"You know nothing!"
Xiao Qin'er was furious. "Is it easy for me to find some way to make money? I plan to use my own money to buy Sihai bonds, take out a loan to buy a house, and invest in a four-wheeled carriage. The house appreciates quickly, and the annual dividend from the four-wheeled carriage far exceeds the loan interest. When the bonds mature, I will get back the principal and interest, and then I can pay off the loan from the bank."
Liu Yi was surprised.
He asked curiously, "Who gave you the idea?"
Xiao Qin'er looked smug, "I thought of this myself. Do you know how popular Sihai bonds are right now? If you don't have connections, you can't buy them even if you have money."
Liu Yi chuckled twice, "10% interest per year, is this a small amount of profit worth robbing?"
Xiao Qin'er looked at Liu Yi as if he were an idiot. "Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. On the surface, the bonds only have a 10% interest rate, but do you know that this is a great opportunity to establish a relationship with Sihai? How many businesses have privately purchased unexpired bonds in full, paying principal and interest, just to establish a relationship with Sihai.
In other words, if I can buy Sihai bonds today, a merchant will come to buy them tomorrow with a one-year principal and interest. In just one day, I can earn 10% interest. 50,000 taels, 5,000 taels, in just one day, no more than half a month at most. Would you do it?
Liu Yi frowned, this is crazy!
Liu Yi, who was born into a royal family and had never lacked money, also felt that the money came too easily.
"Those merchants aren't fools. They're spending money on bonds, earning nothing, just to establish a connection with Sihai. Is that really worth it?"
Xiao Qin'er poked Liu Yi's head. "You've been so focused on state affairs all day that you don't understand what's happening in the market. Did you know that the first issue of the Sihai Bonds raised a total of 10 million taels? When they matured a year later, they were redeemed in full, including principal and interest, without a single cent owed."
That's over 10 million taels! In just one year, they had to pay a million taels in interest. Sihai came up with so much money without any pressure. Just think of that, how crazy! They even had more credibility than the imperial court. With such a reputable and powerful business, merchants were eager to cooperate with Sihai.
Even though buying bonds doesn't make any money, the connections you get from all over the world make it all worth it. Compared to treating people to meals, giving gifts, and pretending to be a grandson, which doesn't guarantee cooperation, any businessman would buy bonds. And even though buying bonds from us doesn't make any money, it doesn't lose money either!"
Liu Yi was persuaded.
He asked, "You want to buy bonds?"
Xiao Qin'er nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining.
Liu Yi asked, "How much are you going to spend on bonds?"
Xiao Qin'er hesitated for a moment, "It depends on when Sihai will issue the bonds."
"No set time?"
Xiao Qin'er rolled her eyes. "Everyone's scrambling to get these bonds. Do you think they're like cabbages in the market? Of course, scarcity makes things valuable."
Liu Yi was very curious, "Why did Sihai issue so many bonds?"
Xiao Qin'er admired the new ring on her hand. "How would I know? Sihai has so many businesses. You can make money by investing money in any of them. 10% interest per year is cheaper than the interest rate at the Shaofu Bank. If I had the strength of Sihai, I would also issue bonds."
"But as far as I know, Sihai has quite a few loans from the Shaofu Bank every year."
"Issuing bonds and taking out loans don't conflict. Of course, we're seeking a loan from the Shaofu Bank to maintain our relationship with the Shaofu. Otherwise, why would the Shaofu be so dedicated to helping Sihai?"
Liu Yi frowned.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Xiao Qin'er asked, "What do you think? Do you want to buy bonds with me?"
Liu Yi frowned and said, "I'm very curious. Sihai issued bonds and raised tens of millions of taels of silver. Where did all this money go?"
Xiao Qin'er asked him, "Why do you care about this? Isn't it enough to make money?"
"You don't understand!" Liu Yi's eyes were deep and his mind was in turmoil.
Xiao Qin'er sneered, "Do you think I can't guess what you're thinking? You're just speculating whether Liu Zhao took all the money and used it to do something shameful in private. I tell you, it's impossible. One million taels of interest, even for Sihai, is not something they can just give out casually. The money raised from issuing bonds must have been used for business."
Liu Yi looked as if he was too lazy to discuss with the other party.
Xiao Qin'er was a little annoyed, but not angry.
She said to Liu Yi, "I'll let you know when Sihai issues bonds. It's up to you whether you want to buy them or not. I'm definitely going to buy them, even if it means taking out a loan."
Liu Yi suddenly spoke his mind, "Have you become obsessed with money? Why have you become so materialistic?"
Bang!
Xiao Qin'er smashed the teacup without saying a word.
The tea splashed everywhere, making a mess.
"Liu Yi, if you have the guts, say what you just said again. Who are you calling a philistine?"
Liu Yi frowned, looking dissatisfied, "You are pregnant, and I will not argue with you."
After saying that, he stood up and left.
Xiao Qin'er was furious and yelled at him, "Don't leave if you dare!"
Liu Yi left the upper room without even looking back.
Xiao Qin'er was so angry that she wanted to smash things to vent her anger, but was stopped by the maid.
"The porcelain vase in Madam's hand is worth five hundred taels. That pottery jar is also worth two hundred taels. The jade carving is worth three thousand taels."
What are you still smashing!
This is not about smashing objects, it is clearly about smashing money.
Every time Xiao Qin'er picked up an item, the maid would quote a price, which made her very depressed.
