How can this be?!

Su Chong quickly stepped forward.

He and Princess Fu Yun have a deep affection, and he doesn’t want a Princess Beimo to get involved.

He stood out to oppose.

Prince Beimo looked at him with both eyes.

This Lieutenant General of the Flying Tiger Army had left a deep impression with those shoes bursting at the seams when they sparred.

Embarrassment wasn’t enough last time, and he ran into him again this time.

Prince Beimo coughed lightly, "My father wants the marriage contract of the young master of your mansion."

Su Chong, "..."

Su Chong felt awkward.

If they’d said they were interested in his brother earlier, it would have saved him a lot of worry; his father has two sons, you know!

Su Chong silently stepped back, pretending nothing happened.

Marquis Dongxiang glanced at Marquis Jibei.

Although Su Yang is his son, he’s also the grandson of Marquis Jibei.

He doesn’t want to agree now, only to be lectured by his own father later.

Marquis Jibei had a lump of anger in his chest, neither up nor down. To think they’re eyeing his precious grandson, King Beimo’s taste is quite good.

"Once the war calms down, you hurry and urge the Emperor to return the money and grain, and get Yangyang’s marriage contract back."

Marquis Dongxiang let out a sigh of relief, "Since King Beimo insists on using my son’s marriage contract as a pledge, I’ll reluctantly agree."

Reluctantly?

Prince NanAn and Chu Shun’s mouths twitched.

Why do they feel that Marquis Dongxiang seems quite happy selling his son?

But it makes sense; the court wouldn’t borrow from Beimo without repaying. At most, two or three years, and this debt will be settled.

Just using Young Master Su’s marriage as collateral for King Beimo for three years solves a significant concern, such a worthwhile deal has no reason not to be agreed upon.

Prince Beimo shook his jade fan.

He didn’t quite understand why his father was interested in Marquis Dongxiang’s son.

That Young Master Su had even used a slingshot against his father’s favorite princess.

With his father’s temperament, he wouldn’t stoop to a child’s level, perhaps he’s waiting for him to grow up to teach him a lesson?

Prince Beimo just speculated a bit, not taking it to heart.

As a Prince, completing the task given by his father is a significant achievement.

Borrowing grain and grass is a court matter, but due to urgency, fearing leaks on the way to report to the Emperor, decisions are made expediently, and they’ll inform the Emperor afterward.

Marquis Dongxiang personally wrote the marriage contract; Old Prince and the Prince pressed their fingerprints, serving as witnesses.

At this moment, far away in the Capital City, Young Master Su is unaware that his marriage contract has been used by his father as collateral to borrow a large sum of money and grain from Beimo.

He’s also troubled over money.

Finally making a trip to the street, having only walked half of it hasn’t played to his heart’s content, and the purse is already empty.

The things he had an eye on were driving him crazy with desire.

Young Master Su counted the copper coins in his hand and looked at the street vendor, "Can you sell it to me a bit cheaper?"

The street vendor shook his head, "Young master, this is already the cheapest price, can’t go lower."

"Can it be put on the tab?" Young Master Su asked.

"..."

"No," the vendor shook his head again.

"..."

Ninth Prince looked at Young Master Su, "If the money’s not enough, then don’t buy."

"But I want it," Young Master Su said reluctantly.

He looked at Ninth Prince, then at the vendor, "He’s the Ninth Prince, I can leave him here as collateral while I go back to get money to ransom him, is that okay?"

Vendor, "..."

Ninth Prince, "..."

Ninth Prince was furious.

This item is only worth one silver, and he turned him, the dignified Ninth Prince, into collateral?!

Young Master Su glanced at him, "Then I’ll leave myself here, and you can go to the palace to get money from the Emperor?"

Ninth Prince, "..."

"Forget it, I’ll leave myself here instead."

Young Master Su smiled with squinted eyes.

But as soon as he turned around, Ninth Prince changed his mind.

Being collateral is too embarrassing for a prince, he’d rather go to the palace and be scolded by his father.

Young Master Zhao stayed to accompany Young Master Su.

Young Master Shen accompanied Ninth Prince to the palace.

Bursting into the Imperial Study, both were panting heavily.

Seeing them, Eunuch Fu said, "Why are you two young masters running so urgently?"

"Su Yang is waiting for me to get money to ransom him," Ninth Prince gasped.

His panting startled the Emperor and Eunuch Fu, "What happened, and how much money is needed to ransom him?"

"One, one..."

Ninth Prince choked on his words, unable to get them out.

"One hundred thousand silver?" Eunuch Fu quickly asked.

"Or one million silver?"

With the national treasury empty, they couldn’t produce such an amount to ransom him.

Young Master Shen looked at Eunuch Fu, swiftly shook his head, "No, not that much."

"Just one silver as collateral."

Emperor, "..."

Eunuch Fu, "..."

After understanding the whole story, the Emperor could’ve had someone drag Young Master Su into the palace for a good spanking.

He was just lucky his own son was raised well and wasn’t led astray by Marquis Dongxiang’s son.

"What’s the item he absolutely must buy?" the Emperor asked curiously.

"It’s the Ten Linked Rings," Ninth Prince said.

"Su Yang stood by the stall playing for half a day and couldn’t solve it, got stuck on it, insisted on buying it, and refused to listen to any persuasion."

The Ten Linked Rings.

That kid seems always to do things opposing himself.

The Emperor rubbed his forehead, waved, "Give money."

Eunuch Fu looked at the Emperor, "How much to give?"

"One silver," the Emperor said.

"..."

This really stumped Eunuch Fu.

Though not wealthy, he didn’t have such a small amount on him.

Eunuch Fu asked a little eunuch for a copper coin.

The Emperor ordered Eunuch Fu to bring the Nine Linked Rings. Ninth Prince said, "Su Yang has the Nine Linked Rings; he’s already solved it."

Solved it?

The Emperor was surprised.

"Can you solve it?" the Emperor asked.

"..."

"Your servant cannot."

The Emperor frowned, "No one is allowed to help; solve these Nine Linked Rings."

Ninth Prince, "..."

Ninth Prince regretted it.

If he had known, he would have stayed as collateral instead of coming to the palace.

Su Yang solved the Nine Linked Rings in half a month; who knows how long this will take him.

Young Master Shen stood beside him, quietly amused.

The Emperor also rewarded him with one.

Young Master Shen, "..."

Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen left the palace, somewhat dejected, with the Nine Linked Rings and their purses.

The street vendor was still there, occasionally glancing back at Young Master Su.

After knowing the Ninth Prince’s identity, the vendor dared not accept money.

But they ran off quickly without giving him a chance to speak.

Young Master Su just squatted there, playing with the Ten Linked Rings, insisting on solving that frustrating thing.

In the distance, the servants of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion stood with arms crossed, watching.

They were servants of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, reminded by Mrs. Tang not to lend money to Young Master Su. Of course, they didn’t have money to lend.

But the matter of Young Master Su intending to use the Ninth Prince as collateral, or even himself, the servants could report back to Madam in advance and suggest she prepare a new feather duster, something handy for spanking.