Owing ten thousand gold coins on the wager would have been one thing, but the key was that the three of them gradually remembered something—what the personal guards had reported upon returning: Niu Youdao had taken a chest of gold coins from Feng Ruonan's camp...
The more they thought about it, the less they dared to continue. Could the money for the betrothal gifts have been borrowed from Feng Ruonan?
They all stared at Niu Youdao with wide eyes. Their stares made him rather embarrassed, and he forced a smile. "Why are you looking at me like that? I ran around and did all the work, while Prince gets to enjoy the good thing. You're not going to make me repay the money, are you?"
It was not a matter of whether he should repay it or not. Shang Chaozong asked uneasily, "Daoist Master, what did you borrow that money for?"
Niu Youdao spread his hands. "What else could it have been for? Naturally, it was to buy betrothal gifts for Prince's marriage proposal! Rest assured, Prince, I did not pocket a single extra coin. The personal guards kept detailed accounts of every betrothal gift purchased. I would not stoop to taking such a petty advantage."
"..." The three were dumbstruck, truly rendered speechless. The money had indeed been used for exactly what they had not wanted to accept. He had borrowed Feng Ruonan's money to buy betrothal gifts, then gone to Feng Ruonan's family to propose marriage and marry Feng Ruonan? Why did that sound so convoluted? What he had done was simply too... too much! No matter how poor they were, they could not afford to lose that kind of face!
Their feelings were understandable. They had come from the dignified Prince Ning's Residence. No matter how far