Chapter 14

In a secret tavern in the capital, Bai Zhanyun, the successor of the White Tiger Marquis, and Hong Tiantong, the successor of the Vermilion Bird Marquis, were covertly discussing something.

"Hong brother, that kid is really arrogant. He doesn't give a damn about either of us. Especially you, Bai brother. You arrived almost at the same time as him, yet he actually snatched the Dragon Bone Yang Grass from you. This is intolerable!"

Hong Tiantong was clearly more cunning, his words filled with obvious provocation.

"Hmph! Jiang Chen, you are courting death by offending me, Bai Zhanyun!"

As Bai Zhanyun was speaking, a subordinate responsible for tracking hurriedly reported.

"Little Marquis, that kid didn't return to the Jiang Han Marquis Manor. It seems he went to the Pine Stone Pavilion."

"Pine Stone Pavilion? What is that kid doing there? Could he be buying spirit stones?" Hong Tiantong was somewhat suspicious.

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhanyun revealed a strange smile: "Pine Stone Pavilion? Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

"Your subordinate has been tracking him all along, there's no mistake."

Bai Zhanyun laughed pleasantly: "Jiang Chen, you are asking for humiliation. The owner of the Pine Stone Pavilion is my maternal uncle!"

At this point, Bai Zhanyun became even more pleased: "Hong brother, let's go and see the fun. We'll humiliate this kid severely and snatch the Dragon Bone Yang Grass from him!"

The place was not far from the Pine Stone Pavilion, and the two quickly arrived, entering from the back door.

...

The Pine Stone Pavilion was a shop specializing in spirit stones and exotic stones, with a large scale, being the top shop in the capital.

Jiang Chen came here not to admire stones but to order stone materials.

After wandering around the Pine Stone Pavilion for a while, combining his experience from his previous life, he selected a type of stone material and had already negotiated the price.

Just as he was about to pay, the owner of the Pine Stone Pavilion hurriedly came out, smiling: "Young sir, it's really unfortunate. I just found out that the Yang Stone you ordered was already reserved by someone yesterday."

"Who reserved it? What a coincidence?" Jiang Chen was taken aback. Could there be such a coincidence?

"Of course, it's me!" A harsh voice came from behind, and Bai Zhanyun swaggered out.

"Jiang Chen, what a coincidence. This Yang Stone, I have reserved it. Do you want it? Hand over the Dragon Bone Yang Grass. If I'm in a good mood, I might consider transferring it to you."

Jiang Chen was a smart person. Seeing Bai Zhanyun, and then looking at the smirking Hong Tiantong behind him, and the owner of the Pine Stone Pavilion, he instantly understood.

It seemed that Bai Zhanyun was really bored, from the Alchemist Hall to the Pine Stone Pavilion, he was really targeting him.

However, the owner of the Pine Stone Pavilion, being coerced by a son of a marquis, was a significant loss of face, making Jiang Chen look down on him.

"Interesting, interesting. Mr. Song, are you sure you won't sell this stone to me?" Jiang Chen asked calmly.

Bai Zhanyun shouted: "Jiang Chen, I've already said, hand over the Dragon Bone Yang Grass, and I won't compete for this stone. Otherwise, don't even think about the Yang Stone."

"Oh? What if I insist?" Jiang Chen smiled faintly.

"Ha ha ha, do you think I would give it to you? Even if I buy this Yang Stone to line the outhouse, I won't give it to you."

"Your outhouse is really prestigious. So, there's no room for negotiation?"

"Negotiate my ass! Either hand over the Dragon Bone Yang Grass or scram!" Bai Zhanyun probably knew that making Jiang Chen hand over the Dragon Bone Yang Grass was unrealistic.

Jiang Chen laughed heartily, not taking it seriously. He was too lazy to waste words with an idiot like Bai Zhanyun. It wasn't his own purchase.

This was for the princess of the royal family. Jiang Chen wouldn't waste his breath. Since Bai Zhanyun, this fool, wanted to challenge the royal family, let him try.

"Mr. Song, it seems you are a smart person, but you are doing a foolish thing." Jiang Chen smiled lightly, shaking his head, "If you don't sell it to me now, you might cry when you have to sell it to me later."

After saying this, Jiang Chen didn't even look at Bai Zhanyun and Hong Tiantong, and walked out leisurely.

Just as he reached the hall, a clerk rushed over, looking fearful, whispered a few words to Mr. Song, his face full of apprehension, and even dared not meet Jiang Chen's eyes.

Mr. Song's face turned white immediately, as if all his blood had been drained, his face pale and his mouth bitter.

