“Miss Murong, some people are arguing in our way,” Xun Feng reported respectfully outside the carriage.
Murong Xue drew the curtain and looked outside. In the middle of the road, a middle-aged man in sackcloth rebuked with a piercing stare, “It’s not 50 bucks.”
In front of him was another middle-aged chubby man in a dark blue finery. With a condescending gaze at the man in sackcloth, the man in finery said, “You said it cost 50 bucks. Are you denying it?”
“I mean 50 bucks per kilo, not for all,” the man in sackcloth explained anxiously with a blush.
“I heard it clearly. Fifty bucks for all,” the man in finery said leisurely with an arrogant gaze at the other man. “My men heard it too. You can ask them.”
“Right, 50 bucks for all.”
“Yes, we heard it clearly.”
Two servants echoed loudly behind their master.
The man in sackcloth was red with anger and almost shed tears. He said anxiously, “These birds’ nests are the best of the best. They’re worth 50 bucks per kilo. I might not be smart but I’m not that stupid to charge 50 bucks for 10 kilos.”
“To collect the birds’ nests, I worked long hours every day with my mates and we barely rested in the last three months. Two of my mates even broke their legs. Even if you don’t want to pay 50 bucks, please pay a little more for my mates to cure their legs. I really can’t sell these at such a low price.”
When people around listened to his complaint, they showed great sympathy to him. “Fifty bucks for 10 kilos of birds’ nests. You’ve really gone too far.”
“You really are. Even the worst birds’ nests are worth more than that.”
“It’s really a hard work to collect birds’ nests. You can make a bargain, but you can’t go that far.”
“I agree. Fifty bucks can hardly cover the medical expense. How can they support their families with such little money?”
“You’ve got a point. This is the capital, the home of His Majesty. How dare they force a deal! That’s totally against the law.”
When people criticized the man in finery at the same time, the man abruptly raised his chin and then said arrogantly with a sullen look, “Stop! Do you know who I am? I’m the butler of the Crown Prince’s Mansion!”
His words were quite a surprise to the people around. The butler of the Crown Prince’s Mansion enjoyed certain rights and a much higher status than ordinary people. Murong Xue squinted at Gong Qianyu with her eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t believe that such a domineering man was really the butler of Gong Qianyu’s mansion.
As could be seen vaguely through the half-closed curtain, Gong Qianyu was confused at first and then turned angry when he figured out what had happened.
Murong Xue sighed resignedly that the man in finery was indeed the butler of the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Gong Qianyu was really unlucky to have such a bullying butler though Gong had little contact with him.
The man in sackcloth was also taken aback by the identity of the man in finery. It took a long while before he said, “His Highness is rich enough to buy all of those birds’ nests. You don’t have to haggle over like this.”
“What do you know?” said the man in finery. With a contemptuous glance at the man in sackcloth, he continued, “These will be served to His Highness.”
“His Highness will be the emperor of the country in the future. You are just one of his people. All the things you own are given by His Highness. It is your honor that His Highness chose your birds’ nests. To pay you fifty bucks is a reward for you. How dare you bargain with me!”
When the harsh rebuke made its way to his ears, the man in sackcloth trembled a little and said anxiously, “I don’t dare to do so. It’s just that His Highness has gone to Mingzhou to battle. How can he have these birds’ nests?”
The butler rolled his eyes and said proudly, “I plan to buy them in advance for His Highness. Is there anything wrong?”
“Of course not. It’s just that we make a living from this. Could you give a little more? Fifty bucks is too little to feed our families,” the man in sackcloth said miserably.
Untouched, the butler gave the man in sackcloth a kick and then spat out, “How dare you bargain with His Highness. You ask for this.”
Before the man in sackcloth realized, he was knocked to the ground in a very awkward position with messy clothes and a dusty face.
People around frowned, “That’s way out of line.”
“Right. Even though he is the butler of the Prince’s Mansion, he cannot bully others like this.”
“The two of them prove the proverb that the apple does not fall far from the tree. His Highness might be no better than this arrogant butler.”
“You are right. Can a prince, who is so aggressive like this butler, run the country well in the future?”
Upon hearing the gossips, Murong Xue smiled meaningfully. Bearing Gong Qianyu’s banner, the butler of the Prince Mansion bullied others, in which case he smeared Gong Qianyu’s name and ruined his image.
“Please, pretty please, we need just a little more money.” Seeing the butler take some birds’ nests and was ready to go, the man in sackcloth stepped forward hurriedly and clutched at the sleeve of the butler.
A trace of impatience flashed through the eyes of the butler. He kicked that man’s chest fiercely. “Fuck off! I have no time to take any notice of a pariah like you. Just get the hell out of my sight.”
Suddenly, the butler was smashed to the floor by an invisible force. He felt dizzy after being struck down.
“Butler…” The two servants were shocked. They soon stepped forward and grabbed the butler’s arm, trying to help him up.
The butler shook off the servants and kept looking around, “Who? Who dares to plot against me? Show yourself.”
“It’s me.” When an icy voice made its way to the butler’s ears, he followed the voice…