Chapter 888 - 889: Pocket Money_1
Ye Zi’an quietly listened to the side, and when he heard them mention the black pearl, his face took on a somewhat peculiar expression.
Then he asked Mu Shaoling faintly, "Does cousin need the black pearl for his illness? So, you went to Funan to find a black pearl?"
After receiving a nod from Mu Shaoling, Ye Zi’an suddenly laughed for no apparent reason.
It left Mu Shaoling thinking he had lost his mind. Is this the time for you to laugh?
But soon, Ye Zi’an silently took out a purse from his bosom and handed it to Mu Shaoling.
"What?" Mu Shaoling didn’t understand.
"Won’t you open it and see for yourself?" Ye Zi’an tossed the purse to him, not in the best of moods.
He caught it steadily with his hand, but felt something amiss upon touching it. Then, with some excitement, when he opened it, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"How, how do you have these?"
Seeing Mu Shaoling so surprised he could hardly speak, Baili Yan asked with suspicion, "What’s the matter?"
Upon this, Mu Shaoling passed the purse to Baili Yan, who also paused after seeing it, and then a complex expression flashed across his face.
"How come you have this? And so many?"
He asked the same question as Mu Shaoling.
Ye Zi’an casually said, "It’s from my spouse. She said it’s my pocket money, and if I run out of money in Capital City and find it troublesome to send letters home, I can pawn one of these."
He spoke casually, yet everyone listening drew the corners of their mouths.
Mu Shaoling wanted to curse. Damn it, there are more than ten black pearls in this purse, and you’re telling me it’s pocket money?
They had to search for a long time to find just a few, yet here he was with so many, nonchalantly calling it pocket money?
"Since that’s what you were looking for, you don’t have to go anymore. My spouse will keep an eye on me. As for you, you can roll aside now."
Saying so, Ye Zi’an stood up.
Mu Shaoling then huffed, "What sort of background does your spouse have to always have everything, and always with treasures at hand?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Zi’an turned and said, "My spouse deals in seafood and even purchases scallops now and then. Is it that strange to get hold of pearls?"
These were indeed brought back by the old demon, but how could he recklessly talk about it?
Mu Shaoling wanted to say it was indeed strange, as there were plenty of seafood harvesters, yet none seemed to have these. Before he could continue, Baili Yan raised his hand to stop what he was about to say.
"Everyone has their own secrets."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zi’an didn’t continue, but just as he stepped out of the courtyard, a servant came to report that a young eunuch from the front courtyard had arrived.
Upon hearing this news, Ye Zi’an had a bad feeling.
Indeed, upon reaching the front courtyard, he found that the eunuch was there to summon him to the palace. With one summons, his fate in the court would be settled, and if the Emperor took a tough stance, he might find it difficult to go home for quite a while.
Then he saw Mu Shaoling’s face light up with schadenfreude.
He followed the young eunuch to the imperial palace’s grand courtyard; by that time, it was afternoon, and court had already dispersed.
However, the Emperor still wanted to see him in the Imperial Study and didn’t make him wait upon his arrival but summoned him straight in.
"Student Ye Zi’an greets the Emperor, long live, long live, long live the Emperor."
Without an official title, one must address oneself as a student before the Emperor.
"Rise," came the Emperor’s voice, indifferent and neither angry nor pleased.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Once he steadied himself, he heard the Emperor command again, "Look up when you answer."
As he lifted his head, the Emperor’s mouth twitched upon seeing his face, "Hideous, go wash up when you return. All these were leftovers from when ’I’ sneaked out of the palace to play."