30: Wang Qinian's body was castrated? One hundred taels of silver for a map!

Chapter 30: Wang Qinian Castrated? A Map for One Hundred Silver Taels!

Li Chang'an understood that Wang Qinian did not have a daughter yet, so he ordered Zhao Gao to search Wang Qinian.

Zhao Gao was swift and efficient, searching out all the loose papers and silver notes on Wang Qinian's person.

After the search, Zhao Gao looked at Wang Qinian with a greedy expression.

This gaze made Wang Qinian's sphincter tighten!

Zhao Gao bowed to Li Chang'an and said, "Your Highness, this man has an extraordinary bone structure and is extremely skilled at disguise and acting. How about entrusting him to your old servant's care?"

Upon hearing Zhao Gao's words, Wang Qinian felt as if he had been granted a general pardon!

Wang Qinian's Qinggong was exceptionally high, and important figures would likely appreciate him and not kill him easily.

He quickly kowtowed and said, "Prince Yong, Your Highness, your reputation for talent is renowned throughout the land. This Wang is willing to hold the whip and stirrup for Your Excellency, and serve you like a dog or horse!"

Li Chang'an noticed that Wang Qinian's emotional value had risen to 30, indicating a slight inclination to surrender.

Zhao Gao said with satisfaction, "Your Highness, this man is quite well-behaved. The more your old servant looks at him, the more he likes him."

Upon hearing Zhao Gao's words, Wang Qinian was full of confidence, his smile bright and his expression devout.

But upon hearing the latter half of the sentence, Wang Qinian's face changed drastically, and his soul nearly flew out of him!

"After your old servant castrates him, he will be thoroughly trained and disciplined, then kept by the Prince's side to serve!"

Wang Qinian cried out, "Your Highness! This Wang is not yet married, he cannot be castrated!"

At this time, Wang Qinian had not yet met the formidable Lady Wang, so of course, he did not want to be castrated.

"Your Highness, before meeting Your Highness, this Wang was considered the foremost in Qinggong below the Great Grandmaster level!"

"Only Zong Zhui of the Supervisory Council could keep up with me, but his Qinggong was still a tiny bit inferior to mine!"

"Not only is this Wang's Qinggong excellent, but he is also skilled in tracking and tracing techniques, which the Prince will surely find useful!"

The more Zhao Gao listened, the more excited he became. "Your Highness, this man is of great use to us and must not be let go. Let your old servant castrate him and keep him for service!"

This was not surprising for Zhao Gao; four of the other Six Sword Slaves were eunuchs by origin.

In his opinion, only beautiful women and eunuchs were suitable to serve by their master's side.

Wang Qinian's forehead was already dripping with sweat. If he was of great use, then keep him, but why must he be castrated!

Li Chang'an said calmly, "You are also skilled in tracking, are there any other abilities you possess?"

Zhao Gao had inadvertently put immense pressure on Wang Qinian, and with Li Chang'an's question, Wang Qinian's emotional value rose to 50!

"Your Highness! This Wang is skilled in geomancy, surveying terrain, and drawing maps are also this Wang's strengths!"

Li Chang'an said, "Qingwen, look at his maps!"

Qingwen pulled out a stack of maps from the ground, all of which were identical.

But Qingwen only glanced at them before showing a look of utter disdain.

"Your Highness, this man is boasting!"

Then, she presented the maps to Li Chang'an.

The abstract style and minimalist approach were indeed Wang Qinian's handiwork.

Wang Qinian, kneeling on the ground, immediately shouted upon hearing this, "Your Highness! Not that one! Those are for this Wang to earn some pocket money!"

"These maps, I intend to sell for two silver taels each to the sons of Meritorious Nobles newly arrived in the capital!"

"Within the capital, there are many cunning people; this Wang is helping them grow quickly!"

"The Geomancy Map of the World's Rivers and Mountains that this Wang drew is the large one!"

Wang Qinian's geomancy skills were indeed strong, but his drawing skills were mediocre.

Or rather, only he himself could understand the maps he drew.

Li Chang'an had also seen the Geomancy Map of the World's Rivers and Mountains that Wang Qinian spoke of and did not hold out much hope.

However, after Qingwen put that map aside, her expression became serious.

"Your Highness, this map is not bad at all."

