Chapter 59 The smile on the Crown Prince's lips vanished instantly...
Yun Kui had never seen so many silver notes in her life.
She used to work odd jobs in the Imperial Kitchen, earning only six taels a year. Because she had been in the palace for several years, her salary was raised to eight taels last year. Meanwhile, the annual salary of a palace maid serving the emperor was twenty-four taels, and she had only received three months' salary.
Although the food, clothing and daily necessities in the palace did not cost them anything, there were always times when they would be clumsy and have their monthly salary deducted. The lower-level palace maids had no contact with the noble ladies and the rewards they received were far less than those of the palace maids who served them closely. This part was almost negligible. In addition, they would occasionally ask someone to go out of the palace to buy some novels and snacks. Over the years, they had saved up no more than thirty taels.
It wasn't until she came to serve at the Eastern Palace that the Empress and the Crown Prince bestowed rewards upon her, and her personal savings gradually increased, but she was by no means wealthy.
Last time, someone tried to bribe her with a thousand taels of silver to murder His Highness the Crown Prince. That thousand taels of silver was the most she had ever seen in her life, and she was eventually forced to hand it over.
Who would have thought that after being stingy for half his life, he would suddenly receive a windfall, not only receiving three thousand taels of silver notes, but also spending them all in one night!
How could there be such an unreasonable request!
She wouldn't even dare to dream of something this big!
I'm so glad I wasn't blinded by any small benefit back then, otherwise I would have been a dead man under His Highness the Crown Prince long ago, and I wouldn't be living such a good life now.
The Crown Prince sent two highly skilled female bodyguards to accompany and protect her. One was named Huaizhu, and the other was named Huaiqing. The two were dressed in ordinary maid's clothes and looked no different from ordinary people.
During the conversation, it was learned that the two had been working under Qin Ge for ten years.
With permission, Yun Kui carefully pinched Huai Zhu's upper arm. Sure enough, the muscle lines were smooth and firm, exuding a strong sense of power. She was secretly amazed.
With three thousand taels of silver in her pocket, Yun Kui decided to be extravagant and invited the two of them to dinner at Wangjiang Tower, the most prosperous restaurant in Pingzhou Prefecture.
But when Yun Kui saw the menu, her jaw dropped.
None of the restaurant's signature dishes cost less than two taels of silver. A dish of boiled mutton costs twenty taels, while abalone, sea cucumber, deer tendon, and shark fin can cost as much as fifty taels!
She had seen these delicacies on the imperial banquet menu before, and they were often served on the East Palace's dining table. She had the privilege of tasting them a few times and knew they were valuable and delicious. But even if she had extra money, she would never spend her own money to eat such expensive delicacies.
There's really no other way today; I have to spend the three thousand taels.
Amidst her joy, a hint of apprehension lingered. Before ordering, Yun Kui asked uncertainly, "You've served His Highness for many years, so you understand his temperament better than I do. Do you think this three thousand taels of silver is a test, a trap? If I dare to spend it all, he'll fabricate a crime against me tomorrow..."
Huai Zhu asked in surprise, "Why would you think that, young lady?"
Huaiqing said, "If Your Highness really wants to deal with someone, it would be simple to do so with a swift stroke of the blade. Why bother giving you three thousand taels of silver? Isn't that going to be unnecessary?"
Yun Kui touched her still-present neck and smiled, "That's true."
Huai Zhu said, "His Highness always keeps his word. Since this is a favor bestowed upon you, Miss, you can use it with confidence."
Yun Kui nodded, and seeing that the waiter was still waiting on the side, she clapped her hands and ordered the most expensive dishes in the restaurant with great extravagance.
Upon seeing that they were distinguished guests, the waiter's attitude immediately became much more flattering, and he served them tea at their beck and call.
A whole table of delicacies, totaling three hundred taels of silver. Even if a palace maid were to become Qin Mama, who served the Empress, and with all the rewards, she would probably only earn this much in her entire life.
Yun Kui ate and reminisced, then discussed with the two where to go for their next meal.
Huai Zhu suggested, "Miss, you can buy more silks, satins, gold and silver jewelry."
Huaiqing also said, "Pingzhou Prefecture is famous far and wide for its porcelain, pearls, spices, and cosmetics."
