In the original timeline, Jin Wuyou married into the Third Prince's household with all her wealth. However, even with the support of gold and silver, the Third Prince still failed in his bid for the throne. But this had nothing to do with Jin Wuyou. Just six months later, Jin Wuyou died quietly in the Third Prince's backyard, never having participated in the struggle for the throne.

[Tsk, this third prince's eating manners are truly unsightly.]

Jin Wuyou clenched the handkerchief in her hand, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes.

She hated that she wasn't born a man.

"She's like a little kid carrying a gold brick through the market now. Many noble families in the capital want their second sons to take her as a concubine. Why don't you take her in?"

【Me? I'm a woman, how can I accept this?】

"We've just established our sect, so we need start-up capital. Why don't you take the Jin family under your wing and let them manage the affairs?"

[This is wrong! It's just like the Third Prince, using fabricated pretexts to seize other people's property; it's extremely dishonest.]

【Oh, alright! You can wait until the Crown Prince finishes his current tasks before publicly recruiting. By then, who knows how many people the Jin family will have to ask to even get a chance from the Crown Prince.】

Fang Ruotang was a little taken aback.

[Even if the family fortune is given away, there will still be people vying for it?]

[My master, times are changing. With the resurgence of spiritual energy, who besides mortals still uses gold and silver? The cultivation world uses spirit stones as currency. I wonder if this world has any spiritual veins. If not, this world simply cannot develop.]

After hearing the news from a young master who wanted to take her as a concubine, Jin Wuyou spent nearly 20,000 taels of silver in one day to get a ticket to the event.

The purpose of coming here is simply to offer up one's wealth in order to obtain a chance to stay by the side of the Grand Preceptor as a servant.

Now she not only has the opportunity, but the situation is much better than she expected.

Managing the general affairs of a sect?

The Grand Preceptor is like the moon in the sky; he doesn't understand the hardships these merchants face. If such an opportunity were to arise, they would fight tooth and nail, even to the point of killing each other.

Jin Wuyou immediately knelt down in front of Fang Ruotang and begged for mercy.

Fang Ruotang was dumbfounded and poked at the small mirror.

[Are you capable of controlling people? Why did Jin Wuyou offer to exchange all her family fortune for a chance to stay by my side as a maid right after you finished speaking?]

[Is it really that good to be my maid?] Fang Ruotang still hasn't realized how attractive her own abilities are to others.

Fang Ruotang ignored the little mirror's whimpering reply, first pulling Jin Wuyou up, and then bringing him before the Crown Prince.

"Brother Crown Prince, she is the only daughter of the Jin family, the richest family in Jiangnan. She said she would offer all her family's wealth in exchange for a chance to be my maid. When our sect opens, won't we need to recruit people to manage the affairs? Would her family be suitable?"

The Crown Prince learned everything from Fang Ruotang's inner thoughts and didn't spare Jin Wuyou a single extra glance.

He just stared intently at Fang Ruotang.

"If you like her, let her stay; if you don't, let her go. Just be happy and be yourself. Other things will be taken care of for you."

The crown prince was not angry, and his voice was calm, but everyone present could sense his displeasure, especially Jin Wuyou, who was standing nearby.

Her legs buckled and she knelt down.

Fang Ruotang was about to help him up, but the Crown Prince stopped her first.

Do you want to keep her?

"...I'm fine with anything!"

Fang Ruotang has always been able to easily discern whether others like or dislike her. When Jin Wuyou came to her for help, he didn't have any ill intentions towards her. On the contrary, she felt that if she didn't help him, his fate would be miserable.

I don't know if it's because of what Little Mirror said about the tragic ending in her original timeline.

"Then don't."

"ah?"

Fang Ruotang was a little dumbfounded.

Isn't the imperial court also short of food and silver now?

She thought the Crown Prince wouldn't refuse.

"How about... we take it?" Fang Ruotang glanced at Jin Wuyou, her eyes instantly welling up with tears, her face filled with despair.

The Crown Prince stared intently at Fang Ruotang.

Suddenly turning his gaze to the others present, he raised his voice slightly and warned, "This is a one-time exception. If anyone dares to take advantage of the Grand Preceptor's kindness again, I will not tolerate it."

Fang Ruotang awkwardly clenched the Crown Prince's hand.

The prince's imposing aura dissipated, and he felt his arm, which Fang Ruotang had gripped, go numb. He then grabbed her playful little hand in return.

"I can tell good from bad, and with the little mirror here, I won't be fooled," Fang Ruotang whispered hesitantly into the Crown Prince's ear.

The prince listened attentively, bending down as if to cooperate.

But their attention was drawn to her bright red lips.

"Really!" Fang Ruotang saw that after she finished speaking, the Crown Prince looked at her with a deep gaze, without saying a word or responding. She thought he didn't believe her, so she angrily tugged at his ear and acted coquettishly.

A dark glint flashed in the prince's eyes. He took her small hand in his large hand and wrapped both of her hands in his own.

He knew there was a small mirror, and Fang Ruotang wouldn't fall for it, but once this precedent was set, people would keep coming to his door.

Under such absolute temptation, it's impossible to completely eliminate such things. The Crown Prince didn't think he could extinguish these people's ulterior motives with just a few words, but he had to make his stance clear so that not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry would come knocking on his door.

He didn't want to see Fang Ruotang suffer because of this.

"Fine, do what you like, and push all the things you don't want to deal with onto me." The Crown Prince had no principles in front of Fang Ruotang.

Furthermore, he couldn't possibly replace Fang Ruotang entirely.

“Yeah! I’m good at judging people.” Fang Ruotang smiled, her eyes crinkling with pride.

The prince held her small hand and gently played with it.

Looking at Jin Wuyou kneeling on the ground, he coldly ordered, "Within three months, move the main businesses of the Jin family to the capital. You are allowed to find two more allies. Apart from the head of the family who manages the general affairs, each of the three families can send one person to the sect to study."

Jin Wuyou's pupils suddenly dilated.

Great sorrow and great joy are nothing more than this.

One second you're in hell, the next you're soaring to heaven.

She never expected that such a good thing would fall on the Jin family's head. Not only did the Jin family rise to prominence, but they also brought two other families along.

Such a good opportunity has yet to be found by any noble or aristocratic family in the capital.

One can imagine how high the Jin family's status will rise when this news reaches Jiangnan.

"Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Grand Preceptor, thank you, Grand Preceptor." Jin Wuyou was clearly perceptive and could distinguish between the two kings.

The crown prince was also very satisfied.

Jin Wuyou silently resolved in her heart that she would serve the Grand Preceptor well from now on. Her head maid, Chunfen, was exceptionally skilled at massage, and she would learn from her as soon as she returned to the manor. She had just noticed that the Grand Preceptor was a bit greedy, and the cook in her manor was also extremely skilled, so she would learn that as well. And there was more…

Fang Ruotang had no idea that Jin Wuyou had found the way forward in a short while. She only knew that the food from Zhenxiulou had been delivered and a new play was being performed on stage.