16: Chapter 16 The Mysterious Pei Lingshu!

Shen Yi did not know how wealthy this rich lady was, but he knew that she had changed her clothes twice in one day.

The fabric of the clothes was by no means cheap.

She wore a scarlet flowing cloud fairy dress, tailored in a sharp, mature style. The hem was embroidered with dark gold intertwined lotus flowers and cloud patterns, with a subtle luster surging as she moved—vibrant but not seductive.

Her waist was cinched with a wide, red gold and jade-inlaid sash, outlining her slender yet upright waist, adding a touch of heroic elegance.

Her wide sleeves hung loosely, the edges adorned with fine silver thread. When the breeze blew, they looked like red lotus flowers rolling in waves, and a faint, warm fragrance lingered around her.

Her dark hair was coiled high, secured only by a single South Sea pearl jade hairpin, with a few soft strands falling to her shoulders, making her neck appear as white and lustrous as jade.

Perhaps... this was the cheapest accessory Pei Lingshu owned?

Against the backdrop of the red dress, her already stunning face looked even more beautiful, with skin whiter than snow and lips like cinnabar. The corners of her brows and eyes lost a bit of their languor and gained a touch of vibrant sharpness.

A few days ago, she was refined and spirited; today, in her shimmering red dress, she embodied both the cleverness of a young girl and the awe-inspiring elegance of a noble daughter from a prominent family. At a glance, she looked like a fairy flower blooming in raging flames—brilliant, compelling, and possessing an inherent nobility that could not be slighted.

Shen Yi could not help but stare, momentarily stunned.

Pei Lingshu looked rather smug.

"How is it? This outfit... paired with this South Sea pearl jade hairpin, it should be just right, right?"

Shen Yi felt a bit conflicted.

Just right?

It was practically a dimensional strike—using a cannon to kill a mosquito!

Shen Yi quickly smiled and said.

"It's extremely beautiful... but no matter what, it's not as good as our first meeting at the Imperial Music Conservatory."

Pei Lingshu was a bit puzzled.

"What is this blockhead saying now? I went to such trouble to carefully put this together... and it's not as good as my casual clothes from back then?"

Shen Yi said with a smile.

"At that first meeting, I just couldn't look enough. It was like gently flowing water, yet it remained etched in my heart."

Pei Lingshu's face could not help but flush, but she opened her mouth and said, with a sharp tongue.

"You lecher."

"Why are you scolding me?"

"Eat."

Shen Yi had not eaten all day, so he naturally began to wolf down his food.

Meanwhile, Pei Lingshu ate in a slow and orderly manner... it was clear who was superior.

Shen Yi mumbled while eating and asked.

"Miss Pei, aren't you curious about this diluojiang?"

Pei Lingshu pouted.

"I've seen it... it's nothing special. It can't improve one's beauty or nourish the skin, so I just let it be."

"Oh, that's true."

"But this batch of diluojiang saved my life!"

"Oh, right! That Qingyuan Carp!"

Shen Yi quickly remembered something and wanted to get up.

But Pei Lingshu said indifferently.

"Sit down..."

"Ah?"

"The Qingyuan Carp has already become a First-Grade Spirit Item. I've already checked it for you..."

"Not only that, but it has also grown two whiskers."

"It grew whiskers?"

Shen Yi scratched his head.

Pei Lingshu said in a lukewarm tone.

"In the Jing Dynasty, spirit items are classified not only by rank but also by quality assessment, similar to official evaluations: Inferior, Average, Good, Excellent, Flawless... and Jade."

"This Qingyuan Carp, having become a First-Grade Spirit Item, can be rated as Good."

"But since it underwent a transformation, it can be rated as 'Excellent'."

"It has sprouted whiskers and possesses a trace of 'Golden Carp Qi'."

"In the future, it might transform into a 'Koi', which can increase Luck."

"It would be a pity to eat it. It could be reported to the imperial court... offering it as tribute would be a decent political achievement."

Shen Yi looked overjoyed.

"It seems today is our lucky day."

"Our..."

"Eat quickly... eat quickly..."

Pei Lingshu took out two pots of wine and said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Care for a drink?"

Shen Yi hesitated... then, as if he had made a decision!

"Just a small cup, just a small cup..."

Shen Yi, who had not touched alcohol for a full half-year, broke his abstinence and drank until he was slightly tipsy.

There was no one else in the courtyard. Shen Yi muttered to himself.

"If only this spirit field could be solidified... then I could plant some spirit herbs."

"Then I could sell them to Taiping County, make connections, and during the year-end evaluations, I would be able to get a rating of Good or Excellent."

Pei Lingshu curled her lip.

"So young, yet such an official-seeker."

Shen Yi suddenly stood up, acting like a complete fool, grabbed Pei Lingshu, and started talking about his grand plan!

"Once I have the spirit field and exchange it for an official position, I can use Official Aura to boost the Luck of the people in Qinghe Town!"

"By then, I'll have the capital to recruit refugees... and then I can start building up my strength!"

Pei Lingshu originally wanted to pull her hand back, but looking at Shen Yi, she inexplicably didn't move.

Shen Yi continued.

"Then I'll start expanding in all directions, head west out of the Sanchuan Sand Sea, get promoted to a county, rise step by step, and turn the whole city into an army!"

"Build high walls, store plenty of grain, slowly..."

Pei Lingshu felt that the Shen Yi before her was very interesting... interesting to the extreme.

She parted her red lips slightly, squinted her eyes, and asked with a smile.

"Slowly what?"

Shen Yi stammered...

"Slowly... slowly proclaim myself king."

The smile on Pei Lingshu's lips widened, revealing a small canine tooth.

"In the current Jing Dynasty, there are no kings with different surnames..."

"What kind of nonsense... the king I'm talking about..."

"Oh?"

Pei Lingshu's eyes became dangerous...

At the same time, they were mixed with a certain excitement.

"What kind of king?"

Before she finished speaking, Shen Yi suddenly stood up straight and grinned.

Recalling the past, he felt resentment in his heart.

Damn it, even with his cheats, he couldn't beat the local faction.

Then wasn't this cheat for nothing?

His body swayed, and he held the wine pot, his speech slurred... yet he was full of heroic spirit.

"Come autumn, on the eighth day of the ninth month, after my flowers bloom, all other flowers will die."

After finishing... he threw away the wine pot.

With a thud, he fell flat on his back.

And fell asleep...

Uncle Fu's figure slowly appeared... looking at the sleeping Shen Yi with some confusion.

"This kid... what great killing intent."

"It seems he is quite dissatisfied with the noble families monopolizing and cutting off his future..."

Pei Lingshu, however, stared carefully at Shen Yi's thin face, which clearly belonged to a scholar, yet had deep, sharp features.

She lingered without moving.

"Very interesting..."

"Uncle Fu?"

"Young Miss..."

"Solidify two mu of spirit fields for him..."

"Two mu?"

"Just two mu, consider it a dowry."

"This dowry might be a bit too small; it's not grand enough."

"There's plenty of time... I didn't expect that, while stationed at the border, I would meet such an interesting person."

"How does he compare to those Young Masters?"

"Each one of them is greasy and glib, backed by noble families, and commits all kinds of evil."

"They are rotten to the bone..."

"Er... I remember he was quite glib while eating too?"

Pei Lingshu glanced at Uncle Fu.

"Can that be the same?"

Uncle Fu immediately fell silent.

"I'll go handle the task..."

"Mm."

And everything was proceeding slowly and methodically.

A night of fish and Dragon dance!