Chapter Seventy-Five Development

  Yang Yunqiu was unwilling to live in the same house as Sun Zhaoyang, and I guess others wouldn't be too willing to live with him either.

  Fortunately, he didn't have to worry about it. The steward selected a luxurious mansion with many beautiful women and wine houses nearby, not far from the Teaching Department, and rented it for half a year in advance for Sun Zhao Yang.

  Yang Yunqiu didn't know, but it seemed that not all housekeepers had the same standard. However, this Zhou housekeeper chosen by the toothpaste company was absolutely perfect in every way, except for his face always being stern, which made him unlikable. Otherwise, there was nothing to criticize about him, and he managed the mansion in the capital very well.

  At first, he was not familiar with it and still followed Yang Yunqiu's instructions. Later, when Yang Yunqiu delegated authority, Zou Guan's ability suddenly emerged. He knew what the master liked to eat, drink, read books at what time every day, what kind of guests he wanted to see, how to find excuses to get rid of unwanted guests without offending them, and what gifts to give to friends on festivals. He did all these things very well and didn't seem like other people's servants who had a lot of ulterior motives.

  Anyway, Yang Yunqiu was taken care of so comfortably that when she returned to Earth, she felt uncomfortable.

  After Sun Zhaoyang arrived, Yang Yunqiu went to pick up a boat.

  Sun Zhaoyang travels in a grand and luxurious manner, like a noble prince, bringing many things with him, almost as if he's moving his entire household, not leaving behind even the pots and pans.

  The housekeeper prepared ten large carts, just enough to pack all his things.

  The house he chose has a great geographical location and a good environment. At least Sun Zhaoyang was very satisfied, and didn't go to find another place to live this time either, nor did he go to the Yu family's home.

  After adjusting his attire, he couldn't help but give Yang Yunqiu a bright and radiant smile, and in his heart, the awkwardness towards this younger brother born out of wedlock slightly decreased.

  This is already quite rare, Sun Zhaoyang has always been accustomed to ignoring anyone he doesn't think highly of, and once he has a grudge against someone, he will remember it forever. When he was seven years old, just because one of his study companions didn't consult with him before letting another playmate into his study, he didn't say anything at the time but afterwards beat his study companion until he was out of breath. It wasn't until Magistrate Sun intervened that this incident didn't spread and give him a reputation for cruelty.

  Of course, he also received some lessons. At the age of seven, he killed someone, even if it wasn't with his own hands, but still one of his family's servants, which made his father angry.

  He never did the same thing again, but at the age of three, he saw the old man, and his temperament was determined early. This Sun Zhaoyang, Sun Gongzi, no matter how gentle and elegant he was in front of outsiders, had a straightforward temperament. All the servants in the Sun family were always respectful to him and did not dare to make any mistakes.

  He thought this habit of his was very good.

  Even the servants say that Sun Zongyang is a capable person who can do great things, and he knows how to put on a good show in public to maintain his reputation. As for how he treats those servants at home who are completely under his control, it doesn't matter; even if they try to tarnish his reputation outside, others won't believe them. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, Sun Zongyang is almost perfect from head to toe, without a single flaw.

  Those who share Sun Zhongyang's identity and background status, will they believe a few underlings in their eyes like playthings, or will they believe their own eyes, their own friends?

  This doesn't need others to say, there is only one answer.

  Yang Yunqiu did not like to deal with people like Sun Zhuoyang, the farther away they were, the better, even if they were nominally or, in other words, still generally related by blood as brothers.

  Yang Yunqiu had only received one boat, and then she acted as if Sun Zhuoyang did not exist, focusing solely on her own affairs.

  For the past three years, he appeared to be in Beijing on the surface, but in fact, he had been carefully building a base on Wēn Mountain. The base no longer looked as simple and crude as it used to be; the entire mountain was almost hollowed out, with large-scale underground buildings constructed beneath it. The outer perimeter was also densely packed with formations of law, so even if someone familiar with the roads were to lead the way, hunters would still naturally avoid the entrance to their base.

