Chapter 1179: You Still Short on Silver?

"Zi Su, what on earth is wrong with you?"

Xia Ruqing asked with a frown, full of confusion.

Although Zi Su was carefree and straightforward by nature, she wasn’t unreliable.

It’s not like her to make such a basic mistake. Was she hiding something?

Seeing the urgency in Xia Ruqing’s question,

Zi Su didn’t hide it any longer. She gritted her teeth and told the truth.

"Master, I discovered that things in Jinling City are five or six times more expensive than in the Capital!"

"In the Capital, all the things you bought and ate last night would only cost two or three taels of silver, but I brought a hundred taels last night, and there’s only a bit more than eighty left!"

"What?" Xia Ruqing’s eyes widened.

"We only ate some snacks last night, and it cost over ten taels?!"

This is like spending five coins here for a bun you can buy elsewhere for one coin.

Even though it’s not a lot of silver, she was still shocked. It was indeed too expensive, like being ripped off.

"Was it because the place was bustling last night, so things were pricier?"

Zi Su shook her head.

"Last night, I went to ask Steward Li, and he encountered the same situation!"

Last night, when Zhao Junyao dined at the restaurant, it was Li Shengan who paid.

Xia Ruqing was stunned for a while, then shifted her gaze to the tray of jewelry at hand.

"So, you’re saying these trinkets that are worth only ten or so taels now cost us over a hundred taels of silver?"

Zi Su nodded solemnly.

"Yes, Master!"

"And I only brought a hundred taels, not knowing if it’s enough..."

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Alright, if that’s really the case, then she won’t want them.

Even though her husband is the wealthiest and most powerful man of the era, who likes to be swindled?

Spending a dozen taels to buy them for a fling would be acceptable.

Spending over a hundred taels on these trinkets, she might as well donate it to the common people!

Wait, common people?!

Something flickered through her mind, then quickly faded away.

Xia Ruqing frowned, unable to recall, and turned to instruct Zi Su.

"Go ask, if it really costs a hundred taels, then we won’t take them!"

With that, she walked out.

Zi Su acknowledged and took the tray to inquire.

After a while, Zi Su came back empty-handed, looking upset.

"How did it go?" Xia Ruqing asked.

Zi Su shook her head. "Master, it’s even more expensive than we thought. This little stuff costs a hundred and fifty taels!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

"Alright!"

She looked at Zi Su, who had a defeated expression, and suddenly understood.

"No wonder you hesitated and were reluctant to buy anything!"

"Why didn’t you say it last night?"

Zi Su looked helpless.

"Last night, I couldn’t find the chance!"

Xia Ruqing was briefly embarrassed, then resumed her normal demeanor.

"Let’s go, it’s getting late so let’s head back!"

"Okay!"

...

Back at the inn, Xia Ruqing went upstairs to rest.

Zi Su went to instruct the servants to prepare hot water for Xia Ruqing’s bath.

After resting a bit, Xia Ruqing bathed and changed, then checked the time.

"It’s only just the You Hour, don’t prepare dinner yet, let’s wait a bit longer!"

"Yes!"

Zi Su had just finished speaking when she heard a commotion outside.

The Emperor had returned.

Xia Ruqing quickly got up and went out to greet him.

After a whole day on horseback, Zhao Junyao entered, dusty and weary.

His entire body was covered in sweat, his white clothes completely soaked.

Xia Ruqing quickly handed over a bowl of mung bean soup.

"You’ve worked hard, my lord, have some to refresh yourself and cool down!"

Zhao Junyao said nothing and gulped down the soup.

After finishing the mung bean soup, he felt noticeably better.

He silently patted Xia Ruqing on the shoulder and hurried off to bathe.

The whole process took less than a moment; he seemed quite eager.

Xia Ruqing was a bit puzzled.

"Where did he go to get so exhausted?"

Li Shengan answered hoarsely.

"Replying to Master, the lord ran along the riverbank for most of the day today!"

"If it weren’t getting dark and the servants urging, we wouldn’t have returned now!"

Xia Ruqing was amused and exasperated.

"Why is he running along the riverbank?"

"Is there a problem?"

Li Shengan chuckled.

"There’s no problem. It’s just that the river rose, and the areas we were repairing got submerged, so we can’t continue repairs?"

Xia Ruqing was even more curious.

"How’s the outcome?"

Li Shengan smiled and shook his head.

"Well... the lord said it’s still too early to tell..."

Xia Ruqing nodded and didn’t probe further.

"Alright, you go rest now!"

Li Shengan thanked her and retreated with a bow.

...

A quarter-hour later, Zhao Junyao came out after bathing, looking much better.

But...

Xia Ruqing noticed he had gotten a tan.

"My lord, your face..."

Zhao Junyao hadn’t realized, so he glanced at her lightly.

"What about my face?"

Xia Ruqing pursed her lips silently, then found a mirror to place before him.

"Take a look!"

Zhao Junyao glanced over indifferently.

He had no idea until he looked; it gave him a start.

Uh... something seems amiss. Why is his face so dark?

What was once tan had nearly become bronze now.

He couldn’t believe it, touching it and finding it was indeed hot.

"Is this... a sunburn?" Zhao Junyao couldn’t believe it.

Xia Ruqing nodded.

"My lord, you’ve gotten sunburned!"

"Shall I call the Imperial Physician to apply some ointment?"

Zhao Junyao frowned.

"How could I get sunburned?"

Xia Ruqing put away the mirror as she offhandedly replied.

"Why not? You don’t often go out, do you?"

"Always staying indoors, and this time suddenly staying out all day! With such strong sunlight, getting sunburned is quite normal!!"

After speaking, she turned and walked out.

Zhao Junyao grabbed her, looking serious.

"No way!"

Xia Ruqing looked back, puzzled.

"Why not?"

Zhao Junyao awkwardly touched his nose.

"I think having a sunburn is fine, there’s no need to make a fuss!"

"It’s not a bad thing for a man to have thick skin!"

Xia Ruqing was astounded by his viewpoint.

"But... if you don’t treat it, it’ll be quite uncomfortable?!"

"Sunburnt skin can be very hot, at least cool it with some cold water!"

Zhao Junyao waved it off.

"No need!"

"Qingqing, stop fussing; I’m famished!"

Xia Ruqing couldn’t fathom his thought process.

"Well, alright then!"

She said, turning back to instruct the preparation of dinner.

...

Dinner was quite sumptuous.

Featuring famous dishes from every major region of Jiangnan, everything from abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, squid, bird’s nest, to exotic delicacies was present.

There were not only the world-renowned main courses but also simple and delicious dishes favored by common folk.

Although the flavors were vastly different from those in the Capital, and some dishes perhaps not easy to get used to,

to be fair, they were still quite good.

Xia Ruqing enjoyed eating immensely.

As she ate, she remarked, "My lord, this table of food costs quite a bit of silver!"

Zhao Junyao seemed unsure of what she meant, raising an eyebrow in ’disdain’.

"Are you short of silver?"

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"Not short!"