Chapter 329

Chapter 329: Selling Girls for Money

Fifth Prince had a clear understanding of the level represented by the previous six yuan jidi.

That Lu Xiuhan was already a jinshi by the age of twenty—a rare accomplishment—and moreover with a rank of six yuan jidi. Such a person didn’t even require Fifth Prince to think hard; he could tell that Lu Xiuhan must have had some kind of patronage at the Emperor’s palace. It was only a matter of a suitable opportunity before he would soar to great heights.

As for Wei Yu’s character, Fifth Prince was also very clear.

He was undoubtedly lazy, but when it came to serious matters, he was never careless!

He said Bai Feiyu had the talent to become a six yuan jidi, so that person must be able to compete with Lu Xiuhan!

No doubt about it.

Though Fifth Prince was shocked, as he thought of the age difference between Bai Feiyu and Lu Xiuhan, he felt all the more regretful.

“If you could participate in this imperial examination, wouldn’t that make you the youngest jinshi in Great Wei?”

Whether he could achieve six yuan jidi was uncertain, but the youngest jinshi was definitely within reach.

Bai Feiyu smiled and cupped his hands, “Fifth Highness flatters me. This humble one is not in good health and fears he cannot endure the imperial examinations.”

“Alas! What a pity!”

Fifth Prince looked at him, feeling increasingly regretful. “What illness do you have? Let Ninth Brother find the Imperial Physician to examine you tomorrow.”

The specific illness didn’t matter; the key was that Bai Feiyu himself was not willing to take the imperial examination.

Wei Yu said, “Oh, Fifth Brother, his body is naturally weak and requires nurturing. You don’t need to say so much. Is Lu Xiuhan here? I’ll take him to catch up first. You just go and handle the Newspaper Agency’s business, okay?”

Fifth Prince twitched the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of grievance.

So that meant he was annoyed by him.

Therefore, Bai Feiyu was not someone sent for his recommendation, so what was the point of having him look at Bai Feiyu?

The first issue of the newspaper was coming soon, and Fifth Prince had many matters to handle under him, so he really couldn’t stay long. After sending someone to escort Wei Yu, he left.

After Fifth Prince left, Wei Yu asked Bai Feiyu, “How do you feel about it?”

Bai Feiyu lowered his eyes and smiled gently: “This humble one is ignorant and weak, so I dare not say much.”

Ha!

This guy.

Wei Yu glanced at Third Princess beside him and, in the end, held back from uttering the word “nonsense” that was on his lips.

Calling himself ignorant and acting pitiful and self-deprecating like that—he didn’t believe Bai Feiyu couldn’t understand the meaning behind his words!

When they met Lu Xiuhan, the latter was sitting at a table discussing matters with someone.

Lu Xiuhan was here entirely because Wei Yu had previously called him over from the Hanlin Academy to be a writer. The Newspaper Agency had been busy recently, and Wei Yu often came to talk to him.

After exchanging greetings, Lu Xiuhan was also surprised to see Bai Feiyu.

After all, Bai Feiyu was someone of comparable fame before the imperial examination, and Lu Xiuhan had paid attention to him. He had wanted to compete with him, but unfortunately, Bai Feiyu hadn’t participated in the imperial examinations in the end…

Wei Yu’s visit today was not to cause trouble for himself; he was purely bringing Bai Feiyu over to “further study.” After meeting Lu Xiuhan, he entrusted Bai Feiyu to him.

“Lord Lu, I leave Bai Feiyu in your care. You two have a good chat. I still have matters to attend to, so I will not stay long.”

Determined not to let Lu Xiuhan rope him into staying unpaid, Wei Yu took his silly sister who was watching the scene and left.

Left behind were the two staring at each other awkwardly: …

—

After leaving the Newspaper Agency, Third Princess looked back at the signboard of Guangming Newspaper Office, then turned to ask Wei Yu, “Ninth Brother, who is stronger between Lord Lu and Bai Feiyu?”

Wei Yu waved his fan and responded with a counter-question, “Between hairpins and bracelets, which do you prefer?”

Uh.

Third Princess hesitated: “Naturally, I like both. Hairpins and bracelets are indispensable accessories. White jade inlaid with red coral, pure gold inlaid with southern pearls, kingfisher feather inlaid with red, blue, and green gems… I like all these head ornaments very much. How could I judge which is better?”

“That’s exactly my point!”

Wei Yu smiled: “Both of these are rare talents that appear once in a hundred years. Having come into official service and wishing to use their talents to serve the Imperial Court—that is enough. Why fuss over who is stronger?”

As long as they are capable workers, that’s what matters!

Third Princess was impressed by her Ninth Brother’s generous attitude and looked at him with starry eyes: “Ninth Brother, you speak so well! It’s me who’s ignorant. Jing’an will definitely learn more from you in the future.”

Wei Yu felt gratified inside: “Hmm, you are teachable. Ninth Brother has confidence in you.”

The child had good insight—not wasted love indeed.

Having gone out of the palace for a rare outing, although Wei Yu wanted to return and relax, he couldn’t refuse Third Princess’s desire to go shopping.

There was no other way, so Wei Yu had to accompany her.

Walking along the street, they stopped and looked around frequently. Following behind were only Ding Facai and a palace servant who was carrying things for Third Princess.

The child was curious about everything outside the palace and wanted to buy everything, even though the palace used only the finest items, but she was attracted to crude and shoddy goods.

“You don’t understand. Eighth Brother said this is called a ‘wild charm’!” Third Princess said righteously, holding a sugar figurine.

Wei Yu sighed faintly, choosing not to comment on the ‘wild charm.’

He was a vulgar man who liked luxurious clothes, gold, and jade. He wanted to live a high-class life of eating, drinking, and playing all to the utmost!

Alas, it was difficult this lifetime.

“Eh? What’s happening over there?” Third Princess saw a crowd gathered ahead, curious, she walked over.

Wei Yu followed behind and also saw the commotion.

It was a scene of girls being sold for money.

Four young girls, the oldest about seven or eight years old, the youngest still an infant, huddled together, being called out by a middle-aged man in front of passersby like livestock.

“They are all honest and dependable girls; you can use them for any work. One child for four taels of silver. The youngest is free as an extra. Noble sirs needing firewood girls can buy and train them well; they are definitely worth the price…”

Someone shook their head in disdain, “These girls look haggard and sickly. Who knows if they are ill? You still sell them for four taels each, at most one tael!”

No matter how many times the man had been selling them, whenever passersby criticized him, he could always find a cunning retort.

“Hey, sir, what you say is nonsense. One tael is nowhere near enough. If you go to the traffickers to buy girls, these small girls each cost five taels. I am already selling for two taels less! Besides, these are raised in my own home—how could they be ill?”

Saying this, the man grabbed the outermost little girl, smiling obsequiously as he lifted her face to show to the crowd, “Look at their faces, these girls are all beauties in the making. Really, their mother used to be the beauty of our village. It’s just that the family lacks grain; otherwise, how would they sell cheaply? Noble sirs, if you buy and take them back to raise a bit… Hehe, it’s definitely worth it!”

What he implied was truly despicable.

Wei Yu’s eyes swept over the men around who relaxed their expressions slightly. Just as his brows started to furrow, he heard the good girl beside him shout loudly:

“Twenty taels of silver, these four girls are mine!”

Wei Yu: ?