Tan Hua - Chapter 57

“You… why did you secretly kidnap the son of the Crown Prince of Jingguo?!”

 

Wu’er Shan panicked, stumbling over his words.

 

He never expected that in his moment of infatuation, he had accidentally captured a member of the Jingguo royal family.

 

Everyone knew Jingguo was not to be provoked, and its royal family was even more so…

 

Seeing Wu’er Shan hook the bait, Song Liqing smoothly completed his explanation.

 

“Because I hate him.”

 

“You…”

 

Wu’er Shan didn’t know the details of their entanglement and didn’t want to know now.

 

Song Liqing’s expression was full of bitterness as he said, “I’m his Crown Princess. He’s a lecher who secretly fathered a bastard with someone else. Shouldn’t I hate him? So I stole this precious son of his. Now he’s searching everywhere for him. If I raise his son and he acknowledges me as his father, and then incites him to seek revenge on Jun Qi Yu, wouldn’t it be satisfying to see father and son turn against each other?”

 

“You…” Wu’er Shan didn’t know what to say for a moment. “The Jingguo royal family is really chaotic…”

 

Wu’er Shan wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a lingering fear.

 

Fortunately, he hadn’t done anything to this little child yet.

 

He saw the chubby little official’s son and felt that he was precious, with a hint of regal authority in his demeanor.

 

But this little child was a hot potato…

 

Destroy the evidence? Wu’er Shan didn’t dare.

 

If he didn’t do it cleanly, his entire family’s lives would be in jeopardy.

 

Just letting them go? Wu’er Shan was reluctant.

 

“I’ll hand this little child over to the Crown Prince of Jingguo. He’ll surely be grateful and shower me with rewards, and I could get ten thousand taels of gold.”

 

Wu’er Shan was planning this.

 

As for Song Liqing…

 

He still wanted Song Liqing. After all, he had been abandoned by the Jingguo Crown Prince, with no one backing him up. Wouldn’t it be easy to handle him?

 

This way, it could be said to be a win-win situation.

 

“Truly, heaven is favoring me…”

 

Wu’er Shan regained his composure, delighted at the prospect of both wealth and pleasure.

 

He stroked Song Liqing’s face and said with a grin, “Did I hurt you? If you behave obediently, I won’t make things difficult for you. Once your illness is healed, I can make you my male concubine.”

 

Song Liqing frowned slightly, suppressing his nausea.

 

Song Liqing realized that Wu’er Shan believed his words.

 

He had envisioned that Wu’er Shan, being greedy and afraid of death, would offer the official’s son to the Jingguo Crown Prince and also give him up, hoping for credit.

 

But Wu’er Shan was evidently more meticulous and greedy.

 

At least he wouldn’t harm the official’s son now.

 

But how to escape, Song Liqing knew he couldn’t do it alone.

 

“I need to prepare some valuable gifts for the new king. I don’t have time to deal with you right now. I’ll let you out of this room as soon as you’re well, understood, beautiful one?”

 

Song Liqing’s eyes narrowed.

 

“The new king? Isn’t Prince Pei Xingxu still in his prime?”

 

“According to palace rumors, the late king fell ill suddenly and has passed away… With the new king ascending the throne, I’ve been invited to the grand ceremony. This is an honor equivalent to the nobles. If I present valuable gifts and win the new king’s favor, he might reward me with a title. I would no longer be a mere commoner or merchant!”

 

Wu’er Shan envisioned his rise to power.

 

Song Liqing pondered for a moment.

 

With the death of Prince Pei Xingxu’s father, he was the only prince, so he would naturally succeed to the throne.

 

“Prince Loulan… Oh, your new king likes Central Plains calligraphy and paintings. You might want to find some famous works.”

 

“How do you know?”

 

Wu’er Shan looked at Song Liqing.

 

Song Liqing replied indifferently, “The Jingguo Crown Prince mentioned it. He collected famous calligraphy and paintings when he was in the capital. The Crown Prince even gifted him a painting of ‘Autumn Mountains,’ which he reportedly treasures.”

 

Wu’er Shan’s eyes lit up.

 

“Really?!”

 

Song Liqing countered, “It seems you don’t know your Prince Pei Xingxu’s preferences. Didn’t you know he admires Central Plains culture?”