  Between the mansion in the capital and the one on Wen Mountain, he also set up a pair of transmission arrays. However, the energy consumption was very large, with each transmission requiring nearly ten kilograms or more of spiritual jade or five storage crystals. They usually used them very rarely.

  Gao Ming has left the Wu Guan and gone to the base. Now Yang Yunqiu uses a communicator to remotely command, he is in charge of all construction and miscellaneous tasks at the base, and also serves as a receptionist.

  Originally a simple and honest young man who would blush at the slightest conversation, he can now handle anyone and anything with ease.

  Now this lower plane is no longer just the five of them.

  Du Nai, the classmate who had a conflict with Zhang Jian-sheng, Ming Yu, a juvenile delinquent who had just left prison, Lin Zhi, the editor of a game magazine, and other friends and students such as Lu Lan, Song Min-ru, Xue Qiao, Xu Ying, etc., totaling more than 20 people, signed a contract to join this uniquely purposed "travel plan".

  Among these people, although there were a few who could not adapt to the environment and died prematurely, most of them adapted well and joined various industries. However, none of them were able to participate in the imperial examination like Yang Yunqiu and enter officialdom. Even Wang Yi only managed to become a juren (a lower degree holder) and was unable to pass the jinshi (the highest degree) exam no matter how hard he tried, probably because he didn't resort to cheating.

  No way, after all, can't expect them to be like Yang Yunqiu's cultivator, with a highly condensed spirit and soul, having learning abilities far beyond ordinary people. They have lived in modern society for so many years, and it's really impossible for them to adapt to ancient texts and articles again. Even the original owner's memories are useless, these people only have a thread of divine consciousness invading, although they possess memories, it's not much different from reading someone else's diary, just flipping through faster. Moreover, they don't even want to reincarnate as a fetus and relearn, wasting time and energy.

  In fact, Yang Yunqiu suspected that they had already grown up, and even if they were dressed as babies, it was not certain that a few people who could take the imperial examination would be found. He thought that if he himself were to be reborn, without practicing Taoist cultivation, his learning ability would become extremely frightening, but he would still be the original Yang Yunqiu, and would not suddenly become a genius. His old habits and weaknesses would not change, and things he was good at or bad at would not be easily changed.

  It's the girls who learn things quickly, first because they are patient and second because of piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, embroidery and other skills that no matter how hard or painful it is to practice, as long as you think about going back to Earth, even if you spend a huge amount of money, you won't be able to find teachers with the same level as now, let alone get such serious one-on-one education.

  After spending three years in the Yin Dynasty, Yang Yunqiu trained a batch of barely usable guards, all using firearms as weapons, with decent combat effectiveness.

  Most of these guards were refugees who didn't know many characters, and if it weren't for the multimedia classroom that WaWa had set up in the base to play games, it would be a waste of time just teaching them to recognize characters.

  He initially trained his disciples only to make it safer for future students to practice and travel, but his own people died on the lower planes. Although he himself wouldn't die, they weren't cultivators and couldn't cultivate, so their damaged divine sense couldn't be compensated in a short time. Therefore, Yang Yunqiu stipulated that each person only had three chances of death.

  Once dead for the third time, they can never again descend to a lower plane of existence. Not only in this present Shang Dynasty, but also in future opportunities, they will not be able to participate.

  Many students knew this rule from the start and still found it very difficult.

  Now the 'soldiers' look like they're in good shape, and Yang Yunqiu also thinks that letting these people be instructors to train more people is not bad either. In today's Yin Dynasty life, it's still reassuring to have a tight grip on military power.

  Just last month, Emperor Mu Nan Song of the Yin Dynasty had another concubine become pregnant.

  She was just an ordinary little palace maid, although the child had not yet been born and it was not known whether it was a boy or a girl, but the whole capital city was singing and dancing, and the emperor was also very happy, and he rewarded several high-ranking officials - Yang Yuxiu really couldn't understand why the emperor's concubine being pregnant had anything to do with the ministers.

  In any case, the emperor was overjoyed.

  It's this pregnancy again, another princess, he'll be happy too, as long as he can still have children. This pregnancy is a princess, the next one might just get him a son.

  It is said that the emperor has issued a decree to select beautiful women from all over the country and choose well-bred daughters to be sent into the palace.

