Chapter Fourteen: Half a Million Taels—He Actually Has It!

“Fugui, you come, help me...” Zhao Ang whispered softly into Fugui’s ear. Then the carriage rounded the corner ahead and set Fugui down.

Because the carriage from the Duke of Zhen Guo’s estate was a gift from the Emperor himself, naturally it moved faster than the carriage from the Minister of Revenue’s household.

Thus, the departure of Fugui went unnoticed by Wang Xiuyun and her brother.

It wasn’t until the carriage reached its destination that Wang Xiuyun realized Fugui was missing.

“Zhao Lang, where’s that servant of yours? Why don’t I see him?” Wang Xiuyun asked tentatively as she stepped forward, clutching Zhao Ang’s arm.

Zhao Ang pulled his arm away without a word and strode directly toward the gambling den.

“Sis, why worry about a servant? Let’s hurry and follow him,” Wang Chengfeng said excitedly; at last, he would be repaying his gambling debts.

Seeing his foolish expression, Wang Xiuyun was a bit speechless but still followed inside.

With the plan already set in motion, even if something felt off, there was no turning back now.

“Oh, isn’t this the heir apparent? Not visiting the brothel today, but coming to our gambling house instead?”

A few thugs standing at the entrance of the gambling den mocked Zhao Ang as soon as they saw him.

Their boldness stemmed from the original character’s timid and conflict-averse reputation, which was deeply ingrained in everyone’s mind.

Besides, this was a gambling den—a lawless place where if trouble arose, running away was the simplest solution.

“I’m here today to repay his gambling debts,” Zhao Ang said indifferently, pointing at Wang Chengfeng who trailed behind him.

Only then did the thugs notice Wang Chengfeng, and their attitude shifted immediately.

“So you’re here to settle debts? Come on in then!”

The thugs pushed aside the curtain, and one hurried off to fetch the manager.

“Well, Master Wang is here. Please, have a seat,” the manager said.

With Zhao Ang taking the lead, Wang Chengfeng sat down carelessly.

Today, he was unafraid of failing to repay his debt, so he felt no fear at all.

“My brother-in-law is repaying my debts today. Hurry up and bring my IOU,” he said, putting on a false show of confidence. Naturally, the manager paid him no mind.

However, the manager didn’t take Wang Chengfeng seriously; he knew exactly who was actually repaying the debt.

“Your Highness, here is Master Wang’s IOU. The total is five hundred thousand taels. Please take a look,” the manager said.

“All right,” Zhao Ang took the IOU and, after examining it, added, “I’ll arrange for the silver to be delivered shortly.”

The moment Zhao Ang said this, the manager’s expression changed drastically, and he took back the IOU.

“Your Highness, please don’t joke around. There’s no such thing as delivering silver later in a gambling house,” the manager said firmly.

“The payment must be made immediately and in person!”

As soon as the manager’s words fell, those nearby began to sneer.

“This is laughable. Your Highness, you really shouldn’t put on airs like this. It’s embarrassing.”

“Exactly. If I were the Duke of Zhen Nan, I’d be so ashamed of such a grandson that I’d hang myself!”

“You’re wrong. No one hangs themselves. You just take a knife and kill the grandson, isn’t that better?”

Several ruffians added fuel to the fire, and Wang Xiuyun felt a bit calmer.

She had initially feared Zhao Ang might really have five hundred thousand taels, but thankfully he was only bluffing.

These ruffians were precisely those she and Zhou Qi had arranged.

She knew Zhao Ang’s temperament well—he was utterly incompetent and easily provoked.

If he started a fight with those ruffians, her men could slip in under cover of chaos and deal with the problem quietly.

Wang Xiuyun waited quietly for the spectacle to begin as the ruffians’ taunts grew more intense.

“If you can’t pay, get out of the casino, you worthless trash!”

“A loser like you dares act so high and mighty here? If I were you, I’d go home and drink milk!”

“Yeah, paying the heir apparent? You’re shameless!”

Surely now he’d lose patience and strike!

Wang Xiuyun urged silently, but Wang Chengfeng grew anxious.

“Zhao Ang, you can’t really have no money, right? I wrote the IOU; you must pay my debt!”

Unaware of Wang Xiuyun’s schemes, he only wanted Zhao Ang to settle his debts.

And Zhao Ang was waiting for precisely this moment. He spoke up.

“Fugui!”

“Your Highness!”

A voice called out as Fugui pushed through the crowd.

Behind him followed several palace soldiers.

“This… Your Highness, this is legitimate business. You wouldn’t really use your power to oppress people, would you?”

The gambling den’s manager hesitated but forced himself to confront Zhao Ang.

This was five hundred thousand taels of silver; even if he invoked the Duke of Zhen Nan, he couldn’t just give up.

At worst... worst case, he’d drag the Duke down with him.

“I guess that explains why he hasn’t lost his temper,” Wang Xiuyun said, “Well, using power to oppress people isn’t a good reputation to have anyway.”

“Princess Zhao He probably wouldn’t marry Zhao Ang if she knew this,” she added.

Wang Xiuyun thought Zhao Ang was just trying to intimidate by showing influence, so she didn’t pay much attention.

But...

“Rest assured,” Zhao Ang read the manager’s nervousness, “This five hundred thousand taels actually belong to the Minister of Revenue’s son. I will repay it properly.”

“Your Highness, the silver is ready,” Fugui said at the right moment, handing Zhao Ang a silver note. The amount was exact—five hundred thousand taels.

“Manager, give me the IOU!”

The gambling den’s manager was still stunned as he took the silver note.

Zhao Ang really handed over five hundred thousand taels? Then what were those palace soldiers for?

Soon, he understood their purpose.

“These ruffians insulted the Duke of Zhen Nan and the heir apparent. Why aren’t you arresting them?” Fugui’s voice was firm and commanding, and the palace soldiers responded in unison.

Though the original character was timid, he was the heir apparent, and the old duke had just returned victorious.

These men openly insulted him and the old duke—such behavior was courting death. There was no need for Zhao Ang to lift a finger.

The ruffians understood the situation and knelt down together.

“Your Highness, we were wrong. Please spare our lives!”

One even crawled on his knees, beating his chest and begging Zhao Ang.

“I deserve to die, I deserve to die! Please, Your Highness, have mercy!”

Another glanced at Wang Xiuyun and blurted, “Your Highness, someone ordered me to do this…”

“Silence!”

Wang Xiuyun, still marveling at Zhao Ang’s apparent wealth, was brought back to reality by those words.

She kicked that man hard in the face, knocking him to the ground.

“What are you all standing there for? Drag him away quickly!”

Wang Xiuyun glared angrily at the palace soldiers, who immediately obeyed.

Wang Chengfeng was stunned. When did his sister gain such strength? That kick must have hurt!

Unaware that her useless brother was still thinking this, Wang Xiuyun looked at Zhao Ang in confusion.

“Zhao Lang, didn’t you say you had no money? Where did this five hundred thousand taels come from?”

“Could it be that you stole it from the Duke of Zhen Nan?”

Even now, Wang Xiuyun couldn’t help but try to discredit Zhao Ang.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Fugui snapped, unable to tolerate it any longer. “Our heir apparent pawned the best shop in Sanjian to get this silver!”