26: Sang Wen's fake smile! The initial development of the network! (Please read!

Chapter 26: Sang Wen's Fake Smile! The Initial Development of the Net!

Ten-odd days later, in Prince Yong's Residence.

On the vast training grounds, a stage had been set up.

This was Li Chang'an's new invention; every month, he would invite a famous virtuous courtesan from the capital to sing.

At this moment, a graceful virtuous courtesan opened her cherry lips slightly, "Yi Yin Ju Yaoqin, to play the zither and sing for Your Highness."

Prince Yong, sitting below the stage, nodded woodenly.

"Begin, those who perform well will be rewarded!"

This event was part of Li Chang'an's efforts to cultivate his image as a romantic spendthrift, and also a necessity for spending large sums of money.

Otherwise, accumulating so much money without spending much would also arouse suspicion.

Twenty seventh-rank guards were scattered throughout the residence, all recently "recruited" by Li Chang'an.

Of course, they were all sent from various places by the Net's Nine Shu Xiong, and their affection for Li Chang'an was at its maximum.

The Net's Nine Shu Xiong were Zhao Gao's favored Disciples, and it was entirely possible for them to subdue one or two experts.

For example, by helping them seek revenge, providing money to cure family members' urgent illnesses, or even rescuing death row inmates from prison.

As long as their affection for Li Chang'an was at its maximum, Li Chang'an wouldn't mind their past, though they couldn't break the law after joining the Net.

Today's Prince Yong was not Li Chang'an, but Duan Shui, one of the Six Sword Slaves, disguised through shapeshifting.

This was also intentional on Li Chang'an's part; he often needed a body double.

Duan Shui's build was the most similar to his, and he specialized in the art of shapeshifting and voice alteration, making his disguise indistinguishable from the real thing.

Yi Yin Ju was a song and dance troupe, excelling most at chess and singing.

As the singer Yaoqin began to sing, the women playing instruments and singing all wore faint smiles.

These smiles were very professional, having been practiced for a long time!

Especially after learning they were to perform at Prince Yong's Residence, they had diligently trained for several months!

However, one of the red-clad women playing the zither had a particularly fake smile!

This woman was the young Sang Wen, with fair skin, a beautiful face, bright eyes, and pearly white teeth.

Her bright eyes held a subtle, soul-stirstirring allure, making her a beauty capable of bringing ruin to a nation.

She smiled very fakely because she had seen something astonishing.

Her childhood playmates, Qingwen and Xiren, had become Prince Yong's personal maids, practically soaring to success!

Xiren and Qingwen also saw her, but neither of them showed any reaction.

However, after the song finished, Qingwen's sword hilt intentionally or unintentionally brushed against the fake Prince Yong.

This was the authority Li Chang'an had given to Xiren and Qingwen: to bestow rewards upon whomever they found pleasing.

The fake Prince Yong coughed twice and said, "Well sung, reward her with a song."

After he spoke, Qingwen handed a small booklet to Yaoqin.

Yaoqin's hand, as she took the booklet, trembled violently!

Prince Yong had invited over a dozen virtuous courtesan, and she was the first to be rewarded!

Sang Wen would not know that what truly earned Yi Yin Ju the reward was not the courtesan, but her own presence.

Xiren and Qingwen were ostensibly Li Chang'an's maids, but in reality, they were two of the Six Sword Slaves.

Without Li Chang'an's permission, they could no longer deepen their acquaintance with Sang Wen.

All the courtesans in the capital trained their singing voices day and night, hoping for Prince Yong's reward.

Because Prince Yong had long said that his reward would be newly composed lyrics.

With Prince Yong's new lyrics, any courtesan or Brothel could be popular for several years!

Yaoqin knelt trembling on the ground and kowtowed three times to the fake Prince Yong!

"This humble servant thanks Your Highness Prince Yong for your gracious reward!"

These three kowtows were not in vain at all!

The small booklet in her hand, written by Li Chang'an in his Slender Gold script, was valuable in itself!

Not to mention the new lyrics Li Chang'an had copied were the graceful lyrics of "Liu Sanbian" from his previous life, which would definitely be a sensation for a time.

The fake Prince Yong raised a hand slightly, "Alright, now sing these lyrics."

