Chapter 34: At Least It Isn’t Embarrassing (Revised Edition)

Sun Wei felt a chill in his heart, yet his expression remained calm and composed.

“I dare not, Your Highness. I only hope that you can cure the Princess Dowager’s illness soon, so that a burden on my mind may be lifted.”

Zhao Shenxing rose, the corner of his robe tracing an arc through the air. “Lord Sun’s kindness is well understood by me.”

With that, he had his servants package the silver and strode out of the Sun residence, leaving Sun Wei standing there, lost in thought, his emotions tangled and complex.

He knew the prince was displeased, but he truly could not produce more; the silver he had just given was the sum he had saved over many years.

Thinking of the prince’s lavish spending at Yichun Pavilion and Tianxiang Tower, he sighed deeply, uncertain where exactly that money would end up.

He understood that, although the silver had been accumulated over many years, it was but a drop in the ocean to the prince.

The meals at the manor had returned to their former lavishness, and the servants’ complexions had improved considerably.

Yet Sun Wei’s 300 taels of silver would not last long at all.

That evening, the rosy-faced Xiao Yunjie sought out Zhao Shenxing again. She explained that the silver recently procured after a few days of shortage had been entirely spent—most was used for meals, with some for medicine. They had run out.

No one knew when the next stipend would arrive; as the saying went, a clever housewife struggles without rice. She had decided to return the burden of managing the household to Ning Junruo.

“Used up so quickly? Over three hundred taels spent in less than a day?” Zhao Shenxing found it hard to believe.

Xiao Yunjie shook her head gently, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. “Your Highness is unaware. The manor has hundreds of mouths to feed daily, and the expenses are not small. Moreover, the weather has grown warmer, and some ladies need to buy summer clothes. The kitchen fires never go out, and the medicines for the Princess Dowager and Madam Chang cannot be interrupted. That sum is truly but a drop in the ocean.”

Cherry, overhearing their conversation, could not resist interjecting. “Yes, Your Highness, you mustn’t underestimate the daily expenses of our manor—it’s a bottomless pit! Just yesterday, I heard the kitchen mistresses talking—this amount isn’t even enough to buy a few pounds of meat.”

Hearing this, Zhao Shenxing furrowed his brow and turned to Xiao Yunjie, his tone probing. “I remember when you first came to the manor, you brought a considerable dowry. Given the current situation, as you well know, can you not, like the princess, contribute some for emergency use?”

Xiao Yunjie’s expression changed slightly, but she quickly composed herself and smiled awkwardly.

“Your Highness is mistaken. My dowry was all spent shortly after entering the manor. Now, only some jewelry remains—it is a memento left by my parents. I cannot simply sell it.”

Zhao Shenxing was momentarily taken aback, evidently unprepared for this answer, and the atmosphere grew slightly awkward.

At this moment, Cherry, quick-witted, spoke up to ease the tension. “Your Highness, actually, the manor’s storeroom still holds some old items. Perhaps we could sell a few to tide us over?”

“Old items?” Zhao Shenxing repeated the words, his eyes flickering as if struck by an idea. “Indeed, the storeroom has not been cleared for years. Maybe there are things we can make use of. Yunjie, this matter is yours to handle—select items that won’t damage the manor’s reputation and dispose of them to meet urgent needs.”

Xiao Yunjie nodded, a resolute gleam in her eyes. “I understand, I will do my best. But we must solve this fundamentally; relying on expedients can’t be our long-term strategy.”

Zhao Shenxing sighed softly. “You’re right. I will think of other ways.”

With that, Xiao Yunjie gathered a few trusted servants and headed to the storeroom.

News spread swiftly, stirring gossip throughout the manor and even among street vendors and passersby outside.

“Did you hear? The prince’s household is selling off its possessions!”

In a teahouse, a shabby old man whispered to his companion.

“Isn’t the Prince of Liang known for throwing money around in brothels? How come he’s suddenly selling off his estate?”

A nearby young scholar shook his head, disbelief etched on his face.

“Clearly, the Prince of Liang is incompetent!”

The old man sipped his tea leisurely. “They say it’s to cover the Princess Dowager’s illness and the household’s expenses—hundreds of mouths to feed.”

“What illness does the Princess Dowager have? How is the prince so incapable that he must sell off his estate to pay for treatment?”

A thin scholar, passing by the teahouse doorway, overheard this exchange, halting with a glimmer of curiosity and excitement in his eyes.

“Selling off the estate? That’s news. I heard the princess has already severed ties with him. What’s really going on?”

...

The Prince of Liang’s manor selling off possessions had become the laughingstock of Liangzhou City.

Upon learning this, Zhao Shenxing’s fury ignited. Clenching his fists, his eyes blazing with anger, he turned to Cherry and demanded harshly, “How did this information leak out?”

Cherry paled and quickly dropped to her knees. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I do not know how the news spread so fast. I will investigate and ensure the culprit is severely punished.”

“Investigate? What good will that do? The whole city is mocking me now, unable to produce even a few taels of silver!” Zhao Shenxing raged, though he knew the situation was dire and he had no choice but to face it head-on.

Just then, Xiao Yunjie returned from the storeroom, clutching a ledger, her expression conflicted.

“Your Highness, we have a preliminary inventory. We did find some items to sell, but—”

Zhao Shenxing cut her off coldly.

“But what? The whole city already knows. Don’t speak of it again!”

Xiao Yunjie bit her lip and continued, “Even if we sell these items, it will only solve the immediate crisis...”

Zhao Shenxing’s gaze grew deep, as if pondering a monumental decision.

“Yunjie, do you have any other ideas? Or can you find a way to raise more silver?”

After a moment’s thought, Xiao Yunjie spoke gravely, “At this point, it seems we must seek help from the princess. If she demands interest, we can offer it—better that than enduring this humiliation.”

She sighed softly, handing the ledger to Zhao Shenxing, a trace of helplessness in her voice.

“Your Highness, this is a detailed record of all the items in the storeroom that can be liquidated. Given how rumors have spread, we should hold off for now until the heat dies down.”

Zhao Shenxing took the ledger and skimmed through it, his brow tightly furrowed, clearly dissatisfied.

“Put this aside for now. Unless absolutely necessary, do not touch these items. The princess has always held herself in high regard. If we ask to borrow money from her, she will surely scorn us again. Is there truly no other way?”

The prince’s meaning was clear—he wanted her to find a solution herself.

She was only a secondary consort, with a modest dowry and none of the princess’s confidence.

Xiao Yunjie sighed. “If this were the capital, no matter how much Your Highness required, I could secure it without hesitation. But here in Liangzhou, I have no relatives or connections—I am powerless. I believe it would be less disgraceful to borrow from the princess than to have others hear of our plight.”