"Mother...I...I have no money left."
"How could this be!?" The Empress Dowager and the Prime Minister were both greatly surprised. "The Fang family has so much money; they are one of the wealthiest merchants in the capital. You have taken over all of the Fang family's wealth; how could you be broke?"
Chu Tan'er looked distressed: "It's true. I don't know what's going on. Ever since I took over the Fang family's shops, the amount of silver collected from each shop has been decreasing. Many shops have been losing money, and now many shops have closed down."
"I looked at the ledger and found that we still owe quite a bit of money."
"I still have to give gifts to those ministers and provide them with food, drink and entertainment... Right now, I really don't have much money left."
The Empress Dowager stared wide-eyed, saying incredulously, "You've managed the Fang family's fortune like this?"
"Mother, this really isn't my fault. I was also distracted and overwhelmed. Moreover, I heard from the servants of the Fang family that there's a wealthy merchant from a neighboring country in the west of the city who's been stealing our business. Whatever shops the Fang family opens, he opens the same ones. I don't know anything about business, and by the time I realized what was happening, we were already losing money."
"But Mother and Uncle, don't worry. Although the Fang family is currently a bit short of money, the money I gave to those ministers before is enough to keep them on our side."
"Also, I recently started investing in a new shop with a big merchant from that neighboring country. They say it's a highly profitable business. I don't know how to do business, but he does. We'll split the profits 50/50, and we'll be making money very quickly."
The Empress Dowager asked with a hint of doubt, "Really?"
"Really, Mother, don't worry. However, the matter of arranging things in the prison will require your and Uncle's help. As long as we protect Xun'er, once he ascends the throne, Uncle can oversee the country, and Mother can peacefully serve as your Grand Empress Dowager."
The prime minister remained calm and said leisurely, "Of course, I'll take care of things in the prison. Those guards will have to give me some face. However, this isn't a long-term solution. We still need to get Xun'er out."
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