Yun Kui nodded, first ruling out spices and rouge. Her Highness disliked overly strong fragrances, and as a servant in the palace, she didn't need to wear heavy makeup to attract attention.
The three of them came out of Wangjiang Tower and strolled along Changle Street, the most bustling street in Pingzhou Prefecture, visiting each shop one by one.
Not knowing how long she would linger in Pingzhou Prefecture, Yun Kui first went to a clothing store and bought four sets of clothes to change into over the next few days.
Now I finally understand why His Highness told her not to bring anything; it turns out that was his plan.
She's currently enjoying the utmost favor, isn't she?
Yun Kui's upturned lips never drooped all night.
Then he went to the silk shop next door and bought ten bolts of the finest fabrics, including shimmering brocade, pearl yarn, brocade satin, and jacquard silk—he picked out the best of everything.
The more luxurious fabrics were not needed in the palace, so they were saved up. There were also two bolts of snow-white silk, which could be used to make two nightgowns for His Highness the Crown Prince.
Although she was clumsy, she had worked in the needlework bureau for a year and could sew a nightgown after careful consideration. If His Highness didn't mind, he could wear it; if he did, she would alter it for herself.
The jewelry store was completely emptied; they bought six gold hairpins and jeweled hairpins, two pairs of gold bracelets, one pair of jade bracelets, and a pure gold peace lock for each of Huaiqing and Huaizhu.
The two said they were traveling and didn't need these things, so Yun Kui said, "You can leave the fabric and rouge behind, but you must take this. If you run out of money, you can cut some scraps to tide you over."
Huaiqing and Huaizhu exchanged a glance, wondering whether they should tell the young lady that their monthly salary as bodyguards was actually three to five times higher than hers.
Yun Kui insisted, "Besides, it's not safe for you to be fighting and killing outside. I've seen those kinds of plots in storybooks where someone gets stabbed in a vital spot by a sword, but is saved by the golden lock and jade pendant on their chest at the crucial moment..."
Huaiqing and Huaizhu: "..."
The two men couldn't refuse, so they had to accept it. "Thank you very much, young lady."
However, when it comes to saving lives with a golden lock, Yun Kui felt it was necessary to buy one for His Highness the Crown Prince as well.
He was repeatedly assassinated, and last year when he returned to Beijing, he was even hit by three arrows. Buying just one arrow was not enough; he had to protect all the vital organs on his body.
She browsed through several stores but couldn't find what she wanted.
The manager of a gold shop noticed her extravagant spending and stepped forward to ask, "If you have any ideas, Madam, you can describe them to our goldsmiths, and we will definitely be able to make the style you want."
Upon hearing the title "Madam," Yun Kui instinctively felt a little timid. She didn't want to explain her identity to anyone, and she was also afraid that if she accepted the title without feeling guilty, His Highness would think she was arrogant. So she could only say, "You can just call me Miss."
She thought the gold shop owner's suggestion was feasible, since the trip was funded by His Highness's money. If she could make him happy, she could reward him even more next time.
She couldn't quite picture the exact design, so she gestured with the goldsmith with difficulty, "A gold piece for the chest... and another for the lower abdomen, to cover up the vital parts, and... it can't be too heavy, it can't hinder movement..."
The shopkeeper and the goldsmith exchanged a glance, both revealing a meaningful expression on their faces.
The goldsmith said, "I think we just did something like this last month?"
The shopkeeper immediately said, "That customer hasn't taken the goods yet, so I'll take them to the lady... to have her take a look."
Yun Kui nodded immediately.
The shopkeeper quickly retrieved a brocade box. Inside was a gold chain resembling a necklace, but the chain was intricate and its design was obscured by the pile of pieces in the box. After the shopkeeper arranged it and showed her how the gold chain hung naturally, Yun Kui suddenly realized that it was a chain that could be worn.
The goldsmith said, "Just add a few more gold pieces to the places you mentioned, and it will be exactly the style you want."
Yun Kui couldn't quite say if this was the feeling she wanted. After examining it closely for a moment, imagining the gold chain draped over the Crown Prince's muscular upper body, she felt a strange, inexplicable... erotic sensation.
But if it can protect him, then it can be considered a token of her affection.
On the Lantern Festival, Eunuch Cao had hinted that she should buy a gift for His Highness. At that time, she was short of money, and the fruits and pastries she bought were given to her by His Highness. She also knew that His Highness looked down on those common things. Now that she had more money, she could just use it as a gift to offer to His Highness.
