She winked at Xiao Xiao and pulled the Concubine Rui back just as she was about to run into the pillar.
"Sister, if you have something to say, say it nicely. You should get rid of this habit of trying to kill yourself at every turn. It's just some money. As long as you write me an IOU, I'll still lend it to you."
The Concubine Rui was filled with bitterness but couldn't voice it. She couldn't expose what she had just said on the spot, so she could only nod with a complex expression.
"Sister, rest assured. I will surely repay the money on time."
As she said this, she ordered someone to fetch paper and a writing brush. However, just as the maid was about to leave, Shi Muyuan stopped her.
"Wait, sister. I have to say this in advance. I'm lending you money from my own private savings. When it comes to repayment, I'm afraid I'll have to charge some interest. I wonder if sister minds?"
Hearing this, the Concubine Rui could no longer maintain her composure. She had lived her whole life without ever borrowing money from anyone. Today, not only did she break this precedent, but she also had to pay interest.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by the maid beside her.
"Your Highness, forget it. It's just a bit of interest. It's better than incurring the Empress Dowager's hatred."
The maid was right. Once she calmed down, she regained her smile.
"Naturally. It's not easy for sister to save her own money. I will surely repay it soon."
This time, Shi Muyuan was satisfied.
The Prince Li had tried to gain an advantage but ended up suffering a loss. Now, he had not only offended the Empress Dowager but also his own daughter. It would be very difficult for him to get back in touch with his daughter.
Soon, the IOU was signed. Shi Muyuan had someone send the money and then left.
She didn't pay much attention to the Prince Li. Today, her elder brother and the Prince Li had entered and left the palace at about the same time. They must have met, so there was no need for her to take action. Someone would surely deal with him.
The Concubine Rui absent - mindedly drove her father away, her face full of anger.
"It's all your fault for making me sign that IOU. Now, I even owe more interest."
Just thinking about losing a portion of her private savings soon, she wished she could beat the maid beside her to death with a cane.
The maid felt wronged.
"Your Highness, wasn't that the best solution at that time? Moreover, if you had really gone along with what the Prince Li said, who knows what kind of trouble you would have faced. You can't afford to offend the Empress Dowager any more."
She understood what the maid said very well in her heart. She just couldn't believe that her father would so easily betray his daughter for such a small profit.
She was not willing! No, this debt could not be counted on her head. Even if she had to repay the money, it should be with the money from the Prince Li's Mansion.
She had an idea and immediately sent someone to follow the Prince Li out of the palace and demand the money.
At this moment, the Prince Li was walking back to his mansion. Looking at the silent man beside him, he was very angry. Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore and questioned.
"The National Teacher clearly promised to help me today. Why couldn't you say a single word in front of the Empress Dowager? Are you not willing to keep your promise?"
Cui Qizhou gave him a disdainful look.
"I originally thought that it was really the Concubine who had been wronged in the palace, so the Prince Li wanted me to come and help seek justice. I never thought that the truth behind the matter would be like this. Right now, there are continuous floods in the south of the Yangtze River. Most court officials have voluntarily reduced their household expenses. I heard that the Prince Li's Mansion just took in a new concubine a few days ago. In order to please the concubine, the Prince Li even held a grand celebration, squandering money wantonly. The Prince had better pay attention to the official hat on his head."
His direct threat made the Prince Li feel embarrassed. He was a royal relative and, to some extent, was of a higher rank than Cui Qizhou. However, Cui Qizhou always managed to step on him.
This situation almost drove the Prince Li crazy. Staring at the man's back, he wished he could rush up and fight to the death.
However, some things could only be thought about.
The Prince Li gritted his teeth, full of resentment. Just as he was about to return to his mansion, he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind.
"My Lord, please wait. The Concubine has something to tell you."
Did his daughter know that he had been forced today and thus took the initiative to find him to discuss the next plan?
He turned around happily, not minding that the person who came to find him was just an ordinary little maid. "You said the Concubine has something to find me? Is it something important that I need to do?"
The maid nodded and took out the IOU.
"Your Highness just ordered that since this money was borrowed for the Prince Li's Mansion, it should be repaid by the Prince Li's Mansion. Please pay the interest as well."
The Prince Li's smile froze on his face. He thought he had misheard.
"Say what you just said again!"
Seeing his terrifying expression, the little maid swallowed nervously, took a step back in fear, and repeated what she had just said.
This time, the Prince Li's face completely darkened.
Good, very good indeed. The money was borrowed by her, and now she had the nerve to ask her father to repay it.
Without thinking, the Prince Li directly refused.
"This matter has nothing to do with the Prince Li's Mansion. You go back and tell your Concubine that no matter what, she is a person from the Prince Li's Mansion. She should weigh her own situation. If she loses the support of the Prince Li's Mansion, she won't be able to move an inch in the palace in the future."
After saying that, the Prince Li hurriedly left, not wanting to stay any longer.
The maid could only pluck up her courage and relay this whole speech.
After the Concubine Rui heard it, her face became ferocious. "How dare he say such a thing? If it weren't for my careful calculations over the years, how could he have climbed from a small official to such a high position?"
It was simply unreasonable. This time, the Concubine Rui and the Prince Li completely fell out.
On the other hand, Shi An and Shi Li were both waiting at the palace gate to watch the Prince Li leave the palace.
Seeing that bloated figure slowly climb into the carriage, Shi Li whistled into the darkness. Immediately, a black figure appeared.
"My Lord, what are your orders?"
"Go and empty the treasury of the Prince Li's Mansion. I heard that they borrowed money from our little sister. Those things can be counted as interest. After you're done, send them to our little sister's mansion."
"Yes."
After Shi Li gave all his orders, he turned to look at his elder brother.
"Brother, how did I do? Am I making you satisfied?"
Shi An said calmly, "It's not enough."
This made Shi Li a bit confused. Was the treasury of the Prince Li's Mansion not enough? What should be done then?
While he was thinking, Shi An called his shadow guard. "See what good things are in our Concubine's treasury. There might be something our little sister likes. Send them all over."
Now, Shi Li understood. The Concubine Rui had always been against their little sister. If it weren't for their little sister's quick reaction today, she might have been schemed against by those two. Just emptying the Prince Li's Mansion's treasury was not enough.