Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 521 -521 Difficult to be a Hostage (16)

Chapter 521 -521 Difficult to be a Hostage (16)

The daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion sent over an invitation card, asking Chuzheng to go out.

The Imperial Guards outside didn’t dare to stop the invitation card from the Prime Minister’s Mansion; after seeking instructions, Chuzheng was allowed to leave openly and aboveboard.

Chang Yan’s carriage was waiting outside the palace gate, not wearing women’s clothing but dressed in men’s attire instead.

At first glance, there was a certain heroic elegance to her, resembling the spirit and valor of a woman warrior.

However, compared to Chuzheng, she still fell far short.

After all, one had been cross-dressing for many years.

The other had just started, and no matter what, some traces could still be detected.

Chuzheng had no interest in going out with Chang Yan but wanted to indulge in shopping; being able to go out openly was always better than climbing over walls.

How could she maintain her dignity if people saw her!

[Being seen by others will only get you caught.] A hostage had no dignity to speak of.

“I heard His Majesty had confined you, so I sent over the invitation card, asking you to come out. Considering the face of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, His Majesty won’t make things difficult,” Chang Yan took the initiative to explain why she invited him out.

“The Prime Minister’s Mansion won’t be implicated?”

“No,” Chang Yan said with some pride, “My father has His Majesty’s trust.”

“If you’re seen getting close to me, that might not be the case anymore.”

“…” Chang Yan was at a loss for words, “I’m just a girl; His Majesty won’t think too much of it. The Thirteenth Prince has probably never had a proper look around, so today let Chang Yan take charge and show you around, shall we?”

Chang Yan changed the subject.

Chuzheng kept a cold face, not committing one way or the other.

Chang Yan took it as an agreement and started showing Chuzheng around the Imperial City.

The Imperial City, beneath the feet of The Son of Heaven (Emperor), was bustling, noisy, and thriving.

“Thirteenth Prince, there are not many fun places in the Imperial City, but…” Chang Yan turned her head only to see Chuzheng had entered a shop nearby.

Chang Yan looked up at the shop’s sign.

This was a shop selling gold and silver jewelry…

Chang Yan ordered her servant to wait outside and followed into the shop.

There weren’t many people in the store; only Chuzheng stood in front of the shelf, and the shopkeeper was coming out from the inside, first surprised at Chuzheng’s appearance.

Graced as if an orchid amidst jade trees.

She looked like a dashing young gentleman who had stepped out of a painting.

Standing amid a pile of gold and silver wares, he did not look vulgar but instead exuded a refined, elegant nobility.

When did such a handsome and dashing young master appear in the Imperial City?

But after being stunned for a moment, the shopkeeper greeted them with a smile, “Which piece would the two young masters like to see? Are you buying for your wife or a beloved?”

“Can’t one buy if they don’t have a wife or beloved?” Chuzheng asked while pinching a gold hairpin.

“…” The shopkeeper’s expression turned stiff for a moment, “The young master jests, of course you can.”

Their shop sold gold and silver jewelry for women, and generally, the shopkeeper’s words would not be too far off the mark.

Even if a customer was buying for a younger sister or a female elder at home, they would just clarify with a word, and no one would take offense.

Who would have thought someone would come today and ask him this question.

Chuzheng threw the gold hairpin back.

Her slender and fair fingertips glided over the wooden shelf, the tips showing a translucent whiteness, each finger looking as if finely groomed, flawless and perfect.

Chang Yan thought: This is too delicate, almost like a girl’s hand.

“These…”

Chuzheng had just said two words when someone interrupted her.

“I’ll take all of these!”

A few people suddenly entered the shop from outside, and what was originally a spacious shop suddenly felt cramped.

The young lady, escorted by servants, came in with an imposing aura, flaunting the demeanor of a rich and doted woman on an outing with her entourage.

It was none other than Miss Cui of Marquis Yongan’s Mansion.

She pointed at the items in front of Chuzheng and waved her hand with an air of extravagance, “Pack all these up for me.”

Chuzheng: “…”

Anything that blocks my shopping spree is a devil—take it down!

