Chapter 52 Making an Example of a Chicken to Scare the Monkeys

"If there is anything I can do for you, just say the word. Even if it means climbing a mountain of blades or plunging into a sea of fire, I will not hesitate."

"That is very kind of you. The truth is, I don't have enough money right now and need you to advance the funds for opening a restaurant. But don't worry, once I start making a profit, I will surely return it to you with interest. I would never let you take a loss."

Qi Yunyan smiled with deep affection. "I thought it was some formidable problem. How much do you need? Just name it. I have plenty of money."

"Thirty thousand taels."

"No problem."

Although thirty thousand taels sounded like a lot, to him—the Heir of the Prince of Duan's Estate—it was merely a drop in the ocean.

Before long, the entire Prince of Duan's Estate would belong to him anyway; would he really lack this mere thirty thousand taels?

"Yunyan, you are truly too good to me. Trust me, I will never let you down," Lin Qingyu said, trembling with excitement.

Qi Yunyan did not take her words to heart. Even if Lin Qingyu were to squander the entire thirty thousand taels, it would not matter.

He considered this money a small price to pay for a beauty's smile.

The next day.

Having obtained Qi Yunyan's permission, Lin Qingyu walked smugly to the finance office to draw the funds.

To her astonishment, she was met with a flat refusal from the accountant.

"I am terribly sorry, Mistress Lin, but I cannot disburse these funds to you."

"What is the meaning of this? These funds are requested by the Heir Apparent himself! How dare you defy his orders? You have quite a lot of nerve."

Lin Qingyu tried to use Qi Yunyan's name as a shield to intimidate him.

"Even if the Heir Apparent were to come here in person, I still could not approve these funds," the accountant replied with a straight face.

"Forget about these funds—the entire Prince of Duan's Estate will belong to the Heir Apparent in the future! By what right do you refuse? Do you think that just because you are the accountant here, you can treat the estate as your own family property and decide who gets what?"

Having been rejected by the accountant time and again, Lin Qingyu could not help growing frantic with rage.

"Mistress Lin, I am merely someone who takes orders. The people above said these funds cannot be released, and my hands are tied. Please do not make things difficult for a humble person like me."

The people above wouldn't release the money?

Could it be Shen Mengli?

Ah, yes, it had to be her!

She never imagined that the moment Shen Mengli stepped into the role of mistress of the Prince of Duan's Estate, she would be audacious enough to meddle in affairs meant for the Heir Apparent.

Let's see how she deals with a heavy dose of trouble brought to her door this time.

Weeping bitterly, Lin Qingyu hurried over to the Breezy Courtyard.

At that moment, Qi Yunyan was still fast asleep, visiting the realm of dreams.

He had little choice; the Prince of Duan had dumped far too many administrative duties onto him, keeping him busy late into the night before he could finally rest.

"Yunyan, you must seek justice for me! I've been bullied, wuwuwu~"

Disregarding the warnings of the servants, Lin Qingyu burst straight into Qi Yunyan's bedchamber.

She shook the heavily sleeping man awake.

Startled awake by the commotion, Qi Yunyan groggily opened his eyes to find Lin Qingyu weeping tears like rain by the bedside.

"Qingyu, what is the matter? Who has bullied you?"

"Yunyan, Shen Mengli has bullied me! My life is so wretched. Not only has she driven a wedge between the two of us, but now she is also using her authority to oppress and humiliate me. You must stand up for me and vent my grievances."

Lin Qingyu embellished the story with exaggerated details.

"Shen Mengli? What has she done to you this time? I told her to quietly play the part of the Heir Consort. Does she find her days too peaceful that she has to stir up trouble here?"

"Shen Mengli cannot stand the sight of me. The very moment she became the mistress of the estate, she chose to make an example of me to frighten the others. Not only is she bullying me, but she is also trampling all over your dignity as the Heir Apparent."

"What on earth has she done?"