Upon returning to Qingyou Courtyard, Shen Yiru had Qingyao fetch brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone. She personally wrote a letter to Prince Pingnan, Song Jinchen. Since courtesy demands reciprocity, and the Prince had done her such a great favor, she had to return the kindness, did she not?
She invited the Prince to meet at Fenglai Restaurant. As it was the premier restaurant in the capital and one of her own properties, hosting the Prince there would not only show her sincerity but also prove more convenient on her own turf. As for the thank-you gift, she had already made up her mind: she would simply send him a hundred thousand taels in silver notes. She did not know him well and was unfamiliar with his tastes; silver was simple and direct. He could use it to buy whatever he liked.
After sealing the letter carefully, she handed it to Qingyao. "Deliver this letter to Prince Pingnan's Estate yourself and give it to the Prince."
Chapter 40