Chapter 129 Cheating, this is cheating!
As the sun rose directly overhead, it dispelled much of the chill in the capital city.
Sunlight spilled onto the stone pavement, casting dappled shadows. The roadside vendors seemed more energetic, their calls rising and falling, creating a lively atmosphere.
A woman dressed in coarse linen clothes, with an old cloth bundle tied diagonally across her shoulder, clutched the bundle tightly with both hands, walked hurriedly along the corner of the wall toward Xu's Pawnshop with her head down.
She walked quickly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, indicating that she had rushed here.
The vendors along the way only glanced at her and then paid no more attention to her.
They were all seasoned businessmen who had been doing business on this street for many years, and they had seen far too many women come to the pawnshop to pawn their belongings.
There were women from impoverished families who had to sell their jewelry to make ends meet, women who had lost their masters and could only survive by pawning old items, and women from brothels who wanted to save money to redeem themselves—all sorts of people were represented.
Most of them looked like this, heads down, afraid of being recognized by acquaintances or having their packages stolen by thieves on the street.
In the past, some thugs would indeed stake out near Xu's Pawnshop, specifically targeting young women who came to pawn their items, either stealing or robbing them.
Later, Xu's Pawnshop, in conjunction with the government and forces in the back alleys, picked out a few of the most troublesome ringleaders and dealt with them severely.
After making an example of Xu's pawnshop, the area in front of it became even more peaceful than the area in front of the government office, and no one dared to cause trouble there anymore.
The woman walked quickly to the entrance of Xu's Pawnshop, glanced at the shop's signboard to make sure she hadn't come to the wrong place, and then pushed open the door and went inside.
The pawnshop was dimly lit, with a faint scent of camphor wood in the air. Behind the counter stood a well-dressed clerk, fiddling with an abacus.
The woman entered the pawnshop, glanced around, and seeing that there was no one else besides the clerk, she took the bundle off her body and carefully handed it to the clerk.
The waiter took the bundle, weighed it in his hand, opened it, and found a dark fur cloak inside.
He reached out and carefully felt the cloak, then examined the texture of the fur against the light, a look of approval on his face.
"Madam, your items are fine. Please come in, our shopkeeper will discuss the price with you."
As he spoke, the waiter stepped aside and gestured for the woman to enter, leading her into a private room in the inner hall.
The woman followed the waiter through a long, narrow corridor and into a private room.
As soon as she entered the room, she looked up, and the awkwardness and tension on her face instantly disappeared, replaced by surprise.
Xie Ji and Xiao Yunzhan had already arrived at the elegant room.
Xiao Yunzhan was sitting in a chair by the window, playing with a carved jade pendant in his hand. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on him, making the jade pendant look even more lustrous.
Xie Ji stood to the side, holding a cup of tea, idly looking around at the furnishings of the elegant room.
Pei Zhiwei slumped her shoulders in frustration, her tone tinged with resentment: "How come you guys got here faster than me?"
And why did you all come dressed in your everyday clothes? It's too conspicuous.
"A Prince Rui and the heir of the Marquis of Ding'an have absolutely no reason to come to a pawnshop, are they? Isn't this just obviously trying to attract attention?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunzhan looked up at her, a faint smile in his eyes.
He placed the pawnbroker on the table and said, "We've come to the pawnshop on official business."
Xie Ji put down his teacup, stepped forward, patted Pei Zhiwei on the shoulder, and explained with a smile, "Hey, hey, you're mistaken."
During court today, an imperial censor impeached Wang Yongnian, the former Minister of Justice, for embezzlement, saying that he had secretly had his servants pawn many valuable items of dubious origin at Xu's Pawnshop.
His Majesty has decreed that I and the Prince be here to investigate and verify this matter. This is legitimate official business; who dares to utter a word against it?
Pei Zhiwei stared with her round eyes, blinked, pursed her lips, and looked indignant: "You guys are cheating!"
"We clearly agreed that everyone would enter based on their own abilities, but you've used the imperial edict as a pretext! That doesn't count at all!"
As she spoke, she plopped down in a chair and glared fiercely at the two "liars."
They received a secret letter from Cui Yanwu late last night, instructing them to meet at Xu's Pawnshop at 9:00 AM today, and to enter the pawnshop by their own abilities, without alerting outsiders.
Pei Zhiwei pondered for half the night and felt that Xiao Yunzhan and Xie Ji had special identities, and their appearances and figures were too conspicuous. It would not be easy for them to sneak into the pawnshop unnoticed.
Xiao Yunzhan seemed to have seen through her thoughts, so he suggested making a bet with her, saying that whoever arrived at the private room last would have to treat everyone to the best meal at Zuixianlou.
Pei Zhiwei was already full of confidence, feeling that her disguise was flawless, so she readily agreed.
But who would have thought that these two people would team up and use official business as an excuse to walk in openly and legitimately? It's practically cheating!
Looking at her puffed-up face, Xiao Yunzhan's smile deepened.
“You’ve been so anxious about the gunpowder these days, you can’t eat or sleep. We just wanted to find something for you to relax.”
