novelden Chapter 211 Laughter
Chapter 211 Laughter
"Ninth Prince, are you truly foolish or feigning ignorance? Do you think someone like me would willingly submit to the Crown Prince? Do you think my power and wealth are inferior to the Crown Prince's?"
Yang Ling shook his head, then said slowly, "If I'm not mistaken, you've already pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince, or perhaps you've reached some kind of agreement with him, haven't you?"
Master Chen's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at Yang Ling in surprise. "How did you know?" His reaction confirmed Yang Ling's guess; this matter was indeed related to the Crown Prince.
Yang Ling snorted coldly, "Fourth Master Chen, there's no need to hide this from me, because I don't bother to investigate. However, you've crossed me this time, and I've decided to seek justice for my father."
Master Chen's face changed drastically, turning so dark it could drip water. "Are you threatening me?"
"Master Chen, you're overthinking it," Yang Ling said with a smile. "I was just venting my father's anger."
"Yang Ling, have you forgotten that you are a prisoner now? Do you think you can escape from here?" Master Chen mocked.
"Is Fourth Master Chen threatening me?" Yang Ling's face instantly turned cold. "You need to figure out who's threatening whom right now. I advise you to behave yourself, or you'll embarrass yourself later."
Yang Ling wasn't afraid of Master Chen. After all, Master Chen was just a businessman. Although he was the eldest grandson of the Chen family, his father and brother didn't treat him well, and the rest of the Chen family were opportunists, so his position was unstable. Therefore, there was nothing about the Chen family that was worth fearing.
Master Chen clenched and unclenched his fist, finally gritting his teeth and saying, "Fine, I'll spare you this time. I hope Your Highness the Ninth Prince won't regret it later."
Yang Ling smiled and said, "I won't regret it. Besides seeing Master Chen, I came here today to remind him not to do anything foolish."
"What do you mean?" Master Chen asked warily.
"Fourth Master Chen, don't be nervous. I'm just offering you a friendly reminder. I think you certainly don't want to know the answer." Yang Ling smiled faintly, then stood up to leave.
Master Chen immediately shouted, "Yang Ling, you're staying here tonight!"
Yang Ling stopped and turned to look at Master Chen, a mocking smile on her lips. "Master Chen, are you trying to force yourself on me?"
"Your Highness, Ninth Prince, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant..." Master Chen hurriedly explained.
"I misunderstood? Then why did Master Chen ask me to stay just now?" Yang Ling asked back.
Beads of sweat appeared on Master Chen's forehead as he hurriedly said, "It's like this, I'd like to discuss business cooperation with His Highness the Ninth Prince."
Upon hearing this, Yang Ling looked enlightened. "Oh, I see. However, Master Chen, I am not short of money and I do not like doing business, so I'm sorry, I'm afraid I cannot help you."
Master Chen's face immediately darkened. "Your Highness, Ninth Prince, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
"Fourth Master Chen, why are you so angry? It's not like I haven't refused you before. Look at your terrible attitude, I don't want to waste any more words with you. Goodbye." Yang Ling stood up and prepared to leave.
"Wait!" Master Chen quickly blocked his way.
Yang Ling glanced at Master Chen provocatively. "What, Master Chen, have you changed your mind?"
"I want to do business with you." Master Chen looked at Yang Ling with burning eyes.
"What kind of business?" Yang Ling asked, puzzled.
"Just tell me how much silver you have, whether it's enough to buy the medicinal herbs, and you can set the price," Master Chen said bluntly.
"Fourth Master Chen, forgive my bluntness, but this deal offers you no benefit whatsoever. Why do you insist on doing it?" Yang Ling said, frowning.
"Because of this." Master Chen suddenly took out a jade pendant and handed it to Yang Ling. "This is a talisman. As long as you wear it close to your body, it can keep you safe no matter what danger you encounter."
Yang Ling held the jade pendant and examined it for a while. She found that the jade was warm and translucent, and it was clearly carved from the finest white jade. It was very beautiful.
"Good stuff," Yang Ling said with a smile. "This jade pendant is nice; you can have it."
Master Chen's eyes widened, and he angrily shouted, "You dare to play me!"
"Which eye of yours saw me playing a trick on you?" Yang Ling blinked her innocent big eyes and said, "You gave me this jade pendant yourself, I just accepted it casually."
Master Chen was speechless for a long time. He had indeed given the jade pendant to Yang Ling, but only to take the opportunity to humiliate him.
Yang Ling hung the jade pendant on her waist, then patted her clothes, turned around and left gracefully, leaving Master Chen standing there alone in a daze.
Master Chen was so frustrated he was about to explode. This brat was too arrogant! He dared to slap him in the face in public, it was simply unbearable! But he couldn't get revenge, and he couldn't even find anyone to cause trouble for.
As Yang Ling walked down the street, looking at the bustling main street, familiar scenes floated through her mind, and her heart gradually calmed down.
He suddenly felt envious of Yang Jincheng. He used to have a loving grandmother, brothers and sisters, doting parents, and two half-sisters. Unfortunately, they all disappeared overnight.
"Oh, young master, this way!" Yang Ling was lost in thought when he suddenly heard a strange male voice. Yang Ling looked up and saw a carriage slowly approaching.
The carriage was understated yet luxurious in appearance, clearly not belonging to an ordinary family.
The carriage stopped a few steps in front of Yang Ling. The curtain was lifted, and an old servant with a full head of white hair, dressed in a gray robe, got off the carriage.
The old servant respectfully said to Yang Ling, "Young master, please get in the carriage."
Yang Ling looked at him suspiciously. This old servant looked quite young, so why was he calling him "Young Master"? Could it be that Madam Chen had specially sent him to take care of him? Thinking of this, Yang Ling muttered to himself: It seems that Madam Chen is still up to her old tricks.
"What's wrong? Does the young master not want to ride in this old servant's carriage?" the old servant asked.
Yang Ling shook her head. "Never mind, I have other matters to attend to." With that, she walked forward.
The old servant didn't insist, only saying, "Since that's the case, this old servant will take his leave now."
"Take care." Yang Ling waved her hand.
The old servant mounted the carriage, whipped the horse, and soon disappeared at the end of the street.
Yang Ling watched the old servant's retreating figure, feeling something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He shook his head, ignoring it, and strode towards the Prime Minister's residence.
After returning to the Prime Minister's residence, Yang Ling washed up and rested on the bed for a while.
The next day, Yang Ling was awakened early by the noise.
Yang Ling opened her eyes and looked out the window.
Outside the courtyard, the maids were chattering amongst themselves, accompanied by the crackling of firecrackers.