heavenly World Tavern' and 'Heavenly World Brothel' are naturally his first choices. Every time he arrives at a place, the innkeepers there record it." Saying this, he took out the latest intelligence from a hidden compartment in the room.

Li She took it and read it carefully. This was the benefit of having his own forces, being able to track the enemy's every move from a thousand miles away. Without sending a single soldier, he could know what the enemy was doing. This made Li She think that after returning to the real world, he should also create his own force. After all, stealing the imperial seal had seriously offended the Liu family, and it was a matter of life and death. It was a vendetta for the murder of his father.

"March 7th, Murong Fu arrived in Bianjing. At night, he met with six officials from the Armory and bribed them with 200,000 taels of silver. He bought a thousand sets of armor and weapons."

"March 15th, Murong Fu went to Western Xia and bought a hundred warhorses from the horse traders of Song and Western Xia."

Li She looked at the intelligence in his hand and said with a look of disappointment, "This Murong Fu is really foolish. You are plotting to restore your kingdom, not running a business. Making such a big fuss to buy weapons from Song officials and smuggling warhorses from Western Xia, it's reckless. With 200,000 taels, doesn't he know he could build his own armory? He could raise his own horses! Being so arrogant, if someone with ill intentions finds out, the charges of smuggling warhorses and hiding weapons would be enough to ruin him."

Sun Desheng responded, "The master is right. To me, Murong Fu is just a man with grand ambitions but no matching intelligence."

Sun Desheng had been with Li She for three years. From a destitute scholar whose family was murdered by local bullies, to meeting Li She, who used his formidable martial arts to avenge his family, he had been following Li She ever since. He had watched Li She expand the "Heavenly World Tavern" and "Heavenly World Brothel" throughout the Song Dynasty and even into neighboring Western Xia, Dali, Tubo, and Khitan. In Sun Desheng's eyes, Li She was a man with the aura of an emperor. Li She's development was the beginning of a quest for supremacy. As a scholar, Sun Desheng felt he had found a wise master and was willing to serve him with his life.

"Have you found the location of the Manhua Manor? Is Wang Yuyan and Lady Wang there?" Li She asked.

"Everything is clear. Lady Wang from Manhua Manor often comes to our 'Heavenly World Tavern' to buy special wines for women and 'Immortal Drunkenness.' Sometimes she even asks us to deliver them. We have recorded the routes. The terrain of Manhua Manor has also been mapped by our delivery boys. Miss Wang Yuyan is currently in Manhua Manor," Sun Desheng said respectfully.

Li She nodded and said, "Alright, prepare a boat for tomorrow. I will go to Manhua Manor myself."

Sun Desheng, hearing Li She's words, handed him the map he had prepared. Over the past three years, they had delivered wine to Manhua Manor at least ten times, each time sending a trusted and intelligent subordinate. They also gave the maids and nannies in the manor cosmetics and other small gifts. Under these continuous small favors, they finally drew a rough map of Manhua Manor.

Li She looked at the buildings marked on the map and nodded. The roads were clearly marked, but there was a blank area on the map.

Sun Desheng quickly said, "Master, we have mapped out the general terrain of Manhua Manor, but this blank area is heavily guarded, and our delivery boys couldn't investigate it. If I'm not mistaken, the Huan Shi Shui Pavilion is located here."

"Alright, I trust you. You can go now," Li She encouraged him.

Sun Desheng happily left and arranged for two young maids to prepare a bath for Li She and arranged the food according to Li She's taste.

The next day, after a good night's sleep, Li She set off in a small boat, following the winding waterways. After about half an hour, he saw a flower-filled, tree-shaded manor ahead.

To handle a little girl, of course, one must start with her mother. Li She boldly entered Manhua Manor. The nannies patrolling the dock saw a handsome young man rowing a boat toward them. When the young man in white was still over a hundred paces away, he suddenly leaped into the air and flew over, causing the nannies to draw their swords and shout, "Who are you? How dare you come to Manhua Manor and cause trouble? Don't you know that men are not allowed to enter here without permission?"

Although they surrounded Li She, the lightness of his kung fu skills made them realize he was an expert. They did not dare to move recklessly and sounded the alarm. People from the manor quickly gathered.

Li She bowed and said, "There's no need to be nervous. I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm an old friend of Lady Wang. Here is my name card. I come to see Lady Wang."

Li She took out a name card from his chest and handed it to the leading nanny. The woman took it hesitantly. Seeing Li She's calm demeanor, she said, "Wait here. Do not move around without permission."

In the garden of Manhua Manor, Lady Wang was tending to the tea flowers when she heard the voice of Nurse Xu, "Madam, a young man outside says he is your old friend and wants to see you."

The beautiful woman, who looked almost identical to the statue of the Immortal Sister, turned around and said with a sigh, "An old friend? Ha, except for him, there are no old friends! Who dares to intrude on Manhua Manor so boldly? Why didn't you chop him up and use him as fertilizer?"

Nurse Xu smiled bitterly, "Madam, the man is highly skilled and seems to have no ill intentions. Here is his name card."

Lady Wang, intending to scold, saw that the name card was made of pure gold and took it. "Li She of the Free and Easy Sect" was written on the thin card.

Seeing these five words, Lady Wang was stunned. "Free and Easy Sect"? Few people in the world knew about the "Free and Easy Sect." Her parents were from the Free and Easy Sect, but they had left her alone and disappeared. In her youth, she had fallen in love with that man, who had caused her to become pregnant before marriage. She had no choice but to marry the young master of the Wang family. With her beauty and wit, the young master naturally treasured her. After giving birth to Yuyan, she had wanted to forget that man and live a good life with the young master, but the young master, who was not yet thirty, died suddenly. She was left with her orphaned daughter, living a very sad life.

Seeing this name card, Lady Wang thought of the past. She sighed and said, "Bring him in. He is indeed my old friend!"

After some announcements, Nurse Xu led Li She to the hall. Lady Wang, dressed in luxurious attire, sat in the center, with dozens of maids standing on either side.

When Lady Wang saw Li She's age, she was surprised. Although he had a small mustache, he was definitely around seventeen or eighteen, handsome and elegant in his white robe.

Li She bowed and said, "Sister, your junior, Li She, greets you."

"Hmph, what junior? Have I ever had a junior like you? Nowadays, there are many frauds. Anyone can come and claim kinship. When you are poor, no one asks, but when you are rich, even distant relatives come."

To deal with a strong woman, one must be even stronger. To deal with a wealthy woman, one must show that one is even wealthier.

Li She smiled and said, "Haha, Sister, you think I'm here to flatter you for your wealth?"

"Hmph, who knows? People's hearts are hard to read," Lady Wang said disdainfully.

Li She laughed, "Sister, your Wang family may have thousands of acres of land and hundreds of shops in Jiangnan, but I don't care. To be frank, my 'Heavenly World' and 'Immortal Drunkenness' earn more silver in a month than your Wang family does in a year."

Lady Wang was stunned and asked suspiciously, "You are the owner of 'Heavenly World,' Li She?"

Li She shrugged and said, "One and only!"

Lady Wang glanced around and dismissed the maids. As a businesswoman, she knew the scale of 'Heavenly World.' In terms of income, her Wang family's annual earnings probably didn't match 'Heavenly World.' Just the 'Immortal Drunkenness' and 'Wine' were favorites of officials and nobles, and in Tubo, Western Xia, and Khitan, they were worth their weight in gold.

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