As soon as Shen Jing arrived at the entrance of Su Manor, he heard bursts of cheers from inside.
“Greetings, Marquis!”
The doorman no longer called him 'son-in-law' and saluted Shen Jing with a beaming smile.
“…”
Shen Jing asked in surprise, “Everyone in the manor knows?”
“Yes.”
The doorman, still smiling, replied, “The palace staff have already come to deliver the good news. Congratulations, Marquis!”
“You’re quick-witted!”
Shen Jing smiled, took out a small silver ingot from his person, and tossed it to the doorman, “This is for you!”
“Thank you, Marquis!”
The doorman caught the silver ingot, and calling him “Marquis” now rolled off his tongue even more smoothly.
“Alright, don’t call me Marquis. Just call me son-in-law!”
“Yes!”
After a brief exchange with the doorman, Shen Jing stepped into the manor, secretly wondering if he should strike a more flamboyant pose.
As soon as he entered, Su Yourong and others, who had been waiting for a long time, gathered around him.
Everyone surrounded Shen Jing, their faces beaming with joy.
“Greetings, Marquis!”
“Marquis, allow this servant to massage your back!”
“Marquis…”
Everyone in the manor called him “Marquis” one after another, and even Madam Su and Miss Su joined in the commotion, making Shen Jing a little embarrassed.
Chi Chi was even more emotional, tears welling up in her eyes, a misty layer appearing in her gaze as she looked at Shen Jing.
“Alright, alright!”
Shen Jing stopped the overjoyed crowd and gently patted Chi Chi’s head, “Why are you crying?”
“This servant is happy.”
Chi Chi raised her teary eyes to look at Shen Jing, “Young Master has truly brought glory to his ancestors this time. Madam and Master, if they knew in the afterlife, would also rest in peace…”
Speaking of Master and Madam, Chi Chi couldn't help but raise her hand to wipe away tears.
“When we return to Luochuan Prefecture, we will properly pay our respects to my parents!”
Shen Jing patted Chi Chi again, then looked at Su Yourong, “Don’t just focus on being happy. Quickly grab the gambling contract, and let’s go collect the silver!”
“Are we going now?”
Su Yourong pursed her lips and smiled, “We were planning to celebrate properly this afternoon!”
“Let’s get the silver first!”
Shen Jing said with a smile, “It’s not too late to celebrate after we have the money in hand, making it a double blessing!”
Su Yourong tilted her head, thought for a moment, and a wide smile appeared on her face, “That’s true!”
Soon, they left Su Manor with the gambling contract.
On the way, Su Yourong lifted the curtain of the carriage and said to Du Heng, who was driving, “We remember your and Fan Qinghu’s contributions! If the Emperor doesn’t reward you, we will!”
“It’s fine!”
Du Heng turned his head, grinned, and said, “On the way back, Marquis already told me!”
To say he wasn't envious of Shen Jing being directly ennobled as a Marquis would certainly be a lie.
However, he clearly remembered what his father told him when he left Luochuan Prefecture.
To know his place!
“That’s good!”
Su Yourong smiled sweetly and said no more.
Soon, they arrived at Hengyun Gambling House.
However, when they arrived at Hengyun Gambling House, they found that it was already deserted.
Du Heng’s eyelids twitched, and he quickly went forward to inquire, “What happened? Where are the people from Hengyun Gambling House?”
“What else could have happened? They ran away, of course!”
A passerby grumbled, “Qiao Lao San, that bastard, can win but can’t lose. He must have taken the silver from the previous gambling stakes and fled…”
Du Heng’s expression changed, and he quickly returned to the carriage to tell Shen Jing and Su Yourong about it.
“Ran away?”
Shen Jing narrowed his eyes, “I’m afraid he was silenced, wasn’t he?”
“Very likely!”
Su Yourong’s face suddenly fell, “It seems that person really doesn’t intend to honor the debt!”
Their principal alone was one hundred thousand taels of silver!
That person was truly ruthless!
Not only did he not honor the gambling contract, but he also wanted to swallow their principal!
