Chapter 9: The First Encounter (Seeking Bookmarks)

  "Haha, Wei brother, rare guest, rare guest indeed..." As expected, Wei Xiao had just descended the stairs when the three of them came to greet him. Chu Yun's face was full of smiles as he laughed loudly with a hint of sarcasm.

  Wei Zhao's expression remained unchanged as he turned his head to look at Xiangxiang, whose small face was still tense, and said in a low voice, "What kind of people are they?"

  Xiang Liang was taken aback, and only then remembered that the young master had forgotten about past events. He hastily whispered: "Young Master, the person in the middle is Chen Jia's second young master, Chen Zhuo; on the right is Chu Jia's second young master, Chu Qiu; and on the left... hmm, it's Jiang You, their family also does textile business."

  Wei Xiao nodded slightly and smiled lightly, especially when he saw the three people's eyes with undisguised cold smiles, his smile added three points.

  "You just keep quiet for now, I'll handle this myself."

  Xianglian's eyes were filled with doubt, but she still obediently responded with a "yes".

  Wei Zhao snapped his fan shut with a "pa" sound, and smiled all over his face, saying: "The Chu family's business is getting bigger and bigger, I didn't expect that even the Yunfo Temple was bought out. Hehe, no need to be polite, no need to be polite. Since you've come without warning, I hope Brother Chu won't mind."

  Although there were not many people in the inner courtyard, there were still quite a few. Wei Zhao intentionally amplified his voice, and the people of Da Qi revered Buddhism more than the emperor. Upon hearing this, they glared at Chu Qiao with anger; if he hadn't been dressed so elegantly, someone would have come over to reason with him already.

  Chu Yu's expression changed slightly, although he was a roughneck, he knew not to dwell on this issue, his unpleasant expression retreated half a step, letting Chen Zhuo come forward.

  Chen Zhuo saw Wei Zhao's words and immediately made Chu Ke retreat, his gaze at Wei Zhao became colder, but he smiled and said: "Brother Wei isn't afraid of offending the Buddha with such words, and still wants to bring Brother Chu along, haha."

  Jiang You stood on one side, looking at Wei Zhao's face which always had a hint of embarrassment and a faint, almost imperceptible bitter smile.

  Wei Zhao smiled and looked at Chen Zhuo, still with a gentle smile: "No wonder Brother Chen is standing in the middle, if it were Brother Chu, I would have given up on both the Chu and Chen families. By the way, I heard that the Chu family also wants to compete for the position of Chamber of Commerce president this time?" The last sentence, however, was directed straight at Chen Zhuo.

  Wei Zhao finished speaking and glanced at Jiang You on his right side, looking at the strange expression on his face, couldn't help but feel a little puzzled, but also didn't take it to heart.

  Jiang You's eyes flashed with a strange color, staring at Wei Zhao without stopping. In the past, when Wei Zhao looked at him, he would usually respond with an understanding smile. This time, however, he directly ignored him, without any reaction, as if he were a complete stranger. Moreover, his words had become so sharp and piercing.

  Chen Zhuo gently shook his folding fan, his smile unchanged, but his gaze swept past Chu Kui, and the cold glint in his eyes flashed suddenly. This scene was seen by Jiang You, whose face changed color involuntarily, looking at Wei Zhao opposite him, his eyes narrowing unconsciously.

  Just as a few people were intriguing, Chen Zhuo suddenly bypassed Wei Zhao and smiled warmly towards the back of Wei Zhao's body: "Haha, Yiyun, what a coincidence! Being able to see you here is really a case of 'people meeting by chance in a vast world'."

  "Met Chen Gongzi by chance."

  Wei Zhao turned his head and happened to see the gentle woman he had seen earlier in the main hall bowing slightly to Chen Zhuo, with a dignified and elegant demeanor that was tinged with an almost imperceptible sense of reverence.

  Chen Zhuohong's face was radiant, her eyes sparkling with excitement, as she elegantly approached him, feeling extremely pleased with herself. The countless young nobles of Jinling who had wanted to see her couldn't compare to the woman who was now smiling and chatting with him.

