Shen Ying had come to help her older cousin...

Did the sun rise in the west today?

Shen Wan didn't believe Shen Ying would have such good intentions. "What are the conditions?"

For those who are driven by self-interest, taking the initiative to do something eagerly will inevitably bring them profit.

Shen Ying didn't expect Shen Wan to be so straightforward, so she didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Four hundred thousand taels."

Shen Wan frowned.

Shen Ying then said, "If the Yun family provides 400,000 taels of silver, I guarantee that this matter will be accomplished."

Four hundred thousand taels?

Shen Ying really dares to ask for an exorbitant amount.

Shen Wan was already thinking of having Shen Ying kicked out.

As a result, Shen Ying felt that she didn't want much. After all, the pardon had cost two million taels of silver, and that was after making great contributions to Meizhou. She had always known that the Yun family was rich, but she didn't expect that the Yun family was so rich that they could give two million taels of silver to the court so easily. For the young master Yun to do such a big favor, asking for a reward of four hundred thousand taels of silver was not excessive at all.

Shen Wan laughed angrily, "What can my second sister do to help my cousin from the Yun family?"

Shen Ying thought Shen Wan was tempted, so she said, "I certainly don't have that ability, but the Empress and Prince Jin do."

Shen Wan smiled and looked at Haitang, saying, "The Prince of Yanping should still be here. Let's go ask him what he thinks."

Haitang was momentarily stunned.

The Crown Prince of Yanping is not in the residence.

However, Haitang quickly realized that Shen Wan was just trying to scare Shen Ying, so she cooperated and said, "They shouldn't have left yet. This servant will go and ask."

Haitang curtsied and was about to leave when Shenying quickly stopped her. Then she looked at Shenwan and said, "I kindly wanted to help Young Master Yun, but Elder Sister sent a maid to ask the Prince of Yanping. What does Elder Sister mean by this?"

She kindly helped her cousin. There are many kind-hearted people like Shen Ying in the world. The Yun family would be devoured until there are no bones left.

Shen Wan sneered and said, "You want to sell Princess Qinghe? Are you afraid of the Prince of Yanping finding out?"

Shen Ying said angrily, "Don't say such unpleasant things."

They could do disgusting things, but she wasn't allowed to say them. Shen Wan was so disgusted that she got goosebumps on both arms.

Shen Wan looked at Shen Ying, suppressing her anger, and asked, "Did the Empress send you, or was it on the orders of Prince Jin? Is it because my cousin doesn't accept it that you're going to obstruct him?"

It was the advisor who suggested this to Prince Jin, saying it to her face. Prince Jin didn't say a word, but when she suggested trying out the Ling Prince's residence, he didn't object, which meant he tacitly agreed.

Even if Shen Ying had a few extra lives, she wouldn't dare to reveal the identity of the Prince of Jin. She said, "It was my own idea..."

If Shen Ying doesn't tell the truth, then there's nothing more to say.

Before Shen Ying could finish speaking, Shen Wan said, "Show her out!"

Haitang said, "Princess Consort of Jin, please."

Shen Ying's face went from green to red to purple, but seeing that Shen Wan was completely unmoved by reason, Shen Ying knew that further words were useless, so she got up and left.

Shen Wan sat in the pavilion for a while, getting angrier and angrier. She had to make sure the Prince of Yanping's mansion knew about this. These profit-driven people actually wanted to make a fortune off her cousin's marriage proposal to the Princess of Qinghe County. No, they wanted to make a huge fortune off her.

She thought 40,000 taels was too much, but she asked for 400,000 taels right off the bat. Does she really think the Yun family's money grows on trees?

These people used to secretly plot against the Yun family, but now they're doing it openly.

Shen Wan got up and returned to Moyuxuan to find Xie Jingyan in the study. As soon as she entered, Xie Jingyan noticed that she was very angry. Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, the window was knocked on and a guard slipped into the room.

The guard reported, "My lord, something has happened in Xizhou. The official in charge of building the dike has been hanged in his home..."

Xie Jingyan frowned, but relaxed his brows after a moment and looked at Shen Wan, saying, "The Xizhou Dam you dreamed about being washed away by the flood is most likely inevitable."

If the dam had no problems, or even if there were possibilities for repair, there would be no need to kill someone to cover it up.

From the day he learned that the Xizhou Dam would fail, Xie Jingyan knew that the officialdom in Xizhou would be just as turbulent as that in Meizhou. Such a large dam, which the imperial court spent hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to build over two or three years, was destroyed without serving any purpose. It would be strange if the emperor did not order a thorough investigation.

Shen Wan said, "I hope the people of Xizhou can escape this natural and man-made disaster."

The emperor was already somewhat convinced, but now that people are starting to silence them, he should have known that the Xizhou Dam couldn't stop the flood and should have ordered the nearby villages and people to move out in advance. Houses and fields can be rebuilt if they are destroyed, but if you lose your life, you lose everything.

After the guard finished reporting, he withdrew. Xie Jingyan looked at Shen Wan and asked, "Who upset you?"

Shen Wan said, "My second younger sister came by just now."

Xie Jingyan said, "From now on, just send away people you don't want to see."

Shen Wan said, "She came to marry my eldest cousin, the Princess of Qinghe County. As long as the Yun family pays 400,000 taels, the Empress and Prince Jin can make this happen."

“I need to let the Prince of Yanping’s mansion know that someone is trying to take advantage of the situation and sell out Princess Qinghe.”

Xie Jingyan pulled Shen Wan into his lap and said, "This needs to be known by the Prince of Yanping's residence, and by the Emperor himself."

Shen Ying only said it was her own idea, and even if the emperor questioned her, the fire shouldn't reach Empress Song and Xie Jingyin.

and--

"How can the Emperor find out? You can't even enter the palace anymore."

Before Shen Wan could finish speaking, footsteps approached, and a maidservant rushed in. "Your Highness, the Emperor summons you to the palace."

Shen Wan, "..."

Just when it was said that Xie Jingyan couldn't enter the palace, he was able to.

Did this guy already know the Emperor would be looking for him?

Shen Wan was very suspicious, but Xie Jingyan's reply was only two words, "I'm not going!"

The maidservant silently withdrew.

Shen Wan glanced at Xie Jingyan, "Weren't you supposed to go to the palace?"

Xie Jingyan pulled Shen Wan into his lap again, burying his head in her snow-white neck. "No one but you can be at my beck and call."

Hearing this warmed Shen Wan's heart, and then she recklessly asked, "What if I let you enter the palace?"

Xie Jingyan bit her neck and said through gritted teeth, "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"

Shen Wan, "..."

She just wanted to give it a try.

She knew he was just saying it for show.

Feeling the person behind her breathing heavily and pressing something against her thigh, Shen Wan quickly said, "Let go of me."

Xie Jingyan tightened his grip on her arm, but Shen Wan exerted a little force, and he released her.

Shen Wan quickly got up.

Xie Jingyan used to look at her with a resentful gaze, but now he looks at her belly with a mournful expression.

Shen Wan was afraid of him and went back to her inner room.

The maidservant went to report back to the messenger, who was surprised that Prince Ling would refuse the Emperor's summons and had no choice but to return to the palace to report.

However, after the messenger left, another messenger came.

At that moment, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan had just finished lunch and put down their chopsticks when Dong'er came in and said, "Your Highness, the messenger has come again. He said that the Emperor has summoned you. If Your Highness is really too busy to come to the palace, the Princess Consort can come instead."

Shen Wan, "..."

Xie Jingyan's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

This is the color that's been carefully controlled at seven inches.