Song Chu: Dad, if you don't work hard, how can I just lie down and relax?

Chapter 38 Zhao Guangmei Getting Involved

Inside the room, Wang Jun slept soundly, having engaged in some physical activity with Han Ling'er before falling asleep.

Wang Lu himself tossed and turned, unable to sleep well for most of the night. He was aware that his relationship with Zhao Guangmei, and even Zhao Dezhao, was now a little too close.

If things continue like this, he will definitely not have a good time during the reign of Emperor Taizong. At the very least, he will have no chance of becoming a first-rank official.

We can't place all our hopes for becoming a first-rank official on our father. Besides, what if he couldn't become a first-rank official during the reign of Emperor Taizu, and then he gets implicated by us during the reign of Emperor Taizong?

But... Zhao Guangmei always takes the initiative to find him, and he is Zhao Guangmei's study companion, so there is really no reasonable excuse for him to want to stay away.

"Sigh~"

Wang Lu turned over and continued to toss and turn.

Recently, Zhao Guangmei has continued to visit him every day, and she has become exceptionally serious about learning to cook.

I heard that when he returned to the palace yesterday, he personally prepared a novel meal for Zhao Kuangyin and Empress Dowager Du. They were all very happy with the meal and praised him repeatedly. They did not think that he was not promising because he was studying cooking.

As for the grain prices and the unruly soldiers in Kaifeng, Zhao Guangmei hasn't inquired about them for some time now, perhaps because she has accepted reality and stopped caring.

As for Zhao Dezhao, after getting to know him, he seemed quite ordinary. The main problem was that he was too young, only ten years old. To be honest, there's a big difference between ten and thirteen. At thirteen, he's already a grown man, while at ten he's still a child. He spends his days reading and practicing martial arts, nothing special.

The thought of Emperor Taizong succeeding to the throne and both of them dying, while the Zhao family still seemed happy and loving, made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

But there was nothing they could do.

The next morning, after Wang Lu woke up, brushed his teeth, washed up, and got dressed, he went to the palace to accompany his studies. There he saw Zhao Guangmei practicing swordsmanship in the Zide Hall (Wan'an Palace), sweating profusely and completely soaked. Wang Lu was not skilled in martial arts, but he knew that it was a technique for killing.

He is still young, and the Song Dynasty is still in its early stages, with lax rules, so he can enter and leave the inner palace and take the opportunity to observe Empress Dowager Du's health.

When Zhao Guangmei saw Wang Lu arrive, she said, "You're here? Let's spar."

After saying this, he gestured to the eunuchs to prepare a wooden sword for Wang Lu as well.

"What? I'm not a military officer; I'm going to be a civil official. Why are you giving me a sword?"

"In chaotic times, where are there truly pure civil officials? Practicing swordsmanship is a means of self-defense. Isn't swordsmanship one of the six arts of a gentleman?"

"The Song Dynasty has already been founded, so how can it still be a chaotic world? I believe that Your Majesty will definitely be able to establish a peaceful and prosperous era. Don't you believe me?"

Zhao Guangmei was taken aback by Wang Lu's words, then pouted and said, "Even in a prosperous era, it's hard to say whether we'll encounter bandits or rebels. Learning some swordsmanship is good for self-defense. If we don't encounter them, then we can consider it a way to improve our health."

"But……"

"Enough with the nonsense, take this!"

After saying that, Zhao Guangmei strode forward and attacked, slashing down from above.

"Holy crap, you're serious?!" Wang Lu quickly swung his sword to block.

"Why do you use an iron sword while I use a wooden sword?" Wang Lu couldn't help but complain.

"Nonsense! What if you hurt me if you also used an iron sword?"

"Aren't you afraid of hurting me?"

"I am the emperor's younger brother, I have special privileges."

"What you said actually makes a fucking valid point."

After only a dozen or so exchanges, with a loud thud, Wang Lu's wooden sword was pinned down by Zhao Guangmei. Zhao Guangmei then made a graceful turn, like a dancer, and with a flick of her toes, she used a double kick to trip Wang Lu, sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt.

"Go easy on me, did I do something to offend you and you're going to beat me up?"

Zhao Guangmei knocked down Wang Lu and laughed like a villain, looking extremely smug: "So you really don't know any swordsmanship at all. I thought you were just being modest."

"Am I being modest? I'm just a pure scholar."

