Chapter 8: The Deal
1536 Words
Except for the Beigi Kingdom in the north, Zheng Hao is a well-known number one handsome man in both the Nanzheng Kingdom and the Dongyuan Kingdom, and there are probably not many people who don't know him.
However, in her previous life, Situ Yingxiu knew this second prince of the Nanzheng Kingdom not because Zheng Hao was the renowned "Nation's Most Eligible Bachelor" and the number one handsome man, but because of her fiancé, Murong Changqing.
Murong Changqing is the heir apparent of the Changxing Marquis Mansion and the legitimate eldest son of the Lady of Changxing Marquis.
In her previous life, Zheng Hao was a friend of Murong Changqing and used to often follow Murong Changqing to visit the Situ Residence in the capital city. Therefore, Situ Yingxiu was not unfamiliar with him.
But she remembered that when she got to know Zheng Hao, it was already two years after her whole family entered the capital city.
If she remembered correctly, at this moment, Zheng Hao didn't know Murong Changqing at all. They only got to know each other a year later at a grand palace banquet because of the relationship with the Crown Prince's son.
Moreover, Situ Yingxiu didn't remember that Zheng Hao had boarded her family's building boat at this time in her previous life.
However, upon careful consideration, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Situ Yingxiu frowned tightly.
She remembered that when she first met Zheng Hao at the Situ Residence in her previous life, Zheng Hao didn't act like they were meeting for the first time. Instead, he immediately asked her if she was feeling better from seasickness...
At that time, she was surprised and secretly wondered when she had become so familiar with him that he even knew she was seasick.
But due to etiquette, she didn't ask him further and just nodded with a smile.
Besides, since Zheng Hao was her fiancé's friend, it wasn't appropriate for her to be too familiar with him.
At this time in her previous life, because she was heartbroken over her younger brother's accidental death, she had been hiding in her cabin and not coming out. Her family told others that she was seasick and thus wouldn't meet any outside guests.
Thinking about it this way, it seemed that in her previous life, there indeed had been other guests on their boat later.
Unfortunately, during those days, she was too sad. Until they landed, she had been hiding in her cabin and never came out...
"Who is it below the boat?" Situ Jianren, accompanied by Madam Zhang and Situ Anxiang, also came out of their cabin and stood on the boat asking.
"I'm Feng Hao from the Nanzheng Kingdom, coming to the Dongyuan Kingdom to visit relatives. On the way, we encountered river bandits who robbed our boat. I only managed to escape with seven or eight of my attendants in a small boat. I wonder if you, sir, could accommodate me?" Zheng Hao cupped his hands and smiled brightly at the people on the building boat. His white teeth and the starlight in his eyes complemented each other, making some maids and women servants blush.
The corner of Situ Yingxiu's mouth couldn't help twitching. — This Zheng Hao really doesn't use his brain when he lies...
He called himself Feng Hao because his imperial concubine mother had the surname Feng.
Of course, he wouldn't tell the people of the Situ family that he was the second prince of the Nanzheng Kingdom.
However, it was too absurd to say that they had encountered river bandits.
Looking at the seven or eight attendants beside him, they were all tall and sturdy, with sharp eyes and an extraordinary demeanor. They were all experts, and their clothes and hair were in perfect order, and they were calm and composed. There was no sign of panic or urgency as if they had escaped from river bandits.
Situ Yingxiu could even tell that there were swords and knives hidden under their robes!
What kind of river bandits could deal with such a group of people?!
What kind of river bandits would let go of this covered boat with its mast made of excellent ebony wood?!
People who make a living on the rivers all know that ebony wood is as precious as gold. Selling Situ Yingxiu's family's building boat wouldn't even be enough to buy a small piece of that ebony wood...
Only a fool would believe such a made-up lie...
Situ Yingxiu pursed her lips and was about to turn back to her cabin when she felt her legs go weak. She heard her father say very enthusiastically, "Ah?! How could you encounter river bandits?! — Come up quickly! Come up quickly! Have you had your dinner?!"
There really was a fool!
And this fool turned out to be her own father...
Situ Yingxiu quickly held onto the ship's post and glanced at her father. — Her father had always been very shrewd and didn't seem like someone who would believe everything others said without thinking...
Could it be that her father had already seen that Zheng Hao had an extraordinary background and was deliberately playing dumb?
To be honest, if Situ Yingxiu didn't have the experience of being reborn, when she first saw Zheng Hao and his group, she would have thought they were more like river bandits and wouldn't have dared to let them on the boat casually.
Situ Yingxiu walked towards Situ Jianren and said in a low voice, "Father, it's too late at night. Their boat is still habitable..."
"Ah! Our boat can't be lived in anymore! Look, it's already taking in water and is about to sink!" Zheng Hao had sharp ears and actually heard Situ Yingxiu's words. He casually stamped his foot, and the covered boat really started to sink...
Situ Yingxiu turned her eyes and saw this. She instinctively grabbed the ship's side, leaned forward, and said urgently, "You prodigal son! That's a covered... boat!"
Sinking the ebony wood to the bottom of the water was simply like sinking a boat full of gold to the bottom of the water. It would be something that would invite divine punishment!
Zheng Hao was taken aback. — He was already fifteen years old, and no one had ever scolded him like this!
But that delicate cry of "prodigal son", with a hint of anger and pity (actually, he was just overthinking it =_=), really made him itch all over and he wanted to scratch his ears and cheeks.
With great difficulty, maintaining his image in front of others, Zheng Hao tried to put his hands behind his back and smiled at Situ Yingxiu, "This younger sister, if you let me board your boat, I'll give you this covered boat. How about it?"
"It's a deal!" Situ Yingxiu immediately said. The true nature of the royal merchant that she had developed in her previous life at home immediately came into play. She turned around and looked at Situ Jianren, who was gaping in surprise, and said, "Father, lower the rope ladder and invite them up."
Situ Jianren closed his open mouth, gave her a glare, but there was an undeniable smile in his eyes, "Father knows. Why do you need to tell me?" It seemed that Situ Jianren had also taken a fancy to the ebony wood of the other party...
Situ Yingxiu felt like laughing. Indeed, how could she have forgotten? Her ability to appreciate these things was taught by her father!
Since she could tell it was ebony wood, how could her father not see it?
He must have already had his eyes on Zheng Hao's covered boat...
Situ Yingxiu smiled slyly and quickly lowered her head, walking behind her father and standing next to Situ Anxiang.
Just as Situ Jianren was about to order someone to lower the rope ladder, Zheng Hao had already leaped up, and together with his attendants, they flew onto Situ Yingxiu's building boat and stood in front of Situ Yingxiu.
Situ Yingxiu: "..." This guy actually has such martial arts skills!
In her previous life, compared to Murong Changqing, who rarely talked, Situ Yingxiu had only thought that Zheng Hao was very talkative, and his attitude of always acting like "I'm the most handsome in the world" was really too much!
She completely regarded him as a vain and incompetent prince.
Otherwise, how could he not outdo his elder and younger brothers at home, and he alone was sent here as a hostage prince?!
Situ Yingxiu secretly thought to herself and took a step back.
Zheng Hao stood in front of her, smiled, and tilted his head to look at her, "This younger sister, since you've accepted my covered boat, shouldn't you give me something to eat? — I've been hungry for a whole day. If I don't eat soon, I might just float up on the water..."
The most beautiful thing about Zheng Hao was his smile. When he smiled, it was like a profusion of flowers blooming, so beautiful that it took one's breath away.
Situ Yingxiu remained indifferent. Since she had always had a bad impression of this person, she simply ignored his appearance.
- Writer
