Chapter 309 Slapping Chen Jiaying in the Face, Just Like Shen Chu
Young Master Liu Feng chuckled and handed the silver note back.
“I told you, there are plenty of people queuing up outside to buy paintings. If you don’t believe me, just take the silver notes back, and I’ll pretend we never discussed this business.”
Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, Chen Jiaying ultimately did not dare to take back the silver note.
The Empress Dowager is not His Majesty's biological mother. Although His Majesty dotes on her, he cannot interfere too much in His Majesty's affairs.
Only with His Majesty's support can she secure her position as Princess Consort Rui and reap more benefits in the future.
Thinking of this, Chen Jiaying pushed the silver note back.
Young Master Liu Feng chuckled lightly and slowly put away the silver notes.
"This painting, 'Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains,' has been personally viewed by His Highness Prince Rui. Selling it for 15,000 taels is really a bit too cheap."
"If it weren't for your calming sachet and incense, I wouldn't sell them under any circumstances."
Upon hearing that Pei Yuan had personally inspected the place, Chen Jiaying immediately dispelled all her doubts.
How could something that the prince himself inspected be fake?
I never expected that after stealing the purse left by Shen Chu, I would unexpectedly receive such a benefit.
Chen Jiaying left happily, clutching the painting.
Liu Feng watched her retreating figure, curled his lip, and looked at her with mockery in his eyes.
"So-called talented woman from the capital, she's nothing special."
He took out the incense recipe, carefully put it into a box, and took the box with him to Prince Rui's residence.
"Your Highness, the purse and the incense recipe have been brought back."
Pei Yuan opened the box, inside were ten purses.
It smelled like a familiar calming medicine, but it lacked the comforting scent of wisteria that clung to Shen Chu.
There was a piece of paper next to the purse.
It is Shen Chu's handwriting, free and unrestrained, without any constraints.
Besides the instructions on how to make wisteria incense, there was also a sentence at the end:
If you place the sachet with incense for more than three days, the calming sachet will absorb the fragrance of wisteria flowers, wishing you a good night's sleep and good health.
May you sleep soundly every night and take good care of yourself.
Pei Yuan stroked the eight characters, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
Even the most meticulously crafted wisteria incense probably couldn't bring him a good night's sleep.
What truly allowed him to sleep soundly and peacefully was the aura emanating from Shen Chu.
Ah Chu, wait for me, we'll meet in Yangzhou soon.
Then let's cherish the rest of our lives together and stay healthy.
Sun Yan came in from outside.
"Your Highness, it has been investigated. Only Prince Heng entered the palace to see His Majesty yesterday afternoon."
Pei Yuan frowned slightly.
Prince Heng? He's only just returned to the capital and he's already eager to stir up trouble?
Sun Yan continued, "I also found out that Prince Heng had met Luo Heng before entering the palace."
Moreover, not long after Lord Shen left the city yesterday afternoon, Luo Heng also left the capital.
He was originally scheduled to go to Jiangning the day after tomorrow to complete the handover with the Ministry of Personnel, but yesterday afternoon he went to the Ministry of Personnel to report for and obtain his travel permit, saying he wanted to depart earlier.
Pei Yuan stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.
Yesterday, Luo Heng brought A Chu to the shore of Qiutang Lake.
Luo Heng went to the Prince Heng's residence again. Afterwards, the Prince Heng entered the palace, and the Emperor issued an edict ordering A Chu to leave the capital immediately.
The matter is obvious.
"Luo Heng... you really underestimated him."
Sun Yan asked, "Your Highness, Luo Heng has been ordered to go to Jiangning to search for gold mines. Should we...?"
Pei Yuan shook his head and gave instructions to Liu Feng.
"Take two unfamiliar people and head to Hangzhou as soon as possible. Keep an eye on A-Chu and don't let her find out."
Liu Feng bowed, "Your subordinate obeys."
Jinbao came in to serve tea and saw the purse on the table. He was so excited that he kept rubbing his eyes.
"My goodness, His Highness said to have Chen Jiaying return the purse, and she actually did!"
Liu Feng nodded, suppressing a laugh as he recounted what had happened.
Jinbao couldn't help but purse his lips after hearing this.
"You didn't see how she snatched the purse back then. She looked like the future mistress of the Prince Rui's mansion, as if she wanted the servants to kneel on the ground and talk to her."
