Song Zhiyu was preoccupied with the events in Liangzhou City and couldn't sleep all night.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, there was a gentle knock on the gate of Songxi Temple.
"Who is it?" Lu Bai yawned and pushed open the door, but there was no one there, only a small wooden box placed at the door.
Lu Bai scratched his head in confusion, looked around, and then slowly squatted down to pick up the wooden box. "What is this?"
With a snap, the wooden box opened, revealing stacks of silver notes and, hidden beneath them, the most inconspicuous jade hairpin.
Lu Bai frowned. Who would leave so many silver notes at the entrance of Songxi Courtyard?
Before she could think further, Song Zhiyu's voice came from the courtyard. She quickly closed the wooden box and turned to go inside.
Once the gates of Songxi Courtyard were completely closed, Shen Yuzhou slowly pushed his wheelchair out from around the corner, a barely perceptible smile on his face.
"Young master, why don't you give these silver notes to the second young lady yourself? If she knew that you were the one who sent them, she might soften her heart." Chengde really didn't understand his young master's thinking. He clearly wanted to gain the second young lady's forgiveness, but he even had to sneak around to give her silver notes.
Shen Yuzhou smiled wryly, "If she knew it was a gift from me, she wouldn't have accepted it."
Although he didn't know why Song Zhiyu spent so much money to buy so many herbs, he wanted to make it up to her as much as possible.
And that jade hairpin was also a belated birthday gift.
Shen Yuzhou rubbed the wound on his hand and said in a calm tone, "Let's go."
Chengde hesitated, glancing at his young master and then at the gate of Songxi Courtyard. He sighed deeply and followed Shen Yuzhou.
*
On the other side, at Songxiyuan Pharmacy.
"Miss, I wonder who left this at the door." Lu Bai handed the wooden box to Song Zhiyu, still puzzled.
Song Zhiyu was silent for a moment, then immediately noticed the exquisitely carved jade hairpin in the box, and her thoughts drifted back to when she first entered the Marquis's mansion.
While treating Shen Yuzhou's leg, she inadvertently saw the jade hairpin he had placed on his desk in his study. It was carved by him and seemed to be a birthday gift for Shen Jinshu.
She liked it, so she begged Shen Yuzhou to carve one for her as well.
How did Shen Yuzhou respond at that time?
It seems like they neither agreed nor refused.
She waited for a long time, even after her birthday, but she still didn't receive the jade hairpin.
I thought he didn't care at all, but I never expected him to show up in front of me today.
However, she didn't care about the belated birthday gift.
Song Zhiyu sneered and slammed the box shut. "I know who sent it. Give it back. I don't need it."
Lu Bai instantly understood the signal, and felt as if the thing in her hand was a hot potato.
If I'm not mistaken, it must be the work of the young masters of the manor.
She really wanted to slap herself. She should have known better than to bring it over to show the young lady, so as to avoid this mess.
Lu Bai nodded repeatedly and ran out without stopping. "Yes, this servant will take the things back to Songzhu Courtyard right away."
Watching Lu Bai's hurried departure, Song Zhiyu chuckled. She was just an unimportant person; there was no need for her to get angry.
*
Leaving the Prince's Palace.
"Your Highness, news has come from Liangzhou that the spies planted by the Northern Kingdom have been captured. Pei Qingyan is perfectly fine; this was all just a ploy to lure them out."
Fortunately, His Highness had taken precautions and severed ties with the Northern Kingdom in time, thus avoiding their trap. The confidant gritted his teeth, never expecting Pei Qingyan to pull such a move; this man was indeed not easy to deal with.
If His Highness hadn't been prepared and hadn't acted rashly, they might have been in a disadvantageous situation.
Li Wang stroked the jade thumb ring on his hand, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes, completely giving up on the idea of winning over Pei Qingyan. "Heh, what a Pei Qingyan. It seems he has already suspected me for a long time."
"If that's the case, then those who cannot be used by me should be destroyed. Send a message to the Northern royal family so they can take action."
"Understood."
Seeing his trusted aide leave, the advisor, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up, "Your Highness, the funds in the manor are running low."
The Prince Li's mansion maintains a large private army, and the money is spent like water. It also has to supply the Wenren family, who manufacture weapons. No matter how much money there is, it won't last long.
Li Wang knew perfectly well what was going on, and couldn't help but think of Qingfeng Village. The reason he had initially cooperated with Qingfeng Village was for money.
Now that Qingfeng Village has been wiped out, no one is providing him with a steady stream of money anymore.
Although they recovered some losses with the ore from Mount Li, it was clearly not enough.
After thinking for a moment, Prince Li couldn't help but turn his gaze to the Chengen Marquis's residence.
If you want the Marquis of Chengen's mansion to pay, you need to offer some benefits.
He walked slowly to the desk, picked up his pen, and began to write a letter.
His staff were completely baffled by his actions.
After a moment, Prince Li summoned a servant and gently instructed him, "Be sure to deliver this letter to the Imperial Concubine's palace."
"Your Highness, what are you doing..." The advisors couldn't fathom Prince Li's thoughts. The Marquis of Chengen's mansion was now just an empty shell; why bother getting involved?
There are so many daughters of noble families in the capital, whose looks are no less than those of Shen Jinshu, who has a terrible reputation. I don't know why His Highness insists on marrying her.
"The Marquis of Chengen's residence is still of great use to me." Prince Li looked towards the window with an ambiguous expression, not making his meaning clear, but his advisors, seeing his expression, wisely did not ask any further questions.
The master's words are not to be questioned.
*
Liangzhou City.
A short, weasel-faced man furtively tossed a black bundle beside the city wall, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Let's see if you're still so lucky."
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