Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Prince Longevity (26)

Chuzheng and Yan Gui returned at the same time, immediately stirring up waves upon waves of commotion.

Yan Gui was picked up by Xiao Guizi, who had received the message, and brought back to the palace, while Chuzheng returned to the residence.

Lv Zhu had become significantly thinner, and upon seeing her, tears streamed down her face.

“Miss… I just knew you wouldn’t come to any harm,” sobbed Lv Zhu, voice choked with tears.

“You…” On the other hand, Princess Consort Cheng was shocked to paleness, her eyes filled with disbelief and hatred.

Wasn’t it said that this wretched girl died out there?

How is it that she has come back now!?

Ignoring Princess Consort Cheng, Chuzheng walked calmly into the main hall and, in front of Princess Consort Cheng, threw her own Soul Tablet to the ground.

The Soul Tablet shattered.

The main hall fell dead silent.

“I’m not dead yet.”

The voice, clear and cold like a mountain spring flowing from the snowy peaks, spread through the hall, the chill growing more intense.

The servants who had turned their coats to serve Princess Consort Cheng, all lowered their heads, wishing they could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.

“Send the princess consort back.” Chuzheng, without any intention of pursuing the matter further, stated indifferently, “Take down the mourning hall.”

Properly conducting my own funeral.

Quite the novel experience.

You all can’t wait for me to die.

Well, I won’t die! That’ll show you, you pack of curs!

“Cheng Chuzheng, you dare!” bellowed Princess Consort Cheng, “I am the Princess Consort of the Prince Cheng Residence, holding me captive is an act of insubordination.”

“Hmm,” Chuzheng didn’t deny it, “that’s because you’re so noisy.”

If you continue to make noise, you’ll be dealt with!

“How dare you!” Princess Consort Cheng screamed, pushing away the approaching servants, “You lowly servants, stop, I command you to stop! My daughter is now Consort Chen, if you dare treat me this way, I will have your lives!”

The words of Princess Consort Cheng made the servants somewhat apprehensive.

Chuzheng looked towards Lv Zhu.

Lv Zhu stepped forward: “When at Qi Mountain, the second Miss saved His Majesty, and now she has been conferred the title of Consort Chen.”

Chuzheng: “…”

So, becoming a consort after cuckolding the Emperor earns one a royal promotion?

Then the Emperor might as well wear a few more of those green hats.

The servants hesitated, but Chuzheng did not. She knocked the person out directly, instructing them to carry her back.

Servant: “…”

The eldest miss is so ruthless upon her return.

It’s terrifying.

[Main Quest: Please spend five thousand silver notes within two hours.]

Chuzheng: “…”

Just my luck, having to squander wealth as soon as I return!

I’ve just come back!

Just returned!

Faced with my own mourning hall, can’t I have a moment’s breath, you poor thing?!

[Sister, I’m just trying to give you a fright to calm your nerves.] The King’s Account thought innocently for Chuzheng.

With a cold expression, Chuzheng stepped on the already shattered Soul Tablet.

[…] Sister, don’t be so violent!

Chuzheng hurried out of the Prince’s Mansion.

The news of her and Yan Gui’s return was spreading outside. A lady and a prince, alone together for more than half a month—how much gossip could there be in this situation?

Chuzheng’s presence on the streets drew the townspeople’s curious glances.

Consequently, the populace witnessed the scene of the disgraced daughter of the Prince Cheng Residence going wild with money, squandering wealth.

“Is she traumatized?”

“The Prince’s Mansion just held a funeral for her, coming back to see her own mourning hall, isn’t it normal to be shocked?”

“Hey, do you think, her and Prince Six out there…”

“Prince Six might be a bit useless, but he is good-looking, isn’t he?”

–

After being traumatized and squandering her wealth, Chuzheng didn’t expect to receive an Imperial Decree in the evening, together with a prince.

“Miss Cheng, His Majesty has bestowed Prince Six upon you to soothe your recent shock,” the eunuch announced in his shrill, falsetto voice.

The young man, dressed in brilliant garments, stood behind the eunuch, head bowed, his expression indiscernible.

“I don’t want him,” Chuzheng said coldly, “send him back.”

The young man lifted his head in astonishment.

