Zhao Jiaqi glanced back at Fan Zehao and said softly, "Then let's go see the Prince Xian's mansion. I really haven't been there in years, but Prince Xian has certainly enjoyed my family's hospitality quite a bit!"
Hearing this, Huangfu Xian, riding his horse, dared not approach. He mumbled, "It's because the chef at Prince Zhenguo's mansion cooks so well, I can't resist!"
Fan Zehao was displeased. So, his mooching and freeloading was all because of his chef?
"I'll send the chef to your mansion later!" See what excuse you have then!
Huangfu Xian fell silent. He glanced at Huangfu Xu, who was smirking beside him, and with a stubborn neck, shouted ahead to the two, "Why aren't you mentioning Prince Xiaoyao? Isn't he also freeloading!"
Unjustly dragged into the fray, Huangfu Xu quickly clarified, "It's a huge misunderstanding. I was with Prince Xian. Who knew he would eat my elder brother's food and drink his wine without paying? Such a person is a scoundrel!"
Huangfu Xian pointed at his own nose and raised his voice, "I'm a scoundrel? You ate heartily and drank merrily at my elder brother's place, did you pay then?"
Huangfu Xu shrugged, looking nonchalant, "I went with you. All the expenses here should be yours. How can you still ask me for money? That's unreasonable!"
The two bickered behind them, while the two in front listened and found it amusing!
Zhao Jiaqi felt that if they continued squabbling, nothing would be resolved. So, she said, "In that case, each of you give me a hundred thousand taels of silver, consider it your food expenses for all these years!"
As her words fell, the two princes behind them stopped arguing and quickly rode forward, squeezing Zhao Jiaqi between them on either side, coaxing her with a barrage of pleasantries!
"Sister-in-law, you are the wealthiest woman in our Yun Kingdom. You wouldn't possibly lack our money, would you? Just a little bit from your fingertips would be more than these hundred thousand taels. Sister-in-law, you dote on us younger brothers so much, how could you bear to ask for money, right?"
The two brothers cooperated with remarkable tacit understanding on this matter, a stark contrast to their earlier argument.
Fan Zehao, squeezed out from the middle, had a face as dark as the bottom of a pot. His cold voice came from behind, "Wife, you're asking for too little. It should be at least two hundred thousand taels each, not a single coin less!"
"Listen to husband, twenty thousand taels each then!"
After echoing her husband's words, Zhao Jiaqi watched their faces turn green and felt her mood instantly improve. She hummed a little tune all the way to Prince Xian's mansion!
Under the night sky, Yuhua City was still prosperous. Lanterns and colorful decorations adorned the streets, and a continuous stream of people browsed the shops!
Fan Zehao gave Huangfu Xian a rare nod of approval. "Although you're not often in your fiefdom, this place is quite well-governed. It seems twenty thousand taels is indeed a bit too little!"
Hearing the praise from the front, Huangfu Xian felt the sting to his pride and the wound to his heart slowly healing. Who knew the following words would pierce him right through the lungs!
With a bitter expression, he strongly protested, "Elder brother, please stop talking about money all the time. It's too vulgar. We are people of status after all!"
Fan Zehao glanced at him and snorted, "I'm just a commoner who likes money. If you find the money troublesome, you can give it to me, lest your high and mighty status be tainted with the smell of copper."
The clever Huangfu Xu remained silent, only shaking his head with a smile. He had long realized that their Eldest Brother truly didn't care about status or prestige. If you snatched his steamed bun, he'd argue with you, let alone money!
He was determined to be shameless and pursue tangible benefits. What could you do about it?
Prince Xiaoyao advised Prince Xian, "You should say less. Be careful not to say the wrong thing and have this two hundred thousand taels double. Remember how the hundred thousand taels went up earlier?"
At this, Huangfu Xian decided to shut up. Let the vampire in front say whatever he wanted; he would pretend not to hear.
As the group walked down the street, everyone assumed they were merchants from out of town and paid them no extra attention.
They bypassed the bustling streets and entered quieter lanes. The houses on both sides were different from those they had seen earlier!
