The Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince also entered Lingpu's shop.

Unbeknownst to them, a gaze had been fixed on them from behind, and upon seeing them enter, a cryptic smile appeared on the lips.

When the Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince went inside, they saw Lingpu pawning things and preparing to hand them over to the shopkeeper.

"Isn't this Lingpu?" The Ninth Prince walked over, fan in hand.

Lingpu was clearly startled by these words, and almost dropped what he was holding.

"You better hold on tight, or I won't compensate you for it!" the Ninth Prince said jokingly.

Lingpu then noticed the Ninth Prince and the Fourth Prince behind him with a cold expression. "This servant greets both of you!"

"Lingpu, what are you doing? Did you also borrow money from the national treasury?" the Ninth Prince asked.

"Ninth Master is joking! How could this servant dare to say such a thing!" Ling Pu said with a forced smile.

"What are you going to pawn? Show it to me. If I like it, I might get more than the pawnshop would!" the Ninth Prince said seemingly casually.

"Ninth Master, you can just take it if you like!"

"How can I accept this! Take it out quickly!" Ninth Prince urged.

Seeing that he had no choice but to take it out, Lingpu gritted his teeth and pulled it out, praying that the Ninth Prince and the Fourth Prince wouldn't recognize it.

Lingpu took out a gold-inlaid bracelet.

The Ninth Prince looked closely but couldn't see anything wrong. He then looked at the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince frowned. He hadn't noticed anything either, but he had a feeling that Lingpu was acting strangely.

The Fourth Prince looked up at Lingpu and noticed that Lingpu looked nervous.

Seeing the Fourth Prince looking at him, Lingpu immediately smiled and looked at the Fourth Prince, "Fourth Prince, is there a problem?"

The Fourth Prince pursed his lips and stared at Ling Pu for a moment. Was he really just being paranoid?

"Lingpu, this bracelet is quite nice, why did you pawn it?" the Ninth Prince asked.

“Ninth Master, this is my family heirloom bracelet. I’m a little short on cash lately, otherwise I wouldn’t have been willing to pawn it!” Ling Pu knew he had passed this hurdle today.

"Aren't these Fourth Master and Ninth Master?" At that moment, a person walked in from outside.

The Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince both looked at the person who walked in; this person was Yao Dian from the Ministry of Rites.

"Why are Fourth Master and Ninth Master here?" Yao Dian asked.

"What, is it that the master can't come?" the Ninth Prince asked, fanning himself with his fan a few times.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was just saying it offhand!" Yao Dian immediately apologized.

Yao Dian also saw Ling Pu, "Lord Ling Pu is here too!"

"Greetings, Lord Yao!" Ling Pu greeted Yao Dian with clasped hands.

"Could it be that Lord Lingpu is here to pawn something?" Yao Dian asked seemingly casually.

“Ah, yes!” Lingpu replied.

Yao Dian also noticed the bracelet. "Hmm? This bracelet looks familiar!"

"Lord Yao has seen it? Lingpu said it's his family heirloom bracelet!" the Ninth Prince said.

"Really?" Yao Dian looked at Ling Pu. "I wonder when Lord Ling Pu's ancestors became Mongols?"

Upon hearing this, both the Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince looked at Lingpu.

Lingpu was so engrossed in watching him that he broke out in a cold sweat in the middle of winter.

"Lord Yao, do you recognize this bracelet?" the Fourth Prince asked.

"Your Majesty, if I remember correctly, this should be a tribute from Mongolia. It is a Canaanite sandalwood bracelet inlaid with gold beads!"

As for why it became Lord Lingpu's ancestral bracelet, I have no idea! Yao Dian said.

"You dog of a servant, how dare you lie to me!" Ninth Prince angrily kicked Lingpu.

"Fourth Master, Ninth Master, please forgive me!" Ling Pu knelt down and said.

Yao Dian said to the Fourth Prince, "Fourth Prince, you've been checking the Ministry of Revenue's accounts lately, why don't you check the Imperial Household Department's accounts as well? You might make a bigger discovery!"

"I will not disturb your enjoyment any longer, Your Majesty. I take my leave!"

After Yao Dian left, the Fourth Prince looked at Ling Pu with a gloomy face.

Lingpu felt a chill run down his spine from the Fourth Prince's gaze.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and tell me what happened!" The Ninth Prince was furious when he saw Lingpu remain silent.

"Fourth Master, Ninth Master, this servant had no choice but to do this. Please have mercy! This servant will definitely not dare to do it again!" Ling Pu pleaded desperately.

"How many times is this?" the Fourth Prince asked.

"Reporting to Fourth Master, this is truly the first time!" Ling Pu said, holding up one finger.

"Lingpu, you've dared to keep tribute privately! You're incredibly audacious!" the Ninth Prince said. Lingpu must have done this to lose his head because he was the Crown Prince's wet nurse.

"This servant acted impulsively! I will never do it again!" Lingpu said.

"Why did you come to the pawnshop?" The Fourth Prince thought that even if Lingpu was brainless, he wouldn't pawn the tribute!