Prince Rui was so angry at Zhao Qinglin that he jumped up and down, "You, I..."
Zhao Qinglin tilted her head, "What about me? What about you?"
Prince Rui flicked his sleeve and said, "I'm only in my twenties."
"Oh, twenty-one to twenty-nine are all in the twenties," Zhao Qinglin said casually.
Prince Rui gritted his teeth. This was the first time in his life he had been told he was old.
"I am only twenty-six."
Zhao Qinglin bowed deeply with her hands clasped, then turned and left.
When Prince Rui realized what was happening, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
“Zhao Qinglin…”
Zhao Qinglin, who was walking ahead and pulling Zhao Qinghe along, sneezed. "Which bastard is cursing me?"
He rubbed his nose and mumbled something under his breath.
He told his younger sister to stay away from that Prince Rui, because he was too old and it was considered unlucky.
Unfortunately, one of Prince Rui's guards overheard this conversation and reported it to the prince.
From his initial cold laugh to his final calm, the Prince Rui's emotional shift lasted no more than three breaths.
He started sending gifts to Zhao Qinglin the next day.
It might be a set of jewelry, a bracelet, a jade hairpin, a bouquet of flowers, or a delicious dish.
Zhao Yonggeng really wanted to sever this relationship with Prince Rui.
"Your Highness, recently we have been receiving gifts from you frequently. I am honored that you have not done anything to deserve such a gift."
As for my wife, she is past the age of wearing such bright and shiny items, so it is a waste to have those items in my home.
Your subject has already packed the items and will take them back with Your Highness's carriage later.
Heaven knows that Zhao Yonggeng was truly terrified when he said those words.
If I hadn't been sitting in a chair the whole time, my legs would probably be trembling.
After all, the other party was a prince, the emperor's own son.
If things go wrong, this kid might go home and tell his father something bad, and not only he, but his whole family will probably be in trouble.
Unfortunately, there have been many rumors circulating recently, saying that the prince has taken a fancy to his daughter, and so on.
The investigation couldn't find the source. If you say there's nothing fishy about this, nobody would believe it.
Therefore, everything must be nipped in the bud.
Even if one were to become a Buddhist nun, one's own daughter could not marry into the imperial family.
That's not a position a mere seventh-rank official like myself can aspire to.
Therefore, I had no choice but to take the opportunity to boldly propose a return.
When people delivered things to him before, it wasn't that he didn't want to refuse them, but rather that the people sent to deliver them were all highly skilled.
They move so high and wide, their lightness skill is definitely superior to his, he can't catch up.
When I opened the package, the more I looked at it, the worse it got.
These are all items that little girls like.
Zhao Qinglin, in particular, started cursing as soon as she saw the thing.
“That Prince Rui is simply a beast. That day when we were suppressing bandits on the mountain, I noticed that the way he looked at the little sister was strange.”
He's already set his sights on my little sister, who's still just a child. It's utterly despicable.
If the other party hadn't been the emperor's son, Zhao Qinglin would probably have called him a beast instead of an animal.
In fact, there is no difference between the two; one is slightly more formal, and the other is a bit more vulgar.
As for Prince Rui, he would send his secret guards to keep an eye on Zhao Qinglin every day to see how she behaved and how she scolded him.
And they had to report to him every day, in great detail.
The secret guards responsible for monitoring Zhao Qinglin even suspected that Prince Rui was a pervert.
At the same time, we observed three breaths of silence for Zhao Qinglin.
He didn't have time for anything else; he had to keep eavesdropping on how that young lady was cursing her master.
This job is really too difficult. He is very worried that after the task is over, he will not have the chance to speak again.
Therefore, when Prince Rui learned that Zhao Yonggeng had discussed with his wife and daughters about returning the gifts, he personally went to their home.
He wanted to see if her father, with such a strong-willed daughter, was truly a man of principle.
Seeing Zhao Yonggeng's timid appearance, yet hearing his hateful words, he wanted to continue to scare him.
"Oh, does Lord Zhao find the gifts I sent too simple?"
Then I will go back and have someone make another batch of jewelry.
It should be as consistent as possible with Madam Zhao's temperament and also with the age of Miss Zhao.
Lord Zhao, please don't be so polite. After all, we're all family.
According to seniority, I should call Lord Zhao "uncle."
The last sentence almost scared Zhao Yonggeng to death.
"Your Highness, I am terrified. I am unworthy of being called Uncle by Your Highness."
Um, Your Highness, please don't send any more gifts to our family in the future.
Although our family isn't wealthy, we're still able to make a decent living like ordinary people.
Besides, it's not proper for the prince to send gifts to our family."
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui said, "Oh. I don't know why it would be unreasonable for me to give gifts to others."
Then why don't you send me some gifts too, Lord Zhao? Wouldn't that be perfectly reasonable? It's only right to reciprocate.
Let me calculate: a set of ruby headdress, a jade hairpin... all added up, totaling more than two taels of silver.
Why don't you, Lord Zhao, also return an item of equal value to me?
In this way, Lord Zhao need not be alarmed.
If he hadn't been fanning himself with a fan while speaking and constantly glancing at the curtain leading to the inner room, one would have truly believed his lies.
Zhao Yonggeng was momentarily speechless after being taken aback by Prince Rui's remark. Just as he was about to speak, the curtain in the inner room moved.
A crisp sound rang out.
"Mother said we have distinguished guests, but I don't know who they are."
It turns out to be His Highness Prince Rui. Your presence greatly honors my humble abode.
I just came out and vaguely heard something about ten thousand or three thousand. Was the prince discussing the people's livelihood with my father?
Although I am slow-witted, I still hope to help the people.
A smile lingered in Prince Rui's eyes. If it weren't for the daily reports from his secret guards about how this girl addressed him in private...
The seemingly innocent and harmless little girl in front of me must surely believe that what she says is true.
"I'm just a carefree prince, content to live off the inheritance my father gave me."
Recently, because I remember your father's meritorious service in suppressing bandits in the mountains, I thought of sending him some rewards.
But since I couldn't find anything suitable for the time being, I gave my daughter some household items instead.
Unfortunately, your father insisted on paying me back.
I am an honest man. Since your father said he would give it to me, I will naturally accept it.
But I'm not one to take advantage of others, so naturally I'll calculate the price honestly.
"A total of two taels of silver. I wonder when the Zhao family will be able to deliver the silver to the inn where I am staying?"
Zhao Qinglin still had a bright smile on her face.
"My father was a stubborn old man who only knew how to study by rote."
Since it's a reward from the Prince, Father shouldn't take it too seriously. Both thunder and rain are expressions of imperial favor. Since it's a reward from the Prince, Father should accept it.
Don't feel guilty; this is the dignity that the prince has given to our family.
Besides, the things the prince gave us are all good. When we sisters get married in the future, we can consider them as part of the prince's dowry.
Father, please don't forget to send an invitation to the Prince.
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