Chapter 342 - 333: The Struggling Shen Yijun and That Personage

Chapter 342: Chapter 333: The Struggling Shen Yijun and That Personage

Shen Yijun adjusted his bow tie and turned away from the mirror. A servant, who had been waiting for some time, immediately hurried over with a tray.

"Young Master, the kitchen just finished simmering this soup. It’s cooled to the perfect temperature. You’ve had many social engagements recently and have been wearing yourself out. You must replenish your strength..."

Shen Yijun grunted in acknowledgment, lifting the gold-rimmed porcelain bowl to his lips.

But after just one sip, he smashed the bowl to the ground.

"Didn’t I tell you no meat?! No meat!!

Are you deaf or just stupid?!"

Shen Yijun seethed, his voice sharp as he suddenly flew into a rage.

The servant who brought the soup turned pale and dropped to his knees, trembling as he profusely apologized, "I’m sorry, Young Master! There’s truly not a shred of meat in the soup. I only added some vegetarian shark fins and a few mushroom slices for flavor..."

"No mushrooms in the future either. Anything that even looks like meat is forbidden!"

Shen Yijun’s face was full of disgust as he waved his hands dismissively. "Get it out of here! Get it out of here now!"

"Yes, sir."

The servant quickly cleaned up the mess and scurried out.

Once the servant was gone, Shen Yijun dry-heaved a few times, an expression of indescribable discomfort on his face.

Just then, an older man who looked like a butler walked in.

"Young Master, Ah Liu has been punished for going against your wishes.

I’ve also told the kitchen to prepare another bowl of soup..."

"Forget it. I’m running out of time."

Shen Yijun shook his head and sat down on the sofa, ordering, "Go fetch some opium. Load it into the pipe and light it for me..."

"Yes, sir."

While the opium was being prepared, the butler added, "A moment ago, Young Master Xi of the Zhe Banner sent someone to collect the gambling debt you incurred from losing the demon fight last night. He also invited you to join him again tonight."

Shen Yijun took the opium pipe from the butler and took a deep drag. Only then did the nauseating feeling in his chest finally begin to subside.

"Pay him."

Shen Yijun took another puff of opium—strangely, no smoke was exhaled. "Give him an extra ten thousand silver coins. Tell him I’m genuinely busy tonight, but I’ll join him for some fun in a few days..."

"Understood."

After finishing the pipe, Shen Yijun’s complexion improved considerably. He straightened his clothes once more and quickly left.

Sitting in the swaying carriage, Shen Yijun placed the elegantly wrapped gift box on his lap and quietly gathered his thoughts.

He had been in Yingjing for two months, and only now did he truly understand the meaning of the phrase "every step a struggle."

For two months, he had acted like a deferential grandson to everyone, eating his way through every "Blessed Meal" in every restaurant, large and small. Now, the mere smell of meat made him want to vomit.

Treating people to meals, gambling on demon fights, giving away money, gifts, and women... in just two months, he had burned through nearly two million silver coins. He had licked their boots like a dog—Shen Yijun had done everything short of selling his own ass—but the young masters and ladies of the Nine Banners still treated him like he was nothing.

’In all my life, I’ve never had to close a deal this difficult!’

But finally, the heavens had smiled upon him. Luck and opportunity had at last come his way—a personage of the highest status had actually offered to let him help manage their business ventures.

The thought of the person he was about to meet tonight sent a thrill of excitement through Shen Yijun that he couldn’t suppress.

This individual had also only recently risen to prominence among the Nine Banners. He was said to be from the Profound Banner and held a Prince’s Decree, but no one knew what his relationship was with Prince Lv of the Helers.

His origins were a mystery, and his methods were domineering. In the past month alone, numerous families from the Lower Five Banners had pledged their allegiance to him, even ignoring the words of their own Banner Lords.

’Young Master Ling.’

Shen Yijun silently mouthed the man’s title.

The title reminded him of an old friend. He, too, had been quite the character, stirring up some monumental trouble in Shenghai. Shen Yijun had no idea where he was now...

The carriage moved in fits and starts. The Banner-cutting Alliance rebels had been causing trouble in Yingjing City recently, leading to the setup of many new checkpoints. If you didn’t have the affiliation of one of the Nine Banners, trying to enter the inner city meant getting searched down to your underwear.

After three stops and three inspections, they finally arrived.

Shen Yijun carefully disembarked. The first thing that met his eyes was a magnificent, towering, and imposing restaurant.

It was nine stories tall with an octagonal design, built entirely from cyan bricks and topped with golden glazed tiles. With upturned eaves and intricate brackets, its beams and pillars were made of golden nanmu wood, its walls of agarwood, and its steps of suet-white jade... The entire building was brilliantly lit, illuminating the whole of Heavenly Street as if it were daytime, the very picture of opulence and nobility.

