Sibling Rivalry 7

Six pieces of silver! How was he to know that things were so expensive in Yanyun City, compared to Changqing? And nobody told him that all the inns had raised their prices, to take advantage of the people who had flocked to the city in anticipation of the major festival that was supposed to take place almost a month later, to celebrate the Duke's birthday?

Well, to be fair, he knew about the birthday. Li Changhai had mentioned that in passing some time ago. And he knew that it was going to be rather huge.

But how was he to know that there would be such a ridiculous increase in prices?! And that even the base price would be so expensive?!

A series of knocks from his room's door made Qin Feng jump. And he cursed as he pulled himself together, and walked over to answer it. All that thinking about his finances was making him nervous. It was rather embarrassing, and he had left himself without a route of retreat, hadn't he? Unless he thickened his face and went to the Ducal Palace for help ...

Qin Feng shook his head at that. It wouldn't do to go look for the Second Ducal Prince for something like this. Especially after he had gone through so much trouble to cause a mess in the Ducal Palace. How could he bother Li Changhai, after disrupting the relationship between him and his father?

Then he stopped himself, and took a deep breath. He had to concentrate on the matter at hand, and not keep thinking about his finances. Or lack thereof! Given the fact that no one knows that he was there at the inn, it was more than likely that it was one of the inn's staff again, come to badger him about his bill. And when he would be leaving.

No doubt so that the place could open itself to more bookings, by yet more travelers come to celebrate the Duke's birthday!

But when he finally opened the door, he was surprised to find Du Yan standing on the other side of it. And wearing a broad grin on his face at that.

"Ha! You did not expect us to be able to find out where you were staying, did you? Don't you know that the Duke of the Westlands has his people all over Yanyun City? And none of them would dare to miss you out from his report, you know? You were a former guest at his Palace, so surely you cannot expect to escape their sight," the large man told him with a sage-like expression.

Which was enough to make Qin Feng snort, and take his mind off his troubles. He could not afford to show his penniless state to this fellow, who he was certain would report everything back to the Second Ducal Prince.

So he put on his nonchalant face once more, and waved a hand at the slightly older man. He had to convey a sense of 'I cannot be bothered' to any agent of the Duke of the Westlands, if he wished to tear himself away, after all.

"I had expected the Duke to keep an eye on me. But I did not expect him to send someone like Master Du to pay me a visit. What is this about then? Has he given up on waiting for me to leave the city, and is finally giving me a reminder to be on my way?"

Du Yan laughed loudly, and clapped a hand on his shoulder as soon as he heard that. "Oh, that is marvelous! I couldn't have managed a better show of disdain for the Duke myself! That would certainly get his blood boiling when he hears of it!

"But ... to answer your question, I am not here on his behalf. Liushui and I are having drinks nearby, at the Purple Jade Pavilion. So we thought you might care to join us. We have a little proposition for you."

Qin Feng scowled as he considered the 'invitation'. It seemed rather clear that the Second Ducal Prince was trying to hold onto him, and to keep him from running off. The large man's words made Qin Feng's thoughts head back to his financial state, and hinted that the pair might have some knowledge of his situation. Which would not be a great surprise, given how he had missed payments for his room for so long already.

Then again, it was probably because he was formerly a guest at the Duke's Palace that the innkeeper had not raised a fuss about his overdue rent!

Still, he could not help but be curious. From the way that Du Yan was talking about this, money seemed to have a part to play in the matter. And Qin Feng was skint!

So he kept his tone neutral as he looked up at the Second Ducal Prince's guest. "What sort of proposition? I should remind you first that I am not interested in any sort of mission that involves protecting the Duchy or fighting in its armies."

"Nothing of the sort. It is more of ... a retrieval, you might say, of items lost to us a long time ago."

A treasure hunt? It certainly sounded like it, from the way that Du Yan described the job. Of course, that also hinted that Li Changhai might be involved. For a moment, Qin Feng was about to refuse, given how he was supposed to be cutting ties with the Duke and his children.

Then the paucity of his purse came to mind once more. And made him change his opinion. "Very well then. I think it shouldn't do me any harm, to hear more about this," he sighed as he gestured for Du Yan to lead the way.

It was about time that he got a paying job at last. After all, he had been relying on the Second Ducal Prince to foot all of his bills since he left Changqing City.

*

Word of his clash with the Eldest of the Duke's children had already made the rounds, by the time that he arrived at the restaurant where they were supposed to meet. And there were many pairs of curious eyes watching him as he strode in next to Du Yan. Lin Liushui was already waiting within by the time the two of them got there, and there were a good number of dishes on the table before him as well. Not to mention the fact that he was seated in one of the most expensive private rooms on the premises.

It seemed that the two of them had put in a great deal of thought and effort, when they invited him to meet with them, Qin Feng thought. Especially when he realized how polite the two of them were, when they invited him to sit down, and poured him a cup of wine.

Lin Liushui smiled when he seated himself, and waved a hand at the food before him. "I think you should have a taste of what the Purple Jade Pavilion has to offer, before we get on to our discussion of our little treasure hunt. That is complicated, and we shall probably need full stomachs to fortify us through the telling," he said with a grin.

That was when he noticed that the dishes on the stone table in the Pavilion were rather elaborate, compared to what he had seen, even on the Duke's table, and comprised of some rather rich ingredients. It seemed the pair had spent a small fortune, preparing this little feast for him!

"This seems a bit much, for a ... business discussion."

His words were enough to send the pair into guffaws. And Lin Liushui was the first one to recover, and to explain:

"Ah! I think our Brother Feng is a little confused, and perhaps, a little modest. If I am not mistaken, he doesn't really understand just how remarkable his standing up to Fatty Zhou was, three days earlier. And how utterly humbled we are by his ability to remain on his feet after receiving one of that scoundrel's blows!"

Du Yan nodded at that, although his grin made it unclear if he was joking or serious. "Indeed! I am utterly amazed that you were able to do that."

"Fatty Zhou?"

Lin Liushui and Du Yan burst into laughter this time, which was enough to make Qin Feng feel a little more confused. And somewhat upset. Were the two of them laughing at him? But the handsome, scholarly fellow was quick to spot that, and explained at once:

"Zhou Jinhu. He used to be immense! He was so fat that his stomach jiggled when he walked! But he somehow lost all that weight, and slimmed down in the last three, four years. He's the idiot who was with the Eldest Ducal Princess, the one who threw that palm strike at you."

Qin Feng raised his eyebrows as soon as he heard those words. So that Fatty Zhou fellow was supposed to be very skilled then? But all it took was one [Weeping at her Own Reflection] stance to turn his power against himself, wasn't it? Didn't that make this Fatty Zhou a little overrated then?

But Lin Liushui was still speaking, and he turned his attention back to the handsome man. "The rascal now serves the Zhao Family, as you might have guessed by now. And the oldest of our Sanlang's siblings has him under her control. Apparently, he's supposed to be her Protector, and looks after her safety."

Du Yan snorted at that. "As if he can match the Elders Yue and Kang. Those two are already in the Mastery Realm, so how can he compare? He's just making the rest of the Zhao Family Protectors look bad."

* * *