Shen Qingyuan looked at the token, then looked at Shopkeeper Zhao.
"I'm afraid it's not just that hundred thousand or so in grain and fodder; Uncle Zhao has also donated quite a lot every year, hasn't he?"
Shen Qingyuan understood at once why the shopkeeper possessed an aura of merit.
Shopkeeper Zhao scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Young Miss is sharp, but the pawnshop is profitable every year."
Fearing that the Young Miss might think the pawnshop had no revenue, Shopkeeper Zhao hurriedly explained.
Gu Minglan, however, said.
"It's fine, Uncle Zhao. She is the one who is the spendthrift; I'm afraid you'll have to be on guard against her in the future."
Shen Qingyuan had been prone to losing money since she was a child.
Raising her daughter cost Gu Minglan a fortune.
If it wasn't illness, it was that she would lose the money she brought with her when she went out.
Ever since they returned to the countryside and she was taken in by the Daoist temple on the mountain.
Money burned away even faster.
This girl would go out to read fortunes and handle matters.
If she encountered a poor family, she would be satisfied with just a cabbage as payment.
From time to time, she would even have to provide some relief herself.
On top of that, she herself needed things like cinnabar.
Every time, Gu Minglan would go to the pharmacy and buy her the best.
It was just that she never told Shen Qingyuan the specific price.
（Gu Minglan sighed: Alas, raising a child is expensive.）
After smoothing things over for Shopkeeper Zhao, Gu Minglan urged Shen Qingyuan to leave quickly.
"Don't forget, we still have to return to the Shen family in a while, and there isn't much time. Go and return quickly; I can only give you one hour at most."
Shopkeeper Zhao was a bit surprised.
"Miss, Prince Jing's Mansion is at least a good half-hour away from here."
Prince Jing's Mansion was on Vermilion Bird Street, the center of the Capital City.
And the pawnshop was in the west of the city, though not quite the suburbs.
But the Capital City is huge.
Gu Minglan, however, was not worried.
"Don't worry, Uncle Zhao. My child has learned some skills while away."
But Shen Qingyuan was confused.
"Mother, you want me to take this and go to the Marquis of Zhenbei's Mansion first, then to Prince Jing's Mansion?"
Gu Minglan tapped Shen Qingyuan on the head.
"You're usually quite smart, so why are you acting foolish now?
Prince Jing was born to the Late Empress, and the Late Empress was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei."
The Marquis of Zhenbei's family was loyal and heroic; the Empress's five brothers all died on the battlefield one after another.
The current Marquis of Zhenbei's Mansion is supported by only an Heir Apparent who is not even eight years old.
Otherwise, the Great Yong Dynasty places great importance on seniority and status.
The eldest legitimate son of a prominent family is usually the heir.
If it weren't for the fact that the Marquis of Zhenbei's Mansion is now in decline.
And Prince Jing is both legitimate and the eldest.
It would be impossible for him not to have been named Crown Prince by now.
Shen Qingyuan understood immediately.
With the Late Empress's maternal family in decline, Prince Jing lacked a major source of support in the imperial court.
The Emperor delayed naming a Crown Prince and sent Prince Jing to the border.
By letting the other imperial princes fight in the Capital City, he was also protecting the Marquis of Zhenbei's Mansion.
So that the young Heir Apparent wouldn't lose his life prematurely.
Things that Shen Qingyuan could see clearly, those in the imperial court naturally saw clearly as well.
Therefore, when Prince Jing returned to the Capital City.
He was attacked.
It's just unclear whether his "serious illness" is truly a serious illness.
Or a reason to avoid the limelight and put the other imperial princes at ease.
Shen Qingyuan picked up the token.
She greeted the two of them.
She took a yellow talisman from her sleeve.
"Heaven and Earth, Mysterious and Yellow, grant me your divine ability, I petition the Earth Lord, grant passage through this place, instant."
Shopkeeper Zhao watched as the Young Miss, a living person, simply vanished from beside the table.
He was so shocked he couldn't close his mouth.
Gu Minglan smiled and reassured him.
"Don't be afraid, Uncle Zhao. My Yuan'er has learned some skills while away. Tell me more about the situation with the Liu family."
✦✦✦
Over there.
Shen Qingyuan teleported to an alley at the end of Vermilion Bird Street.
After all, Shen Qingyuan had not been to the Capital City much.
She had teleported by following the flow of luck.
This place was the area with the most noble fates outside of the Imperial Palace.
It was either the residences of imperial relatives or high-ranking officials.
But, once she arrived here.
She didn't know the exact location anymore.
