Zhao Mian has left, and the show has ended!
The fat Shopkeeper saw no one adding to the bid and promptly announced the auction result.
"I announce that today's finale auction item, the Dragon Egg, has been successfully bid for ten thousand taels of gold by the Sixth Prince! Congratulations to the Sixth Prince!"
Boom!
The people in the restaurant snapped back to reality, their eyes filled with fervor as they looked at Zhao Yi.
Although there had long been rumors in Shengjing City that the Sixth Prince, Zhao Yi, was the richest in the royal family, richer even than the private treasury of the old Emperor.
However, people didn't have a clear understanding of how rich Zhao Yi actually was.
Moreover, many people didn't believe that Zhao Yi could be richer than the Emperor!
The Emperor is the ruler of the Great Xia Dynasty.
No matter how rich Zhao Yi might be, he was still just a prince, and the Emperor could take it all back with a word.
Would Zhao Yi dare to defy the Emperor's orders?
But now Zhao Yi had suddenly brought out twenty thousand taels of gold, completely shocking everyone!
This was twenty thousand taels of gold!
Last autumn, the Northern Territory army killed tens of thousands of barbarians, and the entire military expenditure was only five thousand taels of gold!
The money Zhao Yi spent today could fund the Northern army's autumn hunts four times over!
If this got out, the military leaders at the border would go insane!
Zhao Yi ignored the fervent gazes of the crowd.
He gestured to have the ebony box sent over and said unhurriedly, "Shopkeeper Zhu, I didn't bring money when I went out today. The gold I owe, you can fetch it from my residence later, no problem?"
The fat Shopkeeper nodded repeatedly: "No problem, of course, no problem!"
The rule of the Four Seas Commerce Association was cash on delivery!
But rules are dead, and people are alive.
Zhao Yi was someone who could change the rules.
Not to mention going to Zhao Yi's residence to fetch money, even if Zhao Yi wanted to owe, the fat Shopkeeper would agree without hesitation!
In all of Wangjing City, the only person who could come up with twenty thousand taels of gold at once was Zhao Yi!
If they offended a big client like Zhao Yi, Four Seas Restaurant would lose at least half its business!
In these times, high cultivation might not allow you to do as you please.
But having money certainly could!
After all, not everyone despises money like the protagonist does!
Zhao Yi signaled to the maid Qing Feng to take the Golden Snake Sword and the ebony box, then got up to leave.
"Wait a moment!"
The male protagonist suddenly blocked Zhao Yi's path.
He clasped his hands together in a sincere gesture of respect towards Zhao Yi: "Your Highness, this is just a dead egg in the box, useless to you, but it can save this humble monk from dire straits! Please, Your Highness, be magnanimous and let me have it. I promise to repay you tenfold, even a hundredfold, in the future!"
Zhao Yi looked at the male protagonist expressionlessly, his tone icy: "Little monk, do you think I intended to let you go because I haven't settled accounts with you yet? You and I will wait and see; the grudge of stealing my future consort will be repaid tenfold, even a hundredfold!"
The male protagonist's expression changed, his frown so deep it could practically catch flies!
He clasped his hands together, his bright eyes directly meeting Zhao Yi's with neither arrogance nor fear, he said, "Your Highness, what's the point of making false accusations? This humble monk has already said, I don't even know who Your Highness's fiancée is, let alone have had any encounter with her! If I am hiding anything, let the gods and Buddha..."
Before the male protagonist could finish, a surprised voice suddenly rang out from outside the restaurant:
"Master, why are you here?"
The voice was crisp and pleasant, clearly that of a young woman.
Everyone in the restaurant, upon hearing this voice, turned their eyes towards the entrance!
At the restaurant entrance stood a young lady in her twenties, pure and pretty.
She wore a bright yellow long dress, her hair adorned with a golden hairpin, her charming face unadorned yet looking pure and lovely, making people unforgettable.
Su Qianqian stood at the restaurant entrance, looking at the male protagonist with a face full of surprise.
Her eyes, her heart, were only on the male protagonist, completely ignoring the surrounding audience.
Of course.
Zhao Yi was also not in her line of sight!
Upon seeing the female protagonist, the male protagonist was first stunned, then his brow slightly furrowed.
As a monk, being seen as so close to a woman in such a public place was already against etiquette.
Moreover, he was already embroiled in a scandal!
The unresolved accusation by the Sixth Prince Zhao Yi of having an affair with his future consort still hung over him.
Now with another woman involved, his reputation was truly ruined.
Even jumping into the Yellow River might not clear his name!
The male protagonist clasped his hands together, his tone stiff: "Amitabha! Esteemed lady, do you know this humble monk?"
Su Qianqian saw that the male protagonist forgot her, and her smile momentarily faltered but quickly returned to normal.
She nodded with a smile, hinting: "The day before yesterday at West Mountain Temple, my maid and I went up to pray to the Buddha, and you personally cooked porridge for me!"
When the female protagonist mentioned porridge, her face was full of sweetness.
She stole a glance at the male protagonist, then shyly lowered her head, gently fiddling with her clothes, and said bashfully, "That bowl of porridge is the best delicacy I've had in my life!"
Wow!
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire restaurant went into an uproar!
Everyone widened their eyes, looking at the female protagonist as if she were insane!
Just a bowl of porridge!
Was there a need to be so exaggerated?
A phrase suddenly appeared in everyone's mind at the same time.
True love fills the stomach!
Initially unwilling to believe Zhao Yi's words, thinking he was defaming the protagonists, the audience now had to face reality.
Everyone looked at Zhao Yi with sympathetic eyes.
And the look in their eyes towards the female protagonist was unspeakable!
When the male protagonist heard Su Qianqian's hint, he immediately remembered the pair of master and servant he'd met on the mountain the day before.
Su Qianqian, with her charming and pretty appearance, would have been instantly recognizable if it were at another time.
But now the Dragon Egg had been taken by Zhao Yi, and he himself was facing the risk of utter disgrace, which is why he hadn't remembered who Su Qianqian was right away.
The male protagonist clasped his hands together and recited a Buddhist verse: "So it's Donor Su. Please forgive this humble monk's dullness for forgetting your distinguished name. Please pardon me!"
Su Qianqian's lips curled into a smile, her beautiful eyes arching into crescent moons.
She softly said, "Master, you are too serious. How could Qianqian blame you!"
After speaking, she cautiously asked, "Master, can I come to the mountain to find you and drink your porridge in the future?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the restaurant was filled with the sound of people drawing in sharp breaths.
The male protagonist also realized there was a problem but couldn't figure out where it stemmed from, so he could only nod: "The Buddha has long decreed it, the Buddhist Sect welcomes all who come, so if Donor Su wishes for porridge, she is welcome to come up the mountain at any time!"
Su Qianqian immediately beamed with joy, nodding like a bird pecking for food.
"It's a deal?"
The male protagonist was about to respond when suddenly there was the loud sound of a cup shattering nearby!
Bang!
The male protagonist instinctively turned around.
And then he saw the Sixth Prince, eyes red with rage, staring intently at him!
Zhao Yi was burning with anger, his face twisted and terrifying.
"Do you all think I'm dead?"