Chapter 141 Melancholy
Zhao Bingchun wanted to see Su Qingqing, but was blocked by Jixiang at the door.
"Our queen drank too much yesterday and now has a headache. Please wait until our prince comes back to discuss anything."
Jixiang was leaning against the door frame with her arms folded. Those who knew her might think she was the Crown Princess' maid, while those who didn't would think she was a female bandit from somewhere. Her words sounded very bandit-like.
Zhao Bingchun said with a fake smile: "It's not a good idea to tell His Royal Highness the Crown Prince about this. After all, His Royal Highness himself is so chaste that he would not touch a place like Qiuxiang Courtyard."
Without waiting for Zhao Bingchun to finish, Jixiang spat directly at Zhao Bingchun's forehead, "How dare you, a mere county magistrate, tell us where our queen is going? Are you reluctant to part with the five hundred thousand taels of silver?"
When had Zhao Bingchun ever been humiliated like this? A damned slave dared to spit at him. His face darkened and he said in anger, "As the Crown Princess, you came to Nanchong County to provide disaster relief, not to visit brothels. How could you say that this is fair and aboveboard?"
Jixiang sneered, "If you are dissatisfied, just go out and make a scene. Our queen is not afraid. It is true that we are here to provide disaster relief. Anyway, if something happens here, our queen is not the only one who will bear the responsibility.
The most we will be reprimanded by His Majesty and put under house arrest for three months. As for what crime you have committed, it is hard to say. Who knows whether your entire clan will be exterminated?
It all depends on how deep the father-son love between Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is!
Besides, we can also say that we went there because we were bewitched by you. After all, who would have thought that a good princess would go to such a filthy place! "
Jixiang has never lost an argument once he opens his mouth.
"Your Aunt Jixiang has made it clear today that this 500,000 taels is the tuition fee you paid to our Madam. It is our Madam's money. Now that the madam of Qiuxiang Courtyard is asking you for money, it is only natural that she is asking for it.
Either you give me the money, or we start a fight.
Anyway, with the famine, bandits and Qiuxiangyuan, we don't mind having too much to do. We have nothing to do anyway, so we might as well have some fun.
It saves money to hire someone to perform, it all depends on you, sir, how well you can perform!"
"You..." Zhao Bingchun was so angry that his face turned pale, "Is this how the Crown Princess provides disaster relief?"
Jixiang rolled his eyes and said, "Write a memorial, write a secret letter, go and complain. If I were afraid of you, I'd be your grandson!"
After saying that, he turned around and slammed the door, which made Zhao Bingchun feel very disappointed.
Zhao Bingchun came to Su Qingqing with a lot to say about the five hundred thousand taels, but not only did he not meet her, he was scolded by a slut instead.
He couldn't swallow this humiliation, but he couldn't really go so far as to order people to kill the Crown Princess. After all, it wasn't time to reach that point yet.
Full of anger, Zhao Bingchun returned to the front yard.
The madam was still waiting in the meeting room to get her money. Zhao Bingchun called in two of his trusted aides, "Let's see what this is all about."
Two trusted aides, one in a white robe and the other in a black robe.
The man in white touched his chin and sighed in embarrassment, "Sir, why don't you just give her the silver? Actors are ruthless and whores are disloyal. Qiuxiang Courtyard relies on the second young master above, and she will definitely make a fuss if she can't get the silver.
This Crown Princess seems to be a reckless and fearless person. She is also the Princess of Zhao State. Your Majesty should not create conflicts between the two countries over such a matter. In the end, it is still our fault.
If the Crown Princess comes and complains, saying that we bewitched her to go, then it will be even harder to explain."
The man in black robe said, "Your Excellency cannot pay for this. I think the Crown Princess did this on purpose. Why would she go to Qiuxiang Courtyard and spend 500,000 taels to buy a prostitute?
It’s such a big commotion that the whole county knows about it now, and everyone is looking at the adults.
Five hundred thousand taels is not five hundred taels, let alone five taels.
Disaster relief is difficult right now. We have told the outside world that we can't even send out disaster relief food. What will happen if you send out 500,000 taels at this critical juncture?
The Crown Princess is setting a trap for you, and if you give her the silver, she will fall into the trap."
Every word these two people said hit upon Zhao Bingchun's dilemma.
It's not that he can't come up with the money, it's that he has no way to take it out.
But dragging this out is not a solution. Zhao Bingchun was almost bald from worry. He stroked his receding hairline and said to the man in black robe, "What do you think she is trying to do by setting a trap for me?"
"The Crown Princess is here to provide disaster relief, and her purpose must be related to disaster relief. Maybe she wants to use this as a threat to force you to open the granaries and release the grain?"
The white robe immediately denied it.
"No, if the Crown Princess wanted to open the granaries to release grain, why would she go through so much trouble? With her status, couldn't she just let them open the granaries directly?"
The black robe immediately said, " Open the warehouse ? Even a powerful dragon will not suppress a local snake. It is true that she is of noble status, but this is our Lord Zhao's territory. How can she open the warehouse without Lord Zhao's approval? If so, wouldn't she offend our Lord Zhao? She won't be so stupid as to put herself in danger."
The man in white robe shook his head, "But now it has become like this, and we have also offended our master."
Zhao Bingchun: !!!
Oh my God, I don’t want to see you guys quarreling. Just tell me what I should do next!
Looking at his two aides with resentment, Zhao Bingchun stroked his hairline, "So?"
“Give me money!”
“No!”
The white-robed and black-robed men spoke in unison.
Zhao Bingchun: ...Get out!
Three cobblers are no match for Zhuge Liang. After discussing for a long time, they still couldn't figure out what the Crown Princess meant. However, the madam of Qiuxiang Courtyard couldn't wait any longer. The maidservant who served the madam hurried over to pass on the message, "Sir, the mother of Qiuxiang Courtyard said that if you don't give her the money, she will go to the prefecture to ask the second young master for help."
Just when he was getting extremely anxious, the county magistrate's wife arrived.
"If she wants to go to the prefecture to find the second young master, then she has to go out of the county gate! Go and tell her that if she wants silver, she can come back in three days. There is no silver in the mansion now. If she wants to go find the second young master, she can wait until the bandits outside catch her and open the city gate and then she can go!"
After receiving the order, the maid turned around and left.
The county government has always been run by the lady. When the lady gives the order, who cares what the county magistrate says?
Zhao Bingchun looked at his wife and said, "Madam, you are offending the Second Young Master ."
The county magistrate's wife said, "Your Excellency is confused. The Second Young Master came to our place and should give you some face. How can she, a brothel owner of Qiuxiang Courtyard, be so arrogant? Besides, she didn't say she wouldn't give her the money, she just postponed it."
The county magistrate was puzzled, "Can we give it to her in three days?"
The county magistrate's wife glanced at the men in black and white robes, and the two aides immediately retreated tactfully.
The county magistrate's wife lowered her voice and said, "It's a long way to get here. What if something happens to the Crown Princess? We can just report the matter the way we wrote the memorial.
What if something happened to the Crown Princess and it was the prostitute from Qiuxiangyuan who poisoned her?
By then, Qiuxiangyuan will not ask for money, it would be better to give it to us!"
When the county magistrate was furious, he did think about killing the Crown Princess to vent his anger, but it was just a thought. His wife had obviously already made arrangements.
The county magistrate immediately broke out in a cold sweat, "What is your plan, Madam?"