The houses here were grander and more imposing, and there were more patrolling yamen runners. It was evident this was the affluent district, where high-ranking officials resided.
Prince Xian's Mansion, with its three gilded characters, caught their eyes!
Two large stone lions stood guard at the entrance, one on each side. The ascending steps were clean and tidy. The vermillion lacquered main gate slowly opened, and the butler, along with his retinue, including the side consort and young masters, emerged to welcome the Prince back home!
Zhao Jiaqi marveled at the spectacle. "Good heavens, with so many concubines, the mansion is quite lively. The moment he returns, they put on such a show, all dressed up in colorful clothes, with painted eyebrows and rouged cheeks, to welcome the sole male master of the mansion. Prince Xian's treatment is truly extraordinary!"
At that moment, Fan Zehao paid no attention to the garishly dressed women. Instead, he spotted the people he least wanted to see amidst the crowd!
Fan Surong and his sister, behind the butler, saw their father, Fan Fu!
Fan Mingyue, as a side consort, was the highest-ranking lady in the mansion besides Prince Xian. She stepped forward and bowed gracefully. "Your concubine welcomes Your Highness back to the mansion!"
"Your concubine Fan Mingyue pays respects to the Regent, the Regent's Consort, and Your Highness and Consort. May you be well!"
He harbored no good feelings towards the siblings and merely glanced at them before standing up and walking away, leading the way into the mansion!
Zhao Jiaqi watched her husband's receding back, her brow furrowed. However, she understood her husband's aversion was not without reason!
"You are excused!"
At the Consort's words, the others behind her dared to rise, utterly perplexed as to why the Regent was treating his own cousin this way.
Upon entering the mansion, Prince Xian dismissed all the concubines and ladies. Only a few of them remained in the room, making it easier to speak!
Fan Zehao was extremely displeased with the siblings and Fan Fu who appeared before him. He angrily declared, "Huangfu Xian, if you truly have nothing to do, then I don't mind making you busier!"
"Elder brother, what are you saying? Furthermore, Mingyue and Shurong are also your cousins. They are the closest people to you in this world. Why hold onto past grievances?"
Huangfu Xian spoke to himself, failing to notice the fury in Fan Zehao's eyes. He continued, "I heard about your past, but it happened a long time ago and didn't actually harm elder brother and sister-in-law. Everyone makes mistakes, and as long as they can change, it's fine. Why still dwell on it? In my understanding, elder brother is a magnanimous person and wouldn't truly cut ties over such a small matter!"
"Not to mention, Fan Mingyue is my side consort, and our relationship is definitely..."
As he spoke with increasing enthusiasm and absurdity, Zhao Jiaqi decisively shouted in anger, "Prince Xian, mind your words!"
She stood up and walked to Huangfu Xian, glaring at him. "Everyone has traveled all day. You're just going on and on like this. Is this how you treat guests?"
Prince Xian was taken aback. Seeing her signal, he immediately stopped his impassioned speech and quickly stood up to leave. "I'll go arrange it now, arrange it!"
He stumbled out of the main hall, speaking without sense. At this point, Zhao Jiaqi turned to face her husband's angry gaze!
She forced an awkward smile. "Prince Xian doesn't understand the situation here. You don't need to get angry and argue with him. Once this matter is explained, he won't try to broker such a reconciliation."
Fan Zehao gritted his teeth, restraining his urge to explode. "Doesn't understand? I told him the truth of the matter years ago. Was he deaf? Or was his head filled with water?"
Zhao Jiaqi held his hand and said earnestly, "Prince Xian meant well. Even if you don't agree, you shouldn't lose your temper. Everything can be discussed and negotiated. And how we severed ties in the past, let's explain this matter to Fan Fu in front of Prince Xian. Once Prince Xian understands the past, he probably won't act this way!"
Fan Zehao, having calmed down, found his wife's words very reasonable and nodded.
On the other side, Huangfu Xu sighed. It seemed everyone had their own burdens to bear; he wasn't the only one in distress.