387 Fraud (2)
However, everyone was not stupid. They were just agitated.
They calmed down and thought about it.
Other nobles had tried booking the entire inn before, but the owner didn’t accept their offers.
However, he didn’t reject this guest. What did it mean? It meant that the owner could not afford to offend this noble. Of course, they could not afford to do so either.
Although they were unhappy, they still went upstairs to pack their things and left after receiving the compensation from the shopkeeper.
With this money, they could get a room at Yuelai Restaurant. Apart from being a little troublesome, they actually didn’t lose out.
Only Shen Yijia’s table was left in the entire inn. Coincidentally, they had finished eating.
Song Jingchen instructed, “Go and pack your things.”
The few of them stood up and prepared to return to their rooms.
Xuanyuan Ce glanced at Chu Feng. The latter was counting money for the shopkeeper and did not receive his hint.
Xuanyuan Ce frowned and finally said, “You don’t have to leave.”
They stopped in their tracks. Song Jingchen’s eyes darkened, but before he could speak.
Shen Yijia was the first one to voice her unhappiness. “We’re leaving.”
Xuanyuan Ce was speechless.
“Why?” Shouldn’t she be happy that he didn’t chase them away? Why did she look angry instead?
Shen Yijia rolled her eyes. Why? Of course it was for the huge compensation.
A room cost 500 copper coins, and their five rooms cost 2,500 copper coins. She looked at the food she had ordered and saw that it was about one tael of silver.
If it was tripled, it would cost three to five taels of silver. Only a fool would stay behind and give up this money.
Living expenses in the capital were too high. No matter what, she had to earn money to raise her husband.
Shen Yijia was stunned at her ability to calculate the prices.
However, although she thought so, she could not say it out loud. What if this person said that he did not want to pay?
“You actually booked this inn, so it belongs to you. We don’t have the habit of taking advantage of others. Thank you for the invitation.” Shen Yijia’s expression was sincere. After saying that, she cupped her hands and bowed.
Song Jingchen was amused by her words. He cupped his hands at Xuanyuan Ce in agreement.
The group quickly went upstairs to pack their things. Their footsteps were fast, and the stairs clicked.
They all understood Shen Yijia’s thoughts. Of course, they could not hold her back.
Xuanyuan Ce stood rooted to the ground for a long time. Was this little girl so upright?
Chu Feng glanced at his lord strangely and continued to check the accounts with the shopkeeper.
There were many transactions and it would take a while.
In less than ten minutes, they packed up and went downstairs. They did not have a lot of luggage to begin with, only a few sets of clothes.
Xuanyuan Ce frowned. “What if I only reserved the other rooms excluding yours?”
Shen Yijia was shocked. “That’s even more inappropriate. There’s a saying that a gentleman never…”
“Takes back his words,” Song Jingchen completed the sentence for her.
“That’s right. If what you said doesn’t count, won’t you be a villain? So we have to leave.”
Xuanyuan Ce thought to himself, “Really, so it’s for my own good, I see.”
In the end, the person who had just said that she did not want to take advantage of him ran to the counter to ask the shopkeeper for compensation.
They had yet to pay for the meal. It was not considered an expense. Then, he saw the little girl hand a piece of silver to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper accepted it in confusion.
The little girl said, “Five high-grade rooms and a meal. Count it and give us the compensation.”
Shen Yijia felt that it was a pity. If she had known that there was such a good thing, they would have asked for a room each.
However, she only thought about it. One had to be content with what they had.
Shen Yijia happily left with the silver.
Song Jingchen turned around and brought them to a cheap inn to stay.
Xuanyuan Ce stood there in a daze for a long time.
Why did he book the entire inn so extravagantly?
He did not know that his good nephew had once been tricked even more miserably by someone he thought was upright. At first, it was just a trap for one person, but later on, more people got caught up in it.
They almost didn’t even have the money to go home.
“Your Highness, it’s all done.”
Chu Feng’s voice brought Xuanyuan Ce back to his senses.
He glanced coldly at Chu Feng, who had a puzzled expression.
On Eunuch Deng’s side, he did not even have time to change his clothes when he returned to the palace before crying in front of Emperor Chong’an.
He talked about how he had almost been assassinated, and how he had been saved by Song Jingchen.
Of course, he did not forget to complain about Shen Yijia.
He talked about how she had scammed him of his money and described Shen Yijia as a money-grubber. She knew nothing but brute force.
Those were his thoughts.
He originally thought that Emperor Chong’an would be furious, but he did not expect him to be amused.
Instead of asking about the assassination attempt, the emperor asked how Shen Yijia scammed him of his money and what Song Jingchen’s attitude was.
Eunuch Deng choked and could only say tirelessly, “I think Young Master Song has been blinded by beauty. He’ll listen to whatever his wife says.”
“In the past half a month, Young Master Song has been guarding her every step of the way because his wife was suffering from seasickness. He doesn’t even eat.”
With that, he kowtowed a few more times and wailed, “Your Majesty, I thought I would never see you again!”
“Alright.” Emperor Chong’an glanced at him in a good mood. “Aren’t you thinking about my private treasury?”
He said to Eunuch Li, “Go and get a thousand taels of silver for him.”
“Yes.” Eunuch Li went out with a smile. When he passed Eunuch Deng, he even glanced at him disdainfully.
Eunuch Deng thought to himself, “I was too excited when I came in just now. Why didn’t I notice my sworn enemy? I was indeed angered by that wretched girl.”
“I remember that the residence that belonged to the Hong family is still empty. Go tomorrow and say that I’m giving it to him. Tell him to rest for two days before entering the palace to see me.”
Eunuch Deng agreed and heard Emperor Chong’an say, “At the same time, return the money you owe others. You’ve embarrassed me.”
Eunuch Deng smiled awkwardly and left.
Emperor Chong’an twirled the jade ring in his hand and muttered, “As a human being, I have to be greedy to not be afraid.”
“Your Majesty, Miss Ji has sent the medicinal pills.” An eunuch reported from outside the door.
At night, Xuanyuan Ce lay on the bed with a piece of silver in his hand. His thoughts had long flown away.
“You’re so good-looking. Isn’t it a pity to die like this?”
“Handsome, it’s you. It’s an emergency. I’ll borrow your carriage, I need a place to hide.”
“Hey, handsome, we’re really fated. I lost my money bag. Can you lend me some money?”
“Handsome, why are you so petty?”
“I just accidentally watched you take a shower. Is there a need to hunt me down for so many days?”
“At most, I’ll let you look at me as compensation. Neither of us will suffer a loss!”
“Handsome, you look so good when you smile.”
“Xuanyuan Ce, are you really going to marry this woman?”
“Xuanyuan Ce, let me ask you one last time. Do you really want to enter that bridal chamber?”
“Xuanyuan Ce, you’ll regret it. You’ll definitely regret it!”
