He first took out a few coins, then offered a half-eaten chicken leg. Was he trying to dismiss a beggar?
What was even more infuriating was the pained expression on his face, as if to say, your performance was worthless.
Man Yin’s proud bosom heaved violently. If the fabric hadn't been good, she feared it might burst out at any moment.
She had never imagined that someone would dare to humiliate her in such a manner.
She had poured her heart into her performance, playing her most cherished piece, "Sigh of the Beautiful Woman," only to be met with such insult.
At this moment, she finally realized that the man before her was not playing hard to get, but genuinely looked down on her.
*Slap!*
Man Yin slapped the chicken leg out of Ji Mo’s hand.
“You insult me like this, and if you don’t give me an explanation, you won’t be leaving this Tianxiang Pavilion today.”
She was truly furious. To be embarrassed in front of so many people, she couldn't let this slide.
Did she, Man Yin, look like an easy target?
The jeers from the surroundings grew into a chorus. Most of the people present were influential figures, renowned officials’ sons, or literary talents from the capital.
They all gathered around, denouncing Ji Mo to curry favor with Man Yin.
Man Yin’s background was not simple, and pleasing her might lead to pleasing the person behind her.
“What, is Tianxiang Pavilion a den of thieves? I haven’t broken any laws of the Great Qin, nor have I dined and dashed. Why can’t I leave?”
Ji Mo found it baffling. How was giving a small tip an insult?
He wasn't afraid at all. He was someone whom Ying Tianbao called “Brother Mo,” the good elder brother of His Highness the Ninth Prince. With such a powerful backer, he didn’t need to worry about safety.
Man Yin was momentarily speechless. From his perspective, he truly hadn’t done anything wrong.
But then, she thought of a way and said, “Tianxiang Pavilion does not welcome you. Settle your bill and leave.”
As she spoke, she secretly signaled to a maid.
Soon, the maid brought over the bill.
“What, your lousy song costs a hundred thousand taels of gold? This is a den of thieves, you’re running a black shop.”
Ji Mo was stunned when he saw the bill.
He hadn’t expected them to pull such a stunt. Wasn’t this clearly bullying?
Who would have thought that a casual meal would cost a hundred thousand taels of gold!
“What, country bumpkin, never seen the world? Miss Man Yin’s song is priceless. The Ninth Prince once offered ten million taels of gold and was still rejected. Now, charging you only a hundred thousand taels of gold is a bargain.”
“Exactly. For someone like you, a lower-class individual, if not for Miss Man Yin’s grace, you’d probably never have the chance to hear such heavenly music.”
“If you don’t have money, don’t pretend to be a big spender and come here to eat.”
A wave of cold sarcasm and mockery erupted from the surroundings.
Everyone began to taunt and ridicule him mercilessly.
Li Qiufeng’s face turned cold. She hadn’t expected Man Yin to be so petty and resort to such a trick.
As the daughter of the Prime Minister, she was certainly not short of money, but she had left in a hurry and hadn't brought much cash, not enough to settle the bill.
Li Qiufeng offered to pawn the warm jade she wore and the famous folding fan in her hand, but her offer was rejected.
Clearly, Man Yin intended to make things difficult for them.
“It’s all your fault. Why did you have to humiliate Miss Man Yin? She has Marshal Yue backing her. Offending her might cost you dearly. If you want to court death, fine, but don’t drag my young master down with you,”
Hong Xing whispered in Ji Mo’s ear, blaming him for his disrespectful words.
Marshal Yue, named Yue Longgang, was the foremost military general of the Great Qin Dynasty, the Grand Marshal.
When he was reckless, he could even confront the current Emperor, a truly brave man.
Man Yin also had another identity: she was Yue Longgang’s adopted daughter, which was why she received so much admiration.
People flattered Man Yin primarily to curry favor with Yue Longgang.
Now, unless they invoked the name of Prime Minister Li Xiu, this matter could not be easily resolved.
At this moment, Li Qiufeng was in a dilemma. Unless she revealed her identity, it would be difficult to escape this predicament.
However, if her identity were exposed, it wouldn’t be a big deal for her, merely gossip about being unchaste.
But Ji Mo would surely face death. Given Crown Prince Ying Tianci’s temperament, he would never let Ji Mo off the hook.
Who could tolerate his betrothed wife entering a pleasure house with another man?
Ji Mo retorted to Hong Xing, “How did I insult her? Was it because I gave too little?”
Although the other young masters tipped lightly with hundreds of taels of silver, or heavily with jewelry and precious jade, they were all spending their families’ money.
“These few coins are what I earned through hard work, and they are all I have in the world. What you consider a lot might be just a drop in the ocean for others, while what you deem little is my entire fortune,”
Ji Mo said calmly.
If giving little money was an insult, then he had nothing more to say.
Hong Xing was stunned, her face showing shame and contempt. “You’re a grown man with only a few coins to your name. How embarrassing. If you didn’t have money, you shouldn’t have given anything, or at least said something nice. Your emotional intelligence is truly abysmal.”
Li Qiufeng looked at Ji Mo, feeling an inexplicable pang of sympathy.
Young Master Ji must be from a humble background, impoverished and destitute, dedicating himself to his studies.
He might even be struggling to afford his next meal.
In such a situation, he was still willing to give all his worldly possessions. This was true generosity.
“Young Master Ji, you have been wronged.”
Li Qiufeng’s eyes reddened slightly. She took the few copper coins from Ji Mo’s hand and said, “Your intentions, though dismissed as worthless by others, are a priceless treasure in my eyes.”
She tightly clasped the few copper coins in her fair palm, her heart resolute. She would protect Ji Mo at all costs today.
“The adopted daughter of the Grand Marshal Yue Longgang? What, are you trying to bully us with your influence? In the capital, you cannot do as you please.”
Li Qiufeng’s voice was cold as she surveyed the surroundings. A righteous aura emanated from her.
The people around her instinctively took a step back, not daring to meet her gaze.
For some reason, Li Qiufeng seemed to have undergone a transformation, exuding an aura of awe.
Even Hong Xing was greatly surprised, wondering when her young lady had acquired such a spirit.
No one noticed that a special Dao rhyme was flowing from Li Qiufeng’s hand as she grasped the copper coins.
Copper coins, belonging to the element of metal, with a round exterior and a square interior, embodying the three powers, capable of suppressing all evil.
These few coins, long kept close by Ji Mo, seemed to possess an even more miraculous power, instantly transforming Li Qiufeng’s demeanor.
It was as if, just as Li Qiufeng had said, she considered these few coins a priceless treasure, and indeed, these few coins were truly priceless.
In fact, after hearing Ji Mo’s words, Man Yin was also somewhat moved. As she watched Li Qiufeng take the copper coins, she felt as if she had lost something important.
But her proud nature, coupled with Li Qiufeng’s words, made her unable to tolerate it.
“So what if I’m bullying you with my influence? You people who want to dine and dash have the audacity to be righteous.”
Man Yin retorted without yielding. She had never been so humiliated and would not let it go so easily.
Ji Mo looked directly at Man Yin, “So what if I’m dining and dashing? I’m going to do it today.”