And she keeps saying she'll research incense for the Prince, haha, she's clearly just jealous of Lord Shen. She's all smiles on the surface, but who knows what she's saying about him behind his back.
Pei Yuan's expression turned slightly cold.
Does Chen Jiaying even have the right to criticize A Chu?
He put away his purse, got up, and walked outside.
Jinbao hurriedly asked, "Where is Your Highness going?"
"Go to the palace and slap Chen Jiaying in the face."
Having obtained the "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains Map," Chen Jiaying couldn't wait to enter the palace and present it to Emperor Longqing.
"...Jiaying knew that His Majesty had been looking for this painting for a long time and had been keeping an eye on its movements. Coincidentally, news came out in the last two days."
Jia Ying immediately bought it and presented it to His Majesty, wishing the Great Wei Dynasty eternal stability and His Majesty a long and prosperous reign.
The Longqing Emperor was very pleased with what he heard and stroked his beard, laughing heartily.
"I knew you were a good child, loyal and filial, thoughtful and considerate. Choosing you as the Princess Consort was indeed the right decision."
"Don't worry, I've already instructed the Ministry of Rites to choose a wedding date for you and the Sixth Prince. If the Sixth Prince ever mistreats you, I will personally stand up for you."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiaying's face flushed with excitement.
The 15,000 taels of silver were definitely worth it.
"Your Majesty, please take a look at the painting first."
When Pei Yuan entered, Chen Jiaying was just unfolding the painting in front of Emperor Longqing.
Emperor Longqing beckoned him over, "Sixth Prince, come and see! Jiaying has bought the 'Ten Thousand Miles of the Empire' map for me!"
"Let me tell you something, about your wife..."
Pei Yuan strode over, his gaze sweeping over the painting before his expression darkened slightly.
“Father, this painting is a fake.”
"A fake?" Emperor Longqing frowned immediately.
Chen Jiaying's smile froze, and she exclaimed, "Impossible! The person selling the painting said that the prince personally authenticated it."
Pei Yuan nodded solemnly, "Yes, it's a fake that I personally authenticated."
"Father, look, the trees and rocks in this corner are painted incorrectly; it's not the style of Song Duan from the previous dynasty at all. And here..."
Pei Yuan casually pointed out a few flaws.
The more the Longqing Emperor listened, the darker his expression became, and his gaze toward Chen Jiaying instantly turned from satisfaction to icy coldness.
"Chen Jiaying, how dare you try to fool me with a fake painting."
Chen Jiaying turned pale with fright and knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"This humble woman...this humble woman..."
Pei Yuan sighed, "Father, please calm down. Miss Chen would never dare to deceive you."
He paused, then looked at Chen Jiaying with a puzzled expression.
"You're the most talented woman in the capital, how could you buy a fake? Are you short of money? Or did you not realize it was a fake?"
Chen Jiaying's face turned even paler, and she nearly tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds.
How was she supposed to answer that?
Saying she had no money? But she spent 15,000 taels and even bought a fake painting.
To say she didn't realize it was a fake? That would ruin her reputation as a talented woman.
Chen Jiaying felt increasingly nauseous, and her facial features almost distorted with anger.
But Pei Yuan, with an indignant expression, asked, "Where did you buy it? I'm going to find the seller and settle the score."
Chen Jiaying opened her mouth, the words "Qingfeng Tower" were on the tip of her tongue, but suddenly she shivered and swallowed them back.
What kind of place is Qingfeng Tower?
That was a brothel.
She was the most talented woman in the capital, how could she frequent places like brothels?
Chen Jiaying vomited so badly that she broke her fingernail, and could only keep kowtowing to Emperor Longqing to beg for forgiveness.
Pei Yuan watched coldly, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
What an idiot! He dares to lay a finger on what Ah Chu left him.
If it weren't for Ah Chu's sake, he wouldn't even bother with such a roundabout way of humiliating her.
Back to Shen Chu, she and Han Feng arrived in Yangzhou ten days later.
After resting briefly at a roadside teahouse, Shen Chu boarded the carriage and prepared to enter Yangzhou City.
Just as I got into the carriage, the door opened and another man slipped in.
Shen Chu was startled.
The man who entered took off his straw hat, revealing a face exactly like hers, and grinned at her.
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