  Yi Yun saw Chen Zhuo walk over and stand there motionless, smiling at Wei Zuo and nodding slightly. The green-clad maid beside her, however, hung her head low, occasionally raising it to meet Wei Zuo's gaze before quickly lowering it again, her small body trembling.

  Wei Zhao also smiled and nodded at Yiyun, although he wasn't quite clear about the other's identity, but saying hello shouldn't be a problem.

  It turned out that Wei Zhao's integration with this era was still not enough, or it could be said that he took it for granted. Chen Zhuo saw the difference in Yiyun's gaze towards Wei Zhao and himself, his face changed involuntarily, feeling uncomfortable in his heart, a faint anger rising up.

  Chen Zhuo's thoughts were racing, and he suddenly turned his head to look at Wei Zhao, with a delighted expression as if seeing an old friend, saying "Ah, right! I heard that Brother Wei is going to participate in the Imperial Examination in December, how's your preparation?"

  Wei Zhuo's mouth corners rose, smiling warmly at Chen Zhuo, until Chen Zhuo's smile slightly stiffened before 'slapping' open his folding fan, his gaze sweeping over Chu Ke, and he smiled leisurely: "Could it be that Brother Chen also wants to participate, or is it that you want to go seize the champion's laurel wreath?"

  The eldest son of the Chu family is recognized as the number one talent in Jinling, and he is also the most promising candidate for this year's champion. Wei Xiao said with a smile, Chu Qiao looked at Chen Zhuo's face, which had already turned black, but because of the influence of the Chen family, he did not say it out loud, but his gloomy expression had completely exposed his thoughts.

  Chen Zhuo was secretly furious, casting a glance at Chu Yu's dark face and silently cursing him as an "idiot". He had to admit that Wei Zhao's casual yet unassailable provocative remarks were quite impressive. Suppressing his anger, Chen Zhuo smiled calmly and said: "Brother Wei is joking, I can also compose some poetry, but compared to you scholars with official titles, I am far inferior, aren't I, Brother Jiang?"

  With a sweep of his remaining light, he couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart. This little trick was too childish, wasn't it?

  "Heh heh, tomorrow is the Buddhist conference, Brother Wei can imagine how intense it will be today?" Jiang You's eyes moved around, staring at Wei Zhao's eyes.

  Wei Zhao saw the look in Jiang You's eyes, and slightly furrowed his brow again, then a smile rose to the corner of his mouth as he said: "Hehe, what a coincidence today! The three of you specially came here to wait for me to exchange poetry, how delightful!"

  Chen Zhuo's face changed slightly, but he didn't want to lose his composure in front of Yiyun, so he lightly fanned himself and smiled: "Yes, today the crowd is surging, being able to meet Brother Wei here indeed shows that our fate is not shallow."

  "Wei brother repeatedly pushed aside, but is there no grasp?" Jiang You's tightly furrowed brow relaxed, and he suppressed the doubts in his heart to continue.

  Wei Zhao glanced at Yi Yun, who had already walked over, and looked at the three people whose eyes occasionally swept over them. He smiled faintly and said, "So it's definitely Miss Yi Yun as the judge?"

  "That's natural." Chen Zhuo, Jiang You and Chu Qiu said in unison.

  Wei Zhao didn't know Yi Yun's identity, and smiled as he nodded his head. Xiang Qiang couldn't bear it anymore at this time, suddenly grabbed Wei Zhao's sleeve, and whispered something in his ear. Wei Zhao's expression remained unchanged, occasionally nodding his head, lightly saying "en". And Yi Yun quietly said something to the green-clad maid's ear, that green-clad maid quickly ran towards the inner room.

  The green-clad maid had just walked to the door when an old monk with a kind face came out, looking at the few people under the steps and smiling: "I wonder if I can be the judge this time?"

  Wei Zhao looked at the two large characters "Zhù Chí" on the door, and with a hint of surprise, glanced at Yiyun who still had a gentle smile, then nodded to the old monk with a smile.

  Chen Zhuo's eyes gleamed with delight, and he clasped his hands together in a reverent gesture towards the old monk, saying: "With a great master as the judge, it is naturally the best."