“I think I still have some left.”
Chong Chong opened her inventory and rummaged around. Sure enough, there was half a tael of silver fragments still inside.
She had spent five taels of silver to rent a room at the Wangyue Inn, leaving about five hundred wen in game currency.
“Hold on, let me go see if it’s enough.”
Chong Chong weighed the silver fragments in her hand, then took the half tael and ran over to a swarthy old man to ask about the price of tanghulu.
Twenty wen a stick?
Hearing the answer, she breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like this amount was enough, and she would even have some left over.
She bought four sticks of tanghulu and quickly ran back, handing two to Chen Xiaoyan.
“Here.”
“I don’t really like this stuff. It’s sour.”
“Try it. I think it’s pretty good. Mmm… sweet and sour, that’s the flavor.”
Watching the girl eat with relish, Chen Xiaoyan began to waver.
Tanghulu was a little snack she had tried out of curiosity as a child, but the sour taste had never appealed to her.
‘How does this girl like this stuff? Do all girls love sour things?’
Chen Xiaoyan took a small bite, and her eyes immediately lit up. The solidified syrup coated the hawthorn, creating a sweet-and-sour taste that grew more enjoyable with each bite.
It was really quite delicious.
‘Why did I think it was bad before?’
Seeing Chen Xiaoyan eating with enjoyment, Chong Chong grinned. “See? I told you it was good. The tanghulu here is a bit sweeter than in reality. I wonder what the sugar coating is made of.”
Chen Xiaoyan didn’t say much. She walked while munching on the tanghulu, constantly scanning her surroundings.
Chaolong Street was more prosperous than Yong’an Street. In terms of popularity and the atmosphere of daily life, the latter was stronger. This place was indeed beautiful, but it felt a bit too deserted.
“Eunuch Yu, are you sure Mo Ruhui and his daughter are hiding here?” Chen Xiaoyan bit into a hawthorn, her cheeks puffed, as she turned back to ask.
Yu Shangneng helplessly cupped his hands and explained, “Xianzi, I’m not certain, but the Prime Minister was indeed headed in this direction. It’s probably close enough.”
Hearing this, Chen Xiaoyan’s brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing.
Even if she couldn’t find the father and daughter, it was fine. She had done her best and could consider herself to have repaid those people.
But then again, the monk may run away, but the temple can’t. Mo Ruhui would definitely return to the Mo Manor eventually. Then she could simply wait at the tree for the rabbit.
“Xianzi, besides the Mo Family Shop, I’ve thought of another place.”
“What place?”
100
“Prince Ning’s Manor.”
“The Prince’s manor?” Chen Xiaoyan paused at the name, then started thinking.
Prince Ning—wasn’t he the fiancé of that Mo Nichang?
“Is Prince Ning’s Manor also in this direction?”
“Yes, Xianzi.”
Chen Xiaoyan nodded. “Mm, we’ll go take a look then.”
—
Prince Ning’s Manor.
Main Hall.
Mo Ruhui and Mo Nichang hadn’t gone to their own shop. Instead, they had turned and come straight to Prince Ning’s Manor.
He wanted Zhao Mu to temporarily arrange for Mo Nichang to be sent away while he returned alone.
Why seek help from a leisure prince?
Because even now, Mo Ruhui still couldn’t see through Prince Ning. He firmly believed that Zhao Mu was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.
Behind him there had to be a hidden power that had not yet surfaced.
“Prime Minister Mo, Nichang, why are you…” Zhao Mu, dressed in a ink-white robe, arrived at the hall. Seeing the father and daughter, he looked surprised.
“Prince, I beg you to save my daughter!” Mo Ruhui rose and bowed with his hands cupped.
“Mu Gege!” Mo Nichang’s usually stern face instantly broke into a smile when she saw Zhao Mu.
“Prime Minister Mo, no need for formalities. What happened that would bring you to seek me out?” Zhao Mu asked with a solemn expression.
He didn’t agree immediately. The Mo family was considered a first-rate power in Shangjing City. If even Mo Ruhui couldn’t handle it, then this matter was far from simple.
“Alas.” Mo Ruhui sighed and recounted everything that had happened earlier, without any embellishment.
They were all clever people. They would naturally detect any exaggeration. At a life-or-death moment like this, lying would be no different from seeking death.
“This…” As soon as he heard that a Heavenly Fragrance disciple was involved, Zhao Mu’s brow furrowed in distress.
Then he gave a wry smile. “Lord Mo, you really overestimate me. I have neither power nor influence. How can I go against a sect disciple?”
“Father, let’s go home. All this trouble is my fault. Don’t bother Mu Gege anymore.” Mo Nichang tugged at Mo Ruhui’s hand and pleaded.
Zhao Mu raised his hand to rub his nose, feeling quite speechless.
‘This woman has directly cut off my escape route. Refusing is almost impossible.’
Abandoning his future princess consort—if word of this got out, it could damage his reputation.
It might be detrimental to his future plans.
“Prince, Nichang is your betrothed princess. That Heavenly Fragrance disciple wanted her life without even distinguishing right from wrong. I ask you to handle this matter.”
“Father!!!” Mo Nichang was extremely anxious. She didn’t understand why her father insisted on dragging Zhao Mu into this.
A sect disciple was a hot potato. Whoever touched it would get burned.
“Prime Minister Mo, you’re overstating it. This matter is no longer something a leisure prince like me can handle. Report it to the Immortal Ascension Pavilion and let His Majesty the Emperor settle it for you.”
“His Majesty is wholly focused on cultivation. I’m afraid nothing short of the nation’s destruction could bring him out of seclusion.”
“Then I’m powerless as well.”
“Prince, by now the entire Great Song knows that Shang’er is already your woman.”
“Alas.” Zhao Mu sighed. Despite his extreme reluctance, it was now common knowledge that Mo Nichang was his princess consort. He couldn’t avoid it even if he wanted to.
‘Father Emperor, you really found me a wonderful match.’
“Mu Gege, don’t listen to my father. I’ll take responsibility for my own actions. If that Heavenly Fragrance disciple wants my life, I’ll give it to her.”
“You’re not afraid of death?” Zhao Mu asked with a smile.
“I am. But I don’t want to see Father and Mu Gege troubled.” As Mo Nichang spoke, she lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s.
Zhao Mu rubbed her head and smiled. “Don’t worry. Your father and I are here.”
“But the sect disciple…”
Mo Ruhui immediately cut her off.
“Shang’er, go rest for now. Your father and I need to discuss some things.”
“Yes, go rest. I’ll arrange your whereabouts later.” Zhao Mu nodded in agreement.
“Alright then.” Mo Nichang frowned, reluctantly glancing at Zhao Mu a few times, then followed a servant to the rear courtyard.
The moment she left, a guard rushed in and knelt on one knee to report.
“Prince, there are a few people outside claiming to be Heavenly Fragrance disciples asking to see you. Shall we let them in?”
“Heavenly Fragrance disciples?” Mo Ruhui shot up in alarm, his nerves on edge. He looked at Zhao Mu with a grave expression. “Prince, she must have found us.”
Zhao Mu was silent for a long time before asking, “Prime Minister Mo, how did that Heavenly Fragrance disciple know you were at my manor?”
Mo Ruhui fell into a brief silence.
‘That’s right… How did they know I was at Prince Ning’s manor?’