 

Wu’er Shan hadn’t had any contact with Pei Xingxu, so how could he know?

 

“Central Plains calligraphy and paintings…” Wu’er Shan mused. “But he’s being crowned tomorrow. Where can I find famous Central Plains calligraphy and paintings today?”

 

“That’s none of my business.”

 

Song Liqing gave him a cold look, adopting an indifferent attitude to avoid seeming overly deliberate.

 

Wu’er Shan, indeed, fixed his gaze on him and pondered, “Aren’t you good at calligraphy? Why not just forge a piece?”

 

Song Liqing was surprised, “You’re quite bold. Aren’t you afraid of being discovered? I used to be able to perfectly imitate characters, but now that I’m blind, I can’t guarantee the result!”

 

“Hmph, the new king is young and has likely seen few authentic works from Central Plains masters. His interest in Central Plains culture is probably just for show. Just write it. Even if it’s discovered, I’ll say I was deceived as well. Your piece will just be an embellishment. I’m preparing to present silver and treasures, and who wouldn’t like real gold and silver?”

 

Wu’er Shan was confident.

 

Song Liqing opened his mouth, but Wu’er Shan had already taken the initiative, saving him from more effort.

 

“Fine, I’ll try my best to make it look convincing.”

 

“Wait… why are you helping me?”

 

Wu’er Shan remained suspicious.

 

As a businessman who had traveled extensively, he was cautious.

 

Song Liqing sighed deeply.

 

“What can I do since I’m already in your hands? Besides, I’m already homeless and wandering. Although your place can’t compare to the Jingguo Crown Prince’s Qilin Mansion, it is still quite prosperous, and I wouldn’t gain anything by opposing you.”

 

“Good to know. You seem quite perceptive. I’ll definitely take good care of you in the future, hahaha…”

 

Satisfied with Song Liqing’s response, Wu’er Shan instructed his people to prepare the items Song Liqing requested and left with a hearty laugh.

 

Holding the brush, Song Liqing practiced writing the most by copying the characters of Mr. Liu, who was known as the Saint of Calligraphy in his time. Even blind, he could still write them with ease.

 

Of course, there were differences from the original, but it was more than enough to fool someone unfamiliar with calligraphy.

 

Song Liqing wrote the final line in his own handwriting.

 

He could only hope that Pei Xingxu might recognize it, though the hope was very slim.

 

When he handed it to Wu’er Shan, he was still nervous, but Wu’er Shan, who only spoke Central Plains dialect and didn’t recognize many characters, glanced at it a few times and put it away.

 

…

 

Pei Xingxu ascended to the throne of Loulan without any signs of joy.

 

The two most important people in his life—his father and Song Liqing—were both gone. 

 

Thus, the coronation ceremony was postponed until today. Inviting the Loulan nobles to attend also served to win them over, given that Pei Xingxu was still young. If the nobles were to cause trouble together, Loulan might face a stormy period.

 

Pei Xingxu dealt with all the nobles, many of whom he didn’t even know.

 

When it was time for the nobles to present their gifts, the gifts varied in value and reflected their attitudes.

 

“Merchant Wu’er Shan presents one hundred taels of gold, fifty thousand taels of silver, twenty pieces of jade, three thousand bolts of Central Plains silk, and fifty pieces of treasures, including a genuine piece of Central Plains calligraphy by Saint Liu.”

 

Pei Xingxu slightly raised his head.

 

This guest list wasn’t prepared by him. Even merchants were eligible to be invited. His strategists said that with the late king’s death and the new king ascending the throne, there would be more spending, and merchants were happy to spend money for a small title, so Pei Xingxu agreed.

 

“You’re Wu’er Shan of the Gulu family?” Pei Xingxu asked.

 

Wu’er Shan knelt in the center of the palace hall.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. My surname is Gulu.”

 

Pei Xingxu nodded, “Your Gulu family was once a noble family in Loulan a hundred years ago. After committing some crimes, you lost your title. A century has passed, and your sins are now forgiven. I’ll grant you the title of Viscount.”

 

Wu’er Shan gratefully bowed his head.

 

Pei Xingxu waved his hand.

 

“Let me see the genuine calligraphy by Saint Liu.”

 

**Author’s Note:**

 

See you in the next chapter~