“What, can you not hear what I said?” Seeing the shopkeeper didn’t react, Miss Cui spoke again, “Or are you afraid I can’t afford it?”

The shopkeeper recognized Miss Cui and hurriedly smiled, “Yes, of course.”

He immediately went to grab the jewelry from the wooden shelf.

Chuzheng reached out to stop him, and the shopkeeper threw a look at Chuzheng, signaling her not to conflict with this miss from the Cui family.

It was then that Miss Cui seemed to notice Chuzheng, raising her eyebrows, she spoke in a sarcastically sharp tone, “Oh, I wondered who it was, and turns out it’s Wei Country’s Proton.”

The shopkeeper’s hand trembled.

“Click—”

The golden hairpin slipped from her grasp.

This… this is the Wei Country’s Hostage?

Wei Country’s Hostage!!

The Shopkeeper felt that today, he did not consult the almanac before opening his shop. What kind of bad luck was this?

Not only did Miss Cui arrive, but now a Wei Country Hostage as well.

Chuzheng did not look at Miss Cui, her finger tapping on a wooden shelf: “This one…”

“Wei Country’s Hostage, you dare to compete with me for things?” Miss Cui’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, “You’d better think carefully.” Her words were all threats.

Taking her time, Chuzheng continued, “Not this one, wrap up everything else.”

Shopkeeper: “…”

Miss Cui: “…”

The colors on Miss Cui’s face were as varied and spectacular as a painter’s palette.

She was not competing with you, she nonchalantly claimed everything else for herself.

What could be more face-slapping than that?

“Shopkeeper, I’ll offer double the price for everything!”

“Miss…” the attendant nervously reminded, “We don’t have that much money, the Marquis will blow up if he finds out.”

Miss Cui completely ignored this, her gaze provocatively fixed on Chuzheng.

“Then it’s yours,” Chuzheng very agreeably let go.

With a snort, Miss Cui gloated proudly: “If you don’t have the money, don’t pretend to be a rich man. Really acting as if you’re a prince in Wei Country.”

“Shopkeeper, I’ll offer you three times the market price for your shop,” Chuzheng said evenly to the Shopkeeper.

She pulled out a silver note, placing it before the Shopkeeper.

After a moment’s thought, she added the last few notes on top.

Shopkeeper: “…”

The Shopkeeper swallowed hard, staring at the thick stack, each note worth a thousand taels.

He couldn’t imagine how long it would take to earn that amount.

The Shopkeeper hastily gathered the silver notes and scurried to the back, rattling through papers to produce the deed, lease, account book, and a chaotic assortment of documents, placing them all in front of Chuzheng.

He glanced at Miss Cui, who was still too shocked to react, and then scuttled out of the store like a crab.

He could take a good sum of money and run now.

If these two started causing trouble later, he’d be in the crossfire, and he might not even keep his life.

Chuzheng’s move was absolutely cunning.

You want to buy things, right?

Go ahead and buy.

I don’t want them.

I’ll buy the shop.

“Wei Country’s Prince!” Miss Cui’s eyes filled with growing malevolence: “Was it you who ruined my plans last time? Are you opposing me again this time on purpose?”

Chuzheng: “…”

Last time… what happened? What did I do?!

[At the Pouring Red Building, you threw someone out, remember?] King’s Account reminded.

Oh.

That.

So she’s here for payback?

I definitely can’t admit it!

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Chuzheng denied coldly.

“Pah, even if you turned to ash, I’d recognize you!” Miss Cui actually didn’t remember. It was her lackey who recounted the events to her after she woke up that day.

As the daughter of Marquis Yongan’s Mansion, who had ever treated her like that?

And by a hostage no less.

How could she stand for that?!

It’s absolutely unacceptable!

She must recoup her lost dignity!

That’s why, upon seeing him outside the store just now, she had immediately come in.

Chuzheng replied with utmost seriousness, “Even if I turned to ash, you could not possibly recognize me.” You don’t have any special abilities, and yet you claim you could recognize someone turned to ash, are you the ancestor of dust?!

Miss Cui: “…”

Isn’t that just a common saying?