Chapter 197

Zhang Ziqian took the opportunity to say: "Sir Hu, name your price?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "One thousand taels of silver."

His words had just fallen when Long Yefang loudly said: "This painting, I, the Prince, will take it for one thousand gold!"

What is called a scoundrel's aura? Only a royal scion like Long Yefang can fully display such a temperament. Having said that, Long Yefang has gone this far—who would dare speak up? Who would be willing to? No matter how lifelike or good a painting is, in everyone's eyes it's not worth that much gold; even Qingyun's richest man, Wan Yuanwai, would not be willing to spend that much money lavishly. Throwing a thousand gold at once—such a thing should be left to the offspring of officials. The money of merchants is hard‑earned, sweat and blood.

Xi Yan said: "Sir Hu, don't forget: although you painted this, half the ownership rights are mine; you never asked me, how can you decide unilaterally?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Show some charity, make a contribution to the people of Qingyun; why not donate once? If this painting solves the problem of Qingyun Bridge, then after the bridge is repaired, I will name it after you."

Xi Yan spat: "I don't care for it." Said in a huff, yet there was no anger in her brows or eyes. Basically everyone present understood: these two are publicly flirting and quarreling. The Prince is a complete idiot, still shouting about one thousand gold—don't you realize you're being taken for a ride? Do you even understand making a wedding dress for someone else?

Prince Long Yefang was just too excited; now he understands, but once words are out they can't be taken back. He is a prince of Dakang, a public figure—one spit, one pit. Even if he realizes he's being taken for a ride, he must stubbornly hold on.

Xi Yan said: "Your half. Your Highness can buy that half for one thousand gold, but this half that belongs to me I will keep for myself."

Hu Xiaotian thought: Are you keeping the upper half or the lower half? In front of the Prince, it's best to avoid taboo. For now, the best is to smile and say nothing.

Everyone was staring at Prince Long Yefang—what sense does it make to buy only half a painting? Let's see how the Prince will handle this situation. Long Yefang regretted it to the point his intestines turned green; he felt Hu Xiaotian and Xi Yan were colluding to lure him into a trap. By now he's riding a tiger he can't dismount; his only option is to swell his face to look fat and stubbornly see it through. He laughed: "Then I'll bid another thousand gold!"

Xi Yan's smile blossomed like a flower as she made a slight bow and said: "I, the commoner Xi Yan, thank Your Highness on behalf of Qingyun's people for this kindness." The venue erupted in cheers; Hu Xiaotian led the praises: "Your Highness, ten thousand years! Ten thousand ten thousand years!" Shouts rose and fell, the atmosphere heated to the extreme.

Prince Long Yefang also felt somewhat balanced inside; to him money is just numbers—two thousand gold for a beauty's smile is worth it, extremely worthwhile!

This charity auction was a perfect conclusion; Hu Xiaotian insisted on seeing off every guest, most importantly Prince Long Yefang. He respectfully accompanied the Prince to his carriage and asked carefully: "Your Highness, where will you stay tonight?"

Prince Long Yefang said: "There won't be no relay station in this county, will there?"

The relay station—Qingyun used to have one, but now it's been burned down.

Hu Xiaotian only then realized the Prince still had no lodging; he thought: the inns in Qingyun County are mostly shabby. The Prince, being a royal, is delicate and cannot endure hardship; even his own manor couldn't accommodate so many people. After thinking, he set his sights on Wan Yuanwai—this miserly old man would rather lie at home than willingly host, and if the Prince didn't come, he wouldn't show his face at all. As if dealing with an old fool were that easy? He waved at Wan Yuanwai.

Wan Yuanwai hurried over; before the Prince left, nobody dared to leave.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Wan Yuanwai, I think tonight the Prince will stay at your residence. Hurry and have things prepared."

Wan Yuanwai was both startled and delighted; if it were anyone else he'd find it troublesome, but tonight the guest borrowing lodging is the Seventeenth Prince—this is a glorious opportunity for his family. Not knowing what merit he cultivated in a past life, he hurriedly said: "I'll have people get things ready right away."

Prince Long Yefang said: "No need to trouble yourself."

Wan Yuanwai repeatedly said: "No trouble, no trouble—Your Highness the Prince staying at my humble home is the honor of my entire household."

Hu Xiaotian also asked Zhang Ziqian: "Sir Zhang, will you come along?"

Zhang Ziqian laughed: "I still have an ancestral home in Qingyun; I won't bother you." He was the first to come over and bid farewell to the Prince.

Everyone dispersed one by one; the Prince kept his attention on Xi Yan, but she had already left without saying goodbye. Nowhere could he find her trace, and he felt a vague sense of loss.

The two most disappointed tonight are likely Xu Qinglian and Liu Boju; they also came up to bid the Prince farewell, but the Prince gave them no chance, turned and mounted his carriage, then waved to summon Hu Xiaotian aboard, to ride together with the Prince—this is no ordinary treatment.

