What is this thing? What sugar candies? Many, upon hearing the song, understood nothing. However, they noticed that Shao Ping Bo's expression had changed.
Shao Ping Bo himself initially understood nothing, but then he realized that something was amiss. Reading to the end, he asked:
— What is this?
Shao San Sheng, the household manager, replied:
— Children's songs.
"Children's songs?" Shao Ping Bo now understood where the "sugar candies" came from. He had initially thought there might be a deeper meaning.
He asked again:
— Where from?
Shao San Sheng: North of the river, children are singing these songs in all the alleys. As soon as our people heard it, they reported it immediately.
— North of the river and singing... Shao Ping Bo pondered. This meant it would be difficult to stop the rumor.
The song clearly stated that the Han Kingdom and the Yan Kingdom couldn't really do anything to them. That wasn't important. Everyone already knew that. What was important was what followed. Namely, that Shao Deng Yun only outwardly appeared to be the ruler, while the true ruler was him: Shao Ping Bo!
Even more important was the play on his name.
"Bo Ping Shao, Bo Ping Shao." This meant he could resist and overthrow his father.
"What will Father think about this?"
But the most terrifying thing was that they were children's songs! They would spread easily, and his father's people would quickly learn about them. Now, many in Beizhou would focus their attention on him. Many would target him, and not a few people in the family would start stirring up trouble for their own benefit.
A conspiracy was written on this sheet!
And the one who did this was a very cruel and cunning person! Shao Ping Bo even felt shivers run down his spine.
The others didn't understand what had happened. After all, they didn't know many things. However, Tang Yi, a outwardly gentle and docile girl, noticed the gleam of anger and malice in Shao Ping Bo's eyes.
Tang Yi was even a little frightened. She immediately recalled Niu You Dao's words: that Shao Ping Bo was a very dangerous man!
Shao Ping Bo now understood why the household manager had looked at him so strangely. He understood the grave consequences of this song. He asked seriously:
— When did they appear?
Shao San Sheng: We hadn't heard these songs before, but two days ago they suddenly spread. We asked the children where they learned these songs. Some said they were given sugar candies, and then they sang these songs in the alleys. Some children simply repeated the song after others. Some were paid money for it. The source couldn't be found. But it was clear that someone wanted to promote this song.
The others didn't understand what was happening. They wondered: "Could a children's song really baffle Shao Ping Bo so much?"
But the song was already circulating among the common people, whose mouths Shao Ping Bo couldn't gag. Therefore, he decided to generously give everyone the sheet. Let them see.
— The map! — Shao Ping Bo said.
Immediately, Shao San Sheng ordered his men to bring the map.
Shao Ping Bo, looking at the map, asked:
— Where did these songs originate?
The manager pointed to several areas:
— The song first appeared in Qin An County, and then immediately began to spread to other areas.
Shao Ping Bo closed his eyes.
Everyone looked at the sheet and felt a chill of fear. Someone wanted to sow discord between father and son. Someone wanted to set up Shao Ping Bo!
— Two days ago... Shao Ping Bo muttered quietly.
He became lost in thought, trying to recall what could have happened during that time. Then he slowly opened his eyes and spoke a single name:
— Zhang San!
Everyone was astonished. Shao San Sheng, not understanding, asked:
— My lord, whom do you mean?
Shao Ping Bo smirked and said:
— If my calculations are correct, it must be Zhang San, the one who burned down the inn!
Tang Yi was startled and asked:
— Senior Young Master, are you sure it's Zhang San?
Shao Ping Bo: Nothing else of note has happened recently. Only, perhaps, the inn suddenly burned down by Zhang San. Their path to Qin An County, the timing all matches up. I'm 80% sure it's him.
He did not voice his other perspective. For he realized just how dangerous his opponent might be. Zhang San had seen through him and was now employing such cruel methods. This man was truly dangerous.
Tang Yi asked again:
— Zhang San... a young man among his group. Why does Senior Young Master think it was Zhang San who did this among them?
Shao Ping Bo looked at her calmly:
— In that situation, he could decide to burn down the tavern. Moreover, looking at his age, much can be understood. He, a single young man, was able to command adult people. One can definitely say that this man is not simple.
He turned and walked around the throne, then returned and sat down again. Smirking at himself, he murmured:
— In principle, it's my fault. I have eyes, but I didn't see the dragon before me. I dared to bring a respected man in as a cook. Most likely, this angered him. That's why he burned down the tavern, forcing me to clean up the mess, and now he's composed children's songs about me. And this will be difficult to eliminate for a long time. Very difficult to eliminate all of this... This time, I've met a true master. This Zhang San is not simple!
Su Po and Tang Su Su exchanged bewildered glances. They were even a little frightened.
Tang Yi couldn't believe it. Did Niu You Dao really do this?
