Chapter 307

With the first batch of summer grain entering the warehouse, grain prices fell slightly, but did not drop to the level of the same period last year. For ordinary people, the price was still high.

Especially with the military chaos in the capital this year and the subsequent decrease in wages, every rise and fall in grain prices tugged at the nerves of countless people.

Business at the street bun shop was much worse, and business at the noodle shop was clearly depressed. Business at the braised meat stall that Chen Guanlou loved to eat at was also a bit listless.

Whether life was good or bad, market commerce reacted accurately and quickly.

He was in the Heavenly Prison, his income was basically unaffected, and even increased quite a bit. As more and more officials were imprisoned, his purse was visibly bulging.

He bought a few meat buns, carried a jin of braised meat, and a pot of wine home. He cut half a jin and sent it to Sister Chunxiang, but Sister Chunxiang refused to accept it no matter what, so Chen Guanlou suggested that she make some noodle soup for a few days. He liked the noodle soup made by Sister Chunxiang; other places couldn't make that taste, always feeling it was lacking something.

Sister Chunxiang considered the children at home, who hadn't eaten meat for a long time, so she nodded and agreed.

Chen Guanlou left Sister Chunxiang's house leisurely, and then saw a simple carriage parked at his own door, clearly waiting for him.

He walked up and knocked on the carriage.

Immediately after, the carriage door opened from the inside, revealing Liu Shi's stunning face, still gentle and affectionate.

Liu Shi was initially a maid in the Donggong, later the widow of Li Dahong, and now a concubine of His Highness the Loyal Prince.

Chen Guanlou invited the person into his house, scanned the beautiful maid beside Liu Shi, and placed a cup of tea at the other's side. "How did you come out? At this time, can you walk around randomly?"

When Liu Shi traveled, she only brought one maid and one coachman. The coachman was guarding the carriage outside the door at this moment, and she only had one maid to take care of her.

Liu Shi was now a concubine with status beside the Loyal Prince, and since having a child, her situation had improved a lot. Logically speaking, as a female relative in the inner courtyard of the Loyal Prince's mansion, given the current situation, she shouldn't have the opportunity to go out alone.

Liu Shi's expression was slightly miserable. "Ever since His Highness was deposed, everyone has been mourning all day long. Later, we moved to the Loyal Prince's mansion, and the Princess Consort fell ill and didn't manage things much. The backyard isn't managed strictly, so I made an excuse to go out to burn incense and pray for blessings, and His Highness nodded, so I came out. After coming out, I wasn't in a hurry to go back. Thinking I hadn't seen you for a long time, and taking advantage of the early hour, I came over to try my luck. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence, just happening to meet."

"Drink some tea!" Chen Guanlou tapped the table. "These days, is everything okay in the Loyal Prince's mansion?"

"Not very good." Liu Shi held the teacup, tears already beginning to swirl in her eyes. "His Highness is depressed, has lost a lot of weight, and his temper has become irritable. However, in front of his subordinates, His Highness's temper is still very good. Everyone's mood is very low, and they are also very fearful in their hearts, afraid that one day the Brocade Uniform Guard will suddenly come to the door, and everyone will lose their lives."

"You are too worried. Currently, there is no sign that His Majesty wants to take the life of His Highness the Loyal Prince."

"However, everyone says that since ancient times, no deposed Crown Prince has ever had a good end. Sooner or later, we will all die, and even the children won't be saved. Cutting weeds requires removing the roots; even if His Majesty doesn't liquidate us, the new Emperor will liquidate us after inheriting the throne."

Liu Shi had a terrified look, her whole body trembling. The maid beside her was just as fearful as she was.

"It won't happen." Chen Guanlou's comfort was pale and powerless, because he couldn't find any strong evidence to convince Liu Shi. Since ancient times, deposed Crown Princes have not had a good end; this was already a hard truth, basically with no exceptions.

"You don't need to comfort me; death, actually, I'm not afraid. But the child is still so young, how can I watch the child be... Can you help me?"

"How can I help you? Everyone in the Loyal Prince's mansion, including the maids, is registered, and missing one person is a huge matter, let alone the young master of the mansion."

"Then what should I do? Can I only wait for death with the child?" Liu Shi sobbed silently, the maid shedding tears with her. "My family is all gone, I have been serving in the Donggong since I was young, and I lived in seclusion during the two years I was married to Li Dahong, and I don't know anyone. Except for you, I really can't find anyone else to help."

Liu Shi spoke of her situation, helpless and weak.

Chen Guanlou sighed secretly. "The situation may not be as bad as you think."

Liu Shi said weakly: "However, since ancient times, there have been no exceptions for deposed Crown Princes; it's impossible to live, and death is only a matter of time."

"We won't discuss the situation of His Highness the Loyal Prince, but the children, they won't be that ruthless."

"I really hope that as you say, they aren't that ruthless, and should at least leave a trace of bloodline for His Highness. However, I'm afraid of the 'what if'?" Liu Shi's teary eyes stared at Chen Guanlou. Those eyes seemed to be able to speak, desperately begging, and a weak face made people feel pity.

Chen Guanlou, however, hardened his heart and said: "I am just a prison guard."

"I know, all this is too difficult for you. I just really couldn't find a second person, and could only shamelessly beg in front of you. It's my fault, I shouldn't have made things difficult for you with a life-threatening matter."

Liu Shi wiped her tears quickly, trying hard to pull herself together, her expression both sorrowful and pretending to be strong.

Chen Guanlou almost couldn't restrain himself from pulling the other into his arms. Fortunately, he still remembered that Liu Shi was the Loyal Prince's woman. The Loyal Prince was currently the focus of the capital.

Liu Shi going out, perhaps she had already been watched.

"His Highness has taken a fancy to Bilu." Liu Shi pulled the beautiful maid beside her to the front. "Prison Clerk Chen, I will give Bilu to you, is that okay?"

Ah?

This turn was caught off guard.

The maid Bilu knelt down suddenly. "Master, don't drive me away, I'm not going anywhere, the slave only wants to serve by your side."

"However, His Highness has taken a fancy to you, how can I bear it." Liu Shi cried.

"Slave, slave..." Bilu was panicked and incoherent.

"I refuse." As the person involved, Chen Guanlou did not remain silent, but directly expressed his attitude. "Bilu is clearly willing to serve His Highness the Loyal Prince, why do you have to force her to follow me. What's good about me, neither fine food nor high status. Just a stinking prison guard, others despise me to death."

Bilu clearly wanted to climb a high branch; even if the Loyal Prince was a defeated phoenix, in Bilu's eyes, he was still a lush high branch.

Chen Guanlou didn't have the hobby of being a successor.

"Really?" Liu Shi looked at Bilu with a painful expression. "Are you really willing to serve His Highness?"

Bilu remained silent. However, silence was affirmation.

Liu Shi was a bit annoyed, a bit angry, angry that she hadn't seen through the thoughts of her personal maid.

"You are so stupid!" She continued to say to Bilu, "The Loyal Prince's mansion is already a broken ship about to sink, and at any moment a big wave will hit, and everyone on the ship will die. I arranged for you to leave the mansion, thinking that you served me once, and I tried my best to save your life. But I didn't expect you to be ungrateful."

"Master, the slave is not ungrateful. The slave knows you are good to me, but if you are all gone, can I live alone?"