Chapter 38
Get off the carriage.
Gu Yanling lowered her head and didn't even look at Chang Feng and Li Youfu, nor did she wait for Xiao Xinghan. She trotted back to the west wing.
Seeing Gu Yanling coming back, the little parrot flapped its wings excitedly, "Yuanbao! Yuanbao! Yuanbao!"
Gu Yanling opened the birdcage and let it out. The little parrot jumped into his palm. Gu Yanling touched its little head and asked, "Did you miss me?"
The little parrot lowered its head and pecked his palm.
Gu Yanling asked someone to bring some snacks over, broke them up and fed them to the dog, muttering, "Do you know how much has happened in the past few days?"
The little parrot was just busy eating.
Gu Yanling ignored it and said to herself, "I've been lying in bed for two days!"
The little parrot raised its head and said, "He's been lying in bed for two days! Yuanbao has been lying in bed for two days!"
Gu Yanling patted its head and said angrily, "Keep your voice down! If you shout again, everyone in the yard will hear you!"
The little parrot lowered its head like a quail.
After feeding it some snacks, Gu Yanling put it back into the cage and said, "How stupid!"
The little parrot buried its head in its wings in grievance.
Gu Yanling was thinking about important matters, so she didn't stay in the room and ran out of the house again.
Li Youfu told Xiao Xinghan about this.
Xiao Xinghan didn't say anything, just instructed: "Send two people to follow."
Gu Yanling went to the teahouse again and met the middle-aged man from last time. It was obvious that the man still remembered him.
"Little brother, it's you. Why haven't you come over these few days?"
Gu Yanling asked for a plate of sunflower seeds and some tea, and invited him to eat. "I went out a few days ago. Has anything big happened in the city recently?"
The middle-aged man sighed, "Nothing has happened recently."
Gu Yanling inquired, "Didn't you say that the prefect's brother-in-law was recruiting thugs, but he hasn't found any yet?"
The middle-aged man looked around and saw that everyone else was listening to the storyteller. He said mysteriously, "I did get the trick, but there's been no activity in the casino. Do you know what's going on?"
"It seems that a great man has come to our Yangzhou City from the capital. He was sent by the current emperor to conduct an inspection and to understand the people's sentiments."
Gu Yanling acted surprised: "Is this really true?"
The middle-aged man was very satisfied with Gu Yanling's reaction and continued, "Didn't I tell you that I have a relative who works as a handyman in the prefect's mansion? The information is reliable. Someone even witnessed our prefect greeting that important figure today. The person was sitting in a carriage, and the prefect didn't even see him."
"He doesn't even give the prefect face! This guy is obviously someone important."
Gu Yanling: “…”
Isn't this big brother so well-informed?
The middle-aged elder brother said leisurely: "Since you are here for inspection, I guess our Yangzhou City will be peaceful for a while."
Gu Yanling thought to herself, "What if this important person doesn't leave? Will our prefect's brother-in-law be able to remain patient? That would mean he'd lose a lot of money every day."
The middle-aged man said, "Who knows? He's been going to Yangfeng Restaurant a lot these past few days, even more often than Chunxiang Pavilion."
Gu Yanling: "Yangfeng Restaurant?"
There were actually restaurants in the city that he didn't know about.
The middle-aged man said, "A small restaurant that opened a few days ago. The decoration inside is so poetic and picturesque. From morning to night, there are beautiful women performing songs and dances. Ordinary people can't enter. You have to pay a silver ingot to enter."
Gu Yanling became interested after hearing this. After chatting for a few more words, he got up and went to Yangfeng Restaurant. Just as the eldest brother said, there was a waiter standing at the door. He smiled and said, "Sir, to enter our restaurant, you must pay an ingot of silver first."
Gu Yanling didn't need the money, but she was curious: "If I pay this money, can I use it as a deduction for the food and drinks I order later?"
"Master, this money is for watching the girls dancing in our restaurant. The wine and food are extra."
Gu Yanling: “…”
Huh? Who's so good at business?! Why can't I watch the dancing? And yet they charge you a silver ingot just for walking in!
Although Gu Yanling was complaining in her heart, she still took out a silver ingot and threw it to the waiter, then stepped into the restaurant. The decoration was indeed poetic and picturesque. There was a round stage in the middle of the lobby, and beautiful women were dancing gracefully. They were dressed in an exotic style, which was really eye-catching.