"Can Niu You Dao really exert pressure using children's songs?"
She could believe Niu You Dao burned the inn. But using children's songs... that was a master-class move. She truly wouldn't have thought of Niu You Dao!
What frightened her even more was that a man like Shao Ping Bo held such a high opinion of him. After all, Shao Ping Bo had schools, sects, armies, and the love of the people. He was young and full of vigor. He was the most extraordinary person among those she knew. Few could compare to him. Especially if one added the sphere of influence behind him, one could say that he was an outstanding individual. It was unknown how many maidens dreamt only of him.
Few could withstand such talent. Even she would find it difficult to find a more outstanding man.
However, this outstanding man seemingly held Niu You Dao in such high regard, even calling him a master. And of course, he didn't mean a cultivation master, but rather referred to his intellect and abilities!
Tang Yi felt as if she had misheard. Was this really Niu You Dao? That cook who stood with a kitchen knife, or that lazy young man who lay under the peach tree? Could he be a master?
She suddenly had an epiphany. In Peach Blossom Spring, she had already been surprised by his poems, which clearly didn't match his age. And Song Yang Qing's poems, it seemed, were also written by Niu You Dao.
Now Shao Ping Bo was saying that Niu You Dao was so intelligent. And this same intelligent Niu You Dao had explicitly told her in the kitchen that Shao Ping Bo was very dangerous...
— Everyone must be tired from the journey. I should take a bath and then report to the ruler! Shao Ping Bo stood up and escorted his guests.
Everyone cupped their hands and departed.
The group of people left, and only the guards remained in Lingbo Palace.
Tang Yi and the others, of course, had their own quarters. Moreover, as a maiden, she shouldn't have stayed with Shao Ping Bo.
On the way back, Su Po asked:
— Did he really do it?
Su Po and Tang Su Su couldn't believe it.
Tang Yi immediately recalled Zhao Xiong Ge's words: *Dong Guo Hao Ran wouldn't take just anyone as a disciple. There was definitely a reason for it!*
Su Po regretted inwardly. If Niu You Dao was truly so capable— and it didn't matter whether his methods were insidious or not — then for the Supreme Purity Sect, such a person was precisely what was needed right now to lead their sect to prosperity. If Shao Ping Bo sincerely held Niu You Dao in such high esteem, then what did that mean? They had Niu You Dao to begin with, but they all conspired together and expelled him? Expelled their savior?
— Sir Huang, Sir Ling, please stop. Senior Young Master is calling for you!
Huang Dou and Ling Hu were disciples of Dachang Mountain. This was a sphere of influence that supported Shao Deng Yun. These two disciples were responsible for Shao Ping Bo's safety.
The two men were already exiting the courtyard when Shao San Sheng managed to call them back.
They returned to the main hall and saw Shao Ping Bo sitting directly on the throne with his eyes closed and hands folded on his knees.
They cupped their hands:
— Senior Master, do you have any orders?
Shao Ping Bo, with his eyes closed, slowly asked:
— Who remembers what Zhang San said to Tang Yi by the river?
The two men exchanged bewildered glances. After a moment of thought, Huang Dou said:
— That fellow spoke rudely and presumptuously. I remember it well. He said that Tang Yi was a beauty. However, then the master warned him to address Tang Yi more politely. Then he asked the master if Tang Yi was indeed your honored guest. After that, he praised both you and her. He said you were a good match.
— Praised? Now it seems to me he was mocking us! — Shao Ping Bo said in a cold tone.
Huang Dou asked doubtfully:
— Mocking?
Shao Ping Bo slowly opened his eyes:
— Recalling everything in detail, I think I understand who this Zhang San is. He must be Niu You Dao!
The two men were surprised.
Ling Hu: Tang Yi's husband? Master, how did you find out?
Shao Ping Bo: At the pier, when he was rude to Tang Yi, none of the three said anything to Niu You Dao. Only his rudeness struck me as a bit odd. Then they went into the kitchen one after another. This means they all knew him. And thoroughly so.
— There were rumors about Niu You Dao and Tang Yi. You've probably heard them. He was placed under house arrest for 5 years, they seized the sect leader's position, and they even tried to kill him. He is young and managed to escape house arrest. That says a lot. Then he killed a man from the Song family and is still alive. Also not simple. In Qingzhou, he killed the Yan Kingdom's envoy and emerged from the situation completely unharmed. Then Shang Chao Zong gained an alliance with Qingzhou, all of which came with his appearance there. If you connect all these things, it's not surprising that he struck a blow against me too. Thus, I suspect that Shang Chao Zong's rapid rise is precisely linked to him. One more important thing: his age. Niu You Dao is similar in age to Zhang San. All facts point to him. If not Niu You Dao, then who else could it be? If it's Zhang San, then it explains a lot!