Song Shuyu's actions left the maid completely dumbfounded.
What she didn't know was that because of Song Shuyu's reputation as a lucky star, Old Madam Song doted on her excessively.
Usually, the girl got whatever she wanted.
If things didn't go her way, a little whining and a small temper tantrum would surely get her what she desired.
Song Shuyu was doing this on purpose.
On the journey from Fengyang to Fengcheng with Old Madam Song, they had once come across a chubby little boy who rolled around on the ground just for a bite to eat.
At the time, the old madam pointed at the chubby boy and lectured Song Shuyu.
"You must never learn to act like this. Children without manners are not well-liked."
However, Song Shuyu noticed that the chubby boy eventually got what he wanted.
She figured that although it was an ugly display, it achieved the goal.
Finding it amusing, she kept it in mind.
Despite her young age, Song Shuyu perfectly understood her current predicament.
If she acted spoiled here, without her doting grandmother, naturally no one would cater to her whims.
If she wanted to achieve her goal, this was the only trick left.
Sure enough, the maid was frightened.
She crouched down, coaxing Song Shuyu and trying to pull her up.
But Song Shuyu simply lay flat on the ground and started rolling.
It was the maid's first time encountering such a situation, and she turned and ran out.
Peeking through her fingers, Song Shuyu saw the maid run away.
Because the maid had left in such a hurry, the door was left open.
Song Shuyu quickly scrambled up from the floor and quietly crept to the door.
There was no one outside, nor were there any servants walking about.
Lifting her skirt, Song Shuyu climbed over the threshold and ran toward the wall she had seen earlier.
Outside that wall had to be the main street!
Cheering herself on, she sprinted toward the wall.
As the wall grew closer, she felt like her lungs were going to burst.
Her legs felt as heavy as lead.
Smack!
Stepping on a small pebble, Song Shuyu slipped and fell.
"Ah!"
She hurriedly covered her mouth.
"There's someone over there!"
Someone heard the noise and shouted.
With no time to check the scrape on her leg, she scrambled up and ran.
Finally, she reached the wall.
She cried!
The wall was so incredibly high that even if a dozen of her were stacked up, she wouldn't be able to climb over it.
She heard the sounds of pursuit drawing nearer and nearer.
She wanted to find a place to hide.
Ducking into the bushes, she accidentally stepped on a rock and slipped to the ground again.
The rock she kicked flew up and landed squarely on the head of the leading servant chasing her.
"Who threw a rock at me... Huh? Gold?"
The servant looked at the object that had fallen from his head and was startled.
The people behind him also ran over.
"Gold? Where did gold come from?"
They all saw the piece of gold in the struck servant's hand.
"I don't know, it just suddenly fell from the sky and hit my head. I thought it was a rock."
"Right, where's the person? Where did she go?"
"I think I saw her in those bushes."
The servant who was first hit by the gold pointed to the bushes where Song Shuyu had slipped.
They hurriedly surrounded the area.
Upon closer inspection, everyone was stunned.
Song Shuyu was sitting on a bundle. The bundle had come undone, revealing a brilliant golden glow.
After a moment of shock, someone immediately went to report to Prince Ling.
Song Shuyu's mind was also a bit dizzy.
She had just slipped and was about to get up, only to find that beneath her bottom were solid gold ingots.
She had never seen so many gold ingots in her life.
She hurriedly picked up the gold ingots and stuffed them into her clothes.
When the servants arrived, she finally remembered that she was supposed to be running away.
Great, now she couldn't escape.
Prince Ling was greatly surprised upon hearing the servant's report.
Intrigued, he said, "Come, take me to see."
Prince Ling's mansion was heavily guarded; how could gold just appear in the courtyard?
Moreover, according to the servants, it was a very large bundle.
How could that be possible?
When Prince Ling arrived at the wall with his men, he saw Song Shuyu holding a gold ingot in each hand, sitting on top of a bundle full of them.
She looked exactly like a fortune-bringing fairy descended from the heavens.
Prince Ling was stunned for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! The heavens are truly helping me! Sending me a great lucky star!"
Saying this, Prince Ling stepped forward and personally picked Song Shuyu up in his arms.
The other servants were quite surprised.
The looks they gave Song Shuyu were filled with awe.
Song Shuyu wanted to scream, but her throat felt as if it were being choked, and she couldn't make a single sound.
Seeing Song Shuyu obediently letting him carry her, Prince Ling felt even more satisfied.
The other servants hurriedly gathered the gold ingots from the ground back into the cloth bundle.
Prince Ling carried Song Shuyu back to the front courtyard.
The maid who had served Song Shuyu the previous night was kneeling on the ground.
The moment she saw Song Shuyu, she was also somewhat taken aback.
"Did the young miss run out because she discovered gold?"
Prince Ling happily placed Song Shuyu on a chair and looked at her.
"I heard you want to find your grandmother?"
Unable to speak, Song Shuyu could only nod.
Prince Ling raised his head. "Men!"
A guard appeared at the door. "Your subordinate is here."
"Have you found out where Old Madam Song is?"
The guard bowed.
"We have. Men have already been dispatched, and she will be brought here shortly."
Prince Ling waved his hand dismissively, then looked at Song Shuyu.
"Did you hear that? Your grandmother will be here soon."
With that, Prince Ling extended his hand toward Song Shuyu.
Song Shuyu didn't know what he meant. She stared blankly at the large hand in front of her.
Prince Ling wasn't angry; instead, he moved his palm a little closer.
"Take a look. Do I have the destiny to ascend the throne?"
The maid kneeling on the floor pressed herself flat, trembling in fear.
Song Shuyu couldn't understand what the person in front of her was saying.
Seeing him persistently holding out his hand, she reluctantly placed the gold ingot she was holding into his palm.
She put one down, but noticed he still hadn't pulled his hand back.
Unwillingly, she placed the other gold ingot on his hand as well.
Prince Ling looked at her with a doubtful expression.
"Are you saying that this is all I will have?"
Song Shuyu pouted, took the gold ingots out from her clothes, and heavily placed them into his hand.
"They are all yours! All of them!"
Prince Ling stared intently at Song Shuyu, then suddenly threw his head back and burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha, it is all mine!"
"Yes, it's all mine! No one can take it away!"
Triumphant, Prince Ling held the three gold ingots and happily paced around the room a few times.
