The Tyrant’s Drama Queen Empress

CHAPTER 42: All Just Tricks

　　Shen Ling asked, “Then do you even know how to exchange it? Do you know who to look for? If you trade it directly, aren’t you afraid of getting cheated? What’s the current market price? Is jade going through a depreciation cycle right now? Do you understand any of that?”

　　She deliberately threw out a whole string of serious sounding questions at him, just to overwhelm him a little. No way was she letting him get too smug.

　　—And with that noble, out of touch look of yours, how would you even know the real value of that jade pendant? Someone might trick you into trading it away for a lousy shack next to a latrine.

　　Xie Yuanxun’s hand paused slightly as he held the jade pendant. He asked calmly, “You know?”

　　Shen Ling cleared her throat. “O-Of course I know……”

　　—Know my foot.

　　—There isn’t even a real estate agency here, and I’ve never bought property in this place before. Wait… maybe an agency would work. But where would I even find one?

　　Though inwardly nervous, Shen Ling didn’t let a single hint show on her face. She said calmly, “Every circle has its own rules. If we want answers to the things I just mentioned, we need to ask someone well connected. Along the way, we passed quite a few places already, government offices, inns, pawnshops… Right, who could be more suitable to ask than people from a pawnshop?”

　　—Phew. I really am quick witted.

　　—Besides, suggesting a pawnshop isn’t exactly wrong.

　　Xie Yuanxun gave her a look that clearly said I’ll hear you out for now. “Go on. Why there?”

　　Shen Ling began explaining, “If you want to use that jade pendant to exchange for a residence, the first thing you need to know is its value.”

　　At that point, she suddenly remembered something she had overlooked. “You… do know how much it’s actually worth, right?”

　　Xie Yuanxun scoffed. “My own possession, and I wouldn’t know its value? Do you really think that’s possible?”

　　Shen Ling’s gaze turned subtly complicated.

　　—You talked so much, yet you still didn’t actually answer my question.

　　—All I needed was a simple “yes” or “no,” so why are you throwing a question back at me? I get it now. This is that thing where truth hides inside lies and lies hide inside truth. Good thing I’m smart, or I really would’ve been fooled by you.

　　—So basically, you have no idea how much silver this jade pendant can actually be exchanged for.

　　Xie Yuanxun fell silent. “……” His tone turned colder. “Enough nonsense. Continue. Why are we going to a pawnshop?”

　　He looked as if, if she didn’t start talking immediately, she might not live long enough to speak again.

　　By now, Shen Ling was already used to his attitude. She only felt relieved she had asked earlier. Otherwise, if they really ended up trading a jade pendant worthy of hanging from Xie Yuanxun’s waist for something like an outhouse, she would probably die from anger on the spot.

　　Unbothered by his chilly tone, she continued, “That thing in your hand is the only asset we have right now that can get us a place to stay. The idea of exchanging it for a house is good, but we just arrived here. Without dealing with someone reliable, it’s very easy to get cheated.”

　　It was like taking a taxi. When drivers picked up locals, everything stayed honest. Say you wanted to go to the Great Wall, and they’d take you straight there. But if you were an outsider wanting to visit the Great Wall? Ha. They might drag you all the way around Hainan first before finally heading there, and by the end, the fare would be several times higher.

　　That kind of trick only worked on outsiders. Try pulling that on a local, and you’d get exposed instantly.

　　Shen Ling said, “We want to exchange the jade pendant for a house. Where do we make the trade, who do we deal with, all of that is a problem. So we need to ask someone who actually knows. A pawnshop is the perfect place. They deal with all kinds of people and hear news from everywhere. People from every walk of life pass through there. Making a trip won’t be a loss for us.”

　　Xie Yuanxun replied, “I thought you were planning to pawn the pendant.”

　　Shen Ling scoffed. “Pawn the jade pendant, then use the silver we get to buy a house? Are you stupid, or are you stupid?”

　　No matter which option he picked, the answer was still the same.

　　Xie Yuanxun glared at her. “You’re stupid.”

　　Shen Ling let out a dry laugh. “Yes, yes, I’m stupid.”

　　—Only idiots go around calling other people idiots.

　　Xie Yuanxun frowned as he stared into her eyes, his gaze slowly drifting upward to her forehead. His fingers twitched like he was about to flick her. Seeing that, Shen Ling hurriedly added, “Instead of spending money twice, it’s better to settle everything in one go. We’re not pawning the pendant. We just want to ask where we can exchange goods directly, and how much this pendant is actually worth, so we have a clear idea.”

　　…..  

　　After hearing Shen Ling’s request, the pawnshop owner fell silent. “......”

　　He said, “So what you’re saying is, you want me to appraise the item without pawning it. I gain nothing, yet I still have to tell you which property broker is trustworthy and does honest business?”

　　Shen Ling nodded. “Well… when you put it that way, that’s basically correct.”

　　The owner went quiet again. “......”

　　He studied Shen Ling carefully, originally thinking she was joking. But judging from her completely serious expression, she clearly meant every word.

　　“So,” he asked slowly, “what exactly do I gain from doing all this?”

　　Shen Ling froze for a moment, then cautiously replied, “Gain what? Maybe… the satisfaction of being kindhearted?”

　　The owner: “......”

　　Why did she even say that like it was a question?  

　　When the pawnshop owner first saw Xie Yuanxun and Shen Ling walk in, he thought a huge deal had just delivered itself to his door.

　　After so many years running the shop, his eye for people had become sharp. He couldn’t tell what material their clothes were made from, but he could clearly sense that expensive, untouchable aura coming off them. Especially the man. One glance from him made the owner suddenly unsure where to put his own hands and feet.

