Shen Qingyuan stepped aside and looked around.
Her mother’s Death Qi had not yet dissipated, and she had only followed along for the sake of safety.
Gu Minglan, however, did not take the contract directly out of her sleeve.
Instead, she asked Shen Qingyuan to hand her the silver bracelet she had obtained from Nanny Liu that morning.
"I wonder if this bracelet can be pawned for something."
The shop assistant walked up professionally.
"If you wish to pawn it, our shop's rule is: 'Dead pawn or live pawn, it all depends on the customer's wishes.'"
Gu Minglan held the bracelet, appearing as if she had not made up her mind.
She said slowly.
"This item can be a dead pawn or a live pawn."
As soon as these words were spoken, the professional smile on the shop assistant's face froze.
Seeing this, Gu Minglan’s heart skipped a beat.
The shop assistant looked like a stranger; could it be that he did not understand?
Fortunately, the shop assistant quickly stood straight and cupped his hands in a salute.
"If you intend to pawn an item, please come inside. Our shopkeeper happens to be here today, and perhaps he can offer a good price."
Gu Minglan nodded and beckoned to Shen Qingyuan.
"Since that is the case, let's go take a look and broaden our horizons."
Bypassing the various exhibits in the front, the shop assistant led the two into a small room.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man wearing a skullcap, who was hunched over the table clicking an abacus.
Hearing someone enter, he did not even lift his eyelids: "What are you looking to pawn?"
The shop assistant leaned over and whispered a few words into the shopkeeper's ear.
Only then did the shopkeeper lift his eyes, taking just one look.
He picked up the tortoiseshell from the table and examined it carefully.
Just when the shop assistant felt a bit strange.
The shopkeeper threw down the tortoiseshell and walked toward Gu Minglan with some excitement.
"Miss, it has been twelve years, you have finally returned!"
Gu Minglan looked at the shopkeeper, whose eyes were red with excitement, and felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.
"Uncle Zhao, you have worked hard all these years."
"Not hard at all, not hard at all."
Shopkeeper Zhao wiped the corners of his eyes and looked at Shen Qingyuan, "And this is..."
"My daughter, Qingyuan."
Shopkeeper Zhao hurriedly bowed: "This old servant greets the Young Miss."
Shen Qingyuan returned the greeting, her gaze sweeping lightly over Shopkeeper Zhao.
This Shopkeeper Zhao was over fifty, yet there was not much of a businessman's calculating nature on his face.
His cheeks were full, and there was even a faint trace of Merit on him.
This was rather strange.
After all, in the pawnshop business, most people who come in are at the end of their rope.
According to what her mother said, Shopkeeper Zhao had been in this trade for at least ten years.
Having been in this line of work for so long, it was inevitable to be tainted by some calculation due to things like price-haggling.
Yet, not only was this Shopkeeper Zhao free of resentment, he actually possessed some Merit, which truly exceeded Shen Qingyuan's expectations.
Gu Minglan pinched her sleeve.
"Uncle Zhao, we still have tails from the Shen Family behind us; we need to find another place to talk."
That Nanny Liu, although she could not stop the two from leaving.
She could still send people to follow them.
The mansion wouldn't even lend them a carriage, so they had to hire one themselves.
At this moment, the carriage was no longer at the entrance.
Shopkeeper Zhao knew the character of the Shen Family; if it weren't for the Miss not wanting them to be exposed.
They would have already stepped forward.
Shopkeeper Zhao gave an order to the shop assistant.
"This is the owner, go outside and keep watch, be sharp."
The shop assistant gave a cheeky grin toward Gu Minglan and waved the silver bracelet in his hand.
"Don't worry, owner, I will only say that you came to pawn the bracelet."
Gu Minglan curled her lips and nodded in agreement.
Shopkeeper Zhao looked at the worthless silver bracelet and patted the shop assistant on the shoulder with a smile.
"Understood, go quickly."
Afterward, Shopkeeper Zhao led the mother and daughter through the back door of the pawnshop.
