Chenshi.
Hengliu Street, Zuofu.
In the study, Zuo Xiangting was concentrating and writing, seeming to have forgotten himself.
After a while, the book was completed. Zuo Xiangting looked at it for a long time, and then sighed, obviously not satisfied.
He put down the Xuan pen and was about to crumple the calligraphy into a ball and throw it away. At this time, Zuo Zongyuan came in and saw that the calligraphy on the Xuan paper was vigorous and powerful. He hurriedly said: "Father, why are the calligraphy so good?" Throw it away?"
Zuo Xiangting was unmoved, crumpled the calligraphy into a ball, and said: "I am uneasy today, so there are one or two words that cannot reach the state of perfection. If I don't throw them away, I will keep them."
Zuo Zongyuan said with a smile: "There are many people outside who want my father's calligraphy but can't get it. Now some people are willing to pay thousands of gold to ask for one. My children have spent too much recently and I am short of money. Why don't my father give me this calligraphy? I can also make some money."
Zuo Xiangting asked: "You go out early and come back late these days. What are you doing?"
Zuo Zongyuan looked slightly disgusted and said, "What else can I do? I just drink and have fun with the sons of those noble ministers every day."
Zuo Xiangting said: "If you don't want to go, just push me away. Why bother yourself?"
Zuo Zongyuan said with a smile: "It's not difficult at all. I'm still a little interested in seeing those people show their ugly faces after drinking."
Zuo Xiangting sighed: "It's boring to watch people awake and intoxicated."
At this time, Zuo Zongyuan's expression suddenly became solemn: "Father, do you know about Su Shi's bet with Dongyuan Zhiku?"
Zuo Xiangting was slightly startled: "This matter has already spread throughout the capital, why do you still ask this question?"
Zuo Zongyuan was silent for a while, not knowing where to start.
After a while, he said: "The bet between Su Shi and Dongyuan Zhiku was canceled a few days ago by Dongyuan Zhiku."
"Dongyuan Quality Library canceled it on its own initiative?" Zuo Xiangting's originally calm expression was slightly surprised: "Why did they cancel it?"
Zuo Zongyuan continued: "Not only did they cancel the bet, but they also paid Su Shi one hundred thousand taels of silver and a shop."
Zuo Xiangting had never heard of such a ridiculous thing. He couldn't help but frown and said, "Is this news accurate?"
"It was Tian Wenhao's nephew Tian Liang who said it when he was drunk. Last night, a group of people were drunk and talked about the bet between Su Shi and Dongyuan Zhiku. Just when everyone was laughing at Su Shi for overestimating his own abilities. , I saw that Tian Liang just looked at those people coldly without saying a word, knowing that something must be weird. So he deliberately got close to him and got him drunk before he said anything."
"Then did he ever talk about why Dongyuan Zhiku canceled the bet and even compensated Su Shi?"
Zuo Zongyuan shook his head and said: "His uncle didn't mention the reason, so he doesn't know either."
Zuo Xiangting said slowly: "This is so strange. Go check it out. What kind of medicine is sold in this Dongyuan Zhiku gourd?"
Until now, he still didn't believe that Dongyuan Zhiku would give up the bet when he was sure of winning.
Zuo Zongyuan suddenly whispered: "Could it be that the eldest prince wanted to win over the general's palace, so he let Su Shi go?"
Zuo Xiangting thought about it carefully, then shook his head slightly: "It is impossible for Su Nian to be won over by anyone, and it is impossible for the eldest prince not to know this."
"Perhaps he is deliberately showing kindness. Even if he cannot win over him, the general's palace will accept his affection."
Zuo Xiangting stroked his beard and nodded: "It's not impossible." But then he doubted: "But there is no reason for him to pay Su Shi one hundred thousand taels of silver and the store."
Zuo Zongyuan sighed: "I can't figure this out. If Dongyuan Zhiku just cancels the bet, it can be said to be a sign of goodwill to the general's government, but paying another hundred thousand taels of silver and a store to the general's government would be too much. After that, it is suspected of forcing the General's Mansion to take sides. With Old General Su's unyielding character, it is impossible for the First Prince not to know that doing so will only be counterproductive."
"Has the General's Mansion accepted the money and stores?"
Zuo Zongyuan immediately replied: "After I learned the news last night, I already sent people to investigate. There should be news today."
While he was talking, a soft voice suddenly sounded outside the door: "Master, someone is looking for you outside and wants to tell you something important."
Zuo Zongyuan smiled and said, "There should be some news. Father, please sit down first. I'll be back soon."
Zuo Xiangting waved his hand, signaling him to go back quickly.
After Zuo Zongyuan left, Zuo Xiangting wanted to write another calligraphy, but after picking up the pen, he always felt hard to calm down, and it was difficult to use the pen and ink, so he had to put down the pen in frustration.
However, Zuo Zongyuan didn't let him wait long. After a cup of tea, he returned to the study, but now his face looked more shocked and confused than when he left.
Zuo Xiangting asked in a deep voice: "What happened?"
Zuo Zongyuan couldn't help but said: "Father, you can never imagine what happened. Su Shi's bet with Dongyuan Zhiku had originally been cancelled, and Su Shi had already accepted one hundred thousand taels of silver and the store. But last night , Su Shi not only returned the money and land deeds, but also wanted to start a new bet with Dongyuan Zhiku."
"A new bet? What bet?"
At this time, Zuo Zongyuan could not help but show an expression of admiration on his face: "He will have Dongyuan Quality Warehouse closed within three months."
Zuo Xiangting was so shocked by the news that he couldn't speak. After a long time, he murmured, "Is this Su Shi crazy?"
"The crazier thing is yet to come." Zuo Zongyuan sighed: "The third princess also wanted to make peace - the last bet was said to be the third princess's peace - but Su Shi's condition was that Bai Jiangchuan should die. "
Zuo Xiangting calmed down and asked, "Why did Su Shi do this? And why did he have to let Bai Jiangchuan die? Doesn't he know that the Dongyuan Quality Library is the property of the eldest prince, and there are many forces behind it?"
"How could he not know that the third princess has reminded him, but Su Shi still insists on going his own way."
Then he recounted in detail what happened at the flower shop last night.
When Zuo Xiangting learned that Su Shi did this because of three old and lustful brothel girls, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
After a long time, he slowly asked: "Do you believe what Su Shi said?"
Zuo Zongyuan shook his head and said, "I don't know. This Su Shi always acts in unexpected ways. It's really hard to guess his intentions."
Zuo Xiangting slowly adjusted his breathing and finally calmed down. He thought for a long time and said slowly: "No matter what Su Shi's true intentions are, this is always an opportunity."
Zuo Zongyuan said hurriedly: "I think so too, but how should we take advantage of this opportunity?"
Zuo Xiangting looked at him with squinted eyes and asked, "Then it depends on which situation is beneficial to us?"
"Naturally, the more chaotic the situation, the better it is for us."
"Then how can we make the situation chaotic?"
Zuo Zongyuan's eyes lit up and he murmured, "I understand."
