Gu Jiangyue widened her eyes in disbelief as she stared at the silver notes in the black - cloaked man's hand. Then she glanced at the man, who looked nonchalant.
"You really aren't short of money. Then I won't be polite," Gu Jiangyue said as she took the silver notes, looking righteous.
"I won't take your money for free. If you need any help in the future, just let me know. I'll pay you back after I earn the money."
She wasn't an ungrateful person. Since the black - cloaked man had helped her so much, she was definitely going to repay him.
Under normal circumstances, Gu Jiangyue would never take this money. But now that she was going to open a shop, she couldn't do without silver. The black - cloaked man was so generous that he probably didn't care about this amount of money. She would open the shop first and pay him back after making money.
"Since you're so rich, why do you go to Qianyin Pavilion to risk your life?"
Gu Jiangyue blinked her curious eyes. She thought that since the black - cloaked man was willing to lend her money, he must regard her as a friend, so there was no need to be evasive.
The black - cloaked man let out a soft laugh. He couldn't just tell this young woman that he was the master of Qianyin Pavilion.
His thin lips parted slightly, and his voice was light as he casually told a lie.
"I'm bored. I just go there for fun."
Gu Jiangyue twitched the corner of her mouth when she heard this. As far as she knew, it wasn't easy to get into Qianyin Pavilion. Without some real strength, one couldn't even reach the threshold.
Moreover, once inside, one would be like a slave for life. Everyone would take the same medicine. If they dared to betray the master, they would only have a dead end.
Despite this, there were still a constant stream of people flocking to Qianyin Pavilion. Although Qianyin Pavilion had a huge influence, it did all good deeds of punishing the evil. Coupled with its master behind the scenes, it managed to have a foothold in the vast capital.
If someone else said they went there for fun, Gu Jiangyue definitely wouldn't believe it. But after witnessing the black - cloaked man's skills and wealth today, she believed him.
"You're opening a shop. Here, take this too," the black - cloaked man said as he took out a jade token from his sleeve. Gu Jiangyue was curious and took it from his hand to take a look.
The jade token was only half the size of a palm, with a blend of cyan and warm white. There were cloud patterns and a coiling dragon carved on it. When held in the palm, one could faintly feel the warmth from the jade token, which could calm the mind and make one feel peaceful. It was obviously a top - grade jade.
Gu Jiangyue continued to look and was slightly stunned when she saw a character engraved on the jade token.
It was the character "An", in golden font, quietly printed in the middle of the coiling dragon.
Gu Jiangyue frowned and murmured in a low voice in confusion, "Xie Jiuan?"
Xie Jiuan, the ninth prince of the Great Xia and the most beloved prince by the emperor. However, his reputation in the capital was not good. Gu Jiangyue didn't have many memories of him.
She only remembered that this ninth prince was not good at martial arts, was a womanizer, but had a good - looking appearance that could captivate everyone. He was a proper playboy.
"Do you know Xie Jiuan?"
Not only did she know him, but this so - called "martial - arts - incompetent" and "womanizing" "playboy" was looking at Gu Jiangyue with a smile in his eyes.
Xie Jiuan was actually a little inexplicably happy that she knew him.
But he didn't admit it at all.
"I'm friends with him."
This black - cloaked man was so good at martial arts and could come and go freely in Qianyin Pavilion. It was indeed possible for him to be friends with Xie Jiuan. After all, he even got Xie Jiuan's jade token. Gu Jiangyue had no reason to doubt it.
It was just a bit unexpected for Gu Jiangyue that Xie Jiuan could be associated with the experts in Qianyin Pavilion. It seemed that this ninth prince was not as simple as he appeared on the surface. She should be more vigilant in the future.
"If you encounter any trouble in the future, take this jade token and go to Xie Jiuan. He will help you," the hoarse voice of the black - cloaked man sounded.
Gu Jiangyue rubbed the jade token in her hand. Only then did she realize what the black - cloaked man meant.
The black - cloaked man was afraid that she would be troubled when opening the shop in the future, so he brought out Xie Jiuan to support her.
Although Xie Jiuan had a bad reputation, he was still the most beloved prince by the emperor. So even though he had never done anything good in the capital, he wasn't extremely evil. The common people weren't that resistant to him.
Gu Jiangyue felt warm in her heart. The black - cloaked man was the only one besides her family who was willing to treat her like this.
"Okay," Gu Jiangyue said with a bright smile and nodded.
Xie Jiuan didn't think it was a big deal. He hadn't met such an interesting person for a long time. Gu Jiangyue was very smart, calm in times of danger, and always able to come up with appropriate countermeasures. He really appreciated such people.
Xie Jiuan rarely caused trouble for himself except when he was pretending in the capital. But facing such an interesting person, why not cause a little trouble? He was willing to.
Xie Jiuan had finished his business. He looked up at the sky. It was completely dark all around. He turned around and was about to leave when he was stopped by Gu Jiangyue.
"Don't leave yet. How can I find you in the future?"
Gu Jiangyue was thinking about paying back the silver after she earned it.
The black - cloaked man turned his head. Only his eyes were exposed. At this moment, his eyes were bottomless, like a deep pool, looking at Gu Jiangyue. After a little thought, his voice took on a teasing tone.
"When you need me, I will naturally appear."
Gu Jiangyue wanted to ask something else, but after saying that, he left without looking back. His clothes fluttered, and his black figure melted into the deep night.
Gu Jiangyue didn't just stand there stupidly. She put away the silver notes and the jade token and then went to sleep.
After working hard all night, it wasn't in vain. She was also tired and fell into a deep sleep on the couch, not knowing when she would see the black - cloaked man next time.
Xie Jiuan didn't like living in the palace, so the emperor built Bishui Yunju for him.
At this moment, in Bishui Yunju, Xie Jiuan was lazily reclining on the couch, playing with a small brocade pouch in his hand.
Xie Jiuan had taken off his black - cloaked outfit. He was dressed in a snow - white robe, with his hair as black as ink. His facial features were as distinct as if carved, and his peach - blossom eyes were full of amorous feelings. There was a faint smile on his lips, which was dazzling, looking amorous and charming.
His slender fingers were playing with a brocade pouch, and inside the pouch was half a wisp of Gu Jiangyue's blue hair that he had cut off.
"Greetings, my lord," a guard, Ying Qing, who was his personal guard, respectfully clasped his fists in front of Xie Jiuan.
"How's the investigation going?"
Xie Jiuan's voice was light, showing no emotion.
"The Lin family is indeed related to Xie Chengrui."
The amorous look in Xie Jiuan's eyes disappeared in an instant. His deep peach - blossom eyes were like bottomless pools, exuding a cold and chilling aura, full of arrogance.
Xie Chengrui. He really underestimated him.
"Keep investigating."