Wang Yuanbao used all the strength of his body to push away all the people who were blocking him, and his fat body, as if he was more than 20 years ago, ran under the color building.

He stared blankly at the package on the ground, which was wet with water, with several footprints on it, and black ashes.

He crouched down and slowly opened the package.

Inside was originally a glass bottle, which was purchased by a large food merchant from farther west, through the desert and the sea, to Yangzhou.

Because of the lack of craftsmanship and materials, some things are difficult to fire compared with the glazed ware produced by Dashi itself.

For example, bottles.

Therefore, this glass bottle cost Wang Yuanbao a full 4,000 yuan to buy.

But now, it's just some ornate pieces of glass.

No matter how gorgeous the fragment is, it is only a fragment, and it is impossible to act as the finale to participate in this city competition.

At this moment, although Wang Yuanbao was sad for breaking the 4,000-piece glassware, what was even more sad was this city competition.

It's a failure.

Of course, he had other glass vessels in his hand, but no matter which one he took out, he was not as sure of victory as this gorgeous glass bottle.

Lose, he is not afraid, he has been up and down in the business sea of Chang'an City for decades, not without losing. But like today, he lost so badly and lost inexplicably, which made him really unconvinced.

Moreover, if he lost in the city competition this time, Yu was not tied to his family, but to the entire East Market.

Originally, in the use of cement, the east market was one year behind the west market, and if it lost this time, it would be one year behind. Many wealthy businessmen in Dongshi pinned their hopes on him because of the credibility and prestige he had accumulated over the decades.

But now, that credibility and prestige have suffered a serious setback.

For a while, Wang Yuanbao was a little disheartened, but in an instant, he cheered up again.

Raising his head, he let out a long breath, he froze, and saw Huo Xianqi standing in front of him with a gloomy face.

"The old man greets Huo Gong." Wang Yuanbao bowed.

"Wang Weng, although the fire has been extinguished, but this matter has already disturbed the tourists, according to my wishes, this city competition, it is better to end it early." Huo Xianqi said softly.

"The old man understands, but he can't ...... Cannot. Wang Yuanbao rejected his suggestion.

At this time, the East Market will lose and lose, which will attract ridicule from all sides, and if you persist and fail because of an unexpected fire, it will cause sympathy.

Seeing him like this, Huo Xianqi didn't force it, but just warned: "Wang Weng, you have to think clearly, if there is such trouble again, this official will be ruthless."

"Yes, yes, old man understands"

Wang Yuanbao said bitterly, with his promise, Huo Xianqi naturally left again. After getting up, Wang Yuanbao closed his eyes and rested a little, however, the wealthy merchants in the East Market did not give him time to breathe, and came up one by one, either anxiously asking him how to deal with it, or complaining that he was not prepared in advance.

There was only one person who cautiously asked, "Good one, why did the brocade silk burn?" ”

This question reminded everyone.

Yes, the brocade silk hangs on the beam, it is good and endright, why will it spontaneously combust?

Everyone looked at each other, the Tang people were superstitious, and they couldn't help but think of ghosts and gods. It is Wang Yuanbao, who has also changed color at this moment.

The capital he made his fortune came from the wrong way, although he made up the things that he met the guidance of the immortals to prevaricate, and he has also worshiped the God of Wealth in the past few decades, but in his heart, he didn't believe in the gods and Buddhas.

But today's strange things made him begin to subvert his previous cognition.

Could it be that there really is a god and Buddha in the underworld, and when he is closest to victory, he suddenly attacks to punish him?

His mind shook for a moment, and then Wang Yuanbao put it away. He said in a hoarse voice: "Hugh is talking nonsense, it is clear that there is a Kong Ming lantern over there, and the sparks fell and stuck on the brocade silk." ”

This is an explanation, but no one in the room will really believe it.

"We lost today, and I will bear the cost of this city competition." Wang Yuanbao said again.

"Where, this time, the cost will be shared according to what was originally said, winning or losing is a common thing in soldiers, and we didn't really lose to Xishi this time, but to the master behind them."

"Exactly, exactly, after we go back, we will also think of getting to know that master, spend a lot of money to bring him over, and we will definitely win next time."

These words were echoed, and all the people present were wealthy businessmen, nothing else, and there was no shortage of vision. In fact, this city Saixi City did not have any qualitative victory compared to East City, relying on nothing more than ingenious tricks. As long as they find the person who made the plan, they will naturally be able to win back a game next time.

Only Wang Yuanbao knew that things were not so simple.

The person behind the West Market must be Ye Chang, and the reason why Ye Chang helped the West Market was because he coveted the ball market.

