"Zhuque, take a familiar male servant and go out to buy something for me." Cheng Xiran took out a gold ingot from her sleeve and then whispered instructions into Zhuque's ear.
Zhuque's face turned pale after hearing this. She asked in disbelief, "Miss, do we really have to buy this? How about we find another way?"
"Go quickly." Cheng Xiran sounded a bit impatient.
Zhuque responded and took the money, then rushed out of the mansion gate. In her haste, she didn't notice that someone was following her.
On the bustling street, Zhuque went into a restaurant to inquire. After asking several places, she still couldn't find what she was looking for. She searched the street dejectedly.
"Your Highness, it's Zhuque." Zuo Yan was driving the carriage. From afar, he spotted Zhuque. "Your Highness, judging from her appearance, she seems to be looking for something."
Helian Duo threw a gold ingot from behind the curtain into Zuo Yan's arms. "Follow her and see. If she wants to buy something, help her buy it."
Zuo Yan held the gold ingot in his hand, feeling puzzled. Was he helping Zhuque buy something, or was it because the prince had feelings for Miss Cheng that he was ordered to do so?
However, he didn't dare to ask more. He jumped off the carriage and chased after Zhuque.
He saw Zhuque quietly enter a small restaurant. This restaurant was famous for its game. Zuo Yan thought it was strange. Could it be that Miss Cheng wanted to eat game?
Zuo Yan didn't go in but stood guard at the door. When he saw Zhuque come out without carrying anything, he walked in out of curiosity. The waiter greeted him warmly when he saw a customer. "What would you like, sir?"
"The girl who just came in. What did she buy? I'll buy some too." Zuo Yan took out the gold ingot from his pocket and put it on the table, looking very wealthy.
The waiter's eyes lit up when he saw the gold. He quickly put the money away and smiled like a flower. "The girl just now bought thirty snakes. She said she'd come back to pick them up at night. If you want them, I can give them to you first, sir."
"Snakes?" Zuo Yan looked at the waiter in disbelief. Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, he quickly declined and said that he would just pay for Zhuque. When she came to pick them up, they should tell her there was a miscalculation in the bill.
Then Zuo Yan went back to report to Helian Duo. He thought Helian Duo would have some reaction, but unexpectedly, he calmly told him to go back and check if the snakes were poisonous.
Zuo Yan had no choice but to secretly go and check the snakes prepared by the restaurant when no one was around. When he came back, he wished he could chop off his hands. The sticky and disgusting feeling made his whole body go numb.
After night fell, Zhuque quietly went to pick up the snakes. She put the basket on the ground and then hid behind a vase, not daring to look.
"Miss, this is so disgusting. We spent so much money on these. How are we going to eat them?"
Cheng Xiran opened the basket and saw all kinds of snakes coiled together inside. Their red tongues were flickering, looking extremely terrifying.
"You go back and rest first. No matter what noise you hear, don't come out." Cheng Xiran picked up the basket and walked outside. Zhuque was so scared that she hid and didn't dare to follow.
In the dead of night, Cheng Xiran quietly slipped into Ren Ning'er's small courtyard with the basket in her hand. Suddenly, a pair of hands landed on her shoulders, scaring her so much that she almost screamed.
"Helian Duo, what are you doing? You scared me!" Cheng Xiran whispered in a low voice. She pulled Helian Duo and hid in the dark. "Why are you here so late?"
"What are you sneaking around in your own yard for? What's in your hand?" Helian Duo knew what was in her hand but didn't say it explicitly.