He almost cried out: "Young Marquis Jiang, please wait, please wait! This Yang Stone is yours. Our Pine Stone Pavilion won't take your money, and we will deliver it to your residence immediately."

Mr. Song's attitude changed 180 degrees, which greatly surprised Bai Zhanyun and Hong Tiantong.

Especially Bai Zhanyun, his feet were jumping.

"Maternal uncle, are you making a mistake? Didn't we already agree?"

Mr. Song looked miserable: "My dear, don't make it hard for your maternal uncle. You are fighting among the immortals, don't drag us mortals into it."

Bai Zhanyun was furious: "Immortal? Pfft, what kind of immortal is Jiang Chen? Among the 108 marquises of the Eastern Kingdom, he doesn't even rank! Maternal uncle, are you afraid of him?"

If not for fearing Bai Zhanyun's marquis father, Mr. Song would have beaten him up until he couldn't take care of himself and then spat on him a few times.

This kid was completely a troublemaker, dragging him, Mr. Song, to his death!

Mr. Song almost pounced, grabbing Jiang Chen's leg: "Young Marquis, I, Song, am blind. Please, please accept it! This Yang Stone is a gift from Old Song."

As the saying goes, when you can forgive, do so. Jiang Chen didn't plan to argue with a small shop owner.

He smiled: "Mr. Song, by saying this, you make me seem like a bully. Since you are so sincere, I'll take the stone reluctantly! The price will be paid by someone else. Deliver it to the address I give you early in the morning the day after tomorrow. I will notify you then."

"Yes, yes, Young Marquis is magnanimous, Old Song is ashamed, ashamed."

Jiang Chen laughed heartily. He knew very well that Mr. Song's sudden change in attitude was due to someone outside exerting influence.

As for who exerted the influence, it was even clearer.

In the capital, how many forces could make even the great marquises cautious? And who else would protect him, Jiang Chen, except for the royal family?

"It seems that Old Dongfang Lu is indeed prepared. Afraid I might change my mind?" Jiang Chen shook his head and smiled, walking out.

He had already prepared the necessary things.

Bai Zhanyun, repeatedly ignored by Jiang Chen, felt a great sense of frustration. He fiercely told Mr. Song: "Maternal uncle, you must give me an explanation for this!"

Mr. Song rolled his eyes: "Bai Zhanyun, be careful! This is the capital, not your White Tiger territory! If you want to act recklessly, think about whether there are people you can't provoke. I, your maternal uncle, kindly remind you, be careful not to ruin the hard work of generations of the Bai family!"

Mr. Song was not exaggerating. The clerk only said two sentences when he came in.

One was, "The Commander of the Heavenly Capital Army is outside," and the second was, "You must sell the Yang Stone to Jiang Chen, or bear the consequences."

These two sentences were enough to change Mr. Song's attitude.

Who didn't know that the Heavenly Capital Army was the personal guard of the current king, the most combat-effective force in the kingdom, controlling the life and death of the Eastern Kingdom?

To put it bluntly, if the Heavenly Capital Army was provoked, not only Mr. Song, but even the White Tiger Marquis would be crushed to pieces!

And the Commander of the Heavenly Capital Army was one of the most powerful figures in the capital. Such a great person secretly protecting Jiang Chen, what did it mean?

Mr. Song was not a fool, he understood the gravity of the situation.

Faced with Bai Zhanyun's complaints, Mr. Song couldn't explain everything, but this warning was a duty as a relative.

If Bai Zhanyun insisted on rushing to his doom, Mr. Song could only distance himself from the Bai family as soon as possible.

Bai Zhanyun was still cursing, loudly complaining about Mr. Song's lack of consideration. But Hong Tiantong was deep in thought. He found this very strange. Once like this, twice like this!

"Could it be that Jiang Chen has really attached himself to some powerful figure?"

...

After finishing his business, Jiang Chen didn't linger outside and went straight back to the Jiang Han Marquis Manor.

Just as he entered the gate and took a few steps, he saw two people coming out of the inner hall, one of whom was his stepfather, Marquis Jiang Han, Jiang Feng.

The other was a middle-aged man with a stern face. This man walked straight out, and Marquis Jiang Han accompanied him, with a slight smile, whispering something.

His demeanor was even somewhat subservient.

No matter how的热情 Jiang Feng was, it was like offering a warm face to a cold buttock. The middle-aged man's expression remained indifferent, showing no reaction.

As they reached the gate, they happened to meet Jiang Chen coming in.

Jiang Chen finally remembered who this person was from the memories of his predecessor. Du Zongguan?

This person was one of the main organizers of the Qianlong Examination.

"Chen, you're back? Come and meet your Grand Administrator Du. I hardly managed to invite Grand Administrator Du, but unfortunately, he has to leave."

