Chapter 106 Squire Chai Comes to Apologize

The princess was worried about her sister-in-law, and she was truly afraid that her own princess would be locked up by the emperor as a pervert.

Luo Qingge pulled her hand away. "Of course I know that. I'm just saying it."

"Unfortunately, my third sister-in-law is already married. Even if we can't be a perfect couple, being best friends is not bad either."

...

Ji Yuntang took a carriage back to the Prince Ye's residence. As soon as the carriage stopped at the gate, she heard the coachman's voice.

"Princess, there's another crowd gathered at our mansion's gate. I think one of them is Manager Cui from the Jincheng Bank. He's not here to collect a debt again, is he?"

It was already a quarter past five in the evening. The sun had set, and the setting sun lit up half the sky.

The gates of the Prince Ye's residence had been unusually lively these past few days, with some being young ladies coming to buy face wash from Ji Yuntang, some being bank managers coming to collect debts, and many ordinary folks coming to watch the excitement.

Moreover, Manager Cui had already come at noon. Not long after, he came again.

Ji Yuntang frowned. She had clearly told Manager Cui to give her one more day, and that time hadn't yet arrived.

So why had he come looking for her?

"Pull over to the side. I'll go down and take a look."

Ji Yuntang got off the carriage. When Manager Cui saw her, he immediately pulled a long face and hurried over, kneeling down in front of her with a thud.

"Your servant pays respects to Princess Ye. Your servant has come today to apologize to Princess Ye. Today was my mistake. I shouldn't have brought people to the Prince Ye's residence to demand repayment. I was rude and offended the princess. Please punish me."

Ji Yuntang looked at the servants of the Jincheng Bank kneeling before her—these were the same ones who had come with Manager Cui earlier to demand repayment. She was confused.

"Manager Cui, what are you doing? Whatever it is, please stand up first and speak."

Just then, a powerful voice suddenly boomed near her ear.

"Let him kneel. How dare you offend our benefactor of the Chai family? I've been lenient by not firing him on the spot. If Princess Ye doesn't forgive you today, you're not allowed to get up. Wait until Princess Ye's anger has subsided, then you may rise."

The voice carried obvious anger. Ji Yuntang turned her head and saw a middle-aged man in a blue robe and brocade garment, with a square-shaped face, walking over with broad strides.

He lifted the hem of his robe, knelt respectfully on the ground, and bowed to Ji Yuntang.

"Your servant Chai Rufeng pays respects to Princess Ye."

Ji Yuntang blinked in confusion. Who was Chai Rufeng? Did she know him?

Noticing Ji Yuntang's confusion, Chai Rufeng explained:

"Princess Ye might not recognize your servant. At the medical competition before, you saved my youngest son, Chai Minghao. After he went back and took the medicine you prescribed, his mood has stabilized considerably. My wife also followed your instructions and put away all those books and study materials. Although Hao'er still doesn't talk much now, he no longer cries and tries to seek death."

"Princess Ye, you saved Hao'er. You are the benefactor of our Chai family. I had no idea before that Cui Qi would dare to bring people to the Prince Ye's residence to demand repayment. If I had known, I would never have allowed him to come no matter what."

After his explanation, Ji Yuntang finally understood.

So the bank where Nanny Xu had borrowed money was actually owned by the Chai family, the owners of the young master with autism Chai Minghao she had treated at the medical competition.

Ji Yuntang had heard before that the Chai family was one of the top merchant clans in the Dongchen Kingdom. They were enormously wealthy, with vast business operations, and could be considered the richest family in the capital.

The Chai Rufeng before her was the current head of the Chai family, also affectionately known as Squire Chai.

On TV, squires were always depicted as burly and stout, but the man before her was well-mannered, respectful, and proper. This gave Ji Yuntang a good impression of Chai Rufeng, even though he was asking for her help.

"Squire Chai, no need for such formalities. Please rise quickly. It is my honor to be able to help the young master of your household. In another three to five days, I will visit your residence to provide psychological counseling for the young master."

Upon hearing this, Chai Rufeng was overjoyed and kowtowed once more.

"Then I thank Princess Ye in advance."

He stood up and said, "Princess, I am a merchant, and I don't like beating around the bush."

"Manager Cui told me that last year, Nanny Xu borrowed fifteen thousand taels of silver from the bank in the name of Prince Ye. I presume Prince Ye was unaware of this."

"Prince Ye is the war god in the hearts of our Dongchen Kingdom's people. I may not be able to help with his physical condition, but you don't need to repay this silver. Consider it a small token of gratitude from me for Princess Ye's treatment of my son. It's a humble gesture; I hope the princess won't refuse."

As he spoke, he took out an IOU signed and sealed from his sleeve, preparing to tear it up in public.

"Squire Chai, wait." Ji Yuntang stopped him and said slowly, "Nanny Xu's debt is indeed something that Prince Ye and I were unaware of. But this IOU bears my husband's name. If you tear it up like this, I'm afraid someone might exploit it to make trouble."

"How about this: consider the principal and interest on this IOU as the consultation fee for me treating your young master. Once I have cured him, this debt will be canceled. What do you think?"

"At that time, Squire Chai can tear up the IOU."

It was impossible to get Nanny Xu to pay now. Ji Yuntang had already decided: she would make Nanny Xu hand over the deeds to the house and the shop to offset this debt.

That way, she wouldn't be at a loss.

And she didn't want Luo Junhe to be unfairly burdened with the reputation of owing debts and not repaying because of Nanny Xu's misdeeds.

The Prince Ye's residence couldn't afford any more trouble.

Using her own labor to clear this debt was the best compromise Ji Yuntang could think of at the moment.

Chai Rufeng was deeply impressed by Ji Yuntang's way of handling things—calm, unhurried, neither arrogant nor impatient, and not taking advantage of others.

He clasped his hands in salute and said respectfully, "I will follow Princess Ye's wishes."

The debt matter was temporarily settled, and Ji Yuntang breathed a slight sigh of relief.

After seeing off the people from the Chai mansion, she remembered the deeds of the house and shop in Nanny Xu's hands. Upon entering the residence, she immediately went to the Northern Courtyard where Nanny Xu and Liu Linlang lived.

Pushing open the door, she saw ordinary redwood furniture, not as fine as the furniture in the main rooms, but not bad overall.

The air was heavy with a pungent smell of Chinese medicine, presumably because Liu Linlang's face hadn't healed and she had been taking herbal medicine all along.

Ji Yuntang casually looked around and then began rummaging through things.

Remembering where Nanny Xu had said she hid her treasures, Ji Yuntang opened the wardrobe. Beneath the thick layers of clothes, there was indeed a black lacquered box.

------------