GTB Chapter 156

Chapter 158: Returning to Kyoto

The next day.

The summer morning sunshǎ – sprinkled upon the streets of Dan City, no longer showing the desolate and bleak appearance of two months ago.

The streets were lined with people seeing them off, their eyes all focused on the handsome man riding high on horseback in the passing procession.

Since ancient times, natural disasters have always brought suffering to the people. They had thought they were doomed this time, but just when they were in despair, the Seventh Prince came to Dan City.

He accomplished one practical thing after another, distributing disaster relief grain time and time again, leading them out of this predicament.

But now that Shí Yan had successfully completed his mission, the road back to Kyoto would definitely not be easy. He had experienced a total of seven assassinations along the way, but he had anticipated this and arranged for hidden guards to protect him in secret.

Although the assassinations failed, they lengthened the journey back to Kyoto. What should have been a five-day ride at full speed took a full nine days.

On the second floor of Drunken Immortal Tavern, Shí Yuánchén heard the commotion outside the window and leaned out to look down. His face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly stood up and said, “It’s Seventh Brother returning from Dan City.”

Chǔ Yìfēng also looked out the window, but he noticed Lín Yuè in the procession with sharp eyes. He grabbed Shí Yuánchén, who was about to head downstairs, and said:

“Hey! Look, why is there a woman following behind your Seventh Brother?”

Hearing this, Shí Yuánchén quickly leaned out the window again and saw that there was indeed a woman in white riding a horse in the procession behind Shí Yan.

He looked back in surprise, pulling Chǔ Yìfēng and saying, “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go down and take a look.”

Just as the two of them quickly reached the bottom of the stairs, Shí Yan rode his horse past the entrance of Drunken Immortal Tavern.

“Seventh Brother.” Shí Yuánchén called out as he stepped forward, “Seventh Brother, are you tired? Come down and have a couple of drinks!”

Shí Yan reined in his reddish-brown steed, turned his head to look at Shí Yuánchén, and said, “Some other day!” Then he looked forward, lightly nudged his horse and continued on.

Chǔ Yìfēng nudged Shí Yuánchén’s arm with his elbow, “Are you stupid! Seventh Prince hasn’t seen his beloved wife in the mansion for over two months, would he drink with you and me here?”

“If he’s going to drink, it’ll have to be some other day.” Although he was talking to Shí Yuánchén, his eyes were on Lín Yuè as she passed in front of them on horseback, and he sighed with a shake of his head:

“Hey! Your Seventh Brother really has a lot of luck with women! He goes out on a trip and brings back such a beautiful woman. It seems you really have to leave Kyoto to find beauties!”

Shí Yuánchén raised his eyes and glanced at Lín Yuè, who was riding past, and said to Chǔ Yìfēng in dissatisfaction:

“How do you know she’s my Seventh Brother’s concubine? My Seventh Brother isn’t blind, can this woman be more beautiful than my Seventh Sister-in-law?”

Chǔ Yìfēng shook his head, “Just because she’s not as beautiful as your Seventh Sister-in-law doesn’t mean she can’t get on your Seventh Brother’s bed? According to you, your Seventh Brother won’t have to look for concubines in the future, after all, how many people can match the captivating beauty of Seventh Princess Consort?”

As he spoke, he shook his head, “You! You’re still too young, you don’t understand. It’s already rare to have such a beautiful concubine to spice things up.”

Shí Yuánchén was annoyed by Chǔ Yìfēng’s words, “Spice up what? Only the women in your mansion lack flavor and need you to spice them up. My Seventh Sister-in-law is perfect.”

Chǔ Yìfēng looked at Shí Yuánchén inquisitively, thinking, this kid is being a little too protective of Seventh Princess Consort.

“I’m saying, Shí Yuánchén, you’re not your Seventh Brother, let alone your Seventh Sister-in-law, what are you getting so worked up about? He’s already brought the person back, can it be fake?”

Shí Yuánchén didn’t argue with him, his eyes rolling as he said directly:

“Okay, then let’s make a bet. Tomorrow, we’ll go to Seventh Brother’s mansion and see if that girl is my Seventh Brother’s concubine? If she is, I’ll give you fifty thousand taels, and if she isn’t, you’ll give me fifty thousand taels, how about it?”

He was going all in, he didn’t believe Seventh Brother was that kind of person. He’s only been married for a few months, Seventh Brother couldn’t possibly hurt Seventh Sister-in-law like this.

Hmph! He just happened to be out of silver to spend, so he could take this opportunity to bleed Chǔ Yìfēng dry and teach him a lesson.

Chǔ Yìfēng was stunned, then turned and walked towards the inside of Drunken Immortal Tavern, “Fifty thousand taels, do you think I run a bank?”

Shí Yuánchén quickly followed, scoffing, “Didn’t you say that woman is Seventh Brother’s concubine? Aren’t we betting on that? What if you win?”

Chǔ Yìfēng paused, stumped by Shí Yuánchén’s words. That’s right! Why does he feel like he’s going to lose?

The way that white-clad girl looked at Shí Yan clearly showed intention, and Shí Yan bringing her back to the mansion so openly, if not a concubine, what other role could a woman have?

But when he thought about Jiang Jiuchu’s appearance, he felt a little nervous, after all, fifty thousand taels was no small amount.

Thinking of this, he turned his head and scanned Shí Yuánchén up and down, “Do you have fifty thousand taels? I’m not going to waste my time betting such a large amount with someone who can’t even afford to pay.”

“Then ten thousand taels. Don’t worry, I’ll scrape together ten thousand taels even if I have to.” Shí Yuánchén didn’t want to let Chǔ Yìfēng off the hook. The less he dared to bet, the more confident he felt that he would make a profit on this silver.

“Alright, then let’s bet ten thousand taels, but don’t come crying to me later, claiming you’re broke.”

“Don’t worry! A gentleman’s word is his bond. Since I said it, I won’t welch on the deal, otherwise, wouldn’t I be giving you something to talk about for the rest of my life.”

Shí Yuánchén was smug, as if he could already see ten thousand taels entering his pocket. At the same time, he was praying in his heart, hoping that his Seventh Brother wouldn’t surprise him like that.

Otherwise, even if not for Seventh Sister-in-law, for the sake of these ten thousand taels, he would have to settle the score with Seventh Brother.

“Miss…”

In Emerald Bamboo Garden, Lǜluó hurried towards the main house. After seeing Aunt Xing, she quickly changed her address, “Princess Consort, Princess Consort, His Highness is back.”

Lying on the chaise lounge, taking an afternoon nap, Jiang Jiuchu’s eyes suddenly opened, turning her head to look towards the door. When she heard Lǜluó repeat her words after entering the room, she quickly sat up and asked:

“His Highness is back? Where is he?”

“He should be almost at the entrance of the mansion. I heard it from Little Hong, who returned to the mansion for errands.”

When Jiang Jiuchu heard that he was almost at the entrance of the mansion, she quickly instructed Lǜluó: “Quick, quick, quickly bring out the lotus-root pink pearl gauze skirt that Jin Niángzi made.”

As she spoke, she quickly sat down in front of the bronze mirror, “Lǜyì, quickly come and see, what hairstyle would look good with that lotus-root pink gauze skirt? Quickly come and redo my hair.”

“Miss, didn’t you dislike that lotus-root pink gauze skirt for being too alluring, didn’t you like it? Why…”

Lǜyì quickly picked up the comb, glaring at Lǜluó, who hadn’t yet reacted, “The miss asked you to get it, so hurry up and get it.”

Lǜluó was jolted back to her senses by Lǜyì’s glare, and immediately showed a big smile, “Okay!”