Chapter 75: They are a perfect match, so what about Lu Changqing’s position?

"I see," Fang Qianxue was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Why did the prince come to visit?"

"Sit down and talk." Xiao Mingzhe pointed his chin at the seat opposite him.

Fang Qianxue sat down carefully: "Your Majesty, just say what you want to say."

"It was my subordinates who were disobedient," Xiao Mingzhe glanced at Shopkeeper Wen who was nodding and bowing beside him, "Last time he came to your house and disrupted your banquet, I have always felt bad about it."

"Madam Lu! I didn't mean to offend you last time. I hope you can forgive me." Shopkeeper Wen said with an apologetic smile.

Fang Qianxue looked at the master and servant and knew that one of them was playing the good cop and the other the bad cop: "Forget it, it's all in the past, why bring it up again?"

"That being said, Jinxiuzhai doesn't allow people to buy on credit, but it never owes anyone anything either," Xiao Mingzhe picked up the teacup and winked at Shopkeeper Wen, "If he did something wrong, he will definitely compensate you."

"Yes, yes!" Shopkeeper Wen quickly brought a bundle from the table next to him, placed it on the table in front of Fang Qianxue and opened it, "Madam Lu, this is a little gift from our Jinxiuzhai, please accept it."

There weren't many things in the bundle, just a lilac-colored dress embroidered with Epiphyllum and a white jade hairpin made of a soft texture.

Fang Qianxue glanced at Xiao Mingzhe and knew that he was using the name of Jinxiuzhai to send a gift, but she didn't understand why he wanted to please her: "Your Majesty, if you have something to say, you might as well speak directly, otherwise I dare not accept this thing."

Xiao Mingzhe pursed his lips slightly and said nothing.

"I'll go out first! You guys chat!" Shopkeeper Wen walked out of the flower hall swiftly and pushed away the maids standing at the door.

Xiao Mingzhe then spoke: "You call me uncle, can't I give you a little gift?"

"The gift doesn't need to be so expensive," Fang Qianxue said, "A skirt from Jinxiuzhai is worth a thousand taels of silver, not to mention this Tianshan white jade hairpin which is priceless. Although I am a woman, I also understand the principle of not accepting gifts without merit."

Xiao Mingzhe drank a sip of tea quietly and said, "I will need your help in the future."

"What is it?"

"It's a simple matter, and it's just a piece of cake for you." Xiao Mingzhe didn't dare to reveal his true intentions, for fear of being kicked out by her.

"If it's not against morality, I can help you."

"Then take the things," Xiao Mingzhe tied the bundle up again and stuffed it into Fang Qianxue's arms, "Actually, you don't have to be so cautious. Your grandfather and I are close friends regardless of age difference. He asked me to take care of you."

"Grandfather asked you to take care of me?" Fang Qianxue thought about it. She had never heard her grandfather mention the name of King Beining.

"That's right. Moreover, when I came back to Beijing from Luzhou this time, I met your uncle and aunt by chance. They also asked me to take care of you." Once a person starts to tell a lie, he can continue to lie without blushing or beating his heart. Since Xiao Mingzhe brought up the late Master Fang, he also brought up the uncles and aunts of the Fang family who were in exile. Anyway, they were thousands of miles away and could not jump out to expose him.

"Uncle and uncle? Have you seen my mother?" Fang Qianxue has completely accepted the bag in her arms.

"Yes," Xiao Mingzhe said, "Your mother knows that your current situation is not good, so she asked me to take good care of you. If you have any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to Beining Palace to find me, and don't be afraid of trouble."

"Thank you." Fang Qianxue felt the bag in her arms was heavy, she looked up and smiled at him gently, "Thank you."

Because of this tearful smile, Xiao Mingzhe was still in a daze when he came out of the flower hall. His mind kept recalling Fang Qianxue's pretending to be strong smile.

As he walked, he wondered how much injustice this woman must have suffered to have such a heartbreaking smile.

Thinking of this, he suddenly felt that his behavior of lying to her just now seemed a bit stupid.

"Master?" Shopkeeper Wen called him several times, but there was no response. He had no choice but to raise his voice and said, "Master!"

"I am not deaf yet." Xiao Mingzhe came to his senses and realized that he had reached the screen wall. If he walked any further he would be out of the outer courtyard.

"Shall we go back?" asked Shopkeeper Wen.

Xiao Mingzhe's eyes turned slightly, and after thinking for a while, he said, "Go find Lu Changqing."

Lu Changqing had just finished his work and was about to go to the inner house when he saw a servant coming up to him.

"Second Master! Prince Beining is here and is waiting for you in the study room in the outer courtyard!"

"What is he here for?" Out of man's intuition, Lu Changqing felt angry when he heard the three words "King of Beining".

The last time Xiao Mingzhe and Fang Qianxue subdued the Qilin beast together, he heard some gossip that King Beining and Fang Qianxue looked a perfect match when standing together.

Bah! They are a perfect match, so where is Lu Changqing's position?

Those servants who have no tact can only talk nonsense. He and Fang Qianxue were married in a formal ceremony and had prayed to heaven and earth!

When they were first married, who wouldn’t exclaim, “A talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven” when seeing them?

Just as he was thinking about this, he arrived outside the study.

"Your subordinate Lu Changqing requests to see you."

"Come in."

Lu Changqing walked into the room and found Xiao Mingzhe sitting on the main seat. Next to him stood a chubby middle-aged man with a sparse beard. He was the shopkeeper Wen whom he hated so much.

"Your Highness, why are you with this profiteer?" Lu Changqing exclaimed.

"Profligate businessman?"

"Your Highness doesn't know yet, but he is the shopkeeper of Jinxiu Zhai. I have been wronged by him and suffered a great loss!" Lu Changqing pointed at Shopkeeper Wen and began to accuse him, "Black shops like Jinxiu Zhai should be banned and closed down!"

"Oh?" Xiao Mingzhe crossed his legs and glanced at Shopkeeper Wen. "Wenhan, what do you have to say?"

"Sir Lu, you should provide evidence when you speak. It is only natural to pay back debts. I have given you a zero and have not asked you to pay the interest. I have done my best. How dare you call me a profiteer?" Shopkeeper Wen crossed his arms and stared with his eyes wide open.

"Anyway, I don't want to associate with a money-hungry businessman like you!" Lu Changqing said angrily.

"Jinxiu Zhai is my property, Lord Lu, are you saying that I have also become obsessed with money?" Xiao Mingzhe put down the wolf-hair brush he was playing with and stared at the man in front of him with ill intentions.

"???" Lu Changqing was so shocked that he couldn't utter a complete sentence, "Jinxiuzhai is... is... yours?"

Xiao Mingzhe nodded, with a meaningful smile on his face: "Lord Lu, I came here today to tell you that Wenhan found someone to appraise the land and house deeds for your family a few days ago."

Lu Changqing's face fell and he almost fell down on the spot.

This living devil is actually the owner of Jinxiu Zhai!

"Master Lu, take a look," Shopkeeper Wen pulled out a deed from his bosom, "The house and land in Linyao are worth exactly five thousand taels. If you agree, sign this contract, and we'll be even after the land is sold."

"No... I can't sell my ancestral home!" Lu Changqing took a step back and knelt down in front of Xiao Mingzhe. "Your Highness, are you going to force me into a desperate situation?"

Xiao Mingzhe leaned back in his chair and said faintly, "If Lord Lu doesn't sign this contract, then sign another one."