The name of the building was "Moon Embracing Tower." It was a frequent haunt for the princes and nobles of the Nine Banners and was also the most prestigious restaurant in all of Yingjing City.

It was said that dragon veins converged beneath the Moon Embracing Tower, and at night, one could see the earth’s energy rising like smoke.

As a leading figure of his generation in the Shen Family, the great financial magnates of Jiangnan, Shen Yijun had seen his fair share of the world. Yet, standing before this tower, he still felt a sense of awe.

In front of the tower, carriages were as numerous as clouds, and people flowed in and out like a constant stream. Nearly all of them were young noblemen with braided queues and distinguished bearings.

Standing there, Shen Yijun couldn’t help but feel a little out of place.

Suddenly, he spotted a white Western car parked among the many carriages in front of the Moon Embracing Tower. Its paint gleamed under the lights, making it exceptionally conspicuous.

"Hm?"

Shen Yijun took two steps forward, his curiosity piqued as he stared at the vehicle.

’How did a Western car get in here?’

Yingjing was a place that ran on rules. An ironclad decree forbade Western automobiles from entering the inner city. Even the Nine Banners Patriarchs could only travel by carriage, and there were strict regulations governing the specifications of those carriages.

Take Shen Yijun, for example. He wasn’t one of the Manchus, so he was only permitted a single-horse carriage. Even one extra horse was forbidden!

"You should think about whose car that is before you stare, heh..."

A cold voice came from behind him.

Shen Yijun turned to see a handsome young man with a braided queue, dressed in a dark cyan jacket, watching him coldly from a few steps away.

"Young Master Ning!"

Shen Yijun recognized the man and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

This was the eldest young master of the Cyan Banner Ninggu Clan. Shen Yijun had sent him countless gifts and formal calling cards, but they had only met once. The man’s personality was the very definition of cold arrogance.

"So it’s your car, Young Master Ning..."

Shen Yijun tried to use the opportunity to say a few flattering words, but his opening remark made the other man’s expression change.

"Idiot!"

Ning Yu cursed, then paused and snorted coldly. "This is my master’s vehicle.

Enough nonsense. Get inside."

With that, he turned and walked directly into the Moon Embracing Tower.

Shen Yijun hurried to follow.

He lowered his head, cursing himself internally. ’I really am an idiot. My brain must be addled. No matter how arrogant Ning Yu is, even he couldn’t have driven a Western car here.’

’It wasn’t just Ning Yu—not even Ning Yuan, the current Patriarch of the Ninggu Clan, could do it. Only the master behind the Ning Family would have that privilege!’

At this thought, Shen Yijun’s heart throbbed with a mixture of apprehension and fervent anticipation.

The interior of the Moon Embracing Tower was resplendent, with even the floors paved with "golden bricks."

The Moon Embracing Tower had nine floors. Shen Yijun followed Ning Yu up, floor by floor. The higher they went, the fewer people there were. Ning Yu finally stopped on the eighth floor.

"This floor has always been reserved for Princes and Commandery Princes. Even nobles from the Upper Three Banners of average status aren’t qualified to come up here.

You and I are both basking in reflected glory tonight..."

Ning Yu turned, his expression stern as he instructed Shen Yijun, "It’s the first room on the left.

Once you’re inside, answer only what you’re asked. Sit only when you’re told to sit...

Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask, and don’t look at what you shouldn’t see.

Got it?"

"Understood, understood."

Shen Yijun nodded repeatedly.

Ning Yu glanced at the box in his hand. "You know who you’re about to meet. If your gift is subpar, it will be a disgrace to my Ning Family.

And you can forget about making a name for yourself in Yingjing..."

"Rest assured, Young Master Ning."

Shen Yijun quickly patted his chest. "I can’t guarantee that he will be completely satisfied, but it certainly won’t be subpar."

The treasure in this small box had cost Shen Yijun nearly half of all the assets he’d brought with him to Yingjing, and it had been incredibly difficult to obtain.

This was a huge gamble for him. If he succeeded tonight and managed to latch onto the powerful figure inside, he could earn back his investment ten, even a hundred times over.

"Fine."

Ning Yu’s expression softened slightly. He nodded. "Go on."

Following Ning Yu’s direction, Shen Yijun walked to the first room on the left, stopped, and carefully knocked on the solid gold door knocker.

After a moment, a cool and indifferent voice came from within.

"Come in."

"Yes."

Shen Yijun replied, pushed the door open, and after stepping inside, turned to close it behind him.

He took two more steps forward and greeted respectfully, "I am Shen Yijun. It is an honor to meet you, Young Master Ling."

Only after doing all this did he dare to raise his head.