Chapter 888 Brother-Obsessed (Second Update)
Shangguan Qing calmed his agitated emotions and reverted to his ruthless self.
Shangguan Qing wasn't much more familiar with Quyang than Xiao Heng was, but his appetite had been getting worse these days. To get him to eat more, Gu Jiao asked Master Hu to search the streets and alleys for delicious food for him.
He roughly remembered a few shops.
The driver was a local; after they gave him the name of the shop, he easily led them there.
This is a noodle shop run by people from the Zhao state, but it claims to have flavors from six different states.
Shangguan Qing ordered two bowls of Yangchun noodles, a specialty of Zhao Kingdom.
Looking at the noodles in the bowl, Xiao Heng thought to himself that this was not exactly similar to plain noodles, but rather completely unrelated.
Xiao Heng tasted it; it was just so-so.
Shangguan Qing seemed to be enjoying his meal. He asked Xiao Heng, "How is it? Is it as good as what you make in your Zhao Kingdom?"
Xiao Heng glanced at him and said, "Jiaojiao's is tastier than this."
Shangguan Qing said in surprise, "That girl can cook?"
A hint of tenderness flashed in Xiao Heng's eyes: "Jiaojiao's cooking skills are very good."
Shangguan Qing pouted.
Hmph, he came here to eat noodles, not to eat dog food.
Quyang City is gradually returning to order, but due to the impact of the war, prices have risen. A bowl of noodles that usually costs six coins now costs twenty coins.
This is considered a small increase; the price of meat is even more outrageous, with a small bowl of donkey meat costing two taels of silver.
Shangguan Qing glanced at Xiao Heng, who was silently eating noodles, then his eyes darted around before he ordered two bowls of the most expensive donkey meat and a jar of thirty-year-old fine wine.
"By the way, you didn't bring any money with you when you went out, did you?" he asked seriously.
"No." Xiao Heng shook his head blankly.
I really didn't bring it.
Eunuchs took care of all their needs for food, clothing, lodging, and transportation along the way, and the silver notes were kept in their luggage at the military camp.
Shangguan Qing patted his chest and said, "It's alright! I brought it! As your older brother, I'm treating you to a meal, how could I let you pay? There's a good osmanthus cake shop over there, I'll go buy it for you!"
Xiao Heng quickly said, "I'll go."
Shangguan Qing laughed and said, "No need, no need, I'm the older brother, I'll go!"
Xiao Heng thought for a moment and said, "Alright then."
Shangguan Qing reminded him, "By the way, remember not to reveal the identity of the eldest grandson of the emperor. There are assassins from the Jin Kingdom in the city, and you will be in great danger!"
Xiao Heng nodded obediently: "Oh, I understand."
Shangguan Qing left with a smile.
As soon as he stepped out of the shop, he pulled over the shop assistant at the door and said casually, "The person who came with me earlier, he'll pay the bill!"
They were both good-looking, dressed and had an extraordinary air about them; they were clearly sons of wealthy families.
The waiter smiled very politely and said, "Alright, sir!"
After Shangguan Qing walked to the other side, he turned back and glanced at Xiao Heng, who was slowly eating noodles in the shop, with a cold smile.
Silly little brother.
Just wait to get beaten up!
Shangguan Qing did go to the osmanthus cake shop, not for any other reason than that he could see the noodle shop across the street directly from there.
He wanted to witness firsthand the dark history of his younger brother, the top-scoring student!
He went upstairs to the second floor, ordered a superior private room, and a pot of the most expensive tea. He then crossed his legs and leisurely watched the show.
They should be kicked out soon, right?
When should I make my move?
Wouldn't it be too cruel to wait until he's beaten to a pulp?
Shangguan Qing waited for a long time but saw no movement at the entrance of the noodle shop.
"What happened? Did they get beaten to death inside?"
"Oh dear, I forgot that shop has a backyard!"
"What if they attacked that kid in the backyard? That would be terrible!"
Shangguan Qing only wanted to mess with Xiao Heng, not kill him. He hurried downstairs, intending to just throw the money bag to the shopkeeper and not bother with the change.
But his hand touched nothing.
He paused, then looked down and searched left and right.
"Huh? Where's my purse?"
Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper's face immediately darkened: "Sir, did you lose your purse? You had it with you when you came out, but somehow it's gone?"
Shangguan Qing asked in bewilderment, "How did you know?"
The shopkeeper rolled up his sleeves: "Heh! I've heard that excuse too many times! Looks all respectable! But he's a swindler! Don't you even know who owns this shop?! How dare you cheat and swindle in my shop! You've got some nerve! Men! Seize him! Drag him to the backyard! If he doesn't hand over the money, break his leg!"
Shangguan Qing said in disbelief, "You're too heartless! Such a small amount of food, can you really pay off a debt with just a leg?! You have no respect for the law!"
The shopkeeper scoffed, "The law? This is the law of Quyang City!"
Well... the border regions are often ravaged by war, so it seems that local laws have indeed been altered.
Shopkeeper: "Arrest him!"
"Wait!" Shangguan Qing held up a hand, gesturing for a stop. "I am the eldest grandson of the emperor!"
The shopkeeper pulled a portrait from behind the counter and unfolded it with a snap: "Do you think I've never seen the eldest grandson of the emperor before? Boy! This is the real eldest grandson of the emperor!"
Shangguan Qing shuddered as he looked at the portrait of the ugly man, whose features were so disfigured that he resembled a skeleton!
Wow!
Has the image of the eldest grandson of the emperor really deteriorated to this extent?
Or is it that these days, just having a beauty mark under your eye makes you the eldest grandson of the emperor?
Shangguan Qing solemnly asserted: "This is not the eldest grandson of the emperor!"
The shopkeeper asked, "How do you know he isn't?"
