Chapter 115 The Generous Heir Xie

Ji Yuntang had the servants prepare the dishes for today early on, intending to make hotpot for them.

When Luo Qingge arrived, Ji Yuntang was playing with the baby in the West Courtyard. Xiao Qiyue in her arms was blowing spit bubbles, laughing nonstop at the mermaid toy Ji Yuntang held.

Luo Qingge immediately spotted the little child in Ji Yuntang's arms. She rushed over in surprise, her mouth hanging open.

"Third Sister-in-law, we only met three days ago, and you already have a child this big with my third imperial brother?"

Her maid Linglan nearly face-planted when she heard that.

She knew her princess wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but Luo Qingge was this dense?

How could this possibly be Princess Ye and Prince Ye's child?

They had only been married for a little over a month. Even if they had been quick about it, it was impossible to produce a seven- or eight-month-old baby in such a short time.

She wondered if Princess Ye would be angered by these words.

Linglan swallowed nervously, sweating on behalf of her princess. She discreetly glanced at Ji Yuntang and found she wasn't angry at all. Instead, she smiled warmly and asked, "Qingge, do you like children too?"

Luo Qingge's eyes lit up, and she nodded frantically. "I do! As long as they're yours, Third Sister-in-law, I like them all."

Ji Yuntang: "..."

"What's with that hungry wolf look?"

"It looked like she was about to snatch the child right out of her arms!"

Before Ji Yuntang could speak, a magnetic, flamboyant male voice cut in.

"It's useless for you to like them, Princess Jiu. The children of Princess Ye and Prince Ye won't be given to you anyway!"

"If the princess likes children, she can have a few of her own with her consort."

Xie Liuzheng wore a purple brocade robe today, its cuffs embroidered with intricate gold-thread patterns. Holding a folding fan, he was handsome, with a golden crown and jade belt, a cynical smile curling at his lips. He walked over to Ji Yuntang and Luo Qingge, cupping his hands in salute.

"I, your subject, pay my respects to Princess Ye and Princess Jiu."

Seeing Xie Liuzheng, Luo Qingge's anger flared up instantly.

"Why are you everywhere? Can't you leave me alone?"

Xie Liuzheng saw the girl's angry, rosy-cheeked face and inexplicably found her a bit cute.

He curled his lips, raised his brows flippantly, and teased, "Thank you for the generous praise, Princess Jiu. This heir appreciates it."

"But I'm still alive, not a ghost yet. Barring any accidents, I won't be a ghost for the next sixty or seventy years, so I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

Ji Yuntang: "..."

Luo Qingge: "..."

She had seen thick-skinned people before, but none as thick as this. She was curious if Xie Liuzheng's face was truly as impenetrable as a city wall, beyond the reach of swords and arrows.

Luo Qingge lifted her chin, grinning insincerely. "Heir Xie has a sharp tongue. I admire that. But one should be humble. When others have opinions about you, you should listen to them, then write them down in a little notebook to see exactly who has a problem with you."

"I've always been outstanding, so jealousy is inevitable. Only those inferior to me in every way would gossip behind my back, right?"

"I never listen to anyone's opinions, but since Princess Jiu has offered hers, I'm willing to hear them. Any further advice?"

"You—!" Luo Qingge turned red as she snapped, "You're sharp-tongued and utterly shameless!"

Xie Liuzheng: "..."

He was being wronged! He was just speaking the truth. How was that shameless?

Luo Qingge was clearly just flustered because she couldn't argue with him!

Seeing the two start bickering again the moment they met, Ji Yuntang thought to herself: What a pair of natural enemies!

She wondered if inviting both Luo Qingge and Xie Liuzheng together had been a mistake.

Afraid they would end up coming to blows, Ji Yuntang quickly stepped in to mediate, separating them.

"Qingge, Heir Xie, a gentleman uses his mouth, not his hands. Both of you, say a little less."

Luo Qingge gave a haughty snort and rolled her eyes at Xie Liuzheng. "How is he a gentleman? He's not a gentleman in the least! I think he's just a petty person with a sharp tongue!"

Xie Liuzheng: "!!!"

It was confirmed. This woman was his nemesis, sent specifically to anger him!

A good man doesn't fight with a woman. Luo Qingge was still young. He would endure!

Suppressing his emotions, Xie Liuzheng walked up to Ji Yuntang and said courteously, "Princess Ye, I apologize for making a scene in front of you."

"This is five thousand taels of silver banknotes I've prepared for you as tuition for learning music from you. Please accept it. If it's not enough, just say the word, and I'll have someone bring more."

With that, he glanced at his personal guard, Meng Fan, who immediately pulled out another stack of silver notes from his sleeve. It was as thick as a book, all large denomination notes of one hundred and two hundred taels each.

Ji Yuntang: "!!!"

Her eyes widened slightly. No wonder he was the heir of the Duke's mansion. This was real wealth!

Compared to Xie Liuzheng, Ji Huaiche, the heir of Marquis Yongning's mansion, was like dirt beneath his feet. They weren't even in the same league.

Ji Yuntang suddenly felt that the people she had been associating with lately were all quite impressive, each richer than the last.

Luo Qingge, for instance, was the daughter of the Empress. Her maternal grandfather was Grand Tutor Su, a veteran minister of two dynasties and a first-rank official. He was also the teacher of Emperor Jingyang and the Crown Prince. With such a wealthy family, she would never be short of money.

Squire Chai, Chai Rufeng, came from one of the most prominent merchant families in the Dongchen Kingdom. They had numerous businesses spread across the four nations, and it was said their assets rivaled the national treasury. Truly rich people.

And Xie Liuzheng, the pocket money he casually offered could equal an ordinary person's life savings.

The tuition he paid started at five thousand taels of silver.

Each of these people was shockingly wealthy, instantly making Ji Yuntang feel pressured.

Ji Yuntang had originally thought she had made a small fortune and become a small-time rich woman, but compared to them, her money was probably too meager to even offer as a gift.

However, she was always one to motivate herself.

Just because she was poor now didn't mean she would be poor forever. As long as she made good use of her space and seized business opportunities, she would become a big boss one day, lounging around and counting her money.

"Princess Ye, how about an additional ten thousand taels of silver?"

Meng Fan, with a forced smile, handed over the thick stack of silver notes under Xie Liuzheng's insistent gaze.

Fifteen thousand taels could buy a mansion outside, yet their heir was spending it just to learn a song called "Peach Blossom" or something like that from Princess Ye. Lately, he had been humming it all the time, even before going to sleep. Now that's a true spendthrift!

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