Carrying the little lucky star, leading the villain on the road to exile

Chapter 205. Price Increase
If the eldest son of the Gu family had injured his right hand, the entire Gu family would have truly been forced to leave the court. If those two brats were to get into trouble as well, with no hope left, they might turn their anger on their master, or even worse, they might defect to another master.

Thinking about it this way, Ming Peifeng felt a chill run down his spine. It was truly thanks to the blessings of his ancestors; otherwise, he and his brothers would have lost their lives to the Gu family.

“Lord Gu, I know you’ve suffered some injustice these past few days,” Ming Peifeng had no choice but to try to appease him. “I’ve already had some people book a few rooms for you and prepared some fine wine and food to welcome you back.”

Gu Baijiang said, "Lord Ming, don't give me that. We actually feel safer living in the dormitory now. I really can't agree with your guarding capabilities."

“It was all a mistake before. I assure you, Lord Gu, that there will definitely be no more abnormalities.” Ming Peifeng knew that if he wanted to let this matter pass, he had to make a gesture. He quickly took out a few silver notes from his pocket. “I know that we have spent a lot of money along the way. Please take these and use them, Lord Gu.”

Gu Baijiang reached out and took it, then looked at it. It was five hundred-tael silver notes. Although it wasn't much, it would be enough for them to use for a while.

"I wonder what the master's side says."

Ming Peifeng pondered for a moment before saying, "As soon as you returned to the palace, Your Majesty and Her Majesty summoned you and did not leave the palace for two days. They only sent someone to tell me to come here and protect you. I don't know why I missed you along the way. It was all my fault."

Speaking of this, he still felt a little guilty. That day, he clearly encountered the exile caravan, but he deliberately led his men to take a detour.

Gu Baijiang glanced at him. Everyone knew the truth of the matter. How blind would one have to be to miss such a long and large queue?

However, considering the five hundred taels, he can't pursue the matter now, but he still has to give a warning, otherwise anyone could come and take advantage of him.

"Since our master hasn't given us any explanation, we can only wait."

"I won't disturb Lord Ming's rest any longer; there's plenty of time for us another day."

After Gu Baijiang finished speaking, he turned and left without even looking at Ming Peifeng's expression.

He's not the one asking for help now, and he doesn't want to suffer this inexplicable humiliation.

After everyone left, Ming Peifeng's face darkened. This old bastard clearly knew what his master needed most, yet he still held onto it tightly, not afraid of going too far.

Once he's no longer of any use, then we'll deal with him properly.

Just then, the innkeepers started making a fuss, "Why is this thing so expensive?"

The prices at the previous inns had already doubled, but here they've doubled again.

"Yes, this is absolutely terrible. Let's go and beg Lord Liu to allow us to buy things from outside."

"Yes, these damned post stations, they're treating us like fat pigs to be slaughtered."

The Gu brothers wore long faces. They only had a little silver on them, which wasn't enough to guarantee their livelihood. They couldn't possibly go back to eating those cheap cornbreads.

When Gu Baijiang saw that they were following behind these people, preparing to go find Liu Pingkang, he quickly reached out and grabbed them one by one, saying, "Stop messing around here, hurry up and buy the things first."

"Dad, things here are too expensive, we can't afford them."

"How expensive can it be?"

Gu Kaiping mentioned the prices of several items, and Gu Baijiang couldn't help but frown, but he quickly came to a realization, "The expenses incurred by the escorts along the way will definitely fall on our shoulders, and it's no use for anyone to say anything."

"While there are fewer people now, you should hurry and pick out some good stuff."

“But we don’t have much money…” Gu Baijiang took out two silver notes from his pocket. This time, he didn’t divide them, but handed them directly to Gu Kaiping. “Go buy some first, don’t be stingy.”

Gu Kaiping looked at Gu Baijiang in shock, "Father, this silver..."

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. You'll find out eventually."

Those escorts aren't pushovers either; if they go like this, it will only anger them, and the price might go up even further.

Gu Kaichen was somewhat dissatisfied with not receiving the silver notes this time, but he didn't dare to say anything more.

Hearing this, he became somewhat skeptical. "Dad, is it really that bad? The price is already this high, is it going to keep going up?"

"Heh! Just wait and see." Gu Baijiang didn't explain further, and went straight to the corner to start picking out things.

At this time, no one was picking out these items.

Besides those who want to lower prices, some people are taking a wait-and-see approach.

"Father, shall we go find the third brother?" Gu Kaichen had no money and knew that he couldn't make decisions here, so he simply followed behind Gu Baijiang.

"Wait a moment and ask the guards," Gu Baijiang glanced back at the two gatekeepers in front of the post station. To them, the post station was just another disguised prison. If they wanted to get out, they had to get the guards' permission.

Liu Pingkang had anticipated this situation. He considered himself to have been relatively lenient with these prisoners along the way, but he did not expect that they would not appreciate his good intentions.

He took a sip of tea, then picked up his whip and opened the door. "What are you all doing here? Have you all rested enough?"

"Sir, the things here are too expensive. Can we go outside to buy them?" The people at the front were not well-off, and after being exploited at every turn along the way, they didn't have much left.

“Don’t forget your identities, and these are all rules set by the higher-ups… If you think it’s too expensive, you can wait for the next post station.” Liu Pingkang saw the brothers who had gathered around him. “Now go do what you’re supposed to do, don’t block the way here.”

Those men wanted to speak, but when they saw the menacing guards drawing their swords at them, they immediately cowered.

After the person left, Liu Pingkang said to Ma Zhi, "Go and tell the shopkeeper to raise the price again."

Ma Zhi nodded and turned to leave, but Guo Baozhu was somewhat worried. "Boss, if we raise the price again, they probably won't accept it."

Liu Pingkang patted him on the shoulder, "You're still too green, kid. These people have more money in their pockets than you think."

These people are cunning and know that wealth should not be flaunted.

"It's only because I'm a good person that they all ended up penniless without even leaving the capital."

Guo Baozhu said, "Weren't their homes ransacked? Even if relatives and friends gave them some money, it shouldn't be this bad..."

Liu Pingkang, “Do your job well. In time, you’ll realize there’s still a big gap between you and these people.”

Even if I worked my whole life, I probably wouldn't be as rich as one favor from them.

After Liu Pingkang finished speaking, he turned and went into the room to continue drinking tea. Wasn't Gu Kaiyuan's example right there? This brat still hasn't figured it out.

I used to think it was the Bai family helping them, but now it seems that it's not just that; Gu Kaiyuan has fooled everyone.