The quiet brown pupils now stirred with ripples, and the delicate, fair face appeared somewhat pale.

The hand hanging beside his body tightened slightly.

He had been with her outside for such a long time, her reputation was bound to be damaged, no matter what.

He wanted to marry her.

He had knelt outside Qiankun Hall for the better part of the day, only to receive this almost humiliating Imperial Decree.

He either had to accept it, or let her become someone whose reputation was tarnished by gossip.

But what had he been waiting for?

Was this the result?

She was unwilling to accept…

The days they had spent together now seemed so ridiculous.

The eunuch, who was proclaiming the edict, gave a strange laugh but did not say anything about beheading for defiance.

“Prince Six, the lady doesn’t want you, why don’t you just go back with this servant.”

The youth gave a deep look at the girl opposite him, who had a cold expression, and without saying a word, he lowered his head and turned to leave.

The brilliant hem of his robe traced an arc in the air, the youth walked with a straight back, moving so fast that he quickly disappeared from sight.

The eunuch led the others away.

Yan Gui returned to Wanfu Palace, and Xiao Guizi approached with a frightened heart: “Prince, you?”

“Leave.”

“Prince…”

“Leave! Get out!”

Xiao Guizi quickly retreated, and the hall was filled with the sound of things being smashed.

Xiao Guizi covered his mouth, full of distress.

Such a humiliating Imperial Decree, the Prince must be so upset.

–

Xiao Guizi paced back and forth outside the hall, utterly anxious.

Ever since that night, the Prince had locked himself in his room for three days.

In these three days, all that was discussed outside was how Prince Six was bestowed to the Prince Cheng Residence but rejected by Prince Cheng’s daughter.

Xiao Guizi found the Emperor’s Imperial Decree to be absurd.

But he never expected Miss Cheng, who had been so kind to the Prince before, to reject him…

If Miss Cheng had accepted, the Prince would still have faced criticism, but it wouldn’t be like it was now.

“The Imperial Decree has arrived—”

A large crowd poured into Wanfu Palace; Xiao Guizi hurriedly knelt down.

“Prince Six, receive the decree.”

The doors of the hall, closed for three days, slowly opened, and the youth in dark clothes stood inside barefoot, his dull eyes glancing outside before he slowly knelt down.

The spread dark robe was like a blooming black lotus.

“By the mandate of heaven…”

Yan Gui’s ears heard the sharp, piercing voice of the eunuch reading aloud, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

What good could come from an Imperial Edict issued by the Emperor after his rejection…

“… hereby bestow the title of Prince, confer the character Jin, grant a mansion, reward ten thousand gold, honored hereby.”

The youth slightly lifted his head, his quiet eyes showing a flicker of puzzlement.

Xiao Guizi’s face, however, was full of smiles.

The Prince finally had a title and a mansion!!

“Prince Jin, give thanks,” the eunuch said, eyebrow raised, the Imperial Decree in his hands.

The youth bowed his head again: “I thank the great kindness of the Sovereign.”

The eunuch, with his fingers posed daintily, brought out another Imperial Decree: “Don’t be in a hurry, Prince Jin; there’s another one here.”

Yan Gui seemed to have expected this, calmly continuing to listen to the decree.

How could he suddenly be given a title for no reason?

“By the mandate of heaven: Prince Cheng has contributed greatly to protecting the nation and has made the ultimate sacrifice; I deeply regret his loss. His eldest daughter is virtuous and wise, lovely both inside and out, and of exemplary character; I hereby bestow her to Prince Jin to be his Princess Consort, and a wedding date shall be chosen, honored hereby.”

Yan Gui doubted if he had misheard.

It wasn’t until the eunuch called out to him several times that he finally gave his dry and strained thanks.

Xiao Guizi sent the entourage off with silver, and upon his return, the youth was still kneeling on the ground.

“Prince,” Xiao Guizi quickly helped him up: “What’s going on with you?”

These two Imperial Decrees from His Majesty, the earlier one conferring the title of Prince was long due to the Prince, and the latter, bestowing marriage… it was a formal bestowal, requiring the arrangements of the Ministry of Rites.

The Prince should be happy.

Why did he still look so forlorn?

Yan Gui, holding the two Imperial Decrees, seemed slightly bewildered.