Chapter 296: An Overactive Imagination
The Lord Prefect thought for a moment. This Indenture Contract was undoubtedly authentic—there was no need to even compare the fingerprints.
However, this made the judgment difficult. For Gu Fei to be able to redeem someone from the Imperial Music Bureau, her family was likely that of an official.
He had a close relationship with Marquis Ning’an, but he feared he couldn’t afford to offend the Gu Family either.
After a moment’s hesitation, the Lord Prefect shot Mr. Xu a look and asked Gu Fei, "Is your family an official family?"
Gu Fei shook her head. "My family are farmers."
The Lord Prefect frowned. "Then how did you manage to buy Lan Zhi out of the Imperial Music Bureau?"
’Imperial Music Bureau?’
Mr. Xu was startled to hear this and couldn’t help but stare at Lan Zhi, who was kneeling on the floor. ’She was actually bought out of the Imperial Music Bureau?’
And to think, he’d seen her shy demeanor and mistaken her for a chaste and virtuous young lady. She was nothing more than common goods, a woman whose arms had pillowed a thousand men.
Mr. Xu’s face flushed red. He felt like he had been deceived.
Gu Fei said unhurriedly, "The Heir of Prince Qi, Xiao Yu, bought her out for me."
The reason she had come to the government office was, naturally, because she was confident she would succeed.
Even if the Lord Prefect hadn’t asked her this question, she still had Xiao Yu’s token. She had originally planned to reveal it at a critical moment, but now it seemed she wouldn’t have to.
She glanced at the secretary seated to the side, guessing this must be the Chen Zhubo that Xiao Yu had mentioned.
When the Lord Prefect heard the title ’Heir of Prince Qi,’ he was inwardly stunned. ’This Gu Fei is just a common woman, yet she has connections with the Young Master Heir?’
Mr. Xu was also shocked. ’So Gu Fei really does know the Princely Heir. An ordinary person wouldn’t possibly know the Young Master Heir’s name.’
He then recalled his servant’s earlier words—about someone causing trouble at the inn, about the Young Master Heir becoming furious and beating the person himself, about someone having to pay several thousand silver in compensation. Thinking back on it now, it was probably all true.
He suddenly felt he must have a death wish to dare to touch someone under the Young Master Heir’s protection.
’The Young Master Heir’s domineering nature is famous in Ping’an City. If I really angered Xiao Yu, he would kill me without a moment’s hesitation.’
’Afterward, the most that would happen is some silver would be paid to my family in compensation. Even if my parents were heartbroken, what could they do? The Ning’an Marquis Mansion is no match for the Prince Qi Mansion. If I die, I’ll have died in vain.’
’This Miss Gu really has some skills. Seducing that Su Chen wasn’t enough for her; she even managed to get her hooks into the Young Master Heir.’
’No, wait. Could it be that Lan Zhi is the one the Young Master Heir has his eye on?’
’Why else would he buy her out of the Imperial Music Bureau?’
’Perhaps it’s just inconvenient to bring Lan Zhi into the Prince Mansion right now!’
Mr. Xu’s mind raced. The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. ’Daring to fight the Young Master Heir for a woman... I really am tired of living.’
In an instant, Mr. Xu broke out in a nervous sweat. A sudden idea, born of desperation, struck him. "My Lord, this Indenture Contract in my possession... my servant gave it to me. I’ve just been thinking about it, and it seems highly suspicious. Why don’t you compare the fingerprints, My Lord? If they don’t match, perhaps my servant forged it to deceive me."
The Lord Prefect’s mouth twitched. ’Good, you know your place. But what took you so long? You should have investigated properly before coming here!’
’Then again, even if you were clueless, there’s nothing I could do. I can’t afford to offend the Young Master Heir either. Since he personally bought her out, it naturally means he has taken an interest in her. How dare you try to snatch her away?’
The Lord Prefect seized the opportunity to resolve the matter, ordering a government official to verify the fingerprints.
After the fingerprints were examined, the government official announced, "The print on Miss Gu’s Indenture Contract is a perfect match. It is authentic."