Qin Run tried to pull her away, but the waiter grabbed his arm.

"Trying to run? Pay up."

Qin Run said urgently, "Go ask that woman for it, she is..."

"If you don't even acknowledge them, why should they give you money to spend?"

The shopkeeper's words nearly made Qin Run faint.

"Either I give you money, or I'll parade you through the streets. Do you want to go to the academy, or do you want to go home?"

Qin Run hated him to death.

"It's just ninety-six taels, right? I'm rich."

He bent down, took off his boots, and pulled out a one-hundred-tael silver note.

That was given to him by Su Yulan before.

Although Jiang Qingwan never lacked for his food, drink, or other necessities, she never allowed him to carry any money with him, always saying that he was still young and it was unsafe for him to have money.

This was the first time he had ever owned such a large sum of money.

Now he had to buy things for those poor classmates, and he handed them over with a pained expression, feeling extremely annoyed with his impulsiveness.

He hated Jiang Qingwan even more.

The shopkeeper grabbed it with disdain, but after checking that everything was correct, he reached out his hand again.

"Fifty taels are still short."

Qin Run was so angry that he jumped up and down, completely losing any semblance of his refined scholarly demeanor.

"You just said ninety-six taels? How come there are fifty taels more? Are you a black market shop? I'm going to the yamen to report you and have my father lead the troops to raid your shop."

The shopkeeper was speechless. "I didn't calculate the price of the inkstones you had earlier. Fifty-four taels for two inkstones?"

Qin Run froze, staring incredulously at the two magic stones.

He suddenly remembered that he had once lost his temper when he couldn't write an article, and had smashed seven or eight inkstones in the process.

Jiang Qingwan would always give him a new one; he never imagined that this thing would be so expensive.

Thinking back to the past, and then to Jiang Qingwan's attitude towards him just now.

He was even more furious and angrily threw the inkstone back.

“I’m going to the Imperial Academy soon, and this cheap stuff is not good enough for me.”

As he left the bookstore, he grew angrier and angrier.

They searched the whole city for Jiang Qingwan, but couldn't find her.

At that time, Jiang Qingwan was in a private room at Huailou, drinking wine and eating beef.

"Miss, what are we doing here?"

Lian'er looked around curiously.

It was magnificent and beautifully decorated.

Even the railings of the private seating area are carved and gilded.

Jiang Qingwan looked up and nodded below.

"I heard you can buy anything here. I promised Mo Yunhan that I would make up for her missing daughter's wine."

Lian'er's expression froze.

Her young lady was indeed captivated by that handsome man.

What should we do?

She was about to say a few words of advice when melodious piano music rang out from below, followed by shouts.

A beautiful woman in a red dress descended from the sky, like a magnificent flower slowly unfolding before the crowd, her beauty inspiring imagination.

Lian'er stared wide-eyed.

"Miss, they've even hired a courtesan to perform?"

Jiang Qingwan glanced at it.

This woman exudes a menacing aura and possesses martial arts skills; she is no ordinary courtesan.

Su Liuer smiled charmingly and surveyed the entire room before gracefully bowing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the treasure hunt is about to begin."