The taste was perfect! At least for a carnivore like her.

She gnawed on the pigeon, contentedly narrowing her eyes, completely ignoring that Yun Ya was watching from the side.

Few people could eat so comfortably while being stared at by the great State Preceptor Yun, but Feng Miaojun was one of them—a skill she had developed in the White Elephant Mountain Range.

“How did you know I love millet cake?” The millet cake at Heman Tower was truly exceptional, with a light and fluffy texture like eating warm snow. She tasted it every time she went.

But Tan Qingshuang hadn’t ordered this staple tonight.

He sipped his tea, looking completely composed: “When the attendant was announcing the menu, I heard you swallowing.” She had been standing right behind him at the time.

Had she been so improper tonight? Though she was indeed a bit hungry. Feng Miaojun blushed slightly: “Impossible!” Was this fellow’s hearing so abnormal?

The room fell silent, occasionally interrupted by the sound of bone-gnawing. Yun Ya felt that she had once again transformed into some kind of rodent.

Feng Miaojun also felt somewhat embarrassed. To ease the awkward atmosphere, she lightly coughed: “Lady Tan seems to like you very much.”

He looked at her noncommittally: “Hmm?”

“…” The atmosphere seemed to grow even more awkward. “But Master gave no response.”

This time, Yun Ya did not react at all.

What business was it of hers whether there was any chemistry between him and Tan Qingshuang? Why open her mouth? Feng Miaojun thought herself quite impressive, managing to kill the conversation completely.

After a long silence, Yun Ya was the first to speak: “An’an doesn’t like her?”

She initially wanted to deny it, but when the words reached her lips, they became: “Does it matter whether I like her or not?” Her relationship with Yun Ya was merely a simple employment arrangement; what importance did her preferences hold?

“Of course, it matters.”

He said it with such seriousness that Feng Miaojun looked up in surprise, only to see him holding up three fingers: “Your preferences are worth thirty thousand taels of silver.”

Great, he hadn’t forgotten about this and was preparing to settle accounts. Feng Miaojun chewed on the pigeon, suddenly feeling it wasn’t so delicious anymore.

“Why did you set a trap for Tan Qingshuang?” Indeed, the interrogation had begun.

She pouted: “I wanted to test if she was sincere toward you, after all, she knows your true identity.”

“Nonsense.” Yun Ya wasn’t going to fall for her trick. “Tell the truth, or the pigeon won’t taste so good anymore.”

Her small face wrinkled into a conflicted expression, and after a good while, she stammered: “I don’t like her, and I’ve been short on money lately.”

He hadn’t expected this answer: “Short on money?”

“Yes!” Feng Miaojun stared at him with wide eyes. “From the White Elephant Mountain Range to here, I’ve been paying for everything along the way! Food, lodging, travel expenses, plus whatever you see and buy—the small bottle is almost full! I can’t keep spending without earning; I had to find some way to make money!” Who said only women like to shop? The fashionable State Preceptor bought more clothes than she did, and along the way, he acquired so many strange and exotic items!

Yun Ya couldn’t help but touch his nose: “Is that so?” Come to think of it, he indeed hadn’t given this girl a penny. But she hadn’t asked for any either. This wasn’t his fault—he had never lacked for “money,” and the salaries of the servants in his household weren’t his responsibility.

But facing her bright eyes, why did he feel this inexplicable guilt?

“Why didn’t you ask me if you ran out?” He quickly changed the subject. “Besides, could a Dragon Tooth Halberd be worth fifty spirit stones?”

Fifty spirit stones were equivalent to fifteen thousand taels of silver. Although the scarcity of spiritual energy in the world had caused these spiritual flowers and herbs to increase in value, this price was truly outrageous. Tan Qingshuang rarely purchased such medicines herself and wasn’t familiar with prices. This girl was asking for an exorbitant amount. “How much did you spend?”

Feng Miaojun blinked, then blinked again, and under his intimidating gaze, she stuttered: “Seven hundred taels of gold, paid in Hengyuan Bank notes.” Precious metals were unbearably heavy, so at this time, well-known banks would issue tokens of different denominations representing gold and silver, with equivalent purchasing power. Hengyuan Bank was the largest bank in the Yan Kingdom, with the Yan King himself as the major owner, so its credibility was unquestionable.

That was seven thousand taels of silver—this price was normal. Yun Ya smiled instead of getting angry: “Little profiteer!”

Feng Miaojun tilted her head to look at him, her eyes full of concern: “Are you going to return it?”

“Not appropriate.” The Dragon Tooth Halberd was a gift Tan Qingshuang bought for him. If he returned the money to her now, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face?

Feng Miaojun immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Thirty thousand taels—this was an enormous sum! Although she had money, she wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity.

Who wouldn’t want more money?

Yun Ya saw it all and secretly laughed at her naivety. Would he let her off so easily? His slender fingers, each like jade, extended in front of her: “Hand it over.”

“Uh, what?” She couldn’t believe it. No way, was the mighty State Preceptor robbing her?

“Finders share the spoils,” he said languidly. “Besides, you earned this money because of me. Shouldn’t I get the lion’s share?”

There was only this much, and he wanted the lion’s share? Feng Miaojun slowly wiped her hands and mouth clean, then took out the spirit stones from her bosom, looked at him, then at the spirit stones, and with a broken heart, placed a red spirit stone in his palm.

He didn’t move, just crooked his finger.

Not enough.

Feng Miaojun’s small face was so bitter it looked like water might drip from it. She had no choice but to give him two more green spirit stones.

Yun Ya withdrew his hand, tossed the spirit stones a few times, and smiled: “That’s a good girl.” He kept the red one and returned the green spirit stones to her. “This compensates for your expenses on the journey; you can directly ask me for reimbursement in the future. As for your salary…” He lightly tapped his chin with his index finger. “Let’s say twenty taels per month.”

“Only twenty taels!” Did this fellow have any idea how difficult he was to serve? Feng Miaojun looked at him with contempt. “I quit! I’m not doing this anymore!”

Yun Ya’s smile was exceptionally radiant: “You don’t want to do it anymore?”

Feng Miaojun detected the killing intent hidden beneath his smile and suddenly remembered the unknown number of servants who had been “dismissed” before her. She suddenly became cowardly again. She coughed lightly: “After all, I am the personal attendant of the great State Preceptor. They say even a seventh-rank official stands at the prime minister’s door. Shouldn’t I have a salary that looks down upon the common people?”

“Prime minister…” Yun Ya’s gaze flickered. “Is there such a saying?”

“No, but that’s the meaning.” She had used a phrase from the wrong world. Feng Miaojun laughed dryly. “What do you think?”

“You’re right, your value shouldn’t be just this much.” He walked over and took a piece of millet cake, putting it in his mouth. Indeed, it was sweet, soft, and delicious. Tan Qingshuang not ordering this in the evening was truly a mistake. “Fifty taels.”

“Protest ineffective. Do you know that even the salary of a Grand Secretary of Great Wei is only fifty taels?” Seeing her small mouth pouting enough to hang an oil bottle, Yun Ya held up two index fingers and shook them. “By the way, I’ve recently noticed that much of the flower-infused wine is missing. I wonder if there might be rats here…”