The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Chapter 178 The First Victim of a Contract Trap

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Zheng Xun suddenly looked at him.

Her gaze was full of inquiry and interest, which made Young Master Jing feel a little uneasy.

But who is he? He is the man who is to become the main wife of the manor lord. If this frightens him, how can the manor lord entrust him with important matters in the future?

He was about to say something to ease the tension when Xu Zhen, standing behind Zheng Xun, suddenly spoke up: "Is Master Shen busy?"

Young Master Jing had noticed Xu Zhen long ago because he and Xu Zhen had such similar temperaments.

The resemblance was so striking that it gave him the creeps.

He worried that the manor lord would find Xu Zhen lackluster after seeing him.

However, he had been standing behind Zheng Xun the whole time, his identity unknown, so he hadn't had the mind to sort out his complicated feelings.

Just then, Xu Zhen spoke up, and he asked about Shen Canglan's whereabouts. His suppressed vigilance instantly resurfaced.

He picked up the tea that the servant had just served, took a small sip, and then tentatively asked, "You are handsome and refined, with a refined and elegant demeanor. I wonder about you..."

He wasn't looking at Xu Zhen when he asked the question, but at Zheng Xun.

Zheng Xun guessed what he was thinking and was already barely able to suppress his laughter.

Xu Zhen was often praised for his good looks, and he usually accepted it calmly. But this time, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Seeing his bewildered look, Zheng Xun couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.

"This is Lord Xu Zhen."

Mr. Xu?

Young Master Jing remained vigilant: "This is the princess's..."

"No, Young Master Xu is focused on his official career, it's not what you think."

Young Master Jing: He's ambitious, capable, and handsome. What to do? The threat seems even greater now.

Xu Zhen, slow to realize what was going on, finally discovered the clues.

Why didn't he just shut up and obediently follow the princess and do as she said?

He was showing off, and now he's being watched, isn't he?

He never imagined that one day he would be treated as a hypothetical enemy, the object of jealousy and rivalry.

He really wanted to explain that he didn't have those feelings for Master Shen, but saying it out loud always felt like he was trying to cover something up or being presumptuous.

So, he should just shut up.

Fortunately, Young Master Jing only touched on the point and did not dwell on the issue.

He's much more normal when he's not jealous, and he's quite adept at socializing. He really does look like a head wife.

Fortunately, Shen Canglan arrived soon.

She was about to bow to Zheng Xun as soon as she entered, but Zheng Xun stopped her and sat down with a smile: "The things that Master Shen sent last time have been retrieved. On behalf of the soldiers and people of Dayong, I thank Master Shen for his righteousness."

Shen Canglan said solemnly, "The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen. If Master could know from beyond the grave that his efforts have benefited the Great Yong, he would surely be pleased."

Zheng Xun nodded with a smile: "Actually, I came to the manor this time to ask you for a favor."

Shen Canglan: As long as they're not here to snatch the child, everything is negotiable.

"Princess, please speak."

“My good friend Lord Xu is about to take up his post in Shaoan City, Suzhou. He doesn’t have enough men with him, and it might be too late to transfer people from the capital. So, I would like to borrow some good men from the manor lord to protect Lord Xu for a period of time.”

Upon hearing the name Shao Ancheng, Shen Canglan's expression turned serious: "That's no good place. Has Lord Xu offended anyone?"

Zheng Xun smiled slightly: "It was my arrangement."

Shen Canglan: "Haha, haha, that place is good for training people. By the way, how many people does the princess need?"

"At least fifty."

Xu Zhen: ...

I knew Shaoan City wasn't a good place, but I never expected it to be so dangerous.

The princess still has a lot of faith in him...

Shen Canglan readily agreed: "Sure, is fifty enough?"

"That's enough, but Lord Xu is leaving early tomorrow morning, so we need to hurry."

Shen Canglan stood up: "I'll have A-Jing take you to see the child, and I'll arrange someone for you."

"No rush," Zheng Xun interjected, jokingly adding, "Isn't Master Shen afraid I'll snatch the child?"

Shen Canglan sat back down and blinked his left eye gently: "No, the princess is on my side."

Zheng Xun chuckled and shook his head: "Does the manor lord take in some girls here?"

Shen Canglan knew her abilities, so she wasn't surprised that she knew these things. However, in order not to appear too obvious, she still pretended to be surprised and said, "Princess, you are indeed a diviner."

Zheng Xun smiled and asked, "I wonder if Master Shen has ever heard of Yuanxiu Academy?"

"I heard something."

Yuanxiu Academy is famous not only because it was endorsed by Zheng Xun and the emperor, but also because it produced the first woman to be granted a noble title.

Shen Canglan immediately guessed that Zheng Xun was probably involved in this.

“Master Shen, there is one Yuanxiu Academy in the capital, but one Yuanxiu Academy is far from enough. Therefore, I think there can be a second and a third one.”

"What do you mean, princess?"

"I would like to commission Master Shen to build a branch of Yuanxiu Academy."

Shen Canglan did not expect that Yuanxiu Academy alone would not be enough to satisfy Zheng Xun.

Yes, one Yuanxiu Academy is not enough, but building more Yuanxiu Academy is no easy task.

Why was I chosen?

