Chapter 27 Good Cop? Bad Cop?

"Um?"

Li Tai's narrow, slit-like eyes peered toward the doorway.

Fang Yi'ai and Cui Shenji charged in menacingly.

"Damn it, it's the King of Wei."

"This is a tough one, time to get out of here..."

The two men exchanged a glance, then turned and ran.

The swill stick was left to roll to Li Tai's feet.

"You bastard!"

The stench emanating from the tip of his nose caused Li Tai's face to contort in a grotesque expression.

It's one thing to have your refined taste disturbed, but to dare to disgust him with swill? Does he really think King Wei is made of clay?

"Guards, bring those two back to me!"

As soon as Li Tai gave the order, several guards swiftly leaped down from the third floor...

Choi Shin-ki and his companion had barely reached the second floor when they were stopped by the guards.

With the scabbard at his neck, he could only retreat in fear.

A short while later, they retreated back to the private room.

"Your Highness, Prince Wei, hello."

The two of them gave each other an awkward smile.

"Why did you two flee in such a panic upon seeing me!" Li Tai asked coldly, suppressing his anger.

Especially when he saw Fang Yi'ai covered in swill, the look of disgust between his brows became even more intense.

"I... my fourth aunt is about to give birth," Choi Shin-ki lied through his teeth.

“Yes, yes, yes… It’s a difficult birth, the kind where only one of the mother and child can be saved, it’s really urgent.” Fang Yi’ai immediately chimed in.

Bang.

Li Tai slammed his hand on the table: "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"The concubine that Lord Cui took in just a few days ago has already given birth today?"

Well……

The two were dumbfounded.

Fang Yi'ai even gave him a reproachful look.

You son of a bitch, at least come up with a decent excuse.

"Fang Yi'ai, when are you going to pay back the money you owe?"

Just then, Wei Daijia finally had a chance to speak.

"You cunning Wei Daijia, daring to scheme against me, I'll kill you."

Fang Yi'ai's eyes immediately turned red, and he howled as he tried to rush towards Wei Daijia.

"Stop!" Li Tai immediately shouted, "You dare to commit violence in front of me, Fang Yi'ai, do you not respect me at all!"

Fang Yi'ai stopped in his tracks.

It wasn't because of the King of Wei's reprimand, but because the guards once again placed the scabbard against his neck.

"Your Highness, Prince Wei, you must do me justice!"

Upon seeing this, Wei Daijia immediately cried and complained, "Fang Yi'ai owes money and won't pay it back, now others are coming to me."

"Is this true?" Li Tai looked at Fang Yi'ai.

Fang Yi'ai, feeling guilty, glanced around nervously.

Bang.

Li Tai slammed his fist on the table again: "Fang Yi'ai, I'm asking you a question!"

"King Wei, this is all a trap set by Wei Daijia..."

Fang Yi'ai immediately shared his guess.

"Do you have any evidence?" Li Tai asked seriously.

"this……"

Fang Yi'ai was stunned. Where did this evidence come from?

"Can't say anything now, huh?" Wei Daijia sneered. "You have no evidence, but I do!"

Wei Daijia bowed to Li Tai: "Your Highness, Fang Yi'ai's food, drink, and all other expenses these days are plain for all to see..."

“He used his title as Duke of Liang to borrow money and run up accounts all over the streets of Chang’an, leaving the shopkeepers angry but unable to speak out.”

"What's even more outrageous is that I kindly introduced him to a friend to lend him money, but not only did he not pay it back, he also turned around and accused me!"

As Wei Daijia recounted his story, Fang Yi'ai's expression changed drastically.

Although he knew he had fallen into the other party's trap, it was a fact that he had run up the tab, and he couldn't deny that.

"Fang Yi'ai, is this true?"

Li Tai looked at Fang Yi'ai and asked authoritatively.

“It’s just a debt, I’ll pay it back.” Fang Yi’ai stuck out his neck.

Regardless of the consequences, let's just try to get by for now.

“Alright.” Li Tai nodded: “Notify the Duke of Liang’s mansion and have them bring money to ransom the people.”

"Wait a minute."

Fang Yi'ai quickly stopped him, saying, "I'll pay back the money I owe myself. There's no need to notify my household, is there?"

Fang Yi'ai panicked.

These spoiled brats who fear neither heaven nor earth are only afraid of their fathers.

Almost without exception, this happened throughout the entire Tang Dynasty.

Because everything they have comes from their father.

"Then pay me back."

Wei Daijia took out a slip of paper from his sleeve and slammed it on the table: "1,300 guan, for a period of one month. It's been thirty-nine days now, so I'll charge you 39 guan for interest."

