The group hadn't walked far when they heard light footsteps coming from above the stone steps, and could vaguely see figures.
Gu Yuzhi had short legs, and the stone steps were quite high, so he was already a little tired after walking for a while. He said breathlessly, "When I get back to Mobei, I'll definitely eat well and soak up the sun!"
With a chuckle, Guard Zhang scooped him up and hoisted him onto his shoulder. Gu Yuzhi expertly held Guard Zhang's head, pointed forward with his right hand, and shouted, "Charge!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than the figure that had been vaguely visible before suddenly appeared right in front of them.
Gu Yuzhi looked at the manor lord who had walked up to him, blinked his big eyes, and smiled, showing no sign of the embarrassment he was feeling inside.
The manor lord looked at Gu Yuzhi and took a while to react before hurriedly kneeling down: "This humble subject greets Your Highness, may Your Highness live a thousand years!"
"I wonder what brings Your Highness to my manor?"
Gu Yuzhi cleared his throat, mimicking Xie Changshi's manner: "Why don't you get up first?"
The manor owner quickly stood up and stood to the side, his head slightly lowered, his breathing becoming much quieter, his attitude respectful and submissive.
Chief Secretary Xie coughed lightly, and after the manor lord looked at him, he smiled slightly, looked up at the star-filled sky, and the meaning was self-evident.
The manor lord instantly understood and led everyone up the mountain. Because Chief Secretary Xie and Judge Qin's martial arts skills were not up to par, the group did not finally reach the top of the mountain until late at night.
The refined and elegant demeanor that Xie Changshi once possessed had long since vanished. His hair was slightly disheveled, and even his usually cherished beard was sticking up in a messy manner.
He had lost all interest in negotiating at this point, so he let the manor lord arrange for everyone to rest, and he didn't get up until almost noon the next day.
At this time, Gu Yuzhi had already toured the entire manor with the manor owner and was now sitting in the conference hall drinking tea.
The tea didn't have a pleasant aroma, but Gu Yuzhi disliked it, finding it somewhat bitter. He forced himself to take a sip and refused to drink any more.
The manor lord sat in the subordinate's seat, looking down at the floor, pondering why His Highness Prince Wen had personally come to their manor.
Gu Yuzhi liked to speak directly and didn't beat around the bush: "Master, I've heard that your manor is very good at sword making. I'd like to buy a few swords, the better ones."
He couldn't afford the most expensive one, so he planned to buy the second tier from the beginning.
He only had this much silver note on him, and he didn't know if it was enough to pay the deposit.
Upon hearing this, the manor lord breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Your Highness just visited our sword-making workshop. May I ask which ones Your Highness took a fancy to? If Your Highness likes them, this humble subject will naturally give them to you for free."
Upon hearing that it was free, Gu Yuzhi shook his head vigorously, saying, "No need, no need! I'll buy it the same way you sell it."
He said seriously, "I'm not the kind of person who takes advantage of others!"
Teacher Shu, who had been silent until now, couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Your Highness is indeed not one to take small advantages; Your Highness is planning to take big advantages!"
Manager Wen, who was standing to the side, also smiled and said, "Our prince is really clever. Look at the manor lord's expression; he's clearly taken aback by what the prince said."
Manager Wen was previously a royal merchant, so he naturally had a lot of dealings with these princes.
These princes are the most selfish of all. They reap the benefits, but if you want them to help you or anything, you'd better wait.
Therefore, the shopkeeper Wen chose Gu Yuzhi, a child who was only a few years old, thinking that young children would be more obedient.
Who knew the young prince was so clever? No matter what he was taught, the prince could understand it very quickly and was very good at applying what he learned to other situations.
Looking at Gu Yuzhi, who was chatting fluently with the owner of Tianquan Manor, Manager Wen had a strange feeling that his son had grown up and he could no longer teach him for two years.
If Gu Yuzhi had openly asked for these things, the manor lord wouldn't have thought much of it. But when he heard Gu Yuzhi say that he would pay whatever the price was, the manor lord's heart jumped again, and he said nervously, "Your Highness..."
Gu Yuzhi tilted her head and blinked her big eyes at him: "It is very expensive. Do you think I can't afford it?"
He patted his chest proudly and said, "You don't need to worry that I can't afford it."
Seeing the manor lord's subtle expression, he quickly explained, "I'm serious! I have business dealings in the Northern Desert. Although I can't compare to you, it should be enough to buy a few swords, right?"
The manor owner blinked and said, "It's enough, but..."
He pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness has gone to Jiangnan to capture the traitors and stabilize the situation there, rescuing us, a lowly martial arts sect, from dire straits. These swords should be offered to Your Highness as a token of my respect."
Gu Yuzhi did not answer him, but instead asked Mr. Huo and Guard Zhang to select swords for forging. When they returned the gifts, Chief Secretary Xie also came in.
Guard Zhang stepped forward and quietly reported the price they had inquired about. Gu Yuzhi did a quick calculation: ten swords, a deposit of three thousand taels, and the remaining seven thousand taels to be paid after the swords were forged, which was one thousand taels of silver per sword.
Teacher Shu clicked his tongue and shook his head: "Compared to the previous price of one thousand taels of gold per sword, this price of one thousand two hundred taels of silver per sword seems like a bargain to me?"
Gu Yuzhi and Manager Wen turned their heads at the same time: "What do you mean by 'cabbage price'?"
Teacher Shu frowned and thought for a moment: "It's probably the cabbage that His Highness eats. In later generations, cabbage is relatively cheap, so when some expensive things are discounted, they are described as 'cabbage price,' meaning cheap."
Gu Yuzhi then said, "But a sword costing a thousand taels of silver isn't exactly cheap!"
It's expensive!
However, these things are for Mr. Huo and his family, so he naturally wouldn't be reluctant to part with them.
Gu Yuzhi immediately pulled out three silver notes worth one thousand taels each: "This is a deposit. Write a contract, and when the sword is finished, send it directly to the Northern Desert..."
I've been away for so long, I wonder how Xinliang Construction is going.
The manor lord's heart was pounding. He didn't want to accept it, but seeing the young prince's persistent outstretched hand, he had no choice but to step forward respectfully and take the silver note.
The servants of the manor quickly delivered the contract. Xie Changshi read it quickly, found no problems, and signed it.
Only then did Gu Yuzhi smile and say, "Master, there's actually another very important matter I've come here for today..."
The manor owner felt a weight lifted from his heart, and even a sense of relief, as if the weight had finally been lifted.
He bowed slightly and said, "I wonder what Your Highness is referring to? As long as it is within my power, I will do my best to accomplish it."
Gu Yuzhi's smile remained unchanged as he shook his head and said, "Of course you can do it!"
He held out his right hand, his thumb pinching the tip of his index finger: "It really is a very small thing..."
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