Although he was forced to give up the ball market due to the power of the eldest princess Yuzhen, he took revenge in this city competition.

But now is not the time to think about it, and now is the time to meet the people of the West Market.

The rest of the wealthy merchants in the East Market were reluctant to look at the smug faces of the competitors in the West Market, so this time Wang Yuanbao was the only one who went over, and he and his entourage. Over there, Hu Yuanxiang had already heard about the incident here, and said with a smile: "I heard that Wang Weng walked away from the water, and even the treasure of the finale was broken?" ”

This is to sprinkle salt on Wang Yuanbao's wound, but Wang Yuanbao was born, and his face did not change, but he sighed: "It's really unfortunate, it was about the sparks splashed on the Kong Ming lantern that ignited the brocade silk......"

This is a stroke of planting the West Market, Wang Yuanbao has an extraordinary vision, but at this time, it is still difficult to get rid of the problem that the businessman is not big enough.

If it weren't for this, he should have directly asked Ye Chang for cooperation in the matter of the ball market, but he took the path of the eldest princess of Yuzhen through Wang Jin, thus causing these incidents.

"Don't eat things indiscriminately, and don't talk nonsense, Wang Weng, what do you mean by that, is it that our West Market intends to set fire? If Wang Weng has evidence, he will go straight to sue the official" Hu Yuanxiang has been suppressed by Wang Yuanbao for decades, and this time he turned over happily, and he was willing to let the sand in his eyes: "Hmph, I heard that someone was convicted in the sky, and the sky sent a divine fire."

When he said this, Hu Yuanxiang's heart suddenly moved, thinking of Ye Changlai.

He was also very strange in his heart, why did the brocade silk in the East Market ignite, now that he thinks about it, could it be that Ye Chang did it?

Thinking of the reputation of the dream fairy behind Ye Chang, Hu Yuanxiang originally only had one guess, but now it has become six points.

Wang Yuanbao was stabbed by his words, and it was meaningless to know that it was not interesting to entangle again, so he smiled at the moment: "Anyway, this time we lost in Dongshi, and if we lose, we will lose, and we will not make any excuses, and we don't need to compare anything." ”

With that, he flicked his sleeves, turned and left.

After walking a few steps, he saw a young man coming to him with a smile and bowing to him.

Wang Yuanbao ignored the young man, but when the two of them passed by by mistake, he heard the young man introduce himself: "Some, Xiuwu Ye Chang is also, it is a blessing to see Wang Weng today."

"Xiuwu...... Ye Chang, Ye Shiyi Lang" Wang Yuanbao stopped suddenly.

He tilted his face and looked at Ye Chang carefully, this was the first time he had seen Ye Chang with his own eyes.

Sure enough, as young as rumored, only eighteen or nineteen years old, with clear eyebrows and a dashing demeanor. Although he is not the kind of person who attracts attention everywhere, it is indeed easy to attract the favor of others.

But it was such a kind and gentle face that made Wang Yuanbao feel tremendous pressure.

"You...... What do you want to do? Wang Yuanbao asked with some difficulty.

"Thank you to Wang Weng, thank you Wang Weng for this 100,000 yuan."

I got the news this morning that Wang Yuanbao had transported 100,000 guan money to the eldest princess of Yuzhen, and the eldest princess of Yuzhen called Ye Chang to take away the 80,000 guan from his side.

"100,000?" Wang Yuanbao Meiyu picked up.

"What was sent to the eldest princess of Yuzhen was the price set by a certain opening, 100,000 yuan." Ye Chang said with a smile: "From tomorrow, Wang Weng can send someone to the ball market to hand over." ”

"100,000 ......"

Wang Yuanbao muttered, and at this time his heart suddenly understood.

Ye Chang stopped him at this time, not only to see his failure, but more importantly, to tell him the news.

Wang Jin opened his mouth and said that Ye Chang wanted 120,000 guan, but in fact, Ye Chang only wanted 100,000 guan, what does this mean?

It means that his partner Wang Jin has already taken 20,000 yuan from him before their career has started.

If he had learned about this matter before, Wang Yuanbao would just laugh it off, and wanted Wang Jin to contribute, how could he not break some money. But after today's defeat, he had to think twice when he learned about it: Wang Jin is clearly a talented person, is his cooperation worth 20,000 yuan?

Ye Chang's meaning is also obvious, to drive a wedge between him and Wang Jin. But this is not a conspiracy, but a conspiracy, the seeds of discord have already been planted, and Ye Chang just watered a little water and accumulated some fertilizer.

