Chapter 320

Shen Jing Bin has been having a very difficult time lately.

He doesn't know what kind of bad luck he ran into, but ever since he met that Jiang Li, everything has gone wrong.

First, his credit was stolen, he suffered a great deal for nothing, and not only did he gain nothing, but he was also lectured by his own uncle, Prefect Su, like a grandson.

That would be one thing; he could just look for another opportunity later.

But what is going on with this gambling ring?

It was clearly a sure-fire deal; with Duan Xiu's strength, it was impossible for him not to be able to defeat the Prefectural Top Scholar of a mere tiny, broken county. Why did it turn into this current situation?

Shen Jing Bin has racked his brains and still cannot figure it out.

However, facts are facts; no matter whether he accepts this defeat or not, not a single tael of the silver that must be paid can be missing.

That is tens of thousands of taels!

Shen Jing Bin truly cannot come up with it. With no other choice, he can only hide in the Commandery Prince's Mansion like a turtle, not daring to show his head easily.

Until he heard movement outside the door.

It is His Highness Prince Yu who has come!

His savior has arrived!!

Shen Jing Bin suddenly felt emboldened, so excited that he was bubbling over. He impatiently opened the main gate, called his mother Su Jin Xiu, and led all the servants of the mansion, rushing out the door at the fastest speed possible.

"Cousin! Your Highness! You have finally come, hahaha..."

Shen Jing Bin shouted while excitedly rushing toward the carriage, wanting to have close contact with his savior to fawn over him.

Clang, clang, clang!

Over a hundred iron cavalry guards drew their sabers in unison, their sharp gazes shooting toward him.

The leader, Long Dan, did not even say a word, directly placing his saber against Shen Jing Bin's neck. "Step back, or you will be killed without mercy."

Shen Jing Bin was almost scared to the point of wetting himself, incoherently explaining: "Don't, don't, don't... don't misunderstand, I am not a bad person, I am Shen Jing Bin, the Heir Apparent of the Ji Commandery Prince's Mansion, I am, I am Prince Yu's own cousin!"

"This little brother." Su Jin Xiu also hurriedly walked over. "We are indeed the maternal family of Consort Li; please go and announce us."

Consort Li is precisely Prince Yu's biological mother.

Long Dan looked toward the carriage.

The pearl curtain was lifted again, and Zongzheng Yun slowly walked out.

The scene instantly fell silent.

Except for those hundred iron cavalry guards, everyone stared blankly at the man who was so dazzling he almost seemed to glow.

His skin was very white, a cold, pale white, as white as the snow on Zhongnan Mountain.

It carried a hint of chill.

Although his eyes were smiling, the smile did not have much warmth; instead, it had a trace of an evil, charming air.

Added to that was the python robe he wore, which bared its claws and fangs, highlighting the owner's illustrious status, making people feel even more awe and not dare to approach.

It cannot be denied that this is an extremely handsome man.

But he is also an extremely dangerous man.

Looking at him, Su Jin Xiu was stunned for a moment. Five years had passed, and the Thirteenth Prince had changed so much, growing from a reckless, playful boy into such a deep and sharp figure.

Good, very good.

As long as Prince Yu can rise to power, as his maternal grandfather's family, the Ji Commandery Prince's Mansion will naturally rise with the tide...

Su Jin Xiu tugged at her son, and the mother and son bowed deeply together. "Long live Your Highness!"

The servants also knelt down and kowtowed one after another.

Zongzheng Yun walked down from the carriage, gave a slight gesture of support, and smiled: "We are all family, no need for such formalities."

Su Jin Xiu rose accordingly. "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Has Aunt been well lately?"

"Thanks to Your Highness's blessing, everything is well."

"That is good." Zongzheng Yun nodded, then turned to Shen Jing Bin, who was standing to the side with an anxious face. "Is Cousin well?"

Shen Jing Bin hurriedly spoke: "I, I have something..."

Cough, cough!

Su Jin Xiu interrupted her son's words. "Bin'er is also well."

Zongzheng Yun smiled. "Then this Prince is relieved."

