Chapter 27: Volume 1, Chapter 27: Had Wanted to Beat Her Up for a Long Time

Since ancient times, the saying has been: the East is noble, the West is wealthy, the South is poor, and the North is lowly. Rong Luoge wanted to find a place to settle down that would not attract attention, and after thinking it over, she decided Xi Cheng was the best choice.

Because Xi Cheng was home to many merchants, the flow of people coming and going was enormous. If she settled here, she would not draw any sideways glances.

After looking around, Rong Luoge took a fancy to a large residence at the end of Anding Alley in Xi Cheng, with five successive courtyards front to back. The place was spacious, making it convenient for her to do things at home.

Having settled on the place, she went to a broker to inquire about the price. This residence was not cheap. The former owner was a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan who, because of an emergency back in his hometown, was rushing to return and urgently sold the house for silver.

Even with the price driven down again and again due to the urgent need for silver, it would still take ten thousand taels to secure it.

Rong Luoge had the dowry of the original owner's mother, so she could produce ten thousand taels. This residence was indeed excellent—not only was it large, but the scenery built within it was also beautiful, with little bridges over flowing water, pavilions and terraces, and touches of Jiangnan charm everywhere. It suited her preferences perfectly.

But she did not have that much silver on hand. She told them she would come back the next day, and then departed into the night.

Once she left, the door of the adjacent residence next door also opened. Han Xinglan stepped out slowly, dressed entirely in black, with Hu Xi following behind. He truly had not expected that Miss Rong would buy a house right next door to His Highness.

"Master, should this subordinate go and inform them?"

Why had the original owner wanted to sell the house?

It was precisely because His Highness did not want anyone living nearby that he had been sent back to his hometown.

"No need." A rare trace of a smile appeared on Han Xinglan's indifferent face. Since it was fated in the unseen, it showed that she and he truly had an affinity.

It was convenient, making it easier for him and her to meet. Thinking of what Rong Luoge had produced last time, he felt she surely had even better things.

Toward any unknown thing or person, he was willing to keep them under his watchful eye and observe closely.

Rong Luoge returned to the old residence and happened to run into Jing Chu and He Huai coming back. Seeing that the expressions on their faces were rather odd, she asked, "Did things not go smoothly?"

That should not be the case. Anyone who could understand it would know the value of that diagram.

As the Chief Escort, Luo Xian should be especially sensitive to such things.

"Eldest Miss, let us go inside and talk," He Huai spoke up. Discussing such matters at the door, they feared there might be ears behind the walls.

Rong Luoge nodded and led the two to the study.

"Chief Escort Luo said he very much wants this item and asked how the Eldest Miss would like to collaborate," He Huai said after sitting down and organizing his thoughts. Recalling the Chief Escort's excited and disbelieving expression at the time, as well as his own and Jing Chu's reactions after seeing the diagram... who could have imagined it? The Eldest Miss actually possessed such ability.

Rong Luoge finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had said that Luo Xian would surely know the value of such a thing. She looked at the two and asked, "What did Chief Escort Luo say?"

Because she had only given half of the diagram, the half that Luo Xian received only showed the power of the Divine Fire Arrow and its uses and methods of use. As for the manufacturing process and the gunpowder formula, they were all in her own hands.

"Chief Escort Luo said he wishes to purchase this item outright, and asks the Eldest Miss to name a price," Jing Chu spoke up.

Rong Luoge was not surprised at all. A man like Luo Xian, who had traveled far and wide and seen much of the world, would naturally do business in whatever way was most advantageous to himself.

But since Rong Luoge wanted a long-term partnership with him, she would naturally grant his wish. She looked at the two and said, "To me, this is merely a small item. There will naturally be even better ones later. In consideration of Chief Escort Luo's help to me in the past, I will offer a friendly price: one hundred thousand taels."

Jing Chu stared at the Eldest Miss with wide, astonished eyes.

Rong Luoge's brows rose slightly, then she smiled and said, "It seems Chief Escort Luo has already given you a bottom price, hasn't he?"

Jing Chu nodded. "To be honest with the Eldest Miss, Chief Escort Luo did say that one hundred thousand taels is the highest price. After all, you are only selling a diagram, but he still has to hire craftsmen to build it and purchase raw materials. If it exceeds this price, Chief Escort Luo said he temporarily cannot afford it."

"How could the grand Zhenxing Escort Agency be stumped by a hundred-odd thousand taels of silver? Chief Escort Luo really loves to joke." Rong Luoge did not believe a single word, but this price was indeed acceptable to both sides.

She handed the remaining half of the diagram to He Huai. "I will leave this matter to you. By the way, I bought a residence in Xi Cheng. Tomorrow, you can go pay and inspect the house."

He Huai:...

Jing Chu:...

They simply could not keep up with the Eldest Miss's pace. The Eldest Miss's thoughts were truly unfathomable.

"Eldest Miss, are we not staying here anymore?" Jing Chu asked.

Rong Luoge nodded. "To avoid trouble, it is better to move out for now."

Once these words were spoken, the two somewhat understood. He Huai said, "Rest assured, Eldest Miss. I will get it done tomorrow."

Rong Luoge nodded. "Naturally I am at ease. That residence with five successive courtyards front to back will be more spacious for all of you to live in, unlike here where dozens of people are crammed into a few rooms."

Neither Jing Chu nor He Huai had expected the Eldest Miss to say this. The housing they had at the escort agency was not even as good as this place. They had not expected the Eldest Miss to arrange something even better for them. For a moment, they did not know what to say.

To meet such a master was their good fortune.

Rong Luoge was tired from running around all day. She told them to go attend to their own matters, then washed up, changed clothes, and had her meal. After eating, she would get a good night's sleep. Before moving, the errand for the Crown Prince's side also had to be delivered.

He Huai and Jing Chu walked to the front courtyard in silence. The two exchanged a glance, and Jing Chu smiled and spoke first: "I never thought we two brothers would have such good fortune. Brother, when I came here as a guard, I only thought about doing a good enough job to report back. But now, my thinking has changed."

He Huai patted his shoulder. "The Eldest Miss is a good person. Naturally, we must repay her kindness and protect her well. I will go to the escort agency. You tell the brothers below about the move, and we also need to start packing things up first, so we do not end up in a frantic rush when the time comes."

"You go ahead. Leave this side to me," Jing Chu said with a smile.

He Huai packed the diagram and hurried out the door. Jing Chu led the men to arrange preparations for the move, and for a time everyone was busy.

In the rear courtyard, Rong Luoge listened as Cang Yun reported on the matter of buying people. "In total, I bought three young girls—one named Yaohuang, one named Taohua, and one named Yanzi. Does the Miss want them brought over to meet her?"

Rong Luoge shook her head. "No rush. You guide them for a while first, then we will see. Pick one you are satisfied with from the three girls and train her. From now on, there will be more matters on my side, and you yourself will not be able to attend to everything."

"Yes, I will follow the Miss's instructions," Cang Yun agreed with a smile, then recounted how she had given Mingcui a beating.

Rong Luoge looked at Cang Yun in astonishment. "Well done! I truly did not expect you to have grown so bold now. Before, whenever you saw Mingcui, you were like a mouse seeing a cat."

Cang Yun smiled sheepishly. "Back then, this servant did not dare to cause trouble for the Miss, otherwise I would have wanted to beat her up long ago!"

Rong Luoge smiled and nodded. Suddenly, she thought of something and looked at Cang Yun, asking, "Does that mean Mingcui knows about your trip to the broker's office?"