Chapter 16: Consultation Fees

After Tang Chaochao left, Anan emerged from Prince Lin’s chamber.

Seeing Ashi still crouched in the corner, he felt a mix of amusement and disbelief.

This time, the fellow had acted foolishly, yet accomplished something good.

Their prince had just mentioned that the Second Miss Tang was very likely a disciple of the Phoenix Divine Healer.

That meant the prince’s chances of recovery were greatly improved.

Ashi, worried about the matter of the thousand taels of gold, dared not approach the prince’s room, fearing the prince might get angry and send him back to the capital immediately.

When Anan appeared, Ashi couldn’t help but glance over.

The look of determined resignation on Anan’s face made him feel a bit twitchy.

After all, they had served the prince side by side for many years.

Ashi immediately noticed the expression on Anan’s face and realized the prince did not seem angry.

He hurried over and asked, “How is the prince?”

Recalling the strange glance Tang Chaochao had given him before leaving, Ashi’s heart fluttered uneasily.

Anan glanced at Ashi’s dark circles and replied with a touch of irritation, “The prince said to deduct the thousand taels of gold from your salary. When it’s fully deducted, then it’s over.”

Earlier, with Tang Chaochao present, Anan hadn’t paid attention to Ashi’s dark eyes.

Now seeing them, he couldn’t help but smirk.

“Second Miss Tang hit quite evenly.”

Ashi paid no mind to the mockery. Upon hearing he had to make up that thousand taels of gold, his whole demeanor soured.

He lamented, “How many silver notes did you give that lady?”

Anan answered calmly, “Nine thousand taels.”

Hearing this number, Ashi felt utterly defeated.

But he suddenly asked in confusion, “Isn’t the exchange rate one tael of gold to ten taels of silver? Shouldn’t it be ten thousand taels?”

Anan rolled his eyes and without a word raised his fist, knocking Ashi on the head.

Ashi yelped in pain, “Why did you hit me?”

Anan ground his teeth and said, “We only brought this amount of silver notes on this trip. If you gave them all to Second Miss Tang, how do you expect the master to eat?”

Ashi wanted to say that the lady probably wasn’t that calculating and if she knew Anan had given less silver, she would surely give him trouble later.

But thinking that his own savings were gone, he held back from warning Anan.

Perhaps it was time for this fellow to suffer a bit under her hands.

Ashi fled with teary eyes.

What Ashi did not realize was that the value of gold in the capital could not be compared with that in the remote Huai City.

The capital was home to the emperor; land there was worth its weight in gold.

Huai City, being a border town, had much lower prices.

Therefore, Anan had actually given Tang Chaochao more than enough silver notes.

After returning to the General’s residence, Tang Chaochao enjoyed a period of relative peace.

To investigate her elder sister’s matter further depended on whether Xu Huairen would exert more effort for his son.

Speaking of Lord Xu Huairen, ever since leaving Huai City, he had ridden hard all the way to the capital, fearing that any delay might cost his only son dearly.

That Tang Chaochao had even dared to strike him was unthinkable.

In the imperial palace of the capital, within the imperial study, Emperor Kangjian sat before his desk.

Now in middle age, his figure had grown slightly stout.

Yet years on the throne had bestowed upon him an unyielding majesty that none could overlook.

He was reviewing memorials without casting a glance at the Crown Prince kneeling at the foot of the desk.

The Crown Prince, Murong Bo, was struggling to maintain his kneeling posture and dared to call out, “Father.”

The emperor’s hand froze at the sound.

Losing interest in the documents, he set down his jade brush and looked up at Murong Bo.

The coldness in his gaze softened slightly as it fell upon his son.

“Rise and speak.”

Hearing this, Murong Bo felt a wave of relief.

“Thank you, Father.”

Emperor Kangjian watched as he stood.

“Speak. What brings you here today?”

Murong Bo, caught off guard by his father’s unexpected question, found his prepared speech useless.

Looking at his most beloved son’s hesitant demeanor, the emperor sighed deeply.

The Crown Prince’s mother was the late Empress, Kangjian’s most cherished woman.

Thus, he had invested great care in this son.

No matter how capable his other sons were, Kangjian would never allow them to surpass this heir.

Not long ago, to solidify the Crown Prince’s position, he had arranged an excellent marriage for him.

Alas…

At the thought of Tang Wu’s daughter’s death, the emperor’s anger was immense.

But the event had already occurred, and all he could do was console.

Seeing the emperor’s grim expression, Murong Bo feared he might lose the chance to speak if he delayed.

Summoning courage, he said, “Father, I heard that General Tang has found his youngest daughter.”

At these words, the emperor immediately understood his son’s intentions.

His face darkened like the bottom of a pot as he snatched up a tea cup and hurled it toward Murong Bo.

“You wretched brat!”

Startled, Murong Bo fell to his knees, pleading pitifully, “Father, I know this is wrong. General Tang just lost a daughter; acting thus is indeed improper.

But with Tang Mumu dead, everyone is mocking me.

I am so aggrieved!”

The emperor knew only too well that what was once a marriage envied by all was now a lost cause.

Of all the sons he had, not one was obedient.

They had even reached out to the families of court ministers.

Was he not furious? He was more angry than anyone.

Yet could he simply cut them down like weeds?

They were his own children; Kangjian could not bear it.

Thankfully, news from Huai City indicated that Tang Wu had not suspected anything and believed his daughter had died of illness.

But was that truly what Tang Wu thought?

Murong Bo crawled to his father’s feet, clutching his thigh, “Father, please help me. Without the marriage to the Tang family, those people look down on me even more.”

Seeing his son’s pitiful tears, the emperor’s expression softened.

However, granting the marriage outright was absolutely out of the question.

At that moment, an attendant reported, “Your Majesty, Lord Xu Huairen requests an audience.”

Wasn’t he supposed to be in Huai City? Had he returned to report?

The emperor waved dismissively, “Tell him I know and that he may return to rest.”

The attendant quickly knelt again, “Your Majesty, Lord Xu says he has urgent matters to report.”

Kangjian furrowed his brows and glanced at Murong Bo kneeling by his feet.

The prince immediately understood and stood up, tidying his somewhat disheveled clothes.

When Xu Huairen entered the study, he saw the emperor reviewing memorials and the Crown Prince waiting nearby.

Without hesitation, he knelt with a heavy thud.

His voice hoarse from the arduous journey, he cried out, “Your Majesty! Please save my son!

I have but this one son!

If he dies, my line is ended!

What meaning is there to my life then?”

Xu Huairen’s face bore bruises from Tang Chaochao’s blows, now faded to purple marks.

His wails were pitiful and disheveled.

The emperor’s brows knitted tighter.

“What exactly happened? Tell me slowly.”