Yu Rong nodded, relieved that his two companions' worries were resolved. He hadn't expected the little girl to agree so readily.
I thought it would be quite complicated.
After all, when he stayed here before, she tried her best to kick him out.
Yu Rong was lost in thought as he recalled the past.
There was a knock at the door. Anle looked up, put away the things on the table, and said, "Come in."
He Yusheng entered the room, glanced at Yu Rong next to the children's table, and then swept his gaze over the bundle that An Jing had neatly packed by the bedside. The struggle in his eyes finally subsided.
"Lele, you're leaving tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, what's wrong?" Anle closed the drawer, her gaze finally falling on He Yusheng who had entered the room.
"I was thinking of going with you, could you take me with you?"
Anle paused, pulled her hand back from the drawer, and a look of hesitation flashed across her face. She couldn't let others know what she was doing.
If it's just a simple business transaction, she can let him handle it and bring him along. She'd be happy to train He Yusheng so he'll have another assistant in the future.
But when it comes to Jin Cheng, she doesn't want too many people to know.
Because Yu Rong had taken her on a long and arduous journey to handle this matter, Yu Rong had no choice but to let him know.
However, this could have been avoided in He Yusheng's case.
"I won't be gone for that long this time. I'll be back in a couple of days. I'll take you with me next time I have the chance to go on a long trip."
Besides, you still have tasks to complete these next two days. You stay here and help your older sister and the others clean up the shop in front of you. Once it's clean, we'll reopen when I get back.
"That shop alone will keep you all busy for the next couple of days."
Anle's refusal was so clear and direct that He Yusheng nodded, not knowing what else to say, and left dejectedly.
Before leaving, I glanced at Yu Rong one last time.
Lele seems to value this kid a lot. Is it really just because he's two years older than him that Lele favors him so much? She takes him with her everywhere she goes.
The next morning, Yu Rong took An Le and set off for Hongcheng.
Anle avoided going near Qiao Qiuniang this time, for fear of running into that old man again. If he said a few words, her mother would detain her and she wouldn't be able to leave.
The message was relayed by An Jing and the others.
After a long day's journey, we rushed into Hongcheng before it got dark, and found the streets teeming with people, a lively and bustling scene.
The lights were on, and people were coming and going.
It looks almost as lively as Jincheng used to be.
"This Red City is really nice, so lively," Anle exclaimed.
Yu Rong glanced down at An Le.
"It has taken a hundred years for this red city to regain its prosperity. Judging from its current state, it is even more prosperous than the former Jin city."
Anle stopped in front of a stall selling all kinds of lanterns and couldn't help but sigh.
"What a wonderful place! Compared to our Jincheng, is Hongcheng any bigger?"
"Compared to Jincheng, it's not that big. It has never been overtaken by Hongcheng because of Jincheng's vast territory and large population. It is a major border city." This is also one of the reasons why the new emperor was willing to exchange two cities for Jincheng and satisfy the Luo family of Jincheng.
"There's an inn nearby, let's stay here for now, and head over to the auction house first thing tomorrow morning."
Anle fiddled with a rabbit lantern, tilting her head to ask a question.
"Aren't there any inns near the auction house? Or is there an inn very close to the auction house?"
"It's not close. The inns over there are right next to the auction house, so they're definitely fully booked at this time. We won't have any rooms available if we go there."
Anle nodded knowingly and settled down at a nearby inn near the city. The inn looked a bit old, but it was very clean.
One room was booked. Anle lay on the bed while Yurong stood guard by the window. His gaze seemed to be on the window, but it wasn't fixed on the window frame. He looked out through the window, watching for any movement outside.
Anle muttered his dissatisfaction under his breath.
"It's not like I don't have money, why does it have to be a room that's crammed in with me? Can't you just open another one?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Rong's ethereal gaze finally turned to An Le on the bed.
“You told the waiter outside that we were going to the auction house. There were all sorts of people in the lobby on the first floor. Now, we’re definitely being watched.”
Anle was unaware of the reason.
"What?"
"Anyone who enters the auction house, regardless of whether they are auctioning anything, has to pay an entrance fee of fifty taels of silver. For the two of us, it's one hundred taels."
After Yu Rong's explanation, An Le froze, stiffly turning her head to look at Yu Rong by the window. She then sat up abruptly from the bed, finally realizing what was happening.
"Huh?!" That's right, you shouldn't flaunt your wealth. Her casual remark about going to an auction house clearly meant they were carrying some valuable items that could be auctioned off.
Even if they don't come out to auction things, they must have money in their pockets to buy things!
Otherwise, who would have nothing better to do than go there and deliver 100 taels of silver to someone?
"Oh no, what... what do we do?"
Yu Rong's expression remained calm and his voice was gentle.
"It's nothing, you can go to sleep."
Yu Rong's gentle words of comfort seemed to soothe the sudden panic and anxiety that had welled up in her heart.
That gentle, calming voice seemed to possess a magical power to soothe people, but unexpectedly, it had an added side effect—
It's so captivating!
Anle paused for a moment, touched her heart, and cursed under her breath in frustration.
Damn it, what the hell was that when you just trembled?
Anle scratched her head, blushing and her heart pounding, and pulled the blanket over herself, wrapping herself up like a ball to hide her flushed face.
Anle, you have fallen.
My heart actually fluttered when I looked at this kid who wasn't even an adult yet!
Anle spent the first half of the night agonizing over the situation, but slept soundly for the second half. Any minor noises she made in the room were quietly dealt with by Yu Rong.
They simply covered their heads and faces with burlap sacks.
The next morning, Anle, feeling refreshed, led Yu Rong out of the inn. As soon as they stepped out the door, they noticed three large burlap sacks tied to the front of the inn and paused for a moment.
"Who threw their goods here? Why are they blocking the entrance? Don't they have any sense of propriety? Is this a place to unload goods?" Anle muttered to herself, then, with Yu Rong looking nonchalant, walked past the three large sacks.
One of the large sacks in the back appeared to have moved.
**
Before even entering the auction house, Anle was awestruck by its grandeur.
They're really rich and powerful; it's incredibly luxurious.
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