Shi Xiuzhu suddenly appeared behind Yinreng and said quietly, "I am very happy to have a younger sister like Xiaoyan."

Shi Xiuzhu was not a person suited to a mournful tone at all. Her voice suddenly trembled, startling Yinreng so much that he almost stumbled and fell.

Tong Wanyan quickly pulled Yinreng into her arms. Aside from the difference in their sizes, the way such a handsome man was embraced was quite pleasing to the eye.

Shi Xiuzhu was secretly annoyed. She had come here to deliberately annoy Yinreng, not to let him get close to the beauty.

Shi Xiuzhu, who was in a bad mood and needed to be appeased, sat facing Yinreng, both looking at Tong Wanyan with puffed-up cheeks.

Tong Wanyan smiled and touched Yinreng's bald head; it felt quite nice.

"My lord is busy with government affairs and it must be very tiring," Tong Wanyan said firmly in her defense of her husband.

Yinreng said smugly, "I told you long ago, no one can compare to my position in Xiaoyan's heart. If you move to the back, you'll be lucky to be in the top ten."

Shi Xiuzhu pouted: "I won't argue with you. I know I can't beat you, so I have to coax my sister more. My father got some novel Western things from Fujian and specially gave them to my sister to play with."

The gift that Shi Wenbing gave to the Crown Princess was definitely an exquisite item, one in a million.

Western gadgets weren't exactly novel or unusual to Tong Wanyan. However, their exquisite and luxurious craftsmanship still made them irresistible.

Tong Wanyan was playing with the music box, completely forgetting about the gemstones that Yinreng had given her.

Yinreng, looking aggrieved, squeezed onto the same stool with her, his bright black eyes dimming considerably.

After listening to the piano music in the music box, Tong Wanyan looked at Shi Xiuzhu with bright eyes, a stark contrast to Yinreng's expression.

"Thank you, Your Highness, I like it very much!" Tong Wanyan's eyes smiled into crescent moons.

Shi Xiuzhu smiled broadly and raised her chin: "I knew my sister would like it. I don't like such girly things. Such exquisite objects are most suitable for a refined person like my sister."

Yinreng held Tong Wanyan's hand without speaking, silently thinking about how to make Shi Xiuzhu busier.

There must be too little business in Yuqing Palace, or perhaps the inner palace isn't bustling enough. In any case, the Crown Princess can't be idle; if she's idle, the servants will be incompetent.

Shi Xiuzhu didn't know what Yinreng was planning to do with her, but she knew he was definitely up to no good and wanted to scheme against her.

When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it. Shi Xiuzhu has never known the word "fear."

"I just happened to overhear what my father and sister were saying. Since Russia is sending big merchants to the Qing Dynasty to make money, why don't we send some people over to make money off them too? The Guarjia clan happens to have a group of merchants, all of whom are bold and greedy. If Father Emperor doesn't object, we can let them go and try it out first," Shi Xiuzhu said.

Yinreng moved his head and looked at her directly: "I also have disciples who are skilled in business."

Shi Xiuzhu said, "Sir, I am not an ordinary young lady, please don't try to fool me. Your merchant caravan recently set sail, and my family's caravan was encountered at the port. Merchants at sea won't be back for at least a year or two. How about using my family's caravan, splitting the profits 30/70, what do you say?"

"I own seven, and you own three?" Yinreng was very interested.

Although he was the crown prince, and Emperor Kangxi bestowed upon him many precious items, not much of them could be converted into silver.

The crown prince may be glamorous, but he also has a large retinue to support.

In particular, both Yinreng and Tong Wanyan were fond of luxury, and even the simplest items in their rooms were priceless.

If this kind of extravagance continues, the little money that Kangxi allocated to Yinreng from his private funds will be completely insufficient.

Moreover, they have three chubby kids in their family, who are also a constant source of money.

Shi Xiuzhu glanced at him sideways, as if he had never seen such a shameless person before.

“Sir, you want to take 70% of the profits without contributing anything? Where in the world can you find such a good deal?” Shi Xiuzhu said.