Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Setting a Trap for Him!

“Heir Apparent, please hurry. After all, someone from the palace will come first thing tomorrow morning.”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled sweetly, brushing past the two of them. Since Qi Shu Xian dared to sell her belongings behind her back, he should have expected a heavy price to pay.

So what if Qi Shu Xian knew she had done it on purpose?

She was merely taking back what belonged to her; what wrong had she done?

On the contrary, it was Qi Shu Xian and Duke Qi’s household whose reputations had suffered due to recent events. If it became known that they were auctioning off the Princess’s belongings for money, their reputation would sink even lower.

Qi Shu Xian had already sensed that some colleagues were distancing themselves from him. Thus, he could never allow this news to spread.

Watching Sheng Zhi Wan’s departing figure, Qi Shu Xian felt his earlier joy—brought by Meng Yang gaining the favor of the Third Prince—fade considerably. He quickly sent Meng Yang back and rushed out again to inquire about the ointment, the Golden Skin-Rejuvenating Salve.

He hoped he could buy it back at the original price, or, at worst, spend a bit extra.

But things rarely went according to plan.

When he arrived at the Rare Treasure Pavilion, the manager informed him that the ointment had already been sold and refused to reveal the buyer’s identity. Seeing Qi Shu Xian’s panic, the manager hastily added that another bottle of the ointment would soon be up for auction—but at a higher price.

Thinking of the palace officials arriving the next day, Qi Shu Xian clenched his teeth and asked, “How many silver ingots?”

“Five thousand taels!”

Hearing the price, Qi Shu Xian slammed the table furiously, grabbing the manager’s collar and pulling him close. “How much did you say?!”

“F-five thousand taels!”

“Heir Apparent Qi!” the manager pleaded, his face pale with fear. “If you find it expensive, you don’t have to buy it! The price isn’t set by me, it’s the seller’s bottom line. There’s nothing I can do!”

Qi Shu Xian released him, his expression dark as storm clouds. “Who is the seller? Arrange a meeting!”

“Impossible!” The manager firmly refused. “Rare Treasure Pavilion has rules against revealing the identity of buyers or sellers. If we break the rule for you, who would ever trade here again?”

Seeing Qi Shu Xian reach for him again, the manager quickly said, “But of course, if you’re dissatisfied, you could always talk to Prince Huai. If he gives the order, naturally I’ll obey.”

Qi Shu Xian instantly calmed down.

Rare Treasure Pavilion’s patron was Prince Huai. The prince’s first consort had died saving the First Prince, and as a result, His Majesty was exceedingly lenient toward Prince Huai’s residence.

Qi Shu Xian knew he couldn’t afford to offend them.

Yet he needed this ointment.

Five thousand taels wasn’t an amount he couldn’t afford. To repay Sheng Zhi Wan recently, he had already sold several properties rewarded by the Emperor, netting around nineteen thousand taels. But spending five thousand taels on this ointment was agonizingly expensive.

The more he thought about it, the more Qi Shu Xian regretted his decision. If he had known earlier, he would never have sold the ointment in the first place!

But it was too late for regrets. With a sigh, he finally relented, “Fine. I’ll take the ointment!”

That night, Qi Shu Xian personally delivered the ointment to Pinglan Residence.

Seeing the ointment back in her hands, Sheng Zhi Wan felt a surge of satisfaction, knowing Qi Shu Xian had paid dearly to retrieve it. She couldn’t help but smile sweetly. “You’ve truly troubled yourself, Heir Apparent. Ah, but I forgot to tell you—the palace just sent word that Grandmother no longer needs the ointment.”

Qi Shu Xian nearly choked with fury.

He’d paid three times the price for this ointment, and now she casually said she didn’t need it?

If she didn’t need it, why not say so earlier?

Qi Shu Xian reached out to take the ointment back. Perhaps if he returned quickly enough, he might recoup some losses.

But Sheng Zhi Wan swiftly grabbed the porcelain bottle. “Have you forgotten, Heir Apparent? This belongs to me.”

“It’s just one bottle of ointment. Must you be this petty with me?!” Qi Shu Xian seethed through gritted teeth.

Sheng Zhi Wan softly replied, “If I recall correctly, since we met, the gifts you’ve given me can be counted on one hand. A clay figurine you personally carved, now cracked. Flowers you picked casually by the roadside… Was there anything else?”

“Oh,” she said, suddenly recalling, as she stood and walked to her jewelry box. “There’s also a wooden hairpin you carved yourself.”

She held up a plain peachwood hairpin, presenting it to Qi Shu Xian. “Do you think it’s fitting for me, a Princess, to wear a wooden hairpin?”

Anger flashed in Qi Shu Xian’s eyes. “Sheng Zhi Wan, when did you become so materialistic? Weren’t you happy with it before?”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled beautifully, her eyes curving softly. “Indeed, the Heir Apparent isn’t materialistic, nor is Duke Qi’s household. But Mother-in-law is accustomed to trading my favors to summon Imperial Physician Song. Eldest Sister-in-law habitually asks me for favors to secure posts for her husband. Second Sister uses my silver to buy clothes and jewelry. Second Brother regularly borrows from my dowry to gamble. And you, Heir Apparent…”

Ignoring Qi Shu Xian’s increasingly dark expression, Sheng Zhi Wan mockingly continued, “You’re used to treating my belongings as your own, even auctioning them off for money without asking.”

“You knew?” Qi Shu Xian’s mind reeled, anger and embarrassment mixing painfully. “You knew, yet still spoke to the Empress Dowager about needing the ointment? Wait—Empress Dowager never actually asked for the ointment, did she?”

At last, realization struck him fully.

Sheng Zhi Wan had set him up!