Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Set a Trap for Him!

“Heir Apparent had better be quick, since someone from the Imperial Palace will come early tomorrow morning.” Sheng Zhi Wan smiled sweetly and walked past them.

Since they dared to use her things behind her back and trade them for silver, they should have been prepared to bleed for it.

So what if Qi Shu Xian knew she did it on purpose? Sheng Zhi Wan was only taking back what belonged to her. What was wrong with that?

On the contrary, Qi Shu Xian and Duke Qi Residence had already suffered damage to their reputation because of the string of recent incidents. If news spread that they auctioned off a princess’s private belongings for money, their name could only rot further.

Qi Shu Xian had already noticed some colleagues starting to distance themselves.

So Qi Shu Xian could not allow this to happen.

Qi Shu Xian watched Sheng Zhi Wan’s back. The joy from Meng Yang receiving the Third Prince’s favor vanished by half. Qi Shu Xian hurriedly sent Meng Yang back, then immediately left the residence to ask around about the bottle of Golden Wound Skin-Healing A Ling Dew from before.

If Qi Shu Xian could buy it back at the original price, that would be best. If not, Qi Shu Xian could only add more silver.

But things never went as people wished.

The steward at the Hall of Rare Treasures said the medicine had already been bought, and they could not reveal the buyer’s identity.

Qi Shu Xian was frantic, close to losing his mind. Fortunately, after the steward asked around, the steward said another bottle of Golden Wound Skin-Healing A Ling Dew would be auctioned soon. If Qi Shu Xian wanted it, Qi Shu Xian could have it, but the price would definitely be higher.

Qi Shu Xian thought about how someone from the Imperial Palace would come tomorrow morning, and could only grit his teeth and ask, “How much silver?”

“Five thousand taels!” the steward replied.

The moment the price came out, Qi Shu Xian slammed the table and sprang up, seizing the steward by the collar and yanking him close. “How much?!”

“F-five thousand taels.”

“Hey, hey… Qi Shi,” the steward stammered, face white with fear. “If you think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to buy it! It’s not me setting the price. The seller said it’s five thousand taels minimum, or they won’t sell. It’s not my item, so I can’t do anything about it!”

Qi Shu Xian released him, his face so dark it looked like it could drip water. “Who is it? Arrange for me to meet them and talk!”

“I can’t!” the steward refused at once. “The Hall of Rare Treasures has rules. We can’t reveal information about buyers and sellers. If we break that rule for you, Qi Shi, then who will come to the Hall of Rare Treasures to do business in the future?”

Seeing Qi Shu Xian reach toward him again, the steward hurried to add, “Of course, if Qi Shi is unhappy, you can go to Prince Huai. If Prince Huai speaks, I will obey.”

Qi Shu Xian calmed down at once.

Prince Huai was the backing behind the Hall of Rare Treasures. Prince Huai’s first Princess Consort had died saving the Eldest Prince, and because of that, His Majesty was extremely indulgent toward Prince Huai’s residence.

Qi Shu Xian naturally could not offend them.

But Qi Shu Xian had to get that medicine.

Five thousand taels was not something Qi Shu Xian could not afford. Recently, in order to scrape together silver to repay Sheng Zhi Wan, Qi Shu Xian had already sold several estates granted by His Majesty, and had gotten a bit more than nineteen thousand taels.

But five thousand taels for one bottle of medicine was still far too expensive…

The more Qi Shu Xian thought about it, the more Qi Shu Xian regretted it. If Qi Shu Xian had known it would be like this, Qi Shu Xian never would have sold that medicine in the first place.

But regret came too late now.

Qi Shu Xian took a deep breath. “I’ll take it.”

That night, Qi Shu Xian personally delivered the medicine to Ping Lan Residence.

When Sheng Zhi Wan saw the bottle return to her after making a full circle, and thought about how Qi Shu Xian had bought it back at a high price, a wave of satisfaction rose in Sheng Zhi Wan’s chest.

Sheng Zhi Wan could not help smiling. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Heir Apparent worked hard. But I forgot to tell Heir Apparent something. The Imperial Palace just sent word that Grandmother doesn’t want this medicine anymore.”

Qi Shu Xian nearly spat blood.

Qi Shu Xian had spent three times the money he sold it for, just to buy it back. Now she said it was not needed?

If it was not needed, why didn’t Sheng Zhi Wan say so earlier?

Qi Shu Xian reached out at once to take the bottle back. Since the Imperial Palace did not want it, Qi Shu Xian could still try to return it. If Qi Shu Xian was too late, Qi Shu Xian could at least recover some silver.

But before Qi Shu Xian’s hand could touch it, Sheng Zhi Wan had already taken the porcelain bottle into her own hand. “Did Heir Apparent forget? This is my thing.”

“It’s just a bottle of medicine. Do you really have to be this petty with me?!” Qi Shu Xian bit out.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “If I remember correctly, since the day I met Heir Apparent, I could count the gifts Heir Apparent gave me on one hand.”

“The clay figurine Heir Apparent carved by hand already cracked. The flowers Heir Apparent gave were picked from the roadside. What else did Heir Apparent ever give me?”

“Oh.” Sheng Zhi Wan looked as if she just remembered. Sheng Zhi Wan stood, walked to the jewelry box, and took out a wooden hairpin. “There was also this wooden hairpin Heir Apparent made by hand.”

Sheng Zhi Wan casually held up the peachwood hairpin in front of Qi Shu Xian. “Do you think it suits me, a dignified princess, to wear a wooden hairpin like this?”

Qi Shu Xian snapped, “Sheng Zhi Wan, when did you become so materialistic? Back then, didn’t you like it?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes curved in a smile. “Heir Apparent isn’t materialistic, and Duke Qi Residence isn’t materialistic either. It’s just that Mother got used to using my favors to invite Imperial Physician Song.”

“Eldest Sister got used to making me help find a post for Eldest Sister’s husband. Second Sister got used to using my silver to buy clothes and jewelry. Second Brother also got used to borrowing my dowry to trade for gambling money…”

Sheng Zhi Wan ignored Qi Shu Xian’s ugly expression and mocked, “And Heir Apparent got used to treating my things as if they were yours. You didn’t even have to ask before taking them to auction for silver!”

“You knew?” Qi Shu Xian froze. Then shame and anger surged up. “If you knew, why did you bring the medicine up to the Empress Dowager? No – the Empress Dowager never wanted Golden Wound Skin-Healing A Ling Dew at all, right?”

Qi Shu Xian finally understood.

Sheng Zhi Wan had set a trap for him.