The saintess is pregnant, what does that have to do with me, a spoiled brat?

Chapter 31

Imperial Edict Office Prison.

In the dark and damp passageway, hurried and disorderly footsteps echoed.

Captain Liu and Manager Qian stumbled and tumbled in, falling countless times along the way. Their official hats were askew, their clothes were torn, and they looked like two stray dogs in a sorry state.

In the prison cell.

Xu Nuo was leaning against a haystack, playing with a folding fan in his hand and humming an unknown tune, as if he were enjoying the cool air in his own backyard.

"Young Master Xu!"

Captain Liu knelt down outside the iron fence with a thud, his knees hitting the bluestone slabs heavily with a dull thud.

Manager Qian followed closely behind, slamming over two hundred pounds of fat onto the ground, sending dust flying.

"Young Master Xu, it's all my fault! I was blind and offended you. Please, be magnanimous and come out with us!"

Captain Liu kowtowed and pleaded with a sob in his voice.

He was genuinely scared.

The three imposing figures outside were still blocking the entrance. The prefect's murderous glare just now clearly indicated that if he couldn't get this living ancestor to come, he would be leaving today in a sorry state.

Xu Nuo didn't even lift his eyelids, gently tapping his knee with his folding fan.

"go out?"

He spoke slowly, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery.

"Didn't we just say that once you're in this imperial prison, dragons have to coil up and tigers have to lie low?"

"I think this place is great. It's quiet, cool, and it even includes food and accommodation. I plan to stay here permanently and not leave."

Upon hearing this, Captain Liu and Manager Qian almost wet themselves on the spot.

If you don't leave, we'll both die!

"Young Master Xu! Ancestor! Living ancestor!"

Manager Qian suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across his fat face with both hands.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

The crisp sound of slaps echoed in the cell. In just a few moments, his face swelled up like a pig's head, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"This scoundrel has been blinded by greed! This scoundrel is insatiable! Please, have mercy and spare my life!"

Xu Nuo sat up straight, looked at the two fat men outside who were crying their eyes out, and a cold smile appeared on her lips.

Now you know fear?

late.

"Alright, stop wailing, it's giving me a headache."

Xu Nuo tapped on the iron fence with his folding fan.

The two quickly stopped what they were doing and stared at him expectantly, like two dogs waiting for a bone.

"It's not impossible for me to leave."

He promised to extend one finger.

"First, my shop brings in ten thousand taels a day. You smashed my stall and disrupted my business. How are you going to settle this score?"

Without hesitation, Manager Qian shouted, "I'll pay! I'll pay! Ten thousand taels! I'll send someone to get it right away!"

Xu Nuo shook his head.

"Ten thousand taels? That was yesterday's income. Today I was planning to launch new products, and I expected to earn thirty thousand taels. Add the depreciation of the stall and lost wages, and round it up to fifty thousand taels."

Fifty thousand taels?!

Manager Qian gasped, his heart bleeding.

Even if he worked at Zuixianlou for more than half a year, he might not be able to save up 50,000 taels of silver.

But seeing Xu Nuo's ambiguous smile, he gritted his teeth: "Fine! Fifty thousand taels! I'll pay!"

Xu Nuo nodded in satisfaction and extended his second finger.

"Secondly, you slapped my maid."

His gaze shifted to Captain Liu, and his eyes instantly turned cold.

"Does the Xu family value their reputation so highly? This slap of yours is a blow to the reputation of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

Captain Liu trembled and, without saying a word, drew the sword from his waist.

"This hand of mine has acted foolishly; I'll chop it off myself!"

As he spoke, he raised the knife to chop at his left hand.

"Wait a minute."

Xu Nuo stretched out his folding fan and blocked the blade.

"It's all bloody, and it got in my eyes."

He looked at Captain Liu and said calmly, "Buy your life with money. Fifty thousand taels for this hand, plus my maid's medical expenses."

Lieutenant Liu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you so much, young master, for sparing my life! I'll scrape together the fifty thousand taels even if I have to sell everything I own!"

Xu Nuo put the folding fan away and leaned back against the haystack.

"third."

He looked at Manager Qian, his tone indifferent.

"I've taken a liking to your Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

Manager Qian suddenly raised his head, his face full of disbelief.

"Young master, this..."

"What? You don't want to?" Xu Nuo raised an eyebrow. "Then forget it, I'll just stay here."

"Yes! Yes!"

Manager Qian was completely devastated.

Money can be earned back, but once you lose your life, you lose everything.

"The land deed and house deed for Drunken Immortal Pavilion will be delivered by my servant immediately. It's entirely up to you, young master!"

Xu Nuo smiled.

He stood up and patted the hay off his clothes.

"Why didn't you just make it quicker earlier?"

"Let's go out for some fresh air."

Chapter 32

Outside the main gate of the Imperial Edict Office.

The sunlight was blinding.

Xu Nuo, fanning herself with a folding fan, slowly stepped out of the threshold.

Behind him, Captain Liu and Manager Qian followed with their heads bowed and eyes downcast, like two punching bags, each holding a thick stack of silver notes and land deeds.

"Brother Xu!"

Fatty Wang was the first to rush forward, looking Xu Nuo up and down.

"Are you alright? Those bastards didn't torture you, did they?"

Xu Nuo tapped his stomach with a folding fan.

Do I look like something's wrong to you?

Lin Hu strode forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a deep voice, and said, "Your subordinate is late in rescuing you, young master, please punish me!"

"Get up, this is none of your business."

Xu Nuo waved his hand.

Beside him, two imperial guards stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Young Master Xu, our young lady heard about this and specifically ordered us to come and investigate."

Xu Nuo nodded: "Please thank your young lady for me."

Down the steps.

Prefect Zhao Kang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and greeted him with a broad smile.