Jiang Yuyu: Why Am I So Cheap?

That useless fellow. I told him to bring a book or a martial arts manual when he had nothing else to do. He brought a book, alright, but he brought this thing?

He'd completely lost face.

"I told you to bring a manual, and you brought me this?" King Qi was so angry his heart felt like it was going to explode, unable to calm down.

Jiang Yuyu scratched his head and said, "It wasn't me who wanted to read it, it was a friend of mine."

"Heh, a friend?" King Qi found it amusing and asked, "Where did this book come from?"

"My friend asked me to bring it for him," Jiang Yuyu said, lowering his head, not daring to meet King Qi's gaze.

King Qi took a deep breath. Fine, he'd deal with that guy later. He quietly tucked the rare book into his robes.

Mu Zibai gave Jiang Yuyu a thumbs-up. This move, creating a friend out of thin air, was masterful. Clearly, he was an old hand at this.

He figured King Qi must have worried himself sick over the past two years. If King Qi weren't in the Phoenix Nirvana Realm and had a sturdier constitution, Jiang Yuyu would have angered him to death long ago.

Jiang Yuyu sighed faintly and walked over to Mu Zibai, pulling out another book. "It's okay, I have another one here. Interested?"

Mu Zibai's mouth twitched. Amazing, he really wasn't afraid of death.

"Don't underestimate this book. It's incredibly profitable. This one only cost a few coins to make, but I can sell it for several taels of silver." Jiang Yuyu quickly put the book away, not wanting King Qi to see it again, or it would truly be gone.

"It seems you've made quite a bit of money."

"Actually, my father is a man of simple means. Half of our King Qi's mansion's income relies on me selling books. If it weren't for me, our King Qi's mansion would fall apart."

Jiang Yuyu sighed deeply. It was so difficult. He put his hands behind his back, acting as if the King Qi's mansion couldn't survive without him.

At my young age, I'm supporting the mansion by selling rare books. Is it easy for me?

Mu Zibai didn't know what to say anymore. Inside, there was only incomprehension, still just incomprehension. A kind of incomprehension towards the bizarre.

It was hard to imagine such a thing could happen.

Why could he talk about something like this so... nobly?

He finally understood why King Qi worried so much. Who wouldn't want to retire forty years early if they had to deal with this guy?

He suddenly wanted to ask King Qi for his secret to maintaining his hair, wondering why he wasn't bald at his age.

"May I ask who the County Princess is?" Mu Zibai asked curiously.

"You wouldn't know about this. I don't know what's gotten into my sister, but she introduced so many young men to him. In terms of talent, he's not as talented as me. In terms of looks, he's not as good-looking as me. But it's fine, he just had to fall for that little monk. I just don't understand," Jiang Yuyu said, completely bewildered.

Mu Zibai: "..."

He fell silent, thought for a moment, and then asked, "The little monk Qingran?"

"Yes, that little monk. I just don't get it. He's a monk, he's already renounced the world, yet my sister won't let him go. Tell me, is my sister a bit slow?" Jiang Yuyu said, unable to comprehend.

Mu Zibai heavily patted Jiang Yuyu's shoulder. "Whether your sister is slow, I don't know, but you are truly straightforward."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"By the way, do you have a grudge against your elder brother, Mu Ziyu?" Jiang Yuyu asked curiously.

"Uh, how should I put it..."

Mu Zibai briefly explained the reason, which made Jiang Yuyu indignant.

"That's going too far! But you've also benefited from misfortune."

At this moment, Wenren Lingmeng was strolling by the lake with Wenren Qingyi. Jiang Yuyu's eyes lit up, and he stared intently, pinching his chin.

"Which one?" Jiang Yuyu inquired.

"The older one, of course," Mu Zibai said with a smile. "Beautiful, isn't she?"

"Indeed beautiful," Jiang Yuyu nodded heavily.

"My wife," Mu Zibai patted Jiang Yuyu's shoulder, a simple and honest smile on his face.

Jiang Yuyu: "..."

The murderous intent in his eyes was impossible to hide. He gritted his teeth fiercely, almost shattering them.

What do you mean by casually mentioning she's your wife? And asking me if she's beautiful? So infuriating!

Jiang Yuyu stared for a long time, unable to figure it out. He carefully examined Mu Zibai, not finding anything particularly special about him.

"How did you manage to encounter such good fortune?"

He had initially felt very sympathetic towards Mu Zibai's situation, but after seeing Wenren Lingmeng, he felt no sympathy at all. He was envious, to be honest.

Why didn't such good things happen to him?

For a moment, his heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

"I have lived a life of good deeds and accumulated virtue, so it's only right that I encounter a little bit of good fortune," Mu Zibai said with a smile.

Jiang Yuyu was even more confused. "I also do good deeds and accumulate virtue! I go around sponsoring impoverished girls whenever I have free time. I don't know how many impoverished girls I've sponsored over the years, so why don't I encounter things like this?"

Mu Zibai's mind went blank for a second, then he asked doubtfully, "Which impoverished girls do you sponsor?"

"The Yichun Courtesan House."

Mu Zibai: "..."

I didn't know what to say, so I offered a polite smile as a warning.

"Look at those young ladies, dressed so scantily and standing out there. I just needed to help them, to donate some silver. Isn't that a good deed? Why don't I ever encounter such good fortune?"

Jiang Yuyu racked her brain, but she couldn't understand why this situation hadn't fallen upon her.

Mu Zibai said meaningfully, "Listen to me, brother. The fact that you aren't lying in bed as a vegetative state thanks to your father's beating is already a result of your past good deeds."

Jiang Yuyu chuckled and said, "I'll go say hello, and then it'll be time to go back. Otherwise, it'll be dark soon."

"Mm."

"Husband, how did your discussion go?" Wenren Lingmeng asked with a smile.

"We might have to stay in the South Sea for a while longer. We'll head back with the Crown Prince later."

Mu Zibai briefly explained the outcome of their discussion. Wenren Lingmeng nodded and said, "Perfect. We'll have time to explore the South Sea too. I've wanted to see the ocean view for a long time."

"Okay, I'll accompany you. When you've seen enough, when you're tired of it, we'll go back," Mu Zibai said gently, lightly stroking Wenren Lingmeng's cheek.

Wenren Lingmeng took Mu Zibai's hand.

Watching the two of them being so affectionate, Jiang Yuyu felt a pang of sourness. Her lips twitched unconsciously, as if she were eating something.

Why am I so pathetic? I just had to come and see.

"Alright, I'm going to find my sister. I won't keep you any longer. See you by the sea later," Jiang Yuyu said, not wanting to stay any longer. She turned to leave.

"Okay."

After watching Jiang Yuyu leave, Mu Zibai walked with Wenren Lingmeng. Wenren Qingyi, on the other side, was pulling on Wenren Lingmeng's arm, trying to draw her over. However, she lacked the strength and could only puff out her cheeks, looking defiant.

Just then, Monk Lanyuan walked over, a hint of surprise on his face.

"I heard that you've woken up, Benefactor, so I came specifically to see."