65 Return Money (2/2)

A second-grade room costs 300 coppers for a night, and a month would equal to around nine taels. Manager Du only asking for one tael - she might as well be staying for free! They already have been too generous, giving her a 70% discount on her current room. She couldn't take a 90% discount on an upgrade!

”It is all set, your sister-in-law and I have already discussed it.” Manager Du laughed merrily.

Ye Jiayao replied resolutely, ”Big brother, you two have taken more than good care of me. It wouldn't feel right to take advantage of you like that. I will stay in my room, or else I'll look for another place to live in.”

Manager Du was offended as he responded, ”Little brother, saying that means you're seeing me as an outsider. Are you calling me big brother for nothing? I own an inn! Do you know what I lack the least? It's the rooms!”

”But your rooms are not here for you to leave vacant, it is for your business,” Ye Jiayao reasoned.

None of them were willing to budge. It was only when Li Erniang interfered that they both took a step back. They compromised in the end. Ye Jiayao would be moving to the second-grade room and she would be paying three taels a month.

Now that her salary would be increasing soon, Ye Jiayao felt that it was only right that her quality of life should improve as well, so she gave in.

Ultimately, this was all stirred up by that Chunyu. After shifting rooms, Ye Jiayao took the banknote and made her way to the Jing An Marquis' mansion.

After asking around, Ye Jiayao arrived at the massive doorstep of the mansion. There was a huge stone lion on both sides of the entryway, lit up by a row of hanging lanterns. The uniformed guards lined up on every step just added to the mansion's imposing manner.

Ye Jiayao was just about to climb up when the guards blocked her way.

”Open your eyes wide, little guy. This is the Jing An Marquis' mansion. It's out of bounds for unauthorized persons.”

Ye Jiayao looked down at her clothes. Yes, she admitted, she looked kind of shabby, but it was not as if she was dressed like a beggar. Her clothes were clean and there were no holes! It seemed like the watchdogs of the mansion took after their pompous master.

”Did you hear me? Scram!” the guard told her, his voice slightly raised.

Ye Jiayao took out the 100-tael banknote and slapped it against the guard's chest. ”I am here to return some money. I would have to trouble you to pass this banknote to your Heir-son Lord. Tell him that if he has nothing better to do with his time, he can visit a brothel or drown himself in wine. Tell him not to interfere with my life again. And if you dare take this for yourself, don't blame me if your Heir-son Lord asks about it.”

After finishing her piece, Ye Jiayao walked off with her hands behind her back.

The guard looked at the fellow's retreating figure. For a moment there, he was intimidated by the attitude that the scrawny guy has shown. He was dressed in such shabby clothes and looked like a poor fellow, but he was quite bold to ridicule the Heir-son Lord.

After some thought, he went out to seek for his master.

Xia Chunyu listened to his mother half-heartedly as she talked about matters that he had no interest in - matters that were giving him a headache.

”Chun-er.” Jing An Marquis' lady, Xia You, smiled gently, the crow's feet on her face doing nothing to hide the joy in her heart.

Ever since Yaoyao gave him the nickname 'Dumb Donkey', the name he once proudly carried never sounded quite the same. Every time his mother would call him 'Chun-er', all he could hear was her calling him 'Stupid'.

”Today, Mother went to the palace to meet the empress, and she gave me a piece of news. The empress dowager has intentions to marry Princess Liuli to you. This is a joyous event, Chun-er! Everyone knows that the seventh prince is the empress dowager's favorite son and the brother that the emperor relies heavily on. It was a pity that he passed away so young.

”The empress dowager raised Princess Liuli up on her own and is only waiting to title her 'princess' until she gets married. Whoever marries her will be able to inherit the seventh prince's land, becoming the king of the vassal state. All of the princes and noblemen are thinking of it and the empress dowager has preferences solely for you…”

Xia Chunyu's lack of concern was notable in his voice as he replied, ”Your son does not have the good fortune to enjoy it.”

He has heard the rumors of Princess Liuli's pampered ways. If he marries her, the whole mansion would be turned upside down to cater to her whims. He also has no doubts that she was not above using tears to get her way.

Xia You clicked her tongue in disapproval. She reproached, ”How can you say that? This is the empress dowager's idea, and the empress dowager's idea is the majesty's idea! Are you thinking of going against the Imperial edict? Other men are praying for this chance, and yet, here you are, disregarding it. Have you gone mad?”

”Madame, someone is looking for the Heir-son Lord outside,” a servant reported.

Xia Chunyu quickly jumped up. Just in time! ”I will go out to have a look. This might be an official matter.”

He fled without another word.

Xia You is worried for her son.