Gu Yanling was invited to sit down. He looked around but didn't see Hu Jiawei. The waiter came over and asked him what he wanted to eat. After ordering some food and drinks, Gu Yanling casually asked, "Who owns this restaurant in Yangzhou?"
The waiter smiled and said, "You should have heard of us. Our owner is Gu, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, Gu Lanpan. She went out of town a while ago and opened this little restaurant when she came back."
"...Go and ask someone to prepare some wine and food."
When Gu Yanling said this, she deliberately pinched her throat to change the tone of her voice, turned her head and looked around again with a vigilant look.
This place was actually opened by his elder sister? His elder sister came back so soon?
Three months ago, her elder sister went to the capital. After all, the cloth business in Yangzhou was not doing well, so she went to the capital to discuss cooperation. She also said that she was not in a hurry to come back and would look elsewhere. How come she opened a small restaurant so quickly?
Gu Yanling knew that his elder sister had the same business acumen as his father. Seeing that the restaurant was full of people, he thought that his elder sister must have heard that a big shot had come to Yangzhou City, which was why she opened the restaurant so quickly. Otherwise, with such good business, Hu Jiawei would definitely be jealous.
After sitting in the restaurant for the entire afternoon, he didn't see Gu Lanpan or Hu Jiawei. Finally, Gu Yanling paid the bill and left.
If Liu Qingsong and Hu Jiawei are not eliminated, doing business in Yangzhou City will be in fear. A big tree attracts wind, and not only will you be suppressed, but you will also be forced to donate money from time to time in the name of the prefect.
Gu Yanling thought about how his father had been humiliated when he visited Hu Jiawei about the cloth shop. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he was filled with anger when he came back.
Li Youfu saw Gu Yanling coming over and quickly poured him a cup of tea: "Oh, did you get humiliated outside? Who was the blind person who offended you?"
Seeing his expression, Xiao Xinghan asked, "Aren't you going to enjoy the singing and dancing?"
Gu Yanling sat on his lap: "You asked someone to follow me again."
Xiao Xinghan put his arm around his waist: "Is it wrong for me to ask someone to protect you?"
Gu Yanling leaned her head on his shoulder and said nothing.
Xiao Xinghan rarely saw him like this, so he signaled Li Youfu with his eyes to call the two guards who followed Gu Yanling over.
Li Youfu hurriedly asked someone to come over. The two were also a little confused. They followed them all the way and saw that they first went to a teahouse to crack some melon seeds, and then went to a restaurant to have some drinks. However, because it cost a silver ingot to enter the restaurant, they did not go in. They just waited outside and did not hear any dispute inside.
Gu Yanling hugged Xiao Xinghan's neck for a while before speaking: "It's okay, I'm just tired."
Xiao Xinghan asked everyone to leave and pinched his cheek: "You are not tired of drinking and watching dance, but you come back and say you are tired."
Gu Yanling grabbed his hand and said, "No, I just heard there's a new restaurant in town, so I was curious and decided to go in and take a look."
Xiao Xinghan: "So you're not having fun?"
Gu Yanling was about to speak when she heard Xiao Xinghan say, "Even if you're not having fun, you can stay in there for the whole afternoon. If you are having fun, it will be unbearable."
Gu Yanling: “…”
"What is the young master doing this afternoon?"
Xiao Xinghan: "You can't guess?"
Gu Yanling calmed down, raised her head from Xiao Xinghan's shoulder, smiled and held Xiao Xinghan's face, and said, "Master, are you blaming me for going out to play by myself and not staying with you at the mansion?"
Xiao Xinghan ignored him.
Gu Yanling kissed Xiao Xinghan on the lips: "You stay in the mansion all day long reading books and playing chess. I don't like these things, and I can't stay here. It's boring in the mansion. I like the hustle and bustle."
After hearing this, Xiao Xinghan suddenly thought that if he brought the person back to the palace, Gu Yanling would definitely not be able to stay there given her personality.
Gu Yanling patted Xiao Xinghan's face: "Master?"
Xiao Xinghan: "No rules."
Gu Yanling snorted: "You are allowed to pat my face, but I am not allowed to pat you. You are like the governor who allows the officials to set fires but not the people to light lamps!"
Xiao Xinghan: "You still have to learn some rules. When you return to Beijing, you can't act so presumptuously."
Gu Yanling immediately withdrew her hand and looked at Xiao Xinghan without saying a word.