After speaking, under the astonished gazes of the two, he turned and leisurely stepped onto the carriage.

Ziyu lowered the pearl curtain.

Long Dan waved his hand. "Continue forward!"

The procession passed by the gate of the Ji Commandery Prince's Mansion in a grand manner and left without looking back.

Leaving Su Jin Xiu and her son in a mess in the wind, unable to react for a long time.

"Mother, Prince Cousin, he, he just left like that?" Shen Jing Bin pointed at the tail of the procession and asked in disbelief.

Su Jin Xiu's expression was gloomy. "Let's go inside and talk."

The servants followed behind, trembling, shrinking into a ball like quails, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Su Jin Xiu glanced at them. "What are you all standing there for? Why aren't you going to work?"

"Yes, Princess Consort."

The servants, as if granted amnesty, slipped away one after another.

Shen Jing Bin kicked a stone on the ground and said gloomily: "Mother, what do you think Prince Yu meant? Passing by his own family's door without entering, isn't this slapping the face of our Ji Commandery Prince's Mansion?"

"What does he mean?" Su Jin Xiu sneered. "Isn't it obvious? He looks down on our Ji Commandery Prince's Mansion!"

He has indeed grown up.

Five years ago, although he was naughty and reckless, he still showed some courtesy and respect to her, his aunt. Now it is different; he has been enfeoffed as a Prince and no longer puts them, his maternal relatives, in his eyes.

When it comes down to it, it is all because their own family is incompetent and cannot provide him with any help, so they cannot blame him for ignoring them.

Su Jin Xiu almost ground her teeth to pieces.

But she soon calmed down.

So what if he looks down on them? Didn't he still obediently come down to greet her, his aunt? As long as Consort Li is still alive, Zongzheng Yun will never be able to shake off the Ji Commandery Prince's Mansion as his maternal family!

Just as she was thinking this, familiar noisy sounds came from outside again.

Shen Jing Bin looked through the crack in the door and complained: "Mother, why didn't you let me speak just now? Look at those unruly people outside, they have blocked our gate again."

"Is it useful for you to tell Prince Yu about this?"

Su Jin Xiu rolled her eyes at her son. "Paying back debts is a matter of course; even Prince Yu cannot manage it. It would only make him feel that our maternal family is a burden. Besides, he already looks down on us; if he knew you did such a stupid thing, do you think he would distance himself from us even more?"

Shen Jing Bin's face immediately fell. "Then what should we do?"

Opening a gambling ring and not paying out means facing a lawsuit and going to jail, and the family property would also be confiscated and auctioned to pay off the debts.

How could Su Jin Xiu not be aware of such consequences?

She sighed. "At this point, there is no other way; we can only find a way to raise money. Mother has saved some silver over the years, and there are more than a dozen dowry shops, plus two manors; let's sell them all."

Even so, it is still far from enough.

After thinking for a while, Su Jin Xiu gritted her teeth. "At worst, Mother will make a trip to your maternal grandmother's; your maternal grandmother cannot just watch our Commandery Prince's Mansion collapse like this, right?"

That's true; maternal grandmother has always loved Mother the most and will definitely help.

Shen Jing Bin finally felt at ease.

"But Bin'er, you must remember this lesson; in the future, you must never do things you are not sure about. Mother can help you fill such a big hole once, but not a second time, do you hear me?" Su Jin Xiu exhorted.

"I hear you, Mother."

Shen Jing Bin was still a bit unconvinced and weakly defended himself: "Son just trusted Duan Xiu too much and thought he would definitely win, who knew..."

Who knew he was just a fancy pillow, good to look at but useless.

Hearing her son's words, a flash of disdain crossed Su Jin Xiu's eyes.

She thought the Duan family would have some means to keep that Jiang Zhan from entering the examination hall, but in the end, nothing happened; they are truly useless.

If she had known, she would have taken action herself, and they wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

But it is too late to say anything now.

"Let's go, come with Mother to count the inventory in the warehouse; let's sell everything that can be sold."