　　Sadly, the big business never came.

　　Still, the owner wasn’t upset. Harmony brings wealth, after all. Those dramatic scenes from storybooks where shopkeepers look down on customers simply didn’t exist here.

　　He smiled politely and said, “Miss, and this honorable young master…”

　　—Wait, why didn’t he add an ‘honorable’ title after me too?

　　Owner: Why else? Probably because you’re too ridiculous.

　　Shen Ling thought for a moment, then decided to give him a small tip as payment for answering her questions.

　　With great reluctance, she snapped off a piece of Coptis chinensis. Then felt it was too big and broke it smaller. In the end, she handed over a piece about the length of her thumb.

　　The owner: “......”

　　It was Coptis chinensis. He wasn’t mistaken. Seeing how painfully reluctant she looked, he almost thought she had been breaking off gold.

　　Shen Ling said seriously, “Don’t look down on this. This isn’t ordinary stuff. You know ginseng, right? The older it is, the better the effect. Well, this is fifty-year-old Coptis chinensis. Fifty years! That’s practically half a person’s lifetime. You’ve basically just received a once-in-history bargain.”    

　　The shopkeeper: “......”

　　Even though he was standing safely inside his shop, the owner felt as if he were caught in a raging wind, his whole mind thrown into complete chaos.

　　Did they really think he was just some ordinary commoner who didn’t understand the value of medicinal herbs? How could ginseng and Coptis chinensis possibly be compared?

　　What kind of customer had he run into today? Coming all the way to his pawnshop not to pawn anything, but to ask about a broker instead. And the so called tip was not even silver, but medicinal ingredients?

　　The shopkeeper finally said, “No need. You should keep something this valuable for yourself. This pawnshop has been passed down through generations in Yongning Town. Our reputation may not be grand, but we’ve always done business based on mutual willingness. If you truly wish to pawn something, you’re more than welcome. If not, then we can part on good terms. Besides, even if you want to ask me which broker is reliable and plan to barter instead, you should at least take out that jade pendant you mentioned and let me see whether it’s genuine first.”    

　　—Oh, I forgot.

　　—It’s my first time coming to a pawnshop, so I got a little nervous. Ahem…

　　Shen Ling turned around, intending to take the jade pendant back from Xie Yuanxun’s hand. Xie Yuanxun didn’t move. Shen Ling didn’t get angry either. She simply said leisurely, “If you won’t give it to me, then are you going to handle it yourself?”

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “No.”

　　Shen Ling said, “Then give it to me.”

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “No.”

　　Shen Ling said, “……”

　　—Hey now! Are you stuck on repeat or something? Other people turn into flower spirits or grass spirits. What are you supposed to be, a ‘no’ spirit?

　　Keeping her expression gentle and pleasant, Shen Ling asked, “Why not?”

　　She suddenly felt like she was trying to reason with an uncooperative little kid who refused to do his job.    

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “This belongs to me.”

　　Shen Ling nodded. “I know.”

　　Xie Yuanxun looked at her and said, “When you want something that belongs to someone else, do you just reach out and take it like that? Not even offering anything in return. Who would willingly give it to you?”

　　Shen Ling stared at him, completely dumbfounded. “……”

　　—Ancestor, did you burn your brain somewhere and forget what situation we’re in?

　　—I’m trying to plan for our future here, so why are you dragging me down instead?

　　Shen Ling explained, “I’m not taking it. I just want to show it to the pawnshop owner first so he can appraise it.”

　　But reasoning didn’t work so easily on a stubborn child.

　　And so, Xie Yuanxun remained completely unmoved.

　　Shen Ling clicked her tongue inwardly. So he really wanted to force her to use her ultimate move, huh?

　　She walked over, grabbed Xie Yuanxun’s arm, and shook it while saying, “If you don’t give it to me, I’ll start crying right now. Don’t blame me later.”

　　“Wuu...”

　　Xie Yuanxun immediately tossed the jade pendant into her hands. “Take it.”

　　Lowering his gaze, he looked at her. It was not that he was afraid she would feel hurt or shed tears. He simply did not want to witness her ugly crying face, complete with snot bubbles.

　　Shen Ling: Mm hmm, yes, you’re absolutely right. Brilliant. Truly outstanding.

　　The moment she got the jade pendant, Shen Ling brought it straight to the pawnshop owner for appraisal.

　　The owner froze the instant he saw the jade.

　　He had seen people pawn jade items before, plenty of them even, but never anything like the piece Shen Ling placed before him. The spiritual aura contained within it was so strong that even a blind man could sense something extraordinary.

　　Shen Ling, however, showed none of his dramatic reaction.

　　“Boss, how much do you think this is worth?”

　　The shop owner frowned and said, “Madam, you….” He trailed off, sounding half hesitant, half unsure. “This… it’s a bit difficult. Hard to estimate, really hard to estimate.”

　　Shen Ling’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Really?” Wait, wasn’t I supposed to be called Miss? Why is it Madam now?

　　The owner sighed. “Ah, yes… you… ah.”

　　Shen Ling looked worried, like she was truly intimidated by the owner’s words, but in reality:

　　—Act, that’s what I’m doing.

　　—Don’t think I don’t know you’re eyeing it, pretending to be troubled so I’ll think it’s some worthless junk. Classic trick, signature move of a crafty merchant.

　　Xie Yuanxun glanced at her when the pawnshop owner called her Madam. He thought at least the man had some sense. As for Shen Ling pretending to frown and worry alongside the owner, calculating everything in her mind, Xie Yuanxun didn’t care. As long as she didn’t get scammed, that was all that mattered.

 

   

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