"You bastard, you still say it wasn't you who set this up!" Fang Yi'ai roared, his eyes red.

"How did I fall for their trap?"

"If you didn't set this up, why are you in your hands?"

“Fang Yi’ai, Fang Yi’ai, I am your guarantor. If you don’t repay the money, they will come after me. Now that I have repaid it for you, the IOU is in my hands now, isn’t it?”

Fang Yi'ai was stunned; he couldn't find fault with what she said.

However, Wei Daijia's arrogant expression seemed to say... So what if I tricked you?

"I'll pay it back."

Choi Shin-ki is very loyal: "Yi-ae, whatever you have, I'll sell everything I own to make up for it."

"Not much, 1,338 strings of cash."

"Shao Yiguan, just say it directly. We're good brothers, I don't need you to pay me back."

“One thousand three hundred and thirty-eight strings of cash short.”

"What do you mean?"

"I've always been the same."

Choi Sin-ki clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lee Tae-il, his face full of righteous indignation: "Your Highness, I feel that Fang Yi-ai is not a proper son. You should inform the Duke of Liang's mansion and handle this matter officially!"

"..."

Fang Yi'ai was dumbfounded.

What happened to our good brothers?

You promised to sell everything you own to help me pay back my money!

They've sold me out like that?

"Fang Yi'ai, now that things have come to this, let's see who can help you." Wei Daijia sneered as he watched this scene.

Fang Yi'ai's face turned red with anger, and he trembled all over.

"Just tell me, what do you want me to do?" Fang Yi'ai asked.

"What can I ask you to do? I just want you to pay me back." Wei Daijia crossed his arms, looking smug.

With so many people around, even if I wanted you to do something, I wouldn't just say it directly.

“You…” Fang Yi’ai pointed at Wei Daijia, his finger trembling slightly.

That's enough.

Just then, Li Tai spoke up: "Wait for the price. Yi'ai is short of money. Please grant her a few days' grace if possible."

“Your Highness the King of Wei has spoken, and your subject shall obey.”

Wei Daijia bowed and then looked at Fang Yi'ai: "I'll give you three more days. If you can't pay back the money within three days, I will personally go to the Duke of Liang's mansion to demand it."

"Okay," Fang Yi'ai agreed through gritted teeth.

Just as he was about to leave, Wei Daijia stopped him again.

"Wait, did I say you could leave?"

Fang Yi'ai turned around in confusion: "Is there anything else?"

"For the sake of the King of Wei, I can give you a few days' grace, but the debts owed by the shopkeepers in Chang'an..."

Wei Daijia squinted, his meaning clear.

Fang Yi'ai may leave today, but he must repay the debts owed to the people.

"What does that account have to do with you?" Fang Yi'ai questioned.

“It has nothing to do with me, but if they all flock to the Duke of Liang’s mansion, do you think the reputation that Lord Fang has worked so hard to build up over his life will be ruined by you, you fool?”

This time, Fang Yi'ai's expression really changed.

Owes money.

Fang Xuanling beat him so badly that he became unable to take care of himself.

However, if Fang Xuanling's reputation were ruined, it would be something that his son could not tolerate.

It's like someone else can hit you, but if you touch a single hair on my father's head, I'll fight tooth and nail to kill you.

"You're asking for it!"

Fang Yi'ai clenched his fists, his eyes gradually turning bloodshot.

“Shut up, Waiting for a price.” Li Tai stepped forward and scolded, then looked at Fang Yi’ai: “Yi’ai, don’t listen to Waiting for a price’s nonsense.”

"Where am I talking nonsense? Fang Yi'ai is a spendthrift who ruined his father's life."

"Stop talking nonsense. A mere few thousand strings of cash is nothing compared to the lifelong reputation of the Prime Minister."

"Several thousand strings of cash is no small sum. Can Fang Yi'ai come up with that amount?"

Li Tai and Wei Daijia echoed each other, their words particularly sharp.

Fang Yi'ai clenched his fist, then loosened it, then clenched it again.

I don't know where to go or what to do.

"Don't worry about Yi'ai, this concerns the reputation of Chancellor Fang. I will help if I can," Li Tai said at the opportune moment.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t! How can you possibly help a spendthrift like Fang Yi’ai?” Wei Daijia replied.

Swish.

Fang Yi'ai raised his head.

Yes, no one else can help me, but the King of Wei certainly can!

As the most favored prince of the Tang Dynasty, Li Tai was naturally not short of money.

"Your Highness, Prince Wei, you..."

His mouth moved, and just as he was about to speak, he felt a pain in his buttocks and fell forward.

With a thud, he fell to the ground, looking like a toad.

"You even dare to plot against my little brother? Who gave you the courage!"