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Li Yexuan was definitely doing this on purpose—he must have recognized that I was Mofan. I knew that if I missed this opportunity, gathering enough silver again would be as difficult as reaching the heavens, so I had no choice but to swallow my pride and speak.

“Stop.”

“Oh? Could it be that Young Master Mu recognizes me, Your Highness?”

“Whether I do or not, since Prince Xuan has already promised to help me, if you go back on your word now, wouldn’t that tarnish the reputation of the Night Prince if word gets out?”

“And who can prove that I agreed to help you? The manager of this moneyhouse? Are you sure he’d risk spreading rumors about me, the prince, for the sake of a stranger like you?”

There was no need to think about it—he wouldn’t dare even if he saw it with his own eyes.

“If Your Highness has any demands, you may as well be direct.”

Hearing my words, Li Yexuan turned back, took a seat, and lounged comfortably.

“I heard that someone I know has disappeared. I simply wish to find them.”

“Then Your Highness should go and search for them. What does that have to do with a commoner like me?” I was still trying to hide my identity. What if Li Yexuan decided to drag me back to the General’s Manor? I’d rather die than return to that place.

Surprisingly, Li Yexuan didn’t respond. Instead, he took something from his person and began to play with it.

My eyes nearly popped out—it was my golden bell! I had given it to the town’s physician back then to save Li Yexuan. He’d promised to redeem it for me, but every time I hinted about it afterward, he pretended not to know. I’d cursed him more than once behind his back for it.

His gaze fell on me, full of sly intent—he was clearly using my golden bell to threaten me.

“Since this person can’t be found, there’s no point in keeping this trinket. I’ll just pawn it here at the moneyhouse.”

“No!” I couldn’t take it anymore. Slamming the table, I stood up and snatched the golden bell from his hand.

“Li Yexuan, you win. I am Mofan.”

So be it—what could he do, kill me? At worst, I’d be taken back to the General’s Manor as a maid. Even so, nothing was as precious to me as my mother’s golden bell.

“Why did you run away from the General’s Manor?” he asked bluntly.

I sank into the seat and answered just as directly, “I was merely a helpless woman rescued by the General. I had no desire to live as a servant in his household.”

With that, I poured myself a cup of water and drank it in one gulp, trying to quell my anger.

“Why did you never come to me?”

“Li Yexuan, are you trying to make a joke of me? What good would it do for me to seek you out? Would you take me into your princely estate to be a maid? A maid is a maid, whether in the General’s Manor or the Prince’s Residence—it’s all the same. The schemes and rivalries among women are everywhere. I’m sure you understand my meaning.” I expected him to be offended, but to my surprise, he wasn’t. Once again, he defied my expectations.

“You will have your silver,” he said.

I was so moved by his words that I was about to thank him when he continued, “This moneyhouse belongs to me. Take as much as you need—just bring this as collateral.”

He handed me a jade pendant from his waist.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave now.”

He rose to go, but I hurried to grab his sleeve.

“Could you… could you please not tell anyone I’m here?”

I quickly let go of his sleeve, lowering my head in embarrassment. Not being discovered by anyone from the General’s Manor was all that mattered; I couldn’t afford to care about my dignity now. I had to trouble him once more.

“Very well.”

My secret had been exposed to Li Yexuan, but in the end, he agreed to help conceal my identity.

Before leaving, I showed the jade pendant to the manager. His eyes sparkled with greed as I borrowed two five-hundred-tael silver notes from the moneyhouse and left…