185, Start Planning (5 Updates)
Han Jiaqi was astonished.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Then how much do you want?”
Yuanbao leaned closer to Han Jiaqi and whispered, “Ten thousand taels!”
“…”
Han Jiaqi took a sharp intake of breath.
She could come up with ten thousand taels, but the problem was, if Yuanbao asked for so much just to start with, how much more would she have to give for his services in the future?
“You, you’re joking, right!” Han Jiaqi was displeased.
“I never joke. If Miss Qi can’t afford the silver, then don’t bother coming to me with a trifling three taels of dates!”
He tossed the pouch back into the arms of the maid from earlier, “Next time, take better care of your pouch, and don’t just hand it over to anyone, what rubbish!”
Yuanbao snorted coldly and turned to leave.
He really did not think much of Han Jiaqi, who fancied herself a high-born lady of significant means; it’s no wonder the master finds her annoying and is reluctant to deal with her.
It’s a pity that the person the master wants to deal with doesn’t understand his thoughts at all, busy with their own affairs of making money all day long.
Truly out of the ordinary.
With these thoughts in mind, Yuanbao hurried to caution the apprentices to be extra careful, as the master was not in a good mood today and they should avoid punishment.
Han Jiaqi stood in place, so angry she could vomit blood.
She stormed back to her room and then vented fiercely, “Detestable, despicable!”
A mere servant dared to speak to her like this? Wait until she became the princess consort of Prince Han, he would be the first she’d deal with.
“Young miss!” Mrs. Mu said softly, letting the servants leave before speaking quietly, “Don’t be angry, caution as the walls have ears!”
Han Jiaqi understood that, and even though she was so angry she could spit blood, she gradually calmed down, “Nanny, go inquire about that lady’s background for me. See if she really serves in the prince’s chamber.”
“Yes!”
Mrs. Mu immediately went to carry out the task.
It was not useful to ask Yuanbao certain things, but there were so many servants in the posthouse, it would be easy to learn something if one was determined and offered enough silver.
Soon, Mrs. Mu returned, her face bearing joy, “Young miss, I’ve just received news that Miss Xie has never served in the prince’s chamber, nor has she ever packed his luggage. It’s said that she went out with her maid, and no one knows when she will be back.”
“…”
Han Jiaqi was taken aback.
She muttered softly, “Never? That’s really strange, I saw the prince treating her quite differently!”
“Nanny, have someone keep an eye on her, and inform me the moment she returns. I want to strike up a friendship with her.”
Mrs. Mu hurriedly complied.
Xie Zhinuan had no idea she was being kept in mind by someone else as she and Stupid Girl arrived at the Pawnshop of Fengping County.
This pawnshop was different from the ones in the town. At first, the young servant who greeted the guests welcomed them respectfully, even though she came with a dog and a wolf. It was a surprise, but he did not ask any additional questions.
“These two look very smart!”
On hearing this, Xie Zhinuan smiled, “They are just for amusement!”
Soon, a woman around thirty years old came out to serve her.
This woman wore a broken flower cloth dress with a skirt, very cleanly dressed, adorned with earrings and bracelets. Her outfit was not luxurious, but it suited her station.
“Apologies for neglecting such an honored guest. Please have some tea!”
“Good!”
Xie Zhinuan took the teacup.
She drank the tea with poised grace before placing the cup back on the tea table.
Since the age of twenty-five, Mrs. Lian had worked as a pawnbroker at the pawnshop, and now, fifteen years later, she had developed a keen eye for detail.
Especially when it came to discerning if a client was interested in purchasing an estate or servants, she could tell at a glance.
But with today’s breathtakingly beautiful young lady, she truly could not tell.
She had an air of authority and unrivaled beauty, such that you could not find a second one like her in this county town. However, she was dressed in plain cotton clothes with no accessories, a more simple outfit than even Mrs. Lian’s. The tall girl beside her wore a pair of silver earrings and a bracelet of indiscernible material on her wrist.
Mrs. Lian hesitated before speaking, “May I ask, young lady, what are you looking to purchase?”
Chapter 186