"Not much," Zhao Yanluo said.
"Not much still has a number, doesn't it?" Ji Wuran's handsome and stern face curved into a smile.
Zhao Yanluo said with a dejected face, "Only a thousand taels... of gold."
"That's not bad either. Give me five hundred taels of gold," Ji Wuran extended his hand without politeness, asking from Zhao Yanluo.
"Ji Wuran, you didn't contribute anything, not a place, nor people. On what grounds do you get so much?" Zhao Yanluo felt a bit unbalanced.
Ji Wuran withdrew his hand and looked at Zhao Yanluo coldly, "You don't have to give it, but..." Da Feng Novel Network
"But what?" Zhao Yanluo asked.
Ji Wuran said indifferently, "The elder uncle seems to be finding a marriage for you recently, and coincidentally wants to ask the Marquis. What do you think I should do if I..."
"Don't, Young Marquis Ji, no, Your Highness. You are magnanimous. I'll give it all to you, all to you, alright? Please don't let him arrange a marriage for me," Zhao Yanluo said.
Ji Wuran said lightly upon hearing this, "I'm not greedy for money. Half is half."
Zhao Yanluo's eyes lit up slightly, and he said, "Wuran, the Crown Prince was showing off to me earlier."
Seeing that Ji Wuran did not react, he continued, "The Crown Prince actually said that Princess Xingyue personally made him soup. What do you think? How could Princess Xingyue make him soup? It's simply... Wuran, where are you going?"
"Send the money to the mansion," Ji Wuran left the carriage.
Zhao Yanluo felt like crying and laughing. It seemed nothing could change the fact that he had to give five hundred taels of gold.
Meng Jiangming was lamenting the fact that his private treasury had been seized by Zhao Yanluo when he suddenly saw Ji Wuran appear before him.
Thinking that if it weren't for Ji Wuran, would all those subsequent events have happened? Would his money have been given away for nothing?
Truly unlucky. As soon as Zhao Yanluo left, Ji Wuran arrived. He did not believe Ji Wuran was here to comfort him; it was more likely he was harboring some ill intentions.
"What are you doing here? Come to watch the show?" Meng Jiangming did not believe Ji Wuran wouldn't know about Zhao Yanluo taking his thousand taels of gold. He assumed Ji Wuran was mocking or ridiculing him from somewhere.
"Is this soup personally brewed by Princess Xingyue for you?" Ji Wuran asked, looking at the soup in the bowl.
Only when asked about the soup did Meng Jiangming feel a sense of relief. It seemed others didn't even have the right to drink soup.
"Still is. Otherwise, could it be someone else who brewed it?" Meng Jiangming finally held his head high.
Ji Wuran looked at the soup, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth, but it quickly disappeared. "Congratulations, Crown Prince."
"No need for congratulations. Drink a few more cups on the wedding day, and that will be giving me face," Meng Jiangming said proudly.
"Of course, I shall take my leave first!" Ji Wuran departed.
Meng Jiangming was utterly bewildered. Did Ji Wuran come here just to congratulate him?
Why did it feel so strange?
Ji Wuran exited the Ningguo Duke's mansion and called someone over, "An Feng, go and investigate if Princess Xingyue personally made any soup today?"
An Feng replied, "Yes, master."
Ji Wuran looked up at the setting sun and couldn't help but mock himself. What was he doing? What was he trying to achieve?
The next day
Xue Xingyue arrived at the Imperial Study. Her imperial brother had hurriedly sent someone to summon her there early in the morning.
"Imperial Brother."
Xue Xingchen looked up and saw her. A smile bloomed on his pale face, and this smile brought a touch of color back to his complexion.
Xue Xingyue saw this and felt a pang in her heart. "Imperial Brother, do you have something to tell me?"
Xue Xingchen nodded and said, "The second prince of Qi will be visiting early next month. He might not leave until after your wedding."
Xue Xingyue was startled, her gaze growing slightly cold. "Qi Yuming? What is he coming for?"
"Xingyue, we are currently in a truce with the state of Qi. War will not be easily provoked again. Let the past be the past!" Xue Xingchen said.
Xue Xingyue lowered her eyes, her hands clenched tightly within her sleeves. After a long moment, she looked up and said, "Yes, Imperial Brother."
Xue Xingchen smiled. "Xingyue, I know many people died at Qi Yuming's hands back then. But war is that cruel. With war comes sacrifice and bloodshed, which is why we must not provoke war easily. Only then will peaceful days last longer."
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Imperial Brother is right."
Xue Xingchen seemed hesitant to speak. Xue Xingyue noticed that Xue Xingchen had something to say and asked, "Does Imperial Brother have anything else?"
"Regarding the reception of the second prince of Qi, are you willing, Xingyue?" Xue Xingchen looked up at Xue Xingyue.
Xue Xingyue's gaze paused slightly, then she curved her lips. "Imperial Brother, as you said, we are not provoking war easily. Therefore, to me, he is merely a guest. Leave the matter of welcoming guests to me!"
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingchen sighed. "Xingyue, you've worked hard. But rest assured, I have also assigned this matter to the Ningguo Duke's mansion, so you can relax a bit."
"Yes, Imperial Brother," Xue Xingyue said.
Xue Xingchen walked down from his chair and reached out to touch her head. "Xingyue, you've grown up. You wouldn't have agreed so readily before."
Xue Xingyue looked at Xue Xingchen's increasingly emaciated body and said, "Imperial Brother, if there's anything, I'll share it with you." "Okay," Xue Xingchen said with a smile.
Leaving the Imperial Study, Xue Xingyue immediately saw Eunuch Wei outside. She walked over and said, "Eunuch Wei, talk to me for a bit!"
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wei bowed and said, "Your Highness, this old servant will escort you."
Xue Xingyue nodded.
"Your Highness, are you worried about His Majesty's health?" Eunuch Wei suddenly asked.
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Eunuch Wei, is Imperial Brother..."
"His Majesty has been pushing himself too hard lately. Even though his body is already so weak, he still..."
Xue Xingyue looked into the distance and said, "If Imperial Brother is gone, what will I do?"
"Your Highness..." Eunuch Wei exclaimed in shock.
"It's alright, it's just you and me here," Xue Xingyue said with a bitter smile.
Eunuch Wei then relaxed and said, "His Majesty is most concerned about Your Highness. If Your Highness gets married, His Majesty will be able to relax a bit. However, this old servant heard that the second prince of Qi will be visiting early next month. This is not good news."
Xue Xingyue nodded, her tone turning icy. "Back then, he massacred so many innocent civilians. Seeing him, I don't know if I can resist attacking."
"Your Highness..." Eunuch Wei said worriedly.
Xue Xingyue smiled and said, "Eunuch Wei, don't worry, I won't act rashly. Peaceful days are hard-earned, why would I let them be disrupted again?"
The palace gate was just ahead. Xue Xingyue said, "Eunuch Wei, please return. Advise Imperial Brother well, don't overwork yourself."
Eunuch Wei nodded. "Your Highness, please rest assured, this old servant will advise His Majesty."
Xue Xingyue nodded and turned to enter the carriage.
In the carriage, Feng Wu looked at Xue Xingyue's cold expression and asked, "Your Highness, is something wrong?"
Xue Xingyue glanced at Feng Wu, withdrew her gaze, and said indifferently, "Qi Yuming will be visiting early next month."
Upon hearing this, Feng Wu gritted her teeth. "How dare he come again?"
"Feng Wu, I am responsible for receiving Qi Yuming, so your attitude must also change."