Chapter 5

Zuo Wujì's eyes suddenly lit up, but he then said dejectedly, "How could it be that easy... It was only now that I realized how precious that thing is. A tiny piece of the Mystic Jade如意 can actually be worth ten thousand taels of gold... What a pity, when you guys incited me to steal it and sell it, I only got a thousand taels of silver, losing a fortune in the process..."

As he spoke, he gritted his teeth, feeling as if he were in unbearable pain: "You two scoundrels have made me the greatest wastrel in the world... I can't even talk about it; I can only swallow my teeth and the blood together... Now I have it, but what can I use to buy it back?"

Ye Xiao lowered his voice and said, "Hehehe... It's just money... Is that hard to say? I only ask you, do you want to buy back the Mystic Jade如意?"

"I want to! Only a bastard wouldn't want to! If I could, I could take off the hat of 'the greatest wastrel of the Chen Empire'... Heaven knows how much I want to take it off..." Zuo Wujì nodded repeatedly, gritting his teeth, "But ever since that last incident, my pocket money has been cut off. The original three hundred taels of silver per month has been reduced to five taels... Five taels of silver, what can I do with that!"

"You want to take off the hat of the greatest wastrel in the empire... It's actually quite easy, but... you're about to become the greatest wastrel in the universe, from ancient times to the present..."

Ye Xiao muttered to himself, then laughed and patted his chest, saying generously, "As long as you want to buy it back, I can lend you the money..."

"Really?" Zuo Wujì was immediately surprised. Not only him, but Lan Langlang was also shocked!

Is the sun rising from the north today?! When did Ye Xiao become so generous?

"Really!" Ye Xiao nodded firmly, his expression serious.

"What do you have in mind?" Zuo Wujì looked at him suspiciously, thinking: This guy, is he planning something again? Does he really have a thing for me?

"Rubbish!" Ye Xiao looked righteous, his good intentions being taken for granted, and said with deep pain, "Zuo Wujì! What are you saying? I consider you a good brother, and I'm helping you, taking a big risk. Who knows when you, the wastrel, will pay me back? You actually doubt me, fine, fine, I don't care!"

"Fine, then! I'll keep the money for dating girls... Lan Langlang! Let's go!" Ye Xiao stood up angrily and walked away, "From now on, we won't deal with this ungrateful guy!"

Lan Langlang, who was good at stirring things up, couldn't let this opportunity pass, and stood up with a loud cheer, "Let's go! We won't deal with this guy who doesn't treat us as friends!"

"Wait... Wait, wait... Brother Ye, Brother Lan, wait! Oh, my dear brothers..." Zuo Wujì quickly stepped forward and firmly hugged Ye Xiao's waist, his face full of flattery as he apologized, "Oh, I just said the wrong thing... We are good brothers, lifelong brothers, are you really angry... Oh, wait! Butler, bring tea! Good tea! The best tea! The imperial tea given to my grandfather by the emperor! Quickly, quickly..."

While giving a series of orders, he respectfully invited Ye Xiao to sit in the main armchair, bending his waist and smiling like a toady, "Hehe... Brother Ye, hehe, Young Master Ye, wow, my good brother... Will you really lend me the money?"

Ye Xiao crossed his legs and swung them, "I really wanted to lend it to you..."

"You can't change your mind..." Zuo Wujì was almost on his knees.

This is a rare chance to redeem myself, how can I let it go? Heaven knows what kind of life I've been living these past few months... This is my home, I can't even run away.

"Hmph, fine." Ye Xiao blew the tea leaves in his hand, somewhat helplessly, "I blame myself for speaking too quickly... Since that's the case, write a note and pledge something to me, and I'll lend you fifteen thousand taels of gold... I'll make it clear, you still have to pay me back, no negotiation!"

"Of course!" Zuo Wujì's face was full of joy, but then he frowned, looking worried, "But what can I use as collateral?"

"Do you understand human language? Just find something, we are brothers, do you really think I want something valuable from you?" Ye Xiao rolled his eyes and said sincerely, "Look at the decorations in your house, just give me one... that's it."

Zuo Wujì immediately relaxed, "That's a good idea... Let me think, what should I steal this time?"

His eyes darted around, clearly determined to steal again.

"Oh..." Ye Xiao诱导ed him, "Can't you be quick? Just take something from this hall, it doesn't have to be very valuable, anything will do..."

Under Ye Xiao's obvious hints, Zuo Wujì finally 'understood': "This... can be pledged?"

