Chapter 427 - 429: The Evil Deeds of the Crown Prince Mansion
Princess Mingxia looked utterly helpless.
At this moment, someone emerged from the Prince Mansion.
"Big sister, the third brother simply won't listen to persuasion. How about I try to persuade him again? He has no silver and nowhere to go once he leaves the Prince Mansion."
Princess Mingxia walked up to Feng Bailing.
"He's a grown man with both hands and feet, and he's a mercenary. He's not going to starve to death. Over these years, he's taken a lot of silver from Prince Shun's Mansion. He's always been rude to you and Dugu Wu, it's about time he was taught a proper lesson."
Feng Bailing pondered.
"I see you've sorted out the welfare accounts very clearly. Would you be interested in seeking a job opportunity? My friend's chamber of commerce is in need of an accountant."
Feng Bailing glanced around.
Just now, she seemed to sense something.
But in the blink of an eye, the presence vanished. It wasn't an assassin, so Feng Bailing didn't take it to heart.
Su Wang is preparing to be the top scorer, and business has been good since Phoenix Chamber of Commerce started. In recent days, with the help of Ouyang Chenchen and Li Mubei, the chamber expanded its international trade with other countries. With a host of complex transactions, without Su Wang's presence, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce's accounts became somewhat chaotic relying on the Zhang brothers alone.
With Feng Bailing occupied with daily study in the Calligraphy and Painting Room, she had no time to organize the accounts. However, Princess Mingxia had some free time after sorting out the accounts of Prince Shun's Mansion, and Feng Bailing trusted her, so she wanted to recommend her for the position of accountant at Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
"Me? Am I capable?"
Princess Mingxia's face flushed red.
Deep down, she was actually rather eager. Since taking a break from her studies at Yuxiu Academy, she felt cooped up in the mansion all day. Unlike typical noble young ladies, who enjoy calligraphy and embroidery, she found herself interested in accounting.
"Of course you're up to it. The chamber is still growing and will become a large, or even giant, commerce body. The monthly salary for the accountant isn't small either. You could get fifty taels for a one-month trial, and upon passing the trial period, you could earn one hundred taels, with even a share of profits in the future."
While speaking, Feng Bailing took Princess Mingxia by the hand and led her out of the mansion, heading towards Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
"That was close."
Seeing the Queen Mother and her fourth aunt leave, Dugu Xiaojin emerged from the alley.
The Queen Mother's intuition was truly sharp.
Dugu Xiaojin noticed that her senses seemed keener than ordinary people, like just now when their third uncle didn't notice him even though their third uncle had gathered the Wuji Seal, yet the Queen Mother felt something was amiss. If he hadn't run fast enough, he surely would have been caught.
It's better to wait until evening to visit the Queen Mother and Xiao Li.
Dugu Xiaojin thought for a moment, sniffing the lingering scent of Dongfang Yong before following it.
His third uncle really disliked him and his father.
But Xiaojin didn't dislike his third uncle.
When the servants sneaked around calling him a little monster, it was his third uncle who taught those gossipy servants a lesson, even though he had never spoken a word to him.
If possible, he wanted to invite his third uncle to join this Competition Among Ten Countries.
His third uncle was a Wuji Master, and moreover, they were family.
For easy tracking, Xiaojin rolled around in a pit next to him, turning his once snow-white wolf fur into a grayish color before he continued following the scent of Dongfang Yong.
After leaving Prince Shun's Mansion, Dongfang Yong was also fuming inside.
He wanted to find an inn to stay in, but upon checking, he realized he hadn't brought even one single silver with him.
He didn't have many friends in Chu City, only knowing Hong Xuan and Feng Luochen.
Feng Luochen was Feng Bailing's brother, and of course, he was unwilling to ask for help, and as for Hong Xuan, that was Dugu Wu's friend. As Dongfang Yong wracked his brain, with not a penny to his name, he suddenly felt lost in the vast Chu City.
"If it comes to it, I might as well go to the Crown Prince Mansion."
Hesitantly, Dongfang Yong began making his way toward the Crown Prince Mansion.
Seeing Dongfang Yong heading toward the Crown Prince Mansion, Dugu Xiaojin grew anxious.
But on his way there, he saw someone suddenly leap in front of Dongfang Yong.
"Dongfang Yong, so it really is you. We haven't seen each other for days; Hong Xuan and I have been looking for you."
"What are you looking for me for? I am planning to participate in the Competition Among Ten Countries and am currently not considering taking on missions."
Dongfang Yong spoke with an indifferent expression.
"It's about this matter that I want to talk to you. Over at Mercenary City, I heard someone is recruiting mercenaries for the Competition Among Ten Countries, offering a high price. Didn't you get the news?"
Feng Luochen excitedly took out a piece of paper.
This piece of paper has been circulating among mercenaries everywhere recently.
A hundred thousand taels for a slot.
And that doesn't even include the additional rewards after ranking in the competition.
"I saw it quite a while ago. But this recruitment notice doesn't mention any specific names, which seems suspicious. Besides, there's no need to go all the way to Mercenary City to take part in the Competition Among Ten Countries. And we still don't know which country we would be serving."
Although Dongfang Yong was short on money, he did not wish to represent another dynasty and contend against Great Chu.
"So you're planning on going to the Crown Prince Mansion? That's the Crown Prince Mansion right ahead of us. You've already gathered the Wuji Seal, what are you going there for? Besides, your brother is, after all, Dugu Wu. You can't turn your back on him."
Feng Luochen muttered.
When the Crown Prince Mansion was recruiting people, Feng Luochen had also heard about it.
Although he despised Dugu Wu as well, he couldn't support the people from the Crown Prince Mansion. That Crown Princess Consort was his sister's love rival.
"He's not my brother."
Feng Luochen would have been better off not mentioning it.
As soon as he spoke, a surge of rage sprouted in Dongfang Yong's heart, and he strode towards the Crown Prince Mansion.
"Think carefully about this. If you really join the Crown Prince Mansion, we might stand on opposite sides in the Competition Among Ten Countries."
Feng Luochen, becoming anxious, caught up with Dongfang Yong.
"I just want to stand against Dugu Wu and make him lose face."
Dongfang Yong had already reached the entrance to the Crown Prince Mansion and was about to find someone to send in his message.
Before he could state his purpose, a commotion came from inside the Crown Prince Mansion.
"Oh no, a wild dog has broken in. The dogs inside the mansion have gone mad; hurry!"
Several guards heard this and rushed into the mansion.
Dongfang Yong was left hanging outside.
"What's going on; shall we go in and have a look?"
Feng Luochen said curiously. Saying this, he circled the mansion gate, intending to jump in from near the side gate of the Crown Prince Mansion.
Yet Dongfang Yong hesitated for a moment before following.
Just as they were about to climb over the wall, they saw a big grey dog leap out from within.
In its mouth, it carried a corpse.
"Jeez, what a big... that creature is a wolf!"
Feng Luochen was startled.
The wolf, with menacing eyes, glanced at them, dropped the corpse in front of them, and turned to leave.
Both stood frozen, hesitant for a moment before moving forward to inspect, their faces instantly changing at the sight.
Moments later, at Xinglin Spring.
Dongfang Yong wore a reluctant face, while Feng Luochen urged Feng Bailing to examine the corpse.
Feng Bailing stepped forward to inspect the body and said in a deep voice,
"His Dantian has shattered. It appears to be a result of a failed Gathering Seal, the reversal of Gang Qi, and the complete rupture of meridians."