Chapter 345: Finding the Root Cause
Cheng Yuan looked closely and saw a thick patina on the armrests of the Promotion and Wealth Chair.
This indicated that its successive owners had loved it dearly, often sitting in it and running their hands over its surface.
Cheng Yuan counted carefully. There were eight Four-Clawed Pythons on the Promotion and Wealth Chair, just one fewer than the nine Golden Dragons on the Throne.
This meant that in He Shen’s mind, he was second only to one and above all others.
Zhou Yadong noticed Cheng Yuan examining the Promotion and Wealth Chair and asked in a testing tone, "Young Master Cheng, do you recognize my chair?"
Cheng Yuan said calmly, "This is the Promotion and Wealth Chair."
Zhou Yadong’s eyes lit up. This was the first time a guest had ever recognized the Promotion and Wealth Chair!
Most other guests guessed it was a chair used by a prince.
"I didn’t expect you to have some knowledge of ancient culture, Young Master Cheng. In that case, do you know the story behind the Promotion and Wealth Chair?"
The corners of Cheng Yuan’s mouth turned up slightly as he began to explain, "As everyone knows, there is a ’Promotion and Wealth Road’ in He Shen’s Prince Gong’s Mansion. What few people know is that He Shen also had a Promotion and Wealth Chair.
"The Promotion and Wealth Road and the armrests of the Promotion and Wealth Chair correspond to He Shen’s life.
"In the decades before he met Emperor Qianlong, He Shen’s life was unremarkable. He came from an ordinary background, failed the imperial examinations, and had bleak prospects, so he could only enter the palace to become a guard.
"If nothing unexpected had happened, the best He Shen could have hoped for was to be promoted to a third-class guard.
"However, everything turned upside down after he met Emperor Qianlong.
"Thanks to Emperor Qianlong’s favor, He Shen had a meteoric rise in just a few short years, eventually entering the Cabinet and becoming one of the most powerful officials of his time!
"When Prince Gong’s Mansion was being built, He Shen had craftsmen construct the Promotion and Wealth Road and craft the Promotion and Wealth Chair to express his gratitude to Emperor Qianlong."
Zhou Yadong nodded slightly. "I’m surprised you know the story of the Promotion and Wealth Chair so well, Young Master Cheng! I spent a full thirty million to buy it back then! And this chair didn’t disappoint me. In just three short years, I went from being a lobby manager, skipping several ranks, to become the Governor of the ICBC Luocheng Branch."
As he spoke, Zhou Yadong gently stroked the armrest of the Promotion and Wealth Chair. ’How similar my life is to He Shen’s!’
His branch of the family, the third branch, was in decline within the Zhou Family and wasn’t valued by the patriarch. Before the age of thirty-five, his career had shown little progress.
Ever since he bought the Promotion and Wealth Chair, the patriarch had suddenly started to pay attention to the third branch.
And with the family’s strong support, he began his own meteoric rise.
Everyone except Cheng Yuan wore expressions of envy. ’This Promotion and Wealth Chair is just too incredible, isn’t it? If only we had a chair like this, maybe we could have a meteoric rise too?’
Zhang Guoqiang laughed. "Old Zhou, no wonder you’ve been shooting up like a rocket these past few years. It was all thanks to this chair! At your promotion speed, I’d say you’ll be running the head office in less than five years!"
Zhou Yadong was thrilled, but he feigned humility. "Old Zhang, are you kidding me? I’d be happy just to make it to the provincial branch. The head office is still a distant dream."
Several of Zhu Yonghong’s assistants began to flatter him obsequiously.
"Governor Zhou, you’re too modest! With your track record and background, you’re guaranteed to reach the head office within three years!"
Zhou Yadong waved his hands dismissively. "Professor Zhu, your assistants are setting me up for a fall with all this praise!"
Everyone laughed.
Just as the atmosphere reached its most congenial, Cheng Yuan mercilessly poured cold water on the party.
"They really are setting you up for a fall. If Governor Zhou doesn’t get rid of this Promotion and Wealth Chair, he absolutely won’t live another three years."
WHOOSH!
Villa No. 8 fell instantly silent. Everyone stared blankly at Cheng Yuan. ’What kind of nonsense is this kid spouting?’
For Zhang Guoqiang’s sake, Zhou Yadong refrained from shouting and questioned him coldly, "Old Zhang, what is the meaning of this? Did you deliberately bring someone here to curse me?"
Zhang Guoqiang was so frustrated he could have killed himself. If he had known Cheng Yuan was this reckless, he would never have introduced him to Zhou Yadong!
’Ugh, what a mess!’
With a pained expression, Zhang Guoqiang explained, "Old Zhou, don’t be angry. Young Master Cheng is just joking."
After speaking, Zhang Guoqiang repeatedly shot meaningful glances at Cheng Yuan, hoping he would give him some face and stop saying such outrageous things.
Unfortunately, it was as if Cheng Yuan hadn’t seen Zhang Guoqiang’s hints. He stated firmly, "I’m not joking."
Zhou Yadong’s expression darkened. If it weren’t for Zhang Guoqiang, he would have thrown Cheng Yuan out of his house right then and there!
Zhu Yonghong, who had been standing to the side, couldn’t watch any longer. He said in a cold voice, "Young man, I have given Governor Zhou a comprehensive physical examination! His physical condition is that of someone seven or eight years younger than his actual age, and he has no diseases. He’s merely suffering from some insomnia due to high work pressure and mental stress. How could he possibly have less than three years to live?"
Cheng Yuan gave Zhu Yonghong a cool glance. "Old man, you’re nothing but a quack who can’t even find the cause of the illness. I’m begging you, stop trying to harm people!"
Zhu Yonghong laughed in anger. "Kid," he asked coldly, "then you tell me, what is the cause of Governor Zhou’s illness?"
Cheng Yuan raised his hand and pointed at the Promotion and Wealth Chair, saying with utter certainty, "The cause of Governor Zhou’s illness is this very chair! Before He Shen was arrested, this is the chair he sat in! His heart was filled with bitter resentment, his anger soaring to the heavens. He hated Emperor Jiaqing for his heartlessness and cruelty! This resentment seeped into the Promotion and Wealth Chair and, after evolving over so many years, has formed a Resentful Spirit! Since Governor Zhou often sits in the chair, he has been invaded by the Resentful Spirit’s Evil Qi, which has led to his body coldness, insomnia, and nightmares."
PFFT! Everyone except Zhang Guoqiang couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Zhou Yadong said coldly, "Kid, you’re so young, yet you’re trying to fool me with this supernatural nonsense? If what you said were true, I would definitely feel discomfort sitting in this chair. But I sit in it every day and feel no discomfort at all! In fact, I feel refreshed and invigorated! How do you explain that?"
Cheng Yuan said calmly, "Governor Zhou, the reason you feel refreshed is just an illusion created by your happy mood. Your current state of exhaustion is the best proof. As long as you get rid of the Promotion and Wealth Chair immediately and slowly nurse your body back to health, you can fully recover in three months."
Zhou Yadong hesitated. He was indeed quite exhausted lately, feeling drowsy every day with a foggy mind. That was why he had become reluctant to manage affairs himself, delegating authority to his vice governors instead.
Cheng Yuan’s words had shaken his confidence. He turned to look at Zhu Yonghong, seeking his opinion with a questioning gaze.
Zhu Yonghong smiled faintly. "Governor Zhou, don’t let this kid fool you! The reason you feel tired is simply because you aren’t sleeping well at night. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Promotion and Wealth Chair! As long as I give you some acupuncture, supplemented by my newly developed tonic, you’ll definitely make a full recovery."