The two tables were quite close, and Suzhen vaguely heard one attendant say in surprise that their money pouch must have been dropped along the way.

The waiter had originally maintained a respectful “my lord” attitude, but upon hearing this, immediately switched to a disdainful “your lordship” expression, his eyes sweeping over several burly waiters.

The restaurant suddenly fell quiet as people began watching the commotion.

“Use this as payment for the meal, and we need an upper room.”

At this moment, the white-clothed young man reached up and removed a jade hairpin from his head, handing it to the waiter. Suzhen’s heart stirred—that hairpin was snow-white throughout, with ancient and elegant patterns. It was not only exquisite but definitely top quality.

The waiter’s eyes lit up as he looked toward the innkeeper, who also showed the same gleaming expression.

Just as the innkeeper was about to take it, the blue-robed man stopped him: “Seventh Brother, this was a gift from Father. You absolutely cannot give it away.”

As he spoke, he coughed softly. Everyone tensed, and the elderly man immediately asked nervously if his injury was acting up. He only said it was nothing and pulled something from his chest, saying: “Innkeeper, take this item to the town’s largest pawnshop and pawn it. Keep the receipt—I’ll come redeem it another day.”

His people all changed expressions when they saw that item, but the innkeeper sneered: “Sir, you want to use one broken stone to cover three taels of silver worth of food and drink!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the two young attendants rose abruptly, their eyes turning ice-cold.

The innkeeper, both startled and angry, waved his hand, and a group of waiters moved to seize the white-clothed young man’s hairpin. These few looked like scholars and probably weren’t opponents for these seven or eight tall, fierce men.

The other patrons began discussing among themselves, not caring much about the meal dispute but quite worried about the two young masters’ situation. Suzhen thought to herself that being beautiful really had advantages everywhere.

“Wait, I’ll settle this bill for these gentlemen.”

Suddenly a voice rang out. The innkeeper froze, and people immediately looked toward Suzhen and Leng Xue’s direction.

It was indeed Suzhen who had spoken.

After being ogled by her for so long, the blue-robed man who had never looked at her properly finally glanced her way. A slight smile played at his lips, seemingly in gratitude.

But his eyes remained as calm as water.

Suzhen revised her earlier impression. This person appeared gentle and refined, but only in appearance. If the white-clothed young man was not simple, this person was unfathomable.

Following the blue-robed man’s instruction, the elderly man stepped forward and handed her the stone.

She glanced at the unremarkable gray stone in his palm and smiled: “Beauty is like jade, a gentleman’s desire. No need—Uncle, please return this item to your young master.”

Although the Great Zhou didn’t particularly promote male relationships, they weren’t absent either, and it was common for the powerful to keep young male companions. Someone in the hall immediately gasped, and the two attendants became instantly furious. It was bad enough their master was being flirted with and provoked, but by an ugly man at that.

Leng Xue looked at Suzhen with annoyance, preparing to fight at any moment. However, the blue-robed man had his two men step back and looked at her calmly: “In that case, many thanks, Young Master.”

The white-clothed young man looked at the stone, then glanced at her with a light laugh, though what he was laughing about was unclear.

The blue-robed man had the elderly man ask Suzhen for her hometown and name, saying he would surely repay her generously in the future. Suzhen grinned and said, “Beauty, I’ll be waiting for you in the Heavenly Room Number X,” then grabbed Leng Xue and ran.

Fortunately she ran quickly, or she would have been hit by the chairs the two attendants hurled after her.

Back in their guest room, Leng Xue looked at her coldly: “What exactly are you scheming? Paying for others for free isn’t your style.”

Suzhen’s enthusiasm deflated, and she retorted: “I’m a good person, and besides, the blue-robed man gave me an item, so it’s not free.”

Leng Xue snorted softly: “That broken stone?”

“Don’t you think that jade hairpin was valuable?”

“Nonsense, but he’s not giving you the jade hairpin!”

“That stone is worth ten times more than the jade hairpin.”

Leng Xue said “what kind of joke is this” and began laying out bedding on the floor, no longer paying attention to her.

“There’s a saying: stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade.” Seeing Leng Xue raise his eyebrows proudly, Suzhen wasn’t annoyed and explained with a smile.

Hearing her serious tone, not seeming to jest, Leng Xue was slightly startled.

Suzhen understood that with their years of friendship, he knew when she was joking and when she wasn’t, so she continued: “This is premium jade rough stone, just unpolished—still in its ‘pu’ state. People often say ‘pu jade, pu jade’—this is what they’re referring to.”

After listening, Leng Xue frowned for a long while before saying: “No wonder that white-clothed man kept smiling earlier—he was laughing at your failure to recognize treasure.”