The Deputy Administrator Du glanced at Jiang Chen and asked with a half-smile: "You are Jiang Chen?"

As one of the main organizers of the Qianlong Examination, he naturally knew Jiang Chen, but he was clearly showing off.

Jiang Chen, being a smart person, could tell from his tone that his father had probably been rebuffed by this person. He responded indifferently: "Yes, you are Deputy Administrator Du, right?"

Du Ruhai, the Deputy Administrator of the Qianlong Examination, was the second most powerful figure. To put it bluntly, he even controlled the fate of the marquises in the Qianlong Examination!

No matter which marquis, when they saw Du Ruhai, they would show respect and be subservient.

Offending Du Ruhai could lead to disaster at a critical moment, and one wouldn't even know how they died.

Therefore, seeing that Jiang Chen not only didn't show respect but also spoke in such a tone, Du Ruhai was instantly furious.

Du Ruhai was not without depth, but he had no need to show magnanimity to the Jiang family.

His expression hardened: "Marquis Jiang Han? Your son is indeed talented. He dared to act recklessly at the Heaven Worship Ceremony, and it's not surprising that he doesn't respect me, the Administrator."

Jiang Feng, hearing this, knew it was not good and was about to apologize.

Du Ruhai waved his hand and sneered: "Marquis Jiang Han, there's no need to say more. I originally planned to help your son in the Qianlong Examination. However, this afternoon, I received many warnings from the marquises. They said your son is lawless, and helping him would bring trouble. So, you will have to rely on your own luck in the Qianlong Examination!"

"Deputy Administrator Du, this..." Jiang Feng was anxious.

"Marquis Jiang Han, don't blame me for being blunt. Even without the warnings from the marquises, given your son's attitude, I wouldn't give him a hard time, and your family would be lucky!"

Du Ruhai tore off the mask.

---

Jiang Chen, after finishing his business, didn't linger outside and went straight back to the Jiang Han Marquis Manor.

Just as he entered the gate and took a few steps, he saw two people coming out of the inner hall, one of whom was his stepfather, Marquis Jiang Han, Jiang Feng.

The other was a middle-aged man with a stern face. This man walked straight out, and Marquis Jiang Han accompanied him, with a slight smile, whispering something.

His demeanor was even somewhat subservient.

No matter how热情 Jiang Feng was, it was like offering a warm face to a cold buttock. The middle-aged man's expression remained indifferent, showing no reaction.

As they reached the gate, they happened to meet Jiang Chen coming in.

Jiang Chen finally remembered who this person was from the memories of his predecessor. Du Zongguan?

This person was one of the main organizers of the Qianlong Examination.

"Chen, you're back? Come and meet your Grand Administrator Du. I hardly managed to invite Grand Administrator Du, but unfortunately, he has to leave."

The Deputy Administrator Du glanced at Jiang Chen and asked with a half-smile: "You are Jiang Chen?"

As one of the main organizers of the Qianlong Examination, he naturally knew Jiang Chen, but he was clearly showing off.

Jiang Chen, being a smart person, could tell from his tone that his father had probably been rebuffed by this person. He responded indifferently: "Yes, you are Deputy Administrator Du, right?"

Du Ruhai, the Deputy Administrator of the Qianlong Examination, was the second most powerful figure. To put it bluntly, he even controlled the fate of the marquises in the Qianlong Examination!

No matter which marquis, when they saw Du Ruhai, they would show respect and be subservient.

Offending Du Ruhai could lead to disaster at a critical moment, and one wouldn't even know how they died.

Therefore, seeing that Jiang Chen not only didn't show respect but also spoke in such a tone, Du Ruhai was instantly furious.

Du Ruhai was not without depth, but he had no need to show magnanimity to the Jiang family.

His expression hardened: "Marquis Jiang Han? Your son is indeed talented. He dared to act recklessly at the Heaven Worship Ceremony, and it's not surprising that he doesn't respect me, the Administrator."

Jiang Feng, hearing this, knew it was not good and was about to apologize.

Du Ruhai waved his hand and sneered: "Marquis Jiang Han, there's no need to say more. I originally planned to help your son in the Qianlong Examination. However, this afternoon, I received many warnings from the marquises. They said your son is lawless, and helping him would bring trouble. So, you will have to rely on your own luck in the Qianlong Examination!"

"Deputy Administrator Du, this..." Jiang Feng was anxious.

"Marquis Jiang Han, don't blame me for being blunt. Even without the warnings from the marquises, given your son's attitude, I wouldn't give him a hard time, and your family would be lucky!"

Du Ruhai tore off the mask.