Chi Xingyue chuckled: "No, let's do it another time."
I only have twelve taels of silver on me, so I have to spend it sparingly. Life without money is so miserable.
After walking around the street for a while, I found a pastry shop that was very crowded with people.
Erzhu introduced: "The cakes and pastries here at Ruyizhai are made with fresh ingredients, so many people come here to buy them. Shall we go in and take a look?"
Chi Xingyue nodded and followed the crowd into the shop, which was less than 40 square meters. The shop was filled with all kinds of cakes, many of which she had never seen before.
"Miss, what would you like to order?"
Chi Xingyue didn't know what to eat, so the waiter recommended: "Our lotus cakes, almond cakes, and pea yellow cakes are all good. You can try one!"
Chi Xingyue really took a piece of pastry and put it in his mouth, and was amazed by the pastry chef's craftsmanship.
It is soft, sweet, smooth and not greasy, and it is really addictive.
After asking the price, Chi Xingyue ordered a hundred servings of various pastries. It cost ten taels of silver, but she felt it was money well spent.
There were only two taels of silver left. Chi Xingyue hesitated for a moment and decided to put it in the space for emergency.
This is how modern people are. They always have to have some money on hand, otherwise they won’t feel safe.
Oh, and there are also various medicine bags. Heard they're not cheap, so Chi Xingyue decided not to go and embarrass herself. Give them to Ling Jiheng and let him pay!
Time passed little by little, and soon it was noon.
Chi Xingyue asked Erzhu: "Did your master tell me how to arrange for me?"
"The master said that if you are tired of shopping, you can go back to the house to rest. He will come to find you when he is done!"
Chi Xingyue understood, bought a lunch box, packed two bowls of wontons, and returned to Ling Jiheng's so-called private residence.
This is a small courtyard located on the edge of West City. Although it is not large, it has mountains and water, making it look particularly elegant.
There are not many servants here. Apart from a boy named Yinbao, there is only Aunt Chen who takes care of miscellaneous chores.
"Aunt Chen, this is Miss Chi. Please take her to the guest room. The young master will come to pick her up when he's done with his work!"
Aunt Chen nodded and said to Erzhu, "The things that the young master bought have been delivered. I put them in the side room. Do you want to go in and check them out?"
Erzhu shook his head: "No, just let Miss Chi take a look. I have something else to do, so I'll go back home first."
Chi Xingyue watched Erzhu walk away before going to the guest room with Aunt Chen.
Along the way, she neither asked questions nor looked around randomly, which made Aunt Chen look at her with new eyes.
"Girl, just rest here. If you need anything, just call me!"
Chi Xingyue nodded and waited until Aunt Chen was far away before closing the door. He took a look at the furnishings in the room and sank down on a chair as if he had lost all his energy.
How could she, a village cadre who helped a poor county get out of poverty and become rich, suddenly become hostile to the rich?
Look, look, their random guest room is a thousand times better than her little nest.
The carved canopy bed and the set of tables and chairs all demonstrate the owner's family heritage.
Chi Xingyue placed the lunch box on the table and lay down on the bed to rest. She had woken up too early in the morning and was sleepy. It was just right that no one was around; she could get a good night's sleep.
***
At noon, Ling Jiheng finished his work and hurried over.
"Aunt Chen, where is Miss Chi?"
"I'm resting in the house! Young Master hasn't been here for a long time. Do you want to have lunch here at noon?"
Ling Jiheng waved his hand and sent Aunt Chen out. He and Chi Xingyue were the only ones left in the house.
I knocked on the door lightly and pushed it open when I heard "Come in".
Chi Xingyue woke up from his sleep, still a little dazed.
Seeing the tall figure at the door, he was stunned for a moment. He stared at it for a long time before slapping his forehead and saying, "Second Young Master, please come in!"
Ling Jiheng chuckled: "Did you fall asleep?"
Without any hesitation, he sat down beside Chi Xingyue's bed and took out the household registration: "I have cancelled your slave status. Now, you finally have a clean identity."
Chi Xingyue looked at the newly processed household registration, on which the three words "Chi Xingyue" were particularly conspicuous.
"Thank you!" She thanked him sincerely, but before her hand could even touch the household registration, Ling Jiheng took it away: "I'll need it to get the marriage certificate, so I won't give it to you for safekeeping."
"Are you afraid that I will run away?" Chi Xingyue asked.
"That's not the case. After all, the little fairy revealed her identity. If not with me, who else can she follow?"
Chi Xingyue rolled her eyes and talked about what she saw and heard on the street.
"I noticed a lot of beggars squatting in front of the Treasure Pavilion. I wonder if they've always been there, or if they just appeared recently?"
Ling Jiheng didn't hide it: "There's been a disaster in the northwest recently, and the imperial court has increased taxes, so many people are fleeing the famine."
Chi Xingyue's mind was still stuck in the peaceful and prosperous times, and he subconsciously asked, "Shouldn't we be doing disaster relief?"
Ling Jiheng sneered: "People are like ants, their lives are worthless, who dares to resist this imperial power?"
After saying that, he rubbed Chi Xingyue's hair and said, "Do you know why they raided the Ling Mansion?"
Chi Xingyue shook his head.
"Because the treasury is out of money and the construction of Yuquan Palace is at a critical juncture, His Majesty has set his sights on the wealthy families in Jiangnan. This move is just a test. If successful, this will become his endless source of money."
"But I clearly remember it was three..."
Chi Xingyue pursed her lips, not knowing whether she should say it out loud.
Ling Jiheng looked at her seriously: "Now, we are like grasshoppers on the same rope. We prosper together and suffer together!"
Chi Xingyue hesitated for a moment before telling the other person about his experience in the book. Of course, he didn't explain it clearly.
"All I know is that it was set up by the Third Prince's wife for the Ling family's money."
Ling Jiheng tapped the edge of the bed with his fingers, making a rhythmic sound.
After a few seconds, he spoke, "He must have guessed the Emperor's intentions and let the Third Prince go along with it. The people who came to confiscate the family property this time are probably the Third Prince's confidants. They are likely to have taken action midway and hidden at least half of the Ling family's wealth."
Chi Xingyue curled her lips unhappily: "If only my world in my sleeves could be a little bigger."
Ling Jiheng was already quite satisfied with this. If the fairy hadn't informed him in advance, he couldn't even imagine the consequences for the Ling family.
I stroked Chi Xingyue's hair again. It was dry, yellow, and a little frizzy. She was also small, only reaching up to her chest. Her figure was skinny and shriveled, without any curves.
The only thing that's noticeable is those big, watery, sparkling eyes.
He lifted Chi Xingyue up and walked straight to the study. Then, under her puzzled gaze, he opened the mechanism, revealing the secret room inside.
"Here are the treasures I have accumulated through my private business. You can choose and take away whatever you like."
Chi Xingyue looked towards the secret room in surprise, but unfortunately he could not see anything.
At this moment, she only regretted that the space was not big enough. Otherwise, why would she bother choosing? She would like to take everything away!
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