Shen Qingyuan walked out of the alley and looked up.
Vermilion Bird Street was wide and flat, with high-walled courtyards and vermilion gates tightly shut on both sides.
But it wasn't mealtime, so the street was still quite lively.
Servants running errands, young masters showing off, and the occasional noble traveling by carriage.
She steadied herself, expanded her Heavenly Eye, and carefully sensed the flow of luck in the surroundings.
Yes, although Shen Qingyuan had possessed the Heavenly Eye since she was a child.
Watching it constantly was very draining on her spirit and vitality.
Ever since she entered the Dao, her Master had taught Shen Qingyuan how to open and close it at will.
Usually, Shen Qingyuan did not pay too much attention to the luck of others.
At this moment, as the range of her Heavenly Eye expanded, the chaotic luck surged toward her.
There were many people and objects around, and the auras were complex.
Some bright, some dark, some righteous, some evil; for a moment, Shen Qingyuan had a headache.
Fortunately, imperial princes are born into the royal family.
Generally, they all carry some purple qi to varying degrees.
If an imperial prince is at home, the mansion will also be blessed by purple qi, making it stand out from the crowd.
At this time, the underage imperial princes were all still at the Imperial Academy.
There were not many adult imperial princes who had been granted titles and mansions.
And even fewer who happened to be at home.
On Vermilion Bird Street, there were only two trails of purple qi.
Because they were far away, the purple qi was somewhat faint.
Shen Qingyuan decided to check the nearest mansion first.
She locked onto a residence in the northeast direction.
When she got closer, Shen Qingyuan discovered.
Above that mansion, there was a faint lingering of golden-purple qi.
Oh, what a truly blessed and noble fate.
Looking closer at that purple qi, it was entangled with black qi.
Shen Qingyuan looked up.
Sure enough, she saw that above the tightly shut vermilion gate.
The plaque hanging high above was inscribed with the three gilded characters "Prince Jing's Mansion".
Sigh, so Prince Jing's serious illness is real.
It seems the rumors weren't entirely false after all.
Shen Qingyuan stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Before long, a crack opened in the side door.
A young servant in green poked his head out, and seeing it was a strange young girl, he frowned and said.
"Who are you looking for, Miss? The Prince's Mansion is not receiving guests these days."
Shen Qingyuan took out the token and handed it over.
"The Shen family's legitimate daughter requests an audience."
"I already said, anyone who..."
The Prince was seriously ill, and this person had no visiting card, so the servant originally wanted to refuse.
But he caught sight of the characters on the token.
That looked like the token of the Marquis of Zhenbei's Mansion?
Was it sent by the Heir Apparent to check on the Prince?
The servant took the token and sized up Shen Qingyuan.
Only then did he say: "Please wait a moment, Miss."
The door closed again.
After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the side door opened again.
Out came a middle-aged man dressed in plain silk, with a thin face and sharp eyes.
The man first returned the token to Shen Qingyuan.
"I am the steward of the Prince's Mansion, surnamed Chen."
After speaking, Steward Chen bowed to Shen Qingyuan, not looking down on her because she was dressed in plain cloth.
"His Highness is in a coma and is not in a condition to receive guests. Did you come to visit under the orders of the Heir Apparent, Miss?"
As the saying goes, a seventh-rank official at the prime minister's gate.
And here at the gate of Prince Jing's Mansion, whether it was the servant or this Steward Chen.
Their manners were quite gentle.
They did not make Shen Qingyuan feel displeased.
It was evident that the master of this house was also a good person.
If that was the case, then it wouldn't be impossible to save him.
Shen Qingyuan shook her head.
"No, I am here to save him."
Even the well-traveled Steward Chen was stunned for a moment.
Only then did he begin to size up Shen Qingyuan.
This young woman was dressed simply, was still young, and had a hairpin in her hair.
She had likely just come of age not long ago.
The old imperial physicians in the palace were all helpless against His Highness's poison.
Yet such a young woman claimed she was here to save the Prince's life?
Seeing the hesitation on Steward Chen's face, he simply wouldn't let her pass.
Shen Qingyuan sighed.
It seemed she would have to bring up her Fourth Senior Brother's name after all.
"You might not know me, but you should have heard my Senior Brother's name; he is called Xie Yunzhou."
Steward Chen's pupils constricted.
Ever since the Prince fell seriously ill, countless people had come to the door to recommend themselves.
It wasn't as if there hadn't been those impersonating Master Yunzhou.
Steward Chen did not dare to take the risk and always had people check others in the mansion first.
Without exception, they were all fakes.
✦✦✦