He wasn't afraid of choking himself!
“It’s nothing!”
Shen Jing was not angry; instead, he clapped his hands and laughed loudly, “It seems we’re about to make another windfall!”
“Ah?”
Du Heng looked bewildered, staring at him uncomprehendingly, “Are you out of your mind with anger?”
Make a windfall?
They couldn't even get their principal back, and they were going to make a windfall?
“Let’s go back and talk about it!”
Su Yourong composed herself, lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at Hengyun Gambling House, and secretly shook her head.
Back at Su Manor, the two told Madam Su about the matter.
After listening to their words, Madam Su was not angry; she merely instructed calmly, “Alright, don’t concern yourselves with this matter. Leave it to me to handle!”
“Let me handle it instead!”
Su Yourong shook her head at her mother, “I placed the bet, so I should be the one to collect the debt!”
“No…”
Shen Jing looked at the mother and daughter, torn between laughter and tears, “It’s just this one thing, and you two are already arguing over it?”
“Anyway, just don’t interfere!”
The mother and daughter said in unison.
“…”
Shen Jing laughed wryly, “How about I go instead? You two might not be very good at this kind of thing.”
“That’s not necessarily true!”
Su Yourong raised an eyebrow, “For this kind of matter, it’s more convenient for me to step forward!”
“You Rong is right!” Madam Su nodded gently, “Then this matter will be left to You Rong to handle! If they want to renege on the debt, there’s no way!”
Seeing the mother and daughter insist, Shen Jing could only reluctantly agree.
Alright then!
Let Su Yourong go collect the debt first!
If she couldn't get it back, he would go himself!
…
Prince Jing's Residence.
Ye Qing was still having lunch at the residence when a servant suddenly came to report, “Reporting to Your Highness, Miss Su Yourong, daughter of Grand Tutor Su, requests an audience.”
Hearing Su Yourong’s name, Ye Qing, with a guilty conscience, felt his eyelids twitch.
Su Yourong had never come to his Prince Jing's Residence before!
For Su Yourong to suddenly come at this critical moment, it couldn't possibly be a casual visit, could it?
Damn it!
She wouldn't know that Qiao Lao San was his man, would she?
It doesn't make sense!
This matter was so secretive that even his Imperial Father didn't know; how could she possibly know?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Ye Qing’s mind.
After a moment of hesitation, Ye Qing still instructed his servant, “Please invite Miss Su in!”
The servant bowed and left.
Ye Qing pondered for a moment, motioned for the people in the residence to continue their meal, and he himself went to the front courtyard and sat down.
Soon, the servant brought Su Yourong before Ye Qing.
After Su Yourong had performed her courtesies, Ye Qing asked with a cheerful smile, “Shen Jing has just been ennobled as a Marquis. Instead of celebrating at the manor, why does Miss Su have time to visit this Prince’s residence?”
Su Yourong pursed her lips and smiled, “The Su Family is so poor we can barely make ends meet. I specifically chose this time to visit because I want to freeload a meal at Your Highness’s residence.”
Listening to Su Yourong’s words, Ye Qing’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Su Yourong clearly had a hidden meaning in her words!
Damn it!
She wouldn't really know that Qiao Lao San was his man, would she?
Ye Qing felt even more guilty, but his face remained expressionless as he smiled, “Miss Su, don’t make fun of this Prince! Imperial Father just rewarded Shen Jing two thousand gold today. How can you still barely make ends meet? Miss Su isn’t trying to complain to this Prince that Imperial Father’s reward was too little, is she?”
“The Emperor broke tradition to heavily reward Shen Jing. I am grateful for the Emperor’s kindness and don’t have time to complain,”
Su Yourong shook her head, still maintaining a smile on her face, “I was just joking with Your Highness. My visit this time is actually to ask for a favor.”
“Oh?”
Ye Qing feigned curiosity, “What is it?”
Su Yourong smiled sweetly, “I would like to ask Your Highness to help me find someone.”
“Who?”
“Qiao Lao San of Hengyun Gambling House!”
