For two consecutive days, Zhuang Ruoyun was running around outside.

One day, when she came back from outside the city, she was stopped by a man who looked like a guard.

"Miss Zhuang, our master has an invitation."

Zhuang Ruoyun looked at him and nodded calmly: "Please lead the way."

The guard led Zhuang Ruoyun to a quiet and elegant restaurant.

This place was probably packed by people, but Zhuang Ruoyun didn't see any other guests along the way.

After entering the private room, a tall figure standing in front of the window with his back to her turned his head only when he heard the voice.

The eldest prince Gu Zixiao was wearing white casual clothes and a purple gold crown on his head.

Not only imposing, but also as calm as jade.

"Hello, Your Highness." Zhuang Ruoyun saluted.

The eldest prince raised his hand to signal the guards to retreat first, leaving only the two of them in the room.

There are a variety of delicacies on the table, full of fragrance.

"Sit down, you are tired from running around these few days, selling shops everywhere, you probably haven't had a good meal." The First Prince said, and sat down first.

Zhuang Ruoyun hesitated for a while, but finally didn't make excuses, and sat opposite him.

She generously ate a few mouthfuls of vegetables and drank another bowl of soup.

Indeed, as the eldest prince said, she has been very hungry these days.

Every day I went out to discuss the price of the shop with people everywhere, and when I got home, the Zhuang Mansion didn't even leave a warm meal for her.

Watching her move the chopsticks, the First Prince pursed his thin lips into a faint smile.

"Eat this, it's their famous dish." The eldest prince took the initiative to pick up a chopstick of chicken and put it in Zhuang Ruoyun's bowl.

He didn't take a bite, but just looked at her intently.

Zhuang Ruoyun didn't want to eat anymore, so she put down her chopsticks silently.

Seeing this, the eldest prince always had a slight gentleness on his brows.

He said: "You have been outside Beijing for the past two days, do you want to sell the shop to businessmen outside Beijing?"

"Yes." Zhuang Ruoyun was not surprised that he knew why.

Gu Zixiao will be the ruler of Daqi in the future, the monarch of the empire, and his influence must spread over every piece of land in Daqi.

The First Prince's tone was calm: "But as far as I know, the prices offered by outside merchants are too low."

"I entrusted my second brother to do business with you through a Yide firm under his name, why are you unwilling?"

"Could it be that the price was not high, or—"

The eldest prince paused for a moment, his eyes were deep: "You know that I am helping, and you don't want to have anything to do with me."

Zhuang Ruoyun raised his eyes and met his eyes.

The eldest prince is the crown prince trained by Gu Yihan himself, and he has always shown his emotions and anger.

But now, in his eyes, there is a strong longing.

He longed to understand why Zhuang Ruoyun refused.

Zhuang Ruoyun took a deep breath.

"Your Highness, since you know that I am raising money, you must already know the reason."

"Thirty taels, it's for me to help Mr. Zhuang make up for the corrupt money."

She lowered her head and her voice was low: "It's not right or good to do this, because he has embezzled money, but I help such a person."

"So, I know your kindness, but I can't accept it."

Gu Zixiao's eyes were deep: "Based on what I know about you, you have a clear distinction between good and evil, so you probably wouldn't help him."

"But this time when you came back, you promised to make up for his corruption and sell all those shops."

"Ruoyun, those are all your painstaking efforts, I believe you will not do this unless you have to."

"Tell me, did the banker force you with something so that you had to agree?"