  He even invited several famous Taoist priests and half-immortals in the capital to enter the imperial palace to calculate his fortune, to see which woman's fate was good, prosperous husband and son, and good to bring into the palace to bear him a son.

  In such a festive atmosphere, ordinary people may not notice the danger, but Yang Yunqiu, as soon as she arrived at the Yin Dynasty, began to understand the entire social environment with her doll, including court secrets. Now that she has received this news, she suddenly feels a bloody storm brewing.

  The current emperor, sixty-three years old this year, originally shouldn't have had any sons. More than ten years ago, he almost gave up the idea of having biological sons. He brought his five younger brothers, Jing Wang, Jing Wang, Shang Wang, Wei Wang, and Yan Wang, to the palace to raise them, teaching them with great Confucian scholars and entrusting them with state affairs. It can be said that he spared no effort in cultivating them, planning to choose a crown prince from among them in the future.

  His brothers are now strong and powerful, each with considerable influence in their hands. He used to think it was good, at least the Yin Dynasty would not be without successors. Now he is a bit anxious, his son has not been born yet, and he is already old and weak. His brothers are all young and strong, when he dies, even if he has a son, can he still smoothly inherit the throne?

  A pregnant palace maid and an unborn child suddenly made the waters of the capital even murkier.

  Yang Yunqiu temporarily ignored these things, after all, that child still didn't know if he could be born.

  Apart from the Emperor and a few loyal ministers like Geng Yi, probably no one else would have wanted this child to be born, for he represented an unpredictable variable.

  Without this child, the emperor would have no choice but to choose a successor from among his younger brothers. Now these princes are making an effort to show off in order to contend for the throne, but because none of them have a strong claim, they are even more unwilling to leave behind a bad reputation. The process of contending is still quite gentle, but once this child is born and it's another boy, the situation will be greatly different.

  As Emperor, Mu Nan Sheng must hope that his children can inherit the throne. His brothers will never be sons and cannot be mentioned together with his own son.

  He can't have a son is helpless, but now God has given him a glimmer of hope, how could he give up?

  "This year's essay questions, I can almost guess them all. Anyway, leaning towards those moral and etiquette directions, it won't go wrong"

  Yang Yunqiu raised an eyebrow and smiled. It's better if there's a big event, the imperial examination questions are easier to guess and prepare for in advance.

  If he were Mu Nan Song, he would definitely choose some people who are wholeheartedly dedicated to ensuring the prince's orthodox succession, and they must not have any connections with those princes.

  Yang Yunqiu is now somewhat relieved that his relationship with Wei Wang has been relatively secretive, and even the people in his mansion were introduced by Wei Wang, so not many people know. Most people think that Wei Wang just appreciated Yang Yunqiu's talent when they were in Quanzhou, but in fact, there are at least eight or nine other talented individuals who have caught his eye every year, so he only chatted with him a few more times. This small matter was not conspicuous, and Wei Wang is also one of the most low-key princes among all the princes, almost no one thinks he has a chance to inherit the throne.

  It's just that several other princes also have the intention of flattering and currying favor with the Crown Prince in order to make him serve as their personal servant.

  Of course, even if you want to be in chaos, you have to wait until the current emperor is no longer in this world. For now, it's not possible to be in chaos yet. Mu Nan Song has been a powerful emperor since he was young, with a word that can decide everything, and he is not a weak person who can be deceived.

  Although he is no longer young now, it's clear that his body is healthy since he can still have children. He may live for another ten or twenty years without major issues.

  The Gaokao is about to begin.

  Yang Yunqiu had been staying at home for several days preparing for the exam and hadn't gone out. On this day, the weather was fine, and Rouge sent a message saying that she had made a batch of performance clothes according to Li Shanshan's provided clothing style, wanting Yang Yunqiu to appreciate them first.

  No man would give up the opportunity to appreciate a beauty, so he simply threw down his book and went out with the doll.

  He left home a bit early and took a carriage to Zhenbao Pavilion.

  The Treasure Pavilion has expanded a bit, from a small building three years ago to two adjacent buildings. The items that ordinary people can afford to buy on the first floor are moved to the small building next door.