With a long sigh, Wang Yuanbao bowed his hand to Ye Chang and said deeply: "Listen to Ye Langjun's teachings another day...... Unaccompanied, unaccompanied......"

After saying that, he staggered, then stood firm, and left the West Market.

For him, this city competition scene is a sad place, so after returning to his side, he summoned a few shopkeepers and stewards to explain, and then he got in the car and went back to the house.

As soon as he left, most of the wealthy merchants in the East Market also left, although the stalls were still supporting, they were only barely maintained.

At this time, the insect lady was holding Ye Chang's arm tightly, her big eyes were still staring at him, obviously, she was still very curious about everything that had just happened.

"If you want to ask, you can ask." Looking at her appearance, Ye Chang felt funny.

"Just ...... What's going on with that, how do you do it? ”

"It's just by the sun's rays...... Well, the fire of the sun, lighting that brocade, it's nothing, you can do it. ”

"Really?"

"It's true, I can't lie to you...... It's not early, let's go back to lunch? ”

"Okay, you teach me how to borrow the fire of the sun"

After lunch, the insect lady reluctantly said goodbye to Ye Chang and returned to the palace.

In her hand was the water jade ball given to her by Ye Chang. As soon as she learned a hand from Ye Chang, she was very happy and excited in her heart, ran to the courtyard in front of the palace, looked for some dead leaves, and refracted the sunlight with a water jade ball to ignite the dead leaves.

She played intently, giggling, but unaware that behind her, a figure was slowly approaching.

It's Li Longji.

He watched the Suzaku Gate for a long time, but after all, he couldn't make up for the excitement, which made him feel that there was a fly in the ointment. Although there are internal supervisors who bring news from the street from time to time, where can it compare to being there

Moreover, he is very smart, Ye Chang's layout cannot be seen by others, but he can see it clearly. But there are some questions that still need to be asked before we know the Tao, such as those hymns sung by orchids, some of which he knows the Tao, but there are others he doesn't know.

One of the most important things is how to ignite the brocade.

Like Wang Yuanbao and Hu Yuanxiang, Li Longji also believed that this must be Ye Chang's ghost. However, the next question made him difficult, how did Ye Chang ignite the brocade.

Li Longji thought about it for a long time, but he didn't find the reason, and then he remembered something.

Others don't know about it, but Twenty-Nine Niang definitely knows it, and she has always been by Ye Chang's side.

Now Li Longji handed over the government affairs to Li Linfu, walked around the garden by himself, was idle and bored, and after lunch, he went to Twenty-nine Niang's side.

He didn't bring many people, and saw Twenty-Nine Niang playing like a child from a distance, so he motioned to the attendant not to make a sound, and quietly approached himself to see what Twenty-Nine Niang was playing.

Then she was seen setting a leaf on fire, stepping on it, and setting it on fire.

Li Longji was taken aback, couldn't help but be a general, and grabbed Twenty-Nine Niang with his hand: "What kind of magic is this, and who taught you?"

He shouted and asked, which startled the insect girl, and found that it was him, and the insect girl bowed down and said, "Aya"

Li Longji let go of his voice and snorted coldly, one of the most taboo things in the palace is witchcraft, he shook his sleeves and glanced at Gao Lishi behind him, Gao Lishi understood, and whispered to a eunuch to summon Chen Xuanli.

"What kind of sorcery is this?" Li Longji asked again.

And ...... It's not sorcery, it's borrowing from the sun...... Borrowing fire ......" Worm Niang's body trembled slightly, realizing that something was wrong.

"Borrowing fire from the sun?"

"The light of the sun can be turned into fire." The insect girl looked at the water jade ball rolling on the ground and already cracked, and her eyes were full of tears: "Just use this water jade ball to gather the sunlight at a point, and ...... It can turn light into fire. ”

Hearing this, Li Longji's frowning brows relaxed slightly: "It's not witchcraft?" ”

"Ayer can give it a try." Worm Lady said.

Li Longji didn't make a sound, but Gao Lishi over there signaled to a little eunuch, and the little eunuch carefully picked up the water jade ball, and cracks appeared on the surface of the water jade ball, but there was generally no problem.

Under the command of the insect girl, the little eunuch soon also caught fire, seeing this scene, Li Longji suddenly realized: "This must be taught by Ye Chang, today's city competition, the brocade silk in the east market suddenly caught fire, this is the ......"

He originally wanted to say that it was witchcraft, but when he thought about it carefully, it didn't seem to be witchcraft, so he changed it to the word "trick" at the end. But soon, he became curious again: "Why did it turn light into fire?" ”