Besides, using an imperial edict as cover is indeed the safest and least suspicious method.
Pei Zhiwei wasn't buying it at all, rolling her eyes dramatically with a "Do you think I believe that?" look on her face.
"I think you just want to win this meal from me, stop making so many excuses."
Xie Ji, who seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold, said, "Hahaha, you saw right through me!"
However, I can't avoid the banquet at Zuixianlou. It'll be on me after everything's settled!
After a while, Pei Zhiwei's mood did indeed improve considerably.
She dropped her joking expression and said seriously, "Seriously, why hasn't Uncle Cui arrived yet? The appointed time has passed. I hope nothing bad has happened."
Before she could finish speaking, the door to the private room was gently pushed open.
An unfamiliar old man was led in by the waiter from before.
The old man's hair, eyebrows, and even beard were all white. He had a large hunchback and was always bent over, looking very old.
He struggled to support himself with a cane, each step appearing extremely difficult. His face and hands were covered with age spots, making him look like an ordinary old man in his twilight years.
The old man cupped his hands in greeting to the waiter, his voice hoarse and trembling slightly: "Please trouble you to show me the way, young man."
The waiter quickly returned the greeting: "Sir, you're too kind. Please come in."
After saying that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Xie Ji and Xiao Yunzhan were both slightly taken aback when they saw the old man.
But Pei Zhiwei's eyes lit up, she grinned, stood up and bowed respectfully to the old man.
"My niece greets Uncle Cui. She was just talking about you, and here you are, as if on cue."
Upon hearing this, the old man showed a hint of surprise on his face, and then straightened up.
As he straightened up, the hunchback on his back slowly disappeared, and his originally aged and hunched appearance instantly became upright.
That seemingly wrinkled face was actually an exquisitely crafted human skin mask, fitting perfectly without any flaws. If Pei Zhiwei hadn't pointed it out, no one would have been able to tell.
Cui Yanwu raised his hand and gently peeled off the mask from his face, revealing his true face. With a hint of curiosity, he said, "Neither of these two boys recognized me. How did you know it was me, girl?"
As he straightened up and revealed his true face, Xie Ji's mouth opened wider and wider. By the time he finished speaking, Xie Ji's mouth was big enough to fit two eggs.
He stared wide-eyed at Pei Zhiwei, his face filled with disbelief.
Not to mention that he didn't even recognize his own nephew, he seriously doubted that even his own maternal grandmother might not be able to recognize her uncle at a glance.
Cui Yanwu's disguise was too realistic. His figure, gait and voice were no different from those of an ordinary old man. How could she, an outsider, see through it at a glance?
Pei Zhiwei suppressed a laugh and explained, "Uncle's disguise is indeed very good. He even deliberately changed the point of exertion when walking, making him look no different from a real old man."
Although Uncle Shi pretended to be an old man, he could change the point of force in his footprints, but the age he revealed would not change.
Your steps may look unsteady, but each step is steady, with even pressure on the soles of your feet – something not many elderly people can do.
So when I saw that your gait and appearance didn't match, I was pretty sure it was you.
Furthermore, we were specially invited by you, and the only people who would respectfully lead us in are you and the pawnshop manager.
Surely the shopkeeper isn't such an elderly man?
Xie Ji slammed his mouth shut, rolled his eyes, and gave a look that said, "That's it?"
Cui Yanwu had already walked to his side, stretched out his long arm, and slapped him on the back of the head with considerable force; it looked quite painful.
What's with that expression?
Zhiwei figured it out immediately, but you, looking completely lost and clueless, are just like your father.
Xie Ji cried out in pain, clutching the back of his head and taking two steps back. He angrily said to Cui Yanwu, "You don't get along with my father, so why do you always drag me into this?"
I'm still your nephew!
People say nephews resemble their uncles, but I clearly look like you, it has nothing to do with my dad.
Cui Yanwu pretended to hit him again, and Xie Ji was so frightened that he jumped high to the window, put his hands in a defensive position, and shouted: "I'm warning you, if you hit me again, I will fight back!"
My kung fu has improved a lot recently; you might not be able to beat me.
As he spoke, he quickly glanced out the window.
The streets were still bustling with people, vendors were calling out to attract customers, and pedestrians were hurrying along, without any unusual behavior.
He gestured to the others with his eyes that everything was fine outside and no suspicious persons had been found.
Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open again, and the pawnshop manager finally arrived late.
He was dressed in a dark blue silk robe, with a square face and sharp eyes; he looked like a shrewd and capable person.
Upon entering and seeing everyone in the room, he paused for a moment, then immediately clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.
"I was unaware of the arrival of Your Highness, the Heir Apparent, Lady Pei, and this gentleman. Please forgive my failure to greet you properly."
Cui Yanwu looked at the shopkeeper, raised an eyebrow slightly, squinted at him for a moment, and asked uncertainly, "Xu Lanfeng?"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Cui Yanwu.
Judging from his appearance, he actually knows the pawnshop owner?
But they had already checked the shopkeeper's background; shouldn't his name be Xu Feng?
Why does Cui Yanwu call him Xu Lanfeng?
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