Zheng Xun's eyebrows curved slightly: "Because Master Shen has a heart of righteousness, and because our goals are the same, Master Shen, are you willing?"

She reached out her hand to Shen Canglan, her gaze calm and tolerant, as if she would not change her attitude regardless of whether Shen Canglan agreed or refused.

Shen Canglan was silent for a moment. She wasn't hesitating, but rather feeling a little emotional. The young girl had already tried to do what she wanted to do for her.

She was older than the princess, but lacked her charisma.

With a sigh in her heart, she reached out and grasped Zheng Xun's hand: "Okay."

Zheng Xun's smile grew even brighter: "I have some business to attend to this time, so I don't have much free time. Everything at the academy is being arranged by Zhao Hou. If you have time, Master Shen, you can go to the capital to have a chat with her. According to her methods, the academy can basically be self-sufficient. You can get the initial investment from her."

Shen Canglan waved his hand: "The Hidden Sword Manor does have some assets, and I can handle the initial investment myself."

Two quick-witted people finalized the matter in just a few words.

The agreed-upon efficiency was simply astonishing.

Xu Zhen seemed to be deep in thought.

He and the ministers in the court were used to taking roundabout ways of doing things. Their caution allowed them to protect themselves in one storm after another, but it also made them slow and inefficient.

The situation in the Great Yong Dynasty is different now, and his old ways of doing things are no longer suitable. He, this old-fashioned man, should not be so old-fashioned.

At that moment, Xu Zhen had no idea that his momentary lapse of judgment would later lead to his decisive style becoming a prevailing trend in Suzhou.

After taking on this task, Shen Canglan, along with Xu Zhen and Zheng Jiu, selected fifty disciples. Shen Canglan put in a lot of effort, and the disciples of Cangjian Manor were taught exceptionally well by her.

While they were selecting people, Zheng Xun sat by her little niece's bedside, livestreaming, talking to Xiao Xingqiong while watching the spectacle with great interest.

Zheng Shi was originally standing behind her, but perhaps because she had been a bodyguard for so long, she was no longer suited to attracting attention, so she sat for a while and then hung up from the roof beam.

It must be said that Cangjian Manor truly lives up to its reputation as a female-led martial arts force, with each of its female disciples displaying an impressive and domineering presence.

Xu Zhen's face was so striking that many female disciples openly confessed their feelings to him.

It's less of a confession and more of an invitation.

What should we invite?

They invited Xu Zhen to come with them.

Just like how Young Master Jing followed Shen Canglan.

Unfortunately, Xu Zhen was focused on his career and lacked romantic understanding, so their alluring glances were destined to be seen by a blind man.

It has to be said that Xu Zhen's helpless expression was quite amusing.

Not only did she enjoy watching it, but Xiao Xingqiong also giggled as well.

She didn't speak fluently yet, but the girl was quick-witted, using gestures and supplementary information to keep up with Zheng Xun's conversation.

The two disciples who used to take care of Xiao Xingqiong watched them from a distance. Although they couldn't hear what the aunt and niece were saying, they could feel the harmonious atmosphere between them.

"I didn't expect that the young master would like this aunt so much."

"Their eyes are exactly the same, and when they sit together they look like two dolls, one big and one small, which is quite cute."

In the end, most of the people Xu Zhen selected were male disciples, and the few female disciples were indifferent to him.

Shen Xingqiong shook her head when she saw the person he had chosen: "Not good."

Zheng Xun nodded in agreement: "That's right, they deliberately filtered out the most capable ones."

"Does Auntie have good eyesight?"

"It's great."

"Does Auntie like stars?"

"I really like it."

"Hello, Auntie."

Zheng Xun glanced at her sideways, then chuckled and scolded, "You little devil!"

Shen Xingqiong pointed to her little nose: "Xingxing is clever."

Why do you only listen to the nice things?

"Auntie, you're being nice!"

Zheng Xun: ...

I have to say, this kid is quite talented.

However, Zheng Xun is somewhat allergic to talent, the main symptom of which is that he cannot stand seeing talented people not working for him.

So, she rolled her eyes and asked a disciple outside to bring her a brush, ink, and silk for writing.

She picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a few lines on the silk.

Then she looked down at the little girl who was walking unsteadily: "Xingxing, aren't you and your aunt the best of friends in the world?"

"Secondly, Mother is number one."

"Well... anyway, Auntie is very pitiful and needs Xingxing's help. Would Xingxing be willing?"

Shen Xingqiong didn't know what Zheng Xun meant by those words.

However, she likes Zheng Xun, so she is willing to believe in him.

So when Zheng Xun coaxed her to put her fingerprint and sign on the silk, she thought he was playing a game with her.

She was still too young to know the wickedness of human nature.

Zheng Xun took back the silk, nodded in satisfaction, and looked at his little niece with even more affection.

Oh dear, the poor little kid, who seems to be the first child in this timeline to be tricked by a contract trap.

Shen Xingqiong was confused, but she felt happy to be close to her aunt whom she liked, so she smiled foolishly along with her.

She had no idea that she had just signed a tyrannical contract to serve Zheng Xun for the rest of her life, nor did she know that her aunt was a ruthless woman who exploited even children.