Just like that, Long Fei Ye led Han Yunxi away. Han Yunxi didn't even have time to look at the expressions of the crown prince and empress dowager, or Mu Liuyue's reaction.
But that didn't matter. Zhao mama would take a good look on her esteemed wangfei's behalf before returning to report back!
Let's talk about that rich, overbearing, and insufferably arrogant Li Leyuan first.
He'd always thought that his family was the richest in Tianning, but now he realized that wasn't the case …
He still didn't know the severity of the situation. As he watched His Highness Duke of Qin's departing figure, he sighed inwardly. How he wished he could be as extravagant as His Highness Duke of Qin!
Unfortunately, even a silkpants like him felt that throwing away five million taels was too extravagant. Even the current emperor hadn't been so generous.
As for the esteemed empress dowager, her mouth hadn't even closed yet. She'd wanted to show off a bit, but unfortunately, she didn't get the chance.
The crown prince's expression grew even worse. He had no idea how his imperial uncle and imperial father would vent their anger on him when they returned home today. He'd represented the royalists today, but not only had he lost his imperial uncle's silver, he'd lost his imperial father's face as well.
He'd suffered a double loss. He'd always known that this was a trap, and wanted to use it as an excuse to screw over the imperial uncle's estate. But he never expected there to be another trap within the trap!
Despite his depression, he couldn't ignore the admiration he felt for His Highness Duke of Qin. If possible, he really didn't want to be enemies with the Duke of Qin.
Mu Qingwu's lips curved into a smile. He shouldn't be smiling, but he really couldn't help it. If he'd known earlier, he would've surrendered to the crown prince sooner and let the imperial uncle's estate go bankrupt!
Mu Qingwu was smiling, but Mu Liuyue was gaping behind him. Her three souls and seven spirits were chasing after His Highness Duke of Qin.
Her overflowing adoration for the crown prince had long since evaporated. Compared to His Highness Duke of Qin's wealth, what did the crown prince and imperial uncle count for?
The more Mu Liuyue watched, the more indignant she felt. If Han Yunxi hadn't framed her and ruined her reputation, perhaps she still had a chance to marry into the Duke of Qin's Mansion.
Before the General Mu Estate submitted to the Crown Prince, the Duke of Qin had never made any big moves. The fact that he made such a big move this time was enough to show that the General Mu Estate still held a certain weight in his heart.
The more she thought about it, the more her jealousy swelled. Mu Liuyue almost angered herself to death.
Han Yunxi, oh Han Yunxi, what did I owe you in my previous life? That's why I met you in this life!
After a long time, Mu Liuyue's gaze returned to her fiancé, Long Tianmo. Was she finally starting to worry about her wedding?
If the Imperial Uncle donated that much money, would he still be able to support her wedding with the Crown Prince? The more Mu Liuyue thought about it, the more terrified she became. There were only three days left until the Crown Prince's wedding!
It wasn't just the Crown Prince who was shocked. Everyone else present, including His Highness Duke of Qin's faction, still hadn't calmed down.
No one knew that His Highness Duke of Qin's wealth could rival an entire nation!
His Highness Duke of Qin's actions had undoubtedly stirred up a thousand waves in the political arena that had just calmed down.
Long Feiye allowed the entire courtyard to gape as he held Han Yunxi's hand and strolled leisurely through the small paths in the garden.
Although Han Yunxi liked the feeling of being led on a quiet stroll by this man's hand, she preferred talking to him.
"Your Highness, where did you get all this money?"
Fine, Han Yunxi was curious as well. Since everyone else was curious about this, she'd be the one to ask.
"It's a secret," Long Fei Ye replied offhandedly.
"Can I know?" Han Yunxi asked timidly.
"If you knew, would it still be a secret?" Long Fei Ye retorted.
Han Yunxi was so eloquent that she didn't know how to answer him for a moment.
If she answered "no," then Long Fei Ye definitely wouldn't tell her.
She thought for a moment, then replied, "Could it be that Your Highness is the only one who knows about this?"
Long Fei Ye seemed to be in a good mood as he led Han Yunxi to a nearby pergola to sit down.
He nodded. "This prince is the only one who knows."
Han Yunxi immediately seized the opportunity to express her sincerity. "This concubine is willing to keep this secret with Your Highness!"
Long Fei Ye raised his brows as he looked at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
"Your Highness … doesn't believe this concubine?" Han Yunxi asked again.
"Han Yunxi …"
Long Fei Ye seemed to hesitate and didn't continue for a long time.
Han Yunxi waited cautiously. She felt that this guy seemed to want to say something important to her. She had forgotten how long it had been since this man called her by her name.
He either didn't call her by her full name or called her by her full name, "Han Yunxi."
Seeing that he didn't continue, Han Yunxi became suspicious. "Hm?"
Long Fei Ye finally spoke. "Han Yunxi, a secret that we keep together is no longer a secret."
Alright.
He still didn't want to tell her.
Han Yunxi was a little disappointed. She muttered a faint "Oh" and fell silent.
Long Fei Ye didn't speak either. He interlocked his fingers with hers and sat under the pergola for a long time.
Before he got up, he suddenly reached out and rubbed Han Yunxi's bangs lovingly. "Let's go."
A secret that we keep together is no longer a secret. Who would understand?
On the way back to the estate, Han Yunxi kept mulling over Long Fei Ye's words. She felt like Long Fei Ye was implying something else, but after careful consideration, she realized she was overthinking things.