Xu Qinglian and Liu Boju stood where they were, watching the Prince's retinue fade away, their faces heavy with worry. Just then Xu An came running over in a panic, approached Xu Qinglian, whispered something in his ear; hearing it, Xu Qinglian's expression changed dramatically, the moonlight like water illuminating his deathly pale face, extreme pallor.

Some households rejoice, others grieve; some lives have fallen into the abyss tonight, while others have turned a new page. Hu Xiaotian sat in the carriage; the cabin was spacious and comfortable, not luxurious nor particularly special—the true specialness lay in the person beside him: the Seventeenth Prince of Dakang, Prince Long Yefang.

Hu Xiaotian had already made up his mind to accompany the Prince the whole way today.

Prince Long Yefang's lips curled with a faint smile; this prince's overall conduct today was still relatively approachable, and throughout he didn't put on too many airs. Even so, Hu Xiaotian knew that dealing with royalty requires keeping a proper distance—serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; attending the emperor's son is like playing with tiger cubs, a slight misstep could get you scratched, or even cost your life.

Prince Long Yefang said: "Xiaotian, how did you and Miss Xi Yan meet?" The topic still revolved around women; the Prince couldn't stop thinking of Xi Yan, showing he's truly a sentimental sort.

Hu Xiaotian, feeling a bit more restrained, replied respectfully: "Your Highness, I'm not acquainted with her; we merely met once before. On the contrary, I've become somewhat familiar with her attendant, Xiang Qin."

Prince Long Yefang said: "Xiang Qin?"

"That's the plump little maid!"

Hearing Hu Xiaotian's explanation, the Prince couldn't help laughing: "Where did you two meet?"

Hu Xiaotian answered truthfully: "Xiezhou Huan Cai Ge!"

Upon hearing the three words "Huan Cai Ge", the Prince visibly startled; although he's a prince, he's not one who's stayed deep in the palace, so of course he knows what that place is. He couldn't help feeling a pang of regret: he never imagined that someone as pure and ethereal as Xi Yan, an absolute beauty, would come from such a world of dust and wind. He murmured softly: "Ah, that's how it is!" His tone clearly carried a hint of regret.

Hu Xiaotian said respectfully: "Your Highness, don't blame me—I also didn't know they would come here."

Prince Long Yefang gave a wry smile: "Your associations are really mixed." Inside he felt like a five‑flavor bottle overturned—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty all at once; that a girl of such peerless beauty should be a person of the dust‑filled world is truly a pearl cast in darkness.

Hu Xiaotian had wanted to ask about Qiqi, but seeing the Prince lose interest, evidently because he'd revealed Xi Yan's background, he secretly laughed: better to dash your hopes.

For Wan Yuanwai, having the Prince stay overnight at his manor was a tremendous honor; before the Prince's entourage arrived, he had already sent people rushing home to clean out the east wing originally belonging to his eldest son, replacing all bedding with new.

Choosing the Wan manor was truly the right place; looking over Qingyun County, no residence could surpass the Wan family's in living conditions.

Under escort, the Prince entered the Wan manor; the carriage went straight to the east wing. Since Wan Tingchang left home, the Wan family's eldest daughter‑in‑law Li Xiangzhi also moved out of the east wing shortly after, leaving it vacant—this made it the ideal place to receive the Prince.

The Prince, weary from the day, was obviously fatigued; upon arrival he first bathed, then the guards who accompanied him inspected the east wing's condition and began standing watch—ordinary folk are not allowed in. For safety, Wan Yuanwai also arranged household guards to set up an outer patrol.

Hu Xiaotian saw that the night was already deep, and he did not leave, instead staying at the Qingzhu Garden where he had once lived. As he passed the courtyard where Le Yao resided, he couldn't help but glance at the gate again, only to see that the gate's lock was tightly shut, the person long gone, the building empty. Before his eyes appeared Le Yao's face, beautiful enough to intoxicate anyone. Since rescuing her from the tiger's den, Murong Feiyan had arranged for her to stay in Fork River Town, and they had not seen each other since—first because he had been busy with official duties lately, and second because he feared being discovered. Recalling the results of Murong Feiyan's earlier evidence gathering, Hu Xiaotian's mood grew heavy again. He lifted his head to gaze at the night sky; a full moon hung high, but a thin veil of mist obscured it, making the moonlight hazy and its glow dim. He wondered whether Le Yao, at this very moment, also saw the same hazy moonlight, and whether her heart also held his image.

Wan Changchun led the way ahead with a lantern, and respectfully said, "Sir Hu, the mansion has been much more peaceful lately."

Hu Xiaotian let out a soft oh, realizing that the Qingzhu Garden was already in sight; he took the lantern from Wan Changchun's hand and smiled, saying, "Manager Wan, I can go in myself; you may return."

Having closed the gate, Hu Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief as if unburdened; he did not rush into the rooms, but instead hung the lantern under the eaves, stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, and continued to gaze blankly at the moonlight in the sky.