"What's the pledge, it's just a gesture, we are brothers!" Ye Xiao said magnanimously.

Zuo Wujì's smile couldn't be wider, the heavy burden on his heart finally lifted, and he beamed, "Although these are things my grandfather likes... it doesn't matter if one or two are missing... Brother, you say, which one do you like, I'll give it to you directly! No need for a pledge, I'll still pay you back, and the decoration is yours!"

Zuo Wujì was truly generous.

Ye Xiao's eyebrows twitched, and he said righteously, "What are you saying, treating me like what? I'm just helping you, do you think I want your things... You can give it to me after you're done, it's your gesture, a small gift with deep meaning, but if I accept it now, it's a bribe!"

Bribe?!

Zuo Wujì's mouth twitched violently.

You sound like a big official.

"Look at your fuss, just this one, I like the feeling of it spreading its wings." Ye Xiao pointed casually, pointing at the Celestial Crystal Spirit Marrow.

"This... this is too cheap, right?" Zuo Wujì was instantly moved. It seems Ye Xiao is really helping me this time. In the whole hall of treasures, he chose the cheapest one, what a good person, why didn't I notice before...

"Fine, fine, you know my intention." Ye Xiao said with deep emotion, "We are brothers... good brothers should help each other... By the way, you must keep this a secret, if others know I lent you so much money... they'll all come to borrow from me, it will be a mess."

"Absolutely, I will keep it a secret!" Zuo Wujì pounded his chest, "Am I that kind of person..."

"Or... you can take it now." Zuo Wujì was afraid of delays, eager to make it happen.

"Idiot!" Ye Xiao whispered, "Can you use your brain? So many people watching me take things from your house? How can we keep it a secret?"

"Yes, yes." Zuo Wujì leaned in close to Ye Xiao's ear, "Then I'll take it out at dusk, when it's dark?"

"Great plan!" Ye Xiao praised, "I'll wait for you in the alley at the corner, and I'll bring the gold notes with me."

Zuo Wujì was overjoyed, "Thank you, brother... As long as I can restore my status at home, I'll immediately start collecting silver from the shops to pay you back, rest assured, I'll do what I say!"

"Fine, fine, if I didn't trust you, would I lend you so much money?" Ye Xiao and Zuo Wujì were shoulder to shoulder, extremely close, a picture of brotherly affection.

Lan Langlang, watching this scene, almost fell out of his eyes.

With everything settled, Ye Xiao and Lan Langlang left the Left Chancellor's residence amidst Zuo Wujì's heartfelt thanks and respectful farewell.

"Evening, don't forget, okay." Even after they had walked far away, they could still hear Zuo Wujì's emotional call from behind.

...

"Tell me, are you really going to lend him the money?" Lan Langlang looked at Ye Xiao suspiciously, "You don't seem like such a good person, are you planning to back out and trick that guy..."

"What are you saying, you are judging me with your petty mind! Do you think I'm like you, a person who goes back on his word?!" Ye Xiao looked at Lan Langlang with disdain and said, "Go back and prepare ten thousand gold notes for me, I have a use for them!"

To lend to Zuo Wujì, my family's resources seem insufficient...

"You have a use, fine, wait... What? You want me to prepare ten thousand gold notes, and then you lend them to Zuo? Why? Give me a reason first!" Lan Langlang exploded as soon as he understood.

You want to be the good guy, and I have to pay?

Why?!

"Reason? You can't even figure this out! If you don't prepare enough gold notes, what will I use to lend to Zuo Wujì? Isn't this obvious? Stop being so talkative!"

Ye Xiao rolled his eyes, seemingly nonchalant, and threatened slowly, "Lan Langlang, if you don't bring the gold notes, and I lose my credibility, it's no big deal, I'll just tell your grandfather, father, mother, and aunt about the time you and Zuo Wujì fought over a girl in the brothel and ran around naked... If you want more excitement, I'll put up posters all over the city! I guarantee everyone in the capital and the whole world will know your name! You and Zuo will be famous in the capital, shocking the world!"

"Ah? You!" Lan Langlang almost fainted, his eyes turning normal from anger, and he cried out, "That's too cruel! You're trying to kill me..."

"Spit, you're so young, what old life? Stop talking nonsense! In the end, it won't cost you much, I just ask you, will you bring it or not?!"

"I'll bring it! Do I have a choice?" Lan Langlang almost cried, "I'll bring it, okay..."

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