Chapter 184: Number One Trouble-maker
The people from the Office of Guest Affairs came together with the Peace and Stability Bureau, and all matters concerning foreign envoys in Everlasting Peace are handled by them.
Upon seeing the "Number One Trouble-maker of the Office of Guest Affairs", Prince You, the officials of the Office of Guest Affairs all felt their heads swell.
If they were to collectively vote for the person they wish would leave the Office of Guest Affairs immediately, Prince You would undoubtedly be the choice.
This person not only complains about the supplied meals every day, but also needs to change daily utensils every few days. Prince You's destructive power is unstoppable; the Office of Guest Affairs says this prince is like a lump of explosive charcoal that ignites without fire.
Now they just want to say, look, the rumors are true—you see how he beat the Wusun prince, leaving him bruised and swollen; how can they explain his participation in the ceremony the day after?
The Peace and Stability Bureau's heads are even bigger, because Prince You, the Governor of the Capital Region, specially convened a meeting to scold them; the suspended staff haven't returned yet, and no one knows if they ever will.
The two groups stared at each other, then decided to leave this matter to Prince You, letting him have the final say, okay?
They greeted the Prince and asked how this matter should be handled.
The Prince was still displeased: "What do you mean, how to handle it? With so many witnesses here, everyone knows that this table of people provoked me first, then the fight started. I have already punished the person myself; there's no need for you to act. Now, take the people away and continue to educate them verbally, so they behave—best to keep their tails tucked in Great Jin! Get out!"
The two departments united unprecedentedly, rushing in to help carry out a dozen or so Wusun people. At the door they also encountered a group of Kucha people; the Office of Guest Affairs officials stepped forward and solemnly warned them, saying that Prince You and the Wusun envoy team have clashed, and he is still furious, so please mind your manners and do not provoke him again.
By noon, the story had spread all over Everlasting Peace's main street: Prince You single-handedly beat a dozen or so Wusun people, leaving the Wusun prince with a bloody head—truly overbearing.
Zhao Ba had just returned to the Office of Guest Affairs when, before he could fabricate a suitable excuse to ask the Prince for leave, a palace eunuch bearing an imperial edict arrived.
The palace delivered Emperor Ningde's edict, ordering Prince You to stay home and reflect, and not to attend court tomorrow!
Zhao Ba was dazed, unsure whether he should be happy—does this mean he doesn't need to ask for leave?
But in just a moment, what new trouble has the Prince stirred up? His talent for causing trouble is growing by leaps and bounds.
He quickly sent people to inquire, and also called the Prince back to reflect.
The trouble‑loving Prince leisurely finished his brunch, left the Moon‑Obtaining Tower, and idly wandered the street; Wei Shen found it amusing and asked, "Your Highness, do you feel relieved now?"
The Prince extended a little finger, making a tiny gesture.
Oh, not completely relieved yet.
Wei Shen: "... Then what should we do?"
The Prince pointed to the shop ahead; Wei Shen looked up and saw a group of Xianbei people walk in, "Isn't it bad to cause two troubles in one day?"
The Prince shoved him aside, "You don't know what it means to have many debts and not worry?!"
He led the way to the shop called
As soon as the Prince entered, he saw that group of Xianbei people, five or six of them, shouting for the finest jewelry, looking to see if anything caught their eye.
The Prince stood behind, silent, but his tone was quite bold!
With such a tone, he looked like a lamb to the slaughter; the shopkeeper brought out several of the store's prized items.
"Honored guest, please look—this is our store's new design, a gold‑inlaid ruby hairpin shaped like a vermilion bird, the sole such exquisite piece in the world, fit to present to the ladies of the palace."
Indeed, not bad!
The Prince felt it was his turn to step forward: "Make way! Make way! This hairpin is nice, shopkeeper—hand it to this young master for me to see; what are you showing these foreign barbarians? They can't afford it—just a bunch of poor savages!"
As soon as he said that, it successfully drew the attention of all the Xianbei people.
Quite a coincidence—the shopkeeper, together with the Jin family's second manager, had been to Dark Prefecture; seeing the jade pendant on him, they recognized the Prince, who had slimmed down a bit, and were instantly shocked.
This isn't the eye of the storm on today's Everlasting Peace main street, is it? How unlucky to have disaster strike him here!
"... Third Young Master? Welcome to Gold and Jade Fill the Hall of the Jin family—what would you like to see? Let me introduce you." The shopkeeper hurried to greet him, his words full of hint, hoping the Prince would recall his fondness for the Prince of Guangling and not cause trouble here, since the manager of the Moon‑Obtaining Tower hasn't come out yet.
The Prince feigned ignorance: "This young master just wants to see that vermilion‑bird hairpin."
Those few Xianbei people saw him as merely a child and dared to call them barbarians; they immediately became unhappy.
The leader deliberately ignored the Prince and asked the shopkeeper: "This one, how much?"
The shopkeeper, with a headache, said: "Two hundred sixty taels—it's pure gold, and the ruby in the vermilion bird's beak is also large..."
The Prince interrupted: "You should be talking to this young master—poor savages can't afford it; I'll offer three hundred taels!"
The leader, not much older, was made angry enough to retort by the Prince, but an elder behind him kept signaling him not to cause trouble.
The shopkeeper immediately said the hairpin would be sold to the Prince, then produced a yellow‑crystal bead wrapped in gold wire bracelet for the Xianbei to see—clearly the craftsman had altered a single loop from the Prince's own item, and it looked crystal‑clear, sparkling with gold light.
"Guests from afar, look at this gold‑thread crystal bracelet—it exists only in Great Jin; this bead is yellow crystal, very precious! Its meaning is also good..."
The Xianbei person interrupted: "How much?"
The shopkeeper: "This one is more expensive, mainly because the yellow‑crystal gem is costly—altogether three hundred twenty taels!"
The Prince chimed in again: "How could poor savages afford it? I, this young master, will buy it too!"
The leader, the poor savage, said: "I say, I bought it—I saw it first!"
The Prince: "I bid three hundred fifty! Poor savage!"
The poor savage: "I bid four hundred!"
The Prince, extremely arrogant: "I bid six hundred taels! Can northern savages compare wealth with me?!"
The poor savage: "Eight hundred taels!"
The Prince: "Fine! Sell it to him—I admit he has money."
The poor savage: ……
Wei Shen: ……
The shopkeeper was even more helpless than they, already dazed……
The Prince also scolded the shopkeeper: "What are you looking at? Can't you do business? Wrap it up for this customer!"
The leader of the Xianbei, who looked only eighteen or nineteen, in the prime of his vigor, broke free from the middle‑aged man pulling him, stepped up to the Prince and pointed at him: "You little brat, are you messing with me?"
The Prince stood with hands on hips, bared his teeth fiercely: "Who's messing with you? We were just bidding—do you admit you're stupid?"
The young Xianbei threw a punch at the Prince, but Lingyin from behind reached out and seized him; he struggled a bit but couldn't move, his face changed, realizing he had met a master.
Seeing his expression, the middle‑aged man behind him came over and bowed to Lingyin: "Please forgive us! Can you release Buheng? We came from afar and certainly do not wish to cause trouble."
End of Chapter
