Chapter 452 Did she have a choice?
The Xie family and the Lingnan Prince's Mansion have cooperated for many years. Zhu Junning knows the Xie family's most hidden treasure location, and Xie Ning'an also knows that Zhu Junning has been in love with Prince Rui for many years. No matter how carefree and unrestrained Zhu Junning appears, she still has the sentimental side of a young woman deep down. Zhu Junning's response at this moment says it all.
Xie Ning'an glanced at Zhu Junning with a half-smile, inwardly feeling somewhat disappointed. Disappointed that Zhu Junning wasn't truly intelligent. He believed that if Jiang Yu had negotiated with him today, he would have been at a disadvantage from the start.
If it were Jiang Yu, even if she deeply admired Prince Rui, she wouldn't exchange information about him with me. Because doing so would truly expose my weakness.
But Zhu Junning's lack of intelligence also relieved him. The Xie family had suffered such a huge setback in their cooperation with the Lingnan Prince's Mansion; why would they continue to be involved with them? He even hoped for the collapse of the Lingnan Prince's Mansion more than Jiang Yu or the Emperor.
"Grand Tutor Yan, Princess should know, right?" Xie Ning'an asked casually.
Zhu Junning nodded, "Of course I know."
He not only knew this person, but also knew that the Prime Minister and the Earl of Qingshan wanted to win over Grand Tutor Yan, and even offered him the position of Crown Princess, but Grand Tutor Yan did not join them.
But how did Grand Tutor Yan get involved with Prince Rui?
She looked intently at Xie Ning'an, waiting for his next words. Xie Ning'an didn't put on airs; his tone was casual but his words were very clear, "Grand Tutor Yan's granddaughter, Yan Fengxi, is in love with Prince Rui and is determined to marry him, even at the cost of her life. Grand Tutor Yan has mentioned this to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, but Prince Rui seems to have some reservations about Yan Fengxi."
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor doted on Prince Rui, and since he disliked it, they naturally wouldn't force him to. Thus, the Emperor directly refused. Grand Tutor Yan, a veteran official of two reigns, naturally wouldn't bring it up again, lest he further embarrass himself.
Yan Fengxi threatened suicide, and Grand Tutor Yan would normally ignore him. However, the Duke of Wei came to the Grand Tutor's residence to propose marriage for his eldest grandson, to Yan Fengju, a concubine's daughter from the Yan family who worked in the Imperial Workshop.
At this point, Xie Ning'an picked up her cup and took a sip. Zhu Junning, however, was somewhat anxious. He chuckled and continued, "The eldest grandson of the Duke of Wei will inherit the title and cannot marry a concubine's daughter. Therefore, the Yan family will register Yan Fengju under the name of the principal wife, that is, Yan Fengxi's mother."
Yan Fengxi seized upon this, threatening suicide to force her mother, Madam Yan, to use this as leverage to keep Grand Tutor Yan working tirelessly to marry her off to Prince Rui. Grand Tutor Yan had no choice but to plead with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor again, but the result was…”
Xie Ning'an glanced at Zhu Junning's hands, which were clenched tightly together as he tried his best to hold back his emotions, and said with a smile, "The result is that the Empress Dowager agreed to allow Prince Rui to take Yan Fengxi as a concubine, but only as a secondary concubine."
After he finished speaking, he leaned back in his chair, leisurely observing Zhu Junning's expression. He saw that her face was ashen, and her lowered eyes could not hide the resentment and unwillingness in them. But after a moment, all the extra emotion on her face disappeared, leaving only calm.
Xie Ning'an raised an eyebrow. Being able to calm her mind in such a short time was already an outstanding achievement among ordinary women, but she still couldn't compare to her.
"Young Master Xie, you have quite the tactic, exchanging such insignificant information with me." Zhu Junning's tone was calm, but his eyes held a hint of annoyance.
"Likewise!" Xie Ning'an lowered her eyes, flicked off non-existent dust from her robes, and then chuckled, "As for whether it really doesn't hurt or itch, the princess knows the answer."
Zhu Junning clenched his fists again and changed the subject, saying, "Young Master Xie, do you think we can trust each other now?"
Xie Ning'an nodded slightly, "Princess, please show your sincerity first."
Zhu Junning stared at him for a moment, then took out an exquisite bronze plaque from her sleeve, on which were engraved the two characters "Lingnan" in seal script. She placed the plaque in front of Xie Ning'an and said, "With this plaque, you can use the retreat route of my Lingnan Prince's Mansion in Shangjing to leave the capital."
Xie Ning'an picked up the plaque and studied it carefully for a moment before placing it on the tea table. Then she said in a low voice, "The amount of silver that flowed into the national treasury in the past six months was not actually eighty million taels. It was Jiang Yu who inflated the figure."
Zhu Junning's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Does His Majesty know?"
“They should know.” Xie Ning’an stroked the patterns on the bronze plaque with her fingers and said, “This should be the number that the two of them, the emperor and his minister, were bluffing. As for why, I think the princess knows.”
Zhu Junning hummed in agreement. She naturally understood that Jiang Yu and the Emperor simply wanted to instill fear in Lingnan. She tapped the tea table lightly a few times with her fingers, then asked, "Does the eldest young master know the amount?"
Xie Ning'an did not answer her question, but tapped the bronze plaque in his hand and said, "Shouldn't the princess tell me how to use this plaque?"
Zhu Junning looked into his eyes and said, "Young Master, don't you have to make me believe that what you're saying is true?"
Xie Ning'an narrowed his eyes; she was indeed quite intelligent. He took the bronze medal in his hand and weighed it in his hand. He lowered his eyes and said, "Why did Jiang Yu keep me and the old folks from Jufeng Trading Company and the bank? Because without us, she can't manage Jufeng Trading Company and the bank, let alone restructure them."
Zhu Junning nodded; she believed what she was told.
Xie Ning'an glanced at her and said, "Jiang Yu's reform is based on Jufeng Bank and the trading company. If she wants the reform to succeed, I will be involved in almost every aspect. So, does the princess think I have a way to find out how much silver has flowed into the national treasury through the reform?"
Zhu Junning frowned in thought, then nodded. With Xie Ning'an's abilities, she could certainly do it. However, she was somewhat puzzled: didn't Jiang Yu know? Did she really not take any precautions against Xie Ning'an?
She picked up the teapot and poured Xie Ning'an a cup of tea, casually asking, "Someone like the Duke of Chu wouldn't trust people so easily, would he?"
Xie Ning'an watched him pour tea, her fingers twitching slightly, and then said confidently, "Does she have a choice?"
Zhu Junning paused, and Xie Ning'an looked at her and said, "The Duke of Chu inherited her title as a woman and entered the court. If she wants to gain a foothold, she must achieve something. The reform of the money shops and trading companies is her weapon to demonstrate her abilities. She must succeed. Whether she believes me or not, she has to use me."
Zhu Junning seemed to be deep in thought when Xie Ning'an asked again, "If you were Jiang Yu, Princess, what would you do?"
Zhu Junning glanced at him without saying a word. Xie Ning'an lowered his head and fiddled with the bronze token in his hand, giving her time to think. After a while, Zhu Junning said, "Take this token to Bamboo Lane in the West City and find the Hua'an Escort Agency. Give this token to Shi Lie, the head of the agency, and he will take you out of the city."
Xie Ning'an looked at the plaque in her hand and asked again, "What happens after we leave the city?"
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