Shen Tingsi raised his eyebrows, "Isn't the Third Young Master from the Marquis' Mansion? Why did he tell the Ninth Prince the secret of the Marquis' Mansion?"
Jiang Jinyi blushed when he asked this question, and paused for a moment before saying:
"Second sister, there's no need to ask so many questions. The prince and I have an agreement. Just find a way to pass on my message."
"Why should I help you pass the message? What good will it do me?"
Jiang Jinyi said patiently, "Of course I can't ask my sister for help in vain. I will give you a reward after the matter is completed."
"Benefits?" Shen Tingsi sneered sarcastically, pointing at the broken and dirty things on the ground. "Is this the benefit you want to give me? Although I'm not well-liked in the Marquis' Mansion, I'm not so cheap that you can buy me off with such a worthless thing."
He really thought it was ridiculous. Jiang Jinyi was a son of a marquis after all, yet he brought such things when asking for favors. He usually rewarded his maids with silver and brocade jewelry. How come the people in the Marquis Wen Ning's mansion were so shabby?
Jiang Jinyi became even more annoyed when he heard that he looked down on the gift he gave her.
He was about to criticize Shen Tingsi for being so snobbish as a girl, and whether she still had the modesty of a boudoir girl, but then he thought of what Aunt He had told him, and he said patiently:
"These things are just what I brought when I came to visit my sister. They are not considered as rewards. As long as my sister helps me, I will definitely not be stingy."
"Oh, you're not mean. But you're so poor that even if you gave me all your property, it wouldn't be worth the trip."
As Shen Tingsi spoke, he adopted an even more arrogant posture, wishing he could lift his legs onto the table.
Jiang Jinyi's brows twitched as he watched, and he finally couldn't stand it anymore:
"How can you speak to your brother in this manner? Take your leg off! Don't forget who you are!"
Shen Tingsi laughed heartily and mocked:
"Now you remember that you are my brother. What were you doing when I was being tortured? Mr. Jiang, let me tell you, I no longer recognize you as my brothers.
As for the identity of the legitimate daughter of a marquis, I don’t care about it.
This is the attitude I'm going to use today, because you're only worthy of my treatment. If you have any dissatisfaction, go out and complain to the old lady and the marquis, and see if they'll pay any attention to you."
"You, you think I don't dare?!"
Jiang Jinyi was so angry that he slammed the table, but his butt never left the stool and he had no intention of getting up and leaving.
Shen Tingsi's eyes were full of sarcasm, and he sneered:
"I was hoping you had the courage. I was also hoping you had the ability to get them to kick me out of the mansion. But, do you have it?"
Jiang Jinyi was so irritated by him that his face turned red. He stood up and glared at him fiercely.
Shen Tingsi just smiled and looked at him without any fear.
After a while, Jiang Jinyi realized that he really couldn't scare him, so he had to sit down again.
The corners of Shen Tingsi's mouth were about to curl up to the sky, and his face seemed to be filled with the four big words "You are such a coward" written all over it.
Jiang Jinyi kept reminding himself in his heart not to argue with an ignorant little girl, and said again with forbearance:
"My second sister refused to pass on the message for me, simply because she felt it was none of her business.
But this matter is very important to the prince, so just think of it as a trip for him, not for me.
I will not give you less in return for the reward afterwards, whether you want silver or something else, as long as I can afford it, I will give it to you."
Shen Tingsi narrowed his eyes slightly. Having said that, Jiang Jinyi finally showed some sincerity.
"I want five hundred taels of silver." He said directly.
Jiang Jinyi was startled and frowned, "Why would a girl like you need so much money? When you get married in the future, the Marquis will prepare a dowry for you, so you don't have to worry about this."
"Don't worry about what I want the money for. Just tell me, are you going to give it to me or not?" Shen Tingsi asked coldly.
Jiang Jinyi's annual salary was already meager, and his official position had no real power. He could not make any money, and he had to save money to honor his superiors.
For him, these five hundred taels of silver were almost half of his savings.
He just asked Jiang Xiancao to run an errand, but she asked for so much. He really couldn't bear to give it to her.
But this matter is related to his career after all——
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Jinyi gritted his teeth and said:
"Okay, I promise."
A gleam of light flashed in Shen Tingsi's eyes. Jiang Jinyi, this poor guy, was willing to spend even five hundred taels of silver. It seemed that what the other party wanted to say must be very important.
"You must pay me a deposit of three hundred taels before I can help you pass on this message. Also, I don't accept ready-made silver, I want silver notes from Fengyuan Bank." Shen Tingsi stared into Jiang Jinyi's eyes, his lips curled up, "And in addition to silver, I also want you to promise me one thing."
Jiang Jinyi didn't expect that he would have such an excessive request. He cursed him for being greedy in his heart, but said:
"What do you want me to promise?"
"Let's talk about this matter after I help you with this."
Shen Tingsi smiled and deliberately did not state his request right away.
He was not afraid that Jiang Jinyi would default on his debt, because Jiang Jinyi passed on Jiang family intelligence to the "Ninth Prince", which was tantamount to becoming a traitor in the family. He had this handle on the other party in his hand, so would he still be afraid that he would not be able to make Jiang Jinyi obey his orders in the future?
Jiang Jinyi was silent for a moment, then nodded and said:
"Okay, then it's settled. This matter is urgent, and Second Sister had better leave immediately to see the Ninth Prince."
He knew very well that the Jiang family did not dare to restrict his sister's travel because there were three female historians personally appointed by the Queen Mother watching over her in the mansion.
If the Jiang family dares to do anything out of line again, it would be tantamount to disrespecting the Empress Dowager.
Shen Tingsi still crossed his legs leisurely, "You're quite strange. You asked me to pass on a message, but you didn't tell me what it was. What should I say when I see the Ninth Prince?"
Jiang Jinyi paused, "Second sister, just tell the Ninth Prince that I have a deep secret of the Jiang family, and this matter is related to you, Second sister. If the prince wants to know, find a way to come to me without alerting the Jiang family."
This secret is his last trump card, and of course he can't tell it directly to "Jiang Xiancao".
Shen Tingsi frowned and looked at him for a while, then said:
"I understand. You can go now. I'll have someone notify you if there's any news."
Jiang Jinyi stood up, turned back worriedly, and warned him not to let the news leak out and let other members of the Jiang family know about their conspiracy.
Shen Tingsi nodded impatiently, and when Jiang Jinyi left, he sat alone at the table and fell into deep thought.
Jiang Xiancao is a really powerful woman. She can actually bribe Jiang Jinyi, the seemingly most upright and loyal member of the Jiang family, to work for her. Not everyone has such means.
Not only did she not reveal her true identity as the "Ninth Prince", she also made everyone look at the "Ninth Prince" with admiration.
Even he, the original owner, sometimes felt that she seemed more suitable to be a prince than him.
It seems that it is time for him to see her again.
First, find out what she is up to with Jiang Jinyi, and then——
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