Chapter 102: There Exists Such a Benefactor

The wharf was packed with people, crowded three layers deep. Everyone was gazing out at the river, whispering and pointing with great excitement.

Xue Fanzhi, experiencing such a scene for the first time, clenched her fists and, after a moment of hesitation, asked a peddler carrying a shoulder pole in front of her, "Pardon me, what is all this commotion about?"

The peddler was carrying a bucket of herbal tea. Seeing that Xue Fanzhi was dressed in fine, wealthy attire, he rolled his eyes and said, "Buy some tea from me, and I’ll tell you!"

Her maids, Honglian and Hongxiao, were not like Xue Fanzhi; they had never been out much, and back in their hometown, they had never encountered such a person. Honglian was about to step forward to argue, but Xue Fanzhi stopped her and smiled at the peddler, "Very well, if you tell me, I’ll buy three bowls!" As she spoke, she toyed with a few copper coins in her palm but did not hand them over.

The peddler chuckled and said, "A wealthy patron is here to shower the lead courtesan with gifts. He has anchored a luxurious ship in the middle of the river, filled with all sorts of rare delicacies. He has declared that whoever can answer the courtesan’s riddle will have any request granted—provided it isn't murder, arson, or anything against one's conscience. If one doesn't have a request, he will gift them five hundred taels of gold. Think about it—even if you don't need a favor, answering correctly is a chance to strike it rich! People from all around have heard the news, and even those from other pleasure boats have come out just to try and answer the patron's question."

What kind of wealthy patron was so extravagant? Five hundred taels of gold was enough for a hundred people to live on for a lifetime.

Seeing Xue Fanzhi’s curious expression, the peddler laughed, "Young lady, you should try answering it too. You look like you’ve read plenty of books. Just don't draw too much attention to yourself; it’s rare for young ladies to come to a place like this." He assumed she was just a curious girl from a good family.

Honglian finally gave him a look of approval. "You know your place! But don't be so nosy—why should it concern you whether our mistress draws attention or not?"

The peddler gave a dry laugh and brushed it off. Xue Fanzhi handed the money to him and said, "Thank you for your kind words, though I’m not interested in any riddles!"

The peddler, finding Honglian tiresome, started to leave after taking the money.

"You haven't poured our tea yet!" Xue Fanzhi called out. "Three bowls!"

The peddler stood frozen. He thought she was just fishing for information; he hadn't expected her to actually drink the stuff!

***

After the three of them finished their tea, Xue Fanzhi led the maids into the crowd. Fearing trouble, Hongxiao called out, "Mistress, perhaps we should wait for His Highness... for Young Master Nine to arrive before we proceed."

*Young Master Nine!*

Xue Fanzhi found it amusing. She turned back and said, "Then you wait here." She wasn't going to wait. She could have fun on her own without him, Xiao Yi. He was the one who told her to come, claiming they needed to find medicinal herbs, so if he didn't show up, he couldn't blame her.

***

Xue Fanzhi pushed into the crowd and heard a sudden roar of commotion. She hurriedly asked those around her, "What happened? What’s going on?" Everyone was too busy watching the spectacle to pay her any mind; perhaps they didn't even know themselves.

People were always like this—at first, it was just curiosity, but if the answer remained elusive, the curiosity only deepened into an obsession to get to the bottom of it. Xue Fanzhi hadn't realized she was this type of person, but she felt a burning itch of impatience to know what had happened. She didn't give up, continuing to ask loudly, "What is it? What exactly is happening..."

Suddenly, her hand was gripped tightly by a large one.

*A lecher!*

Just as Xue Fanzhi was about to scream, she heard a voice behind her: "I never knew you were so energetic. And such a busybody, too!"

Even in the noisy environment, Xue Fanzhi recognized Xiao Yi’s voice immediately. She turned around to see Xiao Yi pulling her away from the crowd.

Once they were clear of the throng, Xue Fanzhi stopped, displeased. "Have you found what you were looking for? If you have, can I be excused?" She still wanted to watch the excitement. However, as she was technically his attendant and had promised to help him find the herbs, she felt bound by her word. If he truly wouldn't let her watch, she would have to swallow her disappointment.

Xiao Yi saw her aggrieved look, feeling both a pang of heartache and amusement. He understood her life better than anyone: first controlled by her parents and never allowed out, then married to him and unable to leave at will. Her life had been like that of a bird—the first half a quail nearly abandoned by its kin, only valued when she could lay eggs; the second half a canary in his gilded cage. She had never seen the world, never joined in the crowds. Her thirty years had been short, but not so short that she shouldn't have seen such things. It was pitiful.

Wasn't the whole reason he brought her out today to let her unwind and join in the fun?

Xiao Yi smiled. "I haven't found it yet..."

Xue Fanzhi’s bright eyes dimmed. If he hadn't found it, she couldn't go play.

Then Xiao Yi added, "But the person I am looking for is precisely that wealthy patron who is currently the talk of the river. He has the herbs I need. Even if he didn't, since he has already made a public vow, he will fulfill any request if we answer his riddle correctly. So, finding him is enough!"

"Really?" Xue Fanzhi smiled. If she had to find that patron, she wouldn't have to leave, and she would even get to know what the riddle was.

***

Thinking of this, Xue Fanzhi asked, "Did you hear that, Master? The crowd erupted in such a synchronized gasp just now—what happened?"

Xiao Yi looked at her sparkling eyes and knew he had been right to bring her. In her previous life, even with him, she had many regrets. In this life, he would make it all up to her.

Xiao Yi nodded. "I know. That patron just posed his riddle!"

"What was the riddle?" Xue Fanzhi’s interest piqued even more.

People were passing back and forth, and one of them bumped into Xue Fanzhi’s shoulder, causing her to stumble. Xiao Yi caught her hand and said, "This is no place to talk. We’ll discuss it on the boat!"

"We have a boat?"

Xiao Yi curled his lips into a smug smile. "Naturally!" He was, after all, a prince.

Seeing his pride, Xue Fanzhi twitched her lips in secret. What was so great about that?

Suddenly, she felt something was off. She looked down and saw Xiao Yi was still holding her hand.

Xue Fanzhi: "..."

This lecher! She was his guest, not his paramour.

Xue Fanzhi pulled her hand away, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Your High—" Remembering what Hongxiao had called him, she quickly corrected herself: "Young Master Nine, please restrain yourself!"

*Young Master Nine!*

It had been so long since anyone called him that. After they married, she had always called him Yi-lang. It felt quite novel.

Xiao Yi felt a warm glow inside, though he remained calm on the surface. "I was only afraid you would get lost!"

"I know!" If that weren't the case, she would have lashed out already, Xue Fanzhi thought, rolling her eyes.