  This was still the idea of Zhu Er, there was no way around it. After the Treasure Pavilion was built, the first floor was crowded with people every day, and everyone who entered or exited would be drenched in sweat. Ordinary citizens or merchants could tolerate this, but they would only complain a few times. However, the commotion affected the business on the upper floors. Those princes and nobles who wanted to buy various treasures and curiosities wouldn't compete with a crowd of people for position.

  Because goods are limited in quantity, even if we distribute slightly ordinary goods now, various rare and precious treasures are still in short supply, sometimes taking several months to deliver.

  Yang Yunqiu promptly designed a card as a membership card for guests, with higher levels enjoying priority purchasing rights. On this card, Yang Yunqiu drew a magic array, which could not only be used as a door card to enter the rest room of Zhenbao Pavilion but also be used directly as money, although it was not a bank card, similar to those meal cards in university canteens.

  On the cover, he also painted a beautiful landscape painting. With just a slight turn, you can see different scenery. This thing is not rare on Earth and is quite common, but in the Shang Dynasty, it's something everyone wants, even customers who aren't so obsessed with Treasure Pavilion items will want to grab a membership card at a bargain price.

  In short, business is getting better and better, and reputation has spread overseas.

  Yang Yunqiu got off the car in front of Zhenbao Pavilion, entered the door, and just wanted to find the rouge, when she heard Li Shanshan's beautiful female servant, who was slightly anxious, say: "Miss, your mother is no longer in this world, we can't see her in person. If you have a portrait of your mother, we can also make an image that meets your requirements. Now you are asking for something out of thin air, and we really can't do anything about it."

  "If there were pictures, would you still need to find us? You yourselves said that you can create realistic human shadows, now you say it's not possible?" The young lady was clearly holding back a belly full of anger, her voice almost sharp.

  Yang Yunqiu walked over, and as soon as the waiter saw him, he let out a sigh of relief and bowed: "Has Young Master Yang arrived?"

  Nodding, she signaled the waiter to withdraw. Yang Yunqiu smiled and said: "Miss, I am the painter of this store. How about this? If you don't have a portrait of your mother, I can help paint one for you. However, I need your assistance. Is that okay?"

  Actually, portraits from this era are very abstract, even if you get a portrait, you still need the customer's help to make something relatively similar.

  This guest was only sixteen or seventeen years old, and his appearance was just delicate, but he had a noble air about him. His clothes were made of fabrics that ordinary families couldn't afford, clearly showing that he came from a wealthy and aristocratic family.

  Yang Yunqiu didn't quite understand business, but she also knew that it was best not to offend customers like this.

  The young lady looked at Yang Yunqiu with a mixture of doubt and suspicion, clearly not quite believing that such a young artist could really paint her mother based on her description.

  But it won't hurt to try anyway.

  She took a group of palace maids and went with Yang Yinqu to the quiet room, then watched as Yang Yinqu drew her face shape, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, hairstyle, clothing, and eyes were the hardest to draw. She had drawn six pairs of eyes for herself to choose from before finally drawing one that was exactly like her mother's.

  It took nearly two hours, a long time, but the result made that miss's eyes red, hugging the painting and refusing to let go. Yang Yunqiu had no choice but to paint another one seriously for her, only then could he send away the customer who kept reminding him to hurry up and finish quickly, sending the person out of the Treasure Pavilion gate, his hands and feet were also numb with fatigue.

  Rouge arrived early and couldn't help but laugh at the sight: "Good for you, knowing how to please a beauty, do you know who that young lady is?"

  Yang Yunqiu raised an eyebrow, looking up and down at the rouge's attire, which was a very gorgeous wide-sleeved long skirt that would flutter and dance in the air when worn, and must have looked like a fairy.

  "I don't know who she is, but I only know that the complexion of that young lady, in men's eyes, absolutely cannot be compared to Miss Rouge."

  It's hilarious to see him like this. Originally a refined and shy little brother, he has now learned to be glib-tongued. Indeed, men should not be underestimated: "You'd better not say that in front of outsiders, or you'll definitely be done for."