"What’s wrong, Brother Sinin?" Fourth Miss Zhao asked, puzzled.
"The Griffin Egg was actually a treasure from Zhengying Academy’s vault. It was discarded because it was determined to have impure bloodlines and believed incapable of hatching a Griffin. This ti, I took it out without anyone noticing. If it hadn’t hatched, it wouldn’t matter—no one would rember or care. But who knew it would actually hatch a Griffin?
Griffin Eggs aren’t just found anywhere. I let slip its origins in a mont of pride, and now this will surely get back to Zhengying Academy. When they investigate, how will I explain myself to the academy?" Uncle Zhao said with teary eyes.
Thinking about the severe consequences, he almost wished to slap himself hard: Look what your pride has brought, spilling secrets. Now what will you do when the truth cos out?
"What should we do?" Everyone was stunned and then turned to Zhao Sinin.
"Now, the only option is to throw money at it. Bribe them and say that the Griffin Egg was sold because it was of impure bloodline, not a true Griffin. The academy won’t care too much as long as the money is sufficient," Zhao Sinin said, looking hopeful.
"How much money are we talking about?" Yuan Tianbo ventured.
"One million taels should be about right," Zhao Sinin reasoned.
"What... I heard Mu Hanyan auctioned the Griffin for just five hundred thousand taels. How did it double to a million here?" Yuan Tianbo, shocked like a cat with its tail stepped on, sprang up.
"Didn’t I tell you? I smuggled this Griffin from the vault and need to bribe others. Naturally, it will cost more," Zhao Sinin explained.
Yuan Tianbo and the others looked at each other. Just to bribe and cover up was costing five hundred thousand taels. Damn, Zhengying Academy really knows how to fleece people!
"Ahem, Uncle Zhao, it’s getting late. I’ve been injured and am not at full strength; I should head back to rest. You should start figuring out the money," Yuan Tianbo coughed twice, attempting to cough up so blood to show Zhao Sinin but failed. Despite being battered painfully, Huayue and the others hadn’t left any internal injuries. His face turned red with the effort, no blood ca out. He bowed to Zhao Sinin and continued walking while trying again to cough up so blood.
"Ah, my injuries are severe, my back might break, my legs might give out, and my heart can barely beat. I guess I won’t recover unless I lie down for a few months. I’m leaving first." Zhou Qi bent and hobbled, the image of a man running out of oil.
Zhao Sinin was a bit stunned. The guy who just had a staring contest with Zhou Qi seed energetic, how did he turn into this so quickly?
"Be careful, don’t fall. I’ll help you back," Zhou Qi rushed to Zhou Qi’s side and walked him out, cautious and caring, a perfect picture of brotherly affection.
Zhao Sinin rubbed his eyes. Weren’t these two about to co to blows just a mont ago? How did they suddenly beco closer than brothers?
"It’s so late already, and it’s inconvenient for a young lady to be out alone. If people started talking, it would look bad. Brother Sinin, I’ll head back too," Fourth Miss Zhao spoke with a delicate and wholeso deanor, then walked away with the dainty steps typical of a noblewoman.
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