There is not a single object in this room that can be smashed.
She was furious. "Change them all. Change them to something worth a few hundred coins, or at most a few taels of silver. I can smash it as I please."
The maid said cautiously, "You can smash the dishes in the kitchen at will."
Xiao Qin'er glared at the maid.
The maid shuddered.
Xiao Qin'er said angrily, "What are you still standing there for? Bring me fifty, no, a hundred, ceramic bowls. I'm going to smash them to my heart's content today."
"As you command!"
Xiao Qin'er smashed a hundred ceramic bowls to her heart's content.
After smashing it, I felt relaxed all over.
Fortunately, this pregnancy seemed to be stable. Even though she was so angry, she didn't have any miscarriage.
She stroked her belly gently and said, "This baby will be very well behaved when it is born."
"Madam, if you give birth to another brother, we'll see if those bastards dare to show off in front of you again."
Xiao Qin'er took a sip of honey water and snorted coldly, "This lady must separate the account books. If you want to eat well and wear good clothes, you have to pay for it yourself. Don't even think about taking advantage of the public."
"Madam should have done so long ago."
…
There are many people who share the same idea as Xiao Qin'er, and they all dream of making a fortune by driving a four-wheeled carriage.
It's not easy to make money.
Even aristocratic families, seemingly prosperous, have times when their income is insufficient to cover their expenses.
No one is willing to give up a legal way to make money.
However, there was no news from the palace.
Emperor Wende was busy cleaning the harem, and hundreds of palace maids were dragged out.
There was no peace in the court either.
The Jinwu Guards were hated by everyone and were feared by everyone.
More than a dozen officials of all ranks have been arrested, and countless yamen clerks have been arrested.
No one can withstand the severe torture.
More and more people are involved.
When it comes to officials, few of them have clean hands.
If the Jinwu Guards continue like this, there will be no one left in the entire court. Everyone will be arrested and sent to the Jinwu Guards.
This is crazy!
Even when investigating corruption, we must know when to stop and draw a line.
Lord Lu secretly reminded Emperor Wende that it was time to stop the Jinwu Guards and that they couldn't continue like this.
It is definitely not a good thing when officials are in a state of excitement.
Emperor Wende was unwilling to accept this.
He threw the case file to Lord Lu and said, "My dear minister, if you ask me to stop, then take a look at the contents of the case file. They are all termites. The entire court, civil and military, are all termites."
Lord Lu did not read the case file, he knew the principle of keeping a low profile.
"Your Majesty, enough is enough! This is not something that can be done overnight. Does Your Majesty really want to throw all the civil and military officials in the imperial court into prison?"
Emperor Wende was like a trapped beast and was extremely irritable.
He smashed the table directly.
I understand the truth, but I still feel unwilling to accept it!
In the end, Emperor Wende compromised.
Arrest a few typical cases and close this case.
Even as an emperor, there are times when you cannot control your own behavior.
The most unwilling ones were the Jinwu Guards.
It is a pity in life that there are so many big fish but they cannot be caught and put into prison.
Those whose houses were confiscated were confiscated, those who were to be beheaded were beheaded, those who were to be fined were fined, and those who were to be beaten with sticks were beaten with sticks.
House raids are very miserable for the people involved.
For some, it's a carnival.
Xiao Qin'er was one of the carnival participants.
Her identity as the prince's wife gave her many advantages.
She bought the house of an official whose property was confiscated at a price far below the market price.
After half a year or a year, when the storm is over, you can sell the house and make a lot of money.
It’s so cool.
The transaction was successful, Xiao Qin'er was so proud and wanted to show off.
So she posted a message and invited her relatives and friends to visit her home.
Especially her sisters-in-law, who were her main targets of showing off, and she strongly requested them to attend the banquet.
Liu Yi was speechless about Xiao Qin'er's behavior.
"They say wealth should not be shown off, but you are so good that you are afraid that others will not know that you have made money."
Xiao Qin'er smiled coquettishly, "I just want to show off, what do you want?"
She has now given up and doesn't care about Liu Yi's thoughts and attitude at all.
Whether Liu Yi likes it or not is none of her business.
Anyway, no matter how gentle and affectionate she was, she couldn't stop Liu Yi from taking a concubine. Why should she put herself in such a difficult position?
Liu Yi was too lazy to argue, "When Sihai issues bonds, remember to remind me."
"Give me the 20,000 taels you promised first." She remembered clearly what Liu Yi said.
Liu Yi frowned, "Give me some time, and I'll need your money."
…
Gu Jiu didn't want to attend the banquet.
She has been very busy lately.
But Xiao Qin'er was very sincere, and Gu Jiu couldn't refuse, so he had to agree to attend the banquet.
On the day of the banquet, she arrived at the Fourth Prince's residence on time.
At first glance, wow, almost all the prominent women in the capital were invited by Xiao Qin'er.
Xiao Qin'er came to greet him in person, showing off the house she bought at a low price.
Gu Jiu congratulated him.
Xiao Qin'er covered her mouth and giggled, her eyebrows and eyes full of smugness.
The other sisters-in-law couldn't stand it and whispered in private, saying that Xiao Qin'er was showing off.
"Only my sister-in-law has a good temper and doesn't mind."
Gu Jiu smiled coldly, "If you are dissatisfied with her, why don't you say it to her face?"
"She is the host, and we are the guests..."
Gu Jiu laughed sarcastically, "You still remember that you are a guest! Shut up!"
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