If he didn't say anything, she wouldn't ask. In any case, there were plenty of things about him that she didn't know. She wasn't the type to force things, so if he was willing, he'd tell her eventually.
Just like that, the empress dowager's birthday banquet came to a close. For the first time, Han Yunxi experienced firsthand just how two-faced Long Fei Ye could be. But when she got back to the Duke of Qin's estate, she realized that there was no such thing as the worst, only worse, or blacker!
As soon as they entered the gates of the Duke of Qin's estate, Chu Xifeng came to report, "Your Highness, I've already instructed the Ministry of Revenue to keep an eye on the charity auction. The imperial uncle's estate also sent word that he's planning to sell grain. Just then, he sent people to contact a few of the major grain merchants. "
Everything was under Long Fei Ye's control. He nodded and calmly walked inside.
But Han Yunxi gave a start!
She turned to look at Long Feiye and couldn't help but wonder if he'd sell her off one day without her even knowing!
This guy's methods were truly unparalleled!
She assumed that he'd raised the price to scam the imperial uncle's estate, but his true goal was to force the imperial uncle's estate to sell their grain instead.
With severe famine and grain shortages, the imperial court and various charitable organizations had no way to buy grain even if they had the money. Under these circumstances, what could be faster than selling grain to raise funds?
The imperial uncle's estate rarely embezzled silver from the national treasury, but they'd embezzled grain the most in recent years.
They'd embezzled grain from the various prefectures and counties across the country, and even embezzled grain meant for disaster relief and military use. They'd hoard the grain for profit, then inflate the price to the highest possible price in times of famine or war to make a fortune.
Aside from selling to the wealthy prefectures and counties, most of the grain was sold to the country. In other words, the imperial uncle's estate took the country's things and sold them to the country to empty out the national treasury.
If this was in the past, the imperial uncle's estate wouldn't sell grain at this critical juncture because the price hadn't gone up yet and the country hadn't started buying grain from the people.
But things were different this time.
This time, the imperial uncle's estate had to fork out more than two million taels of silver within ten days! The only way to do that was to sell grain!
"Is Your Highness planning to use the imperial uncle's two million taels to buy grain for disaster relief?" Han Yunxi smiled.
Perhaps only Long Fei Ye would use the imperial uncle's money to buy grain from the imperial uncle's estate.
"I should be able to buy it," Long Fei Ye intoned.
"In that case, the imperial uncle's estate … won't last long!" Han Yunxi rejoiced.
Long Fei Ye was puzzled. "You understand?"
Han Yunxi didn't care about national affairs, but she'd read her share of official and unofficial histories. Of course she understood.
Long Fei Ye had been investigating the imperial uncle's embezzlement case for a long time now. If the imperial uncle hadn't been desperate enough to sell off the grain as soon as he returned to the country, he wouldn't have gotten hold of the clues so quickly.
Chu Xifeng had already found out the various grain merchants the imperial uncle had contacted. It'd be much easier to track down the methods, places, and times of their transactions.
With Long Feiye's personality, he'd definitely destroy the imperial uncle's estate as soon as he had enough evidence.
To put it bluntly, Long Fei Ye's ultimate goal this time wasn't to provide disaster relief or trick people, but to create a chance to track down evidence of the imperial uncle's embezzlement!
Long Fei Ye was planning to explain everything to Han Yunxi after they entered the rooms, but who knew this woman would be so smart?
The more he looked at her, the more domineering his gaze grew. The interest in his eyes grew stronger.
"Your Highness, chenqie is smart, isn't she?" Han Yunxi was still very confident.
But Long Fei Ye retorted, "How could your lordship's woman not be smart?"
Han Yunxi's heart skipped a beat at his words as she gave a start. Long Fei Ye turned to leave, a satisfied smile on his lips.
Han Yunxi didn't even remember how she got back to Leisurely Cloud Pavilion. In any case, her heart felt as sweet as honey. She was smiling even in her dreams.
That night, news came from the Ministry of Revenue that the crown prince and Li Leyuan had delivered 1.2 million taels of silver. They also promised that the other half would arrive within ten days.
Long Fei Ye was naturally busy with the imperial uncle's grain sales, while Han Yunxi was looking forward to the crown prince's wedding in four days.
Mu Liuyue had said herself that the betrothal gifts could fill a street!
According to Tianning's wedding customs, the betrothal gifts came first. Three days before the wedding, the betrothal gifts had to be delivered to the bride's family.
But on the second day, there was still no news from the Eastern Palace about the betrothal gifts. Mu Liuyue waited and waited at home, and so did Han Yunxi at home.
Finally, at night, there was no news of the betrothal gifts, but a proclamation from the Eastern Palace.
The gist of the contents was that the crown prince's wedding should be celebrated by the entire nation. But considering the severity of the famine and the need for frugality, the crown prince consort ceremony would be canceled. Instead, a small wedding ceremony would be held in the palace.
The next day, Long Fei Ye wasn't at home, so Han Yunxi received an invitation from the Eastern Palace on his behalf. It was an invitation for the two of them to attend the crown prince's wedding ceremony.
Shouldn't the people in the palace be the least interested in seeing them at this time? Why were they even inviting them? Were they planning to use General Mu's estate as a show of force?
Han Yunxi didn't want to go at first, but when she thought of Mu Liuyue's arrogance, she decided to go!
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