The pawnshop looked extremely small from the outside, but unexpectedly, it was like a Peach Blossom Spring.
Walking through a narrow door in the back.
The view suddenly opened up.
Behind it, there was actually a courtyard connected to it.
The small door between the courtyard and the pawnshop was hidden extremely well.
If not for Shopkeeper Zhao leading them in.
Even if an average person walked around the shop, they would never think to reach out and push it.
As they entered, Shopkeeper Zhao closed the door from behind.
Once the door was closed, the noise from the outside was immediately cut off.
The courtyard was not large, but it was elegantly arranged.
A few clusters of green bamboo and an ancient well gave it a sense of finding tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle.
Only then did Shopkeeper Zhao say in a low voice.
"Miss, I have already sent people to keep an eye on those tails from the Shen Family; they won't be able to get in for a while. If you have any instructions, please feel free to speak."
Gu Minglan took the pawn contract out of her sleeve.
"I came to retrieve this. Uncle Zhao, how has the shop been these days?"
Shopkeeper Zhao picked up the contract and looked at it carefully, then let out a sigh of relief.
"Rest assured, Miss, everything in the shop is fine.
The secret accounts left behind by the old master have been well-kept by this old servant. Although the Liu Family has tried to interfere over the years, our people have kept a close watch, and they haven't gained any benefits."
After finishing, Shopkeeper Zhao led the two to sit by the stone table and personally brewed tea.
Only then did he go to retrieve the items listed on the contract.
Shopkeeper Zhao returned very quickly.
He handed over a small box with both hands.
"Miss, this is what you wanted."
He then took a thin booklet from his bosom.
"These are the accounts for the last three years. I have recorded the several transactions that the Liu Family has secretly made through the shop over the years."
Gu Minglan took the booklet and flipped through a few pages, her expression gradually darkening.
"The Liu Family is quite bold, daring to use the pawnshop to launder money and even secretly accepting bribes."
"It's not just that." Shopkeeper Zhao lowered his voice.
"I also found out that the two younger brothers of the Liu Family who serve at the Capital Magistrate's office have helped people 'settle matters' quite a few times in recent years. Several murder cases were suppressed by them."
Shen Qingyuan listened quietly from the side, her fingertips gently stroking the teacup.
"Uncle Zhao, is there any news from Prince Jing's Mansion?"
Shopkeeper Zhao looked at her.
"Why does the Young Miss ask about this?"
"Lady Liu wants me to perform a Wedding for Luck, so I must know what kind of person I am to marry."
Shen Qingyuan's tone was calm.
"Besides, Prince Jing's illness came about quite suspiciously."
But to Shopkeeper Zhao, it did not sound like that at all.
Having been in the Capital City for many years, Shopkeeper Zhao naturally knew about Prince Jing being assassinated and falling into a coma.
Thinking back to the Miss suddenly returning, it was not hard to guess.
The Shen Family actually wanted to force the Young Miss to marry that dying Prince!
The Shen Family, after bullying the Miss, now wanted to bully the Young Miss as well.
Before Shopkeeper Zhao’s anger could flare up.
Gu Minglan pushed the small box toward Shen Qingyuan.
"Since you are worried, why not just go over and see for yourself?"
Shen Qingyuan opened the small box.
Inside lay a somewhat worn Token.
It had the character "Zhen" written on it.
The aura of slaughter on it was quite heavy; it must be an item from the military camp.
With such a Token, even if carried by an ordinary person without Dharma Power.
General Yin entities would not dare to approach.
"Mother, what is this?"
Gu Minglan pointed her fingertip at the character on it.
"This is the Token of the Marquis of Zhenbei.
Back then, when the national treasury was not abundant, the Gu Family supported the Zhenbei Army with one hundred thousand catties of grain and winter supplies.
To thank the Gu Family, the Marquis of Zhenbei gave this Token to your Maternal Grandfather.
He promised that if the Gu Family had any trouble, they could seek out the Marquis of Zhenbei's Mansion."
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