Subsequently, a poignant new tune slowly began to play.

"Thin quilt, small pillow, cool weather, suddenly feeling the taste of separation... after all, I cannot sleep, a night as long as a year..."

"Ten thousand thoughts, many ways to resolve... binding my life's heart, owing you a thousand lines of tears."

...At this moment, Li Chang'an was in a wealthy merchant's home in the suburbs, where the Net held its semi-annual gathering.

The Net's Nine Shu Xiong would rush back from various regions and, along with the Shu Xiong from the capital, report on the Net's development.

Li Chang'an sat in the main seat, first scanning everyone, all of whom were in a state of absolute loyalty.

It seemed that the affection value for the state of absolute loyalty would not decrease.

"The experts you sent, their loyalty has been very well secured, and this Prince is very satisfied!"

Hearing Li Chang'an's affirmation, the Net's Ten Shu Xiong said in unison, "We are willing to die for Your Highness!"

Li Chang'an continued, "You have come a long way and cannot stay too long. Tell me about the development over the past six months!"

Hua Xiong was originally a palace maid, who later opened a Brothel in Hangzhou.

"Reporting to Your Highness, your subordinate has gathered three core members and thirty peripheral members in Hangzhou!"

Hua Xiong then reported, "Reporting to Your Highness, your subordinate has developed five core members and sixty peripheral members in Xiliang Dao!"

Each of them finished speaking, also reporting on major events that occurred in their respective areas.

The original Net was an assassin organization, but Li Chang'an's Net was now entirely composed of spies gathering intelligence.

After listening to these people, Zhao Gao said, "Your Highness, the Net currently has forty-three core members and four hundred and fifty peripheral members."

Li Chang'an nodded. He knew this number was still too small, far from an intelligence organization that could cover the entire world.

Zhao Gao continued, "Your Highness, the Supervisory Council and the Brocade-Clad Guards have branches everywhere, so our actions are very cautious."

"Moreover, the Ten Shu Xiong's ability to discover talent cannot compare to Your Highness's, and the abilities of the spies may not necessarily be strong either."

Li Chang'an pondered for a moment, then said to everyone, "You have done very well. Everything should prioritize caution, preferring quality over quantity."

"In another two years, when this Prince is a bit older, I will personally travel the world."

"At that time, this Prince will help you identify talents and also bring you more financial support."

The Ten Shu Xiong replied in unison, "Your subordinate obeys!"

These people all had the strength of the sixth or seventh Realm, and all quickly dispersed except for Jiu Xiong.

Li Chang'an said, "Jiu Xiong, what else is there?"

Jiu Xiong said, "Your Highness said before that if there are exceptionally rare talents, they must be brought to the capital."

"My wine shop had been losing money for years, thanks to Mr. Shen helping me manage it, it turned a profit in just two months!"

"I have brought Mr. Shen today; he should possess great business acumen!"

Li Chang'an smiled faintly, Shen Wansan had arrived!

Before long, Shen Wansan appeared before Li Chang'an and Zhao Gao.

Name: Shen Fu (Shen Wansan)

Age: 30 years old

Realm: None

Talents: Business (Ninth Rank), Management (Ninth Rank), Socializing (Ninth Rank)

Abilities: Business (Ninth Rank), Management (Ninth Rank), Socializing (Ninth Rank), Mental Calculation (Sixth Rank)

Affection: 100 (Absolute Loyalty)

This was Shen Wansan in his prime, a money-making machine absolutely loyal to Li Chang'an!

"Your subordinate Shen Wansan, swears to follow Your Highness to the death!"

Those summoned by the System did not need their loyalty re-examined; they could be directly entrusted with important tasks.

"Shen Wansan, I will give you my seal. Return to Jiangnan and withdraw money from Taiping Money House."

"Two million taels as capital, you can use it however you wish!"

Upon hearing the amount, Shen Wansan's eyes immediately lit up; his expression was no different from Fan Sizhe's when he saw money!

"Thank you for Your Highness's trust! Your subordinate will not fail in his mission!"

When Li Chang'an returned from outside the city, the music at Prince Yong's Residence had also just finished.

Prince Yong's personal maid called out to the zither-playing woman, Sang Wen.

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