Shangguan Qingyi declared righteously and sternly: "Because I am!"
You, young master, have been the eldest grandson of the Emperor of the Great Yan for twenty years! Do you think I know better than you what the eldest grandson of the Emperor looks like?
Shopkeeper: "You don't have a beauty mark under your eye, you're not one!"
Having a beauty mark under the eye doesn't necessarily mean you are one, but not having one definitely means you're not!
This is like a scholar encountering a soldier—there's no point in trying to reason with him.
Shangguan Qing was furious.
However, they couldn't actually shoot them with muskets, since they were just running a business and hadn't done anything wrong.
Just as Shangguan Qing was being held down in a disheveled state, Xiao Heng walked over calmly and composedly.
He looked at Shangguan Qing in the shop, a look of surprise appearing on his face: "Brother, you're really here?"
Shangguan Qing turned around and asked, "You...you...how did you get out...?"
I was going to ask how you got out?
After thinking about it, I realized that this statement would give me away, so I quickly changed the last word.
He's really clever.
Xiao Heng said, "Oh, I finished my noodles, so I came to find you."
Shangguan Qing opened his mouth: "Then...did you pay for the meal?"
"It's settled, fifty-three taels in total. Brother, the wine is so expensive." Xiao Heng frowned.
Shangguan Qing asked in a daze, "Didn't you say you didn't bring any money?"
Xiao Heng opened his eyes wide and said, "Brother, have you forgotten? You left the money pouch with me."
Shangguan Qing: "Hmm?"
Xiao Heng: "Right on your bench."
grass!
I just left my money bag on the bench!
So, was that fifty-three taels of silver spent by him?
Shangguan Qing gasped.
Don't be angry, don't be angry, it's only fifty-three taels.
"Brother, here you go." Xiao Heng returned the money pouch to Shangguan Qing.
Shangguan Qing once suspected that the boy was doing it on purpose, but looking into Xiao Heng's innocent, doe-like eyes, he realized he was overthinking it.
He took out a banknote to pay the bill.
The shopkeeper smiled and saw the two off.
Shangguan Qing was seething with anger, and the more he thought about it on the way back, the angrier he became.
He wanted to see this kid make a fool of himself, but instead, he ended up being the one who made a fool of himself.
He's lived for twenty years and never suffered such a setback!
We must get our revenge!
"Stop the car," he ordered.
The coachman stopped the carriage.
Shangguan Qing led Xiao Heng off the carriage.
Xiao Heng asked with a look of confusion, "Brother, where are we going?"
That's a really nice way to call someone "brother".
Shangguan Qing almost softened his heart, but fortunately he was of iron will and managed to stay calm in time!
He said, “Since this is our first meeting, as the older brother, I should prepare a gift for you. I didn’t prepare one in advance, so I’ll buy one for you now!”
Xiao Heng shook his head slightly: "No need, brother, I didn't prepare anything for you."
Shangguan Qing waved his hand arrogantly and said, "That's different! I'm the older brother, I have to give you a gift! If you keep being polite with me, I'll get angry!"
Xiao Heng hesitated for a moment, but couldn't refuse such a kind offer, saying, "Since you've said so, brother, then I, Aheng, will respectfully accept your invitation."
Shangguan Qing put his arm around his shoulder, patted him, and laughed, "That's more like it!"
Shangguan Qing took Xiao Heng to an antique shop. In these turbulent times, many antique shops in the vicinity have closed down one after another, and this is the only one that is still open.
Xiao Heng tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother, the things here are too valuable. Let's go somewhere else."
The young Marquis of Zhaodu, whose mother is a princess and whose father is a marquis, actually thinks a few antiques are expensive.
Oh, right, this younger brother spent several years wandering among the common people and endured some hardship.
Shangguan Qing almost softened again, but luckily he was shrewd enough to laugh and say, "Don't worry, I've saved up quite a bit of money over the years! Pick whatever you like! Don't be shy with your brother!"
This time, Shangguan Qing learned his lesson and checked repeatedly to make sure the money pouch hadn't fallen out.
Even if it fell here, it wouldn't matter, the silver notes in my purse aren't enough to buy an antique!
"You look first, I'm going to the outhouse!"
"good."
Xiao Heng stayed on the second floor to look at the antiques, while Shangguan Qing came downstairs and picked out a few antiques in the lobby to take with him: "Upstairs, my brother will pay the bill."
This tactic might not have worked on others, but these two were clearly from prominent families, so no one doubted that Shangguan Qing was a swindler.
Shangguan Qing took the antique and ran!
You little brat, let's see how you get away this time!
Shangguan Qing laughed loudly, "Hahaha!"
He returned to the carriage carrying a bag of antiques, and as soon as he lifted the curtain, he was so startled that he almost fell off his backside!
"You... what are you doing here?"
Xiao Heng smiled slightly: "I've finished shopping, I'll get in the car and wait for my brother."
Shangguan Qing was even more surprised: "You...you've...finished?"
He stared in disbelief at the several large boxes of antiques in the car. "You...you bought all of these?"
Xiao Heng said innocently, "These were all picked out for me by my brother just now, and he told me I had to accept them."
I did say that, but what did you use to pay the bill?
Shangguan Qing touched the money pouch; it was still there.
Xiao Heng said with a smile, "I told him that my brother is the eldest grandson of the emperor, and the shopkeeper said that it doesn't matter. He will go to the city lord's mansion to collect the debt from my brother in a little while."
Why is it that when I say I am the eldest grandson of the emperor, no one believes me, but when I say I am the eldest grandson of the emperor, everyone believes me?
So many antiques...
How much silver will it cost?
This is my secret stash of money that I've been saving for over ten years—
The little voice in Shangguan Qing's heart knelt down with a thud and burst into tears—
(End of this chapter)
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