Li Chang'an curiously took the map and only then realized that Wang Qinian could actually draw well.

The boundaries on the map were clearly marked, and the proportions were appropriate, indicating that Wang Qinian had been to many places.

Zhao Gao glanced at the map, and his gaze towards Wang Qinian became even more fervent!

"Wang Qinian, a talent like you is simply too rare!"

Li Chang'an asked with a smile, "How much silver for this map?"

Wang Qinian, made uneasy by Zhao Gao's gaze, said, "Your Highness, I sell them to others for a hundred silver taels, but for Your Highness, of course, I can give a discount..."

As soon as these words left his mouth, Qingwen's pretty face immediately turned frosty. "Your Highness, I'll break his dog legs!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Qinian immediately changed his tune, "No, no, no, this map is respectfully presented to Your Highness! This Wang is willing and devoted!"

Li Chang'an slowly said, "Wang Qinian can indeed remain uncastrated, and stay in the outer residence to be at my beck and call."

Upon hearing Li Chang'an's words, Wang Qinian's emotional value soared to 70!

No normal man would willingly be castrated in his prime.

Wang Qinian kowtowed profusely in gratitude, "Your subordinate thanks Your Highness for taking him in!"

"This Wang has drifted for half his life, only regretting not having met an enlightened master. Thanks to Your Highness's acceptance, he finally has a place to settle down!"

Li Chang'an said, "Your treatment will be the same as an eighth-rank intermediate expert of the Shadow Guard, two hundred silver taels a month."

An eighth-rank intermediate was a bona fide expert, and Li Chang'an would not mistreat his subordinates.

Currently, Li Chang'an had plenty of silver; selling just one painting could employ Wang Qinian for thirty years.

Upon hearing this number, Wang Qinian's emotional value rose to 80!

Wang Qinian was a clever man with many tricks up his sleeve; relying solely on money would not make him absolutely loyal.

Clever people always keep a line of defense in their hearts, a very strong one that is difficult to break through.

Such a slippery character finds it hard to be absolutely loyal to anyone, always leaving a way out in his actions and unwilling to stake everything.

For extremely clever people, some methods must be used; he must be made to fear, to be driven to a dead end.

Li Chang'an said to the other three, "Old Zhao, you all go out first. I want to have a private chat with Old Wang."

After the three left, Li Chang'an revealed a harmless smile.

But a clever man like Wang Qinian detected a hint of ruthlessness within Li Chang'an's smile!

"Wang Qinian, you are clever and adaptable. This Prince wants you to remain visible, to be my attendant when I travel."

"In this way, you can marry, have children, and live a normal life."

Upon hearing Li Chang'an's words, Wang Qinian was naturally profusely grateful; becoming a confidant of Prince Yong, Your Highness, was a tremendous stroke of luck.

However, Wang Qinian's emotional value did not increase.

Li Chang'an continued, "However, this Prince must give you one final test of your memory."

Wang Qinian chuckled foolishly, "Your Highness is wise and insightful! Beyond compare to any Mortal! Memory is indeed very important!"

"This subordinate has been surveying and tracking for years, so his memory is also a bit better than the average person!"

As Wang Qinian spoke, Li Chang'an had already picked up paper and pen, and with a 'swish, swish, swish,' he wrote several lines on the paper.

"Old Wang, you can only look at the poem on this paper once."

"After you look at it once, recite it perfectly, and you will pass!"

Wang Qinian took the paper with both hands and pleaded before looking, "Your Highness! Can this calligraphy be given to your subordinate afterward?"

Li Chang'an smiled indifferently, "Granted."

Then, Wang Qinian focused his mind, concentrated fully, and his eyes, like torches, shot towards the paper!

Only one glance, and he had to remember everything!

As long as he remembered it, he could live like a normal person and also receive a priceless piece of calligraphy!

This Wang will risk it all!

With that one glance, the words on the paper were not many, and he successfully remembered them all.

However, in that instant, Wang Qinian's face changed drastically, turning as white as paper!

Large beads of sweat immediately rolled down his forehead!

These words, Wang Qinian wished he could forget!

He raised the paper high again and let out a tragic wail.

"Your Highness!"

"My Prince! My Lord!"

"Please kill me! I beg you!"