Hahaha, hahahahaha.

"Does beating me up make you this happy?"

"Finally, there's something you can't do as well as me, so I'm happy."

Wang Lu was speechless, rolled his eyes at him, and reached out his hand: "Help me up."

Zhao Guangmei reached out and pulled him up: "From now on, you'll teach me how to cook, and I'll teach you swordsmanship."

"Can I not learn it?"

"You have no choice but to learn; it's an order."

"Damn it! That damned privileged class should all be wiped out!"

"Stop rambling, watch this, come on, follow me, start with the horse stance."

…………

The two practiced swordsmanship for over an hour; to be precise, Zhao Guangmei practiced on him for over an hour. Wang Lu's legs ached so badly from the horse stance that he couldn't even stand up, and he started to act like a child, lying on the ground.

"I'm not training anymore, I'm not training anymore, I absolutely can't train anymore. I have absolutely no feeling in my legs. If I were to poop right now, I reckon my legs wouldn't be able to support me and I'd fall into the toilet. I'm not training anymore, I'm not training anymore."

Zhao Guangmei, also panting, sat down next to Wang Lu with a smile and said, "Yesterday I cooked a big table of dishes for my brother, and he was very happy."

Wang Lu rolled over, moving away from Zhao Guangmei's buttocks, a little afraid that the little rascal might suddenly fart in his face:

"When cooking for officials, pay attention to the balance of meat and vegetables. I've heard that officials love to eat meat and can eat a lot of it, with big chunks of meat at every meal. That's not good for their health. A balanced diet of meat and vegetables is the right way."

I saw him the day before yesterday, and wow, it's only been a short time since the country was founded, but his belly is already noticeably bigger.

"I mentioned to my elder brother that I wanted to leave and asked him to grant me a mansion, but he refused."

"Besides, you can't drink too much alcohol. Excessive drinking is bad for your health. Why would a little kid like you want a mansion? Isn't it good enough to live in the palace with the Empress Dowager?"

"My elder brother found us a teacher, who was his former advisor in the Prince’s residence. His name was Lü Yin, oh, now he’s called Lü Yuqing. Have you heard of him?"

They said they would teach us Confucian classics, the lessons of the rise and fall of the Five Dynasties, court politics, and practical matters concerning people's livelihood, taxation, and disaster relief in Kaifeng Prefecture.

"Lü Yuqing, ah~ Oh." And then there was no further comment.

"Do you have any money? Lend me some." Zhao Guangmei suddenly said.

"What the hell? You, the emperor's brother, are asking me for money? What are you planning that you can't let the Emperor and Empress Dowager know about? Wouldn't that make me your accomplice?"

"Just tell me if you're going to lend me the money or not. If you don't lend me the money, I definitely can't tell you anything."

How much do you want?

"Maybe... to be honest, I'm not sure either. Lend me a thousand first, and if it's not enough, I'll ask you for more."

"One thousand... strings of cash?"

"Um."

"I'll go home and ask my dad. It shouldn't be a problem. But what exactly do you want to do? I can lend you the money, but you have to tell me what you're going to do with it. You... you don't mean to go to a brothel, do you?"

As he spoke, Wang Lu glanced at Zhao Guangmei's lower body and asked, "Has it developed?"

"What are you talking about? How could I do such a thing? Yesterday, I saw many shops and residences for sale in Anrenfang in the east wing. I'm thinking of taking one over."

"Inn? Oh, a guesthouse? Huh? You want to take over a guesthouse and become the owner yourself? What's wrong with you? Guesthouses... no, guesthouses don't have curfews. You're not planning to take over a guesthouse and then wait for the rebels to come and rob it, are you?"

Zhao Guangmei turned her head: "You said it yourself, that my brother is waiting for the right opportunity, waiting for those rioting soldiers to provoke someone they can't afford to offend, so he can use that as an excuse to enforce military discipline."

As long as military discipline can be maintained and the people of Kaifeng have confidence in the Song Dynasty, they will stop hoarding grain like a madman, and the grain supply will be available, right?

I guess I'm one of those people they can't afford to mess with, right? With my current cooking skills, do you think I could open an inn? If I could make money, wouldn't that definitely attract some rebel soldiers?

Wang Lu was stunned.

"Isn't this a bit dangerous?" Wang Lu asked.

"It's not dangerous at all, will you help me or not?"

"I... alright, I'll help you."