“Let’s modify it according to this,” she pursed her lips. “By the way, when will this chain be finished? I’m not a local, so I can’t stay here for long.”
The goldsmith quickly replied, "At the earliest, it will take two days."
Yun Kui thought for a moment. Since His Highness came to investigate the case, he couldn't possibly return to the capital in just two days. He should have enough time to retrieve it.
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Then please pay the deposit first, young lady."
Yun Kui hesitated for a moment and asked, "Including the gold pieces, how much silver would a complete set cost?"
The shopkeeper gestured and honestly said, "No more than three hundred taels of silver."
Yun Kui: "Then I'll pay you three hundred taels right now. You can't try to trick me. The person above me is not someone you can afford to offend."
The shopkeeper quickly replied, "Don't worry, young lady, our shop is absolutely honest and trustworthy!"
After leaving the gold shop, she passed several jewelry and antique shops. Yun Kui didn't understand those porcelain and jade items, and their prices were high, often costing thousands of taels. Afraid of being ripped off, she only bought two tea sets that she liked.
After casually strolling around the antique area, she spotted a smooth and translucent jade thumb ring. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she remembered the black jade thumb ring with dragon patterns and scriptures engraved on His Highness the Crown Prince's hand.
The jade ring Her Highness usually wears on her hand is made of the finest jade, a symbol of her status and authority. However, she doesn't like that ring. She always feels that the dark color is gloomy and makes it hard to breathe, and the engravings... are too painful to wear.
She traced every fine line with her body, felt every inch of its contours, and whether it was the movement along her waist or elsewhere, it always made her tremble uncontrollably.
But he always seems to like doing that...
This jade thumb ring is different; it is smooth all over and warm to the touch. Even though it has no engravings, she can imagine how noble and elegant it would look on a man's pale and slender fingers.
Most importantly, if he uses this, she shouldn't feel too uncomfortable...
She insisted on saving where she could and spending where she could, and after much persuasion from the shopkeeper, she finally got the item for six hundred taels.
After leaving the house, he used the change to buy a lot of snacks and some to bring back to Cao Yuanlu and Guard Qin. He bought and bought like this, and in the end, he still had more than three hundred taels in his hand.
How do I still have so much money! How am I going to get home if I don't spend it all!
Yun Kui was troubled.
Huaiqing said, "How about we go back and buy a few more pieces of jewelry?"
Yun Kui shook her head. Most of the gold jewelry she bought was saved up by herself. It wouldn't be appropriate for a lowly palace maid to be covered in jewels.
A quick glance around caught my eye, which was a sign outside the gate that read, "Five courtyards, complete with pavilions and waterside terraces, 300 taels for immediate sale."
Three hundred taels, just right!
How could she not have thought of that!
If she ever gets the chance to leave the palace, she won't even need to buy a house! She can just move to this beautiful, fertile place, buy a few guards, and life couldn't be more comfortable!
Only after asking the real estate agent did I learn that the house belonged to a local gentry, but the gentry was now seriously ill and had spent all his savings on medical treatment over the years. His eldest son had no choice but to grit his teeth and decide to sell the house to raise money for medical treatment.
Yun Kui went to see the house. Although it was night, she could see that the house had flying eaves and brackets, winding paths leading to secluded spots, as well as a pond and garden. It must have been well taken care of in the past. She was very satisfied and immediately made a decision. She and her roommate completed the formalities.
...
When the Crown Prince returned from outside, he saw that she had not yet come back and couldn't help but chuckle: "A mere three thousand taels, could she really spend that much time?"
The guards Qin Ge had sent out to secretly follow and protect her returned and reported, "The young lady bought a house, saying she would keep it for her retirement after leaving the palace, which is why she was delayed."
As soon as he finished speaking, the smile on the Crown Prince's lips vanished instantly, and a chill suddenly appeared in his phoenix eyes.
Yun Kui returned laden with gifts. First, she ordered people to unload a cart full of silks, satins, fruits, and food. Then, she followed Cao Yuanlu into the main house in the backyard of Songyuan, where she prepared to present the jade thumb ring to the Crown Prince.
But as soon as she entered, she saw the man turn around, his face as dark as ink.
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