Xiao Xinghan thought of the strict palace rules and patiently explained to him: "If you return to the capital with me, you won't just be facing me. You can be unruly in front of me. I allow you to be unrestrained. But when you see my father - father and mother, you must not make any mistakes."
Gu Yanling thought to himself, who wants to meet your parents and learn the rules? He knew without thinking that Xiao Xinghan's family must be a noble family. Looking at Li Youfu, he knew that their family must have a lot of rules.
Not to mention that he had never thought about returning to Beijing with Xiao Xinghan, even if he really went to Beijing to play in the future, he would never look for Xiao Xinghan.
"Master, you think I'm unruly. That's just my personality. I won't learn it anyway."
After saying this, Gu Yanling pushed Xiao Xinghan and pretended to get up from his legs, but Xiao Xinghan grabbed his wrist.
The two of them were in a stalemate.
Gu Yanling lowered his head first. After all, it had come to this point. He couldn't quarrel with Xiao Xinghan. "I know. I'll learn it. I'll learn from Li Youfu later. It's okay to behave like a servant."
Xiao Xinghan: "..."
Xiao Xinghan: "I asked you to learn the rules, not to be a slave——"
Before she could finish her words, Gu Yanling's tears had already started to fall.
Xiao Xinghan's heart softened immediately: "Alright, if you don't want to learn, don't learn for now. We can talk about it when we return to Beijing later."
With Gu Yanling's personality, if she really entered the palace, she might suffocate to death. She is a free bird, but if she is locked in a cage, who knows what will happen.
Xiao Xinghan wiped Gu Yanling's tears and couldn't help but give in again. If he really couldn't stay, he would let him stay in the house outside the palace.
Gu Yanling still didn't want to pay attention to Xiao Xinghan. After he wiped his tears, she insisted on getting up from his lap, "I'm going to rest!"
Xiao Xinghan: "Why are you throwing a tantrum?"
Gu Yanling: "Who's angry? I'm tired, can't I rest?"
Seeing his angry look, Xiao Xinghan coaxed him, "Shall I accompany you out of the house for a walk tomorrow?"
Gu Yanling wanted to say who cares, but then he thought about what would happen if he ran into Hu Jiawei tomorrow, and he would still need Xiao Xinghan's support. However, Xiao Xinghan had just upset him, and he would be annoyed now. "Let's talk about it tomorrow."
Xiao Xinghan knew that this meant he agreed: "Your temper is getting worse."
As Gu Yanling walked out of the hall, she said, "This is just my temper. It's not the first day you've known me!"
Li Youfu had overheard their conversation outside the hall and came in to pour tea for Xiao Xinghan. "Young Master Yuanbao doesn't know your Highness's identity and doesn't understand your Highness's good intentions. Your Highness is also thinking about him."
Xiao Xinghan didn't say anything.
Li Youfu: "I am too talkative."
Gu Yanling returned to the west wing and did not allow the servants to follow her in. She let the little parrot out and brought it to the inner room, where she began to scold Xiao Xinghan. She did not dare to speak loudly, for fear that the servants outside would hear her and report to Xiao Xinghan.
"What's so great about being well-behaved all day? If he's not still needed, who would bother with him?"
The little parrot's beak was pinched and it couldn't respond.
"If anyone wants to meet his parents, he will not behave well. If I were his parents, I would definitely punish him severely and send him to Yangzhou to find a wife and have a son. But he just stays in his house all day and doesn't go out."
"Luckily, he never leaves the house. If he really did meet his soulmate, what would I have to do with him? He's been busy having children all day, so how could I expect him to help me?"
"I don't think he's in a hurry to have an heir!"
"He really doesn't need to worry. I've even read his palm."
As Gu Yanling was talking, she didn't know why she got upset again.
After a while, Gu Yanling said again: "Maybe I saw it wrong."
The little parrot's head was almost pressed down by him, and it couldn't say a word.
After Gu Yanling finished scolding, she snorted, "Whether it happens or not, what does it have to do with me? I'll leave after the task is completed. Whether he has ten or eight children is none of my business."
The little parrot's mouth was finally freed, and it hurriedly said, "Give birth to ten or eight! Give birth to ten or eight!"
Gu Yanling pouted, "He's dreaming. I saw it! He only has one child at most!"
Damn Xiao Xinghan, go to hell!
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