The bluestone path was bathed in a layer of white moonlight, like a gentle veil.
The tense atmosphere had been swept away by the cool breeze.
Chen Ji sheathed his short blade and looked at Princess Baili standing before him.
He asked softly, "How long have you all been secretly planning to help me?"
Baili fidgeted with the pouch at her waist, a little embarrassed.
"About a day and a half."
Chen Ji was puzzled.
"How come I didn’t notice you all discussing this?"
Baili explained, "You always come back during the day, looking exhausted, and head straight to your room to sleep. We’ve been whispering in the courtyard while you were asleep."
"Aren’t you afraid I might be out gambling?"
"No, we know you’re not the gambler they say you are."
"Thank you."
Chen Ji could imagine the scene: this group of people sitting around a table, whispering like children.
Naive, yet sincere.
He glanced at Liang Gou’er.
"By the way, how much did you all pool together to get Brother Gou’er to help? The kiln’s profits haven’t come in yet, so I thought everyone was broke."
The Crown Prince chuckled.
"Ten taels of silver. Baili and I were indeed out of money. Liu Quxing was the one who coughed it up. You should’ve seen his face when he pulled that silver ingot from the lining of his clothes—it was all twisted."
Chen Ji was speechless for a moment.