Chapter 285: Gu Shuo Returns to the Capital 2

’Why scold a kid just for buying some pastries?’

Just then, the carriage in front departed, and Luo Wen drove forward.

The carriage moved into an adjacent lane before the traffic clogged up again, leaving Sang Qi and Ye Qianning face-to-face, each leaning out of their respective windows.

"Buying pastries, Crown Prince?" Ye Qianning spoke first with a smile.

"Hmph." Sang Qi snorted coldly.

Ye Qianning glanced up at the pastry shop. "Nianyunjian’s pastries are really popular. Luo Wen, you should go in and buy some to try."

"Miss, Nianyunjian is just so-so. Are you sure you want to try it?"

"I’ve had too many of the pastries from home and want a change of pace. Go on."

"Yes." Luo Wen jumped down from the carriage.

Sang Qi’s ears perked up. ’Pastries from home?’

’So the pastries she brought last time were made by the General’s Manor’s chef? No wonder they tasted so different!’

"Miss." Luo Wen came out holding the pastries.

Ye Qianning took them, opened the package, and decided they smelled decent enough.

"My Attendants are still waiting in line. The General’s Manor really knows how to throw its weight around." Sang Qi had been waiting for ages without a sign of his eunuch, yet they had just gone in and were already coming out.

Ye Qianning was also confused. "Luo Wen, what happened?"

"I was going to wait in line, but as soon as the Shopkeeper saw me, he started bowing and scraping, packaged the pastries, and gave them to me. He wouldn’t even take my money," Luo Wen said.

Ye Qianning grew even more puzzled.

Sang Qi said scornfully, "The General’s Manor must have committed so many evil deeds that it frightens the merchants."

"The Crown Prince is mistaken." Gu Shuo walked out from the shop and bowed to Sang Qi. "This shop is my property. This young lady doesn’t need to wait in line if she wants pastries."

Ye Qianning looked over. ’When did he get back to the Capital City?’

’He looks much more haggard than before, and his face is a bit pale. It seems the trip to Yu State didn’t go so smoothly.’

"Boss Gu, you manage my royal family’s businesses. Even my own Attendants don’t get special treatment when buying pastries. By what right does the General’s Manor?" Sang Qi said with a cold expression.

"Although I manage the imperial businesses, the Crown Prince mustn’t forget that I come from the Gu family. I have quite a few businesses of my own. This Nianyunjian is one of my private enterprises. However, this young lady is now the owner of Nianyunjian. The owner naturally doesn’t have to wait to eat her own pastries." Gu Shuo’s voice was light, yet serious.

Sang Qi’s young face twisted as he listened. With a heavy huff, he dropped the curtain.

’Why is there always someone protecting that damn fatty wherever she goes?’

Gu Shuo turned and walked to Ye Qianning’s carriage. "From now on, if you want some, just say the word and I’ll have them sent over."

"I was just passing by and joining in on the excitement."

"Mm. I heard you did exceptionally well on your monthly exam this time."

"For someone as busy as Boss Gu to even know about the exam results of a little kid like me, how thoughtful of you." Aside from Xiang Minghou, Ye Qianning didn’t have a very good impression of the other three.

’Even if he’s being kind now, it’s a waste of effort.’

Gu Shuo sensed her faint sarcasm but didn’t seem to mind. "On my trip south this time, I found a White Spirit. I was planning to have someone send it to the General’s Manor tonight, but I didn’t expect to run into you here."

After he spoke, he turned and said something to the young attendant beside him, who then hurried into Nianyunjian’s backyard.

Hearing the name, Ye Qianning figured it was probably a White Spirit bird, and she didn’t think much of it.

Sang Qi, however, heard "White Spirit" and lifted the curtain. "Boss Gu, did you really catch a White Spirit?"

"Mm."

A hint of anticipation appeared in Sang Qi’s eyes. When he was little, his father, the Emperor, had found one while hunting in the mountains. He had given it to his mother, the Consort, and she and Sang Qi raised it together, but it later died for some unknown reason.

He had been so sad that he didn’t eat for two days. Later, his imperial father and mother consort promised they would find him another one, but they never did.

The White Spirit was hailed as a spirit of the mountains, a rare sight for mortals.