Chapter 446 Emptying the King of Chu's Pocket
"What does Seventh Sister want to tell me?"
After the King of Chu got into the carriage and settled in, he went straight to the point and asked the question.
Li Sanqi pointed to Wen Xiu beside him and said, "This is Wen Xiu. She is my savior. She saved my life more than once during the Great Rift."
The King of Chu clasped his hands in thanks to Wen Xiu, saying, "Thank you, Miss Wen Xiu, for saving my seventh sister's life."
Wen Xiu quickly and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, you are too kind. I was only acting under orders. Protecting the Seventh Princess is my duty, and I dare not accept your thanks."
Li Sanqi looked at the King of Chu with a pleading expression: "Fifth Brother, when I was in Daxi, Wenxiu not only saved my life, but also gave me all the wealth she had accumulated over the years."
“When we were fleeing for our lives, Wen Xiu paid for all the expenses, including food, lodging, and transportation.”
"I said that all the expenses would be repaid a hundredfold upon my return."
"However, all my private property and dowry were intercepted during the journey to the marriage alliance."
"Fifth Brother, could you give me some money to pay back Wenxiu?"
Upon hearing this, Wenxiu quickly shook her head and waved her hands, "No need, Seventh Princess, you don't need to return them. Those were all given to you voluntarily."
Li Sanqi glared at her and said coquettishly, "This princess keeps her word. I said I would repay you a hundredfold, and I will definitely repay you a hundredfold!"
After saying that, she looked pitifully at the King of Chu, "Fifth Brother, you won't make me break my promise, will you?"
The King of Chu affectionately ruffled Li Sanqi's hair and said with a smile, "What's the big deal? Tell me how much you owe, and your fifth brother will pay it off for you."
Li Sanqi looked at Wenxiu: "Wenxiu, did you keep track of the expenses? How much silver did we spend at Da'e?"
Wen Xiu swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "Does the Seventh Princess really intend to repay me a hundredfold?"
Li Sanqi waved her hand, "Of course! Tell me quickly, how much did it cost?"
Wenxiu then looked at the King of Chu.
The King of Chu smiled and nodded, "Just tell me how much it cost, Miss Wenxiu. When I was made a king, my father and mother gave me a lot of gold and silver. You don't need to worry, just tell me."
Hearing this, Wenxiu finally smiled and took out a small booklet from her bosom. After flipping through it for a moment, she said, "It cost a total of three hundred and fifty-four taels. I'll round it down for the princess and just say three hundred and fifty taels."
The King of Chu laughed heartily and said, "Three hundred and fifty-four taels is fine. No need to round it down. I'll give you four hundred taels."
Wen Xiu's eyes lit up, and she quickly said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Chu! Thank you, Your Highness Prince Chu!..."
Li Sanqi looked at the King of Chu with admiration, "Fifth Brother, you're so good to me!"
As she spoke, she leaned down and hugged the King of Chu, saying, "You are the best person in the world to me!"
Once he sat up straight, Li Sanqi asked with a curious look, "Fifth Brother, when you were made a prince, how much silver did Father and Mother give you? Forty thousand taels of silver, you just gave it to them like that, without even blinking an eye?"
The King of Chu had several unpleasant encounters with Li Sanqi recently because of Min Pan'er's matter.
At this rare moment of harmony between the siblings, King Chu was pleased that Li Sanqi had resumed her former affectionate attitude towards him. However, upon suddenly hearing something amiss in Li Sanqi's words, as if she had suddenly remembered something, his expression changed drastically. His face stiffened, and he asked in a strained voice, "Seventh Sister, what did you say about forty thousand taels?"
Li Sanqi was taken aback and looked at the Prince of Chu in surprise, "Didn't Fifth Brother personally promise to help me repay Wenxiu's 40,000 taels of silver? Why do you want to go back on your word?"
"When will I agree..." The King of Chu couldn't finish his sentence.
But Li Sanqi can talk.
He immediately repeated what he had just said, then took Wenxiu's account book, handed it to the King of Chu, and looked at him with disbelief, "Fifth Brother, you're not trying to renege on your debt, are you?"
"Didn't you say that when you were made a prince, your father and mother gave you a lot of money?"
"Or are you saying you're reluctant to give it to me?"
At this point, Li Sanqi turned his back and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
When she turned back, her eyes were already filled with tears, and she looked pitiful and extremely disappointed.
"Fine, if Fifth Brother can't bear to part with it, then just pretend I said nothing today."
As she spoke, she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and then tears fell like beads from a broken string.
Seeing this, the King of Chu felt heartbroken. He immediately forgot about the pain of losing 40,000 taels of silver and quickly agreed, "Seventh Sister, don't cry. It's just 40,000 taels of silver. Fifth Brother will give it to you."
"It's not for me, it's for Wenxiu. I promised her I would repay her a hundredfold!"
Li Sanqi pouted and reminded her with dissatisfaction, "Besides, Wen Xiu saved me several times. This life-saving grace must be repaid!"
The King of Chu twitched his lips and asked in fear, "How can I repay this life-saving grace?"
Li Sanqi quietly changed her handkerchief, wiped away her tears, and then said, "I haven't thought of that yet. I'll talk about it when I do."
The King of Chu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He could already tell that this girl named Wenxiu loved money. Her eyes were practically gleaming when she was flipping through the account books.
He was really afraid that his seventh sister would ask for money to repay the debt of saving his life again!
Given her seventh sister's extravagant nature, she could probably easily spend more than 100,000 taels of silver.
However, when he was made a king, he only received a reward of ten thousand taels of silver.
Fifty thousand of them were given by the Emperor as was customary, and the other ten thousand were given by the Empress Dowager.
Forty thousand taels of silver were gone in one go, and his heart was bleeding!
If his seventh sister were to ask for money to repay the debt of saving his life again, he might have to pawn his belongings to make ends meet!
Fortunately, he still had 30,000 taels of silver, which should be enough to cover the daily expenses of the Chu Prince's residence.
No, he still needs to set aside 20,000 taels of silver to compensate Min Pan'er!
However, just as he was doing the accounting, Li Sanqi spoke up again.
"Fifth Brother, I'm penniless right now, I don't have a single coin in my hand. Could you give me some more for daily expenses?"
The King of Chu's heart pounded, and he asked dryly, "How much do you want?"
Li Sanqi thought for a moment, "Ten thousand taels."
The King of Chu nearly jumped up in anger, "What do you need so much silver for?"
Upon hearing this, Li Sanqi immediately felt aggrieved again, pouted her little mouth, and turned her head to show the scar on her left cheek to the King of Chu.
As she turned to show her scar, she tearfully said, "I want Dr. Mu to remove this scar on my face."
"Dr. Mu's medical skills are renowned. Ke Gui is also renowned."
After saying that, Li Sanqi didn't forget to remind her, "The scar on my face was inflicted by Min Pan'er! If Father and Mother ask about it..."
"Give it to me! I'll give it to you!"
Before Li Sanqi could finish speaking, the King of Chu hurriedly agreed, "I'll pay whatever it takes for Seventh Sister's face treatment!"
"As long as Seventh Sister doesn't tell Father and Mother about this, I'll give you whatever money you want!"
"Thank you, Fifth Brother!" Li Sanqi beamed. "Don't worry, Fifth Brother, I promised you I wouldn't hold a grudge against Min Pan'er for what happened at Da'an, and I will definitely keep my word."
"However, Fifth Brother, don't forget what you promised me."
The King of Chu earnestly assured him, "Seventh Sister, don't worry, I will mention it to Father Emperor as soon as we return to the capital."
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